“WHEN I first got here I was just a shaking wreck,” said Bridget Armitage-Jones, 54, from Haydon Wick.

She spoke during a break from tending plants in a polytunnel at the TWIGS site in Cheney Manor.

“I have really awful panic attacks so I can’t go anywhere that’s really crowded, and I thought this would build my confidence a bit.

“As daft as it may seem, I come from a care background. I looked after people with learning disabilities and behaviour problems for 10 years.

“Now, even though I tend to avoid meetings here a bit, I’ve got better. I look forward to coming here – it’s been really good for me.”

And what is TWIGS?

Most of us have either a vague idea or none at all. The acronym is for Therapeutic Work In Gardening In Swindon, and its clients are people recovering from mental health issues. It’s based next to the Manor Garden Centre, covers two acres and features themed gardens, craft workshops and plant sales.

Great British Gardens, a website for people who like visiting beautiful gardens, says: “TWIGS Community Gardens site is one of the hidden treasures of Swindon.”

Visitors to TWIGS’ own website are told: “TWIGS provides creative occupational opportunities for up to 100 people who are looking to move forward on their recovery journey.

“We can help you to regain confidence, self esteem and learn new skills, as well as becoming part of an exciting and innovative community project.

“There are numerous activities to try including a wide range of horticultural tasks, contemporary crafts and woodcrafts.”

But for the real truth about TWIGS, there’s no substitute for talking to its clients. Mrs Armitage-Jones is one of many – there are up to a hundred at any given time.

Sandra Heather, 55, who lives in Swindon, is a former microbiolgist. When she began suffering depression as a young woman, a doctor advised her to go to the top of Liddington Hill and shout into the air. At TWIGS, to which she was referred by her specialist over a year ago, she was recently part of a team which completed a rag rug with a vivid design of the view from that same hill. She finds the coincidence amusing and the craft work therapeutic.

“I think it’s the way we do it as a group,” she said. “I’ve done a lot of crafts and patchwork quilting – that’s what brought me into the craft area. At least six of us worked at a time, normally. You interact with each other as you do that, and as you’re working it’s calming and relaxing because of it being repetitive. You don’t always have to think about what you’re doing.”

TWIGS was established in November 1997 by community volunteering stalwart Anne Billingham, and in 2003 it became part of the Richmond Fellowship, a national mental health charity.

TWIGS has five paid staff, two full-time and three part time, and about 20 volunteers, some of whom were initially clients.

Manager Alan Holland was previously a teacher specialising in helping troubled young people.

His job satisfaction at TWIGS has so far kept him there for 14 years.

“It’s seeing the positive effects that people get from engaging in the activities here,” he said. “It’s really rewarding being a part of that and seeing how working with nature and being creative, whether with plants or crafts, helps to build people’s confidence, self-esteem and self worth.”

Clients have a range of mental health issues, from temporary to long-term. Some are referred to TWIGS by doctors or counsellors; others refer themselves.

Mr Holland believes in the scientific hypothesis of biophilia. He said: “It’s an innate attraction to nature that we’ve all had since time immemorial, but gradually over time people have become distanced from nature.

“For any of us to have some wellbeing we need to have some contact with nature, whether it’s gardening or walks.”

Other clients share his view. Vernon Allaway, 55, has suffered three strokes, meaning he sometimes struggles to put his thoughts into words. He was referred to TWIGS by the JobCentre, and works on his carpentry skills by building planters and other containers, often with recycled timber.

“I just like doing all these things,” he said. “I’ve made a lot of bird tables and all sorts – I’d recommend this place to anybody.”

Jackie West is a 44-year-old former care worker from Gorse Hill who originally came to TWIGS as she recovered from a breakdown and now volunteers there.

“There’s something wonderful about being outside and hearing the birds,” she said. “There’s also the social side. Everybody is very friendly. If I didn’t have something like this I’d probably stay at home in my pyjamas.”