Lunchtime Meeting - 12.45pm - Speaker Ann Morton and Emma, Erlas Victorian Walled Garden Project

The innovative Erlas Walled Garden Project, on Bryn Estyn Road, Wrexham, aims to promote and protect the health of people with disabilities in the Wrexham area by providing meaningful daytime therapeutic activity, education and work experience.

Set in the grounds of the former Bryn Estyn home, the Erlas Victorian Walled Gardens group maintains a wide array of plants and outdoor structures, promoting the restoration and enhancement of a Victorian walled garden, believed to date back to the early 1800s, whilst providing a great place for people with disabilities to learn and develop their skills.

The group maintains 3.5 hectares of land which encompasses a walled garden, ponds and woodland, all of which provide a welcoming habitat for many rare invertebrates and other wildlife.

In the past few years the group has developed its education provision so that classes, delivered by volunteers, are held every week with training accredited through Agored Cymru.

The group now also offers placements to war veterans to improve their mental and physical health.

Our speaker today was Ann Morton the Charity Officer and principal fundraiser for the gardens. “Our organisation impacts positively on disabled and vulnerable adults and young people, whose well-being and social skills are enhanced as they engage in worthwhile activities in and around a restored Victorian walled garden, or participate in education provision." she says " Volunteers and local community groups visit regularly to enable a productive and therapeutic garden to flourish and develop.”

Read more about the project here: http://www.erlas.org/