Handmade planters created to raise awareness

Last week, the IW Observer team was presented with a personalised garden planter from avid community activist, Christopher Hayton.

Christopher has so far hand-built, painted, decorated and distributed more than 189 planters to Island businesses and communities to raise awareness around mental health issues.

Crafted from old wooden pallets, painted and secured with outdoor glue and materials, they are weatherproof. Support has been received from The Works, Poundland, Hurst and Morrisons, who have offered discounts on the materials Christopher purchases from them.

In the spirit of supporting his community, pieces of wood not used are donated to his local pub, where they use it to fuel in their fireplace.

Christopher’s hard work has not gone unrecognised, as he has been nominated for a Pride of Britain Award for his work in the community. His work has now been sought overseas; when he left us, he was on his way to deliver a planter to the children’s ward of Southampton General Hospital!

IW Observer director, Chris Cornford said: “Thank you Christopher for your gracious gift, and we look forward to using it.”