Funds from our Community Support Grant have supported a voluntary group’s mission to encourage people to find peace in nature.

We have awarded Guardians of Nature – South Ribble £500 to help members pay for equipment for their allotment in Alderfield.

Afka, founder of Guardians of Nature – South Ribble, said: “Progress Housing Group has been amazing in supporting our project since it first began in summer last year. 

“We started as a friendship group who wanted to make a change to our community’s mental health through nature-based activities and outreach projects.

“We can now support new volunteers and welcome vulnerable people to join us so we can share with them the true sense of friendship and peace nature can bring.  We want to say a huge thank you to the Progress Housing Group team for believing in us.”

The volunteers have also been working on the White Ribbon Garden near Kingsfold Community Centre. The garden includes a bench and an area of reflection in support of the White Ribbon charity, championed by our women’s refuge, run by Key Unlocking Futures.

Liz Stanton, Refuge Manager, said: “The White Ribbon campaign was started by a group of men who recognised the way to change men’s behaviour needed to be championed by men.  The White Ribbon Garden was designed to give people a place to find peace, and it is wonderful that it is being maintained by the Guardians of Nature.  Hopefully, it will give a place of peace to those that need it for many years to come.”

Afka, who moved to Penwortham in 2018, wants to continue her success and is determined to help people find peace and happiness through the garden.

She explains nature helped her through a tough time, as whilst grieving the loss of several people close to her, she sought comfort by sitting under a giant oak tree in Penwortham. She then began planting and found that slowly her grief began to ease.

She said: “Every time I felt sad I planted something new. I realised all the beauty that I’d created from such sadness. I was truly comforted.  I then realised how much Mother Earth had supported me through all of my grief. There are so many people who must feel the same, so I just wanted to share this with others."

 

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