DOZENS of volunteers have spent a day clearing footpaths and carrying out other tasks at York’s St Nicholas Fields Nature Reserve.

Employees of the Lend Lease Group – one of the partners in the joint venture developing the Hungate Urban Neighbourhood – were there as part of the 16th Annual Lend Lease community day, which encourages employees worldwide to give something back to the communities in which they live and work.

A 31-strong group of volunteers drawn from Lend Lease and other companies in its supply chain, including 22 members of staff from the York Archaeological Trust, who are currently conducting a major dig at Hungate, repaired a bike shed and painted the exterior of the environment centre, as well as clearing paths.

Team leader Ian Shepherd said: “ St Nicholas Fields does a wonderful job in educating the people of York about ecology, environmental sustainability and recycling and its ethos was very similar to that at Hungate. They were the perfect match for this year's project.”

He thanked companies who helped including Marshall’s Decorators, G and T Building, Travis Perkins, Steve Duncan Building and the Dulux Centre.