Chicken run! New hen enclosures mean birds can roam free outside

Charity workers say they have created a piece of heaven on Earth at Willow Tree Garden at the bottom of Sandy Lane in Belton. Picture: Tesco (Image: Tesco)

Now that restrictions to limit the spread of bird flu have been lifted the feathered residents are roaming around and exploring their run at Willow Tree Garden in Belton.

Chickens at Willow Tree Garden are settling in to their new home. The charity has received a substantial grant from Tesco. Picture: Tesco (Image: Tesco)

The charity secured an £8,000 grant through the Tesco Bags of Help initiative and has wasted no time in putting the money to good use.

Organisers have built specialist re-enforced viewing benches for wheelchairs and set about building the run.

Now in its fourth the charity helps people of all ages with disabilities to take part in activities they might otherwise struggle to access, from arts and crafts to dog agility training.

MORE: Disability garden hopes for Belton siteHeather Sayer, one of the founders, said: 'We were inspired to start the project after my daughter Naomi turned 19, and we realised there were fewer opportunities open to her now she was an adult.

'We knew there would be others in the same position so we set up Willow Tree. It's always difficult securing funding as a small charity so the Bags of Help grant has been fantastic in helping us to expand, and improve our facilities.'

The charity is also developing a town site in St Peter's Plain and hosts a range of fun workshops throughout the year.

It describes the Belton garden as 'a small piece of heaven on Earth.'

The site has a kitchen, classroom and cosy snug.

Under the Tesco scheme shoppers get the chance to vote for three different groups each month. At the end of each month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco's regions will be awarded funding.

Hayley Cook, community champion at Tesco's Great Yarmouth Extra store, said: 'It is wonderful to see this inspirational charity going from strength to strength, they're a great example of how much a Bags of Help grant can benefit local community groups.

'This is just the beginning for Bags of Help and we are hugely excited for the future as the project continues to grow and help even more groups across the UK.'

To apply or to nominate a group ask in store for more information or click on Bags for Help and for to find out more about Will Tree Garden click the link.