When you have suffered a debilitating stroke, the world can seem like a lonely place. Suddenly finding yourself trapped inside your own part-paralysed body, with your ability to communicate badly diminished, you can feel as if nobody quite understands what you're going through.

That's what happened to former Bristol Rovers footballer Clifford Baker when he suffered a stroke four years ago.

Now aged 85, the Bradley Stoke pensioner was a star on the pitch for three years, up to 1940 when he was called up to the RAF.

But his glory days seemed a long way away after his stroke. It was only when his NHS therapist told him about the Gardening for Stroke Affected People project at Frenchay Hospital 18 months ago that he found a way to get back out in the open air each week.

"It's very tough at first," Clifford explains, as he pots plants at a table in the project's greenhouse. "I suffered quite a lot of paralysis, and I didn't have the confidence to go out alone, in case I fell and couldn't get myself back up.

"But finding out about this place was a real step forward. I come here each week and enjoy potting up the plants. But really it's the social aspect that's most important to me.

"It's not just that it's a place where you can meet people and make friends. The important thing is that you're meeting people who understand what you're going through, because they've been through a stroke themselves.

"Being able to share your experience with the other sufferers stops you feeling alone."

The project, which is affiliated to the Bristol Area Stroke Foundation (BASF), began life at Frenchay more than 30 years ago. At first the gardeners just worked on a patch of lawn at the side of the neurology department.

But in 1994 enough money was raised to build the current greenhouse on the site.

"It really is a wonderful facility," says Gill Parker, chairman of the project. "We have plenty of space in the greenhouse to pot up our plants, and we even have a kitchen and a loo attached.

"We meet every Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoon for a couple of hours from 2pm.

"Our gardeners take cuttings and plant them up to sell to the public. The money we take by selling the cuttings keeps our coffers ticking over and allows us to keep going.

"It really does work as a therapy for people who have suffered a stroke. Getting the mind and body working again is terribly important.

"But for many of the gardeners the attraction is also social – it's somewhere nice where they can come, get out of the house and meet friends each week.

"We also have volunteer helpers at each session, as they can help the gardeners. Often the volunteers are the spouses of stroke sufferers, and I think it's good for them to be able to talk to other families affected by stroke."

Philip Sart, 68, of Stoke Gifford, suffered a stroke 10 years ago.

"My whole right side was paralysed," he explains. "It's very debilitating, but coming here allows me to practise working with my left hand for simple tasks like potting plants.

"It's a friendly place. You get to meet other stroke patients, and that's good, because you have a lot in common with them."

Having suffered a stroke in 1983, James Hill is one of the longest-serving gardeners at the project.

"I do enjoy it," the 71-year-old Downend pensioner explains. "It gets me out, and I like to potter with the plants.

"At first, when you suffer a stroke, you think you're never going to get better. But your body does start to recover in time. It's gradual, but my paralysis is certainly better than it was when I suffered my stroke more than 25 years ago.

"Projects like this make an enormous difference to people who have suffered a stroke. Coming here each week gives me a real boost."

If you would like to volunteer as a helper at the project, call Trevor King on 0117 971 3645.