Green Gown Awards 2021: Benefitting Society - University of Hertfordshire - Finalist

Wild Connections - Windowsill Series

The premise of the project was to build a collective community awareness of biodiversity and how we can support and protect the wildlife around us. The environment we live and work in forms part of the wider context of our lives.

This environment changed suddenly as the Country went into lockdown due to COVID 19. Building on the advice from the judging panel of the Green Gown Awards we revamped the project to have more structure and community engagement. In January 2021, we launched an initiative project Windowsill Series ‘WILD CONNECTIONS’ designed to enrich their community’s mental health and wellbeing and enhancing the biodiversity however big or small. The projects encouraged individuals to get involved in 4 episodes connected to environmental awareness and management. Through the collaborative work between the University and local groups (Ground Works) and the local community through access to our content via YouTube, the project provided great awareness and education for the community. The University of Hertfordshire’s Environment & Sustainability Team worked in close partnership with the Dean of Students, Community Biodiversity Special Advisers, Estates Teams, and the University Green Team to bring together the package of awareness campaigns and events to ensure the University’s local community could come together and feel connected with the world around them.

Top 3 learnings:

• The ability to Innovate and adapt.
• The strong connection of the environment and sustainability with Workplace Wellbeing.
• Be mindful of how the choices around you impact your individual wellbeing.

Videos

• Video #1 (click to hide)