Post | February 2024 | Corporate Volunteering | 2 min read

Dead hedging on the Quantock Hills

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Recently, Dion Bell, Team Lead at international fashion brand Mulberry, came to us for help with arranging a volunteering activity for employees from their Bridgwater and Chilcompton offices. The objective? To deliver an opportunity that would allow the team to connect, give back to their community and make a lasting contribution to the local environment.

We caught up with Dion afterwards to hear about the day:

"We had a wonderful time making dead hedges to form a boundary for a footpath on the Quantock Hills. This not only enhanced accessibility to the woodland but also provided a natural habitat for various organisms including mini beasts, fungi, and flora.

“It was incredibly fulfilling to know that our efforts were not only benefiting the community but also contributing to the preservation of wildlife. The satisfaction of giving back to the community and wildlife was immense.

“To facilitate the organisation of the volunteering day, we reached out to Spark Somerset, and were connected with the Quantock Landscape Partnership Scheme (QLPS). This provided us with an invaluable volunteering opportunity that we wouldn't have otherwise been aware of. It streamlined the process and enabled us to make a meaningful impact on our community and environment.

“The volunteering day not only achieved its objective of supporting wildlife conservation and community engagement but also served as an excellent team-building exercise. The team expressed a sense of accomplishment in learning new skills while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

“I can't wait to plan another volunteering day! It was a fantastic experience that brought us together as a team while making a positive difference."

Ella, who is an apprentice with QLPS commented:

"Spending time volunteering outdoors, working within a team, can work wonders for our mental health, whilst also providing personal benefits through learning a new skill, bettering your team communication, and improving your health and wellbeing.

"Mulberry joined QLPS to learn how to construct a dead hedge, enjoying this task for its wellbeing benefit and for the environment too. Creating a natural barrier from organic material that will provide a habitat for beetles, hedgehogs, birds and small mammals, in addition it will discourage desire lines made by the public, helping to protect ground vegetation and surrounding habitat creating a heathy ecosystem.

"By encouraging corporate volunteer groups to explore nature restoration, we are setting a powerful example about how we can care for our planet and the impact people can make in just one day!’

For information about hosting a volunteering activity for your team, click the link below.

I want to volunteer

The Turner & Townsend team visit West Hatch Animal Centre

| Corporate Volunteering

"On the volunteering day, we got to meet new people and work together as a team towards a great outcome."

Adder surveying on the Quantock Hills

| Corporate Volunteering

"It was wonderful to be out of the office for the day in the fresh air and surrounded by nature on the Quantock Hills"

The Novanta Technologies Team visit The Geranium Trust

| Corporate Volunteering

Earlier this year, a team of volunteers from Novanta Technologies braved the cold to enjoy a day of tree planting at local charity, The Geranium Trust . The Novanta Technologies team was delighted to spend the day helping fellow volunteers from Able2Achieve , a charity which supports people with learning disabilities to develop their skills and confidence through learning, living and working. The Geranium Trust, a charity which offers support and friendship to people in their community, are currently planting 600 metres of new hedgerow to encourage local wildlife and this provided a wonderful project for the Novanta team to get involved in! Charlotte Fursdon, Operations Administrator at Novanta Technologies, told us about the day: “Our team went along to help plant trees, which involved a lot of digging, planting and lots of work pushing the wheelbarrow about! The team loved being outdoors and helping with such a worthwhile project. The group who organised it were from all backgrounds, and it was such a good chance to all muck in together. “Aside from helping the community, the volunteering team day gave us such a sense of wellbeing, working together, team building and a good dose of reality. “It was such a wonderful experience, and everyone was welcoming and brilliant from the outset. I have forged strong links with other groups, so we are all able to work together on future projects. “We are very lucky to work for a company that encourages community volunteering and Spark a Change is now our go-to platform for organising future activities." Joe Knights, Able2achieve’s Learning Facilitator said: “With the help of the volunteers, we have been able to plant hundreds of trees hedges, which has helped speed up our timescales, and that’s fantastic. “Our project is aimed at our community, and it is a great morale boost to the project team when we receive interest and help from organisations, like Novanta. “By working alongside other groups of volunteers, we are also able to increase awareness of our work, learn about the work of others and create lasting relationships that will benefit everyone going forward. “We’d like to say a huge thankyou to the team from Novanta for being a fantastic tree planting workforce and helping our community and wildlife!” Terence Palfrey, Founder of the Geranium Trust said: "Volunteer team days are so valuable in helping The Geranium Trust to thrive. Volunteering is good for the charity that you are helping, but better still, it's really good for you and your team. You can make friends, learn new skills and it may lead you on to something that you never dreamed would ever happen."

Post | February 2024 | Corporate Volunteering | 2 min read

Dead hedging on the Quantock Hills

Written by

Laura Bazley

We caught up with Dion afterwards to hear about the day:

“I can't wait to plan another volunteering day! It was a fantastic experience that brought us together as a team while making a positive difference."

Ella, who is an apprentice with QLPS commented:

"By encouraging corporate volunteer groups to explore nature restoration, we are setting a powerful example about how we can care for our planet and the impact people can make in just one day!’

For information about hosting a volunteering activity for your team, click the link below.

I want to volunteer