WIREDGOV

Erlas Walled Gardens in Wrexham have successfully applied for a grant of nearly £10,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund to improve the facilities at the garden. They support adults with learning disabilities to develop their confidence and improve their physical wellbeing. James is one of the volunteers and for the last eight years he’s been going along twice a week.

James told us:

“I love coming to Erlas Walled Garden, I’m good at weeding! I love working outside with my friends.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, Erlas Victorian Walled Garden in Wrexham will use the grant to help their community adapt, recover and thrive, by re-building pathways, raised flower beds, and removing an old, damaged polytunnel and putting up a new one, with raised benches so that everyone can participate in gardening activities again, beside the volunteers.

Ann Morton, Charity Fundraiser at Erlas Victorian Walled Garden yesterday said:

“We now have nearly everyone back in the gardens, working with their friends, and returning to some form of normality. Our people suffered greatly during the pandemic, although we kept in touch with everyone in different ways. Our service users, volunteers and staff are looking forward to having a new polytunnel to work in next year. This grant from The National Lottery Community Fund is so important, we can rebuild relationships and work together safely in our peaceful and therapeutic walled gardens. We hope to start the project in January 2022.”

John Rose, Wales Director of The National Lottery Community Fund, yesterday said:

“National Lottery players raise £36 million each week for good causes throughout the UK and eight out of ten of our grants are for under £10k – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK, just like Erlas Walled Garden. We know their work is really valued by the local community. We are looking forward to seeing yet more people return and finding out how National Lottery Funding helps James and the other people who take part in the project to continue to thrive, in this beautiful outdoor setting.”

Erlas Walled Gardens is one of the 48 projects celebrating this month, who received a share of more than £3.3 million of National Lottery funded grants. To find out more about this month's other projects you can download a word document from this link.

To find information on applying to The National Lottery Community Fund for funding to help your community thrive, visit tnlcommunityfund.org.uk or call 0300 123 0735.

Photo of James working in the soon-to-be-replaced polytunnel

Notes to Editors:

The grant to Erlas Walled Garden is for £9,268 and the total awarded in grants this month is £3,313,515.