A gardening project encouraging disabled people to enjoy the outdoors has been given a £5,000 funding boost.

Richmond Aid’s Richmond Spade project will get the grant from the council’s civic pride fund, having been heralded a great example of a community involvement scheme.

Alex Brining, Richmond Aid’s operations manager, said the money would help maintain and develop the important project. The news was greeted by delight from Spade’s dedicated team of volunteer gardeners.

Project co-ordinator Jean Loveland said: “This project helps hundreds of people and households each year and allows older and disabled people to enjoy and get the most out of their gardens.

“So many people who have invested time and money raising a family in their homes find themselves less able to maintain everything as they get older and acquire health conditions and disabilities. This project focuses on those people and works hard to make this borough a clean and pleasant space for all.

“We are so happy to receive this grant to carry on our work to ensure as many people as possible can be proud of their borough.”

Richmond Spade is a tailored gardening service for elderly and disabled residents providing help with everything from pruning to general garden tidying.

The scheme sends volunteer gardeners out to tidy, prune and clean so gardens are safe, accessible and can be enjoyed by their owner.

Councillor Pamela Fleming, Richmond’s strategic cabinet member for community, business and culture, said civic pride was about enhancing the local area and creating places for people to enjoy and be proud of.

She said: “Spade is a great example of a local community service where volunteers are able to use their talents and hobbies to help create beautiful safe places for the enjoyment of others.

“This grant will help to give the project the boost it needs to continue providing such a valued service in the borough.”

Funding will go towards continued running costs of the programme and help with purchasing and maintaining equipment and gardening tools.

For details about the project contact the Spade team on 020 8831 6415.

For information on Richmond Aid, call 020 8831 6080 or visit info@richmondaid.org.uk.