Jaguar Landrover Revamp St Patrick’s Garden

St Patrick’s Care Home in Widnes, Cheshire had their outdoor space transformed last week by the hardworking team of volunteers from Jaguar Landrover’s Halewood Operations Plant.

Battling the awful weather conditions, the 16-strong volunteer team gave their time to developing the home’s courtyard; with welders, joiners, engineers and electricians all lending a hand over the four-day project.

The Jaguar Landrover team kindly gave their time to St Patrick’s as part of their nationwide Employee Volunteering Scheme, which sees employees encouraged to put their skills and time to use in the community. In 2013, 3,640 employees donated almost 21,000 hours on individual and team volunteering activities which focused on regeneration, education, young people, charity work and the environment.

Donning their waterproofs and shovels, the team wasted no time in getting started, creating a therapeutic outdoor space for St Patrick’s Care Home’s 40 residents.

Led by Maintenance Group Lead Michael Fitzgerald, the team got to work by excavating old ground and greenery, and creating a more spacious and level courtyard, filled with colourful plants and furniture.

Their hard work had begun back in the factory, where they had prepared by building metal framework to create raised flowerbeds, which could be more easily and safely accessed by green-fingered residents. They also put their skills to creating special outdoor shelters, so that residents can enjoy the garden whatever the weather. Materials for the shelters were kindly donated by local equipment specialists DT Engineering.

Janet Fitzgerald, Manager at St Patrick’s, says: “Accessing outdoor space can have fantastic therapeutic benefits for older people, particularly those living with dementia, and in creating this wonderful garden, the team from Jaguar Landrover have given us something that will impact the wellbeing of our residents for years to come.

”The volunteers didn’t let the rain dampen their spirits – and worked tirelessly to get everything done.  On behalf of everyone at St. Patrick’s, I’d like to thank them for their hard work.”