Grow your lifestyle: Meet the gardening group cultivating community through plants

For retiree Leonie, a resident of Townsend Park in Adelaide’s coastal suburb of Hove, the move to a retirement village was an opportunity to right-size her home without impacting an already active, independent lifestyle.

The community of likeminded people proved to be a bonus for Leonie, who relocated to Townsend Park four years ago to enjoy the convenience and security of village life, as well as its proximity to her family and existing friendship base.

“I had 9 years on my own, and with more maintenance needed around the house, I decided it was time to downsize,” said Leonie.

A growing community

A retired florist, Leonie was drawn to her modern villa at Townsend Park in part by the space it offered to cultivate her own garden.

“I like to grow things,” she said, “I’ve had raised beds put out the back to grow vegetables and flowers.”

Her interest in gardening lead to joining the village gardening group, The Mad Potters, which fits well around her busy schedule of family and life commitments outside the village.

“The Potters is the one thing I do regularly within the village,’ explained Leonie, “I like it because it’s not a big group of people, so it’s a bit more relaxed. They are all very good gardeners, so I get lots of tips for my own garden.”

A great way for residents to engage in physical activity, and socialise at the same time, The Mad Potters offers a supportive and relaxed environment that’s open to all skill levels and abilities.

“The Potters are all nice, friendly people. We all know our limitations, and everyone is there to help each other,” said Leonie.

All the fun, none of the pressure

The easy-going nature of the group allows members to pursue their interest in gardening and stay active, while not feeling pressured to attend every week if other commitments get in the way.

A recent highlight was a visit by horticulturalist, author, tv and radio personality, Sophie Thomson, who provided an informative talk to residents and guests.

“She was very interesting, giving us different ideas for gardening, how to care for and feed our plants, and the ecology of the garden,” said Leonie.

Laying down roots

The Mad Potters meet weekly in a converted building on the expansive Townsend Park grounds, cultivating a range of trees and shrubs, flowers, and vegetables. Many of the plants in the gardens around the village have been grown by the group and planted in consultation with the Village Manager and Landscaping team.

Group organiser and avid gardener Steve explained that the group started three years ago and provides a way to stay active and socialise for a range of ages and skill sets.

“We have a mix of things that can be done, lined up with different abilities, both inside and outside,” he said.

“It’s a great outlet for those who are task-oriented and want to do things, and tends to be very social, there’s a lot of chat and a lot of banter between members.”

Regardless of your lifestyle or interests, Retirement Living communities offer a wide variety of opportunities to connect with likeminded people through activities and groups, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie that’s hard to beat.

Learn more about Townsend Park.

Contact our team today on 1800 550 550 to find your place to live well.

A growing community

All the fun, none of the pressure

Laying down roots

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