Grounds Maintenance, Landscape Creation, Arboriculture, Sports Surfacing, Parks management, IOS Managing Safely Training, Ecology & Biodiversity, Grass cutting, Horticulture, Street Cleaning, Soft Landscaping, Hard Landscaping
idverde provides a wide range of green services, including grounds maintenance, landscape creation, and advice services, to both private and public sectors across the UK.
This month marks a significant milestone as idverde and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) celebrate seven years of a fruitful partnership dedicated to enhancing biodiversity and promoting conservation across the UK. Since its inception, this collaboration has seen numerous impactful projects and initiatives, each contributing to the preservation and enrichment of natural habitats.
We are working across a range of habitats including urban areas, identifying ways of putting nature into the heart of the idverde business. Small changes such as planting are adding to climate resilience and reducing the water use, and switching to hand tools is helping with community engagement, reducing noise, air pollution and CO2 emissions. Targeted habitat improvements are increasing size, connectivity and quality of habitats for key species such as reptiles, amphibians, mammals and invertebrates as well as birds. It is also making cost savings for the business in reduced fuel/water needs and increased volunteer hours. Notable wins include frogs and lizards on Wormwood Scrubs, Bombadier beetles in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Swifts/Willow Tits in the Midlands, Chalk grasslands and the huge volunteer numbers and even gathering of conservation data such as learning about Stormont’s badgers in Northern Ireland.
November: Corporate Volunteering
idverde’s Business Development team joined forces with RSPB to take time out of the office and take up the tools by volunteering in the wet woodland of the Outwoods creating Willow Tit habitat and nesting boxes.
This collaboration and the impact of the team’s work that day will no doubt have positive repercussions on the species ability to nest safely. It’s work like this that demonstrates the incredible impact this partnership has between idverde and RSPB.
December: Tree Planting
RSPB Ecology Advisor Kate, along with enthusiastic Scout group volunteers, planted 1000 native trees to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of The Hammersmith Scouts Association.
January: A spotlight on the Bardon II project
idverde has been contracted since September 2022 to manage the Bardon II site in Leicestershire which has undergone a transformation. Watch our case study of our work with the expertise of idverde/ RSPB Biodiversity Advisor Ross Bray. https://bit.ly/3ugmSDC
February: Nest Box Week and Big Garden Birdwatch
In February, idverde and the RSPB kicked off the year with Nest Box Week, encouraging communities to provide homes for birds during the breeding season. This initiative saw the creation and installation of hundreds of nest boxes, supporting species such as house sparrows, starlings, and swifts. Additionally, idverde teams and volunteers actively participated in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch, sharing their experiences and sightings, which included a diverse array of bird species. You can read more about Next Box Week here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/nest-box-week-2024/ and the Big Garden Birdwatch here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/idverde-teams-and-volunteers-share-their-experiences-of-rspbs-bgbw-2024/
March: Celebrating Volunteers
March was dedicated to celebrating the incredible volunteers at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) and Wormwood Scrubs. These volunteers have been instrumental in various conservation tasks, from scything meadows to planting wildflowers and clearing ponds, significantly enhancing the biodiversity of these green spaces. You can read more here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/celebrating-our-amazing-volunteers-at-qeop-and-wormwood-scrubs/
April: Bird Nesting Season and Hedgerows
April highlighted the importance of bird nesting season and the role of hedgerows in providing safe nesting sites. idverde, and the RSPB, emphasised the need to protect these habitats and avoid disturbing nesting birds, ensuring a thriving environment for species like bullfinches, linnets, and chaffinches. You can read more here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/bird-nesting-season-and-hedgerows/
We also celebrated the arrival of spring, with Tom Bellamy, idverde/RSPB Biodiversity Manager, capturing a Yellow-Legged Mining Bee (Andrena flavipes) sheltering in apple blossom at QEOP.
May: New Biodiversity Advisor at Bromley
In May, idverde welcomed Luke Blanchard as the new Biodiversity Advisor at Bromley. Luke’s extensive experience and passion for conservation have already made a positive impact, with initiatives aimed at enhancing local biodiversity and engaging the community in conservation efforts. You can read more here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/new-biodiversity-advisor-at-bromley/
Sensational find at Wormwood Scrubs idverde/RSPB Advisor, Kate McVay’s keen eye led to a sensational find! For the first time in years, we have verified evidence of a breeding slowworm population, complete with adorable juveniles. These elusive creatures were spotted snug under the reptile refugia, a testament to the thriving wildlife sanctuary we’ve nurtured. The last survey in 2017 only revealed Common Lizards, making this discovery all the more thrilling!
June: Celebrating Insect Week
June saw idverde celebrating Insect Week. This event highlighted the crucial role insects play in ecosystems and included activities such as installing bat boxes and promoting bee-friendly planters. The discovery of new bee species at QEOP was a notable highlight. You can find out more here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/celebrating-insect-week/
July: Special Surveys
Kate McVay, idverde/RSPB Community & Ecology Adviser and volunteers had a spectacular survey despite less-than-optimal conditions with 249 individual butterflies and 9 species recorded. Small/Essex Skippers were out in force, making up over 100 of the butterflies that were recorded! Teams were also fortunate to spot another Slow-worm under one of the reptile mats along our butterfly transect, a female Kestrel hunting over the prison meadows, Cinnabar moth, Six-spot Burnet moths and huge numbers of Peacock caterpillars devouring stinging nettle.
August: Enhancing Wiltshire’s Biodiversity
In August, idverde/RSPB Biodiversity Manager at QEOP, Tom Bellamy, visited Wiltshire to provide insights into the “Wild about Wiltshire” initiative. This project aims to improve biodiversity through rewilding and wildflower schemes, encouraging pollinators and enhancing green spaces across the county. You can read the full story here https://www.idverde.co.uk/blogs/enhancing-wiltshires-biodiversity-insights-from-idverde-biodiversity-manager-tom-bellamy/
October: Unexpected Bat Encounter at the Outwoods!
In October Just a few days after a bat walk, the idverde Ranger Team discovered a surprise visitor clinging to the tiled wall of the toilet block in the Outwoods—a Brown Long-Eared female bat! Ross Bray, idverde/RSPB Biodiversity Advisor quickly contacted Peter from the Leicestershire and Rutland Bat Group (LRBG), who came to the rescue.
This discovery adds another species to our growing data list for the site. A huge thank you to Peter and the LRBG team for their invaluable expertise and support. Their dedication helps us ensure the well-being of our local bat population and deliver informative events for the community.
Throughout these seven years, the partnership between idverde and the RSPB has demonstrated the power of collaboration in achieving conservation goals. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing our work together, fostering a greener and more biodiverse future for the UK.
