Volunteers taught how to use tools and build veterans’ community garden in eight days
Dozens of volunteers left their desk jobs to pick up tools for the first time ever and build a community garden for veterans in eight days.
Funded by SSAFA The Armed Forces Charity - Devon and RMA -The Royal Marines Charity, the creation of the GMC June Best Sanctuary Garden at the Gordon Messenger Centre (GMC) located opposite the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines, Lympstone, was made possible through the generosity of volunteers, local businesses and international community development company Splash Projects.
In order to keep costs down, Splash Projects, designed and facilitated this technical, large-scale project, with a team of eight project facilitators teaching a group of around 20 volunteers a day to do the building work.
The project build also ensured that people of all abilities could take part, with volunteers, including veterans, learning new skills while giving back to the wider military in their community.
Splash Projects’ designers worked closely with a committee of veterans to ensure the garden is a multi-functional, wheelchair accessible space involving sensory elements, including a fire area and a water feature, a growing garden, seating and sheltered areas including a greenhouse and an outdoor kitchen.
A host of businesses including Vistry Group, Champion Groundworks, Barclays Bank Exeter, Western Counties Roofing, Fenster, Jewson Exeter, MJL Contractors, Steve Hoskins Construction and CJL Construction, pledged their support to enable the creation of this garden including resources and manpower.
Splash Projects Project Manager Pete Simmons, said: “Most of the volunteers had never used tools before, so everyone was out of their comfort zones, but all of them learnt something new and helped create something amazing. If it wasn’t for the volunteers, who worked so hard and didn’t shy away from anything, we’d still be there now.”
Mark Tyrrell‑Smith, Chair of SSAFA Devon, said: “Anybody can pay someone to build a garden, but working with Splash Projects enabled unskilled volunteers, veterans and families to come together, supervised by Splash, to build a stunning garden and make a lasting difference.
“The project has been supported by so many others; their generosity has been humbling.”
He added: “This has been a unique experience for SSAFA Devon, testing the concept of social investment as part of a national trial. We are always looking for volunteers, and anyone interested should visit the SSAFA Devon website to get involved and make a difference.”
Lisa-Joy Peake, GMC Manager, added: “We are so grateful to all those who generously gave their time, resources and unwavering support to make this project a reality.
“The garden is a testament to what can be achieved when individuals, organisations and communities join forces to achieve a common goal.”
Other local businesses supported the project by donating food for the volunteers’ lunches every day including the Royal Marines Field Kitchen team.
Now, the centre is appealing for garden furniture and tools to help keep costs down for the charities, anyone who can help should email, gmc-gordonmessengercentre@outlook.com.
The lion’s share of the funding came from a generous legacy gift by former SSAFA Devon volunteer, June Best in 2022.
The GMC is dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of tri-service Armed Forces personnel and veterans, and their families. This project is the first of its kind in the UK and will provide a much-needed therapeutic garden for local and visiting, veterans, and their families.
