October 11, 2005
Burnham-On-Sea autism home benefits from art swap

Residents at a home for adults with autism in Burnham-On-Sea have recently benefited from an unusual swap between an artist from the town and a nearby garden centre.

Pensioner Ann Lovell has exchanged some of her paintings of Sanders Garden World in Brent Knoll with staff at the site in return for a £500 cash donation to the National Autistic Society’s (NAS) residential home Cherry Trees House in the town.

Peter Burks, Sanders Garden World Managing Director, said: "Ann is often at the garden centre sketching pictures of the site and drawing caricatures of people eating in our ‘Lemon Grove’ restaurant."

"I decided to take part in the swap as I was very impressed by her art work."

Ann, 71, donated the money to Cherry Trees House, one of two homes in the town run by the Burnham Service branch of the NAS, as her son, Frank, aged 43, is cared for at the centre.

She said: "The home in Burnham-On-Sea has used the money to buy a trampoline, which residents can use for exercising and to release some of their energy."

"The cash was donated to the centre via the Friends of Burnham Service (FOBS) charity, which I am a member of. Any money raised by FOBS is used for any little extras the home needs, such as the trampoline or to pay for courses and activities the residents participate in."

Cherry Trees provides a home for nine adults with a range of autistic spectrum disorders. The home is run by the National Autistic Society and is one of two homes, the second of which is called Park View, owned by the charity in Burnham-On-Sea.

Our photo shows Peter Burks, Managing Director of Sanders Garden World, presents Chris Morgan, Manager of Cherry Trees, with a £500 cheque in return for the paintings of the garden centre by artist Ann Lovell (centre back). Ann’s son, Frank, (left back) is also pictured along with fellow Cherry Trees resident, Graham Trigg

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Sanders Garden World