Givaudan
have been working closely with the
Environment Agency and
the
Kentish Stour Countryside
Project, along with help from staff members and contractors.
The Great
Stour Meadow forms part of the Givaudan site
and is bordered by the River Great Stour. Givaudan works to encourage biodiversity
across all parts of the site and took the meadow area back into its own
management some years ago as a natural place to concentrate activities to
foster and encourage biodiversity. Previously used for farming, the land
was deliberately returned to become a wild flower meadow that could be home
to small mammals and insects . Two ponds were constructed as well as river
bays and an otter holt and owl nest boxes and kingfisher perches were erected.
In 2008
volunteer employees established a work programme to enhance the area further,
and these "Great Stour Meadow Project" activities included:
-
The construction of an all-weather path to gain access to the large
pond
-
The construction of a "dipping platform" to allow visitors to see wildlife
in the large pond. This work, which involved contractors and employees,
is a key part of the site's project to work with local primary schools
-
The planting by employees of a small copse of native woodland trees
to provide shade around the large pond
-
The construction of a hibernaculum for reptiles, including frogs, lizards
and newts,
to hibernate over the winter
-
The preparation of seed beds and planting of wild flower seed mixes
to enhance
the colour and display of flowers in spring
A variety
of other sustainability based organisations attended including:
Energy Saving Trust,
Kentish Stour Countryside Project,
BTCV,
Activ Cycles,
SolarAge,
Cycle Circle,
Rainwater Storage Solutions,
and Kent County Council.
Everyone
had a great day (as you can see from the pictures below) and found it extremely
informative. If this has inspired you to volunteer your time to help out
with a project in your local area please see
Muck In 4 Life or
BTCV for ideas.
For more information about
recycling at work,
recycling tips,
and where to recycle using the
bank
locator.
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