At the end of last year, Viking Arms reaffirmed its commitment to its local military community through an £18,000 contribution to the e50K’s Bramble Woods Project in Catterick. Since then, the project has gone from strength to strength. 

Here’s a quick update on what the Bramble Woods Project has achieved so far:

• Installation of a 72 ft. Polytunnel, featuring 100 planters. Seventy planters are available for local community hire, while 30 are managed by the e50K volunteer team. 10% of the produce from the e50K planters is donated to food banks, with the remainder sold to reinvest profits back into the project.
• New Volunteering Opportunities: 60 new volunteer positions created to help maintain the polytunnel.
• Planter Sponsorship: Local businesses can sponsor planters for £100 each, with all funds supporting the community.
• Site Improvements: In partnership with the Prince’s Trust, the site has been tidied, weeded, planted, and re-designed.

• Beekeeping Project: Two bee hives have been introduced to the site withsix volunteers trained as beekeepers at the prestigious Foxglove Covert. 
• Extended Lease: DIO has granted a five-year lease of Bramble Woods, signifying the MOD's recognition of the projects impact and support for e50K’s initiatives.

Community Recognition

Brambel Woods' remarkable achievements are largely due to the work of dedicated volunteers and the broader community. Recognition has come in the form of winning the Service Children Friendly Group of the year award at the inaugural Catterick Service Children's Awards, with one of the young volunteers securing the Community Champion Award. 

Bramble Woods were also finalists in the Celebrating Forces Families awards for both Inspirational Family Member of the Year, and Small Business of the Year.

The project has also been shortlisted for Advocate of the Year at the Ex-Forces in Business Awards 2024.

Viking Arms is looking forward to celebrating Armed Forces Day with the Bramble Woods team on June 29, 2024 for its community picnic event.