Volunteers dig in
VOLUNTEERS from a GP surgery in Heaviley braved the cold to help turn a care home’s overrun garden into a communal vegetable patch.
The volunteers, Bracondale Practice Health Champions, work with the GP surgery to find new ways of improving the wellbeing of patients and the local community.
One idea was to create a vegetable garden at Richard House Care Home that could be looked after and used by the volunteers, residents and local people.
After a tough day’s work, the once bramblecovered garden is ready for planting.
Next raised beds will be put in so the plot is accessible for anyone who may have difficulty bending down.
The keen care home residents already plan to help out by sowing seeds in pots.
Bracondale Champion Martyn Faulkner said: “All the volunteers feel like they make a difference to the lives of patients and the local community.
“We are going to maintain the garden, but we want more people involved to help our garden grow and, of course, we can’t wait for the day when the residents can tuck into a healthy meal including the vegetables they’ve helped to grow.”
The care home manager Susan McDonald added: “We’re looking forward to sharing our garden with our local community.
“Hopefully it will give our residents new interests, help them build relationships with local people and improve the wellbeing of everyone involved.”
The Practice Champions already run weekly events for local people, including a drama group and a walking group, to provide new social opportunities.
Anyone interested in becoming a Champion should call Bracondale Surgery on 0161 426 9050.