On 6 May, Ponderosa Rural Therapeutic Centre in Heckmondwicke received a visit from the Princess Royal, Princess Anne. GBN works closely with Ponderosa and has established joint projects on its site as well as helping to secure funding.
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| Princess Anne on a guided tour of Ponderosa |
Princess Anne was taken on a tour of the site and met with staff and beneficiaries of the projects (adults with learning and mental health difficulties who are employed as trainees).
The newly built lake system was visited. This is a system of three lakes with different rates of water flow, creating 3 separate environments for different fish species. A bridge has been built over one lake to access a special platform (built using Intruplas’ recycled plastic profiles) that will enable disabled children to take part in the experience of fishing.
Princess Anne saw the cardboard shredding process that converts waste cardboard to bedding for the animals on site. At the top farm she also visited the nursery and food allotment projects where up to 30 adults with learning disabilities grow plants from seed, for sale to the public, and grow their own food which they then cook for their daily lunch.
The Princess Royal was shown the Intruplas assembly plant, which makes outdoor furniture including picnic benches, planters and sitting benches from recycled plastic. Princess Anne expressed an interest in sourcing recycled plastic profiles from Intruplas, with a view to building fences
