8 ways your business can get wild for nature this year

Photo by Ray Lewis

Does your business take its corporate environmental responsibility seriously? Perhaps you want to have a little fun while doing your part for nature! If you’re looking for ways to get outdoors, support wildlife conservation efforts, and make a difference in your local area, you’re in the right place. Here are 8 things you can do this year to ‘get wild’ and be more sustainable in the process.

1. Take part in 30 Days Wild in June 

Get to the know the wild world on your (office) doorstep this June! 

The Wildlife Trust’s #30DaysWild is for EVERYONE, including businesses. So, join in and soak up the benefits of the great outdoors every day throughout June. 

Make the challenge your own, from bird watching from your desk to getting your whole team outside for a lunchtime walk – choose wild activities that suit you. We want to show you there’s time for nature in everyone’s life, every day. 

Sign up to join a thriving community of nature lovers and to get your free pack! 

Sign up

 

2. Join or support a wildlife conservation charity 

Most wildlife conservation charities offer a variety of ways for businesses to get involved in or support their work – ourselves included! 

A great way to support us, for example, is to choose us as your charity of the year. You can get really creative with the fundraising side of things, or keep it simple – it's up to you. A simple way to support a charity each month comes in the form of payroll giving, which involves tax-free donations made automatically on payday. Or, to make your year ‘wilder’, you might choose to do sponsored events like litter picks or nature documentary movie nights. For more ideas, check out our charity of the year blog

Another way to get involved is by becoming a corporate member or partner. There are a few different tailorable tiered options, starting at just £99 a month, depending on what’s right for you. As a corporate partner, you could get early access to our study days and events, volunteering opportunities, rent out rooms in our visitor centres, and get a discount on our renowned team away days! 

Corporate support

 

3. Take part in citizen science as a team 

If you ever find yourself feeling like the world’s crumbling and there’s nothing you can do about it, citizen science is for you! It’s one of the best ways you can get involved in creating a greener future while easing some of that increasingly common eco-anxiety. 

In short, citizen science is what it sounds like – it involves members of the general public giving up some of their time to help with science and monitoring projects. In the conservation world, there are plenty of options on offer. 

 

Bugs Matter dashboard stand up

Bugs Matter 

Becoming a citizen scientist is as easy as counting the number of insects splattered on your vehicle's number plate after a journey with Bugs Matter. Your data will contribute to a nationwide effort to understand how insects are faring across the UK.  

This year, we've extended the survey season from May 1st to September 30th, giving us even more time to collect valuable data. Plus, it's quick, free, and easy to participate, so why not get your colleagues involved after their work commutes? 

Just download the Bugs Matter app and start counting those bug splats. Don't forget to check out our how-to video for more information

 

BioBlitz 

A BioBlitz is a day-long or 24-hour event in which communities come together to find and identify as many species as possible in any given area. 

You could do your own thing and arrange a mini BioBlitz near your offices (or a location close to your hearts) or join a pre-organised one near you. If you’re Kent-based and free on May the 18th 2024, it’s well worth taking part in the University of Kent’s BioBlitz on campus – learn more here

To organise a mini BioBlitz amongst your team, all you need to do is: 

  1. Choose your location and a date/time period 

  1. Invite employees, colleagues, and anyone else you think would enjoy getting involved (families, business partners, etc) 

  1. Have everyone download the iNaturalist app and create a project – this will be your partner in crime for identifying species 

  1. Get spotting and track your finds in your iNaturalist project. 

Your BioBlitz might only be a lunchtime activity, or it could be a whole-day occasion that you use as a fundraising event. Even better yet, if you are doing your BioBlitz in a place you intend to dedicate to wildlife (for example, an office courtyard or garden), track your results and do it again next year to measure your impact! 

 

5. Enjoy a team day out in nature 

Princes trust members who attended a corporate away day at sevenoaks greensand commons

Every business needs its team days – they're great for morale and relationship-building. But they don’t all have to involve expensive escape rooms or city trips (however fun those are!). Instead, why not head out and enjoy the wildlife on your doorstep? Some fun options: 

 

6. Create ‘wild’ spaces for the workplace 

Creating wild spaces in and around the workplace can significantly benefit both your local environment and the wellbeing of your employees. So, whether you’ve got a sprawling outdoor area or a modest balcony, there are multiple ways your business can cultivate green sanctuaries. 

Even in limited outdoor spaces, potted gardens can thrive. Look for native wildflower seeds, herbs, and small shrubs that can be planted in containers. A few pots alone can provide vital resources for pollinators like bees and butterflies – and it’s great fun planting them up, too. 

If you have a larger space and more control over what you do with it, consider creating a mindfulness garden. These serene corners can provide retreats for employees, and you should soon have a variety of wildlife visitors, too! If you are able, why not set yourself the challenge of submitting to next year’s Wilder Kent Awards?  

Check out our guide to starting a wildlife garden from scratch if you need a little help. 

 

7. Make your corporate gifts greener 

Making your corporate gifts greener is not only a thoughtful gesture, but also a powerful statement of your commitment to environmental responsibility. This year, instead of opting for conventional, disposable gifts, try these more sustainable options: 

  • Donations in their name – choose an environmental organisation in line with their values and make a donation to the cause on behalf of your client or supplier. 

  • Experience-based gifts – offer vouchers for eco-friendly, outdoor activities or plant-based cooking classes. 

  • Eco-friendly products – if tangible gifts work better for you, opt for sustainably made items that can be reused and recycled (like bamboo utensil sets, stainless steel water bottles, or organic cotton clothing). 

  • Plant-based gifts – gift literal greenery to your clients and suppliers in the form of potted plants, seed kits, or saplings. 

 

8. Make a start on reducing your carbon emissions 

OK, this one’s not so ‘wild’ - but it’s a really important step for all businesses, and doesn’t have to be boring, either. Get your team together and brainstorm ways you can demonstrate your environmental responsibility and reduce your business’ carbon footprint, like... 

  • Implementing energy-saving measures such as LED lighting and energy-efficient appliances 

  • Conducting an energy audit and carbon footprint assessment 

  • Encouraging employees to carpool, use public transport, or bike to work 

  • Recycling and composting in the office 

It’s also worth exploring the option of purchasing carbon credits to offset unavoidable emissions that cannot otherwise be eliminated.  

 

Get wild for nature, year-round 

We hope these ideas have sparked some inspiration for engaging with the natural world. Remember, wildlife is ever-present – and you can discover and appreciate it year-round.  

As the seasons unfold, consider how you can integrate nature-based activities into your wider business culture. In spring and summer, take the opportunity to get outdoors and connect with nature as a team. Later in the year, use the colder months as a time for introspection and planning, perhaps choosing to dive into your carbon auditing and goal-setting activities.  

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to embrace the nature around you. As much as you can, help create green spaces, support wildlife conservation causes, and nurture a sense of environmental stewardship within your business. Let’s get wild!