AD Group keeps an eye on garden visits by community groups

AD Group's sponsorship gave many the opportunity to enjoy beautiful countryside gardens for the first time

CCTV specialist AD Group is sponsoring a series of visits by community groups to rural parks and gardens in the North West of England in conjunction with The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester and The Gateway Gardens Trust charity.

The first of the visits, which are being funded by a generous donation from AD Group, took place recently at Ness Botanical Gardens, near Neston, South Wirral. 24 members and staff of the African Caribbean Care Group for the Elderly (ACCG) from Central/South Manchester and Trafford were able to make the journey to the Wirral to see at first hand the colourful displays of rare plants and flowers at Ness which are set in 46 acres of ornamental gardens.

Said Nigel Petrie, Chairman of AD Group: "I am delighted that we have been able to put something back into the community by providing an opportunity for members of ACCG to visit Ness Botanical Gardens and to support three further events for local groups. This effort ties-in with the ethos of The Gateway Gardens Trust charity whose aim is to 'open the gates' to historic parks and gardens with organised visits for all ages who would otherwise not see this important garden heritage."

The African Caribbean Care Group for the Elderly (ACCG), who participated in the recent event, operates day care facilities out of the Claremont Resource Centre (Hulme, Manchester) and Harry Lord House (Trafford). This provides accessible accommodation for its membership and allows it to offer a wide range of much needed community care service provision, including a Luncheon Club and recreational facilities.

The first visit funded by donations from AD Group was made by members of the ACCG

Commented Fiona Julien, Day Care Services and Volunteer Manager, from the African Caribbean Care Group for the Elderly (ACCG): "For many of our members this was their first opportunity to spend time in such a beautiful garden in the countryside. I know that everyone really enjoyed the day at Ness Gardens and would like to thank AD Group, The Gateway Gardens Trust, The Community Foundation for Greater Manchester and the staff at the gardens for making the visit possible."

A video of the ACCG visit to Ness Gardens can be found on AD Group's You Tube Channel.  This footage was taken using a CamVu ICR (Integrated Camera Recorder) supplied by AD Group's subsidiary Dedicated Micros.