Gifts to help the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s summer gardening programme
Tools donated to the Chelsea Pensioners by cutting tools experts Darlac have brought a smile to the veterans’ faces. More than £1,300 of equipment is being used in the Royal Hospital Chelsea’s summer gardening programme. The scheme encourages the veterans to get outdoors and enjoy growing flowers and vegetables.
Nearly 300 male and female British Army veterans live at The Royal Hospital Chelsea. It has allotments and gardens for use by the pensioners since its establishment in 1692 by Charles II.
One of the tools donated to the Chelsea Pensioners was the Darlac Snapper. It was created for accessing high spots in the garden without having to climb a ladder. The tool has also proven ideal for wheelchair users, enabling a greater reach.
Snapper gives resident independence
One resident, Jimmy, 92, is a keen gardener and enjoys growing roses. He has difficulty reaching branches of climbing roses, due to being mostly wheelchair-bound. The Darlac Snapper has provided Jimmy with greater independence, as well as enabling him to continue gardening.
Alan McLaren is head of Corporate and Business Development at The Royal Hospital Chelsea. He said: “Jimmy often has to get help from others when he’s out in the gardens, which can be quite frustrating for him. It was great to see him enjoying being able to garden on his own and escape to his own world for a little while.
“The provision of these tools means a great deal to the Pensioners at The Royal Hospital Chelsea, and to the carers that see them every day. It gives them their own freedom, and the accessible design of the tools means they can become immersed in their gardening for just that bit longer.”
Find out more about the full range of Darlac Snappers on www.darlac.com.
