GREEN-FINGERED staff members set up an allotment in Shrivenham to support a good cause.

CONMED UK workers joined villagers in the village and South Marston in litter-picking campaigns before volunteering to take on the allotment with the help of their managing director Neville Lorimer and Shrivenham Parish Council.

Produce they grow on the patch will be donated to Swindon Night Shelter. Staff got stuck in to transform their new patch by clearing and preparing the ground during their spare time on weekends and lunch breaks The team, led by Mike Grainge and Garry Miller, know they have a long way to go still, but hope it will only be a matter of weeks before their first hamper of vegetables is available for donation.

CONMED’s HR manager Pauline Wilcock said: "The team is enjoying the exercise and working together in the fresh air and is excited to be supporting a very worthwhile cause. The potatoes and parsnips are in, and the beans and peas will follow very shortly. It's a great team effort all round."

The allotment team has provided tools, seeds and other equipment out of their own pockets and were very grateful to G&P Cases who have sponsored them by supplying a wooden container to store tools in. If anyone has gardening equipment that they no longer need and would like to donate, call Pauline on 01793 787916.

CONMED is also helping to fund-raise for Prospect Hospice.