- author, kate tebby
- role, bbc radio shropshire
A construction company wants to carry out a DIY-SOS style project to complete a welfare garden for soldiers.
When the main contractor for a job at Clive Barracks in Shropshire was unable to complete the work, R1 Construction stepped in to help.
Staff are donating their time to get the job done, and the company is appealing for financial donations and supplies.
They hope to complete the work by March 15, when the Royal Irish Regiment is scheduled to hold a St. Patrick's Day parade at the base.
Business operations manager Abi Bebb said the company had done community projects and worked in schools in the past, but had not taken on work like this.
She said it was a “bit of a snowball effect” to extract goodwill from the supply chain and workforce.
But with a limited budget, she said: “We're relying on the Shropshire community to see how far we can go.”
A Just Giving page has been set up to raise £2,500 and is also asking for donations of benches, fencing, topsoil and memorial stones.
Bev said her company was initially brought in to advise on how to salvage the project, but it soon became clear how much the garden meant to the people on base. .
It will be located next to the barracks' community center and is designed to provide active-duty service members and women with a place to relax.
Bebb said: “Many local people don't have their own gardens, so this is a community garden that everyone can share.
“It really shows that they care about the community center and are passionate about it.”
The garden's design includes walkways, green space, and a central monument commemorating fallen soldiers.
Soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment will be helping with the work over the weekend, and Ms Bev said she hoped school groups could be involved in the upkeep in the future.