Volunteers help transform Crantock Drive’s garden
The back garden at Crantock Drive has undergone an incredible transformation thanks to the work of a team of volunteers from international infrastructure group Balfour Beatty.
The volunteer team worked on the garden over the course of three days. As well as tidying the garden and making general improvements to its appearance, the volunteers purchased a new barbeque and an artificial lawn. The padded lawn provides a safe area for the residents, enabling many of them to enjoy the garden more independently. These improvements were financed by the volunteer team themselves.
The team didn’t stop there. Flowerbeds were dug out and replanted, a disused pond was brought back to life, and garden furniture was sanded down and repainted. A new raised bed will give people we support the opportunity to grow their own vegetables. The volunteer team even found time to paint some of the rooms inside the home.
The volunteer team was made up of Balfour Beatty staff working on the M4/M5 DHS enhancements project as partners of the SMP Alliance Scheme. Staff from their supply chain Fortel and Zone were also involved in the volunteer project.
Foreman David Sephton, who led the volunteering project, says:
“I just saw a massive opportunity and it really inspired me. It saddened me to learn that the outdoor area hadn’t been used since before the Covid-19 pandemic. They had no greenery, and simply weeding the plants wasn’t going to be enough. We needed to do a full overhaul and create something really special for them.
“After we’d finished the work, we were invited back for a garden party, and it was brilliant. It was a privilege to help and to finally see the residents able to use the outdoor space. Not only that, but we’ve built a lovely relationship with the charity too.”
Tina, Service Manager at Crantock Drive, says:
“It is a pleasure to see the people we support all enjoying a cup of tea in their new garden. The smiles on their faces are priceless. We cannot thank the volunteers enough for what they have done for the people we support, their family and friends, and staff team. As one of the individuals we support put it: ‘you’re the best!’”