Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project

Moulsecoomb Forest Garden and Wildlife Project – MFGWP – is a small charity on the outskirts of Brighton located in an area of high deprivation with few community facilities.

We connect people with gardening, food and nature through:

• Working in primary and secondary schools to provide an alternative for pupils who struggle in a typical classroom setting
• Running a therapeutic garden project for people of all abilities
• Having inclusivity and diversity at the heart of the project, with everyone welcome at our Tuesday and Friday work days

We work alongside local schools, social services, pupil referral units, the youth service and other organisations, supporting young people to make progress in mainstream education to achieve their potential.

We provide outdoor education and therapeutic support for pupils at Key Stages 3 and 4 in the Brighton and Hove area, offering eco-therapy and outdoor education to complement the school curriculum. We specialise in working with young people with learning difficulties such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia and ADHD.

We offer horticultural, carpentry, woodland management, cooking, educational and social opportunities to everyone.

Our aims are to:

• Reduce anti-social behaviour by involving excluded pupils in the running of the garden.
• Improve community health by producing organic and locally grown fruit and vegetables.
• Enhance skills and employability by offering practical based training and volunteering opportunities.
• Involve children in planting, growing and eating healthy food and learning to respect nature and the environment.
• Create and enhance wildlife habitats and protect biodiversity including old fashioned vegetable varieties.
• Promote sustainable lifestyles by encouraging and educating people about the benefits of organic gardening, locally produced food and composting.