Donation means the earth to social project

A social project founded by Derventio Housing Trust has been boosted thanks to a donation of topsoil.

The trust’s Growing Lives project, which helps people who have been through homelessness grow their own vegetables, has received a donation of eight tonnes of topsoil from Alfreton-based Leedale Ltd.

Growing Lives is an activities project run by the housing trust, which provides people in its properties, and referred there via other services, with communal activities such as woodworking, craft, walks and gardening, with the aim of creating a supportive, caring environment and helping them get back on their feet again.

Penny Wiltshire, funding and development manager at Derventio Housing Trust, was introduced to Leedale through its work with Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust.

She said: “It just goes to show that through creating valuable networks we can work together to provide projects like Growing Lives with resources that they really need.

“There is so much goodwill in the world, not to mention resourcefulness, which is how this topsoil donation has come about.

“I’d like to thank Oliver Walkup from Leedale along with all the organisations who helped make this happen, including Long Eaton Rotary, Erewash Borough Council and Marketing Derby.”