A Natural Partnership with Aldingbourne Trust

WWT Arundel Wetland Centre has joined forces with the Aldingbourne Trust and on a joint horticulture project. The Aldingbourne Trust supports adults with learning disabilities across West Sussex and their flagship site is located at the Aldingbourne Country Centre, near Fontwell. WWT Arundel Wetland Centre is part of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust that works to save wetlands and the wildlife that live there.

WWT gardener Sheila Stenning with Aldingbourne Trust clients Andrew Gilbard, Andrew Lawrence and Duncan Spandley.
WWT gardener Sheila Stenning with Aldingbourne Trust clients Andrew Gilbard, Andrew Lawrence and Duncan Spandley.

Sheila Stenning works at Arundel Wetland Centre maintaining the gardens and the Wetland Secrets Plant House. With the help of Aldingbourne Country Centre clients Andrew Gilbard and Duncan Spandey, Sheila is growing seeds and plug plants in one of the glass horticulture houses at the Country Centre. The plants that have been grown, like Lesser Bird’s-foot -trefoil, Marsh Mallow and Greater Knapweed will be transplanted into the Garden for Wildlife at Arundel Wetland Centre.

Sheila Stenning of WWT Arundel said : “It is so uplifting that two charities can work together for the mutual benefit of both.”

In return for their hard work, clients of the Aldingbourne Country Centre will visit the Arundel Wetland Centre on organised trips and learn about the wildlife and plants that are unique wetland environments.

Andrew Lawrence, Senior Support, Horticulture at the Country Centre said, “It is a wonderful opportunity for our clients to experience the beauty of a wetland environment with its wildfowl and a chance for them to see the plants growing which they have worked so hard to produce”.

Both the WWT Arundel Wetland Centre and the Aldingbourne Country Centre are open to visitors and people can come and see the work the organisations do supporting wildlife and nature, and supporting adults with learning disabilities. For more information about the two charities please visit: www.aldingbournetrust.co.uk and www.wwt.org.uk/arundel

Arundel Wetland Centre is located at Mill Road, Arundel BN18 9PB. The centre is fully accessible, has comfortable hides, buggy and wheelchair friendly pathways, a fully stocked cafe and gift shop and disabled and parent & baby facilities. The centre is open from 9:30-5:30 seven days a week in June.

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