W
L
PRINCE EDWARD DROPS IN TO
VISIT AN ELLESMERE PORT CHARITY
An Ellesmere Port-based charity that works with the unemployed and
those suffering from mental health conditions has been honoured with
a Royal visit.
HRH The Earl of Wessex visited Bridge Community Wellness Gardens
and Farm to officially open The Earl of Chester Hydroponics Unit. The
commercial hydroponics unit, the first of its kind in Cheshire, is a method
of growing plants without soil by using mineral nutrient solutions in a
water solvent. Plants can be grown with only their roots exposed to the
solution. Staff and volunteers at the farm are growing fruit, vegetables and
exotic micro greens using hydroponics to order for high end restaurants
in Cheshire.
Chris’s mother, Michelle Jones, said: “Chris works at the farm four days a
week and it has transformed not only his life, but the life of his family. He
has learnt to grow all sorts of vegetables, takes a huge pride in his work and,
most importantly, the job has given him a sense of normality.”
Clair Johnson, Farm & Wellness Gardens Manager said: “It was fantastic
to have a visit from Prince Edward and to show him the amazing work
we do here. The hydroponics unit is an exciting addition for us because
it allows us to grow plants indoors without soil, gives us faster growth all
year round and saves on water usage. We love to encourage our wellness
clients to overcome their mental health and learning difficulties and find
new skills. And they do. Every day. It’s so inspiring!”
During his visit, Prince Edward was given a tour of the farm where he met
staff and volunteers working in the routing shed, the bee friendly Mandala
Garden, the seeding tunnel, solar dome and polytunnel. He also unveiled
a plaque on the site marking the official Royal visit. Before he left, he was
presented with a hand-made sign, a box of fresh vegetables grown on the
farm and a jar of home-made green tomato chutney. Francis Ball, Chairman of Bridge Community Wellness Gardens and
Farm, said: “I’m incredibly proud of what Clair and her team of staff and
volunteers have achieved here. Pretty well every day we are reduced to tears
by the gratitude of a client, or client’s parent or carer, who gain so much
benefit from spending just a few hours with us. It’s inspiring and it drives us
on to Grow Better Lives.”
The social enterprise, based on Mill Lane in Ellesmere Port, is a working
horticulture farm with organic principles which first began operating in
2014. The charity’s main purpose is to create permanent and sustainable
jobs for the long-term unemployed by growing and selling fruit, vegetables,
salads and herbs to the local community. It also provides a therapeutic
environment for people suffering from a range of mental health conditions,
including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as those
with mental and physical learning disabilities. One of the people helped
by the farm and introduced to Prince Edward was Chris Jones, 22, from
Saughall. His place is sponsored by British energy specialist EA Technology,
which is headquartered in Capenhurst. Since it opened, the charity has worked with hundreds of people of all ages,
from school children with severe behaviour problems, CCGs and GPs
engaged in social prescribing, social services and the long-term unemployed
- helping them through what are often extremely difficult times. They also
work with local charitable Trusts and Foundations, as well as businesses
with a social conscience. Benefactors include ForHousing, Barratt Homes,
Cheshire Freemasons, Grief UK, Steve Morgan Foundation, Ursula Keyes
Trust and the Williams Family Foundation.
For more information on the charity’s vegetable boxes, priced from
£7.40, please visit www.bwgardens.co.uk or call 07446 699995.
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