We're proud to have pledged our support of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT), the conservation charity which protects, nurtures and promotes the natural environment across Greater Manchester, Lancashire and North Merseyside.
LWT receives no government funding for the excellent work it does in protecting wildlife and the natural environment. It relies solely on voluntary donations and the support of its members.
That reason alone would be enough to explain why we've signed up as a corporate Gold member.
But our motivation goes deeper than that.
Firstly, as a company, we are committed to the community we serve.
It's a community which, geographically, predominantly mirrors LWT's reach. We want everyone to appreciate and benefit from the natural beauty that's right on our doorsteps.
If we can help promote LWT's many nature reserves, projects and educational initiatives, that benefits us all.
In our nature
How many Mancunians reading this blog are aware of My Wild City?
This is a fantastic project which aims to unite Mancunian residents, businesses and students to "transform work places, gardens and our open spaces into a city-wide nature reserve."
It's a project which depends not on multi-million pound government grants, but the collective power of individuals and community-invested organisations.
By pursuing a common cause we can better connect green spaces and support and nourish our urban wildlife. That might be a resident creating their own wild garden, allowing our children to explore, enjoy and learn about the natural environment at a Forest School or simply ourselves better connecting with nature.
There are many other impressive local conservation projects.
Recovery of wildlife sites and corridors across the Greater Manchester Wetlands.
Allied to this, the Carbon Landscape Partnership, which is led by LWT, is creating wilderness among millions of homes across Salford, Warrington and Wigan.
This initiative will again protect and create habitats for diverse wildlife, reclaiming the natural and post-mining industrial landscapes of Salford and Warrington mosslands, Wigan wetlands and the Mersey wetlands corridor.
LWT is actively protecting and restoring our regional peatlands, 98% of which have been destroyed. This is vital work, not just because they are a natural habitat for so much wildlife, but because they are powerful carbon stores.
Carbon reduction is, of course, a hot topic in our industry as it is every other. We have previously discussed the growing impact of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues as we move towards a Net Zero economy locally, nationally and globally.
We have in particular noted why SMEs need start acting on ESG and how they might begin to go about it.
One of the benefits we hope to secure from our partnership with LWT is how we, as an SME and individuals, is a better understanding of what we can do to make a difference locally.
We are commercial insurance brokers, not scientists. LWT is a science-led organisation, its work informed by research and data.
By actively engaging with the charity we hope to gain greater insight into conservation science.
What's in it for us?
We also plan to do more of what we should all do; get out more. LWT is blessed to manage and conserve many beautiful reserves which we can all go and visit.
In visiting Brockholes, near Preston or perhaps Lancashire's dog-friendly Mere Sands Wood, we'll engage with nature whilst supporting LWT's working - and have a great time doing it.
Maybe we'll see you there?
Want to support LWT?
If you'd be interested in supporting the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, you can learn more about becoming a member, volunteering or donating by clicking here.
