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!"
