Grove Garden
Fun, wellbeing, good vibes and friendship for the over 50s
Your safe and friendly space where you will always be welcomed with a smile in the centre of Haywards Heath.
We are looking for a ‘blooming marvellous’ Social Media and Campaign Volunteer or Agency looking to give back and work with a great small and thriving Charity partner.
Welcome
Take a moment to watch our short film - which gives you a snapshot of why people love Grove Garden.
UP & COMING
UP & COMING
Win ULLSWATER - FRAMED WATER COLOUR BY MICHAEL BERRY
Michael Berry - Grove Garden’s beloved Artist in Residence is raffling his professionally framed original watercolour painting ‘ULLSWATER’. 19x16 inches including frame. Click the big green button to buy raffle tickets online.
Draw: 28 November 2025.
“I used the painting over several weeks as part of the art groups, adding to it with the learning each week. So it felt like it somehow belonged to the Garden and raising money for our all weather space is such a good cause - so I thought I would give it to the Garden to raffle and see what we could raise for this special place.”
Michael Berry - Grove Garden Artist in Residence
NOTE OUR WINTER OPENING
FROM NOVEMBER - APRIL 2026
THE GARDEN IS OPEN OCCASIONALLY WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS KEEPING THE GARDEN TIDY. FOLLOW US CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK WITH OUR LATEST NEWS AND DETAILS OF WHEN WE ARE OPEN AND MEET UPS.
RAISING FUNDS TO STAY OPEN ALL YEAR
Watch this space and follow us on Facebook to get involved.
Below are our typical opening times from Spring onwards.
TUESDAY TO SATURDAY
TUESDAY: 12.00 – 2.30pm
WEDNESDAY: 12.00-2.30pm
THURSDAY: 12.00 – 2.30pm
FRIDAY: 12.00 - 2.30.pm
SATURDAY: 9.00 – 12.30pm
Enjoy: Gardening, Tai Chi, Laughter Yoga, Pilates, Nature Watch sessions, Art classes, board games: Scrabble, Chess, Dominoes. Singing, Chatting - Chilling and more. Workshops, talks and special guests too.
Help us to change more lives like Peter’s
Dropping a manhole cover on his thumb led to an A&E visit — and a chance conversation with a “Grover” that changed Peter Rood’s life.
“The garden has given me a reason to get up in the morning, go out, and do something. It’s been a godsend. There’s such a fantastic mix of people — all ages, all backgrounds — we all get on and we all have different things to contribute too” says Peter.
“I lost my wife of nearly 50 years to cancer, and we’d also lost our son Adam a few years before. Grove Garden has brought purpose and community back into my life. I love the Tai Chi which I join every week and recently even tried the Silver Swans ballet!
“What I love is that I can use my skills to build and repair things around the garden, so while I’m benefiting, I’m also giving back which brings me enormous satisfaction and reward. It makes me feel useful again. While I’m there I get full of ideas about the things I can do and contribute.
“Has the garden changed my life? Yes, absolutely! An indoor space will mean this special place can stay open whatever the weather — and that will change even more lives and mean we can benefit all year round.”
Peter has been using his brilliant skills to build and mend things around the garden, from plant tables, to shed doors & our beloved generator. Coming next - a pond :)
Fun in the garden
Some of our regular activities. Come early to chat and stay behind for drinks and time together. Donations of £2 per sessions or a little more if you’d like to.
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Laughter Yoga - Monthly Thursdays 1pm.
No Exercises - just breathing and laughing :) No need for jokes or comedy. It includes, easy stretches, breathing practices and Laughter techniques. It’s simple and fun..
Suitable for all ages and fitness levels.
It helps you live more joyfully and be more able to cope with whatever stresses life may bring.
When we laugh, we release endorphins -the feel-good hormones that uplift our moods, help to combat stress and boosts our immune systems.
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Tai Chi with Ruth - Weekly: Wed 1pm Sat 9.30am
Tai Chi is wonderful for the mind and body. Suitable for everyone. You can even do it sitting down. A gentle, low-impact exercise with roots in Chinese martial arts, often described as "meditation in motion".
It involves a series of slow, flowing movements combined with deep, rhythmic breathing. Tai chi is wonderful for your wellbeing. Including improved balance, flexibility, and stress reduction. Including improved balance and flexibility, better sleep, and potential benefits for your heart health too.
Perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels.
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Art Group with Michael - Weekly Tuesdays 1pm
This is an opportunity for you to come and create your own work of art, with Michael on hand to give support and guidance.
You might be trying art for the first time or already have a passion for sketching or watercolours for example.
Just come along. Just bring a pencil. We provide everything else.
Become a Friend of Grove Garden & Join the ‘Grovers’
Be part of our wonderful volunteer and friendship community.
Coming soon: Free ID card - Quarterly Newsletter. Discounts - details tbc.
ABOUT GROVE GARDEN
Grove Garden is a special space in Haywards Heath. It was bequeathed to the town by Joyce Grove. The garden was opened in 1995 with the explicit aim of providing older members of our community with a peaceful outside area to enjoy. Over the years the garden had become overgrown and inaccessible. Since then a new team of trustees and volunteers have taken on the garden and with a lot love, sweat and tears created a wonderful space with a vision of a vibrant, safe and stimulating community garden and meeting space once again. A space we intend to keep developing for the local comunity and with local help. Everything in the garden is donated from the local community and recycled.
Do come see us…..we will be delighted to see you …. We even have a plant shop too.
Grove Garden is a unique space in Haywards Heath that was bequeathed to the town by Joyce Grove - pictured here:
Joyce Grove was a Head Teacher and the Founder of St. Clair’s School, (originally on the site of Clair Hall, Haywards Heath). A drama teacher, elocution teacher and philanthropist who lived and taught at Heath Road in Haywards Heath, West Sussex for the latter part of her life. One of Joyce’s more famous pupils was star of stage and screen and our patron Greta Scacchi.
The garden was opened in 1995 with the explicit aim of providing older members of our community with a peaceful outside area to enjoy. Over the years the garden had become overgrown and inaccessible but new trustees took over a few years ago with a vision of creating a vibrant, safe and stimulating community garden and meeting space once again.
As well as offering the space that Joyce Grove envisaged we hope that the garden will become a place to enjoy art, culture and wellbeing.
Covid-19 and Storm Eunice inevitably caused delays to our plans but it is anticipated that the garden will open in the late Summer of 2023.
Grove Garden was the Mayor of Haywards Heath’s charity for 2019-2021.
To date the garden has had support from Waitrose, The Rotary Club of Haywards Heath, Cuckfield and Lindfield, Sussex Tree Surgeons, Haywards Heath Council, Beacon Fencing, East Sussex College to name but a few.
We have also received generous donations from The Whear Family, The Charlton Family, Alan & Elisabeth Robinson of Park Farm, Haywards Heath Horticultural Society and a grant from Sussex Community Partnership.
Grove Garden was also proud to receive 15 saplings from the Queens Green Canopy Organisation which have been planted in the garden to mark Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.