Employees from Romax Technology volunteered at St Ann’s Allotments in July as part of the company’s 20 year celebrations. Nine employees were given the task of clearing and improving access to a large plot that will is being developed into a wildlife and wildflower garden. The group also restoredan old well thought to date back at least 100 years. Employees will be taking part in a number of other volunteering initiatives in and around Nottingham throughout the year as part of their 20 year anniversary celebrations.
The Romax volunteers created pathways to allow a safe access throughout the plot and spent 5 hours digging deeper and deeper down the well despite the temperature exceeding 30 C, eventually getting down to a depth of 5 feet to reveal a perfectly intact circular well made of brick and clay. They also cleared a large overgrown site which will be the designated wild flower garden. The tasks completed by the team were a far cry from the engineering projects and office work the group are used to carrying out on a daily basis, but as an established Nottinghamshire based company, Chief Executive, Dr. Poon, felt that local business volunteering would really give something back to the community.
“Our anniversary is a major achievement in business, particularly in today’s economic climate. As part of our celebrations we wanted an opportunity to put something back into the very community where we have built up our business during the last twenty years,” explained Dr Poon. “St Ann’s Allotments is a great asset to our community and we hope our assistance has helped them continue their good work.”
Robert Zviko, the Partnership Programme Officer at STAA Ltd, said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Despite the heat the group really enjoyed the opportunity to be involved in this exciting heritage and conservation project as well as participate in an enjoyable team building exercise that brought staff close together and helped improved the access to this site that will eventually become a beautiful wildlife and wild flower garden.”
The St Ann’s Allotments is the oldest and largest area of Victorian detached town gardens in the world and has recently been listed with a Grade 2* by English Heritage. The site covers 75 acres and sits in the heart of the one of the most deprived inner-city communities in the country. STAA Ltd was formed in 1998 by a group of allotment holders to protect and improve these historic gardens of St Ann’s. More information can be found at http://www.staa-allotments.org.uk/
For some of the group, this was their first experience of volunteering and the whole team felt it was very rewarding and enjoyable. The group is very much looking forward to the next initiative and opportunities to volunteer in the future.