Overview
As the Christmas decorations go up and the ecological calendar allows a little breathing space between wintering surveys and training, the year end sees the usual flurry of social activity and traditions.
We make time to come together for Staff Appreciation events; corporate padel, ‘Secret Santa Cheese Lunch’, the Christmas party and the annual Group Community Action Day, a welcome Origin Enterprises initiative. We recognise the importance of these activities, it’s all too easy to be too busy and allow this busyness to prevent us from being a better business.
Our Purpose
Whilst perhaps we don’t shout sufficiently about being a purpose-driven business, we do have a clear vision and set of values by which we operate. It’s a simple vision for the future, one in which people, business and nature thrive in harmony. We have a purpose, we’re conscious of the impact our business has on people and planet, and ultimately, we aim to create positive outcomes for all.
With almost half of our team Gen Z, a generation who have experienced unprecedented challenging times, we know that being able to demonstrate social and environmental responsibility is important.
A recent Deloitte survey highlights this shift: over 40% of Gen Z and Millennials have changed jobs or sectors, or plan to, due to climate concerns. They seek employers whose actions align with their values, organisations that empower them to make a tangible difference.
At Keystone, we strive to be that kind of business, actively listening, adapting, and driving positive change.
People and Nature come together
Last week, we celebrated our first group Community Action Day since joining the Origin family by partnering with the Countryside Regeneration Trust (CRT). Their mission to protect, promote, and regenerate the land aligns closely with our own values.
“The CRT promotes nature-friendly farming to help reverse the biodiversity decline and combat climate change. We believe nature is integral to good farming and we protect, promote and regenerate our land and all life on it.”
By championing nature-friendly farming, CRT is tackling biodiversity loss and climate change, demonstrating that farming and nature can coexist and thrive. With over 2,000 acres of working farms, smallholdings, and woodlands under their care, CRT is an inspiring example of what’s possible when people and nature come together.
Turnastone Court Farm
Setting off early from our yard in Horton, we headed to Herefordshire on a chilly November morning, vehicles packed with billhooks and brush cutters, and a hearty lunch. Greeted by Ruth Moss, Conservation & Mapping Officer, her excitement was contagious as she welcomed our team, ready and eager to tackle the task of hedgelaying.
Hedgelaying is a centuries-old craft, essential for conserving our wildlife and landscapes. By laying a hedge, you create a living fence that encourages new growth, regenerating old, overgrown hedges without needing replacement. Hedgerows are features of our countryside that provide food and vital refuges for wildlife, and act as natural corridors for species to move through the landscape.
For our Habitats team, this could have been just another day in the great outdoors involving physical work, mud and the certainty of getting wet. But what unfolded over the next few hours was far more than just another day in the office. It was a heartwarming display of camaraderie, teamwork, and shared purpose, perfectly capturing the spirit of Keystone.
Expertise shone through from the Habitats crew including Chris, Luke, Oli, Liam & Joe N who generously shared their skills, while others in the Ecology team, Tas, Jack, Jasmine, Ben & Dom eagerly embraced the chance to learn. Roles emerged naturally: Caroline, Becci, and Michelle became expert ‘stake makers’, Mike, Lucy S, Joel & Toni mastered the art of pleaching, while Ralph and Lydia excelled at creating a dead hedge. Much like in the office, Justine flitted between working groups, offering hands-on support across the board, Lucy L was pretty handy with the loppers, and Joe B got stuck in despite suffering a dodgy back. Josh fulfilled his most important task, bringing the home-baked cake, and it was great to welcome both Origin Environmental Managing Director, Mark, and new team members, Hugh and Lydia.
Together, we effortlessly formed a formidable team, completing 100 meters of hedge in record time. Ruth’s delight was clear: what we accomplished in a few hours would have taken their small team of six another couple of years to complete.
The Community Action Day is an initiative we wholeheartedly embrace. As 2025 looks set to be another busy year in our thriving sector, we remain committed to taking tangible action to becoming a better business.
We will take time to pause, consider how to make real impact, strengthen ties within own team and give back to the communities in which we serve. We’ll continue to support the incredible work of CRT and hope to return to Turnastone Court Farm in the future.
If you’d like to partner with us by booking a Community Action Day on your own charitable initiative in 2025, reach out today!