All the leaves are brown - and the sky is grey...

Dec 6, 20242 min read

But nothing stopped our energetic volunteers enjoying another brilliant day at Frimhurst, the Family House beside the canal at Mytchett. Yes: CMP's Festive Frimhurst had arrived and the annual battle to clear millions of leaves (truly - every one individually counted!) from the nine acres of grounds had begun!

More than 100 volunteers, representing a lucky thirteen Member companies, braved the threatening but mercifully rain free day, tackling the huge project with gusto - and of course with rakes, brooms, shovels, bags, leaf blowers and a buggy to help carry the leaves away. Take a seasonal bow:

Alphabet Aviator Hotel Amazon Filters Asahi BMW Group UK

Farnborough Airport Herrington Carmichael JAE Siemens Healthineers

Signwrite Studios Talk Technology The Prospect Trust UK Connect

To the echoes of all those Christmas favourite tunes ringing around the site, the volunteer angels' spirits were kept high, boosted throughout by biscuits, coffee, lashings of mulled wine and delicious hot sausage rolls all served by CMP Elves.

By the end of a productive day - hey presto: play areas had been cleared, acres of grass made leaf-free, the road had emerged from it's carpet of debris and pesky rhododendrons had been cut back to manageable size.

Frimhurst manager Murielle Double was delighted: 'It's amazing. We have only four staff working here and this job is just beyond us no matter how hard we try.

So to have this huge group of people helping the charity, supporting so many of vulnerable families, is invaluable. Thank you to CMP and all of you here who made this possible.'

Volunteer Adam Skrzypczak, General Manager at the Aviator Hotel, was brimming with positivity about what had been achieved: 'Thank you for organising such a fantastic event yesterday at Festive Frimhurst.

It was such a pleasure to be involved, and seeing the difference we can collectively make for a wonderful charity like Frimhurst is truly inspiring.

The grounds looked magical, and it's so rewarding to hear how much the team at Frimhurst appreciated everyone's efforts.'

Chief CMP Elf, Rachel Austen, who waved her magic rake and made this brilliant event happen once again, was understandably very pleased with the outcome:

'Wow - there's now a mountain of leaves piled up away from the communal, social areas. The drive up to the house looks amazing - everyone has worked so hard. It's great to see the teams working together to do something special for others in the community.