People who attend a unique garden centre in Southport run by adult social care provider New Directions with the help of team members with support needs have been honoured for their ‘green’ achievements.
St Helens College presented green-fingered gardeners at New Leaf on Rotten Row with certificates for successfully completing City and Guilds Practical Horticultural Skills Level One or Level Two courses, and a linked Skills for Working Life course.
The course covers a range of key skills needed for horticultural work, including preparing soil, planting and watering, identifying weeds and associated garden maintenance.
The certificates were presented by St Helens College Tutor Darren Arrowsmith at a ceremony attended by New Leaf Advanced Care Worker, Angela Green, and colleagues.
Angela commented: “I’m delighted at what our gardeners have achieved. They’ve worked really hard on the course and should be rightly proud.
“The skills everyone has gained will contribute to the future success of New Leaf as we look to expand and improve the garden centre in the months ahead.”
One of the successful students, Billy Moss, said: “I’m proud and happy to have obtained this qualification through the course which I found really interesting.”
The New Leaf team is currently busy producing items for the busy Easter period, and planting their ever-popular range of hanging baskets for the spring and summer.
Team members are also keen to hear from anyone who can donate craft and upcycling items. In addition to the garden centre’s normal planting and growing activities, they make many bespoke craft items by utilising creative upcycling skills, for example turning an old chair into an unusual and attractive garden planter.
The many items they can make use of range from wood, wooden furniture, bicycle wheels, old watering cans and ceramic plant pots to wool, fabric and even offcuts of AstroTurf or similar artificial grass.
Anyone who can help can contact Angela Green on 01704 562406 or email angela.green@ndirections.org.
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