A14 Nene Viaduct team donate materials for veteran centre’s garden transformation
Donations of materials received from a road project team have helped to complete a veteran charity’s garden makeover.
The team working on the A14 Nene Viaduct maintenance scheme in Northamptonshire donated 250 sandbags, five tonnes of hardcore and 2,400kg of topsoil to the garden at The Veteran’s Cottage – a new centre in Corby that supports veterans with recruitment, networking and wellbeing.
The materials were donated by the road project team, including volunteers from supply chain partners Route One Infrastructure and HW Martin, to help create a path and for the foundations of a monument and rockery. It has helped turn the garden into a serene space for veterans and their families to enjoy.
Garry, 57, from Corby, who served in the British Army for 12 years, designed the garden with a sandbag wall feature and borders created by sandbags, and called out for donations and volunteers to help bring it to life.
“The support was absolutely brilliant, and without the donations, the charity just wouldn’t have been able to achieve something this," he said.
“The garden was a nice space before, but now there’s seating areas, it’s got fragrance and colour, and it’s become a welcoming, relaxing space for everyone.”
The A14 Nene Viaduct scheme to replace old and noisy bridge joints between junction 10 at Islip and junction 13 at Thrapston has now completed.
The essential work has helped to improve safety and the reliability of the structure, as well as ensuring a smoother driving surface.
The new joints are a UK first, and the biggest on National Highways’ East Midlands network. They feature a quick release system so they can be maintained easier in future, significantly reducing disruption, and noise reducing plates to lower the noise created by vehicles driving over it.
Simon Wagstaff, Project Manager at National Highways, said:
“The Veteran’s Cottage is an important charity supporting veterans in Northampton with everything from developing their skills to health and wellbeing. The garden makeover has been a valuable project for us to support in the best way we could.
“At National Highways we aim to leave a positive impact on the communities close to our schemes and appreciate everyone’s patience over the last year during our vital work to update the bridge joints.”
Dave Bryant, a former soldier and firefighter of 40 years, said: “This place proves that with patience, teamwork and a bit of hope, something neglected can become something beautiful.”
While Jim Reilly, formerly of the Royal Anglian Regiment, added: “It’s amazing what a few hours outside, a brew, and good company can do.”
Catherine Slevin, Founder of The Veteran’s Cottage, said:
“The support from National Highways and its delivery partners has made a lasting difference to The Veterans Cottage. Their generous donation of materials has helped transform our garden into a welcoming space where veterans, serving personnel and their families can meet, reflect and enjoy time together.
“As a small community organisation, valuable support like this enables us to create an environment that promotes wellbeing, connection and recovery, and we are extremely grateful to everyone involved.”
National Highways is committed to social value and creating positive change to the communities, environment, and the economy close to its projects. It prioritises four key themes through its work - economic prosperity, environmental improvement, community wellbeing, and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
