Garden's bothy branches out to help disabled

A RUN-DOWN bothy at the Royal Botanic Garden is to be transformed into a meeting place for volunteers and users of a horticultural therapy programme.

The programme aims to help people with mental or physical health problems gain self-esteem, build confidence and attain a sense of achievement through gardening tasks and projects.

The bothy will give a larger number of disabled people the opportunity to take part in the supported learning programme.

The project has been designed and financed by Duncan Sutherland, owner of Life PD Homes, who was temporarily paralysed after a sporting accident.

He said: "I have been incredibly impressed by the Royal Botanic Garden's commitment to develop this simple idea into a meaningful experience for those with learning or physical disabilities.

"If by developing the bothy we can encourage others to take part in the therapy programme it will be time and effort well spent."