Tutor: Damien Errington
Project Worker: Sue Elsey
Project Worker: Colin Welsh

It is hard to believe at the time of writing this report that I am to embark on my third season as Horticulture tutor here at Hadleigh Training Centre. It is with great excitement that all of us in the department look forward to utilising the many new resources bestowed upon us the previous twelve months.

During this time the department has taken delivery of a new polytunnel that with height and ventilated sides will be an excellent addition to the variety of plant production and hopefully in turn improve sales revenue to the social enterprise element of the project.

However, it is not all about revenue. Thanks to The Salvation Army funding a teacher training course and a place at a national social and therapeutic horticultural conference, the programme of teaching has become greatly improved putting the trainees personal development and growth at the heart of the projects existence. It is the intention that the tasks, where possible help with reinforcing numeracy and literacy. Motor skills are honed, and decision making is encouraged, towards trainees being able to make reasoned and independent choices, even if it is only to justify why a fruit bush is pruned in a particular way.

Every trainee who willingly attends the project is able, within a short period of time, to engage and contribute in a meaningful and productive manner towards some aspect of horticultural practice, an achievement of which they should all be proud. The monthly Farmers Market has continued to be an important shop window for the department to display its achievements, so has the point of sales situated on the Tea Rooms terrace. Complimentary to this is the departments continued participation with the care of several planted areas around the site, which should not be overlooked not only for its aesthetic pleasure but also for its intrinsic training value.

None of the department’s achievements could have been made without the support of the many individuals who participate and believe in the work that we do. So I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the department to thank my two project workers, our team of volunteers, the Friends of Hadleigh Training Centre.

Thanks to the Centre Management whom constrained by budget have to say no to ideas beyond our means but so often yes to the departments more achievable and practical plans.
A big thank you to all the practical help received from colleagues and trainees in other departments especially all those in Estate Management who built the new polytunnel, to the Catering department for its use of our produce, to Retail for selling our produce, to IT for labelling and to Carpentry for the tools we borrowed and never returned… and of course a big thank you to all of our patrons who support the project through purchasing our plants and produce.