A GROUP dedicated to supporting people with incurable conditions to “live life when you need it most”, has started a project to create a garden space to “sit and reflect”.

The HAHAV Living Well Group, who are dedicated to supporting people who are affected by cancer, have started a project to bring life to their garden at their hub in Aberystwyth.

The six-week Coed Lleol, or Small Woods Association, project started on Tuesday, 15 February, and will see the HAHAV garden transformed, over the six week project time line, into a space where people can “sit and reflect”. The group hope the groundwork they create in the garden during this time will pave the way for further development of the garden by other groups at HAHAV.

While one group of volunteers and clients spent their first session making benches, by hand, around a fire pit in the garden, another group spent the session making willow bird feeders to be used in the garden.

HAHAV Living Well and Bereavement Services Manager Susie Scott said the group is for “people living in Aberystwyth and Ceredigion who are affected by cancer”.

She said: “We run activities, to help people learn something new, reignite passions they may have forgotten about, and build friendships - which is easier when you are with people who understand. It’s about living life when you need it the most.

“We want all groups, Ceredigion Carers, Aberystwyth Parkinson’s Group, or the Dementia Cafe, to feel they can use the space as they want.”

Mandy Piltcher, Facilities and Services Manager at HAHAV, added: “Coed Lleol don’t normally come out to a venue, but because the majority of our clients’ health isn’t the best, we couldn’t go out to them. But to visit the woods would be lovely, we thought we might go there at the end of the project.

“People are slowly coming out of the woodwork after lockdowns and they’re reflecting. It’s about bringing people back together. I think people are scared to come out, but what’s great is the people here are living with cancer - and they haven’t stopped!”

During the pandemic, Mandy said HAHAV services moved online: “Because of the pandemic, organisations like HAHAV had to suddenly decide to do something different. Zoom is not a replacement for face-to-face interaction, but maybe a hybrid approach would lend itself to opening up the group more.”

Ceredigion project officer for Coed Lleol, Catherine Cave, said this was the first time they had worked exclusively on a group’s site: “You can get different things from the project, but its about connecting to other people and a shared purpose. I’ve found, since lockdown, people are looking for community and a shared purpose.

“People are thinking a lot about how they get people outside, but also people are apprehensive about coming to groups. They’re used to not doing stuff. Even I have to push myself all the time!

“But doing a project outside, it’s not awkward, when you’re in a room you really hear the silence. Outside, it doesn’t feel intense.

“A lot of the work Coed Lleol does is a form of meditation - all of your focus is on what you are doing. You can’t think about anything one your mind when you’re cutting down a tree. It’s a few hours away from your head.”

Susie added: “The group is supported by a grant from Macmillan and HAHAV offer a meeting space at Plas Antaron, one of HAHAV’s volunteers, help us to organise events and activities. We always welcome new members.

“There is no pressure for people to talk about their illness, many times they don’t, but there is a common understanding of what it feels like to be diagnosed with cancer and the impact it can have on your life and relationships.”

HAHAV are appealing for volunteers who would be able to help on the project, especially with the re purposing of old benches into planters or with any useful gardening advice, to get in touch.

You can contact HAHAV on 01970 611 550.