MOST of us vow to spend more time in the garden - but one Ryedale woman has made sure she does just that.

Michelle Hunter, from Norton, became a Millennium Volunteer and has just notched up an impressive 100 hours in the great outdoors.

And staff at Helmsley Walled Garden, where Michelle is a volunteer, said she had been a huge help.

Paul Radcliffe, head gardener at the garden, said: "She is well on the way to achieving the next hundred."

And come rain or shine, she can be found helping out with just about anything which needs doing.

Michelle said: "I love working here and I've learned a lot since I started.

"I help out on the market stall on Fridays, and talk to the visitors about plants."

Kate Holmes, Millennium Volunteers co-ordinator at Ryedale Voluntary Action, said the scheme had really helped Michelle, who has learning difficulties.

She said: "The benefits for her have been vast, she is much more confident and has learned so much.

"Before she joined us, she was paying out of her own pocket to get to the gardens, but with the Millennium Volunteers scheme we provide her travel costs now."

Updated: 12:09 Thursday, March 07, 2002