Friday, June 11, 2010
Staff at the West Coast Group of
companies are used to working on projects that benefit the
environment - it's just they usually they involve renewable energy
and vegetation maintenance rather than gardening gloves. The
Mold-based renewable energy developer, West Coast Energy has
introduced an onsite vegetable patch, to be tended by a team of
staff volunteers. In addition, it has donated heavy-duty work
clothing from one of its subsidiaries, West Coast Network Services,
to Oxfam.
The idea for a vegetable patch was
put forward by Colin Roulston, an employee, via the staff
suggestion scheme. The patch comprises two large raised planters,
built over the winter, and filled in with topsoil kindly donated by
Chester-based Dandy's Topsoil. A staff team of seven
volunteer gardeners has been drafted in to tend the beds: ranging
from complete novices to keen growers. Those directly involved will
have first refusal on the produce, with all excess offered to the
staff, for a contribution to local charities.
The volunteer team initially plans
to grow potatoes, onions, garlic, beans, carrots, parsnips, salad
crops and herbs. The first onion and garlic sets have been planted
already, as well as the potatoes.
West Coast Network Services', which
has a team of field-based staff involved in arboricultural
engineering activities, donated 6 bags of work clothing to the Mold
Oxfam shop. The logos on the clothes had been made obsolete by a
recent rebrand. The workwear stands a good chance of being sent for
use in Africa.
Paula Jewson, Finance Director,
West Coast Group, comments: "As a company we feel that it is
important to see the bigger picture. The workwear we donated was of
a professional quality and highly durable. It could be used for a
number of applications in Africa, worn by construction workers or
engineers: much better than being thrown into a skip.
"The vegetable patch is proving an
excellent communal teambuilding project for our employees. It's
great to see the patch taking shape and the produce start to come
through. I am delighted at the level of interest and enthusiasm
shown for the vegetable patch, at this rate the local farmer's
market and country fairs had better watch out!"
