GREEN-fingered enthusiasts in the Garden County are being invited to clear out their sheds and donate any old, broken or unwanted tools to Dunbar Garden Centre.

A special recycling point has been set up at the garden centre, on the town’s Spott Road, for anything from forks and spades to rakes and trowels.

Any tools donated will then be refurbished by women in custody in HMP Edinburgh as part of The Conservation Foundation’s Tools Shed project.

Then, the repaired tools, will be distributed, free of charge, to schools and community gardeners.

Nick Donaghey, manager of the garden centre, explained the scheme.

He said: “We are really pleased to be involved with this project; not only will this help the local community and schools but it is a great way for gardeners to dispose of their old, unwanted tools.

“So many of us have broken tools at the back of the garden shed that are forgotten about, so we are encouraging gardeners to bring these tools to us, a simple way of spring cleaning your garden shed.” Mr Donaghey was joined at the garden centre by Jim Shields and Craig Widdowson, the two officers who run the project at the Capital prison, at a special launch last Thursday.

Also at the garden centre were children and staff from Dunbar Primary School’s Countess After School Club and The Ridge project, Belhaven, who were presented with some very special items from the Tools Shed workshop in time to get on with their spring gardening.

Mr Shields, regimes manager at HMP Edinburgh, said: “The Tools Shed project has provided an ideal opportunity for HMP Edinburgh to develop positive and beneficial links with community groups in the Capital, and I’m delighted that we are extending the project to include East Lothian, Scotland’s very own Garden County!

“Participating in the project boosts the skills and well-being of the women involved in HMP Edinburgh, and it’s fantastic to see them contributing to communities and enabling the work of these local groups to continue.” Also at the launch were local Tools Shed co-ordinators Andrew and Angela Davies.

The scheme was initially piloted at HMP Wandsworth, London, before being spread across England and finally north of the Border at HMP Edinburgh.

David Shreeve, The Conservation Foundation’s director, said things had steadily grown over the years.

He added: “We’re delighted that it’s proving so successful in Scotland, thanks in no small part to the enthusiasm and commitment of the governor, staff and inmates at HMP Edinburgh and the support we receive from garden centres and other horticultural organisations in and around Edinburgh.

“It’s great to have Dunbar Garden Centre on board now.” Schools and community groups which would like to receive Tools Shed tools are asked to email tools@conservationfoundation.co.uk to find out more.