The ‘green’ landscape proves increasingly complicated for consumers to navigate- challenged to wade through an endless stream of information, constantly flowing through our consciousness and vying for our attention at every turn. But the gift of endless information, available at our fingertips and in an instant- also affords the opportunity for knowledge and empowerment. Nothing more could be expected of each individual, than to research and understand the options available in all areas of their consumption- then make an informed decision, rather than operate via impulse. We trust our peers to operate responsibly- however, we respect their individual choices, considered or not.
We are sound in the knowledge that the impact of our work leaves behind a lasting legacy, outweighing that of our presence while on site- and are committed to operate solely in this manner for as long as we exist.
Further to this, we sincerely believe that through a concerted and collective effort to migrate away from excess as a society, we will manage to easily and successfully outperform any imagined ‘technological’ solution and move back toward balance within our ecosystems- to ensure the longevity of our planet (and indeed our species, among millions).
The principles we stand for:
-
We do not spray– Application of herbicide and pesticide is counter to our philosophy. It is our belief that no amount or combination of chemical compounds could replace responsible and committed manual management in the long-term, where invasive and non-desired species are concerned. While admittedly convenient- the use of such products is detrimental to the health of our habitats and water sources, as well as the human populations which surround treated sites. The simple fact that traditional chemical treatments require constant reapplication, reinforces the idea that their use makes little sense weighted against the outcome. For these reasons, we refuse to ‘spray and walk away’.
As for ‘weeds’- we view these amazing native plants as an integral component in the tapestry of nature, carefully evolved and interwoven to form a balanced and functional habitat. One should simply marvel at the resilience and ingenuity displayed by organisms which find a route to thrive without fail, despite the harshest conditions. Additionally, these plants often display remarkable beauty during flowering- as well as producing seed and pollen, supporting a vast array of insect and animal species. For this reason, we encourage the land and property owners we partner with to allow these natural cycles to flourish to completion during the growing season, where these plants do not pose risk to the public. We will happily remove plant material wherever required during these cycles- provided this is carried out thoughtfully and via manual methods.
-
We are committed to protecting native wildlife– Regardless of the site, we never commence our workload before assessing the activity of resident fauna. Whether clearing a small yard, cutting rights of way or thinning a woodland- we are careful to survey for any signs of wildlife, with particular emphasis on nesting birds, bats and terrestrial mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates- many of which are protected by law.
-
We respect environmental and biosecurity– We insist on the use of bio-degradable oils and lubricants to run and maintain our machinery, wherever these are viable and available- allowing us to ensure minimal trace wherever necessary works have been completed, and avoiding the disturbance of balance within the site’s natural ecosystem. We will always operate a secured refuelling zone- designated after assessment on a per-site basis.
We are also careful to respect and observe precautions and legislative guidelines where biosecurity is concerned- avoiding the cross-contamination and spread of plant disease and pathogens, which have become an increasing threat to native species across the globe as a result of climate and temperature change, along with under-regulated import and export of plant and animal species between continents. In this manner, we are committed to preserving the security of native species residing in the United Kingdom’s unique and vastly varied habitats.
-
We are committed to practicing responsible stewardship– In our view this means, above all- simply knowing when not to carry work out. The ‘environmental’ landscape has unfortunately evolved to become one often rife with mismanagement, with what is still a beautiful and honourable concept being exploited far too often for financial gain.
Tree planting schemes to facilitate climate impact and reforestation can easily morph into a waste of precious resources, when thousands of trees are grown in nurseries- never to be planted, or planted without thoughtful consideration and assigned no alternate fate than to perish in unsuitable conditions. The term ‘sustainability’ seems to mean far too often, that a product or service can be provided consistently- rather than in a manner which benefits the natural world surrounding us, and this has seemingly and unfortunately become the unquestioned status quo.
This is merely one simple example, but illustrates our human ability to overlook the obvious and operate automatically where trend, ‘efficiency’ and profitability become the driving forces behind an idea. The natural world is a precious resource to be nurtured and conserved, rather than a commodity to exploit- we will always opt for the long-view, committed to honouring a habitat-first approach and making the most informed and responsible decision for the future wellbeing of every particular site.
-
We utilise conventional machinery, powered thoughtfully– An electric vehicle in every drive. A brand new arsenal of battery-powered machinery. In this way we’ll save the world. We can confidently say this is not our stance.
We haven’t missed the bandwagon, nor are we immune to incessant marketing- it is simply our position, following much thorough research and thoughtful consideration- to carry our work out while relying upon conventional machinery, fuelled by alternate, lower-emission sources and used sparingly. For this task we trust Aspen to provide our alkylate fuels- providing a dramatic reduction in our emission footprint and reducing harm for both the environments we operate in, as well as our operators (and you).
Should we ever possess the capability and capacity to generate our own (truly) regenerative electricity, we will certainly reconsider this avenue- however, for the time being it is our understanding that the commercial options available to us prove far too unreliable and most certainly not traceable, where clean energy is concerned. Production-generated emissions remain an inevitable component in the chain of consumption, given the demand and excess placed upon the grid through our societal behaviours- for this reason, it became our personal decision to make a firm choice and take control of our usage- albeit via the lesser of two evils.
We must also be sure not to ignore the environmental and human rights abuses posed by the unregulated acquisition of raw materials necessary for the production of battery technology- often obscured from view in the first world by the promise of investment, and hidden in the recesses of developing nations. We are hopeful for a resolution and stricter global regulation in the near future, where these challenges are concerned.
As for noise reduction and mitigation of noise pollution (where chainsaws and the like are concerned)- we find hand tools to be far safer and more efficient for the majority of pruning, small felling and clearance tasks we undertake- using our machines only when absolutely necessary due to size, or the necessity for sequenced technical cuts not safely possible through manual means. We also opt for manual mowers to carry out grass cutting wherever viable, and are committed to trialling and integrating traditional methods such as scything into our practices.