Volunteers help clear overgrown gardens for elderly residents in Pudsey

Colleagues from Yorkshire Water and Kier Group spent a day with Councillor Trish Smith in Pudsey to transform overgrown gardens to support vulnerable and elderly residents. 

The volunteering was organised between Cllr Trish Smith, Yorkshire Water and Kier Group as part of Yorkshire Water’s project to improve the water quality in Pudsey Beck by reducing storm overflow discharges. Works are ongoing at Dick Lane and Pudsey Smalewell with plans to start on-site at Hough Side and Farnley Ring Road. 

Volunteers started the day at social housing near Roker Lane supporting vulnerable and elderly residents. The team cleared weeds and brambles and cut the hedges back to create a tidy, spacious garden area.  

The volunteers then spent time at the Robert Salter Almshouses to dig out deep borders, which the residents were unable to do themselves, leaving the garden area ready for the elderly residents to begin planting spring bulbs.  

Anne Reed, social value and education manager at Yorkshire Water, said: “Our colleagues are passionate about helping in local communities and providing value beyond our water and wastewater services.   

“We have engaged with Pudsey residents via a number of opportunities, including attending the Pudsey Scarecrow Festival, engaging local primary schools with our Lego Blockages programme, and offering our Hey Girls awareness campaign to education around sustainable period products.” 

Jess Dyer, social sustainability coordinator at Kier Group, said: “Everyone got stuck in to clear the overgrown area – this involved digging, strimming, cutting and loading up all the garden waste ready to be collected.  

“Despite the rain, we got stuck in for the day and collaborated to get the job done quickly to support Pudsey.” 

Cllr Trish Smith, for Pudsey, Swinnow & Tyersal, said: “Thanks to the team for offering me a corporate volunteering day in the ward where we helped residents gain back their garden, creating a huge amount of usable space for them to enjoy. 

“We were all soaked to the skin by the time we finished but what a team of fantastic people!”.