A SPRING garden sale fundraising for a horticultural charity which helps improve the lives of adults with learning difficulties was held this weekend.

The sale, at Church Bush Hall in Purton Stoke, was organised by the Jubilee Gardens Project charity, which runs a horticultural training centre.

The charity was set up 36 years ago and the popular spring open day has been held every year since then, becoming a traditional event for people in the area to attend.

Items were on sale between 10am and 3pm on Saturday including flowers, plants, pickles and cakes all made by students from the project.

There was also a raffle with the chance to win a patchwork quilt made by members of the Purton Patchers.

Students helped to sell the bedding plants, fuchsias, geraniums, hanging baskets and containers that have been during the early months of the year.

The event was also hosted by the students along with the charity’s trustees with green-fingered gardening enthusiasts given the chance to find out more about the organisation and purchase a variety of vegetables and plants including peppers, carrots, chillies, lettuces, garlic, spinach, beetroot and herbs.

Bruce Porter, principal at the The Jubilee Gardens Project, said the event had been hotly anticipated by the project’s 21 students.

“The students have been really looking forward to it and there’s always a good atmosphere at the events,” he said.

“It helps them in so many areas, there’s literacy, numeracy, it enhances their social skills and it’s something for them to look forward to.”

The charity hoped to raise £3,000 from the event to purchase seeds and materials for the coming months.

It has been a successful week for the project with the Oxford Road branch of Sainsbury’s presenting them with a cheque for £7,793.91 honouring their chosen charity for the year.

“It’s fantastic to receive donations like these because it makes the difference between us still being here and we’re able to continue the work that we do. It’s invaluable.”

The project, based in the old primary school on Cricklade Road, near Purton, teaches adults with learning difficulties skills including literacy, numeracy, colour recognition, time management and social skills through horticulture.

For more information telephone 01793 771539, visit www.jubileegardens.co.uk or e-mail info@jubileegardens.co.uk