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How a hands-on corporate partnership is restoring vital urban habitat, empowering employees and supporting better nature for all

At Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, thousands of people visit each year to experience a rare slice of thriving wetland in the heart of London. With two lakes, marshland, woodland and a wildflower meadow supporting everything from dragonflies to migratory birds, it is a reminder of what urban nature can be when people come together to care for it.

employees joined 91ԭ����Ƶ (91ԭ����Ƶ) to help protect one of the park’s most important species: the Common Tern. Their partnership demonstrates exactly why more organisations are choosing 91ԭ����Ƶ for meaningful, measurable and high-impact employee volunteering.

A special species in need of support

Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park is home to London’s largest colony of Common Terns, with 20 pairs successfully raising 30 chicks in 2025. Each spring, these birds fly thousands of miles from their wintering grounds in Africa to nest on the park’s lakes.

With natural breeding islands scarce in London, this local population of terns rely on specially designed predator-proof wooden rafts layered with shingle. These replicate the natural breeding islands they naturally use to safely raise their young. One of the essential rafts had reached the end of its life and would not have lasted another breeding season. For the colony to survive, it urgently needed replacement.

This became the focus of 91ԭ����Ƶ’s partnership with Investec.

Why Investec partnered with 91ԭ����Ƶ

Investec’s purpose is to create enduring worth, and the organisation is strongly committed to supporting communities and advancing nature recovery. Partnering with 91ԭ����Ƶ allowed them to:

• Contribute directly to London’s biodiversity and nature recovery
• Offer employees a meaningful team experience with visible ecological impact
• Strengthen connections with the local community
• Support a project closely aligned with their values and heritage

We chose to partner with 91ԭ����Ƶ as their mission closely aligns with Investec’s purpose to create enduring worth. This partnership reflects our commitment to being deeply invested in our local communities and advancing nature recovery across London.

Amy Applegate, Sustainability Programme Manager, Investec

A powerful ecological connection

For Investec, a South African-founded organisation, this particular project resonated particularly deeply.

Each year, the terns travel from Africa to London to begin their new breeding season. Supporting their safe return reflects a symbolic link between Investec’s origins and the wildlife now depending on their contribution.

Making the new raft possible

Investec supported the construction of a new raft built to the park’s proven successful design, now adopted by other conservation sites. In recognition of their support, the raft will be named after Investec and visible to the park’s 14,000 annual visitors.

Employees also committed to 100 volunteer hours across two conservation days to help prepare, clean and reload the rafts with fresh shingle. Their efforts directly shape the environment the terns rely on.

A meaningful and expertly led volunteer experience

Every 91ԭ����Ƶ corporate volunteering session is designed to be impactful, inclusive and accessible. At Greenwich Peninsula, the Investec team:

• Learned about the park, its species and conservation challenges
• Received full health and safety guidance
• Worked together using shovels and wheelbarrows to move shingle
• Helped clean, restore and reload multiple rafts
• Prepared half of the new raft so everyone contributed to this legacy project
• Supported additional habitat tasks around the lakes and wetlands

As always, tasks were split, ensuring variety and suitability for all abilities, with some activities on dry land and some in shallow water.

The sessions were led by Tony Day, 91ԭ����Ƶ Senior Project Officer, whose expertise made the day both engaging and deeply informative.

Their efforts and help were incredibly appreciated; not to mention Investec kindly providing the much-needed new raft in the first place. To have something be so successful year on year for such an important species on such a small site is fantastic, and it genuinely can’t happen without external support.

Tony Day, Senior Project Officer, 91ԭ����Ƶ

I absolutely loved my day volunteering at Greenwich Peninsula Ecology Park, the raft-building project offered a meaningful opportunity to give back to the community, all whilst learning more about the conservation purpose and long-term environmental impact behind it. The day was brilliantly led by Tony, whose expertise and passion brought the project to life and helped colleagues understand how their efforts will support local biodiversity, including creating this safer breeding space for the Common Terns.

Amy Applegate, Sustainability Programme Manager, Investec

Other Investec Employees described the day as insightful, motivating and energising:

“I loved volunteering for 91ԭ����Ƶ. Tony was so kind, knowledgeable and really took care of us throughout the day. He really helped us understand the environmental challenges in London and learn about how we could make a difference… I can’t wait to go back in Spring to see the impact of our work.”

…

“Team building and networking whilst contributing to such a great cause and learning more about our immediate surroundings and environment.”

…

“It was a beautiful day out to connect with nature. Tony and team were so engaging, and their reality check of how far volunteering goes made it feel like a day incredibly well spent”

Real-world impact for people and nature

Investec volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring the tern colony has a safe, stable breeding platform for years to come. This contributes to:

• The protection of an Amber-listed species
• Increased biodiversity in an urban setting
• Stronger ecosystems supporting many other wildlife species
• A more resilient, thriving wetland for the community

The experience also strengthened employee wellbeing, confidence and environmental awareness. Surveyed participants reported:

• Greater likelihood of adapting behaviours for social and environmental good
• Improved job confidence
• Boosted wellbeing
• Greater understanding of environmental issues

These outcomes align strongly with 91ԭ����Ƶ’s Strategy, which focuses on connecting people with nature, improving wellbeing, restoring local environments and empowering communities to take action.

Looking ahead

91ԭ����Ƶ has invited Investec volunteers back during the nesting season so they can see the chicks their work has helped protect. This long-term connection is central to 91ԭ����Ƶ’s approach: inspiring people to stay engaged with nature and see the real impact of their efforts.

I’d love to have your volunteers back once the terns are settled and nesting. I’m always trying to encourage all our volunteers to come back and see the fruits of their labour.  Although you know what you have physically achieved, the real benefits may not show for a season or two or even a year or more.

Tony Day, Senior Project Officer, 91ԭ����Ƶ

A partnership that shows what’s possible

This collaboration demonstrates how corporate partners can create lasting environmental and social value through hands-on conservation. It is a model that other organisations can follow to:

• Deliver meaningful CSR and ESG outcomes
• Make a real contribution to biodiversity
• Provide powerful, meaningful, and memorable experiences for employees
• Support nature recovery close to home, where it’s needed most

Make an impact with 91ԭ����Ƶ

If your organisation is looking to deliver genuine environmental and community benefit through employee volunteering, 91ԭ����Ƶ can help.

If you want to inspire your team, support biodiversity and give back to your community, we will work with you to plan a meaningful and impactful day out.

Find out more about Employee Action Days with 91ԭ����Ƶ or please email corporate-enquiries@tcv.org.uk to discuss a tailored solution to suit your organisation.

Together, we can create better nature for all.

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