Hello,
Last weekend the LandWorks team, trainees, graduates, trustees, supporters and volunteers were all out supporting a lovely event held in aid of LandWorks.
It was a weekend open garden, raising funds for the charity, held in the beautiful Sandridge Park gardens, Stoke Gabriel.
The owners and their family and friends had worked so hard to make this event a complete success and make everyone feel so welcome.
The sun shone and hundreds of people visited to look round the 10 acres of gardens, purchase teas and cakes and then pop into our LandWorks outdoor stall to take home a variety of LandWorks products and produce.
It was a warm, lovely and relaxed atmosphere.
Dave (LW graduate) and I managed to sneak off to look at the grounds, find a sandwich and discuss the timings of the (much debated) Red Arrows, who were due to fly over us on the way to the Torbay Air show.
We stood back to look up at the house and grounds, with people happily chatting over teas and cakes, sitting on deckchairs or spilling out onto the lawn.
Dave asked me how it made me feel.
“Calm, it’s just so lovely and very different from LandWorks stuff”.
“Not awkward then?”
While I tried to process this unexpected question, Dave ploughed on.
“Makes you think though, a lot of LandWorks guys have nowhere to live.”
Oh great, I wasn’t now feeling quite so at ease! I was going to have to think carefully about my reply.
But Dave was in full ‘tell it how it is’ mode…
“I think it’s okay” he said, “these people have been so lovely and generous to open their garden and put all this on to support the guys at LandWorks.”
He stopped and looked at me and said, “Red 1…”
(It’s a long story, but back in 2021, to make young Dave, then just 18, feel safe enough to travel an hour on the bus to get to LandWorks, I would text him messages of encouragement. I was Red 1, Red arrows leader, and he was Red 2. It worked and made us laugh.)
… Dave put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Red 1, it’s really good stuff they are doing.”
Resisting the urge (probably more me) to stick out our arms and race/fly (in a formation) across the beautiful lawns, Dave and I returned to the LandWorks sales area – to think of a good way to say a proper thank you to these genuinely supportive folk who have such faith in people.
Thank you from all those involved at LandWorks
Chris
5th June 2025