On Tuesday, our team had the privilege of joining a corporate volunteering day with our partners at Belmont Estate, an experience that reminded us just how meaningful it can be when we move from talking about sustainability to actively participating in it. Belmont’s volunteering projects give us the opportunity to support ecosystem restoration, and by focusing on programmes on our own doorstep, we are able to fully engage with the work, understand the landscape we are helping to protect and feel the impact of our efforts in a very real and immediate way.
A Day in Trendlewood Park
Our day took place in Trendlewood Park in Nailsea, a landscape that blends woodland, grassland, hedgerows, wetland and a community orchard along the eastern edge of the town. It is the sort of green space that invites you to slow down and notice the textures and rhythms of nature. After arriving, our team divided into two groups: one tasked with restoring a pond that had long struggled with overflow issues, and the other preparing the ground for a wildflower meadow that will enhance biodiversity and bring new life to the area.
The pond restoration group put considerable effort into addressing a practical challenge. During heavy rain, the pond had been spilling onto the public footpath, and the solution involved digging a trench by hand, laying gravel-supported pipes to channel excess water into a soakaway area and carefully returning the soil to its place. At the same time, the sowing group prepared the meadow by removing the top layer of soil and sowing seeds collected earlier in the day, fully aware that these small seeds represented the beginnings of a healthier and more resilient ecosystem. Throughout the activities, the Friends of Trendlewood Park volunteers guided us with a depth of knowledge and commitment that made it clear how vital local stewardship is to the long-term protection of green spaces like this one.
Why Corporate Volunteering Matters
For us, volunteering is more than a chance to help out. It’s a way to reconnect with each other, especially as a mostly remote team. When you spend most days on calls or behind a laptop, being able to meet in person, get outside and work together on something tangible feels refreshing. It reminds you that the people you collaborate with every day are real colleagues, with real stories, doing meaningful work alongside you.
Our partnership with Belmont Estate helps us step away from our screens and experience nature in a hands-on way, which strengthens not only our relationships but also our sense of who we are as a team. It also sends a clear message to clients that our commitment to sustainability is something we live, not just talk about.
And the benefits are well documented. Volunteering boosts your sense of purpose, which improves employee engagement and retention. It raises morale and happiness. It even strengthens client relationships, because customers increasingly look for companies that put genuine social and environmental responsibility at the heart of their work. On top of that, teamwork, communication and problem-solving all get a workout in the most natural way possible.
Why volunteering in nature is worth it
Of course, volunteering outdoors isn’t always glamorous. Sometimes it rains all day. Sometimes the mud wins. Sometimes you go home exhausted. But that’s part of what makes it so rewarding. In a world where so much of our time is spent indoors, online, or rushing from one thing to the next, being outside and doing something practical can feel grounding, almost like hitting a reset button.
Nature has a way of lowering stress and lifting your mood, even when the weather is less than ideal. And when you work directly with the environment, you start to feel a stronger sense of responsibility for it. Belmont Estate often says that the closer people feel to nature, the more likely they are to protect it, and after a day like this, it’s hard to disagree.
Volunteering also brings people together, whether your team is spread across the country like ours or working side by side in an office. There’s something about tackling a project together, outdoors, that builds connection in a way few other activities can. And once you experience how meaningful and energising it can be, you often find yourself wanting to do more.
We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved on Tuesday alongside our sustainability partner, and we’re already looking ahead to the next opportunity to get back out there and continue this important work.
