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Cross Keys Homes (CKH) has teamed up with its repairs and maintenance contractor, Mears, to support local tourist attraction, Railworld Wildlife Haven to get back on track following a recent spate of vandalism attacks.

Employees at the Peterborough based housing association were moved when they heard of the mindless damage at the much-loved transport museum and nature reserve and asked if there was anything CKH could do.

CKH’s entire Estate Rangers team spent a day working on site clearing rubbish and applying anti-climb and anti-graffiti paint, as well as installing additional signage. Mears will be replacing broken windows on site and installing new trellis and boards around a ramp to the cabin. CKH will also continue to provide volunteers when possible.

CKH has a number of keen beekeepers amongst its team, who have regularly  enjoyed seeing the hives at Railworld. It is hoped that Railworld will be able to provide a secure home for any future bee swarms that CKH needs to remove from residents’ homes.

CKH Chief Executive, Claire Higgins, said: “The minute our employees heard about the damage to Railworld they asked me if there was any way we could help, and of course I did not need asking twice to have the chance to give something back to this jewel in Peterborough’s crown. Railworld is such a vital educational and environmental asset to the city and it is heart-breaking to see it suffer so much at the hands of vandals. I’m delighted that our team, and Mears, have been able to play a small part in helping them to get back on track and I hope that the perpetrators of this mindless thuggery are found and prosecuted”

Becki White, Volunteer and Attraction Manager at Railworld, said: “We’re really grateful for all the help that CKH and Mears are providing for us. It’s been a tough few weeks, with a number of break ins, and it can get very demoralising. But the support of local businesses helps us to know that we are valued in the community, and gives us the push to keep going.”

Peterborough General Manager at Mears, Gary Gibb, added: “It’s an absolute delight to be involved in this project and to support Railworld. At Mears we are passionate about supporting the communities we work in, and so when CKH us asked to get on board with this, we jumped at the chance.”