Pictured above: Victoria Portman and the DLA Piper team
with project manager Mick Williams at the Chelmsley Grove
site
A team of Birmingham lawyers have been getting their hands dirty
for Project Pond.
A wildlife garden and pond forming part of the "mini-Eden
Project" at Chelmsley Grove, Shard End, was created with the
help of legal and support staff at DLA Piper.
A 23-strong squad have been involved, with £1,500 raised
through dress-down days, cake sales, a quiz and client
donations.
Twelve were grafting on the day.
Organiser Victoria Portman, a solicitor in the Restructuring
Group, said: "The area was in a terrible state but the council was
persuaded to clean it up.
"Since then many local businesses and the community have got
together to create a wholly natural and environmentally friendly
green area which is to be used by local schools to grow their own
plants and vegetables.
"We were allocated part of the site to create a wildlife area
complete with a pond."
DLA Piper divided its efforts into three groups of volunteers -
the 'botanists' designed the area and sourced the plants; the
fundraisers found the money to pay for everything; and 'the doers'
did the planting and grafting.
Ms Portman said: "It has been a diverse challenge. But everyone
has played a part.
"It was pretty hard work on the day and we were all tired at the
end … but there was great satisfaction at the result.
"We hope children and locals will love and care for it."
Project Manager Mick Williams said: "We really appreciate the
contribution from DLA Piper.
"It is a wonderful gesture on their part."
Councillor Ian Ward, who represents the local area and whose
original idea it was to transform the wasteland, said: "I am
delighted at what has been achieved.
"It is a great example of where you can empower a community to
make a real difference to their area.
"Public and private sector have come together and I pay tribute
to the fund-raising efforts of DLA Piper."