Terry is a co-farmer at our social enterprise, Elm Tree Farm in Bristol, and this is a very big year for him. Along with countless other people with learning disabilities, Terry spent a large part of his life in a long-stay hospital.
He lived at Purdown, which is now the Priory Hospital in Stapleton. Terry wasn’t born in Bristol, but he was very young when he moved to the hospital, and the area has been at the heart of his life ever since.
Creating a market garden
In January 1982, a small group of patients from Purdown came to the then hospital farm, to break ground on a new market garden project. It was designed as an occupational therapy resource, to provide training and activity for a wide range of abilities.
Terry was one of the original group of around six people who braved the January weather with project leader Bill, who went on to manage the farm for many years, to start a whole new garden which continues to thrive.
Expert gardener
Farm coordinator, Lisa, told us: “Terry is now an expert gardener and is so in tune with the routines of the farm that he can often be found showing new staff and volunteers the ropes. He continues to work on the Market Garden once a week, come rain or shine – or hail, snow, or wind, for that matter!”
40 years on
Terry was 22 years old when he first came to the farm all those years ago, and he still can’t pick a favourite thing. He says he: “Loves everything about it.”
Fast-forward 40 years, and the Market Garden team celebrated with caterpillar cakes (vegetable growers’ revenge), and a selection of fruit and vegetable juices that they made experimental mocktails with.
Congratulations Terry. Thank you for your valued contribution to the ongoing success of the farm.
