A group of volunteers from Tarmac’s Lime business at Tunstead has shown how teamwork really can make a difference to a project reliant on community support. The team of 11 joined forces to spend a day at the Serpentine Community Farm in Buxton, giving some elbow grease and attention to much in need areas of this community facility in Serpentine Walks.
They refurbished a huge, dilapidated planter, which was then filled with three tonnes of topsoil and is now ready for planting. The team also installed a handrail to improve safety for visitors on a sloping path; and resurfaced the path for improved access. As a final touch, they installed bird boxes which were kindly donated by the organisers of the Buxton Garden Trail.
Tarmac’s Tunstead lime general manager, and part of the volunteering team, Graham Cooper, said: “It was very rewarding to get together with colleagues to tackle such practical projects at this valuable community facility. We encourage all our employees to get involved in volunteering projects in the local area, and recently surpassed a total of 4000 volunteering hours in total. We look forward to seeing what grows in the planter and to hearing how well visited the bird boxes are.”
Anne Holloway from the Serpentine Community Farm added: “It was an absolute delight to have the team on site – lots of hard work and laughter. I couldn’t believe that the team achieved so much but that’s what happens when everyone pulls together. Thanks very much to the Tarmac group – they have made a huge difference to the site and the entrance is looking very smart!”
The Serpentine Community Farm is a community growing space (vegetables, fruit and flowers) in the centre of Buxton on a small site in the Serpentine Walks, part of Pavilion Gardens. Originally the plant nursery for the Pavilion Gardens, the nursery ceased operating more than 20 years ago and fell into disrepair. The site was taken over by Serpentine Community Farm around five years ago. The first few years were spent clearing the site and bringing it back into a usable space. The project is totally reliant upon donations and is run by volunteers for the community – it is open to visitors every Wednesday and Sunday between 11 am and 3 pm.
Picture caption: Some of the Tarmac volunteering team and the transformed planter – left to right: Graham, Tommy, Darren, Jo, Andy, Hazel, Stuart, Matt and Steve