Green fingered Grand Union staff volunteer in Flitwick

Staff from local housing provider Grand Union Housing Group took advantage of their annual volunteering day recently to prepare some ground at Ellenshaw Court in Flitwick ready for a therapeutic gardening scheme to start later in the year.

The Grand Union staff were joined by volunteers from Travis Perkins Managed Services and two of our contractors, Jeakins Weir, and M J Granger Grounds Maintenance. Together they built four raised beds surrounded by paving and dug over flower borders to prepare them for planting; this will be the focal point for therapeutic gardening activities for community members and will also benefit our own residents.

Emma Dagless, Grand Union’s Wellbeing Project Officer, said: “We were extremely fortunate with the weather on the day – no rain and just a bit of wind!

“Using plants and gardens can improve people’s physical and mental health, regardless of age or disability. This garden will be used by people who have been recommended a social prescription by their GP, connecting people to a range of local, non-clinical services and community projects.

“We’re really grateful to all who volunteered their time and skills to help with our project here at Ellenshaw Court, including Travis Perkins who supplied the materials and the gardening equipment to set up this scheme and a similar one in Northamptonshire.”

Debbie Stuart, Grand Union’s Director of Independent Living & Better Lives, said: “We care about the wellbeing of our customers and the communities in which they live.

“We’re pleased to be involved in several wellbeing projects, including therapeutic gardening, which can also help people to develop social skills and learn practical skills to help them become more independent.”

This project at Ellenshaw Court in Flitwick is one of two being set up by Grand Union, the second being at Raynsford House, Milton Malsor, Northamptonshire.