Donation of planters by L&Q and Equans will help students bloom
Colleagues from L&Q and partner Equans UK & Ireland have transformed an unloved outside area for green-fingered school pupils in Harrow.
Volunteers sitting on completed wooden planter
Staff at Heartwood House in Harrow asked Equans UK & Ireland if it could install six large planters to turn an asphalted area into a space where students could grow their own vegetables and herbs and create a wildflower area. The school teaches students who have previously faced challenges while attending conventional education settings.
Volunteers building wooden planters
As parts of Equans UK & Ireland’s social value commitments, volunteers teamed up over two days to build, line and fill the six large planters with gravel and 15 tons of soil, including Lead Administrator Bethan Rich, Head of Intermediate Rent Andrea Palmer and Sean McCarthy from L&Q, Richard Sanz, Mark Bush and Karen Field from Equans and Kathryn Ridyard and Greg Morgan from sub-contractor Bouygues.
A chop saw was donated by Jewson Partnership Solutions and all other materials were supplied by Travis Perkins.
Volunteers lining wooden planter with black sheeting for planting
Equans UK & Ireland has been delivering new roofing, kitchens, bathrooms, window replacements and energy efficiency works across West London. It is one of ten partners working on L&Q’s Major Works Investment Programme (MWIP). This is seeing the leading housing association invest around £3bn over 15 years to improve the safety, comfort, and environmental performance of residents’ homes.
Karen Field, Social Value Officer for Equans UK & Ireland, said:
“A huge thank you to everyone. This would not have been possible without your help.”
Helena Chraplywyj, Heartwood House teacher, said:
“We just want to say a huge thank you to the volunteers for your efforts, time and generosity. The planters look amazing in the garden and will have such a positive impact on our school community over the coming weeks, months and years.”
Mark Newstead, Director of Major Programmes at L&Q, said:
“Equans have undertaken some amazing work on upgrading L&Q’s homes around the Harrow area and have been key in helping us provide decent and warm homes for residents. This has included upgrading hundreds of kitchens and bathrooms and replacing windows and doors.
“But our drive to invest in our homes is not just about bricks and mortar but also involves social value commitments to improve the lives of our residents and the communities which we serve. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to make this a reality. These planters will help the students, who have found studying in traditional school settings a challenge, learn about nature, the environment and the mental and the physical health benefits gardening can bring.”