Volunteers wanted for care home’s edible garden project

AN EDIBLE garden project is calling for volunteers to help tend the latest crop of produce.

Lever Edge Care Home Bolton won funding from the Bolton Transformation Fund to install the multi-sensory garden – which includes fruit, vegetables and herbs.

The home now runs regular gardening sessions with Natural Education, a Bolton-based initiative aiming to improve mental health through outdoor activities.

Volunteers are being welcomed to the Monday sessions, running from 10am to 3pm every week.

They are also running a Grow Your Own Pizza session during the school half-term holiday, from 1pm to 3pm on Monday, 28^th May.

Parents and children are invited to participate in the workshop free of charge, when they will be able to plant their own seeds before harvesting later in the year for pizza toppings.

Sarah Urmston, from Natural Education, said: “We believe that nature can provide us with the means to improve our own lives through growing your own food.

“We work with local authorities, schools, care homes, community groups and more to demystify gardening and reconnect people with the natural environment.”

Karen McMahon, home manager at Lever Edge Care Home, on Lever Edge Lane, Great Lever, said: “Since winning the funding from Bolton Council, everyone at the home has been thoroughly enjoying installing and tending to the multi-sensory garden during our weekly sessions with Sarah from Natural Education.

“We’ve also welcomed the community to join us in planting fruit trees, herbs, peas and tomatoes, which we’ll all harvest later in the year.

“We’re running our latest session during the school holiday to try to get as many children and their parents along as possible to grow their own pizza toppings. We’ll be planting seedlings and we’ll even take care of them for participants until they’re ready to plant in the garden.

“Anyone with an interest in gardening or growing their own produce should join us for the day.”