A CHARITY plant nursery has thanked local businesses and the Daily Echo for their support after it was attacked by vandals in August.

Chestnut Nursery in Kingland Road, Poole, which was damaged during a break-in, offers sheltered work opportunities to people suffering from enduring mental health illness.

Following the Echo’s story about the attack on August 23, a number of businesses have donated raffle prizes to help the charity carry out repairs, improve security and fund a new development on the nursery’s site just outside Poole Park.

Tickets are on sale over the next couple of weeks, including in the Dolphin Centre this today, October 4, and next Wednesday, and at the charity’s autumn plant sale this Saturday.

Nursery manager Laurence Jackson said: “I’d like to thank all the businesses that have generously offered us prizes for our autumn raffle. It is good to see that in these tight economic times we still have the support of the local business community.

“We have a number of great prizes to be won and we’d like to thank the Echo and its readers for supporting and highlighting our plight. We really need to raise these additional funds so we can make our site secure to deter future break-ins.”

Among companies to donate prizes are the Guildhall Tavern, Italian Gossip, AFC Bournemouth, Lush, Branksome Beach bar and restaurant, Sandbanks Hotel, Robin James Spa, Thorntons, and Legenes, the London-based design team behind the Per Una range.