A COMMUNITY gardening project is taking root at a Dorchester pub.

Green-fingered residents are being urged to get involved in a revamp of the garden of Tom Browns to help raise funds for the Friendship Club, which provides accessible events for adults with physical and mental difficulties.

The first session in the garden was held at the weekend and volunteers will be working on the revamp every Saturday from 11am to 3pm until a celebratory garden party on Saturday, July 19.

As well as celebrating the achievements of the gardeners, the party will offer people a chance to enjoy afternoon tea, Pimms and lemonade or an alcohol free alternative and live music.

Event co-ordinator for the Friendship Club Lisa Dixon is urging people to join the growing army of ‘Tom’s Turfers’ and help out with the community project by coming along to the Saturday sessions.

She said the first event was a great success and is hoping to build on its success.

Lisa said: “It went really well on the first day, there were seven people who arrived from the Friendship Club and we had a couple of people drop in and do some painting and a little bit of weeding.

“It was really good.”

Lisa said that this coming Saturday she has five volunteers due to come along from a rehab facility and is hoping for more people to drop on by and join in.

She said the project was a great way for members of the Friendship Club to work together with others from the community on a joint project and hoped both would benefit from it.

Lisa said: “It’s about integrating our members with other members from the community and all mucking in and doing something good together.”

The garden party on July 19 will be a special celebratory occasion as it will also toast some members of the Friendship Club’s birthdays and serve as a leaving party for one of the team at Tom Browns who is heading off travelling.

Importantly, it will also be a chance to celebrate the work of all those involved in the project.

Lisa said: “It’s nice to recognise our members and what they have done and to give them a sense of achievement.”

For more information about the project contact Rory at Tom Browns or call Lisa on 07902 528895.