18/06/2008 Residents at a sheltered housing scheme in Newcastle are delighted with their new Eastern-inspired garden.

Residents at a Newcastle sheltered housing block can enjoy spending summer days in a new look oriental-style garden – thanks to the hard work and dedication of their Sheltered Housing Officer.

The garden at Theresa Russell House in Heaton has been transformed with a £6000 grant from the South Heaton ward committee to include Easter Island-style heads, pergolas, water features, Japanese maple trees and a Chinese lantern.

The garden was the brainchild of Sheltered Housing Officer Lynn Lunn, who decided to take action to spruce up the block’s underused and overgrown garden.

Lynn said:

“Outside the block used to be just wasted space, and not very attractive so our residents never used to use it, so I thought it was high time we gave it a facelift.

“It looks beautiful out there now, really lovely, and with summer on the way it’ll be somewhere everyone in Theresa Russell House can come together on sunny days”.

Resident Cath Watson said:

“It’s absolutely beautiful. My window faces the garden and it’s ever so lovely to look out at the garden. I’ve just been on holiday and me and my husband couldn’t wait to get back as we were so excited at how the garden was going to look!

“Lynn’s marvellous, she always goes out of her way to help you, and we’re absolutely thrilled at how she’s managed to transform the garden.”

Residents at the home celebrated the official opening of the garden with a garden party, complete with arts and crafts, refreshments, a raffle and bric-a-brac.

John Lee, Chief Executive of Your Homes Newcastle, said:

“We know how dedicated our staff are to making our communities better places to live in, but the oriental garden at Theresa Russell House has taken 18 months of hard work that Lynn started completely off her own back. We’re very proud of her.”

Visit Sheltered Housing for more information about YHN's sheltered housing service.