M25 junction 28 improvements - our work in the community

An outdoor classroom for Wells Park School

Wells Park School supports pupils aged between 5 and 11 years old with complex social, emotional, and mental health needs.

In 2024, we and our partners built an outdoor classroom at the school - together with improved access for children.

This isn't just a benefit for the school. It's a shared resource for other schools and community centres in the area  - truly a community space.

Since opening, the classroom has become a firm favourite with children and a useful learning resource.

Matthew Surman, headteacher at the school, said: 

“Since the opening in July 2024, the outdoor classroom has become a well-loved space in our school. We’ve been using it regularly as an engaging alternative learning environment, and it has had a real impact on the way our children access learning. The guided meditation sessions have been especially powerful, offering moments of calm that our pupils truly benefit from.

“We’re now entering an exciting new chapter with the Community Garden Project, in partnership with 3Food4U. This project will link the outdoor classroom to the wider community, providing a therapeutic space and revitalising our school allotment as a shared resource.

“Thank you again for your ongoing support and for believing in this project. We’re excited to keep building on what we’ve started together.”

 

Volunteers create new sandpit for Harold Hill school

Our team carrying out improvements to reduce congestion on the M25 Junction 28 in Essex has built a great relationship with Drapers’ Pyrgo Priory School in nearby Harold Hill.

Various community initiatives have been completed since our project started in 2022, including volunteers painting the exterior of the school during the summer holidays last year, giving its buildings a fresh new look for the new term. 

Over the Easter break, the team carried out a further community project, building a new sandpit in the school’s playground, complete with 60 tonnes of play sand. 

Executive Principal Trudy Spillane said: 

“Children at Drapers' Pyrgo Priory School are delighted to have discovered a sandpit surrounding their pirate ship climbing frame when they returned from their Easter holiday! The sandpit will be used every day to provide one of the most enjoyable activities - digging and building sandcastles.

“Thank you to the volunteers of Graham Construction for their time and for providing the materials. Without this donation we would never have this wonderful play resource.”

Children enjoying digging and building sandcastles in the new sandpit

Improved sensory garden for Ravensbourne learners

Our team lent a hand at Lime Academy Ravensbourne School, in nearby Romford, Essex, creating an improved sensory garden for pupils.

Their efforts over the Easter holiday included clearing the area and preparing it for new planters and play equipment. This will enable children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to enjoy more time outdoors.

Lisa Webb, Assistant Headteacher, said:

“A big thank you to the team of volunteers from National Highways and GRAHAM who did an amazing job clearing the ground of shrubs, paving and weeds ready for us to create a new sensory garden for Ravensbourne learners.”

Jacob Mills, National Highways Junior Assistant Project Manager, said:

“It was highly fulfilling for the team to support the school with the clearance of their outdoor area. The progress made on the day was great to see and we look forward to seeing the completed sensory garden.”

Volunteers from National Highways and the M25 junction 28 project’s principal contractor, GRAHAM, who helped create an improved outdoor space at Lime Academy Ravensbourne, Romford

Easter collections and donations

In 2025, we supported The Trussell Trust Brentwood foodbank, donating a range of Easter eggs and gifts.

This marks the third year we've helped the charity at Easter.

A project spokesperson said:

“We are pleased to support the Trussell Trust once again and hope that no family goes without this Easter.”

Other local charities we've supported with Easter donations over the past three years include:

• SNAP, a Brentwood based charity supporting families with children and young people with additional needs or disability
• the Salvation Army, Harold Hill, who provide practical help and support for people in need in the community.

Learning through play and safety first

Our team helped children at Lime Academy Ravensbourne, Romford discover the world of roads and construction through hands-on activities.

We created an accessible and engaging day for pupils aged 4 to 14 with varied support requirements.

Our team provided:

• high-visibility jackets
• safety cones and hard hats
• tactile materials that crinkle
• bubble wrap for popping
• building blocks and mini tool kits

Our team members and GRAHAM construction staff first observed each child's needs, then adapted teaching methods to suit them using:

• imaginative play
• role play
• explorative play

This is part of our commitment to inclusive community engagement and education about the work we do.

Rachel Turner, Assistant Headteacher, praised our team's thoughtful approach:

"They showed great sensitivity in ensuring all our learners could participate fully.

"The children thoroughly enjoyed exploring familiar spaces transformed with new resources. Everyone had a wonderful day!"

Supporting the Great British Spring Clean

The Great British Spring Clean is the nation’s biggest mass-action environmental campaign. 

Since 2023, our team has supported the initiative each year by litter picking along the A12.

Items we've collected include:

• industrial batteries
• vapes and tobacco packets
• bottles and cans
• fast-food cartons

We've collected some stranger items too, like a child's electric car, ski goggles, kitchen pans and cutlery.

Much of this litter isn't biodegradable. If we hadn't collected it for proper disposal, it would have been an environmental risk for years to come.

Project support officer Megan commented:

“We’re always keen to get stuck in where we can and do our part for the local community, and the Great British Spring Clean is a great opportunity for us to do that.” 

Drapers Pyrgo Priory School outdoor building painting volunteering

Volunteers from our M25 junction 28 team supported Drapers Pyrgo Priory School with their painting project to improve their school's appearance.

Our team painted the frontage of the school giving the school a fresh new look.

Trudy Spillane, Principal, said: 

“A huge thank you to National Highways and Graham Construction volunteers who came and gave the school a face-lift in July. Even the school building will now be smart and ready for the September back-to-school start. The colour has not only had a thumbs-up from the children but also improved our energy rating. Thank you for making a difference to our community.”

Helping the local community

In early 2024, our volunteers planted over 1,000 different species of plants and deliver several tonnes of topsoil at the Gardens of Peace Muslim Cemetery

Farouk Ismail, Gardens of Peace Trustee said:

“We would like to express our thanks to the team for their great community spirit and goodwill by offering to supply topsoil and the workforce to carry out the planting in record time, notwithstanding the aches and pains that go with such work.

“We are delighted with the outcome and as a charity, we welcome and much appreciate your generous support for our community project.”

International Women’s Day

Our scheme celebrated International Women’s Day by bringing together women from:

• our organisation
• our construction partners
• representatives from the Construction Industry Training Board

Participants discussed the unique perspectives and contributions of women in the industry.

Assistant Project Manager Lauren said:

“I’m proud to be part of a team, and wider organisation, that not only has inspirational women at all levels, but supports and encourages equality and diversity."

Macmillan coffee morning

We supported Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning with our own 'Bake-off' competition and cake sale, raising £413 for the charity.

One of our health and safety advisors has also been fundraising for the charity in memory of a close friend.

Together, our team have raised £1,500.

Supporting Harold Hill Deer Aid

Harold Hill Deer Aid is a non-funded, non-profit making charity made up of local residents. The charity responds to both deer and other wildlife incidents in this region. It works very closely with emergency services, rescuing animals and making sure they get veterinary treatment if needed.

We donated personal protective equipment to Harold Hill Deer Aid including

• hi-visibility clothing, boots and safety glasses
• tools and equipment, like torches and heavy-duty scissors

Harold Hill Deer Aid Volunteer, Jan Sergent, said:

“I would like to thank GRAHAM and National Highways for listening to our concerns and recommendations. The staff we have spoken with have been more than accommodating and have taken our group seriously which we greatly appreciate."

Charity volunteering at Christmas

Harold Hill Christmas light switch on

Organised by a group of volunteers, this event includes a Christmas market, fairground rides, entertainment and Santa's Grotto. We donated toys to make sure each child visiting the grotto received a gift.

Salvation Army

Volunteers from the scheme helped out at the Salvation Army Centre near our office in Guildford in December 2023:

• putting together Christmas food bags for families
• decoratig the centre for Christmas events
• organising the food bank ready for emergency food parcels.

The Trussell Trust

People need a helping hand and rely on food banks, especially around Christmas.

In 2023, we donated a range of food products and toiletries to The Trussell Trust's Brentwood foodbank.

Our Team also collected  a range of children’s toys to donate towards the Trust's Christmas toy appeal.

Looking after wildlife at M25 junction 28

Fish relocation

We have to protect wildlife while we deliver our essential improvement scheme.

For example, in August 2023  we found a temporary new habitat for wildlife in Weald Brook.

We temporarily diverted Weald Brook while installing the new Maylands and Grove bridges. This meant relocating approximately 600 fish and 12 other species to a new home, including

• several Bullhead fish, |listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species
• a 50cm long European eel

We'll return the brook to its natural route and replace wildlife once our works are complete.

Animal crossing at Grove Brook culvert

We're installing a culvert carrying Grove Brook under the new exit for traffic leaving the A12 eastbound.

A concrete 'mammal shelf' runs above water-level for the length of the culvert. This allows small animals to cross safely beneath the road, without the risk of drowning or being run over.

It's one of the ways we're using to protect wildlife and connect habitats.

Archaeology at the site of Maylands aerodrome

Our M25 junction 28 site covers the location of the former Maylands aerodrome.

Maylands aerodrome was once home to Hillman’s Airways, a pioneer of package holidays. With our assistance, archaeologists are learning more about this historic site.

They've found artefacts not only from the aerodrome's history, but aslo far earlier objects. These include a 7,000 year-old axe head dating from the Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age) period. Finds now form part of a new display at RAF Horncurch Heritage Centre.

By taking a considerate approach to our work today, we can preserve the work of engineers and pioneers of the past.