The UK aggregate giant is committing £20,000 (€26,000) each year for the next five years and will directly provide the money and volunteer hours needed to care for and protect the very special landscape of Britain’s first National Park. Employees from Tarmac will also help the new Volunteer Projects Assistant with projects across the National Park on one day each month for the duration of the partnership.
Sarah Fowler, chief executive of the Peak District National Park, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be working alongside Tarmac to help look after this wonderful place. It’s a great example of a business determined to invest back into its local communities.
“This year marks the 65th anniversary of the original UK National Park and this support, together with the fantastic efforts of all our volunteers, helps us to protect it for future generations to enjoy.’’
Andy Corrigan, director of communications and corporate affairs at Tarmac, added: “We’re excited to be entering a partnership with our close neighbour with whom we’ve had a long relationship. The Partnership enables us to contribute to maintaining and protecting this precious natural asset and learn from the Park’s work to support our own volunteering targets.”
To launch this unique and pioneering partnership, employees from Tarmac’s Tunstead Quarry, near Buxton, helped repair a section of dry-stone wall near the North Lees campsite at Stanage on Friday June 10.
Volunteers Project Assistant Nick Baker said: “This [the dry-stone wall repair project] is a great example of the value of our new partnership with Tarmac. Dry-stone walls are a big part of the Peak District landscape and it is important that we keep them in good repair. But it is very time-consuming process and it would be difficult and expensive to complete the work without volunteer help.’’
Volunteering is an important part of Tarmac's strategy to have a positive impact on the communities in which it works. It has set a target of delivering 50,000 volunteer hours per year by 2020 and the company will provide volunteering opportunities for employees in the Peak District National Park, supporting the internationally-recognised work of the Peak Park Conservation Volunteers (PPCV).
For more information on how to get involved in the PPCV programme, or other volunteer opportunities in the Peak District National Park, visit <%$Linker: