Repaired raised beds improves communal garden at supported living accommodation

In June, the communal garden at a supported living block was improved due to repairs to the raised beds carried out by EQUANS.

Thanks to a number of volunteers from EQUANS, the raised planter beds within the communal garden at George Downing House in Plymouth have been repaired, significantly improving the appearance of the garden for residents.

A few years back the Clarion Neighbourhood Investment Team, asked EQUANS if we could install raised beds at George Downing House and the works were undertaken as part of our social value commitments for Clarion. The raised beds have been used to their full potential over the last few years by the residents and they have made them their own by painting them in vibrant colours, growing all sorts in them.

Many of the residents take a lot of pride in the communal garden areas that they have and the gardens surrounding the flats are always vibrant and full of colour.

More recently it was noticed that the raised beds needed some work to keep them together so that residents could continue to use them in the coming years. Volunteers from EQUANS kindly took time out of their busy schedules and used their staff volunteering days to undertake the necessary repairs.

One resident from George Downing House was particularly delighted with the renewed planters saying, "A good job done, I'm looking forward to painting them with the paint I bought with the vouchers received from EQUANS, thank you."

"It was great to be able to update the raised beds for the residents. They get so much enjoyment out of gardening and it creates a great community spirit and brings everyone together." Karen Jones, EQUANS Resident Liaison Officer and Volunteer