On a sunny April morning, members from Munich RE came together at Walthamstow Wetlands to spend their day volunteering at one of London's key resevoir sites.

After a brief introduction and trek to collect the tools, the team split up to tackle jobs around the educational centre of the site. 3 ponds were spread across the area, all which needed to be cleaned up and topped off with fresh water. Munich RE teams got to work pulling out duckweed and algae, cutting back dead plants, and making friends with the newts. At the same time, a pump and generator were set up in the river and a hose laid out to refill the ponds. With some crafty engineering skills, teamwork, and feats of strength, the team had the water flowing in no time. All the while, the pathways through the education area were being tidied up by Munich RE. Overgrown plants removed from pathways making them more accesible and easier to traverse for children.

On the other side of the educational area, a large bee bank was being built to make home for England's solitary bees. A sandy banana-shaped embankment was built, stablised with wooden logs, and new fencing was erected to keep children from climbing on top of it.

After a break for lunch, the team enjoyed a guided walk around the wetlands, enjoying a sunny afternoon and looking out for migratory birds to take note of.

Thank you Munich RE for taking a day out of an already short week to make a positive difference. Thanks to their actions, the site is better equipped to benefit both wildlife and the community.