Nursery staff and visitors dreaming of a green Christmas
Released: 5 October 2007
Thoughts are already turning to Christmas at a unique plant nursery run by Wolverhampton City Council.
The big day may still be almost three months off, but for the team of adults with a learning disability who demonstrate their horticultural expertise at Old Tree Nursery, the festivities are fast approaching.
Nursery Manager Andrew Skidmore said: “Everyone else tends to wind down for Christmas - but for us it is one of the busiest times of the year.
“We are about to start work preparing hundreds of wreaths, table decorations, planted bowls, house plants and, of course, Christmas trees, ready for sale to the general public.”
The Pendeford-based nursery employs around 15 people with a learning disability who are now gearing up for a hectic few weeks.
“Most of our staff are old hands at Christmas now,” Andrew added.
“It is very much like a production line in that people will do different parts of the process; some will be preparing the holly, others mossing up the rings for the wreaths and others adding the decorations."
Christmas brings plenty of cheer at the nursery all round, not just for the employees but in terms of the garden centre itself as the season is a good income generator.
"We sell such a lot of stuff in the week before Christmas - we expect to sell up to 300 wreaths and more than 50 Christmas trees,” said Andrew.
Old Tree Nursery, a bourgeoning social enterprise, was set up in 1986 and, for more than two decades, has supplied high quality produce to businesses and the general public while giving dozens of people with a learning disability the chance to earn a regular salary.
Andrew, who used to work at a commercial nursery and has a degree in agricultural botany, said: “Although the scheme aims to produce plants for sale, our focus is also to provide employment for people who would otherwise find it difficult to get a job.
“We provide appropriate training and work experience programmes in as realistic an employment environment as possible.”
Aside from the festive produce, the nursery’s on-site garden centre sells a whole range of seasonal items, including bedding plants and hanging baskets, shrubs, perennials and alpines and a diverse array of vegetables grown along organic lines, from tomatoes, chillies and peppers to sweetcorn, onions, garlic and pumpkins.
Andrew added: “Many of the people working here have been with us for over 20 years.
“They were involved in the creation of the site from scratch and it really is a way of life for them. Most live on their own or at the family home so they wouldn’t ordinarily have much interaction with the local community.
“Old Tree Nursery is proving a good way for them to make new and lasting friendships.”
Old Tree Nursery, on Pendeford Hall Lane, opposite Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve, is open all year round. A whole range of items are on sale now from its own on-site garden centre, while there will also be a stand at Wolverhampton City Council’s Civic Centre in the week prior to Christmas selling festive produce. For details, call 01902 786042.
Issued by the press office.