After a successful first five years in which Tarmac’s Tunstead team gave up thousands of hours to take part in volunteering days, the company has announced it has renewed its innovative partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority for another five years.
The partnership, which will run from 2021 to 2026, includes a day of Tarmac employee volunteering activity with the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers Group every month, and the sponsorship of the engagement conservation volunteers assistant role.
To celebrate the partnership renewal, Pete Butterworth, Tarmac’s stone and powders director went along to meet Sarah Fowler, the Peak District National Park Authority chief executive at the first post-Covid restriction volunteering day. He was part of the Tarmac volunteering team carrying out some drystone walling at Brunts Barn, a volunteer residential centre.
He said: “We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority. The benefits of outdoor activity for physical and mental wellbeing have never been more in focus, following a year in which we have all had our lives restricted by the pandemic.
“By sponsoring the engagement role, we enable many people to get involved in practical projects which make a significant contribution to the maintenance and improvement of this beautiful area. Personally, I have been delighted to get together with colleagues away from work and demonstrate how well our teams work together in a different environment. I congratulate all those who have already been involved in the last five years and I look forward to seeing our Tarmac volunteering groups continue to make a difference over the next five.”
Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park added: “To have secured what will ultimately be by 2026 a decade of support from Tarmac in this our 70th anniversary year is a wonderful addition to our birthday celebrations. As we take our first steps out of the pandemic, the outdoors and engagement with nature will be key to everyone’s green recovery and our partnership with Tarmac is at the heart of offering these opportunities. Whether it be local volunteers or those from Tarmac’s operations in and around the Peak District, the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers (PPCV) programme has built a respected reputation for providing a chance to give back to our National Park. We look forward to welcoming many more people to a hands-on taste of our wonderful Peak District.”
Harriet Saltis, engagement conservation volunteer assistant said: “It’s inspiring to know that the first five years of the sponsorship has enabled over 100,000 hours of volunteering to take place in the Peak District National Park, and that this will happen again over the next five years of this partnership. It’s great to meet up with new and returning Tarmac faces every month, bringing great local spirit and vigour to each project. I’m passionate and proud to work with volunteers on a daily basis to conserve and enhance the Peak District National Park. It’s inspiring to be part of every volunteer’s contribution to the National Park and for it to have a positive influence on their wellbeing. I am grateful to call it my job; and so look forward to the next five years partnership with Tarmac.”
Jacquie Bowman is Tarmac’s volunteering coordinator. She said: “As an employer, Tarmac is very active in supporting volunteering and health and wellbeing among its workforce. This partnership has enabled us to offer focused and expertly-run monthly volunteering opportunities which our teams have thoroughly enjoyed. They enable us to benefit from working together in the beautiful countryside around us, and, at the same time, deliver rewarding projects.”
Through the volunteering days, Tarmac teams have been involved in a wide range of improvement projects including footpath repairs; replacing a bridge on the Pennine Way; drystone walling; management of ancient hay meadows; replacing benches and helping to improve a wildlife garden for a local school.
Picture caption: Peak District National Park chief executive Sarah Fowler (centre) joins Tarmac Tunstead’s stone and powders director Pete Butterworth (right) on a volunteering day to celebrate the renewal of the volunteering partnership between the two organisations.