Baxenden: Sandy Lane Gardening Group receives Queen's Award for Voluntary Service

The Sandy Lane Gardening Group have been presented with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service and this was marked at the Council meeting on 20th November 2014.

Cabinet member Ken Moss said, "The group was started in 2009 with the express purpose of helping out at the Sandy Lane garden areas but it now supports Creative Support, a team who assist people with mental health problems and learning difficulties."

He continued, "The group is now totally self-financing and works with other community groups such as Prospects and the Friends of groups. They've raised thousands in grant funding and have won awards at RHS Tatton Flower Show in both 2013 and 2014. This award is the highest possible award for a voluntary group in the UK and on behalf of the Council I would like to thank you for your work and congratulate you all on receiving it."

Secretary of the group, Gerry Burke, said, "We started off looking after 35 square metres but we now have over 150 square metres and we try to help all those people have a better quality of life. 'Eco-therapy' is one of those modern buzz words but we believe that simply medicating and watching Jeremy Kyle is no good to anyone, you need to get out there and do something useful."