Opening of the Veteran’s Community Garden

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Major George Briscoe MBE opens a new veteran’s community garden that helps with mental health and wellbeing, as well as reducing social isolation within our veteran’s community.

The opening of the Armed Forces community garden took place on Friday 30^th June at 13:00hrs. Considering the poor weather leading up to it the event was a tremendous success with over 50 people attending including Lancashire County Council’s Armed Forces Champion Alf Clempson and other senior members of the Armed Forces community. This plot of land was gifted to Fleetwood Town Community Trust from HAASRA the civil service sector. It is thanks to the Wyre borough council cost of living grant that has helped with funding part of this project.

After 5 weeks of hard work on planning and developing this project, it all came to fruition, all the furniture and high raised planting beds were made from either recycled or sustainable materials. There is so much to see within the garden with its dramatic entrance that leads to a boules pitch so our veterans can entertain themselves and on to seating areas that have tyre planters surrounding them where the veterans can get involved planting different seasonal flowers, as well as the vegetable plot that can feed our veterans throughout the seasons.

The garden enjoys the tranquil sound of the solar powered fountain bed. It has a purpose-built flagpole where the flag is raised when we are on our gardening days. This is encased in a tractor tyre that houses poppies surrounding the flagpole.

There is a BBQ that has been built if we have a social gathering and more seating that overlooks the cricket pitch that is the best seat within the garden. We would like to thank the prince’s Trust who have developed a lest we forget garden that brings time to reflect to our veterans.

Major George Briscoe MBE who serves with The Duke of Lancaster Regiment opened the garden providing some encouraging words for the community about how the garden can help peoples mental health and combat social isolation.

All the attendees were suitably impressed with the garden and are looking forward to attending future gardening sessions and coffee mornings planned at the venue. Wet weather isn’t a problem with the use of the cricket pavilion allowed to shelter from anything mother nature throws at us.

It was fantastic to see all the guests enjoying the hospitality with a BBQ after the official opening. Bringing Veterans closer together is a huge achievement and it was clear to see the friendships already established as the laughter and chat rang loud.

Phil Hayes, one of our veterans quoted.

“From a blank canvass that has been drawn back to nature and peace and tranquility, through advice and vision the results for the Veterans community garden has been amazing. A space truly superficially created for veterans of all abilities and needs, that can be adapted for future growth”.