Led by Andover Mind, the garden is primarily used to deliver therapeutic activities and wellbeing programmes for individuals accessing its services, alongside providing opportunities for volunteers and local groups to engage with nature. The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the role that outdoor environments and green spaces play in improving mental health and resilience.

The garden has been designed to combine horticulture, biodiversity and sustainability, creating a setting that supports both environmental education and personal wellbeing. Through its use as a shared community resource, it offers a space for learning, relaxation and social connection, while also highlighting the importance of working with nature in response to challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Supported by a wide network of partners, donors and volunteers, Garden for Mind represents a collaborative approach to community development. It brings together organisations, businesses and individuals to create a lasting local asset that promotes mental wellbeing, environmental responsibility and community engagement across the Test Valley.

Operating through a voucher referral system, Andover Foodbank ensures that help is targeted to those most in need. Each food parcel is designed to provide nutritionally balanced meals, while also offering a point of contact where people can access further advice and support services.

At the heart of the Foodbank is a strong sense of community collaboration. The organisation relies on donations of food, time and funding from local residents, businesses and partners, reflecting a shared commitment to tackling food insecurity and supporting vulnerable people across the Andover area.

Beyond food provision, Andover Foodbank represents a broader network of care, helping to connect individuals with additional resources and guidance, and working towards a future where no one in the local community has to face hunger alone.

The organisation focuses on promoting wellbeing, sustainability and community resilience through hands-on activities such as growing fresh produce, maintaining green spaces and hosting regular gardening sessions. By encouraging participation and shared responsibility, Rooting for Andover helps build confidence, reduce isolation and foster a sense of belonging within the local community.

Open to everyone, regardless of experience, the project provides opportunities to develop practical gardening knowledge while contributing to a greener, healthier Andover. Through its inclusive approach, Rooting for Andover demonstrates the positive impact that community growing can have on both people and place.

Working closely alongside Andover Foodbank and other local partners, Unity helps ensure that people experiencing financial hardship can access the support available to them. In addition to signposting to emergency food provision, Unity runs a Hygiene Bank and an Animal Food Bank, providing vital supplies that help individuals and families maintain dignity and care for their pets during difficult times.

Unity also delivers a Travelling Pantry, bringing affordable food directly into communities and improving access for those who may face barriers such as cost, transport or isolation. This initiative supports residents to access low-cost food in a welcoming, community-focused environment while helping to reduce food insecurity locally.

Through its community engagement and social prescribing work, Unity helps address some of the wider challenges linked to food insecurity, including isolation, wellbeing and access to services. By strengthening connections between organisations and supporting the wider voluntary sector, Unity contributes to a more joined-up and resilient local food system across Andover and the wider Test Valley area.

Through its Lighthouse Lounge, the project provides a safe and informal environment where people can seek advice, access signposting services and connect with local support. Working in partnership with Andover Foodbank, the Lounge also acts as a distribution point for food parcels, enabling individuals with vouchers to access emergency food provision locally.

Alongside food access, Lighthouse delivers a range of courses and support services that help address some of the underlying causes of food insecurity, including financial hardship, debt and social isolation. This includes debt advice in partnership with Christians Against Poverty and wellbeing courses designed to build resilience and life skills.

By combining practical support with strong community connections, Lighthouse plays an important role in the local food support network, helping ensure that people not only access food when they need it, but are also supported on a pathway towards greater stability and wellbeing.

As part of Andover’s wider food support network, King Arthur’s Hall works alongside Andover Foodbank by hosting food distribution and support activities within the community. By offering a local, accessible venue, the Hall helps ensure that residents can easily access emergency food provision and related support close to where they live.

In addition to supporting food access, the Hall provides a base for community engagement, advice services and group activities, helping to reduce isolation and strengthen local connections. This community-led approach enables King Arthur’s Hall to play a valuable role in supporting residents facing financial hardship while contributing to a more resilient and connected local food system.

The library contributes to local food support through its involvement in cost-of-living initiatives, including signposting to community food services, pantries and fridges across the area. It also provides access to free essential items such as period products, helping to reduce financial pressure on individuals and families.

In addition, Andover Library hosts regular community sessions and “warm and welcome” activities that provide a safe space for residents to connect, access advice and reduce isolation—factors closely linked to food insecurity. Through partnerships with local organisations and support services, the library helps ensure people can access the guidance and resources they need, including support around finances, wellbeing and accessing food provision.

By combining practical support with strong community connections, Andover Library plays a valuable role in the wider food partnership network, helping to improve access to essential resources and build resilience across the local community.

Farming at Leckford began in 1929, when the estate was purchased by Spedan Lewis, founder of the John Lewis Partnership. With a deep appreciation for the environment and the natural world, Spedan Lewis placed these principles at the core of his vision for farming on the Leckford Estate.

While modern farming techniques are used today, the same sustainable approach established by Spedan Lewis remains central to operations and continues to be just as important as ever.

The farm is a mixed enterprise, including arable land, orchards, vineyards, forage crops, and beef production. Most of its produce is supplied to Waitrose & Partners shops, as well as its own farm shop on the estate. The farm aims to lead by example through innovation, continuous learning, and the sharing of new farming methods.

Originally founded by Wyndham and Bridget Culley, the farm has always reflected more than food production alone. It embodies a long-standing commitment to sustainability, biodiversity, and responsible land management, with an emphasis on growing flavoursome produce and reducing packaging through pick-your-own experiences.

In addition to fruit growing, the farm offers a broader on-site experience that supports its role as a local food destination. Visitors can access freshly picked and pre-picked produce, alongside homemade items such as jams, while also benefiting from an on-site café and seasonal events programme. Facilities including a play area, woodland space, and educational activities further enhance its offering, helping to connect customers with farming, nature, and rural life.

Set within the landscape of St Mary Bourne, Bourne Valley Pick Your Own continues to showcase the quality and character of local agriculture, positioning itself as both a working farm and a community-focused destination centred on fresh, sustainable food.

The farm shop takes a people-first approach, placing strong emphasis on fair relationships with its team, suppliers, and customers. Delivering excellent service is central to its ethos, alongside a commitment to providing quality products at competitive prices and building long-term trust within the local community.

In addition to its retail offering, Weyhill Farm Shop brings together complementary elements to create a well-rounded food destination. Waggys Coffee Shop, located on site, offers a relaxed, dog-friendly environment where visitors can enjoy freshly prepared food and drink, extending the experience beyond shopping. The site also incorporates features such as a fresh milk vending machine, reinforcing its focus on accessible, locally sourced food.

Together, these elements position Weyhill Farm Shop as more than just a place to buy food, it is a community-focused destination that combines traditional expertise, modern convenience, and a strong emphasis on quality, service, and local sourcing.

At the heart of Oaktrack is a commitment to traditional farming methods and hands-on animal husbandry. The farm rears pigs, sheep, cattle and chickens, producing pork, lamb, beef and eggs that are well regarded for their quality and flavour. This approach reflects a focus on careful rearing, traceability, and maintaining high standards throughout production.

Alongside its meat and eggs, Oaktrack produces a wide range of seasonal, homegrown goods, including fruit, vegetables and cut flowers, as well as cottage garden plants. The farm also creates a selection of handmade farmhouse preserves, chutneys and pickles, using produce grown on-site in its orchards and vegetable gardens, reinforcing its emphasis on low food miles and traditional methods.

Operating through its on-site farm shop, Oaktrack offers customers direct access to fresh, locally produced food in a setting that reflects its family-run ethos. Overall, the business represents a model of small-scale, sustainable agriculture, combining traditional skills, diverse production, and a strong connection between producer and customer.

Led by Andover Mind, the garden is primarily used to deliver therapeutic activities and wellbeing programmes for individuals accessing its services, alongside providing opportunities for volunteers and local groups to engage with nature. The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the role that outdoor environments and green spaces play in improving mental health and resilience.

The garden has been designed to combine horticulture, biodiversity and sustainability, creating a setting that supports both environmental education and personal wellbeing. Through its use as a shared community resource, it offers a space for learning, relaxation and social connection, while also highlighting the importance of working with nature in response to challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss.

Supported by a wide network of partners, donors and volunteers, Garden for Mind represents a collaborative approach to community development. It brings together organisations, businesses and individuals to create a lasting local asset that promotes mental wellbeing, environmental responsibility and community engagement across the Test Valley.