Growing More Than a Garden: HMP Stirling
With funding from HP Inc. and Intel, RePollinate transformed an underused area at HMP Stirling into a thriving garden supporting wellbeing, learning, biodiversity and practical skills.
The garden includes two large polycrubs, vegetable beds, a cutting garden and fruit trees, creating a productive and restorative space. Within months, it was already producing a regular harvest of fresh produce for the prison kitchens.
At its heart is a flower-covered pergola surrounded by distinctive corten steel planters, filled with scented, pollinator-friendly plants creating a calm, welcoming environment that supports both practical activity and quiet reflection.
Women in custody and prison officers have played an active role in building and planting the garden, gaining hands-on experience in horticulture, construction, teamwork and sustainable food production. Participants have developed confidence and transferable skills, with one woman using her involvement towards completing her Duke of Edinburgh Award.
The project has also sparked interest from prison staff for a more formal learning programme for women in custody, including the potential roll-out of HNC and HND qualifications.
This is more than a garden. It is a platform for rehabilitation, education, wellbeing and environmental action, as well as offering a haven for local pollinators and a place for nature to thrive.
