A PASSIONATE gardener and local historian has been praised for his dedication to improving a community resource centre.

Volunteer Harry Slattery, who has been involved at Coast and Country's Westfield Farm since it opened in 2013, has been running training courses for volunteers and service users to enable them to gain valuable experience in planting, growing and even cultivating small areas.

Located in Dormanstown, ‘The Farm’ is a one-stop-shop that provides the kind of high quality advice, guidance, training and support that helps people get back into work.

The 75-year-old also directly helps charitable causes by growing vegetables for Redcar foodbank and selling vegetables and bedding plants with the money raised going to benefit a variety of local charities.

He said: "I love the friendly atmosphere of The Farm and enjoy passing on my knowledge of gardening to others, young and old. I love the feeling of making the gardens look their best.”

The pensioner has recently been awarded his Food Hygiene Certificate and now plans to help out with cooking for The Farm.

Barry McBride, Westfield Farm co-ordinator, said: “Harry has been one of our most loyal volunteers and has made a huge impact on both the gardens and in helping other volunteers and local people. He really is a volunteer in a million.

“Harry grows veg from seeds at home and brings them into The Farm to finish off the growing process. The veg is sold and the money is divided and donated to The Redcar Area Food Bank and a charity of Harry’s choice. Harry also grows bedding plants in our poly tunnel, with all money raised donated to various charities."