​Horticultural charity says it can't continue with current lack of funding

A veterans’ charity is to close after being unable to source enough funding to keep it operational.

Gardening Leave, which was founded in 2007, uses horticultural therapy to support troubled veterans back to good health and into civilian life.

The charity has gardens in Ayr and Glasgow and was about to open a new garden in Dundee.

It confirmed options were now being discussed with veterans to provide alternative mental health support as part of a gradual wind down of the charity’s work.

A spokesperson for the board of trustees said it found fundraising particularly tough over the past year, particularly in the crowded armed forces and veterans sector, and despite its best efforts over the Autumn it had not secured the level of income anticipated.

We plan for a gradual and orderly wind down of operations over the next few weeks

"This financial uncertainty means we have had to make the difficult decision that it would be inappropriate for Gardening Leave to continue operations beyond the end of the year,” they said.

"Our priority now is to do the best we can for the armed forces veterans who attend Gardening Leave’s projects and our staff. We will be in touch with our veterans to discuss the alternative mental health support options available to them.

"We are in active discussions with other organisations about ways in which the services we provide to veterans may continue to be provided in the future. We will also have discussions with appropriate parties about the charity’s sites.

“We plan for a gradual and orderly wind down of operations over the next few weeks.

"This has been a very difficult announcement for us to make and we know it will be heartbreaking for all the charity’s staff, veterans, volunteers and supporters as well as the trustees, particularly at this time of year.”

The trustees are also in discussions with other parties about what can be done with the charity's gardening sites.