Urban gardeners facilitate the 1st Financial Services Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark

It’s a collective and well-deserved pat on the back for commercial gardening team Accredited Contractor, Quality & Service (Q&S) as they celebrate client Fidelity International’s recent accreditation as the first financial organisation to achieve The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark award - the ISO equivalent standard for biodiversity – at their Kingswood Fields campus in Surrey.

A notoriously tough and rigorous standard, the Benchmark is the only award to certify the management of a commercial site for wildlife. Developed to leverage business as a positive force for nature’s recovery.

Quite literally, celebrating excellence in the field. Or in this case, 28 acres of business campus, green space and ancient woodland.

The award marks the culmination of 18 month’s hard work by the Q&S gardening team, their grounded approach to gardening and their commitment to biodiversity. Implementing organic gardening processes at Kingswood from Day #1, maintaining the gardens to a very high level and leading the award process under the expert ecological guidance of JW Biodiversity, with full support from Fidelity and CBRE.

Their aim to ensure biodiversity – and potential environmental impact – remains at the heart of every land-management decision.  From risk assessments ahead of gardening activities – checking hedges are free of nesting birds before trimming - to developing biodiversity-focused policies and procedures and training employees, clients and tenants on biodiversity and the importance of protecting wildlife, flora and fauna.

Managing Director at Q&S, Sue Payne explained,

“This award is notoriously tough to achieve and maintain, but Fidelity’s win reflects Q&S’s commitment to minimising impact on the environment and promoting biodiversity. Our on-site gardening team are rightly proud that their dedication to biodiversity has been recognised. The team at Kingswood Fields work extremely hard to create a fantastic environment for all and it is living testimony that commercial and biodiversity interests can live harmoniously together with mutual benefits.”

Indicative of how rigorous the Wildlife Trust standards are, there are still only 16 organisations (with certified sites in the UK) who have won and retain the Biodiversity Benchmark Award.

When asked for their feedback on the Kingswood Fields site, the Wildlife Trust said

“It is clear that Fidelity (and Q&S) view the site as more than just the grounds of a business – it is a diverse mix of gardens and grounds surrounded by old woodland with many remarkable veteran trees. It was clear to the assessor the care and attention being put into them"

In response David Hill, Head of Business Management at Fidelity International commented

“I’m delighted that our Kingswood Fields campus has been accredited with the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark award – and proud that Fidelity is the first financial organisation to have met their rigorous standards.  Whether it’s driving into the site in the morning or going for a lunchtime walk, the fantastic work from the gardening team at Q&S has made everyone’s day here that little bit brighter.  My thanks to everyone who has made the grounds at our Kingswood (all 28 acres of it!) a biodiverse and beautiful place to work.”

Chris O’Connell, Hard Services Lead (CBRE) added:

“Quality & Service are Biodiversity champions; with a dedicated and enthusiastic team who are all very knowledgeable horticulturalists.  We have worked with them to achieve the Wildlife Trusts Biodiversity Benchmark Award – which is a remarkable achievement and highlights how Q&S’ organic maintenance regimes have made a dramatic improvement to the landscaping and biodiversity across Kingswood Fields.  The whole team engage with the staff providing woodland walks and loads of other Mental Wellbeing initiatives.  It really is a pleasure partnering with Q&S”