Page 34 • The HERALD • 18th April 2024 v GET OUT & ABOUT WITH THE HERALD v 07906 530054 Open Monday – Wednesday 10am – 4pm Open Saturdays from May to October OLD DAIRY WORKSHOPS West 4 Foxpond, Lymington SO41 8DU (Behind Foxpond car wash) OUT & ABOUT Learning Disability Gardeners Aiming for World’s Biggest Flower Show A group of gardeners with learning disabilities are planning to take a show garden to the world’s largest ower show this summer. e team from Furzey Gardens in Minstead have been accepted to RHS Hampton Court Flower Show to build a garden that will be seen by up to 140,000 over the show week in early July. Many of the gardeners have spent a lifetime struggling against discrimination and lacking in the opportunities that many other people enjoy. is garden will allow them to demonstrate the horticultural skills they have built over several years working at Furzey Gardens, which is run by local charity Minstead Trust. e gardens have been supporting people with learning disabilities for nearly 40 years, where they maintain the gardens and raise plants for sale in the nursery. e gardening team now need to raise the funds needed to create and build the garden. ey are calling for support from individuals and businesses who can support in several ways: • Donate directly to the appeal by the end of May at www.minsteadtrust.org.uk/hampton • Buy ra e tickets at the gardens or online to win a range of horticultural prizes • Sponsor the garden as a business. Over £15,000 may be needed for the project, with signi cant material, transport and support sta costs required to undertake this ambitious garden build. e show garden aims to help change perceptions in society towards people with learning disabilities. Many still feel socially le out and face stigma and discrimination in their everyday lives (Scior & Werner, 2015). Gardening can play a role in giving people purpose in their life and a chance to show what they can achieve. e garden will be built between now and June and then transported to the show and assembled for the beginning of July. Supported gardener Dave, said: “I like planting the seeds and watching them grow in the summertime. I am excited. I am happy to be involved.” Supported gardener Liam, said: “I’m looking forward to helping all the other guys and staff at Hampton Court. I feel excited.” John Davies, Minstead Trust support instructor, said: “This is a really exciting challenge the guys are taking on, a chance for them to show what they can do if given opportunities that are usually not available to them. Many of them have been through really hard times in their lives and this is a chance for them to stand at the show at the end of this journey and feel really proud of what they have achieved. I hope people will support us so that we can change some minds around what people with learning disabilities can do if given a chance.” Legacy Fortress for Generations Hythe and District Ladies Probus’ next meeting is on Friday 26th April for a talk titled ‘Legacy Fortress for Generations’ by Silvertime. ey are a friendly group of ladies who meet on the last Friday of each month at Dibden Golf Club from 10.30am. e meeting starts with co ee followed by a speaker and then a 2 course meal. If you are interested in joining them please contact Chris Glass: chrisjglass@aol.com or visit: www.probus.org.uk/hythedistrict Romsey Country Market Romsey Country Markets will take place at Braish eld Village Hall (SO51 0PN) from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Saturday 27th April and 4th May. At e Corn Exchange from 8.30am to 3pm on Saturday 6th April. At the Romsey Town Hall and Community Café from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Fridays 10th and 24th May. ey love to cook, cra and grow just for you, so go along for a great range of home produced items such as seasonal fruit, vegetables, cakes, preserves, plants and cra s. Please check the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/romseycountrymarket or visit: www.hampshirecountrymarkets.co.uk
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