Green-fingered crew

A derelict plot at seeAbility, a charity for the blind, has been transformed into a horticultural delight thanks to a joint effort between Contract Journal and MJ Gleeson.

Thirty staff from all departments of CJ donned gloves and steel-toe-capped boots to work at the Leatherhead-based charity, putting in one day each over the three-day team building project.

Gleeson became involved after CJ staff realised the Ground Force-style challenge was too great for unskilled volunteers alone.

Tasks included digging foundations for walls, breaking up concrete, landscaping a bank, collecting compost and soil from other areas of the site, planting palms in large concrete planters and then painting the planters.

As well as supplying the necessary supervision, Gleeson provided a project manager, materials and safety equipment plus a three-man team from Seabrook Construction to carry out skilled work. GL Plant supplied the plant, and additional tools and boots were donated by Hire Station.

Gleeson project manager Steve Parker says: "The CJ teams were very enthusiastic, friendly, hardworking and a pleasure to work with. Everything we asked them to do was done quickly and without complaint, and the end result was testimony to their hard work. Everybody enjoyed themselves, and each individual got something special out of it - it was a pleasure to see even the editor getting his hands dirty!

"On a personal level, I have a cousin who is partially sighted, and who has received a lot of support and help from charitable organisations such as seeAbility. This project was a good opportunity to give something back."

CJ editor Rob Willock comments: "For a bunch of hacks and salespeople whose greatest occupational exertions are tapping their fingers on a keyboard, the CJ team did very well. But much of the credit should go to Gleeson, who kept us safe and focused, plus our 'suppliers' GL Plant and Hire Station. It is gratifying to know that our team building day resulted in something that can be enjoyed by the seeAbility residents."

For over 200 years, seeAbility, formerly the Royal School for the Blind, has worked with people who are blind or partially sighted and have additional disabilities. It provides holistic care that enables people to take control of their lives, including residential accommodation.

The transformed area is at the charity's Reeves Court site in Leatherhead and backs on to the business enterprise workshop at the Millennium Centre. It will enable residents and others benefiting from seeAbility's services to grow plants and vegetables.

Julia Gallagher, seeAbility's volunteer co-ordinator, says: "Without volunteers giving up their time and helping in this way it would be much more difficult or generally impossible for a project such as this to get started. All the volunteers really seemed to get a lot out of the day they spent here. Not only did they have fun but it gave them a good opportunity to see the facilities we have here and to meet the people they were building the garden for."

Bob Barrett, manager of the Millennium Centre, adds: "Horticulture gives the opportunity for visually impaired people with additional disabilities to work in a quiet environment that is stimulating to the senses of touch and smell. The work undertaken by Contract Journal and Gleeson will enable us to provide a very important activity. We are all truly grateful for their support. The area will bring the service users a sense of achievement and add to the variety of business enterprise activities they can take part in at the centre."

Gleeson's group marketing director John Macartney adds: "We thought the project would strengthen and improve our already good relations with CJ. And being voted the top construction company to work for in the recent Sunday Times best 100 companies, we hoped CJ would enjoy working with us."