Walton Charity welcomes The Duchess of Edinburgh
Walton Charity was delighted to host a visit from Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Edinburgh on Thursday 18 January.
The Duchess met a number of Elmbridge community groups at Burview Hall – one of Walton Charity’s community properties and home of Elmbridge Mencap.
Her Royal Highness started her visit by meeting the Walton & Hersham Foodbank team where she helped to sort food donations and pack food parcels. She heard about the recent ‘Fill a Mini Challenge’ where food donations from the local community filled 20 Mini cars to mark 10 years of the foodbank. She also heard more about The Bridge – a new hub for families run by the foodbank and Walton Charity.
The Duchess then stopped to chat to Walton Charity’s independent living art group and admired their latest artwork before joining a parachute game and cookie-making session with members of Elmbridge Mencap’s Day Service and pupils from neighbouring Walton Leigh School. Moving to the games room, The Duchess enjoyed a game of table football, before bracing the cold weather to see Mencap’s new sensory garden.
Once outside, The Duchess heard from our Green Spaces Manager, Karen Heynike, about the activities she leads at our Community Allotment and our newest green venture – The Tree Canopy Project based in Walton Charity’s woodlands. She chatted with volunteers from the allotment about how the project has helped their mental health and built their confidence. She also joined the Elmbridge Tree Wardens to plant a tree.
Finally, the Duchess joined members of the women’s Guided Wellbeing group where she made a gratitude pebble for the group’s mandala* before children from Rewilding Forest School (another tenant of the Tree Canopy project) presented her with a portrait of The King made entirely from leaves!
After unveiling a plaque to mark this special royal visit, The Duchess was presented with a birthday cake and flowers and everyone sang a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to mark her forthcoming birthday on 20 January.