INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
Wednesday 6 June saw 73 Barclays Bank staff swap their offices and suits for a day in jeans and T-shirts and join Warwickshire Wildlife Trust at Brandon Marsh Nature Reserve. Wielding paintbrushes, trowels, spades and hammers in a long-planned programme designed to improve the Trust’s visitors’ experiences of various areas around the Visitor Centre.

In the course of a packed day, a team of painters brought to life a superb wildlife mural designed by Bob Cheshire covering a concrete-block wall in the car park, the gardeners planted dozens of wild-flowers in the Sensory Garden, a landscaping team revamped the courtyard with new planters and picnic benches and a fourth team learned about willow-weaving when they revamped the Mouse Maze, as well as increasing it’s usefulness for children’s activities by making it more safe.

The Barclays team were able to see an immediate return on their investment of time and effort in creating the mural and installing the new courtyard furniture, and whilst the impact of the planting programme, willow-weaving and safety measures is less immediate, those projects are ultimately going to provide interest and pleasure for our visitors for years to come.

Ian Jelley, Reserves Volunteering Officer says, “This is a fantastic example of how corporate companies can really make a difference to a charity like Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.  Barclays supplied the man power and financial support that we just wouldn’t have on a normal day and the results are clear for all to see.  The improvements will make a big difference to the education areas at the Trust and make the visitor centre more welcoming to young children and families who come here to learn more about wildlife and explore our fabulous nature reserve”.

Warwickshire Wildlife Trust is the leading local charity for wildlife and the environment.  The Trust currently cares for over 55 nature reserves throughout Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull , and has a wide range of conservation activities taking place throughout the year.  For further details or to get a copy of our leaflet “Wild Events and Activities” please contact the Trust on 024 7630 8999, drop into the Trust’s Visitor Centres at Brandon Marsh Nature Centre and Parkridge Centre in Brueton Park , Solihull , pick up a leaflet in your local library or visit our website on www.warwickshire-wildlife-trust.org.uk

ENDS

Press Contact:             Ian Jelley         024 7630 8998  

  Last updated 28 October, 2008