Chestnut nursery is a garden nursery and charity that supports adults with severe and enduring mental illness by providing volunteer work opportunities in a supportive and stress free environment.

Based in the centre of Poole, it provides voluntary work for adults with severe and enduring mental illness. The project aims to improve mental well being through the healing nature of horticulture.Research shows that, in any one year 25% of the population experience a mental health problem. Many of these people want and need to fill their time constructively, but feel unable to cope with the stresses and pressures of open employment.  Sheltered work in a realistic but pressure free environment.

Volunteers work in all aspects of the nursery, this includes: seed sowing, potting plants, serving customers in the shop, carpentry and construction work, as well as office and computer work.It is very important for us to establish links and gain support within the local community.We hope that by forging new relationships within the community and creating more awareness regarding mental health issues will help in some way to dispel the stigma attached to mental illness.