Teenager is putting down roots with gardening

A DERBYSHIRE teenager who is being housed by Derventio Housing Trust has been finding space to thrive in a valued gardening project.

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Leo Webberley, 19, of Heanor, has been living with Derventio Housing Trust since just before Christmas last year.

The trust provides accommodation to hundreds of people across the UK who might otherwise be homeless.

Housing officers at the trust found shy Leo barely able to communicate just months ago.

Now they say he has been transformed into a confident young man a few months after finding his calling cultivating plants and growing fruit and veg right from seed.

Leo said he had always enjoyed spending time outside but has now truly found his passion in the garden run by Derventio Housing Trust's Growing Lives project in Ilkeston.

Leo attends Growing Lives daily after being picked up by a minibus provided by the trust, and he has been busy getting his hands in the soil growing vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and sweetcorn.

Not just that, Leo has been turning his talents to growing plants and vegetables in the small outside space at his shared accommodation and has been using the fresh veg to cook tasty meals and cakes for house mates as well as staff at Derventio.