Gardeners’ question time gets right answers

Staff at Whitefield Library and Adult Learning Centre have thanked residents and businesses for help in transforming a garden space behind the centre.

They have been working closely on the garden with Bury Employment Support and Training (Bury EST), which provides a recruitment service for Bury residents finding it difficult to gain or retain a job due to a disability or disadvantage.

Donations came from several library users and from aSalfordresident, which enabled the work of painting the fence and laying down weed suppressant textile on the overgrown plot.

Local Bury businesses such as Poundstretcher, First Choice Cash & Carry, Wilkinson’s, Nino’s Flowers and R.H. Gill Boscow Nurseries supplied gloves, refuse sacks, garden tools, garden plants and materials to Bury EST.

Bury EST staff, their customers, library staff and Dennis Williams from Bury Council’s grounds maintenance team also donated their time in transforming what was a badly overgrown area at the back of the library into a tranquil garden area.

Mike Spurr, Bury EST manager, said: "We are always on the lookout for opportunities for our customers to enhance their employability skills, therefore the chance to work in conjunction withWhitefield Libraryand Adult Learning Centre on this project was most welcome. It's a great example of partnership working."

For further information on the role of Bury EST see their website http://intranet.bury.gov.uk/AdultCareServices/Operations/BuryEST

ENDS

Press release issued: 15 November 2012.

Picture attached: At the new garden are (from left) Janet Moores, centre supervisor; Helen Whittle and Dennie Ford; Mike Stirrup, Bury EST manager; Zerqa Ahmad,  placement officer (Bury EST); and (kneeling) Rob Moran-Hetherington, library assistant.