Gloucester security company step in to help local nature reserve

Gloucester based security business Allcooper have come to the aid of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust after their new Crickley Hill café was broken in to in early September.

Thieves forced their way into the newly established eatery in the early hours of Sunday 4^th September, causing in excess of £5000 worth of damage to the building and its contents. As a matter of routine the café team ensure nothing of value is left on the property out of hours so the intruders left disappointed. On discovery, staff worked hard to clean up the mess and were able to open at lunchtime on Sunday, just in time to feed hungry walkers and explorers visiting the popular nature reserve.

Allcooper took over maintenance of the existing security system at Crickley Hill when GWT acquired the site from Gloucestershire County Council in April 2016. On hearing about the break-in, the team at Allcooper came to the rescue of the charity and offered to fit a more advanced system free of charge, securing the café against any future attempts to sabotage the small business. Allcooper Director, Roman Cooper explained:

“As long-standing supporters of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, when we heard news of the break-in we offered our services free of charge to carry out a complete security review of the site, and to install a new system that will maximise its protection. It is difficult in these times for charities to attract crucial funding and the last thing they need is for someone to steal these hard-earned funds from them.”

Despite the setback, the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust café continues to attract a daily crowd, serving locally sourced good quality lunches and award winning ice cream in a picturesque setting.

“It was upsetting to find the café in such a mess but with the generous offer from Allcooper and our fantastic staff, we haven’t let it stop us serving the public their morning coffees and lunchtime toasties! Crickley is the perfect location to enjoy the beautiful views and wildlife the area has to offer, then stop for a much need BLT on your return, so we’re grateful to the Allcooper team for helping us continue to provide that public service”, Victoria Little, GWT Business Manager.

The Trust are also keen to hear what visitors think about the site and how they can improve it over time. If you’d like to have your say, a consultation is available to fill in from the website www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/reserves/crickley-hill

Find out more about other events by GWT and their ongoing work by visiting www.gloucestershirewildlifetrust.co.uk/whats-on

Membership of the Trust costs from just £2.50 a month. Join online at www.gloucestershirewidlifetrust.co.uk or visit the Trust’s Conservation Centre at Robinswood Hill Country Park, Gloucester.

Gloucester News Centre – http://gloucesternewscentre.co.uk