Early in January 1997, Parklea Association 'Branching Out' Ltd was formed. A piece of undeveloped ground at the Parklea Playing Fields in Port Glasgow was leased from Inverclyde Council, with the purpose of providing a horticultural training centre for adults and young people with learning difficulties, special needs or thoses with a physical disability.

In 1998 Parklea Association’s largest glasshouse was purchased from Erskine Hospital. The glasshouse stands at 35,000 square feet, and is still an integral part of the Parklea project.

Along with the glasshouse, block paving was purchased and a path was established around the outside of the glasshouse. A new lawn measuring 27 yards by 12 yards was also set up at the lower end of the project.

In 1998 a total of 18,500 bedding plants were grown by Parklea Association’s service users.

on show, and the President of the society visited Parklea to present the Service Users with a certificate of merit from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

There was also development work carried out on new areas of the grounds, which is always on going.