CELEBRITY gardener Toby Buckland is set to open a new ‘multi-span’ polytunnel in Exminster.

The polytunnel will sit between three existing others at New Leaf and alongside a new shade tunnel which is currently being renovated.

New Leaf is Devon Partnership NHS Trust’s Vocational Rehabilitation Service supporting adults recovering from mental health issues into work or volunteering.

The organisation offers them a chance of ‘real world’ experience in a supportive workplace and many go on to other jobs or volunteer in their local community.

Time at New Leaf helps people regain their confidence and learn skills so they can take the next step in their recovery journey.

It has a range of undercover growing spaces including large glasshouses and six polytunnels, three of which had become unusable and required urgent replacement.

Funding for the poly tunnel is coming from the health trust’s charity Open Up.

It is a large, interconnected greenhouse structure with multiple tunnel sections that are joined to increase the growing area, making it more efficient, stable and suitable for scaling-up production.

Della Norris, Vocational Services Manager at New Leaf, said: ‘This new investment at New Leaf and will not only improve the working environment for people, including improved ventilation and comfort, but it will also increase the opportunity for team work, reduce moving and handling, increase our growing capacity and improve energy efficiency due to its insulation properties.

‘Although we don’t expect people using our service to move into horticulture, we have had a number of attendees who have been inspired through their placements at New Leaf and have moved onto nature-based education, volunteering and employment in horticulture and conservation, so it is testament to the impact of rehabilitation in this wonderful greenspace.’

The new multi-span is due to be formally opened on Wednesday April 8 by Toby, Phil Mantay, Chief Executive of DPT and Open Up charity representatives alongside people who use the service and a range of key stakeholders