Well done to the volunteers and thank you to Liz Taylor, Sales Exec. Cumbria, who organised this amazing Lend-A-Hand day on 27 March. 

Liz continues: “I was approached by Nick Butterfield in January as he was interested in buying some Scalpings from our Shap quarry, so I took him a sample to site to show him what the product would be like. Nick then explained about the project and what he was trying to achieve with the lake at Castlehead.

The fishing lake had been disused and in disrepair for years and the vision was to develop the site in to a venue specifically for disabled and mobility constrained anglers, and to host special events with Help for Heroes and such charities. A new car parking facility, perimeter path and fishing platforms needed to be built.  This sounded all quite simple until I met Kev who was doing a three hour round trip per day to work on this project as a volunteer by himself – that’s when I realised the enormity of the work that needed doing. So I explained about our Lend-A-Hand day we offer at CEMEX and that’s when the seed was planted.

I managed to get 10 volunteers together: Greg Loan and Phil Birkett (Moota Quarry), Laura Hogan (Digital Support Partner), Bev Sale and Jenny Forshaw (Preston Brook Sales team), Will Chappelhow (Lead Driver, Shap), Aaron McDowell and Gary Graham (Preston Brook Logistics and Planning), Amy Cooper (Quarry Manager), and me and Liz Taylor (Sales Rep for Cumbria).

What we achieved in one day was amazing and with everyone’s combined help, including Anthony Crowe Contractors who provided the heavier plant, we got most of the fishing platforms put together.  We edged and landscaped the paths, the car park was completed and most of the footpath was put down, so much so Nick and his team will be able to open the doors to the public at Easter.

Work that has been completed since our Lend-A-Hand day includes: the otter electric fencing has gone up, the lake has been stocked with 1,100lb of carp, all the fishing platforms have completed and most of all the land owner was so impressed with work done he has offered to pay for the stone which means there is money in the pot to finish off the footpaths all the way around the lake now.  It has been an incredible project to be part of and I know my colleagues who helped on the day are all very proud to be part of the Castlehead Vision.”