Friary Gardeners - Charity of the Month - Hastings Handbook June 2007


Just off The Ridge, down towards St Helen’s Wood, is a secret garden that’s open to all and shouldn’t be missed. Friary Gardeners is an organisation providing a unique opportunity for people with learning disabilities. But the centre faces an uncertain future as it seeks the funds to survive. Friary Gardeners is situated in the grounds of the old Ore Farm. Since its inception 14 years ago, it has offered gardening services and affordable plant-sales for the general public, provided by people with learning disabilities. The benefits are mutual: elderly people or those with physical disabilities have their overgrown gardens tidied or lawns mowed, while the service users – those staff with learning disabilities – have the chance to achieve their potential and make a considerable contribution to the local community. John Cosson is the Chairman of Trustees of the Parchment Trust, the charity established to back Friary Gardeners, along with other local schemes for disabled people. Back before the Trust existed and Friary Gardeners was born, John was Chair of Governors at Glyne Gap School, which caters for children with disabilities. “We were concerned that many of the children leaving school had nowhere to go, no structure to follow for the transition to adulthood. Those of us involved with the school could see a gap in provision, but as the Council was unable to help, we took it upon ourselves to do something.” After 6 months the charity took on an existing operation in Winchelsea, where students leaving Glyne Gap and other schools were taken on as volunteers. But two years on, the garden was sold, and John and his colleagues were forced to seek a new home. At first, the search was fruitless – nothing suitable or affordable. And then, just as it seemed they’d be forced to give up, someone mentioned Ore Farm, empty for 20 years. “The answer was on our doorstep,” said John “and although we were all regulars at St Helen’s Church just a few yards away, we didn’t even know this place was here! It was a God-send, literally.” When I went to visit Friary Gardeners, in the shelter of a large, immaculately tended walled-garden, several gardeners were hard at work: two were digging over a sizeable allotment, already yielding healthy leeks, potatoes and sweet potatoes in neat rows. In the poly-tunnel, others were pricking-out seedlings. I’m introduced to Darrell, the project’s longest-standing service user, who was with the scheme even before the Parchment Trust took it on. He’s obviously an expert after so many years’ experience, and keen to show me around, pointing out and naming plants and trees. He tells me everything is organic, they don’t use any chemical fertilisers. I admire a particular area of garden in full-flower, carefully tended and full of colour, including a coral honeysuckle. “This is my garden”, he tells me with some pride, and justly so! I wish my fingers were as green. I ask Darrell what he likes most about coming here: “Doing so many different things,” he tells me. “We come here to learn how to garden properly then we can do gardening for other people. We go everywhere: Eastbourne, Bexhill, Hastings – all over.”	Service-user, Darrell, with his thriving honeysuckle in his own area of garden In the potting-polytunnel Darrell and his peers haven’t always been so independent. A lot of time is given to helping them find their feet. Manager Andrew Phillips tells me how some of the first training offered is in using public transport, for those who are able. “Many a time I’ve followed behind a trainee travelling on the bus in my car, as they learn to get from A to B on their own.” It’s obvious that this sort of help goes far beyond gardening at Ore Farm: it opens up a world of possibilities for people who would otherwise be dependent upon carers for the rest of their lives. “We want to help change the perception of people with learning disabilities,” says Andrew, “so that they’re not seen as a burden, but as the individuals they are with a valuable contribution to make.”
Please help Friary Gardeners keep their home at Ore Farm The Parchment Trust must raise £130,000 to pay for the freehold of their home. You can help by using the garden centre good quality plants at affordable prices, or by making a donation. For £3, you can plant a sunflower seed and contribute to The Field of Gold, a large bed of sunflowers which will be a spectacular sight at the height of summer. Ore Place Farm, The Ridge, Hastings TN34 2RA Tel: 01424 752 555 Email: parchment-trust@btconnect.com www.parchment-trust.org.uk Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm How to find Friary Gardeners: situated just off the A259, The Ridge, down a lane next to St Helen’s Church and the veterinary surgery. There are many other aspects to the work of the Parchment Trust, including services for profoundly disabled people - find out more on their website.

Just off The Ridge, down towards St Helen’s Wood, is a secret garden that’s open to all and shouldn’t be missed. Friary Gardeners is an organisation providing a unique opportunity for people with learning disabilities. But the centre faces an uncertain future as it seeks the funds to survive.

Friary Gardeners is situated in the grounds of the old Ore Farm. Since its inception 14 years ago, it has offered gardening services and affordable plant-sales for the general public, provided by people with learning disabilities. The benefits are mutual: elderly people or those with physical disabilities have their overgrown gardens tidied or lawns mowed, while the service users – those staff with learning disabilities – have the chance to achieve their potential and make a considerable contribution to the local community.

John Cosson is the Chairman of Trustees of the Parchment Trust, the charity established to back Friary Gardeners, along with other local schemes for disabled people. Back before the Trust existed and Friary Gardeners was born, John was Chair of Governors at Glyne Gap School, which caters for children with disabilities.

“We were concerned that many of the children leaving school had nowhere to go, no structure to follow for the transition to adulthood. Those of us involved with the school could see a gap in provision, but as the Council was unable to help, we took it upon ourselves to do something.” After 6 months the charity took on an existing operation in Winchelsea, where students leaving Glyne Gap and other schools were taken on as volunteers. But two years on, the garden was sold, and John and his colleagues were forced to seek a new home. At first, the search was fruitless – nothing suitable or affordable. And then, just as it seemed they’d be forced to give up, someone mentioned Ore Farm, empty for 20 years.

“The answer was on our doorstep,” said John “and although we were all regulars at St Helen’s Church just a few yards away, we didn’t even know this place was here! It was a God-send, literally.”

When I went to visit Friary Gardeners, in the shelter of a large, immaculately tended walled-garden, several gardeners were hard at work: two were digging over a sizeable allotment, already yielding healthy leeks, potatoes and sweet potatoes in neat rows. In the poly-tunnel, others were pricking-out seedlings.

I’m introduced to Darrell, the project’s longest-standing service user, who was with the scheme even before the Parchment Trust took it on. He’s obviously an expert after so many years’ experience, and keen to show me around, pointing out and naming plants and trees. He tells me everything is organic, they don’t use any chemical fertilisers. I admire a particular area of garden in full-flower, carefully tended and full of colour, including a coral honeysuckle. “This is my garden”, he tells me with some pride, and justly so! I wish my fingers were as green. I ask Darrell what he likes most about coming here: “Doing so many different things,” he tells me. “We come here to learn how to garden properly then we can do gardening for other people. We go everywhere: Eastbourne, Bexhill, Hastings – all over.”

Darrell
Service-user, Darrell, with his thriving honeysuckle in his own area of garden

Potting in the polytunnel In the potting-polytunnel

Darrell and his peers haven’t always been so independent. A lot of time is given to helping them find their feet. Manager Andrew Phillips tells me how some of the first training offered is in using public transport, for those who are able. “Many a time I’ve followed behind a trainee travelling on the bus in my car, as they learn to get from A to B on their own.” It’s obvious that this sort of help goes far beyond gardening at Ore Farm: it opens up a world of possibilities for people who would otherwise be dependent upon carers for the rest of their lives.

“We want to help change the perception of people with learning disabilities,” says Andrew, “so that they’re not seen as a burden, but as the individuals they are with a valuable contribution to make.”

Please help Friary Gardeners keep their home at Ore Farm

The Parchment Trust must raise £130,000 to pay for the freehold of their home. You can help by using the garden centre good quality plants at affordable prices, or by making a donation.
For £3, you can plant a sunflower seed and contribute to The Field of Gold, a large bed of sunflowers which will be a spectacular sight at the height of summer.

Ore Place Farm, The Ridge, Hastings TN34 2RA Tel: 01424 752 555
Email: parchment-trust@btconnect.com www.parchment-trust.org.uk
Open Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm

How to find Friary Gardeners: situated just off the A259, The Ridge, down a lane next to St Helen’s Church and the veterinary surgery. There are many other aspects to the work of the Parchment Trust, including services for profoundly disabled people - find out more on their website.