A hit squad of volunteers from a Winchester dementia care home have done their bit to help improve a community centre’s garden so it can be used by nursery-age children.
The party from Colten Care’s St Catherines View, including resident Gill Swaby, went hands-on to clear and tidy up a green space outside Poppins Nursery, part of the nearby Carroll Centre in Stanmore.
Gill was joined by St Catherines View Home Manager Vanda Baker, Companionship Team Leader Laura Sheldrake, Gardener Ali Gaunt, Minibus Driver Martin Williams and Companion Evie Airs.
Also lending a hand was local Stanmore man Callum Pepper.
The clean-up involved weeding, trimming and other garden tasks and took place after St Catherines View residents chose the Carroll Centre as their main charity to support this year.
Poppins Nursery is attended by children aged two to five and the hope is that with the overgrown garden space beginning to be cleared up, they will soon be able to play there in safety.
Vanda said: “We know how much pleasure a great-looking garden gives our own residents and so we wanted to do our bit to help the Carroll Centre have a beautiful outdoor space too. With peak-growing season all but upon us, we were only too happy to offer some help.”
Laura said: “We got to work clearing all the bushes and overgrown trees and cleaned all the ground up. It is going to take a couple of attempts to make it safe and user friendly for the nursery, but we made a great start.
“It was nice to be hands-on and doing something practical to help. We are also working on building some bird houses and equipment the children can use so they are able to learn about being outdoors.
“This is one of many projects we will be doing to help the Carroll Centre throughout the year. We’re organising other activities to raise funds too including a family fete on Saturday 2 August.”
Centre Manager Steve Maloney said: “By improving the outdoor environment around our nursery, the garden clean-up will help children foster a stronger connection with nature.
“We are profoundly grateful for the generous backing from St Catherines View and the upcoming fete and other activities that will give us the opportunity to cultivate more robust partnerships within the community.”
