Community charity Groundwork Leeds have been busy with corporate volunteers from Direct Line Group, ARUP, Skill Mill and Yorkshire Water as they have joined Canal and River Trust Staff, Leeds City Council Environmental Services Locality Team and Thwaite Mills Museum, to clear up the litter and debris that has collected in the area following on from Storm Eva in December 2015.
Storm Eva brought heavy rain which lead to severe flooding across the north of England and many areas left devastated by the after effects. The clean-up day, dubbed River C’Aire, saw local businesses come together to improve a patch of the river for local visitors. This clear out forms part of a bigger river stewardship programme with similar days planned throughout the coming weeks.
Tim Baxter Leeds YOS Reparation Coordinator from Skill Mill said: “It’s been a great opportunity for Skill Mill to learn new skills in building a dead hedge and its purpose within the island environment at Thwaite Mills.”
Milly Hennayake Civil Engineer at ARUP “Arup staff had a really enjoyable and rewarding afternoon in the open air meeting new friends and contributing to nature conservation.”
John Cummins Senior Communities Co-Ordinator at Groundwork said:
“It’s fantastic to see so many people here to help clean up the devastation left by flooding. Within the first couple of hours we managed to clear two truckloads and by the end of the day the clear team effort by everyone involved was clear to see.
“There are so many projects that people can get involved with and with more companies adding Corporate Social Responsibly into their business plans it really has such a positive impact on social and environmental wellbeing.”
Businesses taking measures to help reduce their carbon footprint or looking to become more involved in their communities by volunteering, are increasingly getting involved in Corporate Social Responsibility an area in which Groundwork specialise.
If you would like to get involved in similar projects you can visit www.groundwork.org.uk/newy or contact the Groundwork Leeds office on (0113) 238 0601.
