THE only award voted for by readers of the Warrington Guardian went to a well loved project.

The Walton Lea Project took home the visitor’s choice award - awarded to the venue as the most popular visitor attraction in town.

Judges were shown a long list of testimonies to the project.

They said: l “One of Warrington's hidden treasures.”

  • “It is well run and everybody seems to be enjoying themselves.”
  • “This is an extremely worthwhile charity”
  • “ Every town needs a place like this.”
  • “It is a fantastic place with a great atmosphere.”

Set up in 1998, it was originally designed as a place to provide oppotunities for adults with a learning disability.

Set up in a Victorian walled garden in Walton Lea, it sells fruit and vegetable and other locally sourced food and goods.

Indeed the project has been so successful that it now works out of a second garden centre at Long Lane in Orford as well.

Each site also has a mobile van selling goods and bringing them to the wider community.

More than 70 people regulalry attend and work at the two sites.