Green-light for Merseyside Horticulture Firm

18th July 2006

A Wirral based social enterprise set up to help keep the community green by training unemployed people has received a financial boost from Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF).

Acacia Horticultural Services Ltd, is based at the YMCA Wallasey, and works in association with the Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm in Bidston. The company is the brainchild of Wirral man, Bob Price.

MSIF’s Community Loan Fund has provided the company with a £15,000 investment to assist with its expansion plans.

Bob, a landscape designer has always been passionate about engaging the community with local horticulture projects – a passion that he translated into Acacia, where he is now Operations Manager.

Acacia came up with the idea for the stunning life-sized topiary golf players currently welcoming rail travellers from around the world to the Open Golf tournament. The company implemented each one, working in partnership with other organisations such as Merseytravel, A&S McKay and the Bigger Plant Company.

Bob runs a training programme for local residents at the Tam O’Shanter urban farm focusing on container gardening. Course participants have now completed a major facelift of Birkenhead North Station which includes a dramatic display featuring 68 floral containers. The course was funded and supported by WEA (Workers Education Association). One of the learners has now been taken on by Acacia for part time employment.

The team at Acacia teaches designs, creates and maintains green spaces in local areas, working with schools, community and private clients. Local people are trained to enter the horticulture industry, and Acacia aims to improve the health and well-being of the community using gardening as a ‘green gym’. Community volunteers work alongside Acacia on all their projects.

Naomi Graham, volunteer director of Acacia, said: “Acacia is a wonderful way of engaging people in the local community. The training and leisure opportunities we provide allow them to take ownership of their environment and give them real job opportunities at the same time.

“The funding and support from MSIF has made a big difference to us”

Chris Walters, investment manager at MSIF’s Small Firms Fund, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer support to Acacia. It is a prime example of a social enterprise working constructively with the local community to achieve very positive, long-term results.”

Currently four staff are employed at Acacia and this is expected to rise to ten over the next five years

Ends

For further information contact Angela White at Merseyside Special Investment Fund on 0151 236 4040

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Pic Shows: Chris Walters of MSIF with Bob Price of Acacia at the Tam O’ Shanter Urban Farm.

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