East Kilbride community work together to spruce up nursery garden and support Kilbryde Hospice

Along with a donation of garden furniture, an impressive £300 was raised for Kilbryde Hospice through Busy Bees own fundraisers including a sponsored walk supported by Merson Group

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Community spirit was alive and well in East Kilbride as a local firm and Men's Shed banded together to support a local nursery and hospice.

Signage firm Merson Group, who regulary donate offcuts of wood and materials to Men's Shed organisations throughout Lanarkshire, linked up with the EK branch to donate garden furniture to Busy Bees Nursery.

Local Men's Shed member Patrick Henderson, who regularly fundraises for Kilbryde Hospice, creates and sells garden benches to raise funds for the charity and was more than happy to accept the challenge.

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As well as making some planters and wooden garden furniture for the nursery, he also recycled an old metal garden set, resized it for the kids and painted it in their signature colours of black and yellow.

Merson then donated a perspex tabletop which was printed with the nursery logo.

Along with the donation of garden furniture, an impressive £300 was raised for Kilbryde Hospice through the nursery's own fundraisers which including a sponsored walk supported by Merson.

Claire Boyle of Merson Group said: "We currently donate our offcuts of wood and other materials to Men’s Shed organisations throughout Lanarkshire. This helps us reduce landfill and the material is recycled and repurposed as furniture items which are then donated to good causes or sold to raise money for their own funds.

"When we found out that local nursery, Busy Bees, were looking for new garden furniture, we immediately thought of Patrick Henderson of East Kilbride Men's Shed who is also a regular fundraiser for the Kilbryde Hospice in the town. He uses the wood we donate to make garden benches which are then sold to raise funds for the charity.

"The items were handed over this week to the nursey who made a donation of £300 to the hospice. This is a great example of the community working together."

Fundraiser for Kilbryde Hospice, Faye Armitage, said: "Kilbryde Hospice is so pleased to have support from Merson, Busy Bees Nursery, and of course Patrick. Merson have been so generous with their donations of wood to be used by Patrick when he makes his brilliant handmade items, and I am thrilled that Busy Bees Nursery thought of Kilbryde when looking to get furniture for their outside play areas.

"The money raised from these benches and planters will go towards the hospice’s annual fundraising goal of £2.1m, allowing Kilbryde Hospice to continue providing palliative care to people with life-limiting illnesses all across South Lanarkshire.

"Kilbryde Hospice once again thanks Merson, Busy Bees and Patrick for their continued support, and I hope that all the current and future children at Busy Bees Nursery enjoy their benches!”

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