Garden tool firm Wilkinson Sword stepped in to help the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity when its portacabin was attacked by arsonists.

The Trafford Veterans Mess Charity consists of a group of volunteers who have a connection with, or have served in, the Armed forces or Emergency Services. Through sharing their experiences they are able to help one another to settle back into civilian life, and recover from various mental health issues that sadly come with being a member of uniformed services. They have found that their members find gardening very therapeutic, and are in the process of developing their facilities to further this offering.

The charity contacted Wilkinson Sword after a portacabin it used to help members was set alight on the evening of August 24.The suspected arson attack has set the charity’s volunteers back in their hard work and left members without an essential resource.

Wilkinson Sword wanted to do something to help the charity get back on its feet, sending a selection of tools, including two carbon steel digging spades, two carbon steel digging forks, a felling axe and a grenade to help to split logs.

Wilkinson Sword Garden Division General Manager Nick Hills commented: ‘We were shocked when we heard what had happened at the Trafford Veterans Mess Charity, and wanted to do something to help. We hope that the tools we have sent will enable the charity to continue with the important work that they do, and to go towards turning their orchard into the memorial garden that they have dreamt of’.