A unique garden centre in Southport where people with a range of support needs learn horticultural skills has launched a new appeal for donations of craft and upcycling items.



Staff at New Leaf on Rotten Row - which is run by leading Sefton adult social care provider, New Directions - are keen to expand the scope of their garden-related products operation and are calling on local people to help them.



In addition to the centre’s normal planting and growing activities, this side of New Leaf’s work involves service users in making craft items and learning practical and fashionable upcycling skills, for example how to create a useful garden planter out of an old chair.



As well as getting a lot of satisfaction from seeing customers buy products they have made, New Leaf’s clients know that all proceeds from sales are ploughed back into providing more resources for the centre.



For this reason, staff are looking to further develop their upcycling and craft activities, and would like to hear from anyone who can donate items they can use.



These range from wood, wooden furniture, bicycle wheels, old watering cans and ceramic plant pots to wool, fabric and even offcuts of AstroTurf or similar artificial grass.



New Leaf Project Co-ordinator, Angela Green, commented: “We’re delighted at how our upcycling activities have been going, and how keen service users are to get involved with them.



“Like me, I think they get a lot of pleasure from seeing discarded, tired or forgotten items being spruced up, re-used and re-loved.”



Angela also pointed out that New Leaf always welcomes more volunteer support, with staff keen to hear from anyone who can help, particularly green-fingered local residents.



More than 30 New Directions clients from across Sefton with disabilities, learning difficulties and mental health support needs regularly attend sessions at New Leaf, where they learn a number of useful life and work skills.



These range from planting and designing hanging baskets in the greenhouses, to retail and customer service skills in the garden centre shop.



And with the support of tutors from St Helens College, they can also work towards a City & Guilds qualification in horticulture.



* Anyone with items to donate to New Leaf, or wishing to volunteer at the centre, should contact Angela Green on 01704 562406.