TWO green-fingered projects are having a positive impact on the mental health of North Ayrshire residents.

Councillor Joe Cullinane, Leader of North Ayrshire Council, visited the groups to help promote Mental Health Awareness week which runs until Friday.

Both are based in Eglinton Country Park and working in tandem use horticultural therapy as an alternative method to help people.

The Breaking Ground initiative is run by horticultural therapist and North Ayrshire Ranger, Linda Tedford. The project has been a huge success since it was launched in 2011.

Each course runs over a nine-month period and can accommodate up to 15 people referred by their GP who have struggled with issues such as from anxiety, head injury, stroke or depression.

Linda said: “Planting a seed gives us hope and this is what we encourage everyone who takes part to have – hope.”

Also based in the park is Ayrshire Community Trust (TACT) community garden. The garden – which is open and available to anyone with a keen interest in gardening and who would like to help out – has also proved to be popular. Ann Wilson, a member of TACT, oversees the community garden and took Councillor Cullinane on a tour of the garden and explained some of the projects their volunteers are involved in.

Councillor Cullinane said: “Projects like these have an important part to play in providing alternative therapies to individuals who have experienced problems in the past.

“I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who are involved with these projects, they are making a real difference.”

If you are interested, then please go along to the TACT Open Day Event on Saturday, June 2, from 12pm till 3pm at Eglinton Park.