A group of volunteers from Zurich Cares in Swindon improved the wildlife area at the Greatwood charity based just outside Marlborough recently.

Greatwood provides programmes specifically aimed at children and young people with special educational needs using its rescued racehorses and small animals. The charity also runs the “Down to Earth” programme for young people allowing them to take part in horticulture and environmental projects ranging from pond dipping, wildflower surveys to developing their own garden plots and growing flowers and vegetables.

Greatwood wanted to encourage more birds into the newly planted orchard and meadow area and therefore the funding from CSV Action Earth enabled the charity to achieve this aim.

Rebecca Howell from Zurich and Laura Jones from Greatwood co-ordinated the project and were both delighted by the achievements of the volunteers from Zurich Cares. They said “The Down to Earth project was an amazing success and we now have a bird friendly area for our visiting children. Helping out on an environmental project is a good way to learn new skills and at the same time do something really worthwhile. We all had a great day and are thrilled by the response by the volunteers. Thank you to everyone who took part.”