GODALMING, England, October 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

The students at the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden in Parmoor, near Frieth, Henley-on Thames, are blossoming. This year, all eight passed their City and Guilds Level 1 in Horticulture, and have just been rewarded and awarded their certificates at a ceremony at the Garden. 

The Lady Ryder Memorial Garden is a walled garden situated in a superb rural setting above the Hambledon Valley in the heart of the Chiltern countryside. It is maintained by the team of students plus keen staff volunteers. Most of the students come from unprivileged and disadvantaged backgrounds, with little or no previous education, so this is a tremendous achievement by all of them.

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During the time they spend at the Garden, they receive support and help by encouraging them to learn how to operate as part of a team and how to integrate and work with others, which builds their self-confidence. They also learn the skills of gardening and horticulture.

Since September 2013, the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden has had links with Berkshire College of Agriculture to provide teaching facilities for the students for the City and Guilds Level 1 in Horticulture.

The Right Hon The Lady Parmoor, Member of the Walled Garden Committee and one of the leaders in garden work, said: This is an absolutely brilliant achievement. We are extremely proud of all our students, who have achieved such great things - both here in the Garden and in their Horticultural studies. We are very thankful to Scotts Miracle-Gro, who provide support - including psychological support for the students, since they appreciate that one of the leading gardening companies is helping them. They supply us with composts, soil improvers and plant feeds. We couldn't carry on our valuable work without the help from all our supporters."

Elliott Riley, father of student Lewis Riley, said: This is absolutely fabulous. Because of Lewis' health problems, he always struggled with education in a school classroom environment. Working at the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden has given him the hands-on experience he needed and the opportunity to study in an environment that suits his learning needs perfectly. It has changed his personality and allowed him to grow as a person. He has learnt to work as part of a team, as well as lots of horticultural skills. He is now aiming for an apprenticeship with the local council or a local company."

Notes for Editors 

The Lady Ryder Memorial Garden is a walled garden enclosing approximately one acre. It was built in the late 19th Century to provide the kitchen of the adjoining house and home with produce. It was used by the Cripps family until the 1940s, but then left and ignored for many years, falling into disrepair.
In 2009, a group of local enthusiasts decided to try and restore it to its former glory, and volunteers were recruited from local organisations that help those who are disadvantaged. Sir Terry Wogan, DL, and Carolyn Cumming, High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire, officially opened the Garden on May 1, 2012.

To find out more about the Garden and its activities, visit http://www.lrmg.co.uk

You can listen to a fascinating interview about the Garden and the work they do with the students with The Right Hon The Lady Parmoor and Anne Diamond on BBC Radio Berkshire - ww.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0341nzg The interview starts at timeline 01:07:30 and is available until November 19.

Support from Miracle-Gro 

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company has been supporting this fabulous organisation, and the work they do, for several years, as part of our Community Outreach Programme. We supply them with a range of our products to help with their gardening and growing activities.

Through our Community Outreach Programme, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company encourages people to discover the joys of gardening for themselves and helping them take pleasure in all the benefits that this beneficial activity brings. We also support charities that use gardening and horticulture as a source of therapy, helping to improve people's lives and rehabilitation into the modern world.

Go online 

For information on Scotts Miracle-Gro, visit lovethegarden.com

Further information 

For further information and hi-res images, contact Geoff Hodge, PR Officer for The Scotts Company (UK) Ltd on 01733 762042, mobile +447867-970754, geoff.hodge@scotts.com

To find out more about the Lady Ryder Memorial Garden, you can contact The Right Hon The Lady Parmoor on +44-(0)1494-881037 or e-mail anneparmoor@aol.com

SOURCE The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company