A team of volunteers from leading accountancy firm, Ernst & Young, have been swapping their pens and calculators for spades, forks and garden shears, to tackle a community project in Birmingham.

The human capital team recently spent two days gardening at a care home for adults with learning disabilities. The Elizabeth FitzRoy Home was in desperate need of a Ground Force style makeover, after the facility ran out of both funds and manpower to finish landscaping its grounds.

Ernst & Young employees were set to work painting fences, treating decking, cutting lawns, and planting flowers.

Elizabeth FitzRoy is a national charity, and has care homes across the UK, providing practical support for adults with learning difficulties. The Birmingham branch of the charity offers residents sheltered accommodation and 24 hour nursing care.

Volunteer Debra Nolan, a manager within human capital at Ernst & Young, was one said: "We didn’t discover the next Charlie Dimmock or Alan Titchmarsh in the human capital team, but our green fingers did manage to totally transform the garden.

"It was hard work, but thoroughly worthwhile and by the end of the two days we all came away with a real sense of achievement.

"This was the first in what we hope will become an ongoing series of projects with the Elizabeth FitzRoy home. The Human Capital department are eager to build some raised flower beds to add to the garden."