The Gardeners' House charity welcomes the news that the first tranche of Penzance Town Deal funding has been released by the Government to Cornwall Council.
This news brings The Gardeners’ House another step closer to their goal of saving a disused building adjacent to Morrab Library in Morrab Gardens, and creating a new, flexible community hub.
The project aims to address the area’s social issues through education and community outreach, drawing on the past to inform the present and build a better future for Penzance and beyond.
Development funding of £53,870 has already been awarded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to help The Gardeners' House progress their plans to apply for a full National Lottery grant at a later date.
The Gardeners’ House will work with partner organisations to reach vulnerable members of the local community. They will develop a range of people and plant-based activities including an interactive Sensory Garden and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture programme to bring the green heritage alive. These activities will have particular focus on benefits for local dementia patients and users of the adjacent Pengarth Day Centre.
As a Sustainability Hub, the refurbished building will provide connection for Penzance’s network of green groups, and a base for Sustainable Penzance. In addition, the activities will support their target themes of climate action.
The building will also provide a home for Special Collections and Archives of over 2000 volumes documenting the natural history of Cornwall. Activities based around these resources will include themes of Cornish Natural History, Women Gardeners, and Environmental and Therapeutic Horticulture.
Commenting on the news Doreen Pinfold, co-Chair of The Gardeners’ House - Penzance, said: “the Board of Trustees is delighted to acknowledge the support from the Town Deal, Cornwall Council and Penzance Town Council in enabling the project to go forward. Our vision is for this building to become the centre of community-based activities celebrating the green heritage of West Cornwall.”
Paul Brett, from the Friends of Morrab Gardens, said: “we know Morrab Gardens is loved by local residents and visitors to Penzance alike, and renovation of this near-derelict building will give the Gardens a real boost. An important part of the project is to provide a base for the professional gardeners and volunteers who work all the year round to maintain the gardens - something we desperately need!”