ESG 23 Final Single pages - Flipbook - Page 32
Environment (continued)
2023 Biodiversity Project: O昀케ce of the
Year: Alnwick (UK)
Having established a vegetable garden last year, this
year the team in Alnwick decided to embark on building a
wildlife pond and introduce bees.
Each month the team organises a get-together when
some of the work from home colleagues come into the
o昀케ce for the day. They all get together after work, take
part in activities as well as have a catch-up.
The team researched how to create a pond and followed
instructions from a lea昀氀et called 'Big or Small, ponds
for all' produced by wildaboutgardens.org.uk in
collaboration with the Wildlife Trusts and the RHS. They
put together an estimate of costs which were approved by
their site leader.
The pond will attract wildlife by creating a habitat for
creatures such as frogs and newts and the bees will help
pollinate our vegetables as well as the plants in the local
area.
As well as improving the biodiversity of the Alnwick site,
working on the pond, watching the bees and the birds,
and working on the raised beds are all activities which
promoted the well-being of the team.
The judges were impressed the team tackled building a
pond (which are incredibly rich in biodiversity and hold
a disproportionately high level of species richness, and
often more biodiversity than larger ecosystems such as
rivers and lakes) as well as introducing the bees, which
will be of bene昀椀t to local beekeepers and people in the
surrounding area alike. Multiple ideas were introduced
into practice at relatively low cost.
The judges noted the bene昀椀ts of introducing biodiversity
to an industrial park is a great idea and it looked as if
the team had a great time tackling new projects and
learning new things.
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RWS Holdings plc — ESG Report 2023 ENVIRONMENT