Essex Care Scheme Garden Will Bloom Thanks To Gardener Joe And Local Businesses

Home grown vegetables will be on the menu for residents at a Brightlingsea care scheme after a call for help to create a garden and allotment was answered by local businesses.

Scheme support worker Joe Dines decided to put his love for gardening to good use at the Adjuvo Care scheme on Church Road by creating an allotment and garden for residents to grow their favourite vegetables and plants.

He contacted local businesses to ask for support with gardening material for the project and has now started work with his willing team of residents. All the vegetables grown in the garden will be used at the scheme.

Joe, 23, who has worked at the scheme for almost three years, said: “I have been a keen gardener since I was a child and wanted to share this knowledge and pass on my skills to the residents.

“Getting outdoors in the fresh air after months of lockdown to create this garden will really cheer up the residents.  I know they will get a lot from a sensory perspective out of planting the seeds and just watching them grow.

“They have chosen a wide range of vegetables to grow so they really will be enjoying a feast when they have all grown. The response from local businesses has been great and we would like to thank everyone who has supported us.”

Businesses donated raised beds, compost and vegetable seeds to get the garden started in the grounds of the care scheme which provides support and accommodation for people with learning and physical disabilities.  The raised beds were donated by off-shore wind farm company Ørsted and the compost and vegetable seeds from B&Q in Clacton.