Why everyone loves an Eco Day
In the run-up to World Earth Day this year we organised an Eco Day at Milestone. It had been planned for months and all thirty of our team were taking part. But I don’t think any of us were prepared for just how fun and rewarding it was.
Anyone who knows us will be aware of our barn and converted farm location in Buckinghamshire. You might think there’d be little to actually do here on an Eco Day as the environment is flourishing all around us. But in the last few years our brand strategy work has taken us into the field of sustainability policies, reports and campaigns for many clients. We acknowledged that although we were respecting and protecting our environment, we could do a lot more to enhance it.
Working with local organisation Chiltern Rangers was the lightbulb moment. We all became ‘A Ranger for the day’, split into groups with several tasks:
- Planting new hedges to fill gaps – connecting the green corridors for birds and mammals.
- Planting shrubs and trees for bees and butterflies.
- Planting wildflowers for other insects.
- Making and installing bird and bat boxes.
- Litter picking.
Here’s what we got out of our Eco Day
- A feeling of well-being and achievement
- Fresh air and exercise
- Teamwork and fun
- Learning about nature
- Skills with tools
- A safer and better environment to work in.
In the afternoon we went on a walk through a woodland area, learning about trees, badgers, deer and more. We ended up in an area so strewn with rubbish it was quite unbelievable. I looked at the mess of car tyres, plastic bottles, old TVs, carpets and bin liners and thought we’d never clear it all up. But we did. It was grim work at times but together we shifted the whole lot, passing the heavy items from person to person up the steep slope.
It was incredibly satisfying to see the pristine woodland once again. And having a cool beer when all the rubbish was on the back of the Rangers’ pick-up truck heading for a recycling centre.
The big pay-off
Of all the company events we’ve organised over the years, everyone taking part said that this was the best. True, the weather was good and there was a pretty tasty hot-dog lunch. But it was the teamwork and feeling of doing something so positive that mattered most.
We urge all companies to run and Eco Day. Contact your local version of Chiltern Rangers – they all need volunteers and pick a local project you can support. It could be in an urban setting, park, canal, river etc. The planet will thank you and so will your team.
