On April 11, a team of Apogee volunteers, led by supply chain, logistics and procurement director, Darren Powell, headed to Whisby Education Centre in Lincolnshire to tackle a day of environmental restoration.
Based just a short distance from Apogee’s National Operations Centre, Whisby Education Centre and Nature Park is managed by Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, and has been designed to balance nature conservation, countryside recreation and environmental education.
The day started with a mindful moment, where the group were invited to take a deep breath, pause and consider how they were feeling. By taking their minds off the daily hustle and bustle of life, the group were able to reconnect and fully prepare for a day in nature.
After a brief presentation on the Trust’s mission and values, which emphasised the importance of rekindling our relationship with the natural world, the team were briefed on their task for the day: the construction of a dead hedge fence! More than just a boundary for the site, the dead hedge fence would provide shelter for wildlife, creating safe havens for various creatures to thrive.
The team quickly got to work with their tools: helping to clear debris from the site, making stakes for the fence posts, and moving all the dead hedges to construct the fence.
“Our time at Whisby Nature Park was really rewarding. It was an excellent project to be involved in – from creating a safe space for nature to thrive, to supporting our local community, and of course spending quality time with the team out of the office,” said Darren. “I’d encourage everyone to consider volunteering whenever they get a chance.”
But even with the fence successfully built, the team’s work wasn’t quite complete, they turned their attention to clearing brambles on the nature reserve’s pathways – which are currently growing a metre a week.
In just one day, the team helped to clear a large area of the reserve and build a safe space for wildlife. It was also an opportunity to connect – with each other, and with nature – while making a real impact on the local community.
