On a very damp Monday morning, following a generous breakfast at Sophie’ s Café, four Brethren of Priory Gate Lodge headed to the White Lodge Centre at Chertsey to help clear their adult sensory garden and the patio around the Rendezvous Hub of weeds.
W.Bro. Brian Penfold (Worshipful Mower), Bro. Mark Malone (Senior Weeder), W.Bro Nick Tyrrell (Bro. Secateur) and Bro. Marcus O’Shea (Bro. Strimmer) hand cleared the central garden and patio areas of weeds and armed with an array of brush cutters, strimmers and loppers, cleared as much of the undergrowth in the rear of the area as the weather would allow until, eventually, rain stopped play.
Before we started..
Almost done….
After the garden area had been cleared.
The White Lodge Centre was originally founded to support local children with cerebral palsy and opened the first building next to St Peter’s Hospital, Chertsey in 1962.
Their vision is to enable all those with disabilities to lead as fulfilling lives as possible. The Rendezvous Hub is where adults with disabilities can access a range of services and support, including diverse social day activities, fitness and rehabilitation and trips out. The White Lodge Centre provides support for all physical disabilities and neurological conditions as well as for families and carers.
Priory Gate Lodge has a long association with the White Lodge Centre, especially supported by the late W.Bro. Mo Bone, however this was the first ‘garden maintenance’ visit from the Brethren.
Future maintenance visits are already being planned to help the Centre keep their extensive garden areas under control.
Following the coronavirus pandemic, many charities like White Lodge Centre are under huge financial pressure and funds have been diverted to essential services meaning their resources limited so practical, hands on assistance is always warmly welcomed.