Dozens of staff from Colchester City Council and Amphora came together at Castle Park this week to mark the start of a new chapter for the city’s grounds maintenance service, while also supporting improvements to one of Colchester’s most loved green spaces.
Across two volunteering days on 2 and 3 November, staff from across the council and Amphora worked alongside grounds maintenance teams to clear fallen leaves and plant hundreds of spring bulbs that will add colour to the park next year while providing an important source of food for pollinators. Everyone gained a first-hand understanding of the service and meet colleagues responsible for caring for the city’s green and open spaces.
The event was organised to mark the successful transfer of the grounds maintenance service to Amphora on 1 November and to welcome former Idverde colleagues who have joined the Amphora team.
The bulbs planted during the volunteering days are expected to bloom in spring, creating vibrant displays for residents and visitors to enjoy while supporting local biodiversity.
The grounds maintenance service looks after almost 13,000 assets across more than 870 hectares of land throughout Colchester, including parks, sports grounds, open spaces, housing land, cemeteries and the Crematorium.
Cllr Martin Goss, Portfolio Holder for Waste, Neighbourhoods and Leisure, said: "This was a great opportunity to welcome our new grounds maintenance colleagues into the Amphora and wider council family following the transfer of the service.
“While the volunteering activities have brought an additional benefit to Castle Park, the day was really about bringing people together, helping colleagues understand the vital work carried out across our parks and open spaces, and marking the start of this exciting new chapter for grounds maintenance in Colchester."
Gordon Wade, Grounds Maintenance Mobilisation Manager for Amphora’s new ground maintenance service, said: "My role has been to oversee the mobilisation of the service and make sure everything is in place for a smooth transition. Thanks to the hard work of colleagues across Amphora, the council and the grounds maintenance team, we've been able to achieve that while retaining the skills, experience and local knowledge that are so important to the service.
Seeing staff from across the organisation come together in Castle Park has been a fitting way to mark this milestone. It demonstrates the shared commitment we have to maintaining and enhancing the green spaces that matter so much to Colchester residents."
Vanessa Moffat, Interim Chair and Board Director at Amphora, added: "The transfer of the service is about much more than changing logos on vehicles. It's about bringing people together to care for the spaces residents value most. It was fantastic to see colleagues from across Amphora and the council getting involved, working alongside our grounds teams and making a real contribution to Castle Park.
"The bulbs planted this week will brighten the park next spring and provide valuable support for pollinators, creating a lasting reminder of the partnership behind this new chapter."
As a company wholly owned by Colchester City Council, Amphora delivers services on behalf of the council while helping to keep investment within the local area. The new arrangement also provides greater flexibility to respond to local priorities and explore new ways of enhancing the city's parks and green spaces.
Around 40 former Idverde employees have transferred into Amphora as part of the move, helping to ensure a seamless transition and continued high standards across the city's parks and open spaces.
The volunteering days were among the first activities to take place following the transfer and provided an opportunity to welcome new colleagues, build connections across teams and celebrate the start of the new service. The activities also supported biodiversity improvements in Castle Park and highlighted the shared commitment of Amphora and the council to caring for the places that matter most to residents.