Waste management firm HIPPOWASTE(tm)'s community grants scheme, which awards free waste disposal to charities and community groups, is working with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to help restore a neglected cricket ground in Harrow.
HIPPOBAG(tm) has supplied four super strong MEGABAGs to Harrow St Mary's Cricket Club which has been selected by the ECB's NatWest CricketForce initiative to receive a makeover of its new Old Millhillans ground.
The club plan a total refurbishment of the main pavilion, a new scoreboard, brand new net facilities and an artificial pitch. England cricket captains Andrew Strauss and Charlotte Edwards were among the star names on hand to pitch in with the renovation.
The HIPPOBAG(tm) s have so far helped remove over six tonnes of rubble and garden waste from the refurbishment. As soon as the bags have been filled they will be transported to a local waste transfer station where in excess of 80% of the content will be recycled.
Lisa Barber, sales and marketing director at HIPPOWASTE(tm) said: "It's great to be working with the ECB's NatWest CricketForce initiative. Like the Grants up for Grabs scheme, it encourages people to give something back to their local community and we're delighted to be contributing towards such a worthwhile project."
Dave Leighton, ECB National club programmes manager, said: "Harrow St Mary's Cricket Club left Harrow Recreation Ground after 125 years last summer. Whilst the 'Rec' had been home for more than a century to the club, inadequate facilities were holding back their development. It's a well deserving project that inspires a positive impact on the community and, with the help of the HIPPOBAG(tm) grant, is also respectful of the environment."
Harrow St Mary's Cricket Club secretary, Lesley Brown, said: "Moving from playing in a public park to play in our own secure and safe ground is a wonderful opportunity for our club to reward our players and members with the facilities that other clubs have always taken for granted. We rely on support and donations from external organisations to help with our ongoing work so it's great for an organisation like HIPPOWASTE(tm) to work with us."