Foster children work together to help transform community garden
A volunteer team of our foster carers and looked after children, aged between seven and 15, have been working together to transform a previously derelict outdoor space at our Truro office into a community garden. The once overrun shrubs have been removed, the walkways have been tidied and garden furniture has been added following suggestions from the children and young people discussing their ideas on how the overgrown outdoor space could be used.
With the main of goal of making the centre and garden more welcoming and a usable space for our foster families, the garden transformation project has benefited from donations from the local community, foster carers, Tesco and Trago Mills. Donations from local supermarkets included vouchers to purchase garden tools and seeds for planting in the spring.
The garden project has also benefitted from donations from foster carer Rob Winfield, of Truro Timber Frames, who supplied wood and staff to make two free standing planters at the entrance to the garden. Another foster carer and professional gardener, Peter Nayler, donated his time and expertise to make a gate to secure the area. One of his clients also donated a picnic bench for the garden.
Completion of the garden will take place in the spring when Vivienne Gillard, a foster carer with Five Rivers and artist and ceramicist based in St Austell, will help the young people paint a mural of flowers and butterflies on the garden’s wall.
Melanie Chope, one of our support workers in Truro who has assisted in this garden transformation project, said: “It’s been overwhelming to see how generous foster carers and children have been in both their time and resources. We’re looking forward to the completion of the project and seeing how young people in the area can use and enjoy what was previously an unused space.”
To follow the transformation of the Truro garden and to listen to an interview of Melanie Chope and Sarah Wells, one of our fostering team managers, on BBC Radio Cornwall, visit our Twitter and Facebook pages.
If you would like to know more about how you can help a child in need, or the personal and career benefits of fostering, or would just like an informal chat with our team you can reach us on 0345 266 0272 or [email protected]