Adults with a learning disability and autistic adults have celebrated their first growing season at the LinkAble allotment in Woking with a Halloween pumpkin carving session.

LinkAble, Woking’s learning disability and autism charity for people of all ages, opened the fully accessible allotment at Kingsmoor Park, Westfield, this spring. Since then, a group of adults have met there every week to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers, take on woodworking projects and enjoy gentle exercise in the fresh air.

Creating an allotment for the people it supports had been an ambition for LinkAble for many years, and the charity knew it could not do it alone.

The project has been a collaboration between Krinkels UK, who transformed a bare plot of land into a usable, thriving space, including installing a shelter and a portaloo, and RHS Wisley, which has offered expert advice and guidance throughout.

The allotment is built for therapeutic horticulture: using gardening to support people’s physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Planting, watering and caring for plants build fine motor skills and encourage routine and independence, while digging and weeding help with strength and fitness.

At the allotment, group members make friends, connect with nature and take ownership of a project they can see, literally, bloom.

To celebrate the end of the season, the group gathered at the allotment to carve pumpkins and mark their growing achievements. LinkAble staff are supported by volunteer Debbie, well known for turning harvested vegetables into delicious cakes, so pumpkin cupcakes were enjoyed on the day.

Jamie said: “I wanted to join the gardening group for the company and atmosphere. It has been an education, as LinkAble teaches us which are weeds and which aren’t. I’ve really enjoyed watering the polytunnel and clearing up.”

Kate added: “I like being outdoors and taking the carrots home to eat.”

Sue Stockman, CEO of LinkAble, said: “It has been incredibly rewarding to see the allotment come to life. Watching the group harvest vegetables they grew themselves and follow the journey from seed to plate is exactly what we hoped for.

“We’d love more local people with a learning disability and autistic people to know the allotment is here, and that they’re welcome to join us. We’re also looking for volunteers to support people during sessions and help look after the allotment, whether that’s weeding, watering or small building jobs.”

Jason Shepherd, contracts manager at Krinkels UK, said: “Paul and I have worked with our teams and LinkAble to help create and deliver this allotment over the last 12 months. We both saw the value in helping to create a site like this, but I don’t think either of us imagined the level of uptake and interest would be quite as high as today.

“At the pumpkin event where allotment users were carving pumpkins for Halloween, we saw first-hand the difference the allotment has made to so many people. It’s been a pleasure to work with LinkAble, Metropolitan Housing Trust and Woking Borough Council to bring this project to life.”