Greater Manchester Probation Trust

Celebrity Gardener Works With Offenders

13 Aug 2009

CELEBRITY Chris Collins has led a team of offenders in a project to create a beautiful garden for children to enjoy.

The Withington Adult Learners Centre, in Burton Road, runs a creche facility. It had a garden, but over the past decade it had become overgrown and was inaccessible to everything bar the neighbourhood fox.
Chris, who is Blue Peter's resident gardener and fronted the BBC2 series The Plantsman, instructed a team of nine offenders who were carrying out Community Payback, under supervision from the Greater Manchester Probation Trust (GMPT).
During a hectic 48 hours, the group removed overgrowth and transformed the garden.
Chris said: "I've had a brilliant time, it's been a great pleasure to work alongside everyone here and all can be proud of the work they’ve done to transform these gardens."
The flowers used at the centre had earlier been on show as part of two displays created by Manchester City Council and GMPT at the Royal Horticultural Show in Tatton Park. The displays had won silver and bronze awards.
Sandra Brewerton, the centre's manager, said: "The children previously were only able to look over the fence and peer into the overgrowth. The transformation is beyond out dreams and it will make such a different to everyone who uses our centre.
"The offenders have been brilliant and I can't thank them enough."
Julie Crellin, one of GMPT's Community Payback Officers, said: "It's been a fantastic effort from the offenders and goes to show what organisations working in partnership can achieve, both here and at the RHS.
"Offenders have paid back to the community for the crimes they have committed, this garden will now bring a great deal of joy to the children who use the creche."
Manchester City Council designed a stunning flower bed, complete with solar panels, used tins and wind turbines to represent recycling, which landed a silver award at the RHS Show. A second display which featured in the back-to-back garden category bagged bronze.
Offenders carrying out Community Payback, along with volunteers and council workers, were supervised by the local authority's Environment Awareness Officer Sarah Hawkins.
Sarah, who helps co-ordinate Manchester In Bloom, planned and organised the displays, along with input from Manchester residents.