A TEAM of kind-hearted tradespeople braved “every type of weather going”, including snow and heavy rain, to help a Ledbury man who had to learn to walk and talk again after undergoing surgery for a brain tumour.

Glenn Ward collapsed on a building site in November 2020, and after undergoing life-saving surgery for a brain tumour, went on to spend six months in hospital including having to learn to walk and talk again, as well as suffering memory loss. In 2022, he was told the tumour had grown, and underwent more surgery as well as radiotherapy.

Mr Ward, aged 64, has not been able to work since his first surgery, leading to his pride and joy garden becoming overgrown because he and wife Esme cannot maintain it.

During his rehabilitation, his speech therapist recognised that the garden’s deterioration was getting him down, and recommended that the family reach out to national construction charity Band of Builders.

Band of Builders carries out practical projects to help tradespeople and their families suffering from illness and injury, and organised for a team of volunteers to help sort out Mr Ward’s Garden. Over the course of three days, some 14 volunteers from the charity helped by Mr Ward’s friends and family battled inclement weather including snow and rain to cut back trees and level the ground to restore the garden to its former glory.

The group was stopped in its tracks due to sodden ground, which prevented them from laying turf to complete the project but will be returning later this month to finish the job.

John Littlewood, who led the project, said: “Despite our best efforts battling literally every type of weather going, the ground was just too wet to get the turf laid. But rest assured, we’ll be heading back as soon as we can to get it done so Glenn and Esme can enjoy it in the summer.”