Green Fingers for "The Green"

The ILM team in the garden with centre, Debbie Keenan, Care Services Manager for the branch, Dave Miller of Houghall College and Jennifer Brown, Branch Manager.

Green fingers have been at work at the Durham and Chester-le-Street Alzheimer's Society's Day Centre at "The Green" at Nettlesworth. Those who worked on the project were presented with certificates by the Alzheimer's Society at a reception on Friday 27 May 2005.

A derelict, neglected and overgrown garden has been transformed into a secure walled garden with paving and safe climbing plants designed for people with dementia.

The work was carried out by students on the Intermediate Learning Module at Houghall College as part of their course. The work involved digging out all the weeds and scrub down about a foot, laying paving and selecting plants suitable for shade or sun depending where in the garden they are, and bearing in mind the special needs of people with dementia. Judy Thompson, the Regional Trustee of the Alzheimer's Society, came along to present the certificates.

Alzheimer's Society Regional Trustee Judy Thompson chats with members of the team in the Day Centre.

Dave Miller, team leader from Houghall said,

"All of us felt really proud to be working on such a worthwhile project. As the garden matures, it will grow into a great place to sit outside. The lads ate on a year long retraining course to help them into employment either for the first or after a change of direction later in life."

Alzheimer's Society Branch Manger Jennifer Brown said,

"We are really grateful for all the hard work and effort all the workers put in on the scheme. The Service Users and Carers are very appreciative and they will get a great deal of pleasure out of it in years to come."

Paula Atkinson

Taken completely by surprise, Paula was presented with a certificate and bouquet by Jennifer Brown, Branch Manager

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