A new welcome space for visitors to a community food-growing project has been created by more than 100 employees from Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon’s operations department.
The two-week project, the second in collaboration with Avon Wildlife Trust, involved the Burges Salmon volunteer workforce clearing and replacing old garden beds, building a new welcome garden and creating a new indoor canvas classroom area for visiting school groups.
The volunteers also took part in daily activities aimed at developing an awareness of wellbeing through mindfulness, physical activity, time for reflection and a greater connection to nature.
The Feed Bristol site at Frenchay Park, Stapleton, demonstrates the value of nature through ecological land management and wildlife gardening to enhance biodiversity, with flourishing wildflower displays and a wildlife garden inspiring visitors to make positive changes for nature in their own lives.
The site is also a haven for a huge array of wildlife, including newts, hedgehogs and slowworms as well as the hundreds of wildflowers which we grow.
Avon Wildlife Trust people and wildlife programme manager Julie Doherty said the Burges Salmon team had worked incredibly hard and brought amazing energy to the Feed Bristol site.
“In the fortnight they’ve been with us they’ve created a new demonstration garden that will show visitors to Feed Bristol just what can be achieved in back gardens, allotments and neighbourhood spaces – and inspire them to create their own wildlife habitats,” she said.
“The work the team has done in clearing the ground and starting the building of a new, welcoming entrance space will transform the way people arrive here and feel part of this special place.
“Together with individuals, businesses and organisations across Bristol, we’re building a nature-rich city to support wildlife into the future and create wild spaces for people to enjoy.”
“As well as making a valuable contribution to supporting urban wildlife, the team has experienced the wellbeing benefits of being out in nature, working together on practical tasks, and seeing the wonderful diversity of wildlife flourishing in the heart of the city.
“We’re delighted to work with Burges Salmon again and hope other businesses are inspired to partner with us on projects like this in the months ahead.”
Burges Salmon chief operating officer Emma Dowden, who led the team of volunteers for this on the project, said: “Volunteering forms an important part of our wider corporate and social responsibility programme.
“Everyone at the firm is encouraged to get involved with a local volunteering project of their choice, and our people are offered paid annual leave for days spent volunteering. In addition to this, we also undertake regular teambuilding volunteering exercises as part of our wider learning and development programme.
“We hope that this volunteering project for Avon Wildlife Trust will further strengthen our relationship with it as one of our community relationship partners, and also hope that our team input at the Feed Bristol site encourages attendance and engagement with this wonderful community initiative.”
The teams from Burges Salmon and Avon Wildlife Trust and their families celebrated the success of the two-week project with a barbeque at the site on Saturday
Members of the public are welcome to visit the site between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday and on the first Saturday of the month for special open days.
Pictured: Some of the Burges Salmon volunteer team at the Feed Bristol site
