The team at Cherry Tree Nursery in Bournemouth say they are ‘honoured’ after His Majesty the King’s personal representative for Dorset heaped praise on the award-winning mental health project.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Dorset, Professor Michael Dooley, visited the 36 year-old nursery, run by mental health charity Plants and Minds, on Tuesday 22 September 2026.
Cherry Tree Nursery, at Northbourne, supports up to 85 adults with life-impacting mental health conditions every week.
Service users, known as team members, take part in the nursery’s horticultural therapy programme, growing thousands of quality perennials, shrubs, climbers, hedging plants, young veg plants and exotics every year for sale to Dorset’s gardeners.
Speaking after touring the nursery and meeting the Cherry Tree team, Professor Michael Dooley (pictured above with Plants and Minds Community Liaison Officer Maria Tidy), said: “Cherry Tree Nursery is an extraordinary place. The staff, volunteers, trustees and patrons are truly inspiring. Their care, energy and commitment have created a community where people feel welcomed, valued and able to grow.
“The work of Plants and Minds brings real benefits to mental health in Dorset. It also brings the King’s vision of harmony to life by connecting people, place and nature for the good of the wider community.
“My heartfelt thanks go to everyone at Cherry Tree. You are doing wonderful work, and the warmth and hope of this place stay with you long after you leave.”
Plants and Minds Community Liaison Officer, Maria Tidy (pictured above with the Lord-Lieutenant and Cherry Tree Nursery Manager Sandi Marshall) explained that the Lord-Lieutenant’s visit came about following connections made through Cherry Tree’s monthly Growing Communities Networking events for the charity and voluntary sector.
Maria said: “Growing Communities events are about bringing people together, sharing ideas and creating connections across our local community — and this visit is a wonderful example of what can grow from those conversations.
“Professor Dooley was keen to learn more about Cherry Tree because our work reflects many themes that are important to him, particularly his interest in the Beyond Pills Campaign and his work with the Harmony Conference, which explores the importance of connection, belonging and community.
“We are delighted that Growing Communities helped to create this opportunity to welcome Professor Dooley to Cherry Tree Nursery, share what we do and highlight the difference that strong, connected communities can make to people’s lives.”
In addition to meeting team members, trustees and patrons, the Lord-Lieutenant was given a behind-the-scenes tour at Cherry Tree Nursery.
The tour included the nursery’s new polytunnel (pictured, above), opened by the Mayor of Bournemouth this summer, and dedicated to the memory of Cherry Tree’s late plant propagator Trevor Randall.
Cherry Tree Nursery Manager, Sandi Marshall (pictured above with the Lord-Lieutenant), summed-up: “It was an honour to welcome Professor Dooley to the nursery.
“He was genuinely interested to see the scale of our plant production operation – and was keen to meet our team members, hearing first-hand about the benefits of therapeutic horticulture in a friendly, non-pressurised community.”
To find out more about the extensive range of quality plants offered by Cherry Tree Nursery, visit www.cherrytreenursery.org.uk.
