Volunteers sought for huge garden makeover at Laois elderly centre

A huge garden makeover is being planned at a residential centre for the elderly in Laois.

Volunteer Laois has put out the call for green fingered volunteers to help them turn a dilapidated garden in Ballyroan, into a haven for residents to enjoy.

The garden is at the Sue Ryder House in Ballyroan, a sheltered residential home for older people where they live semi-independently in homes around a centre that offers supports such as meals and healthcare.

Since Covid, the garden has fallen into major disrepair, so much that it is no longer safe for the residents to enter. Volunteer Laois aim to change that, over one huge working weekend in May.

"We have taken on the very ambitious project of a Garden Makeover for Sue Ryder House in Ballyroan.

"The garden, once a place of peace and beauty for the residents of Sue Ryder house, has in the last number of years, particularly during COVID-19, become overgrown and unusable for the elderly residents.

"The wooden benches are in a state of decay, the path uneven and covered in weeds/moss, the green house glass broken and the plants and shrubs in the flowerbeds taken over by weeds.

"All materials will be supplied. But we need your help.

"We are looking for volunteers to assist in bringing this space back to its former glory and so can be used by the residents of Sue Ryder House once again.

"Date is yet to be confirmed but we are anticipating it to be a weekend in May.

"If you have a couple of hours to spare and would like to help, or would like to donate any plants/shrubs, paint/ varnish/ greenhouse equipment etc for the project, please contact us.

"We particularly need people that are in any way familiar with Gardening/Landscaping, Painting, Bricklaying, Biodiversity".

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Volunteers must be aged over 16 and have basic English. Sign up through the Volunteer Laois page here.