Fairfield Farm College’s horticultural project wins a Wessex Watermark

Fairfield Farm College have won a £500 Wessex Watermark Award for their ‘Seed to Plant’ horticultural project. 

Gillian Smith, Wessex Water’s education advisor, presented the college’s Watermark Award to its fundraising manager, Debbie Hughes, on Monday 3rd December.

Fairfield Farm College is an independent specialist college offering day and residential courses to young people with learning disabilities and ‘Seed to Plant’ teaches students horticultural skills to grow their own food and plants. 

Debbie Hughes said, “The students learn gardening and horticultural skills which help improve mobility, fine motor skills and support independent living.  These skills increase opportunities for the students outside of college and in particular, can lead to work experience, voluntary and paid work opportunities.

“This is why the college is so keen to continue with ‘Seed to Plant’. Self-confidence, social interaction and the pride of growing vegetables that the students can sell to the local community, are all advantages the college wants to build on.

“This Watermark Award will help the college to do just that by allowing us to buy more specialised tools for our students.”

Wessex Water’s Gillian Smith said, “I have learnt that linked into this project is the community work which some of the students do with Warminster Council, in the Elizabeth Collins Gardens.

“They are doing important clearing and maintenance work to improve this public garden which had become very run down. I am told that there is a noted difference between when the students started on the ‘Seed to Plant’ project and a year on, so Wessex Water is delighted to support this project which has so many benefits to so many people.”

The Watermark Award provides funds for environmental projects within the Wessex Water area.  Now in its 25th year, it has supported nearly one thousand environmental initiatives. 

To celebrate this milestone Wessex Water has launched a new Watermark Award. Now communities can apply for a special Anniversary Watermark to help with installing water bottle refill points that will reduce single use plastic drinking bottles

The Wessex Watermark Awards are organised by The Conservation Foundation who judge all the projects.

Above: Staff and students accept the cheque from Gillian Smith of Wessex Water.