A Wiltshire fireworks company has described supporting a canal restoration campaign as “a wonderful experience”.
Pains Fireworks, based at Whiteparish near Salisbury, spent a day volunteering on the Wilts & Berks Canal.
Sales, operations and factory colleagues helped to create a new wildlife habitat alongside the restored stretch of the waterway between Melksham and Chippenham.
The team of 14 staff helped with coppicing at Naish Hill, near Lacock.
The visit was arranged by the Melksham, Chippenham & Calne branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.
Branch wildlife officer Howard Yardy praised everyone for their work.
He said: “It was great to welcome so many volunteers, enabling us to tackle some challenging tasks which would otherwise have taken a lot longer without the extra help.
“They spent several hours on an area of woodland between the canal and the River Avon, clearing a tangled mass of branches to create a ‘dead hedge’ to protect wildflowers and saplings from grazing deer.
“We hope it encourages other companies to get involved too. We’ve had groups helping with tree planting, hedgelaying, and installing birdboxes and batboxes.
“It’s a great opportunity for team-building and learning new skills, as well as supporting local wildlife.”
Pains Fireworks operations manager Tom Barrett said: “Every year we like to arrange a day of volunteering to connect with others and give back to the local community.
“We’re not just work colleagues, we consider ourselves as friends, so it’s heartwarming to make a positive impact together.
“It was a chilly day but we soon worked up a sweat, and everyone was grateful for the tea and cake afterwards!
“It was a wonderful experience – we’d love to do it again.”
For further information on corporate workparties on the canal, email howard.yardy@wbct.org.uk
The aim of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust is to restore the waterway from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Melksham to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon, connecting Chippenham, Calne, Royal Wootton Bassett and Swindon.
Visit www.wbct.org.uk
Pains Fireworks is the largest professional firework company in the UK, performing more than 500 displays worldwide each year.
Recent highlights have included a pre-match flame display at the Etihad Stadium for Manchester City versus Read Madrid in the Champions Leage, and a rooftop display for Birmingham City versus Newcastle United in the FA Cup.
Visit www.painsfireworks.com
