It is always a pleasure to welcome friends back to our Gateway Community Garden in Reigate, so we were delighted to have the wonderful team from Surrey County Council, Children, Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture join us for another action-packed volunteering day.
There was of course, plenty to get stuck into, building on the exciting work around our new polytunnels and of course the hard-working team arrived ready for anything and brought their fantastic energy, enthusiasm and can-do attitude to the garden. Furniture was moved, woodchip was laid and our new Digital Hub and Educational Gardening Polytunnels were finished and ready for learning. The team also continued the essential groundwork for our new Wellbeing Polytunnel, which will be constructed this month!
Our talented gardeners got busy transforming and tending the garden, creating beautiful spaces and most importantly, being available to connect with the people who use and enjoy our garden. These volunteering days are about so much more than getting jobs done. They are about building relationships, creating friendships, sharing skills and having fun together, and this team certainly did all of that!
Milly O’Ryan, Assistant Manager, SCT Gateway Community Garden, said:
The dedicated team supporting children, young people, families and learners across Surrey have a real appreciation for the work we do as a charity and the positive difference it makes to the lives of the people we support. Having volunteers who are up for a challenge or two, allows the staff to focus on supporting our community and it really does make the world of difference to us. It was lovely to see the team back in the garden, a joyful day for everyone. We are so grateful for all their hard work and support. Thank you so much for taking time out and for being you!
Jane Anderson, Senior Panel Administrator, Children, SCC Families, Lifelong Learning and Culture, said:
When I asked the team if they wanted to volunteer at the Gateway Garden again this year, the answer was a resounding YES! We all love the positive and uplifting spirit that surrounds us the moment we arrive with the warmest of welcomes from Milly and her crew. We worked till we dropped and didn’t stop laughing the whole time. Thank you so much for allowing us to be part of this magical place.
A huge thank you to the whole team for getting stuck in, getting their hands dirty and helping us move the garden forward. We loved having you with us and look forward to welcoming you back again soon.
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What a day…what an achievement! Congratulations to everyone at our Gateway Community Garden!
The team at Gateway Community Garden in Reigate were delighted to welcome teams from Toyota (GB) for two days of hands-on volunteering.
Supporting local communities through impactful, long-term collaboration with corporate partnerships.
"I would absolutely recommend making use of volunteering leave. It’s a valuable opportunity to step away from routine work pressures, connect with the wider community, and do something genuinely meaningful."
