Charity Focus: Stackpole Walled Garden
By SIAN WALKER
The cost-of-living crisis has had an impact on all charities, especially our local ones. More people forced to rely on them is increasing the pressure when they are already stretched. I think it’s important to help our local charities and I wanted to do something to give back to them and the community. Highlighting what some of the charities that mean something to me personally is one way of saying thank you for the great work they do.
The third charity I want to tell you about is Mencap/Stackpole Walled Gardens.
Opened in 1983 for the Haverfordwest and surrounding area Society for Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults, it provides valuable work experience for those with learning disabilities and a safe outdoor space to enjoy.
The 3.3-acre walled garden was leased from the National Trust and soon became a productive venture for all involved. It has also introduced recognised entry-level qualifications for those wishing to take part.
By the year 2000 the gardens had reached their production limits and the lease was renegotiated to introduce the remaining 2.5 acres of the original garden.
The additional land needed a lot of work before it became Cawdors Tea Rooms and garden shop.
In 2008 the society was renamed Pembrokeshire Mencap and it continues to offer the City and Guilds skills for working life course with the help of Pembrokeshire College. It is here that students may learn a range of life skills, including health and safety, and personal and social development skills.
My family has been visiting Stackpole for years and we love to have a walk around the gardens, with a warm bowl of soup or nice slice of cake afterwards in the café. In the summer you can sit outside in the sun or under the gazebo and listen to the birds. In winter you can sit inside and enjoy the smell of freshly baked cakes or freshly made soup.
At certain times of the year you can pick your own fruit, buy fresh garden produce from the garden shop and buy plants.
Stackpole is accessible to everyone, and there are disabled facilities on site.
Due to the cost-of-living crisis it has had to put prices up in the café but it is on a fixed-term energy contract so is OK for the time being on that front.
The next 12 months will be a guide to how it has actually been affected, but at the moment numbers of visitors are on the increase from this time last year.
It really does amazing work and donations are always gratefully received.
For more information or to volunteer, phone 01646 661442 .
Sian says: “As a way of saying thank you to our local charities, I am organising a charity fashion show on Friday 23 June 2023.
“Tickets for the event will be available nearer the time.
“If you would like to be a model for the fashion show or be involved, please get in touch by email: sianwalker30@gmail.com.”
