A garden at a housing support project in Wells has been praised for helping with the mental health of residents during the coronavirus crisis.

Spencer House in Chamberlain Street is a project run by Mendip YMCA, and the organisation was able to refurbish the garden there thanks to money from Tesco and Waitrose.

Now the upgraded garden is helping massively to improve the mental health and wellbeing of the house's residents.

Michelle Payne, Mendip YMCA marketing and fundraising manager, said: "A safe outdoor space to relax and take up hobbies, is taken for granted by many of us, and for those who are vulnerable it's such a valuable asset.

"During times like these, it is even more imperative that the people we support have that all important outdoor area to help them cope with mental health and anxiety issues.

"Our residents and staff at Spencer House in Wells were so appreciative of the support they received from the Wells community, as it has enabled them to transform a slab of concrete into a useful garden, which they have benefited from over the last 18 months."

Spencer House and Mendip YMCA were voted first out of the three charities to be taking part in the Tesco Bags of Help Token Scheme within Tesco in Wells, and therefore were awarded £3,545, which was used towards the purchases of outdoor furniture, a gazebo, a green house, planters, a bird table and plants and seeds.

Also £286 was also donated via Waitrose in Wells from their community scheme, which was used to purchase gardening tools and more seeds/plants.

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