Nature focus
After discussion with our partners, Northumbrian Water decided that the most effective method of progressing our biodiversity work is to focus on one topic each year. The focus rotates between a species, a habitat and a specific activity (e.g. training).
Once the focus has been decided on, a work program for the year is drawn up, and local groups identified to work with to achieve our Biodiversity Action Plan targets. The choice of focus allows us to incorporate local, county and regional targets as well as wider national targets. These targets will all be linked to the species and habitats that have previously been identified as being priorities for Northumbrian Water.
Through our annual focus we aim to involve company staff, the conservation organisations that we already work in partnership with, and other interested groups.
Nature focus 2010/11 - Shared learning
Northumbrian Water works in partnership with local wildlife trusts, the Broads Authority, local biodiversity partnerships and other environmental organisations to conserve and enhance biodiversity. Shared learning is an innovative idea to share skills and expertise with these partners so that the skills base and capability of each organisation is enhanced and local and national biodiversity benefits.
Our partners benefit from business skills training that we can provide via our own staff and specialist training companies. Our employees benefit from practical conservation skills and biodiversity awareness training that our partners can provide. The outcome of the shared learning experience is an expanded knowledge base and new skills for both company employees and partners.
So far this year a one day course on ‘Delivering Biodiversity in Partnership & With People’ has taken place with employees from Durham Wildlife Trust and the three rivers trusts in the region attending. The course was designed to help those working within organisations, particularly in the Environment Sector to develop a new perspective on the broad-based concept of partnership working and how to increase the involvement of people in their projects.
Using examples and lessons learnt during the five year Northern Kites Project, the training introduced attendees to the idea of public engagement and stakeholder participation for the better delivery of their organisation’s biodiversity objectives.
The course content was developed by Glead Ecological & Environmental Services (GEES).
Further courses planned for the year include training on Communications and Media Skills, Project Management and Microsoft Excel.
In return we will be offering our staff training on a wide range of environmental and conservation related topics including Invasive Species – identification and management and Living Landscapes.
Previous nature focus themes:
| Document | |
|---|---|
| 2009/10 Focus – Wetlands |  |
| 2008/09 Focus – Birds | |
| 2007/08 Focus – Shared Learning | |
| 2006/07 Focus – Woodlands | |