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May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a month dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of mental health in everyday life. The Mental Health Foundation began Mental Health Awareness Week 21 years ago, and each year a new theme is chosen – this year it’s loneliness. This week provides an opportunity for the entire UK to focus on achieving excellent mental health, and it’s now one of the most well-known awareness weeks in the UK and around the world. This blog looks at the opportunity to connect with nature and the incredible benefit it plays on our mental health.
What’s the evidence?
Nature and the natural world around us, plays an essential role in improving our mental and emotional well-being.
Nature has surrounded us for all of human history, but sadly many of us fail to fully appreciate the natural world around us and the benefits it can bring.
A wildlife-rich environment, according to research, can boost both our physical and mental health. Simply being outside in natural light can be really beneficial to our mental health and improving our mood.
Various studies have found that different types of exposures to nature are linked to mental health benefits (Bratman et al., 2019; Berman et al., 2008), and research shows that our brains actually respond differently in natural surroundings and we become calmer.
Ways to connect with nature
Mindfulness – Try to observe your surroundings. This could be watching your favourite flowers blossom, listening to the birds in the trees, or even watching the clouds move. Simply sit with nature for a few minutes each day in whatever way is meaningful for you.
Get creative within your natural surroundings – there are many different ways to get creative with nature, this can be through wildlife photography and painting or drawing the landscape in front of you, or a bird in your garden.
Outdoor exercise – regular exercise has been shown to improve mental health, helping you relax, improving memory, promoting better sleep, and improving general mood. To get some fresh air, go for daily walks, jogs, or cycles, or even try gardening. The Wildlife Trusts have some great ideas to introduce wildlife and nature into your own garden, including how to build a pond, how to attract butterflies to your garden, how to make a hedge for wildlife, and so many more ideas to try.
During lockdown, enjoying nature helped us to escape the effects of the long months of the pandemic, and millions of the UK public turned to nature. Research carried out by the Mental Health Foundation showed that “going for walks was one of our top coping strategies and 45% reported being in green spaces had been vital for their mental health”.
The importance of nature in learning:
Forest schools are a relatively new concept in the UK. They provide an outdoor learning environment where children learn problem solving skills and explore the natural environment. Spending time within nature can actually reduce anxiety in young children (Cudworth and Lumber, 2021).
The new curriculum in Wales and its Four Core Purposes align themselves particularly well to the concept of Forest School Philosophy; particularly the concept of creating ethically informed citizens of the future and the next generation of custodians of our environment.
Mental health, nature and me
I am very lucky that my job allows me to get outdoors and spend time in natural environments. I have been privileged to carry out my work in a variety of different habitats and catch glimpses of the wonderful wildlife we have in Wales.
Outside my job, I like to go for long walks in the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia which really helps clear my mind, relax, whilst improving my fitness all at the same time!
One of my favourite walks in the Brecon Beacons starts at Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyas, heading up Hatterall Hill from the Abbey and reaching the ridge at the top. Part of this forms Offas Dyke. Once you walk along the ridge and head down the valley, you reach Capel Y Ffin, and then take a quiet country road back to Llanthony Priory.
Wild camping after a long walk is a perfect way to calm my mind; being in the middle of nowhere, alone, helps to focus my mind on the present moment and everything around me. I feel a great sense of accomplishment when I set up my tent at the end of a long days walk.
At home, I am lucky to live in the country, and walk just outside my front door to de-stress. No matter what time of year it is I can experience the beauty of nature first-hand during every season. In winter, I appreciate the early morning frosts, and in spring I like to see the flowers come out. It’s a great opportunity to improve my plant ID skills too. Being outside and spending time in nature encourages me to take time away from technological devices including my phone, TV, and computer, and allows me to live in the present moment and recharge from the stresses of everyday life.
References
Bratman, G.N., Anderson, C.B., Berman, M.G., Cochran, B., De Vries, S., Flanders, J., Folke, C., Frumkin, H., Gross, J.J., Hartig, T. and Kahn Jr, P.H., 2019. Nature and mental health: An ecosystem service perspective. Science advances, 5(7), p.eaax0903.
Berman, M.G., Jonides, J. and Kaplan, S., 2008. The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological science, 19(12), pp.1207-1212.
Cudworth, D. and Lumber, R., 2021. The importance of Forest School and the pathways to nature connection. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 24(1), pp.71-85.
Wildlifetrusts.org. 2022. Wildlife gardening | The Wildlife Trusts. Available at: https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening
Madeleine Anderson, Assistant Ecologist
Our planet would not be able to support life if we did not have plants. Plants define different habitats that can support fauna species which contributes to biodiversity. The more numerous plant species there are within an area, the higher habitat diversity is present, which will therefore have a higher biodiversity value, leading in turn to a heathier and more stable ecosystem. Due to the increased pressures from industry, agriculture and development, the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. The current levels of wildlife abundance is still declining, which would cause a disastrous effect on our country’s ability to support healthy ecosystems. The introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) aims to increase the biodiversity value of new developments by a minimum of %10 net gain. If BNG is successful, then there is still a possibility that we can reverse the decline in the UK biodiversity.
How is biodiversity calculated?
The biodiversity value of a site is calculated by identifying and assessing the onsite habitats present prior to the development
being undertaken by using the extended Phase 1 habitat survey methodology. This survey involves an experienced ecologist identifying the various plant species and habitat types that are present onsite. The habitat is then classified by mapping the species assemblages identified onsite.
Conditions
The conditions of the habitats are also assessed, which is an important step when calculating the biodiversity value of the site as it can identify priority and protected habitats onsite, as well as identify which habitats can be enhanced to gain further biodiversity value. The information then influences the recommended mitigations measures that are required for the project to be undertaken.
Phase 1 Survey
Phase I survey is carried out as part of a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) which uses the data taken from the site survey as well as species records and designated site data from the surrounding area to identify what ecological constraints could be present onsite. This information is then used to provide recommendations as to what further surveys and mitigation should be carried out for the development to proceed without triggering legislation.
Why is plant identification so important?
Plant identification is the fundamental aspect when classifying and assessing the conditions of habitats onsite. Plants provide an indication of the soil type, the nitrogen content, soil moisture and salt content, climate, light exposure, and temperatures. Habitats can be identified through indicator species, which are specific species that only grow in certain soil types and conditions. The habitat condition can also be assessed by recording the number and abundance of plant species within a certain habitat.
What is the optimal time to survey habitats?
A Phase I can be undertaken throughout the year, however, the optimum period for the survey is between April to September. This is because there are more identifiable features on a flowering plant and in some cases, you can only identify plants to species level if the flower is present. If the survey is undertaken within the suboptimal period, or certain types of habitats are present, that require a more detailed survey, a botanical survey may be required depending on what habitats are being affected by the proposed development.
Habitat identification and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)
Natural England developed the biodiversity metric to help calculate the BNG score of a development which has brought up a lot of debate on how effective the metric is. One of the most fundamental points is that for the calculation to work, the baseline habitat assessment needs to be accurate. An accurate evaluation of the habitat condition also identifies which habitats can be enhanced onsite as well what habits can be created to increase the biodiversity value of the development.
UK Habitat Classification System
The way that Natural England has addressed this need is by using the UK Habitat Classification System (UKHab). The UKHab classification system[1] was published in 2018 after extensive trialling by volunteers.
UKHab acts as a middle ground between the quicker Phase 1 habitat assessment and the more comprehensive and slower National Vegetation Classification (NVC) survey.
UKHab can classify habitats quicker than the NVC but with more information than the Phase 1 survey. UKHab also attempts to create a less subjective approach to habitat classification using a system similar to an identification key to help guide an ecologist to the correct habitat. Therefore, UKHab can be an accurate way of classifying the onsite habitat condition and type.
Prior to it being used for the metric only a small number of consultants used UKHab it as its main classification system.
However, with this new introduction it is now vital for ecologists to learn and develop their skills with using the new system. Fortunately, BNG will be mandatory in the autumn of 2023, this means that there is now an opportunity for ecologists to get to grips with using UKHab.
This period of grace is also a fantastic opportunity to develop a good understanding of plant identification, especially as we are entering into spring and summer when it is easier to do so.
What can be done to increase the biodiversity in a development?
– Involving and consulting an ecologist in the earliest stages of a new development means that they can recommend what habitats can be created and enhanced, to increase the biodiversity of a site post-development.
– Plan to have a wide variety of habitats comprised of native species of local provenance and grown in the UK, which will support our native populations of insects and mammals. This also reduces the chance of introducing plant diseases and pests from abroad.
– Designing green infrastructure as part of a development have shown to not only increase environmental benefits but has also shown benefits for social and economic benefits.
– Create wildlife-friendly gardens to support local wildlife all year round.
Laoise Wilder, Assistant Ecologist
Joining the B Corp community, and achieving certification in 2019, has probably been Wildwood’s most transformative decision to date. It’s provided clarity about the kind of business we want to be and how we want to conduct ourselves. It’s enabled us to establish a distinct identity, set out a vision and values, and, ultimately, distinguish what makes Wildwood different from the rest. But it’s one thing to adopt the B Corp code ‘using business as a force for good’, it’s another thing altogether to put it into practice.
Our Story
Wildwood Ecology is proud to have been conceived and born in Wales. Our founding director, Richard Crompton, was influenced by Oliver Rackham‘s conception of the “Wildwood” in the ‘History of the Countryside‘, which provides a fascinating account of the sometimes subtle and sometimes radical ways in which people, fauna, flora, climate, soils and other physical conditions have played their part in the shaping of the countryside. I personally have taken great inspiration from a book by the writer, broadcaster, and film-maker Roger Deakin, who died in 2006, after completing the manuscript for a book entitled ‘Wildwood – a journey through trees’. Published a year after his passing, Deakin’s tale describes sleeping under the stars in the open attic, or in an abandoned wooden railway carriage in the orchard, “listening to the cool oboe notes of owls and their shrewicides in the meadow and along the lane”. Wonderful words and a wonderful book. I believe that in those few lines carries an enormous sentiment of what the natural environment meant to both the author and to us all if we care to stand and stare.
“listening to the cool oboe of owls and their shrewicides in the meadow and along the lane”
Why ecology?
My career choice was a simple one: I am an ecologist because I love the natural environment. It gives me all I need; clean air, fresh water and wholesome food, spectacular natural landscapes and wildlife, seasonality, resources and opportunities to make my life comfortable and enjoyable.
After working for public and not-for-profit organisations since graduating from Cardiff University, I joined Richard Crompton as Co-Director of Wildwood Ecology in 2010. Working together to grow the company, focusing on both ecological consultancy and training, we parted company in 2016. Richard Crompton is now an established ecological projects advisor and trainer, where he assists ecologists and commercial clients with complex ecological projects, especially those involving bats and other protected species.
Vision and Values
It is easy for business owners to relate to the idea that their journey ultimately shapes the vision and values of their company. It would be incongruous to hold strong personal principles and yet contradict these in a working environment. It might be possible to do so for a short period of time, and it might even be possible to convince some employees and clients, but typically, this road inevitably leads to frustration, compromise, inconsistency, and often failure.
Wildwood Ecology understands its responsibility to both the environment and society, which may go beyond any legal or regulatory requirements by which a company must abide. My colleagues and I, Deakin and many others, believe that the protection and enjoyment of the natural environment is vital to the continued existence of us all. Our actions and advice in developing the built environment as ecological consultants must seek to halt and restore biodiversity loss, address our own impacts on human induced climate change and help create a better planet for the benefit of future generations.
Since Wildwood Ecology’s conception we have been on an evolving transformative journey. Of course, we have made many mistakes along the way, and will likely make many more, but we strive to learn. We want to be a better business tomorrow than we are today. Easy to say, harder to deliver. However, this is a marathon and not a sprint. We do not adopt cheap labels such as “the number one ecological experts” but we do have a strong vision and values that bind us, and, I believe, make us a better business.
We will not knowingly work on political vanity projects or any development where the natural environment is either side-lined or ignored.
A Force for Good
We use our vision and values as our rulebook. They remind us to recruit and reward our hard-working and principled ecologists, to deliver an outstanding level of service to our valued clients, and how we choose our suppliers. This approach enabled our discovery of sustainable and ethical business practice, and we began to notice a recurring pattern.
Many of the companies we sought to emulate were associated with the B Corp movement. Having never heard ‘B Corp’ before, this was a completely new and intriguing entity.
In late 2018, I attended the Homebuilding & Renovating Show in London, where I met ecological design company, Green&Blue, who were showcasing their beautiful bee bricks, bird, and bat boxes. What was most impressive was their passion, not only for creating a sustainable product, but a sustainable business. They share our commitment to the natural environment and believe that every new home built also needs to provide a home for wildlife. They had recently been certified as a B Corp, and as that discussion progressed, it re-enforced my own attitude that all businesses can, and should be, a force for good.
The B Corporation vision
On my return from the show, I began to research the B Corp movement in greater depth and began to see a real alignment with my own small ecological consultancy.
Skip forward a few months, and in July 2019 we became a proud member of the B Corp community. It puts us at the heart of a global network of more than 4,600 companies that are committed to acting in a sustainable and transparent way, whilst meeting the highest environmental and social standards.
To become a certified B Corp, businesses are required to complete a survey, Business Impact Assessment (BIA). It’s not just any survey, it’s one of the most comprehensive and challenging tools out there for assessing the real social and environmental impact of a business.
The BIA is operated by the independent non-profit B Lab. It allows businesses to measure the impact their business is having on the Environment, their Workers, Customers, and the Community, as well as looking at their Governance structure. Businesses must meet a minimum of 80 points out of 200 to certify, as well as make a legal change to their business to place impact on people and planet on the same level as profit.
On first certification we scored a mere 80.6 points, scraping in by the ‘skin of our teeth’, so we know we have a lot to do to make any real impact. You can compare our result with the likes of other great companies, including many instantly recognisable companies such as Patagonia, The Body Shop, Cook and Tridos Bank, and some industry specific companies including Kennedy Woods Architecture and Stride Treglown.
Since July 2019, we have made significant changes to the way we conduct our business. Here are a few things we have done:
- Shifted our business account to The Co-operative Bank
- Become a signatory as a Living Wage Employer
- At the end of 2019 we committed at COP25 to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030
- Chosen Fairphone as our dedicated mobile phone for employees and switched to Honest Mobile as our network provider
- Integrated social and environmental performance into decision-making, including performance reviews that formally incorporate social and environmental issues
- We offer a salary sacrifice scheme supporting employees to switch to an electric vehicle
- We monitor and seek to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions using the Greenhouse Gas Protocol calculation tool for Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions
This is a small list of the things we have changed and we recognise we still have a long way to go. There is a plan and strategy in place to get us there that will require real action; action that impacts the way we do business. B Corps are required to undergo the verification process every three years to recertify, ensuring standards continue to be met and promoting long-term resiliency. As such, we will go through our very first recertification programme in July 2022. I’m really looking forward to having these improvements validated and finding out what our new impact score will be.
Play your part
Why should you seek out purpose-led companies?
Every time you buy a product or service from a B Corp, you’re taking a small step towards a more sustainable world, and casting a vote for a new way of doing good business.
As a B Corp, we have changed the way we conduct our normal business activities that benefits all our stakeholders and not just our shareholder. We have chosen to monitor, review and, where necessary, change the way we operate and conduct the way we interact with our clients, customers, suppliers, employees, and our communities. It goes beyond giving money to a charitable cause, volunteering, or offsetting our carbon emissions.
We actively seek change in everything we do and live by our vision and values. Sometimes we may not get it right, but you can rest assured that we will never cease trying to do so and learn from our mistakes.
Also, perhaps consider that people want to work for companies and organisations that stand for something beyond just making money. Time and again, we see brilliant individuals wanting to join our team, and stay with us, because they believe in our vision and share our values. A business can make a positive change if they listen to and support the growth and development of their most important asset – their employees!
We’ve got a busy year ahead and we’ll face lots more challenges. But by collaborating with others, spreading the word about B Corp and focusing on our vision, we can prove that business truly can be a force for good. And that as we grow (and we are growing both our consultancy and training division, The Ecology Academy), we can play an even bigger role in sustainably building an environment that considers biodiversity loss, as much as the climate crisis we all face.
Richard Dodd, Managing Director
Wetland Wonders
Swamps and bogs don’t tend to get the same level of attention as rainforests or coral reefs. However, wetlands are one of the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the planet and they are being lost at an alarming rate. World Wetlands Day on February 2nd aims to raise global awareness about the vital role of these habitats, and in 2022 the focus is a call to action to save and restore the world’s wetlands.
What are wetlands?
Wetland habitats take many forms including peatlands, floodplain meadows, estuaries, reedbeds and marshes, extending across inland and coastal zones. They are either permanently or seasonally inundated with water, and range in size from the Pantanal floodplains of South America at over 180,000km², to your back garden pond. Different wetland habitat types often combine into complex ecosystems, and they support an incredible diversity of plant and animal species.
Why are wetlands important?
BIODIVERSITY – These amazing areas are some of our most valuable ecosystems, with 40% of the world’s wildlife relying on them, including half of all bird species and two thirds of all fish species. Rich in plant life and packed with insects, they are home to many of the UK’s protected species including otter, water vole, great crested newt, European eel, and white-clawed crayfish. They are a great place to see a range of birds such as lapwing, curlew, snipe, and marsh harrier.
CARBON STORAGE – Wetlands are important stores of carbon. Wetland plants absorb carbon dioxide and when they die and partially decompose, they form peatland soils. Over thousands of years these soils accumulate vast amounts of carbon, holding around one third of total carbon in soils and more than is held in all living vegetation combined. When peatlands are drained or extracted for horticultural use, they release CO₂ into the atmosphere with implications for climate change. Emissions from peatland currently contribute around 3.5% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions globally. If all carbon currently stored in peatland was released, it would raise atmospheric CO₂ by 75%, with disastrous results. Rewetting and restoration of peatlands prevents the release of this stored carbon, while providing important habitat for plant and animal species.
FLOOD CONTROL – Wetland habitats act as a buffer to store and slow rainwater runoff and flood flows, gradually releasing it back into the system. River floodplains hold excess flows from our river systems and saltmarshes on the coast absorb wave energy. When wetlands are drained or floodplains used for development, the risk of flooding downriver increases. ‘Natural flood management’ schemes are used to recreate natural processes to reduce flooding or coastal erosion, such as restoring bends in rivers or creating new salt marshes. This not only reduces flood risk but can help restore habitats and improve water quality.
CLEAN WATER – One of the valuable services provided by wetlands is the protection of downstream watercourses from sediment and pollutants, through physical, chemical, and biological processes. Water flow slows as it enters a wetland, allowing suspended particles to drop out of the water column and into the ground layer. A slower water flow improves water chemistry, allowing time for bacteria to naturally convert toxic nutrients into less harmful forms. Nutrients from sewage, agricultural run-off and other sources are used by growing plants and soil microorganisms. In fact, wetlands are so effective at this filtering process that they are being planted and preserved to replace traditional water treatment plants at a much lower cost; New York City found that it could save $3-8 billion in new water treatment plants by buying and conserving $1.5 billion in wetlands around its upstate reservoirs.
WELLBEING – The natural environment is increasingly understood to have a significant impact on our physical and mental health. Research shows that even short periods of contact with nature can improve conditions such as anxiety, stress and depression, and it appears that water and wetlands may be especially important in these nature/health interactions. Research by the Mental Health Foundation found that being near lakes, rivers and the sea was rated the highest by people in terms of having a positive impact on their mental health.
Why are wetlands at risk?
Despite the essential role of wetlands for people and planet, estimates show that at least 64% of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1900, disappearing three times faster than forests. In the UK we’ve lost a staggering 90% of our wetland habitats in the last 100 years and over 10% of our freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction.
The reasons for this dramatic loss include unsustainable farming and development practices, urbanisation and water abstraction. Species are affected by pollution from rural and urban areas, modification of rivers and other wetlands and invasive non-native species. Raised bogs have been destroyed or degraded through industrial peat-cutting for fuel or use in compost, and in some places this continues.
How do we protect and restore wetlands?
World Wetlands Day marks the anniversary of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands in 1971. Under this convention, wetlands of international importance are designated as protected Ramsar sites. The UK currently has more Ramsar sites than any other nation with 175 designated sites, all with commitments for conservation objectives. UK wetland sites often also fall under other levels of protection such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Priority Habitats, or Biodiversity Action Plans.
In recent decades, after years of decline, wetlands are making a comeback. Nature conservation organisations, water companies, landowners, farmers and local communities are recognising the value that these habitats hold. Restoration and creation projects have been implemented across the UK, such as the award-winning Anglesey and Llŷn Fens LIFE Project or the Wallasea Island Wild Coast Project. The Wildlife Trusts are currently running trials to reintroduce beavers, which would once have played a crucial role as ’ecosystem engineers’ creating diverse and dynamic wetland systems through coppicing, damming, and digging ‘beaver canal’ systems.
What can we do?
One of the most effective ways you can help wildlife in your garden is to create your own wetland area. A garden pond will provide shelter, breeding grounds, food and drinking water for mammals, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates. Taking time to design your pond to incorporate features to attract a wide range of species will really maximise the benefits. If a pond is not suitable, if young children use the garden for example, using a damp area to create a bog garden can be a great way to incorporate valuable habitat. Frogs, toads, or grass snakes may be attracted to the area along with dragonflies, butterflies and other insects.
You can visit, support, or volunteer for your local wetlands by looking for local reserves run by charities such as the Wildfowl and Wetland Trust (WWT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust.
Our wetland habitats are a vital part of the UK landscape, essential for wildlife and for people. They form part of a dynamic and interconnected system that, with a little help, can continue to sustain a vast and unique diversity of wildlife.
Jenny O’Neill, Assistant Ecologist
Davidson, N. C. (2014). How much wetland has the world lost? Long-term and recent trends in global wetland area. Marine and Freshwater Research, 65(10), 934-941.
Evans, C., Artz, R., Moxley, J., Smyth, M-A., Taylor, E., Archer, N., Burden, A., Williamson, J., Donnelly, D., Thomson, A., Buys, G., Malcolm, H., Wilson, D., Renou-Wilson, F., Potts J. (2017). Implementation of an emission inventory for UK peatlands. Report to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Bangor.88pp.
WWF and the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (2004) – The Economic Values of the World’s Wetlands
The start of the New Year for many heralds a period of self-reflection; it signals the desire for new goals, new habits and sometimes includes a new chapter in the form of a new job. When considering a new job, what do you look out for? Are you swayed by a swanky salary, a bonus and bountiful benefits package or is it the job description, or maybe even the company culture? Over the years, I can genuinely say that company culture has never been at the top of my list, or actually even featured. After all, it only became more than just a buzzword during the ‘‘10s’, so it’s unlikely I would have ever appreciated the real significance of company culture to overall job satisfaction in the workplace, until I started at Wildwood Ecology.
Motivational factors
Of course, different generations will have different motivational factors for being attracted to certain organisations and certain types of careers. The youngest generations of workforce, Gen Z, are clear to recognise the values they seek in an ideal employer. They tend to be attracted to companies with a vision and values similar to their own, where employee wellbeing is a consideration and personal development is actively supported. Financial stability is obviously up there in importance but finding a balance between work and personal life is equally important, and the freedom to explore their creativity with a high degree of autonomy is desirable. We also know older generations, Gen Y and Xers, are more open to career switching beyond 50 (read my interview with Ian Weller here), and value jobs that might enable them to learn a new skill or perhaps align work with hobbies and interests. But whatever age you are, at whatever point you are in your career, one thing that’s clear – company culture counts in 2022.
According to HR software giant, Breathe, company culture is everything to a flourishing business.
“We know that good company culture involves trust, respect, and the opportunity for employees to participate in shared values and love what they do.
It’s something that develops organically from the top down. It isn’t something a business can buy in, though there are many means that can help, such as systems and consultants. In our opinion, company culture is like an ecosystem that needs to be nurtured in order to thrive.”
It’s no wonder that Wildwood are quietly so very good at this company culture thing, when it clearly involves growing organically and nurturing ecosystems to support flourishing!
“Great company culture sets the foundations for real, tangible business growth. It’s based on honest, productive conservations and helps companies to identify issues and collectively form resolutions”. Aimee O Callaghan, Breathe HR
So, what does great company culture actually look like?
Company culture creates expectations, a set of standards and behaviours to which it wants its employees to adhere. Of course, you can’t truly understand the company culture until you work there for a period of time, although you can gain a fairly decent idea from the job description and person specification, the website and from meeting others who work there. It may be the difference between running yourself ragged working hours that may not fit with the rest of your life, to being able to do the school run, take a walk at lunchtime or work from home, and achieve a work-life balance that makes you feel in control. It’s the difference between feeling invisible and feeling valued or feeling like an imposter and feeling like a respected member of a team. It’s the difference between feeling you are contributing to something worthy of contributing to, rather than feeling you are just contributing.
What’s the point of great company culture?
In recent research carried out by Breathe HR, whereby 500 SME senior decision makers in the UK were asked if they believed workplace culture impacts positively on company performance, 72% believed company culture does have a positive impact.
The positive impacts were as follows:
- Increased morale, atmosphere and relationships (69%)
- Employees willing to go the extra mile (61%)
- Better customer service, customer satisfaction and customer retention (60%)
- Improved individual performance and productivity (55%)
- Reduced employee turnover (49%)
- More people contribute ideas and support innovation (49%)
- Reduced absenteeism (45%)
Great company culture breeds loyalty and trust. Trust is granted, not earnt – once granted it’s then up to us, as employees, to demonstrate we’re worthy of that trust. By granting trust, it’s an effective way of the company demonstrating it has confidence it in its employees, it believes in them: it believes they will follow through and deliver. Furthermore, it has the ability to instil good habits across the team and create a powerful motivational force for good.
If there is an expectation to perform a certain task in a certain way, even though it may seem unnecessarily arduous, or just unnecessary, if everyone in the organisation is doing it that way, it becomes the only accepted way to do it. If the company can create this kind of environment, a culture can enhance not only the way you work, but possibly how you manage other aspects of your life too.
Certainly, Wildwood’s mantra is about finding a way and doing the right thing, by its clients, by the planet and by its employees.
In our end of year staff survey, again an opportunity to have a voice, we were asked to come up with three words that best describe Wildwood’s culture. It’s not a difficult ask; it’s very clear to me and I came up with the following.
Different – Wildwood is most certainly different, it’s different to anywhere I’ve worked; the main difference being the culture!
Positive – Being surrounded by individuals who share a ‘glass half-full’ outlook on life is infectious as omicron in the workplace. There are always challenges to overcome, no matter where you are, whatever your position, whether you find yourself in the midst of a global pandemic or you arrive at work to find no milk in the fridge. A ‘can-do’ culture and a shared commitment to finding solutions collectively is incredibly refreshing.
Empowering – A new word for me for 2022, but yes Wildwood culture empowers people, whether it’s empowering clients by educating them in the best approach to a sustainable project or empowering its employees to take responsibility for their personal development and accountability within the company. People are empowered when they are trusted to do their job and when they are allowed to take risks and learn from mistakes. Feedback and praise are super important too, we’re human after all. Wildwood nurtures its people to help them grow, to do the right thing and create positive outcomes that in turn benefit others.
If by reading this, you think there has been some form of coercion or there is a hidden marketing objective here, you’d be mistaken. Wildwood is genuinely a little bit different; a small (ish) consultancy that punches well above its weight, big B Corp ideas to boot, and one that lives so true to its values it’s impossible not to be inspired.
Lucy Larkman, Marketing Manager
www.wildwoodecology.com/about-us
https://www.breathehr.com/en-gb/resources/culture-economy-report-2021
What is Biodiversity Net Gain?
With the new Environment Act coming into effect and COP26 having recently taken place, buzzwords relating to the climate ecological emergency are being banded around left right and centre. One of these is biodiversity net gain (BNG) – a term used to describe how the value of habitats (and in theory, wildlife) on a site may change over time. In terms of planning and development, it is an approach to demonstrate how a project will comply with both wildlife legislation and planning policy to bring about gains for wildlife. In turn, it encourages developers to put more focus on creating green spaces and infrastructure within their development. Or, to introduce another new term for you, Natural Capital.
If you do some reading around, you will find articles arguing the pros or cons of BNG, from the perspective of ecologists or conservationists. It is by no means a perfect process, but from our perspective, if there is a requirement to achieve biodiversity net gain, this can mean habitats that may not have otherwise been retained or created, are included in the overall design for the site. Whilst current wildlife legislation can protect specific species, a requirement for BNG can ensure habitats that are good for wildlife in general are also protected. This is important for a number of reasons. If, due to legislation, we only protect habitat specific to a small number of protected species, this will cause habitats to become fragmented, and put common species at risk of decline.
Inclusion of these habitats are not just beneficial for the species that use them – it’s worth considering the wider ecosystem services that could be achieved as a result of the habitats chosen for the site. For example, if allotments have been included within a residential development, inclusion of habitats that support pollinators will ensure a good yield for tenants using allotments to grow vegetables, with many food plants relying on pollination to produce fruit. There are also benefits such as carbon sequestration, and flood prevention. The benefits of spending time in natural and green spaces are also widely known to improve mental health[1], and numerous studies finding that during the recent Covid-19 pandemic there were sharp increases in the number of people utilising their local parks and spending time outside for leisure or exercise[2].
How does it work?
Net gain is calculated by inputting habitats, pre- and post- development, into a metric, created by Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs). The metric (Defra Metric 3.0, as of July 2021) provides a baseline biodiversity score for the site, and then the percentage change between pre- and post-development is given – which is where the “net gain” comes in. The metric will have fixed weighting to a habitat’s “distinctiveness”, but we can add in additional elements that may vary between site, such as the habitats “condition.” For example, a pond would have a fixed distinctiveness score of “high.” However, if during the site surveys it was found to have little emergent vegetation, evidence of high nutrients or possibly pollution, then we could specify that it was of “poor” condition. These classifications are associated with the score and get multiplied along with other factors, to provide a biodiversity score for the habitat. Other things that are considered include how long a habitat might take to reach maturity, and difficulty of creation.
What does a quote for BNG calculations include?
Usually if a net gain calculation is required, we will include a biodiversity impact assessment at the end of a report, or we can produce a standalone document. This will include a written summary of the change in ecological value and any assumptions made when completing the calculations and interpreting the landscape plans provided. We can also provide recommendations for increasing the net gain score.
To conduct the actual calculation and complete the metric we require a detailed landscape plan, which demonstrates the different areas of habitat on site, with the illustration showing clear boundaries and sections that we can measure. For the pre-development score, we will base these habitats and areas off a habitat map created during the preliminary ecological appraisal of the site. The post-development score is based on measuring the sections of habitat illustrated on the agreed landscape plans. Often a landscape plan can have different terminology to describe areas of habitat to the codes/names used on the Biodiversity Metric. For example, an area described as wildflower meadow on a landscape plan could be listed as any of around eight habitat types on the Defra metric, which may all have different impacts and weightings on the biodiversity score for the site. To get clarity on this it may be necessary to have consultations with the landscape architect involved with the project to determine what type of species mix they are proposing for the habitat or what type of management they are likely to carry out. All this information will help us determine the most suitable habitat to put and the most realistic condition the habitat will reach.
In full, a quote will need to allow time for consultations, mapping habitats on GIS software, inputting the data into the Defra metric, and completing the analysis and reporting elements. The time allowed for all of this may vary depending on the scale of the project.
What happens if my project doesn’t reach 10%?
We can understand the frustration felt when it can feel impossible to reach that golden figure of 10% net gain, which is now so often cited. This can often happen when developments occur on greenfield sites, as even if the baseline habitats are not of significant importance, they are still significantly higher scoring than hard standing and buildings, which will score zero. This means any remaining habitat must be significantly enhanced to compensate for the biodiversity lost. A common pitfall is not having enough space to create new habitat, even though in relative terms, the developer is not planning to build over a huge amount. However, if this habitat is of high value and has a high multiplication factor for reaching maturity, it can take a much larger area to replace the biodiversity units lost.
As ecologists, we understand some of the pitfalls of the metric, and will always try to be pragmatic when it comes to making a written assessment on the biodiversity impact on the site. Sometimes it gets to a stage where the only way to reach 10% is to remove a perfectly good habitat and create a higher scoring one in its place, and realistically this may (arguably) cause more disruption to the site and displace species that the habitat currently supports. If we think certain habitat creation practices may be inappropriate, we will reflect this in our report, and similarly, emphasise the benefits of the proposed habitats if we feel they would be of particular benefit to the ecology on site. Alternatively, we will work alongside you to identify opportunities for offsetting biodiversity with a landowner/provider.
Here are some tips and pointers to keep your project on track and hopefully reduce delays due to low BNG scores:
- Involve and consult with an ecologist from an early stage. Even if they have not completed the metric yet, they may be able to advise on whether the existing habitats on site are likely to score highly, and therefore how much (roughly) might need to be retained/enhanced. We would always recommend retaining as much high-quality habitat as possible (e.g., woodland).
- Similarly, if your project involves covering a substantial portion of a green site with hard standing, they may be able to advise that it will be difficult to reach net gain, allowing you to investigate alternatives and adjustments at an early stage.
- Generally, a site is much more likely to achieve a net gain in biodiversity if it is a brownfield site, or partially developed already.
- Enhancing habitat that is being retained is a fantastic way to achieve gain which may use less labour and resources than creating an entirely new habitat. For example, if a pocket of woodland is identified on site, some general maintenance and understorey planting may take the condition of the habitat from poor or moderate, to good, or change the woodland type to a higher scoring habitat (e.g., from a fairly species poor plantation woodland, to a diverse deciduous mixed woodland).
- With the new Environment Act coming into action, if 10% cannot be achieved on-site it will need to be achieved using off-site enhancement. If we anticipate at an early stage, that it may be difficult to achieve 10% gain on-site, we can inform the client early on to allow time for finding a suitable area for off-site enhancement.
Useful links
[1] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/MHAW21_NATURE%20REPORT_ENG_web.pdf
[2] https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/howhaslockdownchangedourrelationshipwithnature/2021-04-26
Featured image: https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/topics/environment/biodiversity-net-gain
Sofie Borek, Assistant Ecologist