Yesterday, Orbit employees donned their gardening gloves to take part in the Quest for Wellbeing, a Forest of Hearts event, at Stratford Hospital
Yesterday, Orbit employees donned their gardening gloves to take part in the Quest for Wellbeing, a Forest of Hearts event, at Stratford Hospital.
Six green-fingered enthusiasts from the housing group joined volunteers from across the region to create the foundations of the Garden of Wellbeing, a community garden.
Forest of Hearts, a community project and charity, is set to create the Garden of Wellbeing, a sustainable, edible garden in Stratford-upon-Avon, in a bid to encourage people to get out into nature and improve their wellbeing.
Initially, the garden will be located at Stratford Hospital but will be moved to a new site at Gospel Oak Lane, Stratford-upon-Avon.
Before the real work began, volunteers took part in a scavenger hunt around Stratford making pit stops at some of the town’s famous landmarks, including Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Schoolroom and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
On arrival at Stratford Hospital, each team was given a raised bed to plant a range of plants and edible goodies.
The two teams from Orbit made light work of the garden and planted fruit trees, fruit bushes, cabbages, beans, herbs, bulbs, potatoes and edible flowers in raised beds.
Orbit’s raised bed was ranked third place at the event and David Bradley, Game of Thrones actor and charity patron, was on hand to congratulate all the volunteers on a job well done.
Orbit is a long term supporter of the charity and donated £900 to fund the garden.
Speaking on the garden, Cheryl Flavell, Placemaking and Partnerships Manager at Orbit, said:
“We’re proud sponsors of the Garden of Wellbeing – it’s a great initiative for the community and aligns with our sustainability programme, Orbit Earth. It’s good to know that we’ve had a hand in bringing the garden to life and will continue to support the initiative.
“We want to encourage our residents and members of the community to get involved – going out into nature or gardening has countless benefits for your physical and mental wellbeing, and most of all it’s fun.”
Carole Longden, founder of the Forest of Hearts, added: “We really appreciate Orbit’s support and commitment to the Garden of Wellbeing and the benefits it will bring to the local community.”
The 12 raised beds planted as part of the Quest for Wellbeing event will form the foundation of the sustainable garden.