At the start of the spring season, several of the Ford & Stanley team came together at our Derbyshire conservation meadow to plant out 200 oak tree saplings, taking another step in our ongoing commitment to active environmental contribution.
With oak living up to 1,000 years we conservatively estimate a 100,000 environmental benefit directly from this one initiative.
A Truly Local, Closed-Loop Effort
These trees have a story that makes the planting extra special. Each oak was sourced by team members directly from the meadow itself, nurtured on site in greenhouses since last autumn, and then planted back into the same location. This approach ensures that our conservation work is sustainable, local, and carefully managed, preserving the character of the meadow while giving new life to the original oaks.
Group chairman, Peter Schofield believes that team members getting actively involved underlines their environmental commitment.
“It is all too easy for companies to pass off environmental contribution to third parties and have no involvement beyond an accounting procedure. What I love about the work the Ford & Stanley team do is that they give their time to literally get their hands dirty and actively contribute,” he said.
Welcoming New Team Members to the Meadow
The planting day was also an opportunity for our new starters to experience Ford & Stanley’s values in action. Kaia Webb, Josh Winfield, and Ted Parke – from our Talentwise, Select Interim, and Executive Search teams – were among those taking part, under the guidance of Conservation Meadow manager, Lloyd Lowe.
For many, it was a first introduction to the meadow and to the company’s conservation programme. Getting outside the office, digging in, and planting trees side by side offered a hands-on way to connect with the business’s broader purpose and understand the meaning behind our “tree for every placement” pledge.
“Seeing how much thought goes into every part of this programme made me appreciate the pledge even more,” said Kaia Webb. “It’s rewarding to contribute directly to something that grows over time and benefits both the environment and the community.”
Growing an Environmental Legacy
The Ford & Stanley Better Workdays Conservation Meadow is more than a planting site. It is a living, evolving space that reflects our long-term commitment to conservation. It comprises a conservation lake that provides sanctuary to nesting waterfowl, native fishes along with a plethora of plant, aquatic and insect life that sustains a huge variety of birds and amphibians.
The river running through the meadow has recently become host to wild Atlantic Salmon, recently proven to be active in the river again the first time in over 150 years. A wildflower meadow, orchard and newly planted woodland area make up the rest of the 5.5 acre site.
Looking Ahead
As each sapling grows, it becomes part of a wider story: a story of conservation, community, and collective action. The Derbyshire meadow is living proof of what can be achieved when sustainability is treated not as a one-off initiative, but as a continuous commitment.
