Gardens and cafe open to support community

9 hours ago

Ed Hanson,in Workingtonand

Evie Lake,North East and Cumbria

News image — Service user Ethan said he liked working with his friends in the new greenhouses

Ed Hanson/BBC Ethan smiling into the camera while standing in one of the greenhouses. He has brown, curly hair and is wearing a blue zip-up fleece which reads 'Grow West' on the right of his chest. There are tables on either side of him lined with pots with different coloured flowers in them. On the right they are pink and on the left they are yellow, purple and pink. — Service user Ethan said he liked working with his friends in the new greenhouses

A new community space has opened to support those with learning difficulties.

Hall Garden, in Workington, Cumbria, has opened in the grounds of Workington Hall and features growing spaces, a cafe and children's play park.

Run by charity West House, CEO James Cox said it would help the people the charity supported "develop and learn new skills".

The site had been unused and "largely derelict" before the development, which received Levelling Up funding from the government.

Service user Ethan said he was delighted with the new greenhouses.

"I just like hanging out, having a chat with my friends as we work on the plants, water them," he said.

"Hanging around, working with plants - it's pretty good."

Ed Hanson/BBC Three women standing behind the counter at the cafe which is blue at the front with a white counter top. Two of the women are standing centrally and both have brown hair and are smiling. There are bottles of water in front of them to the right as well as brochures and baskets full of crisps to the left. There is a sink and coffee machine behind them. There is another woman standing further back to the left and is wearing glasses. — Service users also help out in the cafe

There has been a pottery studio on the site for some years which has also been incorporated into the development.

Another service user, Robin, said he enjoyed "feeling the clay, how the clay feels and getting good at it".

Labour leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer said: "This is about people on the margins, bringing them together, being productive, being a part of our community in Workington.

"There's no better thing to do."

Ed Hanson/BBC James Cox looking into the camera with a slight smile. He has short grey hair and a grey beard and is wearing a blue blazer with a lighter blue shirt underneath. He is standing in front of a garden with raised beds covered in clear material. There is a greenhouse behind the garden with trees surrounding it. — James Cox asked the community to get involved and visit the gardens

Cox said: "I am immensely proud to see this site develop from what was an unused space and largely derelict to what we've got today which is hopefully a great community space and somewhere for people we support to develop and learn new skills."

He also said he wanted the local community to get involved and come and enjoy the gardens and cafe.

Initially the gardens will only be open to the public on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

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