A team of volunteers from Perrys Chartered Accountants has helped to dig a new pond for community charity, Communigrow.
Communigrow teaches people the benefits of growing local, fresh and affordable produce in an organic and sustainable way. The charity also organises regular workshops and educational sessions to help schools, groups and volunteers to gain practical experience of growing produce and supporting the environment.
Steve Hale, Victoria Pearson, Katherine Cheung, Ioannis Sklavenitis, Jamie Barden and Emma Palmer spent a day at the charity’s site in East Malling to help remove soil and dig the foundations for the pond, which will be part of Communigrow’s new sensory garden. Once completed, the pond will be used as a sensory area, and to teach children about the importance of water for sustaining natural habitats.
Emma Palmer, partner at Perrys in Tunbridge Wells, said:
“Supporting charities and community projects is something we’ve been doing for many years. We’re keen to ensure our staff are involved as much as possible, so we asked them to vote for a charity they’d like to help. There were quite a few on the list, but mental health came top, so we looked at local charities that would incorporate this. We were lucky enough to find Communigrow. The charity not only has community sessions to help those who feel isolated, but also combines the other things we are keen to support, like foodbanks and children’s wellbeing.
“As the charity is very small and located near to our West Malling and Wrotham offices, we feel we can make a big difference to the work they do. It also connects perfectly with our own company ethos of supporting wellbeing and sustainable practices.”
Staff from Perrys will be helping Communigrow create its sensory garden project, which will eventually include a bereavement area for those who have lost loved ones. Perrys hopes to add a bench and plaque in memory of former employee Lesley Sexton. Lesley had worked for Perrys in Wrotham her working life and sadly passed away from cancer this year.