Volunteers dig deep at Marwell Zoo

Four volunteers from a Hampshire housebuilder headed to Marwell Zoo to carry out maintenance on the animal pens.

Team members from leading housebuilder Barratt David Wilson Homes, got stuck in alongside Marwell’s Habitats team to pull up ragwort on the Valley Field.

Ragwort is a yellow wildflower that can be poisonous to horses and livestock. It is often pulled out by hand, and, over such a large area, it’s a case of all hands on deck for the team, who made light work of the task in hand and had it all cleared in no time.

Marwell Zoo, home to more than 140 exotic and endangered species, is owned by Marwell Wildlife, a global conservation charity which relies solely on income from the zoo and the fundraising efforts of its loyal supporters.

All Barratt employees can take two days a year on full pay to dedicate to volunteering time for worthy projects in the community. Last year, staff gave more than 800 hours over just 6 months, volunteering for local community projects from litter picks and decorating to garden clearances and marshalling.

Tamsin Nichols, Marketing Co-ordinator at Barratt Homes, said: “We’re really proud of everyone who gives up their time to help others. Colleagues have allocated their volunteering days to all sorts of activities, from painting drop-in centres for food banks and mental health charities to supporting community exercise classes for older people and much more.

“Volunteering is about putting yourself in others’ shoes, getting that sense of belonging, forging new relationships and gaining valuable skills. And of course, it’s always a great experience.”