Tarmac renews volunteering partnership with Peak District National Park after five years of success

Staff at Tarmac’s Tunstead plant have contributed thousands of hours to the park’s upkeep over the past five years, and the relationship is now set to continue until at least 2026.

The agreement sees employees join the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers (PPCV) group for one day every month, and the company sponsoring a park worker dedicated to engaging more people in conservation efforts.

Tarmac director Pete Butterworth said: “We are delighted to be able to continue our partnership with the Peak District National Park Authority. The benefits of outdoor activity for physical and mental wellbeing have never been more in focus, following a year in which we all had our lives restricted by the pandemic.

“By sponsoring the engagement role, we enable many people to get involved in practical projects which make a significant contribution to the maintenance and improvement of this beautiful area. Personally, I have been delighted to get together with colleagues away from work and demonstrate how well our teams work together in a different environment.”

The company’s sponsorship is estimated to have supported around 100,000 hours of volunteering since 2016, and its employees have been directly involved in work such as footpath repairs, replacing a bridge on the Pennine Way, the management of ancient hay meadows, replacing benches and improvements to a school wildlife garden.

On the first volunteering day since Covid restrictions were eased, Pete and colleagues joined park chief executive Sarah Fowler to work on drystone walling at the volunteer residential centre at Brunts Barn.

Sarah said: “To have secured what will ultimately be a decade of support from Tarmac is a wonderful addition to our 70th anniversary celebrations. As we take our first steps out of the pandemic, the outdoors and engagement with nature will be key to everyone’s green recovery and our partnership with Tarmac is at the heart of offering these opportunities.

“Whether it be local volunteers or those from Tarmac’s operations in and around the Peak District, the PPCV programme has built a respected reputation for providing a chance to give back to our national park. We look forward to welcoming many more people to a hands-on taste of our wonderful Peak District.”

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