Guide

A practical guide to a particular topic

Top tips for increasing nature and biodiversity at work

Why is this important

A recent report in Harvard Business Review demonstrated that even small interventions to increase access to nature – in offices from Canada to China – increased staff creativity, productivity and helpfulness. Natural England’s “Links between natural environments and mental health” 2022 paper also affirms that spending time in natural environments is associated with positive outcomes for mental health, stress and psycho-social wellbeing.

Both reports indicate that increasing access to nature need not be large-scale, expensive or onerous to generate these benefits. Whilst not every organisation can invest in a green roof or living wall, even micro spaces can become ‘stepping stones’ to connect up habitats and provide feeding stations for wildlife. For staff too time-pressed to fit in a regular nature walk, daily glimpses of nature at work and a chance to see, smell or hear our incredible biodiversity are also effective in boosting mood and performance.

Public bodies already have a duty, under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016, to maintain and enhance biodiversity and their partners and suppliers are being asked to showcase their biodiversity commitments too when they tender for public contracts.

With all these reasons to incorporate nature more in both our personal and professional lives, we are delighted to share some top tips to help!

How you can take action for nature

Let it grow!

Take part in No Mow May and Let it Bloom June – Plantlife’s annual campaign urging everyone to pack away the lawnmower, let wildflowers grow freely and help nature. Whether you’re in a city, town or the countryside, it’s easy to take part. 

Adopt a green space

Adopt a verge or a green space near your place of work. Download Plantlife’s ‘Road verge and green space management best practice’ guides and learn how to transform verges and green spaces.

Small is beautiful

No lawn or green space is too small! Even the smallest wild patch can provide vital food needed by bees and butterflies, connecting us with nature and giving nature the best start to summer. 

‘Nature isn’t neat’

Check out the MonLife’s ‘Nature isn’t Neat’, approach to establishing joined-up green space management to create wildflower-rich pollinator habitats across Gwent local authority areas. This includes a comprehensive toolkit to support organisations and community groups.

Turn a neglected space into a vibrant garden

Keep Wales Tidy are giving away free garden packs to community groups, schools and other community-based organisations to turn neglected spaces into vibrant gardens. Whether you want to grow fruit and veg, create a green community hub, or boost local biodiversity, there are several packs to choose from.

‘Biodiversity Basics’

If you are a community or town councillor, you can take part in One Voice Wales Biodiversity Basics (Module 25 – Biodiversity basics Part 1 and Module 26 Part 2) designed by the Cynnal Cymru training team. This course teaches the basics of biodiversity, nature recovery and ecology to enable good decisions and effective Biodiversity Action Plans.

Citizen science

If access to land in your work place or at home is limited, why not explore biodiversity in your local area by using the LERC App, contributing to nature conservation, planning, research and education by submitting biodiversity records.

You can also help control and reduce the spread of invasive species at home or work with the help of this easy-to-use toolkit from the Wales Resilient Ecological Network.

Increasing nature & biodiversity at your business premises

Using the expertise of its Landscape Architecture team, Groundwork has pulled together a free Nature & Biodiversity toolkit which outlines the different nature-based features your business could consider at different scales of investment and impact.

Practical examples of organisations taking action for nature

From small growing initiatives to site-wide biodiversity action plans, the following businesses and organisations are already taking action to increase biodiversity within their community and place of work.

1. Incredible Edible Network

Transport for Wales are supporting and working with the ‘Incredible Edible Network’ of growing initiatives including ‘Incredible Edible Abergavenny’ and Machynlleth (via Edible Mach) which plant fruit and vegetables in public places for anyone to help themselves.

2. Action on Climate Emergency

Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Monmouth are a community group supporting a variety of nature-based initiatives to boost biodiversity and carbon capture. This includes coordinating seed swaps, a pesticide free Monmouth, sustainable open gardens and supporting nature enhancement in school gardens.

3. Y Stiwdio – A place to make, learn and grow

Y Stiwdio in Pembrokeshire is a creative space where wellies are welcome. A place to make, learn and grow. Y Stiwdio volunteers have created a community described as ‘A special place for all of us with secluded seating and a variety of wildlife-friendly plants to enhance the centre of the village’.

4. Cardiff University – Ecosystem resilience and biodiversity action plan 2024-2026

Cynnal Cymru has office space in the Sbarc|Spark building in Cathays Cardiff. While it is located in an urban area, we were pleased to discover the surrounding land was being used to create wildlife friendly spaces including mini meadows, hedgerows and a bug hotel. The Ecosystem Resilience and Biodiversity Action Plan, sets out how Cardiff University are going to maintain and enhance biodiversity and promote ecosystem resilience across Cardiff University’s campuses.

5. Capital Coated Steel – Biodiversity garden

Capital Coated Steel are an excellent example of how a steel manufacturer has made space for nature on a previously derelict site. The Biodiversity garden supports staff well-being, helps to educate visitors and repurposes waste. The project initiated by, Simon Nurse, and co-created with his team, has now taken on a life of it’s own! You can follow the latest updates on Simon’s Linkedin page.

6. Greener Grangetown, Cardiff – Sustainable Drainage Systems

Greener Grange is a nature-based intervention to retrofit a sustainable drainage system into existing urban streets, creating over 100 raingardens while leaving space for parking and other needs. Not only does the system reduce flooding, it has increased biodiversity and provides multiple benefits to the local community. You can read more about the Green Grangetown project on the Nature Based Solutions hub.

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Environmental Management Systems: A guide for Welsh SMEs

Environmental Management Systems – A guide for Welsh SMEs

Consuming electricity and water, producing waste, operating machinery and processing natural resources – these are just some of the ways that businesses interact with the environment at operational level and through their supply chains.  

Businesses of all sizes are realising the need to understand, manage and improve their environmental impacts to ensure they can operate and grow sustainably. An Environmental Management System (EMS) proportionate to the size and activities of the organisation is a key framework for helping businesses to do this. 

However, it can be more challenging for SMEs to measure, manage and report on climate and environmental goals, due to constraints of time, cost and human resources. So, what are the options? Do you need to comply with the internationally recognised ISO 14001 or are there alternatives? 

We hope that this guide will help with understanding (i) the key elements of an EMS, (ii) the benefits and opportunities they bring for SMEs and (iii) provide an overview of the different certification standards for EMS implementation and support for SMEs in Wales. 

Remember, there are many benefits to gaining an EMS certification but it is the journey towards it that counts in terms of practical actions and outputs. All certifications will require resource. If this is not possible for your organisation right now we hope that this guide will still be valuable to steering you towards meaningful actions.    

1. What is an EMS?

An EMS is a structured framework of policies, procedures and practices which help organisations assess, manage and improve their environmental impact.  

The primary goals of an EMS are to ensure: 

  • Compliance with environmental requirements (for example, under an environmental permit issued by Natural Resources Wales) 
  • The efficient use of resources 
  • Waste reduction and minimal pollution 
  • The continual improvement of environmental performance 

(see: https://www.iso.org/climate-change/environmental-management-system-ems)  

A core strength of any EMS should be enabling continual improvement of environmental performance. Continual improvement as defined in ISO 14001, refers to recurring activities to enhance environmental performance. For example, organisations can identify improvement opportunities through audits and monitoring progress against objectives and targets.  

For an SME, this could be implementing behaviour change initiatives to support carbon reduction and nature related goals, such as eliminating deforestation. However, from a wider perspective, continuous improvement might look like an increasing number of business areas or processes being covered by the EMS, or an accumulation of knowledge and skills in dealing with environmental issues. Overall, it’s about a move from operational management of the environment to a more strategic approach.  

2. The benefits of implementing an EMS for SMEs in Wales

  • Manage and improve environmental impacts: by integrating environmental considerations into their operations, SMEs can minimise their ecological footprint and reduce negative impacts on the environment. 
  • Risk Management: The tools within an EMS provide a systematic approach to identifying and managing environmental risks and help SMEs to future proof their business and avoid potential liabilities and disruptions. 
  • Cost savings: Implementing efficient resource management practices can lead to cost savings for SMEs. By optimising energy and water usage, reducing waste generation, and implementing recycling initiatives, SMEs may see reductions in utilities bills and other financial benefits from more efficient and innovative processes. 
  • Compliance with regulations: An EMS helps SMEs comply with environmental regulations and legal requirements. By staying up to date with environmental legislation, SMEs can avoid penalties and legal issues. 
  • Enhanced reputation and competitive advantage: Demonstrating a commitment to environmental sustainability is important for many potential employees and customers. Increasingly, it is also a requirement for public sector buyers to take into account the sustainability of their contractors. For example, in Wales, the Social Partnerships and Public Procurement (Wales) Act introduced a Socially Responsible Procurement Duty and at UK level,  PPN 06/21 mandates that carbon reduction plans be taken into account in major government procurement contracts. 
  • Improved access to finance: An EMS can help SMEs to identify and manage steps they can take to fulfil requirements under Business Wales’ Green Growth Pledge. It can also act as the catalyst for innovation financing, for example, the Green Business Loan Scheme from Development Bank of Wales. 

3. EMS Standards and Certifications

When starting out to create an EMS, there are a number of standards available for SMEs in Wales. The main ones covered in this guide are: 

  • ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements and Guidance for Use)  

The most widely used voluntary EMS standard globally, providing a holistic framework ‘encompassing all aspects of an organisation’s environmental management and offering tools for continuous improvement’. Certification is available for organisations that have implemented the requirements of ISO 14001.  

  • ISO 14005:2019 (Environmental Management Systems – Guidance for a flexible approach to phased implementation) 

This standard provides guidance for a phased approach to establish, implement, maintain and improve an EMS. It may be particularly useful for SMEs as it provides flexibility and allows organisations to develop their EMS at their own pace. Full implementation of the guidance will result in an EMS that aligns with ISO14001.  

Note that BSI’s earlier guidance standard for SMEs, BS8555, which also provided a phased approach to EMS implementation has now been withdrawn and replaced by ISO 14005.  

Green Dragon is a UK based environmental accreditation awarded to ‘businesses that take action to understand, monitor and control their impacts on the environment’. It operates on a staged based system over five levels, allowing a business to progress in its own time.  At Level 5 the Green Dragon standard is equivalent to ISO 14001.  One of the advantages of Green Dragon is its recognition and support from Business Wales and its acknowledgement in Welsh Government procurement processes. 

Green Key is an eco-accreditation awarded to businesses operating in the tourism sector. Green Key certified businesses meet a set of high standard environmental requirements across 13 areas including environmental management, staff involvement, energy and water conservation, waste management, and food and beverage. In Wales, Green Key is operated by Keep Wales Tidy on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).  

EMAS is the EU’s voluntary scheme applicable to all organisations in the public and private sectors who want to evaluate, manage and improve their environmental performance. EMAS is broader and more rigorous than ISO14001 (as explained below) but ISO 14001 satisfies the requirements for the EMS component. Following Brexit, the UK no longer has a ‘competent body’ responsible for EMAS, however, organisations doing business in the EU might find EMAS Global registration useful and we have included information about the main requirements and links to further information in this document for completeness. 

It is worth noting that businesses do not need to adhere to a certain standard for their EMS and might decide to design a bespoke system. However, using one of the available standards might well be less resource intensive and can help to ensure a robust EMS that provides reassurance to stakeholders.  

The following sections of this guide provide a bit more detail about the above standards to help you identify which might be the right approach for your business.   

Please note this is a guide based on a summary of available online information. Please check the web links given for the most accurate and up to date details. 

4. International EMS standards

ISO14001:2015 (Environmental Management Systems – Requirements and Guidance for Use) 

ISO 14001:2015 is an internationally recognised, holistic framework for an EMS, encompassing all aspects of an organisation’s environmental impact and offering tools for continuous improvement.  

What is involved? 

The basis of ISO 14001 (as with other EMS standards) is the management system process Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA). The PDCA cycle is applied to the overall EMS, as well as individual processes, and enables organisations to achieve continual improvements to their environmental performance through improvements to the EMS. 

The Guidance describes the requirements for setting up and implementing an EMS including: 

  1. An environmental policy: A statement that outlines an organisation’s commitment to environmental sustainability. 
  2. Planning: This involves identifying environmental aspects and objectives of an organisation, setting targets and establishing programmes to achieve them. 
  3. Implementation: This stage involves putting plans into action, allocating resources and assigning responsibilities. 
  4. Checking: Regular monitoring of performance against objectives and targets is critical to ensure the timely implementation of corrective actions. 
  5. Management review: A formal review of the EMS supports its continued effectiveness and suitability. 

EMS Plan-Do-Check-Act Model (Source: Westcon,2017, online) 

Costs, Certification and Training  

The standard can be purchased from the ISO website for approximately £130 and businesses can choose to implement the standard without the costs of certification. There are also various free and IEMA accredited training modules to assist with implementation. 

As mentioned above, certification is optional but can provide both organisations and their customers assurance that ISO 14001 has been implemented in a robust manner.  

Costs of certification from organisations accredited by The UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) vary but online quotes without commitment can be readily obtained. 

Certification is typically awarded for three years, subject to annual surveillance visits. The standard itself undergoes revisions periodically (typically every 5-10 years).  

ISO 14005:2019 (Environmental Management Systems – Guidance for a flexible approach to phased implementation) 

Whilst ISO 14001 is applicable to all types and sizes of organisation, the full implementation of an EMS at the same time might be prove challenging for some organisations and particularly SMEs where time, cost and human resources can be limited.  

At international level, a phased approach to implementing an EMS was therefore developed (previously the BSI standard BS8555:2016 which has been subsumed by ISO 14005) to encourage and guide SMEs to meet the requirements of ISO 14001. 

What is involved? 

The phased approach in ISO 14005 is designed to provide flexibility for an organisation to develop their EMS over a number of phases to ultimately meet the requirements of ISO 14001. 

The number of phases an organisation chooses to implement at any one time is flexible and can be determined depending on resources and priorities. Each phase is broken down into six consecutive stages to be completed over time. SMEs can monitor progress using the maturity matrix in Annex A of ISO 14005 and the free supporting documents provided by ISO 14005. 

The Assessment Sheet (on the supporting documents page) provided by ISO is a helpful tool that enables organizations to monitor and record progress through five levels of maturity corresponding to each EMS subclause. An EMS that satisfies the maturity Level 1 (Column 1) through to full maturity at Level 5 (Column 5) meets all the requirements for a particular clause of ISO 14001:2015. 

Costs, Certification and Training  

The Guidance can be downloaded from the ISO website for approximately £130. As the aim of ISO 14005 is to assist SMEs with reaching 14001, there is no separate certification for this standard. However, it is a good reference to turn to for ideas and practical examples on how to make your implementation of ISO 14001 more effective. 

5. Alternative EMS standards recognised in Wales

For SMEs based in Wales, there are alternatives to the above standards that are administered by national organisations and recognised by the public sector in the procurement process.

5.1 Groundwork Green Dragon Environmental Accreditation

The Green Dragon Environmental Accreditation is a comprehensive standard administered by Groundwork, a UKAS accredited inspection organisation. It is awarded to businesses that take action to understand, monitor and control their impacts on the environment. 

What is involved? 

Similar to ISO 14005, the standard operates on a staged based system (Levels 1-5), allowing organisations to join at any stage and progress their EMS in their own time. 

The five levels are: 

  • Level 1: Commitment to Environmental Management 
  • Level 2: Understanding environmental responsibilities 
  • Level 3: Managing environmental impacts 
  • Level 4: Environmental Management Programme 
  • Level 5: Continual environmental improvement 

Organisations can choose which level is appropriate to the nature and scale of their activities and upon completion of each level they will receive a certificate. At level 5, the Green Dragon standard is equivalent to ISO 14001. 

Groundwork provides several useful documents on its website to accompany the standard, including an Environmental Review Workbook. There is also a list of organisations across Wales who have achieved Green Dragon accreditation.   

Certification and costs 

To achieve and maintain the Green Dragon Environmental Standard, an annual audit with Groundwork is required. The cost of the audit varies depending on the level, with Level 3 being the most common entry point for organisations and costing.

5.2 Green Key – A sustainability standard for the tourism sector

Green Key is an international environmental certification programme for the tourism and hospitality industry. It has been awarded to more than 3,200 businesses from across the sector in 65 countries and is open to businesses from across the sector.  

Globally, Green Key is operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) who work with national partners on certification. In Wales, the Green Key certificate is managed by Keep Wales Tidy. 

Green Key promotes sustainable practices and recognises businesses that meet specific criteria related to environmental management and sustainability. Criteria are set out over 13 thematic areas including energy and water conservation, waste management, sustainable procurement, and environmental education. 

The FEE has developed criteria and explanatory notes for businesses in six different categories (hotels and resorts, small accommodation, campsites, restaurants, attractions and conference centres).  

In each category, there are ‘imperative’ and ‘guideline’ criteria. For example, creation of a sustainability policy and interaction with stakeholders are imperative criteria, whilst a target to reduce carbon footprint is a guideline criteria.  Each organisation applying for a Green Key certificate must achieve all imperative criteria and then for each subsequent year that they apply they must meet an additional 5% of the guideline criteria.  

In addition to the general benefits of EMS implementation, Keep Wales Tidy highlights that travellers and tourists are increasingly keen to support sustainable businesses and that investment in a Green Key certification is a key market differentiator. Keep Wales Tidy has collated case studies of organisations across Wales who have invested in Green Key. 

Certification and costs  

The application process for certification consists of three parts: 

  • Sending the application documents 
  • Receiving on-site audits 
  • Decision by an independent entity (third-party verification) 

More information about the application process in Wales can be found on the Keep Wales Tidy website. 

Keep Wales Tidy aims to keep certification costs affordable and to ensure Green Key is accessible to all tourism providers. Investment levels therefore vary depending on the size of the business: 

Costs are paid as part of the application prcess and then annually following updated verification (for more information see https://keepwalestidy.cymru/our-work/awards/green-key/).

5.3 Seren Scheme

The Seren Scheme is based on BS8555 and follows the same phased approach. Organizations can choose to use the Seren Scheme to achieve other EMS standards such as ISO 14001 or EMAS, or register at a phase that aligns with the nature and scale of their business and remain at that phase. 

The Seren Scheme is applicable to both large and small organizations and places a strong focus on continuous improvement. 

BS8555 is divided into 5 phases: 

  • Stage 1: Leadership, context, and commitment 
  • Stage 2: Ensure compliance 
  • Stage 3: Plan and develop the EMS 
  • Stage 4: Implement the EMS 
  • Stage 5: Check and update the EMS 

As long as organizations pass an annual inspection, they can stay at that particular phase indefinitely and use their EMS to demonstrate their commitment to environmental management to stakeholders and customers. 

The Seren Scheme is administered by a private company called Tarian Inspection Services, which conducts inspections in a friendly, down-to-earth, and highly practical manner. They ensure that companies have a robust Environmental Management System that enhances their credibility, good management, and cost savings. 

Further information can be found at http://www.serenscheme.com/. 

6. EU’s Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS)

EMAS is a voluntary environmental management scheme designed by the European Commission. Its overall aim is to enable continuous improvement in the environmental performance of companies, language similar to that in ISO 14001. However, ISO 14001 aims for continual improvement of the system itself hopefully leading to improved environmental performance of the organisation. EMAS requires improved environmental performance of the organisation to be assessed through indicators relating to six core areas – energy efficiency, material efficiency, emissions, water, waste and land use with regards to biodiversity.  

EMAS is more rigorous than ISO 14001, however, ISO 14001 satisfies the EMS component of EMAS requirements.  

Registration with the scheme requires the following steps: 

  • Conduct a preliminary environmental review – this will be the baseline for improvement 
  • Adopt an environmental policy and programme in which you involve employees and external stakeholders  
  • Establish and implement an EMS 
  • Prepare an environmental statement  
  • The EMS and environmental statement to be verified and validated by an environmental verifier. 

Recognising the challenges faced by SMEs, EMAS has amended rules for SMEs to encourage participation in the scheme. These include verification every four years (rather than three) and publication of the environmental statement every two years, rather than annually. There is also financial support available in some Member States and a number of tools and guidance to assist SMEs. 

For more information, please see: 

In summary...

SMEs increasingly need to demonstrate an understanding of environmental impacts and a strategic approach to minimising climate and environmental impacts to satisfy potential customers and to future proof their business. 

In light of the prevalent tick-box culture in environmental matters, many organisations are seeking broader and more engaging systems, examining the impacts on their staff, communities, and supply chains.  

Regardless of the framework used for environmental, biodiversity, sustainability, or ESG reporting, businesses still need to adhere to similar concepts: focus on leadership and staff ownership, understand impacts, prioritise, plan, communicate, implement, and review. 

If you need further support or advice with any of these activities please reach out to our sustainability advisors.  

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*NEW* Sustainability Guides for SMEs

Sustainability Guides for SMEs

How can a small or medium enterprise (SME) be sustainable in your actions? 

Our Advice team are here to help you. 

Take action towards removing inequalities in your workplace.

We provide actionable changes towards staff training, benefits, flexible working arrangements, and more. Creating a more inclusive environment for your staff is possible for organisations of any size and budget.

Cynnal Cymru are the real Living Wage Accreditor for Wales. Check out how you can become a Living Wage Employer.

Reassess your suppliers and find new sources for materials in your work.

Whether you’re a business that provides goods such as a shop or cafe, or if you’re an office-based business needing to purchase electronics and office supplies, you can consider where you get your materials and find more ethical sources.

As part of our services, we provide a Carbon Accounting services to help businesses understand your carbon impact, including the materials you purchase. See if Carbon Accounting is for you.

Do you know how workers are treated along your supply chain?

It can be difficult to find out whether your suppliers are treating their workers fairly, which is where this guide can help. With key questions to ask yourself and your suppliers as well as actionable goals, you can find suppliers that you trust to treat their workers as fairly as you treat yours.

If these changes feel too big to make alone, our action planning service can give you the support you need.

Minimise your waste and find waste management strategies.

We’re all aware of the amount of landfill and pollution on land, sea, and air, getting worse day by day. As a responsible business, if you want to go beyond basic reuse and recycle requirements, these tips and tricks can reassure you that you’re creating the least waste possible. We can never reduce our waste entirely, but we can always do more. 

Unsure where to start? We can provide transformative strategies to work towards your personalised sustainability goals.

Understand and reduce your energy and water usage.

As an island nation, we rely on shipping for many of our products. On top of tips to reduce water and energy usage in your supply chain by using local products and responsible importers, this guide will also help you understand how to track and limit your business’ daily energy usage. 

Our Carbon Accounting service will help you fully understand your energy usage through an audit of your supply chain, office energy usage, and more, with action items to reduce your energy usage each year.

Unsure how to use the guides? Learn more here

*NEW* Sustainability Guides for SMEs Read More »

Wales in 2051: Agricultural healing and indigenous knowledge

Wales in 2051

Wales in 2051: Agricultural healing and indigenous knowledge

In this fifth instalment of the Welcome to Wales in 2051 stories, we introduce our next character, Aman, a community farmer who tells us about the use of ancient agriculture practices to mitigate the impact extreme weather conditions have on food growing.

Our previous story was about Luke, who told us how he remodelled the way in which the private sector works collaboratively to address pressing challenges. This week, our journalist turns his lens on a community farmer, Aman, a former refugee who shares his experience of developing a food cooperative with little prior knowledge in farming. 

A day in the life of Aman 

Just as the journalist was about to leave the hub, Aman, one of its members, arrived for a planning and brainstorming session with other growers and innovators. Luke insisted that Aman take the journalist to see his cooperative farm, and they agreed to meet the following day for a full tour of the farm. 

When Aman arrived the next morning he was carrying a flask of a freshly-brewed local alternative to coffee, a malted and roasted wheat drink that Polish people had popularised in Wales. “You see,” Aman said, “when coffee plantations were no longer suitable for producing coffee at scale, we turned to alternatives. It was really difficult at the beginning because coffee means so much to me, but if it weren’t for the intercultural exchange we have here in Wales, I would never have discovered the weird and wonderful alternatives that were at our doorstep.” While the journalist sipped the surprisingly delicious hot drink, Aman showed him pictures of the founding members of the cooperative. The photographs all showed smiling people standing in a field, and Aman was smiling too, even as he explained, “They, like me, lost everything they had due to a lack of adaptation in the places where they grew up. We all ended up here. Over time, as we began sharing our stories, we realised that we had all been through similar forms of pain and loss. That’s why we formed this cooperative, to ensure that none of us had to suffer alone. While we slowly worked to heal the soil that had been damaged and eroded by decades-long use of toxic pesticides and herbicides, we managed to heal some of our own traumas through sharing our stories and rebuilding together. What makes our cooperative unique is not just our innovative agricultural practices, but also our shared experiences and the sense of community we’ve built.”

Multi-Cultural Learning and Collective Effort 

Aman gestured for the journalist to follow him. He wasn’t prepared for what he saw as he followed in Aman’s footsteps. A beautiful landscape rich with wildlife; trees bright with colour and the sparkle of water from ponds and pools; the air filled with the calls of birds, and nearby a folk song being sung by a group of women. It was all quite remarkable, and appeared to be a safe haven for people, wildlife and nature alike. But how was that even possible? he though dazedly. Haven’t all agricultural skills been lost by now because of mechanisation and automation, not to mention soil degradation and extreme weather conditions that make traditional farming in soil unsuitable? Clearly not here. The unexpected beauty and vibrancy of the farm left the journalist in awe, challenging his preconceived notions about modern agriculture. 

When he asked about it, Aman said, “I was lucky. When I arrived in Wales I was an asylum seeker, but the Welsh Government was keen to keep skills like farming going. So, like many other asylum seekers, I went to college, and alongside learning English, I learned about farming here. But I was also able to reflect on how we used to grow things back in my home country. This was encouraged as part of the multicultural exchange, and although it was difficult at first, over time I was able to heal some of the wounds, and soften those difficult memories of the journey of leaving my home.  

“Many other farmers worldwide participated in this programme, and we formed a little after-college club. Initially, we used the knowledge we gained from the programme to grew food at the local charity, simply as a collective and sociable hobby. We tried multiple different farming methods, and we saw that while some were largely unsuccessful, others were incredibly fruitful. A common denominator of the successful farming methods involved nurturing the soil and restoring healthy bacteria and fungi, to create fertile growing grounds for produce. So by trying, failing, experimenting and succeeding, we learned which methods worked well for the local land, and once this happened we started producing a lot of good-looking fruits and vegetables. This gave us the confidence to seek a bigger plot of land, to grow even more food. With the help of volunteers, we joined a community growing place in Cardiff, and again, we saw that urban centres with the right farming methods can produce food. Interestingly, an environmental researcher found that our farming practices enabled great drought and flooding resistance, which has since encouraged other local and distance farmers around Wales to try our mixed methods. Together we learned how to grow food in harsh weather conditions, and doing so gave us hope and became a metaphor for our own lives. We promised each other that whoever was granted their leave to remain status would open a cooperative.

“And that’s what we did. I was the first to get granted permanent settlement, but there were others who quickly followed me, and we could provide further training for entrepreneurial refugees. It was a lot of work, and a lot of learning, and I came close to giving up more than once; but I had made a promise to my fellow farming buddies, and I couldn’t back down. So I continued, and I’m glad I did. Where you’re standing is the first plot of land that we all worked on as a farming cooperative, run by refugees for the whole community here. We distribute most of the food we grow to local schools and nearby hospitals. We also get lots of volunteers and we organise excursion days where school students can come and learn how we manage food.” 

Exploring Different Farming Practices to Accommodate Biodiversity 

While the journalist was jotting down notes, Aman moved to another plot, which, as he explained, “Has been written about by scholars.” He described how a few decades earlier, a type of open-field farming system was being practised on the Vile on the Gower peninsular. This medieval method of communal agriculture would once have been common, with farming families each attending to their own strip of land but working in cooperation to plan for the harvest. Fields would be left fallow every few years to allow the soil to recover, providing ground-nesting birds with camouflage and protection from predators. The ‘baulks’, soil-covered mounds that separated the strips, allowed small mammals to safely move across the cultivated land. Animals could find shelter and food within the nooks and crannies of medieval farms, along with a wide variety of plants. 

“So we replicated it,” Aman said, “and we also used other techniques, like communal watering methods from Spain, or the Kenyan dry weather method of growing from seeds, called bunds. These ideas were all locked inside peoples’ memories, or sometimes in books, stories that had been passed down through the generations, telling us how people used to tend to the soil to nourish it. So, through attending to each other’s cultural background and spending time together, we not only healed our wounds but also created this place.” 

Aman led the journalist to a new area, one very different to those he had seen so far. Tall vertical tubes had been placed in a circular formation, and a variety of different plants and vegetables grew out of openings in the tubes. They towered high over the journalist, who considered himself to be of above-average height, and he wondered who would have to ascend the structure to harvest the high-growing broccoli and kale. Aman explained that this was their aquaponic system, with fish swimming in water-filled tanks connected to the tubes. The fish waste provided nourishment for the plants in an almost closed-loop system. Aman added, “It’s an ancient system that originated in Japan, but over the last few decades it has been adopted by other countries. The knowledge was developed many years ago, so all we needed to do was bring ourselves up to speed. Well, I say ‘all’ –  not many of us knew how to look after fish, plants, water, nutrients and bacteria all at once! But we learned, and this is the result. 

“We don’t just use multicultural and ancient farming practices, we also use technology to help us prepare for the changing climate. We work with the hub’s researchers and innovators who help us identify suitable land for both nature and agriculture. We learned our lesson, to use local and indigenous knowledge and science together, not apart.” 

Follow next week’s story about Cleo, a doctor in rural Wales who practices preventative care and explores the root causes of people’s ailments rather than treating the symptoms with medicine. 

 

How can we develop and use our skills needed to create a 2051 we are proud of?  

Have a look at our range of advice and training services.

Did you like this story? How did it make you feel? What aspects of the story provoked you the most? Email us your response on shwmae@cynnalcymru.com

Wales in 2051

In this mini-series, we follow six characters as they explore sustainability, working life and community in Wales in 2051

Wales in 2051: Agricultural healing and indigenous knowledge Read More »

4 Ways to take action for nature in Wales

1. Volunteer with a local environmental group

    From tree planting with Stump up for Trees in Bannau Brycheiniog to campaigning with Climate Cymru, there are many fantastic volunteering opportunities across Wales. A good place to start is by searching for ‘environmental volunteering opportunities in Wales’ via your favourite search engine or visiting the Volunteering Wales website.

    2. Discover your Local Nature Partnership

    For specialist nature advice in your local area, you can contact your Local Nature Partnership Coordinator to find out about projects and volunteering opportunities on your doorstop.

    3. Make space for nature

    Are you ready to turn a neglected space into a vibrant garden where nature can thrive? Keep Wales Tidy’s Local Places for Nature scheme, provides free guidance and ‘garden packs’ with plants, seeds and tools, to groups wanting to create and care for wildlife-friendly areas.

    4. Be empowered through learning

    And finally, if you would like to learn more about ecosystems – how to understand them, talk about them and take action to protect and restore them – join one of our next Nature Wise training sessions.

      Cynnal Cymru members benefit from one free training place per year on one of our our Nature Wise or Carbon Literacy open training courses.

      4 Ways to take action for nature in Wales Read More »

      Sustainability glossary for businesses unpacked: Net Zero

      As a business owner, the word “net” is part of your vocabulary. You make net profit, and you have net profit margins. Net is, as you know it so well, what is left after you take away the expenses and tax. Net in the “Net Zero” is therefore what is left after you reduce your carbon emissions to zero.  

      Think of “Net Zero” as a shorthand for lowering carbon emissions from your entire operations to almost zero. However, the emissions that cannot be reduced any further, can be offset.  

      According to Climate Change News, this concept has emerged out of discussions in 2013 as to how to convince the world to fully decarbonise, in other words, to achieve zero emissions so that global temperature does not rise above 1.5C and therefore limit the impacts of the changing climate on this planet.  

      Knowing this may be difficult to embrace, as no economy or an individual can be emitting zero carbon, Net Zero was introduced instead. Since then, the concept has entered into everyday vocabulary; it has been translated into law in the UK and countless countries and companies have even pledged to be Net Zero by 2050.   

      Unlike carbon neutrality, the concept of Net Zero focuses on reduction of emissions as far as it is possible. It is not about offsetting what is emitted into the atmosphere, but rather, it is about offsetting what cannot be reduced after emissions are almost at zero. So when others speak of Net Zero, they hopefully mean the same thing. However, despite its wide use, there was no common definition and so multiple interpretations followed. So, if you feel you got it wrong, do not worry as Net Zero has only recently been defined. In 2022, Science-based Targets Initiative published a Net Zero standard for businesses and in it said that it covers “a company’s entire value chain emissions, including those produced by their own processes (scope 1), purchased electricity and heat (scope 2), and generated by suppliers and end-users (scope 3). Most companies will require deep decarbonization of 90-95% to reach net-zero under the Standard”1

      The key message here is that Net Zero means deep decarbonisation in phases in order to archive its target by 2050  while keeping your business profitable in the long term. 

      Here is what you can do:

      1. Calculate your carbon footprint – because knowing how much you emit and what parts of the operations have high emissions, you can be practical about decarbonisation. 
      1. Integrate decarbonisation strategy into your business strategy –  because to keep your business going for years to come, you must redesign your operations so they are not impacted by the changing climate, legislation, distruption to supply chains and consumer backlash, 
      1. Set targets and a decarbonisation plan – because this cannot be done in one day and as a business owner you know that having a plan and targets keeps you on the right track. 
      1. Be honest about your efforts before you make the pledge – because staff and consumers stand behind businesses that back up words with actions and as you know it all too well, without them you cannot trade for years to come.  

      Net Zero is an opportunity for businesses to thrive for years to come and to be rewarded by consumer and staff loyalty. A sustainable mindset, communication, education and actions are paramount to effective decarbonisation and therefore your future. 

      Useful resources for businesses for Net Zero:

      Ambitious corporate climate action – Science Based Targets

      UK – SME Climate hub

      How to Measure, Reduce, and Offset your Company’s Carbon Footprint – FutureLearn

      Climate Clauses | The Chancery Lane Project

      Sustainability glossary for businesses unpacked: Net Zero Read More »

      Sustainable transport and active travel

      We rely on transport as part of daily life; whether to get to work, school, hospital, or leisure activities. Relying on fossil fuel powered cars as our main mode of transport can have negative implications on our health and well-being due to high levels of air pollution, low levels of physical activity, and stress.

      Transport emissions from fossil fuels contribute towards climate change and can increase air pollutants. In 2014, 12.77% of greenhouse gas emissions in Wales were from transport; amounting to 5.92Mt CO2e.

      Climate change related extreme weather patterns may increase the frequency of which transport infrastructure will need to be repaired or replaced.

      Redesigning our transport infrastructure to support active forms of travel can increase community cohesion and improve health and well-being.

      There is potential to increase green jobs through renewable fuel technology development and implementation.

      What the public sector is doing:

      World / Europe:
      The EU has a strategy for ‘low-emission mobility’ which sets out priorities of increasing transport efficiency, low-emission energy technology, and zero-emission vehicles take-up.

      UK:
      The UK government has a report outlying future transport plans; ‘ Low Carbon Transport: A Greener Future – A Carbon Reduction Strategy for Transport (2009)‘.

      Wales:
      The Welsh Government has put in place an ‘Active Travel Act (2013)’ and an‘Active Travel Action Plan’ to help get Wales cycling and walking.

      The Welsh Government has recently consulted on ‘ A Clean Air Zone Framework for Wales’ designed to advise local authorities on how to reduce air pollution from transport and other sectors.

      What the third sector is doing:

      Community transport providers enable isolated or disabled people to remain connected to their community.

      Living Streets Wales also campaigns for better opportunities for walking and challenges the dominance of cars on our streets.

      Sustrans Cymru has a number of resources and campaigns to encourage active travel and safer streets
      – their ‘Bike Life Cardiff’ report sets out the challenges and opportunities for active travel in Cardiff.

      How you can make a difference:

      Reduce your car use where possible by working from home, taking public transport, or by cycling or walking to your destination.

      Avoid flying and if you must fly consider off-setting emissions by contributing to tree planting projects.

      Develop a travel plan for your work or project and consider joining an electric vehicle car club.

      Join a local walking group to enjoy the benefits of this free, low-impact exercise or consider setting yourself an ‘Active Travel’ goal for health reasons.

      Sustainable transport and active travel Read More »

      Mission control: Take time and space to identify your vision and values

      In early 2020, I began planning a bespoke training programme as part of my role on the Sylfaen Project.

      The project, spearheaded by Cynnal Cymru, supported by the Wales Co-operative Centre’s Commercial Team and funded by the Co-op Foundation, aimed to work with a select number of community-led environmental organisations across Wales in order to give them stronger foundations for sustainability.

      To my (very much pleasant) surprise, the most popular session by far was on the subject of Vision and Values. The reception was so positive in fact that two community councils who participated in the training requested I re-deliver the session to their board members, with one using it as the basis to go back to basics and set a revised 5-year business plan.

      “The Community Councils used the session to question what it considered to be its core values, testing this in context with its constituents and users of community facilities by completing a similar exercise bespoke to our local communities. This has helped in enabling the Councils to challenge conventional ways of working and to plan a work programme based upon newly established values-based aims and objectives.”

      David Davies, Cwmamman and Llanedi Community Councils.

      So, why the need for a rethink?

      Many people, companies and community groups underestimate the importance of properly aligned vision and values. Throughout my 20 years’ experience of supporting community organisations and businesses of all shapes and sizes, I’ve read countless business plans, and yet, more often than not, the process of identifying a vision and values is something of an afterthought.

      In some cases, a set of relatively meaningless words are shoehorned in to support pre-determined actions. They state what the business or community group are going to do but give very little thought to why they are doing it.

      Furthermore, even long-established companies and community organisations with a solid vision can easily get side-tracked. I have also fallen prey to this while working within community groups. Ostensibly golden opportunities can arise, in relation to funding for example, which appear too good to turn down. But, before you know it, these opportunities have deviated your energy away from your original purpose, derailing your mission, giving you less control over your direction and inevitably stifling your efforts to reach your vision!

      Purposefully putting your why first

      Quite often, what an organisation does takes precedence over why they’re doing it. It should be the other way around. Ethically driven private sector businesses, social enterprises and community groups will invariably have been established for a particular PURPOSE. It’s this purpose which inspires people to engage or otherwise invest their time, energy, and money. This is why it is so important to consistently revaluate vision and values to avoid mission drift, making sure they permeate everything you do.

      Consistency is key

      “To refresh the world in mind, body and spirit, to inspire moments of optimism and happiness through our brands and actions, and to create value and make a difference”

      Did you guess whose mission this is? When I ask this during my sessions, most people guess correctly. For those that can’t quite put their finger on it, this is the mission statement for Coca Cola. Okay, it may be corporate, but the lesson to be learned here is most people guess this mission statement from this single sentence. Why? Because it is imbedded in EVERYTHING they do and solidifies the way they are perceived. Think of any Coca Cola promotion and you’ll struggle to find one without the words ‘happiness’ or ‘refreshing’.

      Regardless of our individual perceptions, the consistency and simplicity of their message translates worldwide. You may be far from a big company on a global stage but if you want people to understand, engage with, advocate for and invest in you, your purpose needs to be ever-present and at the forefront of your messaging.

      This is echoed in Simon Sinek’s ‘Golden Circle’ theory* where he states that the most inspiring companies start with why they do what they do, then work on how they do it before identifying exactly what they do.

      1. Vision and Mission Statement: Include your greatest aspiration for your community group or business. Consider WHY you do what you do and why other people will invest time, energy, and money in you.
      2. Values: This underpins, encapsulates, and promotes your organisation’s culture and beliefs in context with the vision and determines HOW you operate and act to achieve your aims.
      3. Aims and Objectives: These should state the exact details of WHAT you aim to achieve and how you intend to implement your vision, mission and values in day-to-day practice, all while understanding why you are doing it.

      As you may have now guessed, I’m a very strong advocate for people starting their journey by firmly identifying and understanding their vision, mission, values, aims and objectives at the outset. It should not be a retrospective exercise based on what they already do. If the vision and mission doesn’t transcend through every activity and action, your desired impact will soon be diluted. So, my final piece of advice is to regularly take time and space to ask yourself whether what you are currently doing meets your original purpose and never stop asking why!

      *(Sinek, S. (2009) Start With Why. Penguin Business)

      Paul Stepczak is the Bids and Commercial Consultant within the Wales Co-operative Centre’s Commercial Team and has more than 20 years’ experience working in community and business development, providing consultancy and training to purpose-led organisations.

      Mission control: Take time and space to identify your vision and values Read More »

      Why saving water matters

      Being water efficient not only helps to reduce water wastage but as an organisation, you pay for all the water that passes through your meter – so it makes good financial sense to ensure you are not letting any of it go to waste. Taking simple inexpensive measures can typically reduce your water consumption by up to 50%.

      Saving water is also good for the environment and will help to reduce the carbon footprint of your organisation. Cleaning and treating water uses valuable energy and resources, and if water levels fall, the wildlife in wetland habitats may suffer. Also, if you are heating your water prior to use, any reduction in water consumption will also have a positive impact on your energy bills.

      Calculate your water usage

      As with carbon foot-printing, it is important to understand how much water you are currently using in order to reduce your impacts.

      The following resources are available to help you in this process:

      Water Footprint Assessment

      Reduce your water usage

      Simple, quick measures to reduce your water usage include installing a water-butt, water-saving taps, and low-flush or dual-flush toilets. More ideas for ‘simple changes’ to help you save water and reduce leaks can be found from Waterwise and The Carbon Trust’s Energy and Water Efficiency’ guide.

      Dwr Cymru offer businesses Water Efficiency Audit.

      They estimate that most small businesses (or organisations) can typically achieve a 20 – 50% decrease in the amount of water they use.

      Their Rainscape project also provides ideas and links to further resources for ‘rainscaping’ buildings; from simple rainwater collection to more ambitious projects such as green roofs. There is also information about ‘porous paving’ which is increasingly required due to recent changes in planning consents.

      Why saving water matters Read More »

      A Guide to the Well-being of Future Generations Act

      It will make the public bodies listed in the Act think more about the long-term, work better with people and communities and each other, look to prevent problems and take a more joined-up approach.

      Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales is the leading organisation for sustainable development in Wales. Our mission is to make Wales the first Sustainable Nation. Cynnal Cymru’s overall focus is on developing and promoting a sustainable, resource-efficient and low-carbon society through engagement with enterprises, the third sector and communities. We connect local and national organisations together from across Wales to help each other develop more sustainable solutions and deliver on the Well-being of Future Generations Act. This will help us to create a Wales that we all want to live in, now and in the future.

      To make sure we are all working towards the same vision, the Act puts in place seven well-being goals.

      Sustainable Development Principle and Ways of Working

      The Act puts in place a ‘sustainable development principle’ which tells organisations how to go about meeting their duty under the Act.

      There are five things that public bodies need to think about to show that they have applied the sustainable development principle. Following these ways of working will help us work together better, avoid repeating past mistakes and tackle some of the long-term challenges we are facing.


      Why do we need this law?

      Wales faces a number of challenges now and in the future, such as climate change, poverty, health inequalities and jobs and growth. To tackle these we need to work together. To give our children and grandchildren a good quality of life we need to think about how the decisions we make now will impact them. This law will make sure that our public sector does this.

      More information

      For a summary of the Act see a copy of the booklet ‘The Essentials’.

      You can find out more about the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act on the the Welsh Government website.

      A Guide to the Well-being of Future Generations Act Read More »

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