Biodiversity is good for business – not just the planet.
There are so many ways that promoting and enhancing biodiversity in your business benefits people, places, and our planet. That’s why it’s a key criterion in the Green Tourism assessment.
As May marks National Gardening Week, No Mow May, and International Compost Awareness Week, we thought there was no better time to share some actions that you can take to help bolster biodiversity in the green spaces on your business premises and your community.
And, hopefully, the weather will encourage getting outdoors to get into action.
A few small changes can make a big difference. So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dig into these 10 ways to boost biodiversity.
- Pollinator paradise. Even in the most urban settings and limited spaces, you can make a difference by putting out tubs, planters, and baskets of pollinating flowers attract and support pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Include a variety of flowering plants to ensure a continuous food source throughout the season.
- Homes for wildlife. Encourage various wildlife into your green space with diverse habitat niches in which to feed, sleep, and nest. Create as varied an environment as possible with trees, shrubs, different lengths of grass, nest boxes (bird, bat, dormouse, hedgehog), feeders, bug hotels and log piles.
- Composting. Transform kitchen scraps and garden waste into nutrient-rich compost. Composting reduces food and landfill waste – and enriches your soil, promoting healthier plant growth and diverse soil life. Find out more from the Compost Research and Education Foundation on the invaluable benefits of composting.
- Water-wise wisdom: Conserve water by installing rain barrels or harvesting rainwater for irrigation. Water-efficient practices such as mulching and drip irrigation minimise water waste while maintaining soil moisture for your plants.
- Natural pest control. Encourage natural predators like ladybirds, lacewings, and birds to control garden pests organically. Avoid harsh chemical pesticides that disrupt the delicate balance of our ecosystem.
Letting your grass grow longer creates an excellent habitat for insects and small mammals - Mindful mulching. Mulch plant/flower beds with organic materials like leaves, straw, or wood chips. Mulching conserves moisture, suppresses weeds, and improves soil health, all while providing habitat for beneficial insects and microorganisms.
- Homegrown happiness: If food is part of your offering – and you have the space and means to – investigate how you can cultivate herbs, fruit, or vegetables. You’ll know how much better ‘homegrown’ produce tastes – and the satisfaction it brings. Local production also reduces your carbon footprint by minimising the transportation emissions associated with store-bought produce.
- Oh, mow you don’t! Join the ‘No Mow May’ movement. Let your lawns grow wild! Letting grass grow longer encourages biodiversity by providing habitat for insects, small mammals, and nesting birds. Embrace the beauty of natural lawns and wildflower meadows – and (if you’ve got large lawn spaces), reduce the use of fuel-powered lawnmowers.
- Procurement. You don’t need to get your gardening gloves on for this one! Check where the products and produce you use across your operations are sourced, how they are produced, and if their production, processing, and shipment are detrimental to biodiversity. Then you can promote your sustainable procurement policy to customers – as well as your dedication to biodiversity.
- Educate and Inspire: Share your passion for biodiversity with others. Whether through community workshops, social media, or simply chatting with colleagues, inspire others to join the movement towards a greener, more biodiverse world.
By implementing these actions, we can create vibrant, biodiverse ecosystems that benefit both the environment and our well-being. Together, let/s cultivate a greener, healthier future, one green space at a time.
Get loads more tips on how to boost biodiversity from our expert Environment and Sustainability Assessor, Euan on this webinar. Watch it here.
This is just one of our series of monthly sustainability masterclasses brought to you by our Assessment Team. Check out the full playlist here.
