Bed manufacturer Harrison Spinks has switched its carbon offsetting policy to support a project in Yorkshire.
The company previously paid to offset carbon use overseas but is now redirecting its contribution into climate initiatives to ensure substantial, long-term changes are taking place across the region.
It has joined the Wild Ingleborough: a landscape-scale conservation project working with the local community to bring about nature’s recovery in parts of North Yorkshire and within the Yorkshire Dales. The partnership is a long-term commitment to address climate change between Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, WWF, Natural England, University of Leeds, United Bank of Carbon, and The Woodland Trust, which will help to address the ecological and climate crisis.
As part of the long-term commitment, the Leeds-based manufacturer will focus its five-figure investment on climate work which includes natural regeneration and restoration of land, the recovery of rare and endangered plant species, increasing employment in wildlife conservation, and supporting local farmers to promote environmentally positive production.
‘Developing this working relationship has and will be extremely rewarding for everyone involved: creating innovative, high-quality solutions with real impact is at the heart of the work, and is what attracted us to the exceptional work being planned by the team,’ says Louise Ellis-Jones, Harrison Spinks sustainability non-executive director.
‘Wild Ingleborough is a fantastic initiative which aligns to our ethos and values as a family business rooted in Yorkshire that has always strived to play an active role within the wider community and our natural environment. We are very excited to be part of such a progressive and ground-breaking project which will drive forward our understanding and response to both nature restoration and climate impact. What we are focused on is shifting the agenda forward to put emphasis on measurable action and finding long-term alternatives to more “traditional” carbon offsetting to create a positive outcome here in this country.’
The Wild Ingleborough programme engages the local community and work closely with regional businesses to grow their offering of sustainable wildlife tourism opportunities within the area, as well as support local producers to promote their products with environmental benefits.
‘Our Wild Ingleborough programme is restoring and rejuvenating the stunning landscape around one of Yorkshire’s famous three peaks and surrounding Dales. We are absolutely delighted that Harrison Spinks, a respected and established Yorkshire business, has recognised our shared values and given its support and invested generously in our work,’ says Tim Thom, Yorkshire Wildlife Trust Wild Ingleborough manager.
Image: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust