At Sandon Manor in Hertfordshire, rewilding is about much more than creating a beautiful landscape. Across our estate, we’re working to restore habitats, increase biodiversity and create more space for nature to thrive. Our Rewilding Day at Sandon Manor offered the opportunity to get hands-on with nature recovery and experience the estate’s environmental work first-hand. Today, that same philosophy forms an important part of our sustainable business retreats and corporate offsites, where teams can step away from the office, reconnect in nature and take part in meaningful environmental activities that contribute directly to the ongoing regeneration of the Sandon Manor estate.
In May 2024 we had a Rewilding Day at Sandon Manor.
This involved a get together of our team with all the advisers and environmentalists who have supported us with our rewilding journey.
This day was to show everyone involved the great progress taking place in the Nature Reserves. The amount of biodiversity has increased rapidly since we converted these areas from arable land in 2021 and the fences have gone up to stop the deer munching away all of the new regrowth.
We have seen some really exciting new wildlife move into the area and it was great to hear the findings of the surveyors who have been helping us out. As the biodiversity grows and more diverse habitats are develop this creates homes for many exciting new species to the area.
The day involved a short talk from Mark with an overview of the progress which has been made.
We then set out into the rain to walk through Roe Wood Reserve. We walked through a variety of habitats – wood pasture, potential wetland areas we are looking to develop, ancient woodlands and an area which was previously cleared of spruce where lots of new, indigenous trees are beginning to grow.
The environmental advisers shared a wealth of knowledge on the walk about nature development.
We then returned to the haybarn for lunch and to dry out. Sadly this year we were not able to enjoy lunch in the woodlands due to the inclement weather.
We would like to thank all of the organisations who have supported us in our rewilding journey. Amongst them, Natural England, HMWT, The Environment Agency, Herts CC, Rewilding Britain, FWAG East, The Forestry Commission, Affinity Water. As well as our wonderful surveying volunteers.
Nature recovery at Sandon Manor continues throughout the year, creating an ever-changing landscape of rewilded nature reserves, wildflower meadows, ancient woodland, ponds and wildlife habitats. It’s also something we can share with businesses staying on the estate.
Teams visiting Sandon Manor for a business offsite or executive retreat can incorporate meaningful nature-based activities into their stay, from tree planting and habitat creation to biodiversity surveying and pond observation. These shared experiences offer something very different from conventional corporate team building: time spent together in nature while making a genuine contribution to the estate’s long-term environmental regeneration.
After time spent on the nature reserves, teams can return to our stylish meeting and accommodation spaces, relax together and unwind in the outdoor natural spa. Businesses participating in our environmental activities can also receive a sustainability impact report outlining their contribution to nature recovery during their retreat.
Walking through wildflower meadows, exploring ancient woodland or taking part in a collaborative nature recovery activity provides a natural change of pace between meetings. Our approach brings together business, wellbeing and sustainability, creating executive retreats and team offsites that have a positive impact not only on the people taking part, but on the landscape around them too.