A NEW charity being set up in Bewdley will provide volunteering opportunities to men with mental health problems or poor self-esteem.

Evergreen Projects already has 16 members on board and has organised four initial schemes, all of which are designed to improve the environment in the local area.

The group planted trees to improve the landscape at Glebe Farm in Stone, near Kidderminster, and plans to plant bulbs to enhance the gardens at Rock House Retreat in Habberley next month.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Evergreen Projects members carrying out work to improve the environment at Glebe Farm near Kidderminster. Photo by Colin BarnettEvergreen Projects members carrying out work to improve the environment at Glebe Farm near Kidderminster. Photo by Colin Barnett

Other projects will involve working with Wyre Community Land Trust to further its Ruskin Project, and preparing a garden for a school which caters for people with learning difficulties in Bromsgrove.

Bewdley resident and Evergreen Projects trustee Richard Round said: "We're in the process of setting up the charity, which will be working with people with poor mental health, poor education or self-esteem to improve the local environment.

"We have four projects planned at the moment but we plan to expand into the rest of Worcestershire.

Kidderminster Shuttle: Evergreen Projects members carrying out work to improve the environment at Glebe Farm near Kidderminster. Photo by Colin BarnettEvergreen Projects members carrying out work to improve the environment at Glebe Farm near Kidderminster. Photo by Colin Barnett

"We're being backed by the adult learning department at Worcestershire County Council - they're sponsoring us - and we'll be linked with Bewdley Medical Centre and the local health centres which will allow people to be referred to our charity and the workshops.

"The main aim is to find projects that people want to be a part of to help improve people's mental health and wellbeing to help them progress back to work, while also building community links."

The charity's projects are open to men aged 18 to 65. For more information, visit evergreenprojects.org.