Adults with learning disabilities who attend a day centre in Kilkeel were left heartbroken after their precious garden project was destroyed by Storm Barra.
Over 40 adults make use of Mourne Stimulus Day Centre – a volunteer-run venue where people with learning disabilities can take part in all kinds of activities.
It has been running for nearly 25 years and provides valuable respite time for carers too.
Many adults at the centre particularly enjoyed spending time in polytunnels built in the garden. They grew plants to sell to people in the community as part of a ‘therapeutic gardening’ project at the centre. They also used the polytunnels to take part in arts and crafts and exercise classes.
Staff had managed to keep the garden project going for 23 years before Storm Barra hit just before Christmas – damaging the polytunnels where the gardening took place.
Now it is unsafe for the adults to continue the work they so enjoyed.
(Image: Mourne Stimulus Day Centre)
Bronagh…
