Garden centre donates fifth ambulance to Ukraine

The garden centre in Plumpton has been delivering supplies since the war began

A garden centre in Cumbria has delivered its fifth ambulance to Ukraine since the country was invaded by Russia.

Since 2022, the Pot Place, a garden centre in Plumpton, has been delivering medical vehicles and supplies to the country.

Paul Thomas, a co-owner of the garden centre, said ambulances only last around six months in the country due to the poor roads.

The latest vehicle procured by the company was driven to the Ukraine-Poland border by Mr Thomas and his team.

“There we arrange to meet the guys from the Lviv Ambulance Service,” he said.

Ambulances only last around six months on damaged Ukrainian roads

Since the war began, the Pot Place has supplied five ambulances, four paramedic motorcycles, a 4X4 evacuation car and medical supplies.

“We’ve just sourced our sixth ambulance and will hopefully be back over there early in the new year,” said Mr Thomas.

The vehicles and medical supplies are funded through donations, while profits made at the garden centre are used to pay for their transport to Ukraine.

One staff member, Kateryna Karabadzhak, who is Ukrainian, is currently in the country visiting family.

“Every day when you go to sleep, you’re just expecting something,” she said.

Speaking about Pot Place’s support, she added: “We still need this. It really makes us feel like we are not forgotten.”