Ford employees recently volunteered their time to team up with genU participants and staff to reinvigorate the Thornbury Community Garden.

The sun was shining on Wednesday 15 October, as the group of 16 Ford volunteers, five genU staff members and three participants took to the tools and worked side by side to refresh the garden.

Their efforts included painting support posts, installing new shade sails and blinds, building bench seating, weeding and mulching the garden beds, cleaning out the shed and giving the entire site a much-needed tidy-up.

genU Senior Team Leader Jessica Rippin said the site has evolved since genU took over the garden in 2020.

“The garden had been unused for some time. Since genU took over, staff and participants have worked hard to clean up and plant new growth,” she said. “As any gardener would know, this is an ongoing process. Each season brings new growth and new tasks for us to get stuck into.”

The site looks brighter and more inviting following the group's efforts. In future, the goal is to welcome more members of the local community to explore and enjoy the garden.

Ford HR Business Partner Sophie Burzacott, who volunteered on the day, described the experience as “a fun day out” for all involved.

“It doesn’t feel like work when you come out and give back to the community. It’s so special to bring the Ford team together and get stuck into work like this,” she said. “The best part of these volunteering days is interacting with genU participants and the people who work for genU.”

The community garden offers a range of engaging activities designed to connect participants with nature and build practical skills. Programs include gardening, the Craft in Nature arts program and the Garden to Plate cooking program, where fresh produce grown onsite is used to create delicious, healthy meals.

Participants have achieved some impressive results through the programs, growing an abundance of fruit and vegetables that are shared with others and used in cooking sessions.