European guests visit HSE horticultural project in Tipperary

Above: The HSE’s South Tipperary Substance Misuse Team’s horticultural garden at Western Road, Clonmel was visited by EU Agri Next exchange participants from Tipperary Education and Training Board (TETB) and programme participants in Croatia, Spain and Slovenia

International guests were welcomed recently by the HSE’s South Tipperary Substance Misuse Team to the horticultural project it utilises on Western Road in Clonmel as part of recovery work with users of its service.

Counterparts from Croatia, Spain and Slovenia, some of whom provide support to people with addictions through work on the land and in organic farming, were in Ireland as part of an EU Agri Next exchange programme in which the Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB) is participating.

In recent years, since taking up residence at new premises on the HSE’s Western Road campus in Clonmel, the social and therapeutic horticulture programme attaching to it is a significant part of substance misuse recovery delivered there.

Speaking during the visit, the Co-ordinator of South Tipperary Substance Misuse Team, Sinéad O’Mahoney Carey said:“We work closely with the Tipperary Education and Training Board (ETB). Indeed, the ETB supported us in marking out and developing the allotments and polytunnels at our grounds on the Western Road campus.

“Along the way, in June 2023, it saw our ‘postcard garden’ feature at last year’s Bord Bia Bloom event in Dublin’s Phoenix Park and receive a commendation.

“We were delighted to tell that story and exchange other information recently with our guests from Croatia, Spain and Slovenia.

“As part of the HSE’s primary care services, our Substance Misuse Teams provide a wide range of supports and are also engaged in ongoing awareness information campaigns and in drug education.

“Colleagues such as those working in our South Tipperary services, including in outreach facilities in Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel and Tipperary Town promote wellness and recovery and work to improve the overall quality of life for individuals and their families struggling with substance misuse.

“As we outlined for our international guests, the horticultural work being done at our centre in Clonmel proves very engaging and rewarding to its participants,” Sinéad O’Mahoney Carey added.

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