College Volunteers Help Restore Vandal-Hit Care Home Garden
20 July 2012

People using services at an Eastside residential home can now enjoy their allotment garden, thanks to a team from Middlesbrough College who repaired damage caused by vandals.

Sixteen staff from the College’s Health and Care department spent the day at Action on Hearing Loss’ Ransdale House clearing up smashed glass and planting flowers and vegetables.

Organiser Claire Lloyd said: “We were looking for an opportunity to do a volunteer day for the community, and we heard about the vandalised garden via one of our foundation learners, who lives at Ransdale House.

“The service users haven’t been able to use the allotment for few months since it was vandalised.

“So we went down on Monday and spent the day clearing up, cutting back all the overgrowth and putting in new plants.”

Ransdale House support worker Tony Hartley said the revamped allotment would be well-used by residents.

 “The allotment is well appreciated by our service users, who enjoy growing their own plants and vegetables, and it’s great to have it back in a usable condition.

“Our thanks go to the Middlesbrough College volunteers, who did a hard day’s work for us.”

And the Middlesbrough College team intend to keep in touch with the home.

“They’ve invited us back to see how the garden grows, and have a sit there to enjoy it,” said Claire.

“It’s lovely to have been able to do something so worthwhile.”