Breaking Ground on a New Dementia‑Friendly Garden

If you’re new to The Red Shed, welcome. We’re a Hertfordshire charity offering dementia‑friendly horticultural therapy and wellbeing activities — calm, creative, nature‑based workshops designed to help people living with dementia, and their carers, feel connected, confident and supported. Our original garden in Stevenage has been running since 2018 and has become a much‑loved space for friendship, routine and joy.

Now, we’re growing.

🌿 A New Red Shed for Welwyn Garden City

This year marks a major milestone: the build of our second site at Watchlytes Primary School, in Welwyn Garden City, bringing our workshop programme to a whole new community. The expansion comes in response to increasing local need for dementia‑friendly support, and our commitment to making wellbeing activities accessible across Hertfordshire.

🛠️ June: Breaking Ground

In June, volunteers from the RO Group joined us to officially break ground. Together, we:

• Dug out new borders
• Built the first raised beds
• Gave the school bike shed a much‑needed clean and refresh

It was a brilliant start — full of teamwork, laughter and the kind of practical graft that sets the foundations for everything to come.

🏗️ Summer Build: What Happens Next

The majority of the construction will take place over the school summer holidays. During that time we’ll be:

• Installing our new activity shed (funded by Morrison’s)
• Laying accessible paths and preparing planting areas
• Securing the site with new fencing
• Setting up the garden ready for our dementia‑friendly workshops

These workshops will mirror what we already deliver in Stevenage: gentle gardening, nature‑based activities, seasonal planting, creative tasks, and plenty of tea‑and‑chat moments that help people feel grounded and connected.

🌼 Opening Late September / Early October 2026

We’re on track to open in late September or early October 2026, ready to welcome new attendees, carers, volunteers and community partners.

💛 Thank You to Our Supporters

This project is only possible thanks to the generosity of our funders:

• Morrison’s Supermarket – funding the new activity shed
• High Sheriff Awards – supporting our expansion
• Hertfordshire Community Foundation – backing our community work
• Nicholas Buxton, last year’s High Sheriff – whose personal £10,000 donation gave the project a vital boost

Their support is helping us create a second Red Shed that will offer long‑lasting wellbeing benefits for families across Welwyn Garden City.

🌻 Get Involved

As we build, we’re also beginning to recruit:

• Volunteers to help run sessions, support attendees and maintain the garden
• New Red Shed attendees — people living with dementia and their carers who would benefit from calm, supportive, nature‑based activities

If you’d like to express interest, volunteer, or follow our progress, visit our website or get in touch. We’d love to hear from you. Drop us a message at: info@theredshedgarden.org.uk

🌞 Growing Something Good

The Red Shed has always been about more than gardening. It’s about belonging, confidence, joy and the small moments that make a big difference. Welwyn Garden City is the next chapter — and we can’t wait to grow it together.

Hertfordshire is expecting an exceptional spell of hot and humid weather, with temperatures in the shade likely to exceed 37°C for two to three days. Nights will also remain very warm, reducing the body’s ability to recover. These conditions can be challenging for everyone — but they pose particular risks for people living with dementia, their carers, and others who may struggle to recognise or respond to heat.

This guidance from Hertfordshire County Council’s Community Wellbeing Team is essential reading for all of us, and especially important for families, carers, volunteers and staff supporting people in the community.

🌿 Why hot weather is especially risky for people living with dementia

People living with dementia may:

• Not recognise signs of overheating or dehydration
• Forget to drink regularly
• Wear clothing that is too warm
• Be less able to communicate discomfort
• Become disoriented more quickly in extreme heat

These risks also apply to older people, babies and young children, people with long‑term conditions, those taking certain medications, pregnant women, people who work outdoors, and anyone who is socially isolated.

High temperatures can lead to dehydration, breathing or heart problems, heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Symptoms include thirst, dizziness, headache, nausea, sweating, weakness, confusion, collapse, or a very high temperature.

☀️ Key steps to stay safe in hot weather

• Avoid the sun between 11am and 3pm
• Drink plenty of fluids — and ensure drinks are within easy reach for anyone who may forget or struggle
• Wear loose, light clothing and a hat
• Keep indoor spaces cool: close blinds and windows during the day, open them at night
• Eat foods with high water content
• Use SPF sun cream
• Don’t sit in direct sun for long periods
• Check on neighbours, friends or relatives who may be vulnerable
• Turn off unused electrical equipment to reduce indoor heat
• Use fans only when temperatures are below 35°C
• Avoid overloading power sockets
• Store medicines safely, as heat can affect how they work

If you are supporting others — especially outdoors — please also take care of yourself. Ensure vehicles are safe for travel, and consider how to support staff with young children if schools close.

🧊 Helpful resources

• Beat the Heat – Easy Read booklet
• NHS: Heatwave – how to cope in hot weather
• Be Ready for Anything
• Cool Spaces across Hertfordshire

Community & People Wellbeing Team Farnham House, Six Hills Way, Stevenage, SG1 2ST E: community.wellbeing@hertfordshire.gov.uk

Having no idea about where to start with my final blog, I thought I would go right back to the very beginning.
I was between jobs with no real plan about what I was going to do, but I was full of energy and had a touch of ‘can do’ attitude. I blogged Launching The Red Shed on the 18 th June 2018 – at that time I had an idea, a handful of interested folk happy to join me on the adventure and lots of experience of the positive effects of gardening for wellbeing. The biggest thing missing was a home, but the perfect piece of land was just a few weeks away and then we really got started. By the beginning of July, we had a piece of land in the corner of a primary school field. It was overgrown, neglected and absolutely perfect!

Our original group of 4 participants, 2 volunteers and myself worked together to create the roots of the garden we have today. Without even thinking about ‘stakeholder involvement’ the group all had some input and the garden was designed around the needs of those with dementia right from the start. We had an active man who needed a safe space to be able to walk about with freedom and another who was in a wheelchair and enjoyed table top gardening in an accessible area. The carers needed a space to share issues and support each other. It was also clear that The Red Shed needed to be available for people on a regular basis and all year around. It was always important to me to be a recognised organisation so there was an underpinning of everything we did through policies, procedures, DBS checks and safeguarding. I had two wonderfully supportive Directors alongside me and we were registered as a Community Interest Company in October 2018. There was no Business Plan, Funding Plan, Marketing Plan, Action Plan which is
probably not the best way of doing things, but I had no experience of working with these tools and had to learn on the way.

….And what a ride! I’ve had the time of my life, from meeting challenges and most especially meeting some of the most amazing people I’ve ever come across, the last 6¾ years have been some of my best.
Looking through the catalogue of Blogs, the news, events and achievements are all there and tell a story for everyone involved to be proud of.

One thing that was planned from the start was that I was going to retire – whatever happened – when I turned 60. So, my last day has been set as the 28 th February 2025 since the moment The Red Shed popped into my head.
The timing is perfect, we have a great organisation – a registered charity I’m delighted to say! – a Board of Trustees who’s varied experience brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas. A brilliant team of committed, compassionate and joyful volunteers, and a staff team whose dedication to the work of The Red Shed keeps the whole thing together, improving and growing. I am so happy to leave my successor Derek in the driving seat – his enthusiasm is infectious AND – he does have a clue about Business Plans et al!!

I found my retirement send-off quite overwhelming, with good wishes from the organisations I have worked alongside as well as lovely words from Red Shedders who have meant so much to me. It was a fabulous way to end the adventure and launch the next stage of my life…..what ever that may be!

So now I have retired as CEO but I can never retire as Founder, so it’s not farewell
but see you all soon!!

Su

Winter’s shorter days and unpredictable weather can make it harder to get outside, but that doesn’t mean gardening has to stop! At The Red Shed, we embrace indoor activities that keep us connected to nature and support our wellbeing, even when we’re spending more time inside. While we often move indoors during the colder months, there are still plenty of ways to stay engaged. Some of our favourite activities include:

– Caring for Indoor Plants – Watering and tending to houseplants keeps us connected to greenery and adds life to our indoor spaces. It’s a simple way to bring nature into your home, too.

– Watching the Birds – Setting up bird feeders and observing visiting birds can be a wonderful way to appreciate wildlife, even from the warmth of indoors.

– Nature-Inspired Arts and Crafts – From pressed flower art to creating seed tapestries, these activities spark creativity while keeping us connected to nature.

– Seed Collecting and Planning – Gathering seed pods from local plants and trees
helps us think ahead to spring while staying active outdoors.

Each of these activities’ links to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing: learning something new, staying
active, taking notice of nature, connecting with others, and giving back to our environment.
These small actions can have a big impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing.
At The Red Shed, we believe every season has something special to offer, and winter is no
exception. By bringing the garden indoors, we continue to nurture our love for nature and
stay connected to our community—all while keeping our minds and bodies active during the
colder months.

This years Christmas Party was our biggest one yet! Our Red Shed participants, friends and families all got together to celebrate the season. We had a band (from Singing for the Brain), Bingo, a raffle and food galore! Our biggest gift was a wonderful cheque from The National Lottery for the princely sum of £176,186.00. This is an enourmous grant for us and will cover some of our main costs for the next 3 years. Our plans for the future include a second site and another Red Shed garden to benefit people living with dementia and their carers in Hertfordshire. This funding will help us to make that happen.

So we end 2024 with exciting plans and a big THANK YOU to The Lottery and everyone who buys a lottery ticket and helps all sorts of amazing charities and organisations….now that includes us!!

We are looking for a CEO and a Garden Operations Manager to lead The Red Shed through our plans for growth and expansion and to oversee the continued smooth running of our successful site in Stevenage,

The role and person specifications are below.

If you are interested, please send your CV to info.theredshed@gmail.com along with a covering letter telling us why you are the right person for us….

The Red Shed
Chief Executive Officer
Job summary
The Red Shed is seeking a highly motivated and organised CEO to lead and oversee all aspects of the organisation’s work. The Red Shed Project is at a crucial point in its development as we seek to expand. The CEO will have the major role in researching, establishing and developing a new site and, on an ongoing basis, ensuring that The Red Shed Project is responsive to the changing needs of people living with dementia and their carers and of the services available to them. In order to achieve this, the person appointed, in collaboration with the Board of Trustees, will have responsibility for, and take an innovative approach to, strategic planning and to fundraising. On a day-to-day basis, this role plays a pivotal part in the smooth running of The Red Shed’s activities, ensuring that the existing garden and future sites develop in response to the needs of their communities and participants.
The role is for 3 days per week based upon an initial one year’s contract. The salary will be £40,000 pro rata.
The base is currently in Stevenage but the role will cover a wider geographical area and is expected to include a second site. Relevant travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The CEO will be responsible to The Board of Trustees.
Key Responsibilities
• Planning & Strategy:
o Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the needs of people and communities living with dementia and ensure the Red Shed has a key role in providing services to meet them
o Research and recommend funding streams to finance Red Shed activities and formulate effective bids.
o Collaborate with the Operations Manager to develop, write and implement strategic plans, action plans, marketing plan and business plans for The Red Shed.
o Develop strategic networks and work with partners and stakeholders in research, development and the planning of new activities.

• Finance & Administration:
o Write, manage and monitor funding applications and reports.
o Prepare budgets and manage finances effectively.
o Utilise QuickBooks for bookkeeping and liaise with the organisation’s accountant.

• Management and Operations
o Manage and provide leadership and direction to the Operations Manager and the Administrator.
o Collaborate with the Operations Manager to ensure that their plans for garden maintenance and development accord with strategic and business plans and funders’ requirements as well as the needs of participants and communities.
o Ensure a programme of training and networking meetings is in place for the Garden Manager, staff and volunteers
o Ensure the safeguarding of all users of the site and in relation to any site-specific vulnerabilities (e.g. the school) and enable all staff volunteers and users to implement all aspects of the safeguarding policy.
o Create and update Red Shed Policy documents as required ready for the approval of the Board of Trustees
o Maintain effective liaison with the site owner to ensure effective and efficient operations and to maintain a good working relationship.
o Facilitate all HR functions, seeking appropriate advice where necessary.
o Oversee the performance appraisal of all employed staff and monitor the impact of volunteers, providing effective feedback enabling the Red Shed to achieve its main aims and objectives.
o Ensure that plans for training match both the needs of the individual and the needs of the organisation.

• Reporting & Communication:
o Prepare written reports for Board of Trustee and contribute to their meetings.
o Cultivate relationships and partnerships through networking and marketing initiatives.
o Seek out and respond to enquiries for new participants in The Red Shed’s programs.
o Manage the promotion of the profile of The Red Shed, using social media and other appropriate methods.
o Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to a range of stakeholders
o Promote and represent the Red Shed at external events as required.

• Impact Measurement:
o Develop and implement methods to measure the impact of The Red Shed’s activities.
o Prepare reports highlighting the organisation’s impact.
Additional Information
This is a rewarding opportunity for a passionate individual to make a significant contribution to The Red Shed’s mission. The successful candidate will be a highly organised and motivated leader with a commitment to positive social impact.
Safeguarding
The Red Shed is fully committed to its safeguarding responsibilities and has a robust Safeguarding Policy which complies with the policies of Hertfordshire County Council. Our selection and appointment of staff is subject to robust procedures which are aimed to protect the users of our Charity. An enhanced DBS clearance and other safeguarding checks will be essential to this role.

The Red Shed
Operations Manager
Job summary
The Red Shed is seeking a highly motivated and organised Operations Manager to lead on all aspects of the development, operation and maintenance of our dementia friendly gardens, ensuring they are responsive to the needs of people living with dementia, their carers and the communities they live in. The Red Shed Project is at a crucial point in its development as we seek to expand and the Operations Manager will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to establish and develop a new site. On a day-to-day basis, this role plays a pivotal part in ensuring the smooth running of The Red Shed’s activities. The person appointed will be responsible for managing staff and volunteers and developing and ensuring the smooth running of Garden Clubs and other Red Shed activities.
The role is for 3 days per week initially on a one year’s contract. The salary will be £25,000 pro rata. The Operations Manager will be responsible to the CEO.
The base is currently in Stevenage but the role will cover a wider geographical area and is expected to include a second site. Relevant travel expenses will be reimbursed.
The Operations Manager will be responsible to the CEO.
Key Responsibilities
• Management:
o Provide leadership and direction to staff members (currently 3 part-time).
o Oversee a volunteer team (currently approximately 12 people, including a volunteer coordinator).
o Manage and delegate tasks effectively.
o Manage the recruitment of participants in The Red Shed activities.
o Ensure that all policies and procedures are effectively implemented.
o Enable effective safeguarding and safe use of the site according to policy.
o Manage all petty cash and donations according to agreed financial procedures and protocols.
o Work with the administrator to ensure effective running of all operations.
o Maintain effective liaison with the site owner to ensure effective and efficient operations and to maintain a good working relationship.

• Operations & Activities:
o Oversee the gardens and any future sites, maintaining and developing them in accordance with agreed plans and in relation to the needs of people living with dementia.
o Coordinate and oversee the delivery of weekly Garden Clubs (currently 4), monthly Carers Café (currently 1), 1 monthly DIG (research) group, Care Home visits and other activities as they develop.
o Work with staff members to develop and deliver activities, ensuring they meet the needs of people living with dementia and their carers.
o Handle purchasing of garden supplies and other necessary materials.
o Work with the wider team to manage the planning and execution of events throughout the year (Open Garden, Christmas Party, Quiz Nights, etc.)

• Reporting & Communication:
o Liaise with and report to the CEO, ensuring they are fully informed of progress and issues relating to the garden, the activities and their participants.
o Support the CEO to manage the profile of the Red Shed through effective communications, including the use of social media.
o Communicate effectively with all users of the Red Shed to ensure effective daily operations.
o Manage the promotion of the profile of The Red Shed, using social media and other appropriate methods.
o Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, to a range of stakeholders
o Promote and represent the Red Shed at external events as required.

• Impact Measurement:
o Implement methods to measure the impact of The Red Shed’s activities.
Additional Information
This is a rewarding opportunity for a passionate individual to make a significant contribution to The Red Shed’s mission. The successful candidate will be an experienced gardener and a highly organised individual with a commitment to positive social impact.
Safeguarding
The Red Shed is fully committed to its safeguarding responsibilities and has a robust Safeguarding Policy which complies with the policies of Hertfordshire County Council. Our selection and appointment of staff is subject to robust procedures which are aimed to protect the users of our Charity. An enhanced DBS clearance and other safeguarding checks will be essential to this role.

At the Red Shed, we are proud to have built international connections that inspire and broaden our horizons. Recently, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Stevenage Kadoma Link to our garden, along with some special guests from Kadoma, Zimbabwe. It was a fantastic opportunity to share our space and exchange ideas. We treated our visitors to a traditional afternoon tea, and for many of them, it was their first time ever trying scones! We couldn’t resist sharing the famous Devon and Cornwall scone debate with them—much to their amusement.

During the visit, it was fascinating to learn about the differences in horticultural knowledge and dementia care between our countries. Our guests shared that where they live, they have an abundance of land but limited experience in these areas. Inspired by what they saw at The Red Shed, they expressed interest in exploring how they can use their land in a similar way. We’re excited to hear more from them in the future and see if they take steps toward implementing some of the ideas we’ve shared.

This visit is not our first international link; we also have a connection with the Toulouse Women’s International Group (TWIG), with whom we collaborate on various initiatives. These international exchanges help us grow, learn, and inspire each other, and we look forward to building more meaningful connections in the future.

At The Red Shed, we believe in making our garden a placed shaped by the people who use it. Our Stakeholders – participants, carers, volunteers, workshop leaders, trustees and supporters – all have a voice in deciding what happens here.  We encourage everyone to get involved, from choosing new garden features to sharing feedback on what makes our space more welcoming and accessible. A recent example of this is our Herb Garden; we proposed adding something new to an area of the garden and our stakeholders came together with ideas and went on to make a vote… with the Herb Garden being the winner! Now it is a vibrant part of The Red Shed, offering scents, textures and taste that we can all enjoy. The transformation was a team effort from all of our stakeholders which shows how every voice can help make The Red Shed a community for everyone.

At The Red Shed, we’ve always been dedicated to creating meaningful, garden-based activities for those living with dementia, but our commitment to wellbeing extends well beyond the garden gate! We have been thrilled to share our latest partnership with Stevenage FC Foundation on an exciting new initiative – Boro Bygones.

This is a reminiscence programme designed to enrich the lives of those living with dementia, funded by the Hertfordshire Sport and Physical Activity Partnership with support from the University of Hertfordshire. The programme has been a great success in bringing many folk together to engage in a unique and stimulating experience.

Hosted at The Red Shed, the sessions are a treasure trove of Stevenage FC memorabilia and unforgettable moments to spark memories and stimulate senses. From past football shirts to tales from the world cup and Olympic sports, Boro Bygones has taken folk on a journey through the decades rekindling fond memories and creating new connections. To add a bit of fitness and fun every session ends with a friendly game of walking football ensuring that physical activity remains a key component of the programme.

While The Red Shed remains rooted in its origins as a garden programme, Boro Bygones exemplifies our ongoing commitment to being an active part of the broader community. We are very proud and have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Stevenage FC Foundation to bring this programme to life – we’ll look forward to letting you know more about our collaborations and the many ways we’re continuing to grow our community impact, both in the garden and beyond.    

So proud to see our article printed in the latest addition of the Jounal of Dementia Care ! It’s about the impact measurement tool we have designed using the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. We worked with researcher Elspeth Mathie and colleagues from the University of Hertfordshire to put it together.

Check out the Journal on line or read the full article below…….