From the seed of an idea a year ago, kind donations from the sponsors of last year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards and Northamptonshire Education Awards saw the planting last month of 2,000 saplings in Wicksteed Park.
Every year, businesses in the county are generous enough to support the two awards events, contributing to making the two glittering evenings, designed to celebrate the success of the business community and the education sector, two of the biggest nights in the Northamptonshire awards calendar.
In 2022, instead of asking the sponsors for items for goodie bags, event organisers All Things Business suggested that the money that would normally be spent on promotional items could be put to better and longer-lasting use. And on March 21, the organisers and sponsors came together to plant a variety of young, native trees that will soon add to the beautiful natural setting of Wicksteed Park.
Ben Thomas, Managing Director of All Things Business, said:
“We want to give all our guests at the awards events the very best, making it a night to remember, and that usually involved a goodie bag packed with gifts from sponsors. Those that took them home no doubt enjoyed their gifts, but we noticed that far too many were being forgotten or left behind at the end of the evening and we’re always trying to do what we can to cut down on waste.
“The idea of planting trees instead was put to our sponsors at our launch event at The Falcon in Castle Ashby in April 2022 and got an enthusiastic response.”
The planting of trees gives back to a community in so many ways, not least the positive effect on the environment. Trees reduce the amount of pollutants in the atmosphere, and provide rich habitats for a wide range of wildlife. For human visitors, they provide a place of calm and wellbeing, shade when it’s hot, and a create a place to gather to enjoy time with family and friends.
Ben Thomas added:
“We are delighted to find a home for our new trees at Wicksteed Park, a place that means so much to so many people. Thanks to our sponsors for coming out and helping plant the trees, and we look forward to seeing them grow and flourish over the next few years.”
Full details of this year’s Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards and Northamptonshire Education Awards will be announced very soon. Find out more at www.allthingsbusiness.co.uk/awards
