Pinetum Nursing Home garden in Chester transformed by Prince’s Trust volunteers

Nov 12 2009 Chester Chronicle

A NEW garden for a nursing home on the Countess of Chester Health Park was transformed by volunteers of the Prince’s Trust.

Once a grassy wasteland beyond the car park, the space now boasts a wheelchair- friendly path with a circular pavement turnpoint and raised flowerbeds on either side.

Residents at Pinetum Nursing Home are extremely pleased with the garden, which will double as a vegetable and herb garden.

Twelve volunteers of the Prince’s Trust, aged between 17 and 25, carried out the landscape work and gardening, planting a variety of perennials and winter pansies as well as 300 spring bulbs.

Juliet Wooldridge, Active Living co-ordinator at Pinetum, said the garden was ‘a marvellous benefit to us and a lovely team effort for them’.

The garden was officially opened by the Sheriff of Chester, Hilarie McNae and husband Colin McNae.

Residents and their families were joined by the volunteers of the Prince's Trust.

Organising the project, Ann McBride of the Prince's Trust was given sponsorship towards the project from O2 and Crime Beat and discounted materials were donated from B&Q and Wickes.

“It's the best project I've been involved in. It was brilliant, I think it's great that young kids can give something back to the community and learn new skills,” she said.