Volunteers from Orbit have been planting trees, hedgerows and wildflowers across five of its estates as part of its commitment to ensure that 30% of its outdoor spaces support nature’s recovery by 2030.
Orbit unveiled a new Biodiversity Approach in June last year which was developed with the support of the Wildlife Trusts’, aligning with their ‘30 by 30’ campaign as well as the UN Convention’s goals on Biological Diversity.
As part of the Approach, Orbit has been strategically planning how and where to enhance habitats across its estate to maximise the benefits for nature.
In the latest round of enhancement works, 15 trees, 5,000m2 wildflowers and 3,000 hedgerow whips were planted in five estates across the London Borough of Bexley with around 20 colleagues from Orbit, MPS and Grounds Maintenance Contractor SLS volunteering their time to lend a hand.
All tree, wildflower and hedge species are UK native species that include Field Maple, Crab Apple, Pear, Hawthorn and Dog Rose with a wildflower mix containing 28 native flowering species. The species chosen should provide the best habitats for our native wildlife and produce a flowering spectacle across the spring and summers with blossom on trees and wildflower meadow areas.
Joanna Crouch, Environmental Sustainability Manager for Orbit commented: “We want to create sustainable communities for the future in which our customers are proud to live. Making our outdoor spaces more biodiverse not only helps wildlife to thrive but also improves customers’ wellbeing by providing better and more local access to nature.”
