Ref: PR2252
Date: 23/06/2009

Thornes Park nursery has been given a new lease of life thanks to a flagship social enterprise project to provide work and valuable training for people with learning difficulties.

The Growing for the Future project provides work for adults with learning difficulties to build their skills through growing and cultivating plants, flowers, fruit and vegetables. Young people who are at risk of dropping out of education, work or training can also benefit from the scheme and gain a recognised qualification.  

The members of Day Opportunities have already started creating a kitchen garden and demonstration garden to help promote the benefits of ‘five a day’ and a healthy lifestyle and it is hoped the public will soon be able to buy produce from the nursery. 

Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment Cllr Clive Hudson said: “We have a strong commitment to creating attractive and safe places for people to live, work and play and Growing for the Future will help revitalise the nursery, transforming it into a thriving visitor centre and producing more bedding plants to enhance the park and the wider district.”

And Cabinet Member for Adults and Health Cllr Maureen Cummings added: “This is a great project to help adults with learning difficulties boost their social skills and confidence while they enjoy doing gardening activities. Gardening has many benefits for health and well being and it’s really rewarding that they get to see something produced as a result of their work. Everyone involved in Growing for the Future will also play a part in improving community involvement, increasing activity levels and encouraging healthy diets.”

Community groups, including the friends of the park group CHaT, will also have the chance to get involved and a series of events, workshops, taster sessions and health walks will be held for the public to enjoy and it is hoped there will be a launch event in summer.

Growing for the Future is a partnership project with Wakefield Council, Groundwork Wakefield and NHS Wakefield District and is based at the nursery and formal gardens off Thornes Road.

Groundwork Wakefield’s Executive Director, Ken Taylor, said: "The Growing for the Future project is an extremely exciting development which demonstrates how excellent partnership working can achieve a number of shared goals. The regeneration and restoration of the Thornes Park site will provide a lasting legacy for the district’s residents along with enabling a variety of user groups to gain valuable skills and training whilst working on site. The social enterprise will not only provide locally grown food but will also present employment opportunities both now and in the future."

NHS Wakefield District Chief Executive Alan Wittrick, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with the council and Groundwork Wakefield on this project. It has so many benefits for the local community from developing skills and learning opportunities to getting people active through gardening and raising awareness of the benefits of eating five portions of fruit and veg a day. All of this helps to build strong, healthy communities, something we are passionate about at NHS Wakefield District.”

The Day Opportunities Service run by Wakefield Council’s Family Services department provides meaningful daytime activities for adults with learning disabilities. 

For more information about Growing for the Future visit the Wakefield Together website (see related links).