Wheelchair team busy in polytunnel ahead of plant sale

Trowels and spades will be laid down in gardens across Westmeath on Wednesday, May 18, as garden fans vie to find the prettiest plants and the best of bargains at the annual garden plant sale hosted by the Irish Wheelchair Association.

The sale takes place at the association’s base at The Springfield Centre on The Delvin Road (N91 NP30) at 11am, and service co-ordinator Richard Ross says that there will be a great selection of plants to choose from, as well as hanging baskets and flower boxes.

"We’ve had it for the last three or four years, and while it’s relatively new, it’s been very successful," says Richard, adding that the event is in aid of their bid to raise funds for a new bus.

The plants come from a variety of sources.

"The members started growing seedlings a couple of months ago – we have a polytunnel in the centre – and at the moment they are transferring the plants into pots and so on.

"A good few plants come that way. But then we also do hanging baskets and window boxes as well, where we would buy a certain amount of stuff from wholesalers and bring them on, which we are in the process of doing over the last couple of weeks.

"Along with that we have people who donate stuff as well."

Last year, due to Covid, the event happened out of doors, and a large crowd attended. Weather permitting, it will again take place out of doors.

Prices are always competitive, and there are decent bargains to be had.

"It’s very much member-driven, says Richard, explaining that not alone do the clients raise and tend the plants, but they handle the selling as well.

There will also be a number of experienced gardeners on hand on the day who can give advice to any purchaser unsure what to do with the plants.

Buses

Around 40 people attend the Wheelchair Association centre, although not everyone attends every day.

Such a large attendance means the centre has to keep four wheelchair-friendly buses on the road – and even replacing one every two years means fundraising for buses is an ongoing necessity.

"Even if we bought one say every second year, by the time you get the fourth one bought, the first is eight years old, so you are back at square one again," Richard explains, adding that without buses it would be impossible to provide to so many members the service that is currently provided.

Covid was a big disruption to the service users, some of whom can be living up to 20 miles outside Mullingar.

"We’re still in the process of getting back to normal," says Richard.

"Normally, there’ll be 15 to 20 on a given day, but we cater for 40 members altogether. And some members come in only one day, and some will come in four days and everything in between; it just depends on their needs."

• Plant sale, Wednesday May 18, 11am, The Springfield Centre on The Delvin Road (N91 NP30)