Heron Hill Garden Rescue 2022
Home Instead South Lakes' latest community project has been the restoration of the Heron Hill Primary School garden in Kendal.
At Home Instead South Lakes our passion to care for those around us extends beyond just our clients. We are involved with many community projects, like our Christmas gifting appeal ‘Be a Santa to a Senior’ and our Easter campaign ‘Be an Easter Bunny to Someone’, where we distribute eggs and Christmas gifts to vulnerable, isolated and lonely people. Our latest project is a garden restoration for Heron Hill Primary School in Kendal.
After suffering two years of neglect due to the COVID pandemic, the school garden had become completely overgrown and the children could no longer use it. We wanted to restore it to its former beauty so it could be used as a tool for learning again in partnership with Morrisons Community Champion, Kirsty Ireland.
Teacher Karen Harper responded to a social media post from us offering our time to help a local cause. We corresponded for months, helping to organise equipment, volunteers, and supplies, before then completing the makeover. An array of businesses helped including Travis Perkins, L&W Wilson, Beetham Nurseries, Burlington Aggregates and Keenan Able Design and Maintenance.
Together we brought life to the garden by removing all the excess weeds, reinstalling the stone seating areas and restoring the garden’s winding pathways using 30 tons of slate! One child said: “I can’t believe how good it is. We could put a tepee in here, put chairs around it, sit together and learn all about nature.”
Morrisons Community Champion, Kirsty Ireland said: “It’s initiatives like this that bring our community together”.
Headmistress of Heron Hill Primary school, Trish Merritt commented: “We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from everyone. The garden means so much to the children. We can’t thank everyone enough for all their contributions”.