Fields of Gold

The Friary Gardeners is an almost unique project which provides horticultural training for adults with mental and physical disabilities. There are nearly 200 adult students from across the county who each week attend the project's gardens.

In 2006 Friary Gardeners, run by the Parchment Trust charity, faced three planning applications for development of their rented two-acre gardens at Ore Place Farm. The project, which teaches gardening skills to people with disabilities, was also threatened by plans for a Travellers' site close to its boundary earlier this year.

Now the Parchment Trust is negotiating to buy the land to secure the long-term future of the Friary Gardeners. The total costs will be 520,000; Parchment has 130,000 to contribute from its reserves and it has already had a favourable response from two national charitable sources for a total of 260,000. However this support is dependent on Parchment being able to raise a further 130,000 from the public. The charity has until June 30 to raise the money and meet the deadline for the completion of the purchase.

On Wednesday April 4 the Friary Gardeners are launching a 12-week campaign to raise the money from a series of events and fundraising initiatives. As part of the campaign they are planning to plant hundreds of sunflowers to create a Field of Gold.

John Cosson, chairman of the Parchment Trust, explains: "Sunflowers symbolise happiness and tend to make people smile. They also grow very fast and every pound the public donates will attract 2 from other sources '“ so the money will grow fast like a sunflower. We're going to plant a sunflower for every donation over 10 and by the Autumn we hope to have a Field of Gold which will give everyone pleasure."

BBC South East Today presenter Beverly Thompson will launch the campaign at Ore Place Farm next Wednesday. Guests at the launch will be invited to plant the first sunflower seeds of the campaign which will be cared for and transplanted by the Friary Gardeners themselves.

Established in 1988 the Friary Gardeners have come a long way. It has turned a derelict farm into productive gardens and given hundreds of disabled adults a chance to develop skills and independence. It is the only such facility in East Sussex for people with disabilities.

The gardeners have "jobs" digging and hoeing, reaping and sowing, selling produce and providing gardening services to local people, particularly the elderly and disabled.

The Parchment Trust is a Christian, charitable organisation founded in 1993 to serve people with disability in the Hastings and Rother area. Currently the Trust runs a number of schemes which include the Co-operative for 19+ school leavers with disabilities; the 1-to-1 day schemes for those with profound and multiple disabilities and Friary Gardeners Horticultural Scheme for people with a variety of disabilities. For more information contact Chris Lee at Talk Up Ltd on 01323 833523 or email [email protected]