WHO'D of thought it was possible to turn clothes into chicken coops?

Well anything is possible now the Orchard Trust, based in Lydbrook, has teamed up with the Salvation Army to install two new clothes recycling banks.

Donations of unwanted clothes, shoes and textile items can be taken to the banks at Upper Stowfield and Coleford, which will help to raise money to pay for a new sensory garden at the residents' care home; and also new chicken houses, wheelchair swing, and improved vehicular and wheelchair access at the Smallholding and Learning Centre. It will also dramatically reduce landfill while raising valuable funds for the work of The Salvation Army.

Set up as a partnership with the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), the banks can contain up to 300 kilos of textiles and, for every tonne collected, SATCoL will give the trust £200 to spend on resources for its care home and learning centre.

Gareth Jones, chef executive of The Orchard Trust, said: "The banks give us a great way to raise money from something that might otherwise end up in a bin or a bag in the loft. We're hoping to get everyone behind the scheme and look forward to filling both banks as soon as possible so that we can create an amazing sensory garden for our residents."

The Orchard Trust's new sensory garden at its Seven Oaks care home in Coleford will include a selection of sensory plants including sunflowers, heather and weeping willow.