Welcoming new tenants: Hedgehogs and bats find a home at The Business Village
In a step towards improving local biodiversity, The Business Village is introducing new hedgehog and bat boxes on site. The initiative is part of a drive to make a positive impact on the environment and aligns with ongoing efforts to support local communities.
Hedgehogs and bats both play crucial roles in the ecosystem. Hedgehogs feast on slugs, snails, and insects, reducing the need for harmful pesticides. Their foraging habits also help aerate soil and recycle nutrients. Bats also feed on insects, but help with flower pollination and spreading seeds too. Providing these safe habitats is a positive step towards boosting biodiversity.
Supporting local community initiatives
The hedgehog and bat boxes were made by members of a community enterprise in Cudworth. Established in 2002 by a former coal miner, the community workshop teaches woodworking skills to local residents. Equipped with specialist tools, it’s a space to create or repair wooden items.
Past projects range from making front doors, to more unusual requests such as a parrot stand in a pram. Some projects make use of recycled wood, while others demand newly sourced materials.
But the community workshop isn’t only a place for woodworking skills. It’s a hub for residents too. People looking for employment can gain vocational skills and work experience, building self-confidence. The workshop also supports mental wellbeing, managing stress and reducing loneliness.
Brian Haigh is a key figure at the workshop. He’s the go-to person for anyone interested in getting involved or offering support.
“We’re happy for people to drop in at the Community Workshop. We’re based in the Enterprise Centre on George Street in Cudworth. Our opening hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday between 9am and 12pm. We’re only open during school terms though because we share space with the Sidcop Breakfast and Holiday Club.”
Brian adds that they also run woodcraft classes in Wakefield. Led by a qualified carpenter and French polisher, these classes teach wood carving skills and run all year.
The Business Village’s commitment to sustainability
The Business Village is the home of Net Zero Barnsley, an initiative offering free support to help businesses reduce carbon emissions. This commitment to sustainability extends to The Business Village premises too. Over £400,000 has already been invested in efforts to reduce carbon emissions onsite.
“We’re always looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. We have solar panels and LED lighting and use energy management software for the heating. We also changed the grass mowing regime at Cudworth recently to enhance biodiversity. Adding hedgehog and bat boxes is just another example of how we’re always looking to make a difference.”
Kevin Steel, Business Development Manager – The Business Village.
The introduction of hedgehog and bat boxes shows how easy it is to take active steps to encourage biodiversity. It also highlights how businesses can make a meaningful impact on both the environment and their local communities.
If you’d like support to reduce your impact on the environment and begin your net zero journey, please get in touch:
If you would like to contact or donate to the Community Workshop, Cudworth, please get in touch with:
Or call in at the Community Workshop, The Enterprise Centre, George Street Cudworth
Opening times: School term time, 9am and 12pm – Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
About Net Zero Barnsley
Net Zero Barnsley is part of the Low Carbon Project, a project part-funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Sheffield City Council is the accountable body for the South Yorkshire region. The Low Carbon project has received £3,445,606 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The UK Shared Prosperity Fund is a central pillar of the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda and provides £2.6 billion of funding for investment by March 2025. The Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK, investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills. For more information, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-shared-prosperity-fund-prospectus