Just as the hottest and driest summer on record came to end, and the autumnal freshness began to arise, a group of 10 staff from Lockheed Martin volunteered their time to help The Friends of Nore Barn Woods with valuable conservation work in the overgrown woodland areas on the edge of Emsworth.
Nore Barn Woods is an attractive area of public open space in Emsworth, adjacent to the shore of Chichester Harbour. Formed in 2002, The Friends of Nore Barn Woods is a group of volunteers who aim to make the area more pleasant for the public.
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Lockheed Martin UK – Rotary and Mission Systems regularly took part in several volunteering activities and were hugely supportive of local organisations in and around the Havant area.
The purpose of the day was to cut back and clear areas of the wood allowing the natural growth of plants and creating habitats for wildlife. The area was very dense and overgrown, and the team from Lockheed Martin made light work of cutting back and clearing some large spaces and a pathway that will be instrumental in creating the growth of wild flowers and make the woods more pleasant for the general public.
Kate Anders from Lockheed Martin said: “We love giving back to the community – and we love that we can do so on our day off. It’s nice to get together as a team as well, especially where many of us are now working from home.”
Roy Ewing from The Friends of Nore Barn Woods was grateful for Lockheed Martin’s support and had this to say: “They feel motivated enough to come as a group and it’s good to see the company’s behind them – and giving them the time off to do the work! They did an amazing job in such a short space of time!”
Israk Ali from Lockheed Martin said: “I volunteered with the company a few times before and was really excited to see the before and after of our work today. I was also keen to meet those who work in Community First and those who look after the woods.”
Jax Willey from Lockheed Martin shared what she had enjoyed about the day: “Teamwork; laughter; and logging stuff around the air is my sweet spot. Giving something back to the community is why I’m doing this and I absolutely feel my company represents this well.”
Rachel Garvey from Lockheed Martin said: “It’s good team building and nice to be with your colleagues out in the fresh air – and it’s all good stuff for the local community.”
Debbie Grace from Community First stated the importance and value of group work and corporate volunteering: “Often corporate groups are very willing to help out in the local community – and this is a great partnership between them and groups we’ve got on the ground. So for them to work with their local environmental group and do some clearing I think is perfect.”
