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DIG IT Projects - Wins Green Business Award.

COASTAL VIEW.

Your FREE local community newspaper covering Redcar, Marske, Saltburn and surrounding villages      

Dig It Projects Wins National Award.   

Local environmentally conscious business ‘Dig It Projects’ has won a national award for installing allotments in schools.

The business, a garden landscaping company with a unique twist, is ran and owned by Redcar and Cleveland native, Richard Smith.

He recently won the Green Service (Micro Organisations) prize for small companies at the national Green Service Awards in London.  Speaking of his surprise and joy at winning Richard said: “I was completely blown away”. 

It is deserved success for the hardworking man that has seen his business go from strength to strength over the past year. For it was only in August 2008 that Richard was approached by the Enterprise team (LEGI) to design an allotment for Redcar Community College. “I had set up my own landscaping/property maintenance company after help from LEGI, but after my first job I realised the potential in installing these gardens, "DIG IT Projects" began.

Richard then went on to offer his services to schools, starting initially in Redcar and Cleveland. “The response has been amazing” he said whilst talking about his gradual expansion into the Tees Valley: “the dream is to take it nationally”.

The business certainly has appeal, as the schools use the gardens to grow fresh fruit and vegetables. “I’d like to get ‘Dig It’ into their curriculums " Richard said: “we fit in with the healthy eating promotion within schools and we get such a good response from the kids”.

‘Dig It Projects’ is a bespoke business that will cater to whatever the school desires: “we’ve installed everything from greenhouses to wheelchair access”. And the projects involvement doesn’t end at the installation of the garden. The company additionally offers workshops and training that helps to guide the pupils and teachers towards getting the most out of their allotments. They will even maintain the garden over the holiday periods.

Richard is keen to expand upon ‘Dig It Projects’ and bring a community vibe to it.

“Our website www.digitprojects.com is designed to be a place where schools can register and see what other schools in the area are doing with their allotments. I wanted to create a network of schools under one roof".  Members of the public can also log onto the site for gardening advice, as there are top tips on everything from composting to insects and pests.

With the success at the Green Service Awards under ‘Dig It’s Projects’ belt, it is not hard to see how and why this self-motivated Local businessman is making a positive difference.

 Coastal View Issue 5

 

For more information on how you can get your school involved with ‘Dig It Projects’, please email info@digitprojects.com