Eight people who form part of a local asset management team with the Environment Agency spent a day volunteering at a Suffolk CIC last month as part of their annual environmental volunteering day, thanks to the Brightspace Social Enterprise Network.
Their hosts OBee CIC, a social enterprise who are passionate about traditional skills and re connecting communities to the spirit of the land, are working to restore a 17th century barn, an ancient orchard, plus ponds and water courses in the heart of rural Suffolk .
Using traditional tools and methods the volunteers spent a warm early autumn day enjoying the sunshine, whilst learning more about working with green wood and contributing to the completion of the new roof which is being covered with wooden shingles made from local oak.
Jim Warner Asset System Management Team Leader at the Environment Agency said
”We all really enjoyed ourselves. It made a great change from the day job, providing exercise whilst contributing positively to the local environment.”   
The team chose Orchard Barn for their 2010 Environment Day as the project is a good fit with their own environmental objectives and several members of the team are keen to continue to help with the project and hope to return.
If your social enterprise can offer opportunities for corporate teams to volunteer for a day, please get in touch with Social Enterprise  @ Brightspace by emailing us at socialenterprise@brightspace.org