09/03/2012 - Permalink

Offenders help out on a community garden project in Shrewsbury

Related topics: Community

Offenders from Her Majesty’s Prison and Young Offenders Institution (HMP & YOI) Stoke Heath near Market Drayton have just started work on a project in Shrewsbury to tidy up and improve the Hermitage Community Garden in Mountfields.

Supported by Shropshire Council’s streetscene team, this is the second of a number of projects they will undertake in the coming months as part of a scheme allowing Stoke Heath’s offenders to help out in the local area. 

The garden will benefit from having a new path created, raised flower beds, clearing some existing grass to create better access for wheelchair users and buggies, and repairs to existing gates and fencing.  All this has been made possible by materials donated by Jarvis Scaffolding, Travis Perkins and Enterprise.

Extra to the work done on the garden, a piece of oak given to the project by Netley Hall Estate in Dorrington will be taken to Stoke Heath by Gillian Burvill, the education and enforcement officer for the streetscene team, to have the name of the garden carved by their woodwork department.

Councillor Martin Bennett, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member responsible for streetscene, said:

“Shropshire Council is very happy to be a part of a scheme that is benefitting the local community as well as giving the offenders positive projects to be involved in. This has seen members of the community, local businesses and staff from Shropshire Council and HMP & YOI Stoke Heath, as well as the offenders, working together to create something for the local area to be proud of.” 

Anne Chebsey, Shropshire Councillor for Porthill, said:

“With the help of everyone involved, The Hermitage Community Garden will become a focal point in the local area that can be accessed and enjoyed by all.  I would personally like to thank everyone involved and look forward to seeing the end result in due course.” 

If you have any similar local projects that you believe might benefit from the help of the young offenders, please contact Gillian Burvill, of Shropshire Council’s streetscene team on 01743 254928 or email gillian.burvill@shropshire.gov.uk.