The charity 'High Ground' delivers horticultural therapy services for injured soldiers, sailors and airmen as part of their rehabilitation programme.

At programme sessions, undertaken at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) at Stanford Hall in Leicestershire, injured service personnel are able to participate in a range of gardening activities to enhance well-being. Patients at the programme are mixed ability, with some able to stand whilst others have limited use of limbs or are wheelchair bound.

Darlac, the cutting tool producers, have donated tools worth over £1,000 to the charity to help enable activities. Donated tools include telescopic shears and loppers and the telescopic poles with saw and pruner attachments.

Darlac Director Tim Jeffries said: “We gardeners are all aware of the benefits to physical and mental well-being from the outdoors and gardening in particular. When I received a call from Andy Wright, the Therapeutic Gardens Manager, about a preferential price for tools I was delighted to donate tools from our range especially as one of my sons is a serving Army officer. We all owe a great debt to our service personnel and it is a privilege to help in a small way.”

Horticultural Therapy was introduced to the military in the UK by Executive Director of High Ground Anna Baker Cresswell when she started her first charity, Gardening Leave, in 2007. She said: “We are so grateful to Darlac for their hugely generous donation. Stanford Hall, the late Duke of Westminster’s magnificent legacy, is a world class centre for rehabilitation and to have the support of Darlac and their brilliant tools means so much to us.”