Cloud Gardener Jason Williams to host wellbeing gardening evening in Heywood

Residents are being invited to discover how gardening can support wellbeing when television presenter and horticultural expert Jason Williams visits Heywood later this month for a free community event. Organised by Heywood in Bloom as part of the Great Heywood Gathering programme, the evening will explore how container gardening can improve both physical and mental wellbeing while helping people make the most of even the smallest outdoor spaces.

The event, titled 'Grow Well', will take place on Wednesday, 12 August, from 6.30pm until 9.30pm at Corcoran Close Community Room, Heywood. Organisers say refreshments will be provided free of charge, giving local residents an opportunity to meet others from the community while learning practical gardening techniques from one of the country's best-known horticultural communicators.

Jason Williams, widely known as the 'Cloud Gardener', has built a large following through his work promoting accessible gardening and encouraging people to grow flowers, fruit and vegetables in urban environments. His approach focuses on making gardening achievable for everyone, regardless of the size of their garden or outdoor space, with container gardening becoming increasingly popular among people living in flats, terraces and homes with smaller gardens.

Research continues to demonstrate the benefits gardening can have for health and wellbeing. NHS-backed social prescribing schemes increasingly include community gardening projects as a way of improving mental health, reducing loneliness, encouraging gentle physical activity and strengthening social connections. Studies have also linked time spent in green spaces with reduced stress levels and improved overall wellbeing.

The event forms part of the wider Great Heywood Gathering initiative, supported through the Culture Co-op's Creative People and Places programme. The initiative aims to bring local communities together through arts, culture, wellbeing and environmental activities, encouraging more residents to become involved in projects that improve the town and strengthen neighbourhood connections.

Heywood in Bloom has played an important role in enhancing public spaces across the town through volunteer-led planting schemes, community gardening projects and environmental improvements. Working alongside residents, schools and community organisations, the group has helped transform flower beds, public spaces and neglected areas while promoting biodiversity and civic pride.

The event has been supported by Rochdale Borough Council, Your Trust, Arts Council England, The National Lottery Community Fund and Pride in Place, reflecting the collaborative approach taken to delivering community activities across the borough.

Organisers hope the evening will inspire more people to discover the benefits of gardening, whether by growing flowers on a balcony, vegetables in containers or creating wildlife-friendly spaces at home. They also hope the event will encourage new volunteers to become involved with Heywood in Bloom and future environmental projects across the town.

Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to arrive in time for the 6.30pm start at Corcoran Close Community Room, OL10 4XD. With expert advice, free refreshments and a focus on community wellbeing, organisers hope the evening will leave attendees with practical ideas, new friendships and the confidence to start growing at home.