Garden funding boost

Green-fingered residents living in two of Broadacres sheltered housing schemes have received a funding boost.

The gardening clubs at Rivendale, in Northallerton, and Rockliffe Court, in Hurworth, have each received £350 to enable them to work on the communal gardens over winter and into spring 2018.

The money has been donated by Bedale-based HGM Services, the landscape contractor for Broadacres Housing Association, which runs Rivendale and Rockliffe Court.

At Rivendale, the resident gardening club is using the money to carry out various work on the garden area, including weeding, improving borders, clearing overhangs and preparing raised beds for autumn/winter and spring planting.

Manager Judy Beardsmore explained: “HGM do a great job cutting the grass and carrying out general maintenance, but the residents are responsible for everything else.

“We have a very active gardening club here at Rivendale and they have done a fantastic job, along with the support of the Youth Justice Service, transforming the garden over the last few years.

“Keeping the garden looking great can be expensive so this kind donation from HGM will go a long way and we are grateful to them.”

At Rockliffe, the money will be used to ensure the ‘Garden Buddies’ club can continue.Rockliffe Court Manager Susan Ballard explained: “The Garden Buddies are a group of local volunteers who come into look after the large communal garden and the gardens of the eight bungalows we have at Rockliffe Court.

“The money will help the Buddies to continue maintaining the gardens and we would like to thank HGM for their generosity.”

HGM Managing Director Stephen Howitt said: “We have worked with Broadacres for a number of years so it is nice to be able to give something back in the form of this donation.”

Ian Pollitt, Technical Support Manager, at Broadacres, said: “We would like to thank HGM for this donation; it will go a long way to ensuring two very large communal gardens are kept nice and attractive for the residents who live at Rivendale and Rockliffe Court.”