Volunteers plant trees at Balham school (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Volunteers plant trees at Balham school

9:50am Saturday 21st April 2012 in News

A Balham school has planted more than 300 shrubs to help improve the environment.

Volunteers and gardening experts joined forces at Chestnut Grove School earlier this month to plant a 300 beech hedge as part of the Barclays Bank employees volunteering scheme.

Professional gardener Kieran O’Brien, from Landscape Initiatives, was on hand to supervise the planting, mulching and the installation of a micro-irrigation system, which is exempt from the hose pipe ban, to feed the plants and conserve water.

The shrubs were planted over two days along the fenceline in Chestnut Grove and Hearnville Road.

As they grow they will greatly improve the look and feel of the site for students and neighbours, as well as providing some privacy and protection and a new habitat for wildlife and birds.

Barclays had provided two teams of mortgage advisers and other staff to carry out th eproject.

Mortgage adviser Anesh Tailor said: "It’s good for people to come together, regardless of who you are, to help in whatever way you can."