Do you spend workdays indoors under fluorescent lights and in front of computers, then return home to bask in the glow of your television, ipad or mobile screen? With so much information and entertainment available online it’s the obvious place to turn in our leisure time but research suggests we’re getting it all wrong.
A growing body of evidence says making time to get outside is beneficial — maybe even essential — to good health.
Exposure to greenspace has been linked to a lower risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure. Time in nature has also been associated with reductions in stress, fatigue, anxiety and depression.*
Getting outdoors is officially good for you and employers have started to recognise it too. Wellbeing has moved up the agenda for many companies and improving access to outdoor spaces is a great place to start.
Global mother and baby brand, JoJo Maman Bebe, value putting people and the planet above profit.
They invited us to their central London office to inspire their teams to get outside, learn more about our natural world, and help butterflies and moths.
The team introduced us to their outdoor lunch space where we immediately got to work planting up pollinator-friendly flowers, bringing both life and colour to the outside of their office. This activity was followed up with a workshop, where Jojo staff had a close encounter with some caterpillars and learnt more about the butterflies and moths that live in London’s parks and gardens.
If you choose to spend your lunch break getting a dose of the outdoors, it’s easy to help butterflies and moths too.
Please report any butterfly sightings to us using the iRecord Butterflies App. Your records will contribute to environmental research, help track species populations and monitor the impact of climate change.
We hope that by taking time out of their day to notice nature and de-stress, the teams at JoJo left with improved moods and boosted brainpower.
Thanks to all the staff at JoJo Maman Bebe who helped create a better home for precious pollinators in the city!
Butterfly Conservation works with a wide range of businesses to deliver our conservation work nationwide. We are always looking to understand our partners’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) and marketing objectives and provide bespoke, long-term solutions for businesses investing with us.
Our partnerships make a difference. To customers, to your employees and the butterflies and moths we protect.
Contact me to find out more: Clare Sunderland @email
Just one pot or window box of butterfly-friendly plants can enhance the space outside your office. Download our Pots For Pollinators sheet for some planting inspiration.
* Lovell, R., Depledge, M., Maxwell, S., (2018) Health and the natural environment: A review of evidence, policy, practice and opportunities for the future; Defra (Project Code BE0109)