Recycling project takes flight at Taylor Wimpey’s Barnfield Place

The housebuilder has collaborated with the social and environmental enterprise network to create a hand crafted bird box and bug hotel which have been made from surplus wood and waste timber from the development.

Since its inception in 2003, Community Wood Recycling has collected around 2,440,200 cubic yards of wood* that would have been wasted and sorted it for reuse in the community or making it into new products. Any material that cannot be reused is sent for recycling by chipping. This activity creates jobs for people who might find it difficult to get into or back to employment.

The bird box and bug hotel have now been installed at Barnfield Place, where Taylor Wimpey has also created a community garden in the centre of the development with trees and planting for residents to enjoy and sit amongst.

Tom Densham, Assistant Site Manager and Sustainability Champion at Taylor Wimpey South Midlands, said: “It has been brilliant working with Community Wood Recycling to make use of surplus materials on our development in Luton. As a result, we have two handcrafted and sustainably made items now installed on site to provide home and shelter to birds and bugs of all kinds, something that Taylor Wimpey is passionate about when creating new communities.

“Every step of the way the team at Community Wood Recycling has been brilliant to work with. In an industry where there is high amounts of wood waste, to be able to recycle materials and install them back onto developments is a wonderful cause to support. We look forward to working with them more in the future.”

Richard Mehmed, Managing Director of Community Wood Recycling, added: “We are very grateful to Taylor Wimpey South Midlands for choosing Community Wood Recycling for waste wood collections during the construction of its Barnfield Place development. We were delighted to be asked to make bird boxes for the site from wasted materials, with the commission showcasing Taylor Wimpey’s commitment to reducing their impact on the environment.

“This partnership has allowed us to divert over 38 tonnes of waste timber for reuse, create the equivalent of nearly two paid jobs and nearly three training places for marginalised people and save an estimated 74 tonnes of CO2.”

Taylor Wimpey Group has been working with Community Wood Recycling for around 20 years, supporting their social and environmental goals.

For more information about Community Wood Recycling, please visit: communitywoodrecycling.org.uk/