
I used to work for a company whose buildings sat on several acres of beautiful land full of trees and birds and wildlife. Taking a walk on my lunch hours was often the highlight of my day. The joy of working in that natural environment made me a better employee, and quite possibly a better person.
If your company has its own property, even something a small as a outdoor eating area, it can be a huge boost to the local wildlife in your area. Open space and access to food and water are vital to many species, including migrating birds, and the British company AB Sustain has come out with several great tips for maximizing the natural impact of your company's property.
The tips are pretty simple and very easy to implement. They include putting out food (often leftovers from company meetings) for birds and ground-feeding species and putting out a birdbath to attract even more birds. Change the water in birdbaths frequently, though, as they can freeze during the winter.
Speaking of freezing, if you have a pond on your property, drop a rubber ball into the water. It will slowly move around with the wind and keep the water from icing up, making it more hospitable for birds, fish and amphibians.
Also, don't be too concerned with keeping every inch of your property tidy. Loose leaves, random branches and scraggly trees all provide great habitat for a wide variety of creatures.
You can read more of AB Sustain's tips
here. They're a bit UK-centric, but they can easily be adapted for office buildings anywhere in the world.
Do you have other ideas for making your office park more wildlife-friendly? Post them in the comments!