Businesses give nature a helping hand as South Downs “Park Protectors” is launched
June 12, 2023
A new scheme is giving corporations a significant opportunity to get involved with nature recovery and staff volunteering in the great outdoors.
The South Downs Protector scheme launches today (12 June) and is inviting corporate partners to support the South Downs National Park for a year with a £10,000 contribution.
The donation will help fund the National Park’s ambition to create 13,000 hectares – or an area almost twice the size of Southampton – of new habitat where plants and animals can thrive. The ReNature initiative is tackling biodiversity loss by creating significant new areas of woodland, hedgerow, wildflower meadow, and wetlands over the next decade.
Businesses that sign up to the scheme receive volunteering days in the incredible landscape of the National Park, a ranger talk, as well as corporate getaway opportunities at the breathtaking Seven Sisters Country Park.
They will also receive a one-year subscription to the Green South Downs Sustainability Certification Program, which focuses on helping businesses reach sustainability goals.
As the scheme launches, two businesses are already on-board – Brighton-based firms Clarity Environmental and Groundsure.
James Winkworth, Head of Charity at the South Downs National Park Trust, the official charity for the National Park, said: “We’re really excited to be launching the Park Protector initiative and are looking for corporate partners right across the UK.
“Businesses are a ‘force for good’ and vital to the future of this treasured landscape. As Britain’s youngest National Park we’ve achieved a lot in 13 years, but there’s so much more we can do to make this an even better place and protect it for future generations. The truth is that this is a fragile landscape in the busiest part of the UK and it needs a lot of support. Businesses can make such a significant impact by becoming a Park Protector, helping in the fight against biodiversity loss and climate change, while also demonstrating ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) commitments and creating a meaningful legacy.
“This is also a wonderful opportunity for colleagues to be able to get their hands dirty, and their feet muddy, and get involved in some hands-on conservation work!”
David Honcoop, Managing Director of Clarity Environmental, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the South Downs National Park Trust and their new Protector scheme. Through Clarity Cares, the caritative extension of our business, we are already involved with national level environmental organisations, it was therefore very important to us to support a local and ambitious initiative like the Renature scheme.
“This partnership allows us to not only support the local environment but also actively contribute to the preservation and restoration of the very landscape that surrounds us. We are very proud to support the South Downs National Trust both financially and through volunteering days.”
Ceri Sansom, Consultancy Director for Groundsure, said, “Groundsure specialises in environmental intelligence, including highlighting climate change risks to property when it’s sold, so when we were looking for an organisation to support we wanted to make sure that it matches our ethos. The South Downs Protector scheme works for us because its aim is to improve the local environment through renaturing and will allow us to contribute both with funds and hands on support through volunteer days. We find volunteer days are a great way to help the local community and environment as well as build our teams.”
To find out more about becoming a Park Protector visit https://oursouthdowns.co.uk/page/SupportNP or email james.winkworth@southdownstrust.org.uk
The South Downs National Park Trust is an independent charity and its aim is to work with partners to enhance and protect the South Downs National Park for future generations. The Trust is governed by an independent and experienced board of trustees who oversee its work. The Trust supports projects that enhance the well-being of beneficiaries, individuals and communities of the South Downs National Park and all those who visit it. Among its varied fundraising initiatives, the Trust is helping to deliver large-scale nature recovery and habitat restoration, grants to help local communities and inspiring schemes to connect children and young people with nature. www.southdownstrust.org.uk
About Our South Downs
Our South Downs is run by the Enterprise team at the South Downs National Park Authority and brings together a supportive network of businesses dedicated to building an economically vibrant National Park where nature can thrive. https://oursouthdowns.co.uk/