Creating an environment fit for heroes
Last year Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Derbyshire lent a helping hand to their longest-standing customer, War Memorial Village Derby.
To commemorate 70 years since construction began in 1949, the Village invested £1.1m in renovating the memorial square as well as constructing nine brand new bungalows for ex-military personnel.
In addition to these refurbishments, the charity has also hosted a series of celebratory events that attracted a whole host of people from across the United Kingdom, including a visit from HRH Princess Anne.
The celebrations culminated with the ‘Salute to the Village’ event on the 24th August which provided entertainment for the public with military displays, bands, live entertainment, children’s entertainment and a Commemorative Battle of Britain flyover.
Adam Passfield, Director of Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Derbyshire, and his team of contractors spent several months preparing the grounds ahead of the celebrations.
To ensure the grounds looked the best they could be, the team spent considerable time maintaining hedge rows and frontages in addition to cutting the grass to the highest specification. There were two sites in particular that were so overgrown with vegetation and shrubbery that they needed to be totally replanted. This involved levelling the areas surrounding memorial square and seeding the new memorial gardens in preparation for the 6000 native poppies that will be ready to bloom next spring.
Through their expert planting, the team also showcased the foundation stone laid by HRH Queen Elizabeth in 1949, displaying the historical stone for all to admire.
John Jennings, Vice-Chairman of the Village, said: “We’re always thrilled with the work Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Derbyshire do for us, and the last couple of months have been no exception. The public are always commenting on how great the grounds look and how diligently they are looked after, but the grounds looked especially wonderful for this historic event. I’m very proud that War Memorial Village Derby is such a respected village, and the level of professionalism and quality of work that Adam and his team bring to every job truly reflects the high standard and respect we want to provide for our ex-forces personnel.”
Adam Passfield added: “I’m very proud to have lent a hand to one of Countrywide Grounds Maintenance Derbyshire’s longest-standing customers and to have contributed to such a historic event. The Village is such an important part of Derby and it’s been fantastic to see the local community come together to make the day a success. We’re delighted to have used our grounds maintenance expertise to create an environment fit for heroes.”
