One of our incredible volunteers will be taking on the Virtual London Marathon, to raise money for Flower Pod. Mandy will hike the 26.2 miles along the River Trent on April 23rd. If you would like to support Mandy go to: Mandy Rushen is fundraising for Reach Learning Disability (justgiving.com). Read on to see why Mandy is taking on the challenge and what she is hoping to raise funds for.

“I am often at my most content when I have my spade in my hand. It is often to create something new but much more importantly, it is to retain and look after the beautiful things that already exist.

The Flower Pod, Southwell, is a garden that provides adults with learning disabilities, the chance to connect with outdoor space and related activities. I started volunteering at the Flower Pod Southwell in September 2022 as I was keen to learn more about horticultural therapy and to share my gardening skills with a charity that had horticulture, community and nature at it’s heart.

In the short time I have been there, I have had the pleasure of getting to know a team of fantastic, dedicated, creative people who strive to use this wild and inspiring garden to support the clients and their families. The team have been working hard to create a new wildlife pond and also make some changes to a large flower bed  – and we have made great progress.

However, we still need a patio area!!!  This addition will offer clients, and staff, new ways to enjoy the outdoors – perhaps for art, yoga or games or simply just a new place to enjoy friendship, sunshine and birdsong. So I am hoping that my marathon walk will help fund this and we can finish what we set out to do!

Please donate to help look after the fabulous Flower Pod and the people that benefit so much from it – I would be hugely grateful.

xx

Mandy/Amanda/Mandy”

A huge thank you and good luck to you Mandy!