A WOKINGHAM organisation that encourages friendships to blossom, has won a special award for its community work.
The Link Visiting Scheme has been taking part in a Link To Nature project, in conjunction with Wokingham In Bloom and Wokingham Horticultural Association.
The Link matches isolated or lonely older people in the borough with a friend who regularly visits them in their home, or takes them out for short trips.
As part of Link To Nature, the charity has been organising lots of activities connected with growing for Link Friends to enjoy.
The project encouraged people to engage with their gardens, and to reconnect with a love of growing things.
It has led to the charity receiving special recognition for its community work.
“Recently We attended the Thames and Chilterns in Bloom awards, for the Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire region,” said Clare Randell, Activities and Services Manager.
“Our Link to Nature project was part of the Wokingham in Bloom portfolio, but it was also entered into the It’s Your Neighbourhood Awards.”
“We were pleased when Wokingham in Bloom was awarded Silver Gilt, and thrilled when we also received an outstanding level five award in the It’s Your Neighbourhood category.
“It’s the highest level and is based on community participation, environmental responsibility and gardening achievement,” explained Ms Randell.
“We received 89 points out of 100.”
But the charity was surprised and delighted to receive a further National Certificate of Distinction, which is awarded to groups that have done consistently well over time.
To win this award, The Link arranged a calendar of activities for Link Friends, with opportunities to grow plants, hear talks, and enjoy outings.
Plants were given to participants either to grow from seed, or as more established young plants that had been fostered by volunteers.
“There were pollinators, and sunflowers, and tomato plants,” explained Ms Randell.
“Everything came with instructions to make growing as easy as possible.
“We had a speaker from The National fruit Collection, and we took a group to an accessible garden in Swallowfield as part of the National Garden Scheme.”
The charity has also arranged for Link Firends to make a Christmas table centrepiece, which this year will have an amaryllis at its centre.
“People could do as much or as little as they wished,” said Ms Randell.
“Everything was designed to give them the best chance of success, and to galvanise them to get back out into their gardens.
“One lady who suffers from dementia grew a sunflower.
“It was the only thing that would get her out of her chair and into the garden.
“It has been a lovely project, and we’ve really enjoyed collaborating with Wokingham In Bloom volunteers, members of Wokingham Horticultural Association, and other groups across the borough.
“And we’re grateful to have received support from the National Lottery Fund.
“We’re absolutely thrilled to have won this special award.
“The project is all about community, and shared interest, and gives so much pleasure to Link Friends and volunteers alike.”
For more information, visit: www.linkvisiting.orgwww.wokingham-tc.gov.uk/inbloom
