VOLUNTEERS from the Okement Rivers Improvement Group and Sticklepath and Okehampton Conservation Group were hard at work this week to support the Ockment Centre.

The two groups came together to take apart some of the plant boxes and holders in the centre's garden area. Many of the boxes are starting to show their age, with loose wooden panels and plants overgrowing them.

The team at the centre decided to start removing the plant holders to open up the garden space and make it easier to maintain.

Removing the plant holders would allow the centre to host events, such as fetes, outside in the open more easily and create additional outdoor space.

The creation of more outdoor space may allow for a new shed to be built which can hold the centre's gardening equipment. This would free up an outbuilding currently being used for storage to host outdoor courses and other activities.

The removal of the holders will also make the garden easier to look after for the centre's volunteers.

The visit by the StOC and ORIG volunteers on Tuesday acted as a trial run for a visit planned for April, when both groups will bring back more volunteers to try to remove the majority of the garden's plant holders.

The Ockment Centre team is hoping to find people who may be interested in taking away some of the plants currently living in the holders for their own gardens. If you are interested call the centre on 01837 53276.