Willmott Dixon team improve Stevenage adventure playground  

Young people across the region are set to benefit after staff from the Hitchin office of contractor Willmott Dixon joined forces with environmental regeneration charity Groundwork Hertfordshire to improve outdoor space at the Canyon Adventure Playground in Stevenage.
The Canyon is the only adventure playground in Stevenage and provides opportunities for outdoor and indoor play for children and young people aged 8-16 during school holidays from Monday to Friday.
To help improve its outdoor facilities, forty-five senior managers from Willmott Dixon packed weeks of work into just five hours to build a play frame, install a grab-rope, lay turf and clear the slopes to give more activity options. The one day of action is part of the company’s commitment to work on community-related projects as much as possible.
Willmott Dixon deputy managing director at the Hitchin office on Park Street, Chris Tredget, said “We talked about what we could do that was local to our office. Groundwork Hertfordshire came to us with this suggestion and it was a unanimous vote from the board to do it. Completing weeks of work in just one day was a real challenge, yet everyone was so enthusiastic about it we couldn’t fail and it was also a great team-building event for us.”
The company also asked its suppliers and subcontractors to get involved. Skidmores of Hertford moved earth as well as laid topsoil to make way for the new turf they also donated. Speedy the hire company loaned wheelbarrows and pallet trucks.
Groundwork Hertfordshire is an environmental charity that works alongside local communities to improve places and lives. Groundwork involves residents, schools, businesses and other local organisations in practical projects that improve their quality of life and regenerate the local environment. If you have an idea for a project and you think that Groundwork could help, please email hertfordshire@groundwork.org.uk or ring 01707 260129.
Groundwork Hertfordshire’s executive director Steve Harvey said: "We are very grateful to Willmott Dixon for everything they have contributed to this project. The Canyon is a treasured facility for young people in Stevenage and these improvements will really help. It is great to see the private and charitable sectors working together towards a common goal and we hope this is the start of a long-term partnership between Groundwork and Willmott Dixon".