Five More Volunteering Days with NFU Mutual
We recently hosted another five fantastic NFU Mutual Volunteering Days, welcoming teams from Operational Risk & Reliance, Head Office Underwriting and Pricing, and the IT division, all joining us through our ongoing partnership with the company to make a real and lasting impact across our community green spaces.
These volunteering days took place across both our Garden of Arden and the gardens we care for at Stratford‑upon‑Avon Hospital, giving teams the chance to support and enhance two of our most valued sites.
Garden of Arden
Our NFU Mutual volunteers achieved an incredible amount at the Garden of Arden, helping us nurture and develop this growing nature space in ways that will benefit wildlife and our community groups for the upcoming seasons.
They collected Yellow Rattle seed from our wildflower meadow at the perfect stage, just as the pods began to brown and rattle. This seed is vital for our meadow restoration because Yellow Rattle naturally suppresses coarse grasses, allowing a richer diversity of wildflowers to flourish.
Teams also painted fences, sheds and wooden raised beds, refreshing the site and planting up the beds and borders in the Yellow Garden to bring colour, structure and seasonal interest.
They built more bird boxes to install along the fences across the site, continuing the brilliant work started last year. Every box made previously has been successfully inhabited by Blue Tits, so adding more will further support small birds and boost nesting opportunities across the garden.
Volunteers helped progress the pond area, tackling weeding, strimming and preparing the butterfly bank for planting. This work will allow us to introduce pollinator‑friendly plants and wildflowers designed to attract specific butterfly species native to Warwickshire, strengthening the site’s ecological value.
They also mowed pathways through the meadow for our Nordic Walking exercise project with people living with Parkinson’s disease. These clear, safe routes will help to support balance, mobility and confidence, helping participants benefit from the therapeutic movement and rhythm of Nordic walking.
They also installed positioned shade sails around the community building, creating much‑needed shaded areas that will offer comfort and protection throughout the summer months.
Finally, teams carried out biodiversity audits, identifying and recording the species found across the site. This monitoring is essential for understanding how our habitats are developing, guiding future conservation work and ensuring we continue to create spaces where wildlife can thrive.
Stratford‑upon‑Avon Hospital Gardens
At Stratford‑upon‑Avon Hospital, our NFU Mutual volunteers helped us prepare the garden spaces for a special open day, making sure everything was ready to showcase these therapeutic areas to staff, patients and the wider community.
They refreshed the garden furniture, painting chairs, tables and raised beds in a rich Forest Oak colour that brought warmth and cohesion back into the spaces. Volunteers also cut back hedges along the pathways to improve accessibility, ensuring that everyone, including patients using mobility aids, could move safely and comfortably through the gardens.
All garden waste was shredded and taken to our off‑site composter, where it will break down and eventually be used at the Garden of Arden, supporting our Zero Waste policy and commitment to sustainability. The teams also watered all of the gardens and raised beds using water collected from our heavy‑duty water butts, making full use of harvested rainwater.
They refreshed the living walls and raised bed planters with seasonal plants to bring summer colour, and carefully arranged the Courtyard Garden, a space that offers both full sun and deep shade and a sense of calm seclusion from the rest of the hospital grounds.
As we worked, many members of staff came out to have their lunch and enjoy a break outdoors, sharing heartfelt thanks and positive feedback. Their reactions were a powerful reminder of how important these green spaces are for wellbeing and how much the volunteers’ efforts are appreciated by those who use the gardens every day.
We extend our sincere appreciation to Sarah Whitehouse, Laura Merriman, Dave Endsor and Aimee Evans for coordinating their teams so seamlessly, and to every volunteer whose energy, skill and commitment have left a genuinely impressive mark on both community sites.
