Community rallies to save barracks' wellbeing garden

Abi Bebb (right), from the construction firm, said the garden at Clive Barracks had exceeded their expectations

A wellbeing garden for military personnel has been rescued after a community pulled together to finish the job.

R1 Construction stepped in to help when the original contractors for the work at Clive Barracks in Tern Hill, Shropshire, failed to complete the task.

Staff, soldiers and others gave their time to get the work done and the construction firm appealed for financial donations and supplies - with other companies offering discounts on their goods.

The aim was to finish the job for Saturday when the Royal Irish Regiment was due to hold a St Patrick's Day parade at the base.

Rachael Watts and Sammy Murphy were among the volunteers helping to get the garden ready

R1 business operations manager Abi Bebb said her company alone could not take the credit as there had been an "extreme amount of hard work" by a lot of volunteers to complete the garden.

It is designed to sit alongside the community centre at the barracks and give active servicemen and women somewhere to relax and reflect.

Ms Bebb said she was "immensely proud" of the finished garden which had come together in a short period of time and "exceeded their expectations."