As Cork’s business community recovers from the recent cold snap, Wild Work, a SECAD Partnership initiative, is energised by thoughts of Spring and new growth!
Wild Work’s raison d’être is to help people, help nature, help people. The Wild Work team practically achieves this by using its biodiversity expertise to take action and work with businesses and communities across Cork to educate and raise awareness and improve understanding and respect for nature.
Wild Work engaging with Cork’s business community
Since its inception in 2017, Wild Work has connected with Cork’s business community to bring people together to facilitate positive action to benefit nature and society.
Specifically, Wild Work offers businesses an opportunity to bring biodiversity into the workplace through initiating biodiversity projects, training courses and field trips. Businesses can also be supported to foster work experience and sustainable employment opportunities in the biodiversity sector.
Ultimately, Wild Work’s engagement with businesses positively impacts on employee engagement and employees’ well-being. It improves their understanding and respect for nature and demonstrates the importance of nature in promoting balance in people’s lives.
Working with Cork local communities
Additionally, Wild Work is helping communities, schools and farmers to reap the benefits of engaging with nature through projects including:
- Biodiversity research and monitoring of flora and fauna.
- Invasive species management and control. For example, Japanese Knotweed.
- Recreational trail development and habitat management.
A key Wild Work project highlighted by Wild Work’s William O’Halloran, is the Pollinator Project.
“We are working with local businesses, communities, local authorities and farmers to create 75,000 square metres of wildflower meadow grasslands and 15,000 square metres of planted wildflower strips to help endangered species, such as solitary bees. Enhancing these ecological corridors, will connect and boost the number of habitats for pollinators. The Pollinator Project will deliver results within three years in County Cork and greatly contribute to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.”
Wild Work is also actively working with communities and local authorities to improve the local environment and enhance Cork communities as a place to live, work and play.
Most recently, Wild Work has partnered with local community groups to develop local biodiversity action plans in Douglas, Passage West and Carrigtwohill.
The plans include ready-to-implement actions to immediately improve biodiversity in those areas. There are now opportunities to get local small businesses actively involved in supporting these plans in Douglas, Passage West and Carrigtwohill.
We need the wild and the wild needs you! Join the Wild Work movement!
Wild Work calls on Cork’s business community across all sectors to get involved in Wild Work.
“Companies large and small across Cork’s business community can take up a role in the Wild Work movement. Wild Work is also ready to work with companies on an individual basis to devise tailored packages in support of company needs and requirements.”
Wild Work has a social ethos and funds generated through its work will be reinvested to help people, help nature, help people.
For more information about Wild Work and how your business can join the Wild Work movement, contact William O’Halloran by emailing wohalloran@secad.ie.
