Island Nature is inviting local businesses and industries to take part in a free lunchtime seminar on 21st January, focused on simple ways to support biodiversity through the Isle of Wight’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
The ‘Island Nature Businesses for Biodiversity’ seminar will be held from 12:00-13:30 at Quay Arts in Newport, offering practical advice on how businesses can adapt their premises and practices to benefit wildlife.
With 1 in 6 UK wildlife species currently at risk of extinction, organisers are encouraging any type of business – from offices and shops to hotels, factories, and sole traders working from home – to consider making space for wildlife. The event aims to help attendees understand how even small changes can contribute to nature recovery and make long-term sense for businesses.
Ian Boyd of The Common Space has said:
“Simple changes to everyday business life and spaces can make all the difference to the survival of wildlife – planters or plant choices, bird and bat boxes, reducing or switching off office lighting for darker skies and nocturnal wildlife, when or where you mow… right through to pocket-parking your carpark, making nature provision in new development and on to advocacy and knowledge-sharing beyond the Island.
“We have a plan on the Island that helps all sectors identify priority species and actions through the government’s national Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) network. This dovetails with the Island’s Growth and Prosperity Plan too, with a focus on nature-based routes to employment and nature investment zones.
“Together, the upcoming Island Nature seminar and toolkit, using the core principles and actions set out in the Isle of Wight Local Nature Recovery Strategy, aim to help businesses make the right choices for nature and contribute to making the Isle of Wight a better place for wildlife, people and investment.”
The seminar will introduce the Local Nature Recovery Strategy and outline practical, achievable actions businesses can implement straight away. It is supported by The Common Space, the Isle of Wight Council, the Green Impact Scheme and the IW Chamber of Commerce.
Those interested in attending should contact Claire Hector via email at [email protected] to reserve a space.
Attendees are invited to purchase their own refreshments from Quay Arts café during the event.
