The Wonky Garden in Widnes has been awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Services.
This award is equivalent to an MBE for an individual and is the highest award given to UK volunteer groups for outstanding work in their communities.
Volunteers at The Wonky Garden, based at Ditton Community Centre, bring together their life experiences, passion for the environment and love of all things community.
With this combination, they have created outstanding biodiverse gardens, grow fresh food to support Foodbanks and cut flowers to bring a smile to those in need of cheer or comfort.
Their work extends to supporting a network of like-minded community groups, construction/horticulture students and a local hedgehog rescue. The impact of their work is felt across and beyond Halton.
Trustees Millie Allen and Angela Hayler said: “To have been nominated was enough but to have this award granted feels a bit unreal, mad, amazing, wonderful and humbling in equal measures. Most of all, our beautiful bunch of volunteers deserve it one hundred per cent!
“Thank you to those who nominated us and to everyone that supports us but most of all, thank you to all of our volunteers, this is their day, we couldn’t be prouder and look forward to having a fabulous party to celebrate!”
The Wonky Garden started in 2017 and they then took over the allotment space behind Ditton Community Centre in 2018. Halton Borough Council’s Community Development Officer has supported them with various funding applications over the years. They been awarded a number of smaller grants from the Council as well as being very successful themselves with larger, external bids.
Angela said: “We really have had the most wonderful support from Clare with funding, with the KAVS nomination, and advocating our work, from local staff at the centre to planning.
“Over time we have been granted more and more space and have the flexibility to do what we want to progress with our primary aims of biodiversity, food and flower growing and supporting like-minded groups and students.”
