NFU Mutual Volunteering Day 2 at our Nature Reserve

At NFU Mutual, they believe in more than just insurance. Their commitment extends to the communities they serve, and their employees play a vital role in making a difference. Through their employee volunteering programme, they empower their staff to take time off work and support good causes in the local area and we were incredibly grateful for their employees spending another volunteering day with us, this time to roll up their sleeves and contribute to our nature reserve project.

The enthusiastic team of volunteers descended upon the nature reserve, armed with gardening gloves, tools and determination to complete a number of much needed tasks to help maintain and progress the site.

Ragwort Removal

Ragwort, a notorious invasive plant, had taken root in the reserve. Our volunteers pulled it up by the roots, preventing it from spreading and harming native plants. Their efforts safeguarded the biodiversity of the area, allowing the wildflower meadow and butterfly bank to thrive.

Weeding

As well as the ragwort removal, the volunteers helped us with the fundamental task of weeding the garden and patio area to keep it neat and tidy and well-maintained.

Biodiversity Audit

A collection of the volunteers performed a systematic assessment of the variety and abundance of living organisms within different areas of the nature reserve to assess the biodiversity. It involved looking closely and collecting data on the different plant species, animals, insects, and their habitats.

Creating a Deck from Recycled Materials

Our volunteers didn’t stop there. They turned their attention to the creation of a viewing platform overlooking the landscape. Armed with creativity and a commitment to sustainability, they crafted a new deck using recycled materials. Now, visitors can enjoy the tranquil surroundings while sitting on the platform built with care and environmental consciousness.

Thank you

The heart of volunteering lies in the impact we create. The NFU employees witnessed first-hand how their efforts transformed different areas of the nature reserve. From weeding to deck-building, they left an imprint on the landscape and created such a visual impact.


A word from the volunteers…


“Loved having a day outside in nature and fresh air and working as a team to achieve visible results. NFU 1-0 Ragwort”


“Really enjoyed the teamwork, the exercise, the tranquillity and doing something good. Beautiful grounds and lovely hosts”


“It was really interesting to learn about the Forest of Hearts and what they do. There was a good variety of tasks and thoroughly enjoyed contributing to one of the charities projects. Weeding and deck building was really fun!”