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Giving something back
One company in Cambridgeshire are leading the way when it comes to caring for wildlife - even while at work!
One hundred and thirty staff from Cambridge University Press have volunteered for the Wildlife Trust in Cambridgeshire since the company became the Trust’s educational partner back in 2007.
The company regularly attend the Wildlife Trust work parties - where teams of people from local companies give up their time to give something back to nature and their local environment.
Colleagues work together on a particular project helping to maintain nature reserves with coppicing, fencing, hedgelaying, haystrewing and pond clearing.
Staff at the ‘Press’ are encouraged to undertake up to seven working hours a year of voluntary work for educational and charity projects, such as volunteering for the Wildlife Trust.
The last session for this year was on Thursday 27th November where the team of eight biologists helped to maintain the Brampton Wood nature reserve, near Huntingdon.
The task for the day involved coppicing trees and shrubs to restore and diversify the woodland area.
Matt Hamilton is Deputy Reserves Manager for West Cambridgeshire nature reserves:
“The work benefits a wide range of woodland species including the rare black hairstreak butterfly and hazel dormouse. Without volunteers we would find caring for their habitat difficult- we are really appreciative of their work”.
Katrina Halliday, Senior Commissioning Editor for Life Sciences at Cambridge University Press led the team:
“All of us are biologists so we were very excited to be taking part! We publish a lot of ecology and conservation books so actually it's a nice link to the Wildlife Trust and the work they do”
Heidi Mulvey, Community and University Relations Manager at Cambridge University Press says:
“This scheme has been a roaring success with our staff and we have found massive benefits to our business as a result. Getting involved in Wildlife Trust projects has helped to boost staff morale, enabling them to give something back to the local environment, learn new skills, and have a unique teambuilding experience”
“Interviewees are increasingly asking about opportunities for community involvement, and our involvement with the Wildlife Trust is seen as a really worthwhile partnership. We look forward to continuing this great work with them next year.”
To find out how your company can support the Wildlife Trust through work parties and corporate membership see http://www.wildlifebcnp.org/supportus-corporate.htm
ENDS
Notes for Editor:
Brampton Wood is the second largest ancient woodland in Cambridgeshire and is at least 900 years old. For more information see http://www.wildlifebcnp.org/reserves/reserve.php?reserveid=39
About the Trust:
Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.
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