VETERANS who served their country and are now living with psychological wounds are helping create a garden that will be showcased to the world.

Ex-servicemen and women from the Help for Heroes recovery centre at Phoenix House in Catterick are helping to create “God’s Own County - A Garden for Yorkshire” for this year’s Chelsea Flower Show.

And it will be the biggest garden ever presented at the huge international show by Welcome to Yorkshire

Veterans from the centre regularly take part in horticultural therapies at Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Bedale, as such activities can be particularly beneficial for those struggling with their mental wellbeing.

They will spend two weeks with Welcome to Yorkshire’s garden designer Matthew Wilson and his team at Chelsea to build and plant the garden ready for the show in May.

“Having seen first-hand the huge effect working with plants and trees has on the health and wellbeing of veterans, I’m very excited about a group of them joining us in the creation of this Yorkshire showstopper,” said Matthew.

One of the veterans, Paul Sterndale-Bennett, 45, was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after 20 years of front-line service.

“Working at Thorp Perrow is the best job I’ve ever had. Mentally I feel so much better,” he said.

York Minster’s Great East Window is the inspiration for the garden and work is well underway to create a replica which will be the focal point for the garden’s design.

Welcome to Yorkshire chief executive Gary Verity said: “This is our biggest Chelsea garden to date and is a true celebration of everything Yorkshire has to offer.

“I’m delighted Help for Heroes veterans are helping us bring our garden to life.”