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Refresh!Learning from our Heritage
With this project being run by Workmatch, an organisation that works towards benefiting and supporting a variety of people with disabilities and disadvantages, the Learning from our Heritage project offers more than a simple educational experience.
Based in Lugwardine, this project aims to restore, and make safe, an ancient walled garden, redesigning it as a Victorian kitchen garden and using traditional organic farming methods.
As well as the garden, they are developing the natural habitat alongside the River Lugg to enable it to become available to all members of the public, and be protected and valued by the community. This will include the provision of a viewpoint that is suitable for wheelchair users. This part of the work is undertaken in partnership with the Lugwardine Education Centre.
True to the ethos of Workmatch, a major part of this project is to enable work-based training to take place and allow employment preparation for disabled and disadvantaged people through horticulture and health and safety.
Another aspect of this project’s training will be toward the end of the project through the social enterprise element. The aim is to achieve financial sustainability by March 2007 through the sale of vegetable produce and hanging baskets, and through the delivery of accredited training in these areas.
The walled garden will be open 5 days a week for training. There will be two special open day events every year, although members of the public are invited to contact Workmatch if they would like to visit at other times. There will be other days throughout the year which will be advertised as “guided visits and walks” which will be publicised in local community newsletters, websites and the local tourist office.
Volunteering opportunities are available to the general public for the development of the walled garden and the disabled access footpath.
Anna-Marie Tuite
Tel: (01432) 265545
Email: info@workmatch.org.uk
Website: www.workmatch.org.uk
