SIDE STREETS: Wheelbarrows to the rescue as landscapers create

A small army of wheelbarrow-pushing landscapers will celebrate Earth Day on Friday by creating a special place for sick children and their parents at the Memorial Hospital for Children.

Rick said his volunteer crews to spend Thursday hauling the donated materials down to the site.The garden will represent hope, life and healing and offer sick children and their families a place of tranquility and inspiration."This garden will play an important role in our patients' emotional and physical well-being," McEvoy said.So, why wheelbarrows? Why not truck materials in? Use a forklift? Or a crane?"This is a very ambitious project," said Jon Rick, of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado. The ALCC's southern Colorado chapter is tackling the garden project as part of the Professional Landcare Networks' third annual National Day of Service.(See photos on my blog.)Graham, of Spen Excelsior Club House, High Spen, was given a six-month conditional discharge with pounds 85 costs after he admitted theft of the metal."This garden will play an important role in our patients' emotional and physical well-being," McEvoy said."It's going to be a long day and it's going to be tough," Rick said.All by wheelbarrow."The goal is to provide an area for children and their families to relax as they are undergoing treatment," Rick said. "We're trying to create a serene place. A relaxing environment."Memorial's Greg Gauna, director of planning, design and construction, said the garden has been planned since the $110 million, seven-story east tower opened in 2007.On Friday, four crews will rip up the sod, build the patios and plant all the trees, shrubs and flowers."It's going to be a long day and it's going to be tough," Rick said.Please "Friend" me on Facebook and follow me on TwitterGraham was only four when his dad was killed in a gangland assassination on New Year's Eve in 1993, in what became one of Tyneside's most notorious unsolved murders.-Each landscaper and wheelbarrow will travel about 300 feet down the ramp and up a sidewalk to the construction site.The unemployed 21-yearold, who'd hoped to sell it and make a few pounds, fully cooperated with officers, Gateshead magistrates heard.To pull it off, the landscapers will need to haul and assemble 50 tons of dirt, nearly 5 tons of sand, 24 tons of sand/gravel mix, 2.5 tons of drainage rock, plus uncounted tons of flagstone, boulders, pavers, trees, shrubs and more.On Friday, four crews will rip up the sod, build the patios and plant all the trees, shrubs and flowers.Tom Iceton, defending, said the metal was taken from the garden of vacant premises which was littered with rubbish and appears to have been used as a local dump.

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Author: BILL VOGRIN