The Kendal community has come together to help create a vegetable garden for a supported living service in the town.
The space at ISL’s Eskdale House, which supports adults with learning disabilities, has raised beds where tenants will be able to pursue varied gardening interests.
Several people, businesses and voluntary organisations donated time, expertise, materials and machinery to bring the project to life. Councillor Shirley Evans and MP Tim Farron also helped out.
It was part of the Give A Day to Kendal initiative.
Cllr Evans said: “I visited ISL in August and I was so impressed by the excellent quality of the accommodation on offer to support some of our most vulnerable young people.
“They mentioned that they had a long term ambition to turn some of the hard standing at the back of the building into a vegetable garden. This would give the young people an outside space they could all enjoy and contribute to.
“I knew that Jonny Gios was setting up another Give a Day to Kendal project and promised that I would pass on their idea to him.
“Jonny contacted ISl and, thanks to some amazing volunteers, local businesses and organisations, these young people now have a wonderful green and growing space they can call their own.”
Reverend Jonny Gios said: “Give a day to Kendal was restarted in 2022 after the COVID pandemic halted its momentum.
“We simply ask bring whatever you have in your hand….Carlisle Give a day has seen 200 to 255 projects completed since it started in 2015 and over 5,000 volunteers that have contributed to those projects. Our dream for Kendal is to see this gather momentum and fan into flame more generosity across the town.”
Andy Kenny, of ISL, said: “The creation of a new garden area with raised beds will really enhance the site and support people who live there to further develop interests in growing vegetables and gardening.
“The people we support in Kendal are active members of the local community and were pleased to welcome all of the great volunteers generously giving their time on this great project.”
