Garden Tool Giveaway

THE GREAT GARDEN TOOL GIVEAWAY

Wandsworth Prison is the unlikely venue for the Great Garden Tool Giveaway this Saturday (3rd October), organised by The Conservation Foundation’s Tools Shed project and HMP Wandsworth.

Over 100 children, parents, staff and gardeners from more than 60 schools and community garden all over the capital will converge on Clark House, the prison’s staff training school to collect tool ‘starter packs’ and watering cans for their gardens.

These aren’t just any old tools; they’re special tools which have been refurbished in Wandsworth Prison’s workshops, where they have contributed to providing practical skills for prisoners. Unwanted and broken garden tools donated by many different sources including The Garden Centre Group, RHS Wisley, Capital Gardens, the Royal Parks, Capel Manor College and London’s Open Garden Squares are given a new lease of life by prisoners before being given free to schools and community groups.

As well as picking up smart new equipment for their gardens, the young visitors will have the chance to look round the fascinating exhibits in the Prison Museum and get a sense of life ‘inside’ in the practice cells at the officer training centre.

Tools Shed has been piloted with HMP Wandsworth where, thanks to the energy and enthusiasm of staff and prisoners, it has proved such a success that it is being introduced to prisons in other parts of the country. HMP Moorland near Doncaster and HMYOI Thorn Cross near Warrington have recently joined the programme and HMYOI Feltham is soon to come on board.

Says Conservation Foundation Director David Shreeve, “With more and more schools and community groups ‘growing their own’ there is great demand for garden tools and rarely any budget. They tell us how difficult it is to get the equipment they need for their gardens. A recycling project that helps to equip the next generation of gardeners, reduces waste and provides practical skills for prisoners, seems the ideal solution.” He continues, “We are delighted to have the support of so many of the horticulture industry’s big names to collect tools for us but are always looking for more collection points around the UK.”

The Conservation Foundation is working with the RHS National Campaign for School Gardening to identify schools which need garden tools. The Head of RHS Education, Ruth Taylor, welcomes the new initiative, “We know lots of schools want to start school gardens but lack funds and resources,” she says. ‘Free tools for schools’ is a wonderful opportunity for London schools that need the extra resource. It also highlights how communities can really support and give assistance in helping the future generation gain gardening and growing skills.”

For further information on Tools Shed and how to give and receive tools visit: www.conservationfoundation.co.uk