Lafarge provide ‘second home’ for Wildlife Trust

LAFARGE Cement's Cauldon Works in the Staffordshire Moorlands has extended its partnership with Staffordshire Wildlife Trust by inviting the organization ‘into its home’.

Thanks to Lafarge offering rent-free space in one of its office buildings on site, the Trust now has a second home to use as a base for outreach work in the community.

As a result, youth projects officer Martin Evans and community horticulture officer Zanetta Jackson will be able to extend their work by basing themselves at the works’ Earles Building, where a large office space has been provided for them.

Martin Evans commented: ‘This new office at Lafarge is a real benefit to our work in the Moorlands. Previously we were based outside the district and spent a large amount of wasted time travelling to and from the area. Being sited in the heart of the Moorlands, we can now spend more time working to benefit local wildlife, habitats and the people that live here, as well as reducing our vehicle mileage.

‘The new base also strengthens our partnership with Lafarge, allowing a higher degree of co-operative working, and promoting local biodiversity improvement schemes.’

Lafarge’s environmental co-ordinator, Alison Shenton, added: ‘We have been a corporate supporter of the Trust for many years. Not only that, but we have also worked with them on several practical projects, gaining the benefit of their expertise to expand our drive for biodiversity. One example was the installation of a bird hide near the lake at a former shale quarry, which is now a haven for all sorts of wildlife.

‘We were delighted to broaden our support with this ‘in kind’ donation – offering Trust staff the use of a spare office here on site. They are already finding this outreach base useful, helping with their organization of many environmental events for the young people in the Moorlands.’