Nature through my eyes

This Autumn, see Furzey Gardens through a different lens. Visit our inclusive photography exhibition to see 20 photos taken by neurodisabled people who nurture Furzey Gardens.

The people we support at Furzey Gardens are talented gardeners. They are also talented creatives.

This inclusive photography exhibition has been shaped by the people we support, and the way they see the Gardens around them. They bring personal views of Furzey; exploring themes of nature, place and belonging.

Some of our supported gardeners have been working at Furzey for over 10 years, helping to create and nurture the borders, and the landscapes around you.

Some of the photos you see here are stories of a quiet place, somewhere they spend time learning, working or connecting with others, and others simply a flower they love.

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Couple looking at plants at Furzey Gardens

How we created this exhibition

This exhibition was created with supported gardeners from Furzey Gardens.

Each person was invited to choose a place in the gardens that meant something to them. Some chose the cottage garden, some the nursery, and some the Picking Patch. These are places they know well, where they spend time learning, working, planting and caring for the garden.

With gentle support, they captured Furzey through their own eyes. Once the photographs were chosen, each person was invited to share a few words about what they noticed, what they liked, or why that place mattered to them.

Together, these photographs celebrate nature, belonging and the pride our gardeners take in the places they help bring to life.

Photography Sessions at Furzey Gardens

Photography sessions were run through July at Furzey, with the help of our two brilliant instructors, Tim, who looks after the Cottage Garden, and Chris, who helps out across the whole of New Forest Day Opportunities.

The instructors facilitated conversations that empowered the supported gardeners to identify their favourite space in the garden; where they felt connected to, or felt the most calm.

Sessions were relaxed and playful, with the team supporting the gardeners to use the cameras, and build their skills. Some of the guys loved it, saying ‘it’s great to do something new!’, whilst others preferred to keep their hands in the soil!

Above all, the photos and the locations were chosen by the people we support, giving trust and agency to their decisions (and also having fun!)

Building the exhibition

The exhibition will be built by the supported gardening team, instructor Tim, and volunteer Dave!

This will create opportiunities for the gardening team to use their skills in different ways – from team work to using new tools and ways of collaborating, this brings the people we support into the process, every step of the way.

Involving the local community

We are very grateful to be supported by wonderful local business, Hampshire Flag.

For more than 40 years, Hampshire Flag Company has been a trusted manufacturer of high-quality flags, banners, bunting, exhibition graphics, and signage from its factory in Portsmouth. Renowned for its craftsmanship, reliability, and commitment to outstanding customer service, the business has established itself as a leading large-format print supplier on the South Coast, supporting customers with professional, tailored solutions that bring brands, events, and spaces to life.

We’re delighted to be part of Minstead Trust’s photography exhibition. Supporting our local community is at the heart of who we are, especially when it helps people facing challenges to live better, fuller lives. As a socially aware team, projects like this remind us why our work matters — seeing smiles on faces makes it all the more special.