A LAW firm sponsoring this year’s Ringwood Carnival is offering its 170 staff the chance to volunteer and give something back to the community.

Gold Sponsor and long-standing supporter Ellis Jones Solicitors has teamed up with Carnival charity affiliate Ringwood Actions for Climate Emergency (RACE) so colleagues can volunteer work time to help with environmental projects.

One of the first projects Ellis Jones staff will support under the partnership is the strimming and raking of a two-acre field on land forming part of Crow Hill ready for the planting of hedges and trees over the winter.

Sara West, Ringwood-based commercial property executive at Ellis Jones, has advised RACE on legal aspects of the gifting of the land to the charity from the previous landowner.

Further activity during the autumn will include weeding a tree nursery and sowing wildflower seeds.

RACE Trustee Mary DeBoos said: “We are delighted to have this support from the staff at Ellis Jones. Company volunteering days make such a difference in a short space of time and provide a real morale boost to our regular volunteers.”

Nigel Smith, managing partner at Ellis Jones, said: “Ringwood Carnival is one of the highlights of the town’s calendar and is all about having fun and supporting the community.

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing support for the event and we see our partnership with affiliate charity RACE as a further way of benefiting the area while offering meaningful volunteering opportunities to our team.

“Taking part in community volunteering supports our staff wellbeing, workplace values and company culture.”

Ringwood Carnival takes place on Saturday, September 16, at 12pm with two processions, at 2pm and 7.15pm, followed by fireworks at 9.30pm.

Ellis Jones employs 170 staff including 22 partners in five offices across the south as well as London. Its Ringwood office is at Monmouth Court in the town centre.