WOMEN ' S SERVICES
A show garden from the Chelsea Flower Show has found a permanent home at The Elms, soon to be the UK ' s first women-only detox centre. Jane Simons explains why outdoor space belongs in women’ s detox
ROOM TO
BREATHE
F ive months ago, a garden that had spent a week in the spotlight at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show arrived somewhere much quieter.
The Boodles Garden, designed by Catherine MacDonald and inspired by the gardens of historic royal palaces, was built around ideas of retreat and restoration. In late May, parts of it were replanted in the grounds of The Elms, in the countryside on the Gloucestershire / Worcestershire border. Its pavilion, a young tree, perennials in deep purples and reds, and a rill reworked as a planter now have a permanent home.
Our gardeners have looked after it all summer, and it’ s settling in well. By the time The Elms opens towards the end of 2027, it’ ll be established. That matters, because the garden isn’ t for visitors anymore. It’ s for the women who’ ll stay with us.
The Elms will be the UK’ s first women-only inpatient detox centre. It’ ll have 16 beds and support around 104 women a year, offering medically managed detox in a psychologically informed setting.
Many DDN readers will recognise the picture. One
in two women engaging in treatment have experienced domestic abuse. Drug and alcohol-related deaths among women are rising. Caring responsibilities, fear of losing children, and stigma that lands harder on women stop many from asking for help at all.
For some women, a mixed residential setting is a barrier in itself. One woman told us that she‘ wouldn ' t have had the courage to stay at a residential detox with men’ while another said that‘ being with other women, in a safe space where we can talk about our experiences and feel able to share, is so important. It can be really triggering being with men in a group, especially when men have harmed us in some way.’
When we ran focus groups with women with personal experience of detox and rehab, one thing stood out. Their expectations of what a detox should look like were low. They asked for things most of us take for granted – being able to shower whenever they needed to during withdrawal. An en-suite, for privacy when they felt unwell. A bed bigger than a single. A lamp, a shelf, a corkboard for photos. Light, fresh colours. No darkness.
One in two women engaging in treatment have experienced domestic abuse. Drug and alcoholrelated deaths among women are rising.
For some, those low expectations reflected how they’ d come to see their own worth. So we set ourselves a different bar. We want indoor and outdoor spaces that tell every woman, from the day she arrives, that she’ s worth this care and attention.
Medically assisted withdrawal, or detox, can be exhausting – not only for the body but for the mind. As substances leave the body, feelings that have been held down for a long time can return quickly. We want to provide a space where women feel physically safe and are supported to make the changes they want. For the women we spoke to, the outdoors, space and fresh air made a real difference. For us, the garden isn’ t a treatment in itself. It’ s part of the setting that helps care feel safe.
The focus groups didn’ t stop at the front door. Women told us what they wanted outside, too. The garden gives women somewhere to be that doesn’ t feel clinical. Some will want quiet time on their own, while others will want to sit with women who understand what they’ re going through. It’ s a place to take a breath, and to feel that this space was made with them in mind. A seed packet is a small thing – but the women we spoke to liked the idea that someone staying with us might plant something that flowers for the women who come after her.
The Elms is due to open towards the end of 2027. Until then, the building will be refurbished into a warm, safe space, and the garden will keep growing. We’ re raising £ 500,000 to complete the refurbishment. If you know someone who might like to support it, we’ d love to hear from you.
‘ Every woman who comes to The Elms will bring her own story, and many will have looked for help before,’ says Anna Whitton, Via’ s CEO.‘ We want this to be a place where she feels safe, heard and cared for, wherever she is on her journey. The garden is one way of showing her she’ s worth that.’
Jane Simons is clinical lead for The Elms. viaorg. uk / theelms
10 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • NOVEMBER 2026 WWW. DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS. COM