Wrexham MP welcomes Levelling Up Secretary to Erlas Victorian Walled Garden

Wrexham’s MP has welcomed the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to Erlas Victorian Walled Garden.

Erlas, based on Bryn Estyn Road, aims to promote and protect the health of people with disabilities by providing meaningful daytime activity, education, and work experience.

Last year, Wrexham Council received £22.7 million from the UK Government as part of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – with Erlas receiving just under £500,000 from the fund.

During the visit, the Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove and Sarah Atherton MP were given a tour of the gardens and met volunteers and trustees.

The Erlas team shared how the funding has helped transform the gardens, as well as deliver community events, such as the ‘Winter Walk Week’, and training courses supporting adults with disabilities.

The money has also enabled the charity to increase opportunities for local individuals by appointing five Garden Support Workers to assist people with additional needs.

On top of this, Erlas has launched new free courses which focus on gaining numeracy skills through nature. Courses such as learning to sow vegetable seeds and create your own Easter plant pot arrangement are currently on offer. These can be booked via Eventbrite.

Ms Atherton has worked with Erlas since she was elected in 2019, securing them £50,000 worth of funding for Erlas through the Queen’s Jubilee Grant. The funding from this grant financed a sensory-based Jubilee Garden designed to support those with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues.

Sarah Atherton MP commented: ‘I was delighted to host the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove MP, at the beautiful Erlas Victorian Walled Garden, fondly dubbed ‘Lungs of Wrexham’.

“It was the perfect opportunity to hear from the team about the transformative impact that the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund has had and what they can now offer to the people of Wrexham.

“This UK Government funding has revitalised Erlas, generating local jobs and opportunities, supporting families, rejuvenating the gardens, offering free educational workshops, and securing the future of this beautiful facility for the community.

“Erlas stands as a beacon of community pride, embodying sustainability by providing fresh local produce and even eco-friendly confetti, which I recently purchased for a family wedding.

The UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund, directly allocated from the UK Government to Wrexham Council, has marked a significant turning point for our city, rectifying years of Welsh Labour Government neglect and fostering local pride.

“This has been the opportunity to break the cycle of funding and shows the UK Government’s unwavering commitment to our city’s future.’

Sorrel Taylor, Charity Lead Officer at Erlas Victorian Walled Garden, said: “Having received over £450,000 from the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund, we have wasted no time in putting the funds to good use to further develop the accessible paths, renovate parts of the historic wall and open up the garden to the community through heritage walks and seasonal events.

“The money has allowed us to fund various posts and the multiply element has enabled us to recruit 5 new Garden Support Workers. It also enables us to deliver over 100 free workshops to the community throughout this year.

“Saturday was a fantastic opportunity to showcase to the Secretary of State the hard work that our team, beneficiaries, volunteers, and trustees do to make Erlas Victorian Walled Garden the special place that it is.

“It also gave us the chance to thank Sarah Atherton MP and Wrexham Council for their continued support of our charity, which continues to go from strength to strength.”

Picture attached (left to right): Sorrel Taylor, Charity Lead Officer at Erlas, Michael Gove MP, Levelling Up Secretary, Sarah Atherton MP and Mark Pritchard, Leader of Wrexham Council.