Putting biodiversity and sustainability at the heart of landscape management

Set within a 70-acre landscaped park on the banks of the River Thames, Howbery Business Park is home to a diverse community of organisations, including the Environment Agency, Natural England and HR Wallingford.

With sustainability embedded into the Park’s identity, our long standing partnership with Howbery Business Park goes well beyond traditional grounds maintenance. Together, we have developed a programme focused on improving biodiversity, building habitat resilience and creating opportunities for people to connect with nature.

A shared approach to sustainability

Nurture Group and Howbery Business Park have worked together for more than a decade, continually developing the way the landscape is managed to support both people and nature.

A Biodiversity Action Plan provides the framework for identifying, protecting and enhancing the Park’s biodiversity. It also considers how the landscape can support wellbeing and working life alongside its ecological value.

This has created opportunities to work with organisations including the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, British Trust for Ornithology, Butterfly Conservation and the Hedgehog Preservation Society.

The approach is continually reviewed, with biodiversity performance monitored through regular inspections and contract reviews.

Turning sustainability into action

A number of initiatives have been introduced across the Park to enhance habitats and improve environmental resilience.

A three-year native hedge planting programme is underway, with the first year of establishment progressing well despite challenging heatwave and drought conditions.

Woodchip produced through on-site tree management is reused beneath veteran Horse Chestnut trees, helping improve root-zone conditions and moisture retention while giving material from the site a beneficial second use.

Six new bird boxes were installed in 2026, alongside annual inspections, cleaning and reporting to support ongoing species monitoring.

The Park has also introduced expanded no-mow areas, bug hotels, hedgehog shelters and insect-friendly planting to create a greater variety of habitats for wildlife.

One of the latest additions to the programme is bioacoustic monitoring. Sound-recording technology is being used to build a better understanding of species activity across the Park. The data helps identify species requiring additional support.

This provides a more informed approach to habitat management and helps shape future biodiversity initiatives.

Innovation in everyday maintenance

Sustainability is also being considered in the way the landscape is maintained.

A significant proportion of operational equipment has transitioned to battery-powered alternatives, helping reduce emissions, noise and reliance on fossil fuels.

Working alongside specialist Heritage Tree experts, veteran tree management techniques have also been introduced to protect valuable ecological assets and improve their resilience.

Green waste is 100% recycled, with organic material returned to beneficial use through composting and woodchipping.

The Park’s Flood Resilient Garden, repurposed from a Chelsea Flower Show installation in 2024, provides a practical demonstration of climate adaptation and sustainable landscape design.

Connecting people with nature

The work at Howbery is not just about creating better habitats. It is also about helping people understand and enjoy them.

Through the Howbery Park Life programme, Nurture Group and Howbery have supported a range of activities including Meet the Bees events, flood-resilient garden tours, children’s animal and tree trails, butterfly walk-and-talks and seed-to-plate workshops.

These events have engaged employees, visitors and local stakeholders, including occupiers such as the Environment Agency and Natural England.

More than 300 people have engaged with sustainability and biodiversity initiatives at Howbery over the last 12 months, helping to build awareness and create a stronger connection between people and the natural environment.

Looking ahead

The partnership continues to evolve, with biodiversity monitoring, habitat creation and sustainable maintenance practices helping Howbery Business Park build greater environmental resilience.

The park shows how thoughtful landscape management, ecological knowledge, technology and community involvement can work together to support biodiversity, while creating a healthy and enjoyable environment for the people who use it.

Nurture Group and Howbery will continue to build on the Biodiversity Action Plan, using data and ongoing monitoring to identify new opportunities for improvement.