Chemistry staff and students from Bristol University have been helping the local community in South Bristol by creating a landscaped garden for Stockwood Community Centre.
Over 25 staff and students swapped their normal roles within the University’s School of Chemistry to volunteer their time for the weekend challenge, in which they helped transform an area of wasteland into a new garden retreat.
The finished garden is complete with nature area, bark paths, benches, a lawn and raised flower beds with a range of plants.
Natalie Stear, Bristol University postgraduate student and leader of the team, said: “We were very excited about the challenge to create a garden at Stockwood Community Centre as it presented an opportunity not only to give something back to our local community, but also for us to get out of the lab for a couple of days, get our creative juices flowing and pick up some useful skills along the way.”
To help fund the project, the team organised a soul, funk and latin gig hosted by Mango Factory and the Detectives of Perspective and also a cake sale in the School of Chemistry. The volunteers’ efforts were further supported by Vcashpoint, Astra Zeneca, the University’s Alumni Foundation, its Centre for Public Engagement and Garden and Grounds Services.
The challenge was organised by the Graduate Chemistry Association in association with Business in the Community and took place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 July 2007 at Stockwood Community Centre, Stockwood Lane, Bristol.