The Eco Therapy Garden honoured with The King's Award for Voluntary Service
Founded just four years ago, The Eco Therapy Garden has transformed an overgrown piece of land into a thriving community space, providing vital support for local people. As well as offering one-to-one counselling, the project teaches gardening skills to encourage people to grow their own food—complete with recipe ideas—and hosts barbecues and social events that have helped combat loneliness and improve mental wellbeing.
Angela Davies, founder of The Eco Therapy Garden, expressed her gratitude for the recognition and the invaluable support received: "We are truly honoured to receive The King’s Award for Voluntary Service. This achievement is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our incredible volunteers, who have made such a difference to the lives of so many. I’m also deeply grateful for the support we’ve received along the way, including from SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, whose generous donations have helped us continue our work. A special thank you to John Hughes, who has been absolutely amazing—his commitment and enthusiasm have been invaluable."
SUEZ have been a strong supporter of The Eco Therapy Garden, providing regular donations of much-needed materials, including tubs, pallets for planting, and former shipping containers repurposed for storage. Employees from the Kirkby Rail Transfer Loading Station frequently volunteer their time to help maintain and develop the garden. Additionally, the Kirkby Neighbourhood Community Fund has provided financial support, including a recent contribution towards a pagoda, further enhancing the garden's facilities.
Victoria Crabtree, Regional Manager at SUEZ, said: "We are incredibly proud to support The Eco Therapy Garden and to see the huge impact it has on the local community. The dedication of Angela and her team is truly inspiring, and we’re delighted that our contributions, whether through materials, volunteering, or funding, have played a small part in helping this fantastic project grow. Seeing the transformation of the space and the difference it makes in people’s lives is what community partnerships are all about."
The event was also attended by Lady Marina Dalglish DL, James C M Davies Esq OBE DL, Ms Lesley Martin-Wright JP DL, Cllr Ken McGlashan (Mayor of Knowsley), Mayoress Ms Anne McGlashan, Cllr Graham Morgan (Leader of Knowsley Council), and Chief Executive Officer of Knowsley Council, Mr. James Duncan. They joined in celebrating this well-deserved recognition for the group’s remarkable contributions to the community.
Pictured at the presentation were Angela Davies, alongside Dorothy Traynor, the group’s longest-serving volunteer, and many of the wonderful individuals who have played a role in making The Eco Therapy Garden a success.
