Supporting Communities
Communities underpin the work we do, from liaising with parish councils on tree felling to offering hospitality in Nedging Hall Estate’s pubs.
To help children and their families understand more about the local environment and farming, Heathpatch run annual Tractor in Schools Days and the ever-popular farm tours in the summer.
The Buckle Family also make regular donations to the local primary schools where several of our employees send their children and even went themselves!
We were asked to support children from Hadleigh High School in their volunteering for The Duke of Edinburgh award and they helped us look after the newly planted trees.
We strive to play our part in the wider community by employing ex-offenders in subsidiary company Camden Boss Limited and offering apprenticeships to young workers in the area, see the Icanbea website for more information.
Material Change also regularly give educational tours of its AD sites to groups including Young Farmers, University of 3rd Age, Gardening Clubs and trainees at Horticultural colleges and school groups.
Supporting Local Charities
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Heathpatch and the Buckle Family are proud to have supported several local charities.
In 2011 James set up the Porch Project, a charity in Hadleigh running drop-in sessions for the young people of the local area. The Porch Project merged with a larger charity, Inspire Suffolk Ltd, in 2023 to ensure its services were sustainable and could reach more young people across Suffolk.
Heathpatch and the Buckle Family have set up a fund at Suffolk Community Foundation. So far in 2024, the fund has made donations to the following charities: Inspire Suffolk, The Befriending Scheme and Innov8 Workshops.
In 2022 Heathpatch welcomed The Befriending Scheme as a long term tenant in Lindsey, Suffolk. This Community Care Farm is a place for people with learning disabilities, those suffering from mental ill health and vulnerable children and families. It's a space for people to feel safe, find friendship, and enjoy an outdoor environment whilst learning about horticulture and animal husbandry.
The companies within the Heathpatch Group also support local charities, with Nedging Hall Estate hosting the popular annual charity football match in aid of Prostate Cancer UK (2021), Alzheimer’s UK (2022) and Cancer Research UK (2023). All companies supported the Ukraine appeal in 2022.
Subsidiaries across the Heathpatch Group also supported 'The Big Suffolk Pledge' initiative with various pledges, including making opportunities available for volunteers in conservation operations and a venue for a charity football match.