GREEN-FINGERED staff in Thornbury have helped local groups rejuvenate gardens in the town.


Thornbury in Bloom contacted lens manufacturer Essilor earlier this year to encourage them to engage with environmental and gardening initiatives in the town.


Thirteen Essilor employees have been involved in tidying up the gardens at Turnberrie’s Community Centre, in Bath Road, since May.


Chairman of Thornbury in Bloom and town mayor, Guy Rawlinson, said: “Following a presentation given by Pete Dodd, head of equality for Essilor at the Volunteer Centre in March, I approached Pete to see if Essilor could help with any projects associated with Thornbury in Bloom.


“It has been a pleasure to work with Pete Dodd and all the groups that are now benefitting from the support given by the Essilor team.”


Mr Dodd said the team was pleased and humbled by their experience at Turnberries’ Community Centre.


“There was such a great bunch of people to be around and I hope we can continue the relationship with Tina and all the guys there,” he said.


"It really has been a pleasure’ for all the Essilor team involved including Mike Kirkley, Essilor MD who has sponsored the activities.


"We are so pleased to have made an impact on people lives and if we can support any positive impact we will."


Essilor staff also helped with conservation management work at Filnore Woods over the past three months, which is maintained by a group of 60 volunteers called The Friends of Filnore Woods.


Chairman Jerry Dicker said: “Currently we have a team of four guys from Essilor who come two at a time to help out about once a week. They have mostly been scything grass and clearing paths.

"They work with abandon and are younger than most of the volunteers and so have had a great impact.


“The aims of the Friends are threefold - to provide a variety of habitats for plants and animals - mammals and birds and invertebrates, to provide a wild place for people to come into contact with the natural world and to provide an educational resource.”


Cllr Rawlinson added: "From my point of view liaising with these groups- Kim Webb at the Volunteer Centre, Tina at Turnberries, Jerry at Filnore Woods and of course Pete Dodd has been a chance to make one of the three aspects of Britain in Bloom, community participation, come to life."