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October 2018
News
Partnership working brings wildlife garden to MS Therapy Centre
A
wildlife therapy garden overflowing with wildflowers and buzzing with bees and butterflies has been officially opened at the West of England MS Therapy Centre in Bradley Stoke following a sixmonth partnership between the Centre and Avon Wildlife Trust (AWT), with support and funding from Rolls-Royce, Tesco Bags of Help, Daikin Air Conditioning UK, The Mall Fountain Fund, The Douglas Arter Foundation and Wessex Watermark. AWT worked with a team of Rolls-Royce employees, service users and staff from the MS Therapy Centre, Wessex Water and other corporate groups, local school children and members
of the community, to transform neglected, bare ground next to the therapy centre’s car park. After many months of work, the site is now a flourishing urban wildlife and therapy garden set to bring enjoyment, improve wellbeing and provide a place for wildlife.
Meadow areas
The garden features wildflower meadow areas with wildflowers like betony and ox-eye daisy, grown by Avon Wildlife Trust’s wildflower nursery at Feed Bristol. It also incorporates gently curving paths, a lawn and tranquil seating areas and a beautiful wooden archway for climbing plants, built from larch timber
Jack Lopresti MP cuts a plant-based ‘ribbon’ to officially open the garden
from AWT’s Folly Farm nature reserve. MS Therapy Centre members and staff worked with AWT and the Rolls-Royce team to design the wildlife therapy garden, focusing on creating the right habitat for wildlife like pollinating insects, bats and birds, as well as an inspiring natural space for members, their carers and staff to spend time.
Members have already enjoyed using the space to take part in therapeutic activities, including exercise classes and relaxation and insects, birds and other wildlife are finding food and shelter. Doro Pasantes, West of England MS Therapy Centre manager, said: “Many of our Centre members have limited
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