Supporting Social Value: First Visit to Appleby Cottage

As part of our commitment to social value and community benefit, Danaher & Walsh recently visited Appleby Cottage, a small community farm based in Cheshunt. The visit, Danaher & Walsh has started its partnership with Appleby Cottage in Cheshunt as part of our wider social value commitment linked to the Waltham Cross project.

Appleby Cottage is a vital local organisation. It provides meaningful work experience for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. It also supports physical and mental wellbeing through outdoor work, animal care and farming activities.

Beginning a Meaningful Partnership

Our first visit marked the start of a practical partnership with Appleby Cottage.

Representing Danaher & Walsh, Joanne Pigram, Social Value Lead, attended the visit alongside Pat Cumming, Contracts Manager.

Together, they met with the team to understand the site and identify where Danaher & Walsh could provide practical support. The aim was to use our civil engineering skills in a sustainable and meaningful way.

Supporting Accessibility and Inclusion

Appleby Cottage plays an important role in the local community.

The organisation helps people build confidence, routine and connection through working on the land. It also gives individuals the chance to care for animals and take part in purposeful outdoor tasks.

However, some areas of the farm are currently difficult for people with mobility needs to access. Therefore, our planned support focuses on improving safety, accessibility and inclusion.

Our Planned Improvements

Following our initial assessment, Danaher & Walsh has proposed several improvements to support the farm.

These include:

• Repairing damaged guttering to protect the buildings
• Reducing waterlogging around key areas
• Securing a broken drainage cover to improve site safety
• Installing a hardstanding area in the goat enclosure
• Improving access for wheelchair users and people with mobility aids
• Mending fencing around the animal enclosures
• Helping protect visitors, volunteers and livestock

The hardstanding area will make a significant difference. It will allow people with mobility aids to take part in animal care, which is something they are currently unable to do.

Why This Support Matters

Appleby Cottage relies heavily on external support to continue its work.

By making small but practical improvements, Danaher & Walsh can help the organisation support more people. These works will also help create a safer and more accessible environment for visitors, staff, volunteers and service users.

As a result, the farm can continue to provide valuable opportunities for people with additional needs.

Delivering Social Value Through Practical Action

Danaher & Walsh places social value at the heart of the way we work.

Through our support for Appleby Cottage, we are helping a local organisation make a lasting difference. The planned improvements may be small in scale, but they will have a meaningful impact on daily life at the farm.

We are proud to play a part in supporting Appleby Cottage as it continues to grow and reach more people in the local area.

To learn more about this, visit their Instagram: Appleby Cottage CiC (@1applebycottage) • Instagram photos and videos