GRAPPENHALL Heys Walled Garden has received a £2,000 donation from housebuilder Redrow to help create a new workshop space for the local community.
The restored Victorian garden, based on Witherwin Avenue, will use the funding to purchase a timber workshop that will provide storage, training facilities and space for community activities.
The donation comes from Redrow’s Grappenhall Heys Community Fund, launched earlier this year to support not-for-profit organisations operating in or supporting people in Warrington, close to the company’s new Alderbrook Manor development.
A total of £10,000 was made available through the fund to support local initiatives.
Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden provides horticultural, educational and wellbeing opportunities for local residents and has become an important community hub.
The new workshop will allow the team to expand its activities, including small-scale crafting workshops, monthly repair cafés and a dedicated meeting space for local people.
Kate Fitch, community outreach officer at the walled garden, employed by Grappenhall and Thelwall Parish Council, said: “We provide the only community facilities within the local area here at the walled garden. Our new workshop will allow us to enhance our offering to the community.
“The space will be used for small scale crafting workshops, monthly repair cafes and a meeting room space for the community. Thank you to everyone at Redrow for this donation.”
Amanda Jones, sales director at Redrow North West, said the garden’s plans for the funding made it a strong candidate for support.
She said: “There were so many great applicants for the Grappenhall Heys Community Fund. And after hearing how the team at the walled garden were planning to use the funds, we knew it was one we needed to support.
“We hope the workshop is enjoyed by all who use it.”
The community fund was launched to mark the opening of Redrow’s Alderbrook Manor development, located south of Curzon Drive.
Once complete, the development will feature 237 new homes, ranging from one to five bedrooms, from Redrow’s Heritage range. Around 30 per cent of the properties are planned to be affordable homes.
The development will also include extensive green open spaces, mature trees, two new play areas and footpaths connecting to local walking routes.
To find out more about Grappenhall Heys Walled Garden, visit https://www.ghwalledgarden.org.uk
Picture caption: Garden manager Oliver Groos, chair of estates Louise Fernyhough and Redrow’s Lesley Langton.
