Veterans create an outdoor space for tenants of a housing scheme to enjoy

Tony Stubbs, manager of Bridgewood Lodge, Heywood, Janet Murray and veteran Keith Edgar

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Members of Veterans In Communities, have created an outdoor space with a seating area for residents of Bridgewood Lodge, Margaret Street, Heywood.

A redundant piece of land at the Lodge was strewn with rubbish, overgrown shrubs and tree stumps. In the summer tenants would sit out but there was no pleasant garden area.

But now, thanks to the hard work of Keith Edgar and Tony Stubbs the land has been cleared, tree stumps removed, steps put in to make gardening easier and part of the land has been levelled.

What they need now is donations of plants, shrubs and seeds so the ground can be planted up in the spring.

Manager of Bridgewood, Lodge Janet Murray said: “Initially we had overgrown trees that were 6-7ft high and we got a gardener to cut them back but it looked appalling.

“I have two residents who are 90 and my youngest is 57. We have a lot of ladies who like to sit out in the summer but have been sitting out on the car park.”

Janet gets the Veterans In Communities Newsletter because one of her former residents was a veteran and so she knew about the community projects carried out by the charity.

“Keith has been wonderful,” she said. “He has worked outside in all weathers, even when it was pouring down he wouldn’t stop working.

“It has made such a difference to that area and it is going to be lovely when we have it all planted out. I am now asking round for donations of plants and seeds.”

Veterans In Communities Outreach Worker, Tony Stubbs said: “When we cleared the shrubs there was a lot of rubbish underneath and boulders. We thought the work would take a month but it was completed in a week and a half.

“It is great that the tenants will now have a nice area to sit out in.”

They even brought the Veterans In Communities crew van in to help drag the tree stumps out of the banking.

Veterans In Communities helps veterans return, belong and prosper in their communities. For more information on Veterans In Communities call 01706 833180.