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A unique bamboo garden is opening today in the presence of veterans, volunteers and gardeners who worked together to create a magical space that not only improved the splendid gardens at Great Comp in Platt near Sevenoaks, but also acted as a therapeutic endeavour for former servicemen who were struggling with life after retiring from the services.
The project was the brain-child of Dr David Chesover, former clinical lead for West Kent Mental Health and Chair of Kent Armed Forces Network, and enabled the Royal British Legion Industries (RBLI) veterans, who lived on the charity’s intergenerational village in Aylesford in Kent, to learn new skills and reap the health benefits of working outdoors creating a beautiful space for the future.
Dr David Chesover said: “We are indebted to the team at the Armed Forces Network and the RBLI who enthusiastically seized the opportunity to place their veterans at Great Comp Garden. They raised the funds and worked with our team to ensure that the project would deliver what the veterans needed as well as creating a legacy for the future.”
The veterans visited the garden over a period of three years (from February 2018) and cleared an area of woodland where the Bambooserie, designed by curator William Dyson, could flourish and grow.
William Dyson said: “It was wonderful to see the change in the veterans over time as they learned new skills and began to feel comfortable in the calm environment our garden provides. They worked closely with our senior gardener Kate Harrison who patiently passed on essential horticultural skills.”
The garden will be opened by Tonbridge & Malling MP Tom Tugendhat MP VR, who himself served in the Iraq War and in Afghanistan.
Lisa Farmer, RBLI’s chief executive, said: “The Bambooserie project at Great Comp Garden has been instrumental in helping our veterans gain the skills and confidence they needed after illness, crisis and injury. Many of the veterans who worked on this beautiful project have now used this experience to go on and live fulfilling and rewarding, independent lives.
“These success stories would simply not have been possible were it not for the foresight of Dr Chesover, the unwavering support of ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, and the fantastic team at Great Comp Garden.”
The Bambooserie is 300 sq metres in size and contains 26 different varieties of bamboo, a plant that originates from the far east. In April and May the Bambooserie will enjoy a backdrop of colourful azaleas and rhododendrons, also from the far east, making this part of the 7 acre garden in Sevenoaks in Kent a really special late spring garden.
The garden will be opened in the presence of the veterans, the team from the RBLI, gardeners and volunteers from Great Comp as well as the Lord Lieutenant of Kent.
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