One of the largest employers in South Norfolk has shown its support for Norfolk’s nature by joining Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s corporate members scheme this month.
The multi-award-winning technology distributor, Midwich, has joined NWT as a Gold-level ‘Investor in Wildlife’.
Pictured LTR: Ben Thompson, Engagement Lead at Midwich. Lesa Orford, HR Manager (UK&I) Midwich. James Hogg, Corporate and Membership Development Officer
As well as providing an annual donation towards the conservation charity’s work, Midwich staff will be volunteering over 250 hours on NWT reserves this summer and autumn, taking part in practical conservation tasks to help ensure these special wildlife sites continue to provide a home to vulnerable species.
Midwich are also supporting NWT’s innovative landscape-scale conservation project, Claylands Wilder Connections, in South Norfolk by sponsoring 600 trees and supplying staff volunteers in the autumn to plant them on farmland near Diss.
NWT’s Claylands Wilder Connections initiative brings communities, landowners and conservationists together to help wildlife by restoring, reconnecting and improving vital spaces for nature across this distinctive landscape. The new trees will provide food and shelter for birds, mammals and invertebrates, and support species such as owls, bats and hedgehogs to thrive by acting as ‘wildlife corridors’, enabling them to move throughout the landscape between important areas of natural habitat.
Ben Thompson, Engagement Lead at Midwich said: Norfolk Wildlife Trust are doing an amazing job in creating a sustainable environment for people and wildlife in Norfolk. We’ve been helping in whatever way we can, whether that’s through our donations or various volunteering projects. I’m proud to say Midwich employees have donated 120 hours of volunteering hours to NWT so far this year and we’ve pledged a further 130 hours later this summer and into autumn.
“On the volunteering projects in particular, our staff have reported these had a positive impact on their mental wellbeing. They have enjoyed working as a team, and feel like they are having a positive impact on the environment.”
James Hogg, Corporate Development Officer at NWT added: “We are delighted to be partnering with such a significant new corporate supporter. To help save Norfolk’s wildlife for the future, in addition to nurturing our nature reserve network, it is vital that we encourage conservation and habitat restoration across the wider landscape. To have Midwich’s support in South Norfolk will make a real difference.”