Office workers swapped computers for the countryside to help keep the Broads special.

Norwich Evening News: Staff from JLL Commercial Property Management doing volunteer work at Whitlingham Country Park. Gareth Keeley.Picture: ANTONY KELLYStaff from JLL Commercial Property Management doing volunteer work at Whitlingham Country Park. Gareth Keeley.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

The 75-strong group took to Whitlingham Country Park, near Trowse, on Friday for the Give and Gain day, an annual event to encourage employers to let staff volunteer during work time.

The Norwich office of real estate management company JLL were working with Broads Authority staff and volunteers and have also donated £750 to Whitlingham Charitable Trust to go towards the materials being used for the projects.

The volunteers helped build fencing and gates for the Whitlingham Welcome Project, which will protect a key area of Great Broad, remove an old and redundant post line, lay sleepers in the carpark and did a deep-clean litter pick.

Beth Williams, volunteer co-ordinator at the authority, said: 'Having an extra 75 pairs of hands all at once means that projects will be completed a lot sooner.

'It will free up staff and Broads Authority volunteer time to work on additional projects around the park that otherwise would not have been possible. We are really thankful to JLL and the staff. Corporate volunteering is a great starting point for further involvement.

'Most people who do it go on to continue volunteering in their own time.

'It's good for us and good for the people who get a lot of satisfaction from volunteering.'

Are you doing something for your community? Email reporter George Ryan at george.ryan@archant.co.uk