CMS staff go wild for John Muir biodiversity award

Staff at CMS Group are voluntarily taking part in a programme to help wildlife thrive at the company’s main manufacturing site and have been recognised for their efforts by leading UK wildness charity, the John Muir Trust.

The CMS ‘EnviroChamps’ team have achieved their John Muir Award at the Discovery level in acknowledgement of their work so far in discovering, exploring, conserving and sharing the natural outdoor spaces surrounding its HQ near Glasgow.

The HQ’s 15 acre site features large areas of natural woodland and freshwater habitats running parallel to the Forth and Clyde Canal and the popular John Muir Way walking trail, making it a locally very significant site.

Spanning an age range from late teens to late fifties, the employee team has members from across the company’s departments.

They are invited to share ideas and work together to be advocates for the environment as part of a group effort, ultimately allowing as many people as possible to take part in understanding and lending a hand in implementing the company’s overall biodiversity strategy.

Their work has so far included regular litter picks, placing pollinating plants around the main CMS reception area and installing bird boxes, bat boxes and bee B&Bs to allow a sheltered habitat for many different types of wildlife.

Many of the boxes were made from recycled materials out of the CMS factory yard, with others sustainably sourced.

The work of the EnviroChamps team is fundamental to CMS Group’s biodiversity strategy, which is one of the most extensive of its kind by a window and door manufacturing business.

This programme is designed to not only conserve and enhance natural habitats, but support staff health and wellbeing by providing opportunities for employees to get involved in a hands-on way and develop their own understanding of environmental sustainability.

Amy Ledger, Environmental Advisor at the CMS Group, commented: “The gaining of the John Muir Discovery Award by the EnviroChamps team is fantastic recognition of the hard work of everyone involved.

“The award is really important to ensure we deliver the best outcomes in terms of preserving and enhancing the woodland and freshwater biomes at our HQ site, and do this in an inclusive way so any employee can get involved for the benefit of their health both physically and mentally.”

The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It helps people connect with, enjoy, and care for wild places in a non-competitive, inclusive and accessible way.

Designed so that any organisation can get involved, it seeks to encourage staff to strive for conservation and help them to truly understand the wonder that the outdoors can bring, even if it is just during a lunch break.

The biodiversity programme is just one part of the CMS Group’s environmental and social sustainability strategy which spans everything from recycling, waste reduction and energy efficiency to providing apprenticeships and supporting charities that help strengthen communities.

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