Gardening project gets off the ground, thanks to award

At the charity’s 41-bed temporary emergency accommodation, The Elms, a team of residents and volunteers will create a new barbecue area with decking, outdoor lighting and two new barbecues.

Residents will benefit from a fantastic outdoor cinema with projector, seating and 20 sets of headphones.

The team will also landscape the large mound by the patio which was left after the building works and plant shrubs, small trees and flowers and incorporate a water feature with a gentle waterfall.

The works are due to be completed by late spring.

Elms manager Sean Fitzgerald said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for our residents to be involved in building a special new area at The Elms.

“Residents benefit greatly from working as a team and also from being able to spend time relaxing and socialising outdoors.

“Thank you to our volunteer project leader, Chris Bloomfield, for his vision and hard work.”

Bricks for the project have been donated by contractors Loughran, and 44 pallets of slabs, weed control matting, fence posts and 20 tonnes of soil have been donated by contractors Casey. Dacorum Borough Council has provided timber for the project.

The grant will also allow DENS to buy gardening tools and a mower to help maintain DENS move-on properties managed by its Rent Aid team.