The natural dye garden: Growth and recovery froms sexual violence through gardening and craft

Sexual violence is a problem across the globe and there is an urgent need to find effective approaches to support survivors of such violence. This article explores the learning from an innovative project in Scotland which used gardening, arts, crafts, and natural dyeing to support women with an experience of sexual violence to find comfort and joy in nature, new social connections and creative outlets. The article describes how the project drew on theory and research from Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, green prescribing and creative and artistic social work to develop a programme of activity for participants over an 18 month period. It outlines the process of setting the project up, the way it was evaluated and what was learned in the process. This is done by drawing on the voices of participants, as well as the reflections of practitioners. The benefits of the project to participants are explored in depth around three themes that will be of interest practitioners and policy makers throughout the world who are looking for empowering ways to work with this population. These themes include the way that these methods encourge healing connections with other people and nature and a renewed sense of purpose through the making of something meaningful.