A great partnership is continuing thanks to a coming together of two local organisations and a small amount of Council funding.

Children from the Great Holm pre-school are joining forces, for a second year, with the retired residents of Petworth House sheltered housing scheme. This time to work on upgrading the gardens at Petworth House.

Fay Glover, manager of Great Holm pre- school, said: “We are very proud of working closely with the older residents of Petworth House. Last year they came each week to interact with the children at Great Holm pre-school. This was great for both the residents and the children. We all really enjoyed it. This year we have plans to all work together on a gardening project in Petworth house.”

The funding for upgrading the garden at Petworth House comes from Zoe Nolan, Councillor for Loughton and Shenley ward, who said: “I was really impressed about the work going on between the children in Great Holm pre-school and the residents at Petworth House. I congratulate Fay Glover and her team at pre-school and the current and previous wardens at Petworth House who made this happen. I am looking forward to seeing the planters where the children and residents are planning to grow plants, herbs, fruit and vegetables together. I will always have a soft spot for the pre- school as my children went to it.”

Local Community campaigner Ben Nolan added: “Both my brother and myself went to the Great Holm pre-school. It’s a really lovely place. I have nothing but happy memories of it. I was delighted to hear about developments with the Petworth House sheltered housing community. It is so good to see older and young generations coming together, especially in these fractured times.”

Cllr Zoe Nolan concluded: “This joint working between young children and older residents is such good practice. I would like to see every sheltered housing scheme in Milton Keynes being paired up with a local pre-school to do some joint activities.”