Healey Dell Heritage Centre Riverside Tea Garden opens

Mayor of Whitworth, Madeline De Souza, with Hopwood Hall Horticultural students Barbara Burke and Andy McConnell

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The new Healey Dell Heritage Centre (HDHC) Riverside Tea Garden was opened on Sunday, 12 June.

Janice Percy, from HDHC, said: “Our extent of pride and joy at being able to open up this magical space to the public almost made us oblivious to the torrential rain as the lovely Mayor of Whitworth cut the ribbon.

“Now we’re all looking forward to some better weather so that everyone can experience the tranquillity, beauty, sounds and vision of this part of the Nature Reserve previously hidden and locked away!

“The transformation is thanks to Hopwood Hall Horticultural students Andy McConnell and Barbara Burke and their extraordinary tutor/mentor Anthony Saxon.

"The HDHC is all about inspiring, training and motivating those seeking to improve their prospects.

“Andy and Barbara’s achievements are living proof of the boundless possibilities that can be achieved when coupled with self-belief. Hence the endless credit they pay to their tutor for believing in them. They saw a derelict piece of wasteland, planned out their vision to transform it - and they did.

“These talented young people are destined to go far. Their creativity, skills, work-ethics and confirmed ability to overcome even the toughest of ‘gardening’ challenges has set them firmly on track towards achieving their dream of one day running their own, successful, business.”