Volunteers from the West Brom building society swapped their suits for shovels when they worked on a conservation project at a city hospital.

Nine colleagues went along to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to help maintain its Community Orchard as part of the West Brom’s corporate volunteering scheme.

Nick Trueman, the Society’s public relations manager, said: “We endeavour to make meaningful contributions to the communities we serve, be that through fundraising, issuing grants or giving our time. The West Brom supports all colleagues to spend up to two days per year carrying out voluntary work. This not only helps a variety of worthy causes, it is also great for team building too.”

The Community Orchard features a wildflower meadow, allotments, bee keeping and a woodland walk, all of which can be enjoyed by hospital patients and visitors alike.

The project is being coordinated by The Conservation Volunteers, an international volunteering organisation which supports conservation initiatives throughout the UK and overseas. Spokesman Glenn Powell said: “I cannot praise the West Brom enough for their enthusiasm and energy on the day.

“We have plenty of ideas and plans for this Community Orchard, but without corporate volunteers we would not be able to turn these ideas into reality.”

During the day, the volunteers helped to complete a new pathway for the woodland walk and mulched recently planted trees across the hospital campus.

Michael Tivey, fundraising officer for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “We would like to thank the volunteers for all their help. We are creating an area of tranquillity that can benefit the local community, hospital patients, visitors and staff. We hope our Community Orchard remains sustainable and fruitful for many years to come.”