History of the Garden Project

	This is a personal account about how the project started by George Deans, Day Services Officer. "Briarcourt Gardens came about after I had been asked in 1996 to look at the possibility of a small group of adults with learning disabilities doing garden work away from the day centres that then existed within South Kirklees.
(George putting the finishing touches to the Black and White table decorations)
It was felt that people working in smaller groups away from the centres would be able to gain a more realistic work experience. This was a need that had been highlighted by Kirklees' REAL Employment Agency for people with learning disabilities. Other projects were also being looked at, such as screenprinting, garden ornaments and a café. Briarcourt, a former residential home and now a day centre and offices, with grounds that were maintained by the council, was named as a possible site for this group to work at. On inspection the site proved to be mostly mature trees and lawns. The ground that wasn't lawn was heavily shaded by the trees. It was thought the lawns would prove to be a problem, as a previous attempt at gardening within the centres had highlighted the need for training for service users in handling lawn mowers. However, next to the grounds of the main building, was a field of just over an acre. This was sheltered and didn't seem to be used. It was covered in willow herb and brambles and contained a huge pile of leave mould, where the council had been dumping leaves for many years. All in all this looked like a challenging but possible site for the garden project.
It was found that the land indeed belonged to the council and that it might be available for our use. There was even an old garage at one end of the site that we could use for storing tools and eating sandwiches etc. At this stage I had envisaged using some old greenhouses that I knew were not being used at other social services establishments.
There was then a spell when the project was very quiet. I meanwhile was working with service users at both day centres, looking at the possible candidates for the project. Then I was asked to a meeting and money was mentioned for the first time. How much would tools, paths, poly-tunnels cost? It became evident at this meeting that new greenhouses were going to be used and that the old garage was going to remain an old garage. We were to get a portacabin or something like one for our lunch-room. Meetings were soon being arranged with architects to discuss in more detail what we wanted in the way of poly-tunnels, toilet facilities, and access. Service users were taken on visits to the site. Eventually plans were approved, tools and equipment were ordered. Leisure services were brought in. They felled a couple of trees and levelled the area for the poly-tunnels and greenhouses. The poly-tunnels were erected in late 1997, a portacabin and portaloo were delivered to the site early in the summer of 1998. Although I initially felt it would be better if all the contractors had finished and left the site before service users started attending, I changed my mind and this proved to be beneficial, as service users saw contractors working for them and had the feeling that they were working alongside. The first service users started at the beginning of July 1998. Paths were laid throughout the summer of 98 and four greenhouses were erected in the autumn of that year." How to contact us... by Email to Briarcourt.gardens@kirklees.gov.uk phone 0780 174 1874 in Writing to Briarcourt Gardens 28 Occupation Road, Lindley, Huddersfield. HD3 3EE top