Independent newspaper publishes an opinion piece on rewilding Britain by RSKโs Jon Davies
February 23, 2021Jon Davies, Head of RSK Wilding, is on a mission: to use the buzz around rewilding to restore nature while providing financial benefits to landowners and numerous other advantages to society as a whole.
In his article for the Independent, Jon discusses what a wilder Britain might look like and considers a recent government report that analyses the economics of biodiversity. โAllowing ecosystems to regenerate with minimal intervention,โ the report reads, โhas increasingly been shown to be successful and cost-effectiveโ.
The new government approach, Jon hopes, will โherald a big push towards rewilding Britain, following, as it does, the governmentโs November pledge of ยฃ40 million for restoring green spaces, and Septemberโs commitment to restoring 30 per cent of Britain to nature by 2030โ.
Correcting misconceptions
One common misconception regarding the ecological value of our landscapes is the importance placed on Britainโs national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty and other protected areas. These green places are not the biodiverse, nature-conservation areas that you would expect: they support vast stretches of agricultural land. Locations overgrazed by livestock have very little biodiversity. Instead, we should look to the 10 per cent of land that is currently protected for nature. Jon wonders what would happen if more land in Britain were returned to a more natural state.
โA rewilded Britain would not be a pastoral idyll in which we all picnicked among Wind in the Willows-style animals. Neither would it be a dangerous place in which apex predators like wolves, lynx and wildcats roamed free and invaded our dreams.โ Jon stresses that rewilding land is a more โbenign and less threateningโ process, but that it will not look as picture-perfect as scenes in national parks. Rather, it will be messy and impassable, but that is the point. โRewilding encourages a wide variety of plants, fungi, birds and insect life,โ Jon explains in more detail; it doesnโt mean simply โintroducing new species of charismatic mammalsโ.
Crucially, writes Jon, we need to understand that the greatest value in rewilded land is not just in its burgeoning biodiversity, and the accompanying pleasure this gives us, but also in the other ecosystem services that rewilded land provides. Consider cleaner air, unpolluted water, healthier soil and even protection from flooding: rewilded land can grasp rainwater in its soggy embrace. Most importantly, a wild habitat left alone is naturally capable of capturing carbon dioxide. But our contributions can be much closer to home. While in lockdown, you could rewild your garden and turn it into a place where birds and flying insects can stop to rest and feed as they move between areas. โAll it takes,โ Jon writes โis a pond and a pack of wildflower seeds. And a collective national effort.โ
Click on the link above or here to read the full, free, informative and well-researched article online.
๐ณ๏ธโ๐ RSK is proud to stand alongside members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
๐ People deserve to be their authentic selves and love freely without fear.
You can read Graeme and Abigail's full stories next week in RSK insights. Keep an eye on our social media for more information.
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๐ธ #selfiesonsite ๐คณ
Ryan Dunderdale, Senior Surveyor at Central Alliance, providing technical support and on-site training to datum plate install teams down in Bristol.
Want to join our team? View our latest opportunities ๐ www.rskgroup.com/careers
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๐ In the June edition of our #employeespotlight, we spoke with with Rosie Pearce at Stephenson Halliday and Carmen Snowdon at WRc Group to find out about their recent achievements ๐
๐ Congratulations to you both!
Click the link in our bio to find out more!
#rskfamily #employeeapprecitation #team #landscapeinstitute #instituteofwater #architecture
"If you donโt feel valued, represented and respected in your workplace, then inevitably your #wellbeing will suffer.โ
๐ In our latest edition of #ADayInTheLife, we spoke with Ellen Lapworth-Maisey, Wellbeing, #Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Manager at RSK โ a fascinating position that helps to create an inclusive and empowering #culture for all RSK staff.
Click the link in bio to learn more!
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Some pictures of the Envireau Water staff on site.
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๐ถ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐น๐น๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฎ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ฒ๐๐
#RSKSteps came to an end on Tuesday 31 May after a month of stepping adventures.
๐๐ป ๐ป๐๐บ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐:
โ๏ธ1449 participants
โ๏ธ332,268,416 steps
โ๏ธยฃ1500 raised for our chosen charity, MIND!
Read more about this fantastic challenge in our bio!
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#RSKEvents
๐ Join Dirk Van Look and Chris Hughes on our webinar all about #PFAS โ perfluoroalkyl substances, which are both human-made and known to be harmful to humans.
๐ก We will showcase real-life examples to demonstrate how RSK is responding and developing capabilities to assess these emerging #contaminants.
Find out more and register now in our bio!
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๐ In light of #PrideMonth, we are sharing information about how to become a better ally. #Pride offers a sense of solidarity and a platform for expression.
Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts!
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๐ข RSK is pleased to announce it has further expanded its presence in Ireland by acquiring one of the most reputable tree care companies in the country.
๐ณ Dermot Casey Tree Care was founded in the 1970s by Managing Director Dermot Casey and is one of the most highly regarded tree surgery companies in Ireland, with more than 50 years of experience.
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