OCU Group are joined by SSEN colleagues for a Wild Work Day with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Green-fingered colleagues from both organisations teamed up for the day to remove invasive species and carry out coppicing activities to pave the way for new drainage systems as part of a wider project to restore the ancient woodland’s biodiversity.

Covering 71 hectares, Great Wood is one of the 20 largest ancient woodlands in Wiltshire and home to possibly the largest collection of wild service trees in the country, making it nationally important for conservation. The Trust is undertaking a significant, long-term restoration project to revive its ecological health, creating more space for rare species and improving the habitat for a variety of birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Alina Mone, Environmental Advisor at OCU, who arranged the Wild Work Day commented, “It has been great to partner with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by volunteering at Great Wood. It was an incredibly rewarding experience and a wonderful opportunity to connect with nature and give back to the community where we are delivering works for our client SSEN. The team thoroughly enjoyed contributing to the restoration works which will hopefully encourage fresh growth and a diverse understorey of plants. We look forward to continuing our support to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and their vital conservation efforts through future volunteering activities.”

OCU Group provides the opportunity for their employees to volunteer for causes and charities across the UK, and are proud of their teams for supporting these activities and the communities they serve every day. 

Dave Jones, Principal Ecologist for SSEN, said, “Our team is thrilled to contribute to the restoration of Great Wood alongside our OCU colleagues. By removing invasive species and coppicing, we are creating a healthier and more diverse woodland that will help wildlife thrive. We are grateful to the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust for letting us take part and support in this important endeavour.”

Zoe Steadman-Milne, from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, added, “By participating in Wild Work Days, companies can make a tangible difference in their local community. These days provide valuable team-building experiences while directly supporting vital conservation work across Wiltshire. We are hugely grateful for the effort the OCU and SSEN team put in at Great Wood. They have helped us achieve so much in just one day.”

Enhancing the habitat at Great Wood will attract a variety of bird and butterfly species, and the long-term project will gradually replace large swathes of conifers with native broadleaf trees, enhancing the woodland’s biodiversity. Find out more about the project here: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/greatwood