Vinny's seeds of change for veterans

A NEGLECTED plot of land has been transformed into a garden that's giving veterans a new lease of life.

- RAMAZANI MWAMBA

The project is the brainchild of ex-military man Vinny Neild, from Irlam, Salford, who started work on the garden back in February after finding himself in search of purpose.

"For years I've had something bothering me," Vinny told the M.E.N. "I wanted to do something, I'm an ex-forces man and I've always been doing something. I just thought I could do something more for people than what I'm doing"

The Allotment for Veterans on Tindall Street has been going from strength to strength and now has more than 70 members who visit. The garden has become a place for people to talk, have a cup of tea, do some gardening or simply relax. Vinny says it has become a 'lifeline' for veterans.

"It's just grown and grown, from nothing to what it is now," he said.