Greener on the Outside: For Prisons Summer /Autumn 2018 Welcome! It s been a very busy year so far which has included five new prison GOOP sites in the neighbouring regions to the North West, a National Prison Health Research Conference held in Preston at the University of Central Lancashire and a GOOP presentation live streamed from the Ministry of Justice s Biodiversity event at headquarters, London and the summer flower shows to name a few. The GOOP Network continues to thrive and always welcomes new members. This is a newsletter written by members of the GOOP Network please contact them directly for further information, circulate widely and invite colleagues to contribute to future editions. A huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to this edition, to Flo Seymour for coordinating this edition, to everyone who continues to support GOOP and to all the hard work going on out in the field to make GOOP such a success. Enjoy reading! Michelle mbaybutt@uclan.ac.uk
Celebrating all things biodiverse.at the MoJ Biodiversity Day! The annual Biodiversity Day was held on the 26th September at MoJ headquarters in London. It was a great day with a good turnout of staff and partners alike. The aim of the day is to raise awareness of the MoJ Ecology Team and the work they do across the estate. We had GOOP, the Woodland Trust, Bumblebee Conservation, Bat Conservation to name just a few, helping us deliver lunchtime talks, a tree walk and an evening bat walk. We also had our own stand with a few staff from HMP Portland, with a competition for people to win a lavender plant grown at HMP Ford. Contact: Beatrice Finch Ecology Technical Support Sustainability Team Mobile: 07976 298929 Email: Beatrice.finch@justice.gov.uk Follow us on Twitter @MoJGovUK
HMP Berwyn Hello Fellow Goopers. Lets us start by saying we are really proud to be taking forward the GOOP project here at HMP Berwyn, in being the first six! Our first project will be in the chaplaincy garden where we have been tasked to produce a garden that will present elements from each faith practiced here at Berwyn. We were given specific markers as to what needs to be in there, but on a whole given carte blanche to use our own creative skills and ingenuity. As you can see from the above picture we have made a start focusing first on the Pagan faith and created a spiral. Throughout the design process in the first week a theme was also picked and this was upcycling and conservation moving forward as this is only our second week, we will be wherever possible choosing to re-use and recycle where possible e.g. bed sheets, plastic bottles, pallets the possibilities are endless! Catch you all soon in the next installment The Berwyn Goopers! Jenna Holdcroft-Jones - jenna.holdcroft-jones@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Buckley Hall As we ve entered the summer months we have had a variety of fruit and vegetables growing in our polytunnels including strawberries, kale, a selection of lettuces, cucumber and tomatoes. We are continuing to work on the new gym garden area which will have a polytunnel and outside raised beds. It is hoped that this can be used in conjunction with the gym s healthy eating course and for other groups over time. The nursery garden at the back of the polytunnel has been totally revamped and is now in regular use as a vegetable plot. The progressive regime on C wing is imminent, therefore our work will be stepped up considerably over the next few Further, we have just finished constructing 4 weeks. large planters for Rochdale in Bloom and these are being placed at Rochdale Football Club as part of their wonder wall display. Judging took place on 2nd July for North West in Bloom where Rochdale are hopeful of great success. Unsurprisingly, the gardens have been difficult to water in this drought period due to our lack of outside taps. Despite this, we have still managed to plant a wide variety of flowers and shrubs. We continue to work on the visits garden where real Dean Larder dean.larder@hmps.gsi.gov.uk progress is being made.
HMP Hewell We have started GOOP work in various areas of the prison, including the inpatients garden (photo below), the memorial garden and the veg patch polytunnel. We have also been working with 2 prisoners in particular who have been on a constant watch during their sentence. One started working with the Gardens Party, worked really well and is now working in the kitchens, no longer on constant watch after his engagement with GOOP. The other is continuing to positively engage with our gardens team. He came off his constant watch last month and will continue to work in the gardens on a full time basis. Involvement with GOOP has really proved to be beneficial for both of them and was a great help in progressing them to a more positive state of mind. We plan to remain in close working contact with Safer Custody as we progress on various projects across the prison. Future plans include closer work with Healthcare Managers to promote prescribing work and exercise instead of medication. Laura Bretherton laura.bretherton01@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Humber We are making really good progress on GOOP at Humber and have now identified not just one prisoner champion but three! This is because it allows us to ensure we always have at least one champion available for when we run our sessions. There have been some occasions when we have had all three with us and the work has progressed extremely well. We have cleared the area we initially identified and have also cleared the small pond we had, as it was completely overgrown and choked. Plants have been pruned, cut back and further areas identified for planting. We are shortly going to be receiving some raspberry and kiwi plants so that when they ripen we can use them as part of the cookery/baking sessions that are run in the Day Centre Kitchen. The men involved really do seem to enjoy the time they spend in the garden and look forward to the sessions eagerly. Future plans will hopefully include having some chickens on site and I am also looking into beekeeping. Martin Ridgway martin.ridgway@hmps.gsi.gov.uk HMP YOI Styal We continue to be the biggest employer in the prison with over 60 prisoners working in the grounds. Some of the produce can be used within the self-catering houses as and when women require fresh vegetables. Further, we are installing a small shed that can be used as a shop outside the prison which will allows us to sell fresh vegetables and cut flowers to general public. There have been some staff shortages and changes at Styal and as a result we were unable to enter Tatton Flower Show. However, we have two new staff members recruited who will hopefully both be in post within the next couple of months. Our next big project is to develop a Victorian style garden within the prison. This has been designed by staff and prisoners, alongside a local historian. We are just awaiting confirmation on the Lottery bid before this gets fully underway. Finally, we had confirmation from The Clink that they are to significantly invest in our gardens with a new polytunnel and 30m greenhouse. Their funding will also pay for an instructor to help grow vegetables to be used in The Clink Restaurant. Eddie Tarry eddie.j.tarry@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Kirkham It s all busy here at the moment we are flat out on the farm. It tends to be all or nothing!! We are currently finishing off the new base for the Large Black Pig Enterprise this will have a brand new Utility Building constructed on there meaning our pigs will have indoor and outdoor living environments. We are hoping to breed from them in July/August time. We are through to the semi-final of the HMPS Wildlife Award and judging will be starting some time in June/July. We already had a very successful calving and lambing season during the spring; they are all now happily out in fields! Finally, we have been and continue to be busy getting plants and props ready for this summer s Southport Flower Show. We will be looking to take 4 men on ROTL with us to help with the show, along with our prisoner drivers. The theme for this year is Once Upon a Time so we have created a gingerbread house, beanstalk for Jack and the Beanstalk, got some props from Blackpool Pleasure Beach and growing flowers for the display itself. Diane Clare diane.clare@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Liverpool Once again, we have continued to make great steps in improving our GOOP site here at Liverpool. Its been so good that we are awaiting the arrival of some bees to the site too! Staff have been trained appropriately, equipment and hives are in, so we are almost ready to go. Hopefully we will have some pictures for the next newsletter. The greenhouse is also in full bloom we are currently growing tomatoes, aubergines, courgettes, herbs, spring onions, butternut squash, sweet peas and cucumbers. Everything that is grown in our greenhouse is now washed and passed onto our Staff Mess and Catering classroom. Our new shed (above) is currently being assembled next to our greenhouse. This was provided by Prison Service Industries and built by prisoners at HMP Kirkham. This should allow us to install a classroom in the not so distant future and provide some storage space for equipment and tools. Clare Ferguson clare.chase@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Hull Over the last few months we have made significant progress, in line with our GOOP Action Plan, despite some delays with Procurement and Works issues with our contractor. Notably, the engineering workshop have now completed our Tool Cage which is now located and secure and a shadow board for the tools is being made to measure for the cage. Some tools have now been etched and on inventory but we re still awaiting other procured items to be delivered. Our greenhouse is now in place with successful growth of tomatoes over the last few months. We ve also had a some good plant growth in raised beds. To extend this growth further, we are awaiting the installation of an outside tap which is the single most important issue at present. There is now an area identified for chickens but is awaiting some modification and the chicken coop is in the pre-planning stage with the woodwork shop. We currently have five participants identified and on pay roll and all have provided positive feedback. There is now a DVD player on site which has encouraged the men to learn whilst watching gardening videos in the GOOP room. Most importantly, we have seen success in reducing self-harm and one person has had their ACCT closed. Rick Mason richard.masonh1@hmps.gsi.gov.uk HMP YOI Hindley We currently don t have significant developments here at Hindley. However, our next venture is that we are planning to have a small farm shop on site that will be available for prisoners families to purchase from on visits. Also, we are currently making and selling hanging baskets to staff and partner agencies and, so far, have raised over 3600 which will be used to purchase seeds etc. Chris Barker christopher.barker@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Preston Following a couple of years of maintaining the cottage garden area, we decided it was time for a complete re-haul! Prisoners and horticulture staff worked together to redesign and create a Woodland Walk. After lots of hard work and attention, we had our official opening of the Japanese Garden in May hosted by the Governor and members of the Healthcare team, where the garden is located. We have been judged on both the Japanese Garden and the Woodland Walk for the Windlesham Trophy and managed to come in the top 4! This year we have mostly been concentrating on growing herbs to supply the kitchens, hoping to reduce their outgoing costs. We are continuously recruiting prisoners for the City & Guilds horticulture certificate. Our next project is to make allotments, using raised beds made on site, for the prisoners on G wing (the drug recovery wing). It is thought that the prisoners will be able to grow and look after their own vegetables, herbs and flowers. Ken Seed ken.seed@hmps.gsi.gov.uk Ann Johnson ann.johnson@hmps.gsi.gov.uk Chris Curzon Christopher.curzon@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMP Wymott The GOOP project at HMP Wymott has progressed substantially over the previous quarter. We are part way through the creation of the sensory garden, a project which has involved service users designing, creating and building a raised flowers bed along with a stone seated area and an arbour. We are also in the process of growing wild flowers through our strong relationship with the National Trust. This project has been embraced openly by our service users who have continued to show a positive work ethic and desire to improve their environment. As always, we continue to grow fresh fruit and vegetables in our polytunnel and outdoor veg patch. Gemma Mukadam gemma.mukadam@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
HMYOI Thorn Cross As ever, we have plenty going on with GOOP at Thorn Cross, especially with the Southport Show coming up. Lots of preparation and planning has gone into our stall and ROTL prisoners will hope to gain possible future employment from the day itself; something which has happened previously. We aim to change public perceptions of prisons with the work we display at the show. We managed to get hold of a 2nd half greenhouse following the closure of Kennet. This has now been installed but we are awaiting funding for a weather station, to allow roof vents to open at certain times etc. Our crop growing programme is fully underway, growing for both the farm shop and commercially for the kitchen. We are growing mostly in raised beds and have had tomatoes, peppers, chillies, French beans, onions, spring onions, beetroot, courgettes and rhubarb. As one batch is sent and used in the kitchen the new lot is being grown. Current activities involve designing and creating a new theme for the front entrance of the prison; again to be eye-catching for members of the public passing. CGL are doing a great job of running the farm shop has been up and running for a while on site now, situated alongside the orchard. Our farm shop now has a Facebook page: Thorn Cross Farm Shop. We ve created some further community links by joining in with a local tradition: Bawning of the Thorn, hosted by the community church group. This is a village fete type event where ribbons are placed in a tree and we held a farm stall there. There has been good input from prisoners, particularly through CGL with substance misuse and mental health teams. Around 20 prisoners are enrolled at the moment, which is less than previous years but it s become a case of quality over quantity. We had a successful grafting/reuse programme last year, taking cuttings from apples and pear trees, to grow further produce. They went on to sell for around 10 each on site. There is value in horticulture! Bob Leckie robert.leckie@hmps.gsi.gov.uk
Ministry of Justice Ecology Team MoJ BioBlitz The MoJ will be holding a nationwide BioBlitz during the week of the 6th 12th August. During this week we are encouraging all MoJ staff to do their own BioBlitz at their sites. This can be as comprehensive as you d like, if you can only spare a couple of hours that s fine but perhaps you could lead a group on a half day blitz? A BioBlitz pack is available from Bea Finch; this includes various basic ID sheets for common species. There is also a spreadsheet included, Bea would like all data to be recorded on there, these will be collected after the event (hard copies are ok if you want to post them). The data will then be uploaded onto the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) https://nbn.org.uk/ Beekeeping community The MoJ Ecology Team are starting up an online beekeeping community for all MoJ staff across the country. This is an excellent opportunity to share knowledge, pass on tips, and chat with fellow bee lovers. If you have a hive already we d love to know about it, or maybe you have the space for one, or you are able to plant bee friendly plants/erect a bee hotel at your site?
Ministry of Justice Ecology Team Barn owl project We are trying to find out what is happening across the estate regarding barn owls. Do you currently have barn owl boxes on your site? And are they being used (by barn owls!)? If so how many are in there? The picture shows three fledgling barn owls in a box at HMP Isle of Wight. Greg Kellman (MoJ Ecology Support) is creating a database, if you know anything could you let him know Greg.Kellman@Justice.gov.uk We need more people taking part with possible erection of barn owl boxes, and the creation of long rank grassland to help protect this wonderful species. How to create good Barn Owl habitat: Rough Grassland is a long, thick, matted, tussocky mix of native grass species with a litterlayer at least 70mm deep. Create patches or strips of rough grassland with a high Field Vole population. Rough grassland is a thick, matted, tussocky mix of native grass species. Make sure the land is more than 1km from the nearest motorway, dual carriageway or similar fast open-plan road. MoJ Contact: Beatrice.Finch@justice.gov.uk
The Role of Health and Wellbeing in Creating a Rehabilitative Culture Prison Health Research Symposium, University of Central Lancashire [UCLan], Preston Following successful symposiums in both Glasgow and Belfast, it was UCLan s turn to host the annual, national, Prison Health Research Symposium, which took place at the end of June. The event focused on the role of health and wellbeing in creating a rehabilitative culture in prisons with a wide range of practitioners and researchers in attendance. Firstly, UCLan Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mike Thomas, opened the conference, welcoming everyone and highlighted the importance of health and wellbeing within the criminal justice system. The Executive Director of Public Sector Prisons North, Alan Scott then delivered an insightful talk touching on public perceptions of crime and punishment and the current issues facing rehabilitative issues in prisons. The policies and practices surrounding rehabilitation and the terminology used to describe people in prison was then explored by Dr. Eamonn O Moore, Public Health England. The importance of utilising leadership roles to improve rehabilitation was presented by Dr. Kate Gooch, University of Leicester, followed by an acknowledgement of whole systems health approaches and heath promotion in prisons by Prof. Mark Dooris and Dr. James Woodall, respectively. Dr. Ruth Mann then outlined the current status of health and rehabilitation and what opportunities could arise in the future. The afternoon workshops were facilitated by PhD students Rose Mortimer, Nasrul Ismail and Flo Seymour. These sessions offered a more interactive approach and prompted discussion surrounding ethical issues in prison mother and baby units, the impact of austerity on prisons and hypermasculinities and horticulture. John Illingsworth, Prison Group Director North West, closed proceedings with an honest, Director perspective of what can be done to improve practice. Huge thanks to all who participated in the event: speakers, delegates and all those behind the scenes for making the event such a success. The symposium can also be found on Twitter, search: #PHRS2018.
GOOP PhD Research HMP Preston The last 2 and a half years have absolutely flown by and somehow I ve reached a point where my PhD isn t far from being complete. After a really enjoyable and eye-opening period of data collection at HMP Preston last summer, I now find myself at a point of nearly being written up with 80000 words in front of me! As I ve mentioned before, the whole world of prisons was completely new to me prior to the PhD experience; I had no idea how much I would learn and I was astonished at the level of creativity that lies behind the prison walls. One thing I always believed before starting this research was that being outside and learning is almost always beneficial and unsurprisingly, from what I ve seen and heard at several GOOP sites has only affirmed this. I only hope that greater public understanding and appreciation of what is possible though horticulture in prisons will one day exist. With regards to the final few months of the PhD phase, I am on course to have a full first draft written up by the end of July, with the intention of a final version being submitted in the Autumn all being well! I also plan to write up a journal publication of some selected findings from the study. As soon as the research findings are available to share amongst the GOOP Network, I look forward to presenting them. Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff and the GOOP prisoners at HMP Preston who have been involved in my research over the last couple of years; particularly Ken, Ann and Chris as well as the two prisoners who made this wooden cabinet for me! The GOOP site at Preston now holds some great memories for me due to the unforgettable summer I had there. Flo Seymour FSeymour@uclan.ac.uk
Book makes a case for greening prisons Outside Time combines personal narrative with social history to trace the rise, fall and tentative revival of prison farming and horticulture programs. Outside Time offers insight into a side of prisons often overlooked agricultural and gardening work programs from the perspective of those who ran them. Written by Hannah Wright, an environmental psychologist and the daughter of a prison farm manager, Outside Time is a detailed, textured account that calls for the expansion of horticulture programs under the banner of sustainability. With prisons selfsufficient in food until twenty years ago, Hannah argues for the value of this work to be more widely recognised as a means to rehabilitate and humanize. Outside Time is a detailed account of a little-known history that prison policymakers, agriculturalists, and scholars of prison bureaucracy will find intriguing. Printed at HMP Coldingley, Outside Time is available to order from bookshops, Amazon or direct from the author at www.hanwrights.com. This book is an unexpected pleasure - well-written, fascinating and full of heart. But above all it s a vital testament to the extraordinary power of gardening and growing food to heal broken lives. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, food campaigner A gem of a book: a history of, tribute to, and eulogy for prison horticulture and agriculture. Alison Liebling, Professor of Criminology, Cambridge University A fearless, passionate and deeply human treatise for rehabilitation by farming that makes perfect sense. Miriam Darlington, The Times nature writer A lesson to all of us about reintroducing ourselves to the land and connecting to nature a powerful reminder that the past has lessons to teach the future. Sir Tim Smit, co-founder of the Eden Project
Other News and Resources: For information about The Clink restaurants: https://theclinkcharity.org/ The Thorn Cross Farm Shop: https://en-gb.facebook.com/thorn-cross-farm-shop-277573279448257/ The UCLan GOOP page, for all newsletters: https://www.uclan.ac.uk/research/explore/projects/ greener_on_the_outside_for_prisons.php North West in Bloom: https://www.northwestinbloom.com/ Southport Flower Show event: http://www.southportflowershow.co.uk/ Tatton Flower Show page with all the photos from this year s event: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-flower-show-tatton-park The Worldwide Prison Health Research & Engagement Network (WEPHREN): https://wephren.tghn.org/