RAF Base Commended For Environmental Push

A big congratulations to the  RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall and BFRS member, VIVO Defence Services, for receiving a military commendation for their environmental work. 

Over the past year, they have worked on seed collection with the National Wildflower Centre, building hedgehog houses and bug hotels, developing a community garden and taking part in ‘No Mow May’.

 

What is No Mow May?

First launched in 2019 by the botanical charity Plantlife, No Mow May is a campaign that encourages gardeners to not mow their lawn during the month of May, in order to let wildflowers bloom and provide a nectar feast for pollinators such as bees, butterflies and moths. This is normally carried out in small lawns, but at RAF St Mawgan the decision was made to undertake No Mow May on an industrial scale.

St Mawgan’s is the first military base in south west England to participate in No Mow May - helped establish nectar producing areas where honeybees, bumble bees, butterflies, moths and beetles could pollinate.

 

Some distinct challenges were identified as it became apparent that we could not completely retire the mowers during May. Although RAF St Mawgan does not have an active airfield, it’s still a fully operational station, so we had to make sure the scheme would not conflict with operational requirements.

During the month, they even transformed an area so it could become a potential nesting base for skylarks – all while ensuring the entire grounds complied with all safety rules in place for the fully operational RAF base.

They couldn’t have done it alone though, this whole initiative took the collaboration of the Air Base, their facilities management contractor, VIVO Defence Services, and their grounds maintenance industry service partner, Gavin Jones Ltd. The team work and organisation from all parties is inspiring and we hope to see other areas follow suit.

 

Now all the teams across RAF St Mawgan – for their collective efforts – have been awarded an RAF Air Officer Commanding Number 22 Group Team Commendation.

 

RAF St Mawgan station Wing Commander Marshall Kinnear added:

“The work undertaken by personnel from across the Station has been outstanding”

“I’m delighted that the collective efforts of our Regular, Reserve, Civil Service and Industry Partners has been formally recognised.”

 

Looking to read more about what went into this project, click here… 

 

Interested in possibly working with VIVO Defence, click here… 

 

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