The National Trust's countryside warden team at Alderley Edge has been received a Positive Action Award Northwest 2010 for the work they do with students from the david lewis college.
There are 1.4 million disabled people and 750,000 carers living in the Northwest. The award by Warrington Disability Partnership recognises exemplary practice across the region in categories covering employment, services and work with disabled people and carers. Deborah Morley from david lewis nominated the National Trust's countryside team at Alderley Edge.
Tim Ryan, warden at Alderley Edge who organises the david lewis group said: "On behalf of everyone involved, I'd like to say how delighted we are to receive this award. As a team we really look forward to working together, as they are very enthusiastic about what we do and how they can get involved.
"Students from david lewis have been contributing to the completion of several projects over the past few years including heathland restoration and tree thinning at Finlow Hill Wood using hand saws, and winching out stumps, roots and burning brash; rhododendron clearance in Daniel Hill Wood at Hare Hill using saws and loppers, work on repairing and resurfacing the wheelchair route and other paths at Alderley Edge, which involves breaking up the old surface with mattocks, laying new crushed stone barrowed from trailors, raking it out and levelling it using a mechanical 'whacker plate', and also helping us with litter picking".
Deborah Morley, Work Experience Co-ordinator at david lewis, commented: "Our students derive real, practical benefits when they undertake work outside and away from the classroom environment. Working with the team at Alderley Edge has and continues to help build their confidence, develop their communication and life skills in the outside world and, most importantly, they really enjoy what they're doing.
"I was very pleased to nominate Tim Ryan and Julia Phillips, trainee warden, as I feel they thoroughly deserve the award. We look forward to continuing our relationship with them in future".
The awards' ceremony took place on Thursday 30th September at the Stobart Stadium, Halton, Widnes.
