Wilder business in the Blean
© Tim Horton
How do you combine business and biodiversity? Can we create a new way of collaborating which benefits wildlife and people? Conservation at a landscape-scale needs everyone involved; no one person or organisation can tackle the challenges our natural spaces face alone, and the Blean is no exception. This concept has initiated our Blean Business and Biodiversity Network.
Business and biodiversity
Local businesses are joining forces with the Wilder Blean Initiative to develop a green economy. Our goal as a conservation organisation is to protect, restore and sustain our natural world. While businesses are becoming more aligned to this goal, a green economy must also support businesses and their customers.Canterbury Brewers and Distillers at The Foundry Brew Pub have achieved just this by implementing their very own sustainable brewing system that captures heat from the distillation process to heat their restaurant and bar. They are producing high quality products and running a thriving business while decreasing their energy use and their bills. Now, joining forces with the Wilder Blean Initiative, they are creating a Blean-inspired gin, showcasing the best in local conservation and distilling. Keep your eyes peeled in the coming months for the release!
Joint ventures like these allow NGOs and businesses with aligned aims to find mutually beneficial ways of working together. The future of our planet will rely on us taking positive action together, finding new ways to make progress and giving each other a helping hand along the way. By working together, we can embed achievable and climate-positive sustainability across all business types, and at the same time raise awareness and drive customers to boost our local economy.
Our recent Nature-based Enterprise study, funded by the Rewilding Challenge Fund, highlighted that there are over 100 businesses operating across the Blean landscape, from camping and glamping to cafes and pubs, which gives us a huge opportunity to collaborate on catalysing a green economy for the region.
Community and conservation
The Blean has another advantage: its vibrant community, living, working and studying across the landscape. Conservation cannot succeed without people and a healthy life includes nature. Collaboration is key to nurture an environment where people and nature thrive. The Wilder Blean Initiative wants to hear your thoughts about the Blean’s future, ensuring your voices shape decisions facing the landscape you call home. There are so many ways you can get involved...
Subscribe to the Wilder Blean newsletter to receive the latest news and updates straight into your inbox. To get involved, please contact blean@wilderkent.org.uk.
Book your place at the Wilder Blean Festival on 13 July at Victory Wood, just outside Whitstable, to discover the power of collaboration first hand.
Learn more about the Wilder Blean Initiative and how we are moving towards a thriving biodiverse landscape here.