Everything rosy for new gardener Neil

Jul 9 2009 by Joanne Butcher, The Journal

FORMER miner Neil Heggarty thought his work life was over after a motorcycle smash left him paralysed.

Aged just 21, Neil was confined to a wheelchair and thought he would never be active again.

But now he is starting out on a new green-fingered career.

The 48-year-old from Amble, Northumberland, has discovered a love of the great outdoors and is set to study for a horticulture qualification with the Royal Horticultural Society.

Neil, who worked at Whittle Colliery near Alnwick, explained: “After I had my accident I obviously couldn't work down the mine anymore, so I ended up just working in the office.

“When the pit finally closed, I wasn't sure if I'd work again. I didn't want to do office work, I wanted to try and do something physical.”

Neil always enjoyed being active and doing hands-on work, and found being caged in an office frustrating.

“Working in the office became a bit of a chore,” he explained. “It was a job, so I didn’t leave, but I never enjoyed going to work. I love jobs that get your hands dirty, where you come back black and tired and covered in cuts and bruises.”

Neil moved from pit to pit until Easington Colliery closed in 2005, and he found himself struggling to find work.

But then he applied to Azure Garden Centre in Cramlington through the Government's Workstep programme, which provides support to disabled people facing barriers getting and keeping a job.

The garden centre is run by Azure Charitable Enterprises which also includes the Azure Café, Azure Printing and a landscaping and nursery business. The charity is dedicated to improving the lives of people with disabilities.

Neil and his wife Caren, one of the nurses at the Freeman Hospital who helped him back to health after his accident, are delighted with his new found green fingers.

“I’m getting really good at gardening,” Neil said. “A few people have commented on how nice our garden looks.

“And although I'm paraplegic, I still do a hands-on job, which is what I really like,” he said. “I have to pot and care for the plants - weeding, feeding and watering.

“I've always had an interest in plants - when I was at school I used to love gardening lessons. And my garden at home was always a way of relaxing after a bad day in the office, but I didn't think I'd ever get the opportunity that I've had.”

Neil's flair has led to Azure enrolling him in a Royal Horticultural Society horticulture course, which he will be studying at Kirkley Hall near Ponteland.

“This is a really great opportunity for me to get a broad, general education in horticulture,” said Neil. “I'm really grateful to Azure for putting me through it.

John Taylor, horticultural manager at Azure Garden Centre, said: “Neil has proven a real asset, and we're glad to be able to help him develop his career.”