McDonald's staff get green fingers in garden mission

Staff from Fareham, Havant, Gosport, Cosham and Portsmouth stores met to spruce up a community garden in Portsmouth Road, Cosham.

Formerly owned by a local children’s group, the space is behind the Cosham restaurant and was in need of a little TLC.

The volunteers were keen to refresh the site and provide a space for locals to gather and enjoy.

Franchisee Grant Copper, who owns and operates the McDonald’s restaurants said: ‘I was really proud to see everyone come together and help the community of Cosham.

‘It’s a key priority of ours to ensure that the spaces around our restaurants remain an enjoyable place to live, work and visit.

‘As a business, we understand the important role that we play in making the area a better place.’

The restaurant chain is known for being involved in community work and runs a Love Where You Live initiative.

Staff patrol their local areas at least three times a day to collect discarded rubbish.

Altogether the staff cover a total of 3,000 miles a week on their litter walks.

Staff also recently volunteered in Waterlooville to repaint areas of The Rowans Hospice.

The Cosham garden renovation project has inspired staff to run a weekly gardening club for residents in the new-look space. Locals can attend to learn new skills.

Chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy Allison Ogden-Newton said: ‘McDonald’s Love Where You Live initiative, together with their commitment and their litter patrols is an example of how a business can make a real difference.’