Our Ottery St Mary team were pleased to help out at the WESC Foundation at West Hill recently by laying tarmac paths on the site.

This means that there is vastly improved access for wheelchairs, and better access for students and community users to get to all parts of the site, including areas that were previously inaccessible.

Jane Bell, CEO of WESC Foundation said: “Taking on the West Hill site has transformed the way in which our young people (and now other community groups) can experience the natural world.

“None of that would have been possible without the support of Jacqui Taylor and the Otter Garden Centres team, who have provided invaluable advice and practical support on a number of projects including the recent improvements to the paths.”

The WESC Country Works is a horticulture/forest project just off the A30 at Daisymount, not far from our garden centre in Ottery. The project offers outdoor learning experiences to anyone regardless of their disability, including the children and young people from across the WESC Foundation community. The experience can include forest school, tree planting, herb cultivation and increasing biodiversity, as well as growing vegetables either to use in cookery classes or sell to shops or at food markets in the local area.

WESC Foundation took over the management of the site in January 2017 and since then the plot has been redeveloped to become a great spaced for young people and adults who are disadvantaged through various disabilities by providing fun activities, new experiences and training.

The project is run by WESC staff and numerous volunteers, with the help of local businesses like ours.