Swiss Re help us with a Pixie Woodland Trail and some rather large Bears!

The woodlands around our Primary school and children’s homes have had some very special Pixies and Bears move in – thanks to our friends from the Swiss Re Foundation.  Colleagues from the UK Swiss Re offices in Folkestone came together to donate their time this summer for a Community Day.  We were not lucky with the weather as it rained all day, but this did not stop our brave band of volunteers who carried on regardless, volunteering their time and energy to clearing forest paths, laying down paving slabs and bark, and building 4 large Pixie playhouses in the wood, which were then painted.

Earlier in the year, our friends at John Lewis Partnership donated two 9-ft high bears, which were from their window displays, and the children took part in a competition to design a colour scheme and name the bears.  The two winning designs were then faithfully painted by our Swiss Re Volunteers.  Staff from the Caldecott Foundation joined in on the day to contribute to the team effort.

“Despite the weather, and an attack of Wasps after we accidentally disturbed a nest, it was such a productive day!”, said Caroline Hallett, our Service Development Manager.  Further, she added, “Thank you so much to the hard-working teams at Swiss re, we have made a beautiful woodland walk, with Pixie cottages and giant 9ft high bears, I cannot wait to see what the children think of them when they come back in September.”

“We really appreciate the relationship that we have with the Swiss Re Foundation, both in financial support and the many hours of volunteer time given by their friendly staff team from the Folkestone office.  Thank you so much, we hope we see you again next year.”

 

Here are some of the photographs from the day!