Local nursery Johnsons of Whixley is marking National Volunteers’ Week by helping adults with learning difficulties learn new horticultural skills.
Staff member Ellie Richardson, who is the granddaughter of Johnsons chairman John Richardson, and the daughter of group managing director Graham Richardson, recently spent a day working with Horticap, a charity that provides adults with learning disabilities training in horticulture, allied crafts and rural skills.
Johnsons has an established relationship with Horticap, spanning more than ten years.
Working with the group, Ellie created pom-poms to add to a wired hare sculpture, which will be sold at Harrogate Hospital to raise funds for the charity once completed.
Ellie also learned how the students made hanging baskets, while also making her own.
Volunteers’ Week takes place 1-7 June every year and provides an opportunity to celebrate volunteering in all its diversity.
Ellie said: “Volunteering is important to a lot of staff members here at Johnsons and we’re proud of the time and expertise we have leant to others over the years.
“Volunteering offers help to people in need and worthwhile causes. It was great to help out Horticap, and it helped me too.
Volunteering gives you that feel-good factor and it was nice being in a different environment. I really enjoyed my day with Horticap. The students, instructors and carers were lovely to me and I will definitely be volunteering with them again.”
Ellie and three of her colleagues at Johnsons will also be volunteering with York Cares later this month, to help improve the city’s green spaces.
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