RSPB Cymru is leading an exciting cross sector partnership including an SME (G24 Power Ltd) and corporate business (St. David’s Centre) along with City of Cardiff Council, Cardiff Story Museum and Prince’s Trust. The aim of our project, Discover The Diff, is to imaginatively bring nature’s soul into Cardiff to benefit schools, local communities, businesses and tourists; in fact, people of all ages.
Discover The Diff has just been short-listed for a public vote to decide who will become the Kew Gardens Grow Wild Flagship for Wales; however, we need your vote to make it happen! You can find out more by watching our inspirational video on the voting website at http://bit.ly/1ZgMlTR
The project presents many opportunities for businesses of all shapes and sizes to participate and mutually benefit, plus other sectors, from: helping us to connect people of all ages, especially children, with nature and promoting a better environment to supporting Prince’s Trust volunteers and other young people to gain new skills and confidence and ensuring a more sustainable planet.
For example, St. David’s Centre want to be seen as more than the biggest lump of concrete in Cardiff and to continue to support the community and their tenants through green initiatives and worthy causes. G24 Power Ltd., on the other hand, is providing 50 solar-powered i-beacons to complement a nature-based app, to be designed by young people, which will provide location-specific content when you pass within 3-25m of a credit card sized i-beacon device.
The DNA of our project, however, is to creatively reveal and promote the remarkable story of nature in Cardiff and the positive difference it makes to our lives. The challenge to the business community, therefore, is to stimulate a win-win by helping us create a truly green city – another USP for Cardiff - where all can benefit e.g. time in nature is proven to be a healer and can save ourselves, the NHS and employers money by enhancing well-being, alleviating stress and reducing sick days. We are grateful that Admiral Group plc, Arup and Jessops Europe Ltd. have also supported the project and voting campaign. This demonstrates their ‘responsible business practice’ by assisting the community, contributing to enhancing biodiversity and being captivated by how we are already engaging the public (e.g. the nature-based artwork, linked to #RWC2015, on the Millennium Stadium Boardwalk). Some of these organisations and others want to go further and, if we win the public vote, have indicated a variety of support for our vision which includes a city of roof and rain gardens.
Every tweet using #DiscoverTheDiff will have the chance of a winning a photography course worth £119, kindly donated by Jessops. The bottom-line is that if you feel like Hugh James (who tweeted their support for nature in Cardiff) or quality of life is important to you, please encourage your colleagues, family and friends to vote! This is your investment in Cardiff and nature. Thank you!You can make our vision for an outstanding green city a reality, help to create a world richer in nature and benefit all, by making a difference and voting on line at http://bit.ly/1ZgMlTR using a tablet, smartphone or PC or by a free & quick phone call (0808 228 7202), from a mobile or landline.
By Phil BurkhardBid Manager, RSPB Cymru