Green-fingered team members at a unique Southport garden centre were honoured for their horticultural skills at a presentation event this week.
New Leaf on Rotten Row, run with the help of people who use the services of a leading Sefton adult social care provider New Directions, paid tribute to their recent achievements on two City and Guilds courses.
St Helens College presented a group of people who attend New Leaf with certificates for successfully completing Practical Horticultural Skills Level One or Level Two courses, and a linked Skills for Working Life course.
The gardening course covers a range of key skills needed for horticultural work, including preparing soil, planting and watering, identifying weeds and associated garden maintenance.
The certificates were presented by St Helens College Tutor Darren Arrowsmith at a ceremony attended by New Leaf Project Co-ordinator, Angela Green.
Angela commented: “All the staff here are delighted at what the people who attend our service have achieved.
“They’ve worked very hard and deserve their success, which also reflects the real satisfaction they get from seeing products they have helped to grow or to make attracting the interest of a wide range of customers.
“Now they’ll be able to put the skills they have learned to further good use as we prepare for a very busy time in the run-up to Christmas, and then look ahead to planting for next year’s spring and summer seasons,” added Angela.