280,000 planted trees – is it a lot or not? As the old saying goes – it depends … As for the tree-planting campaign, initiated a few years ago by Torus, what is more important than bare numbers is what it all gives us. On October 14, in Głuchy Bór, nearby Dziemiany, another edition of the event is to take place. We will plant trees, while enjoying integration, educational activities, and a great deal of forest inspirations – everything based on ‘WELLBEING’.
– The idea of the ‘Do Nasadzenia’ campaign was born a few years back, in response to the particular need. By involving local companies and their respective employees, we wanted to support the rebuilding process of the forest tissue destroyed by a hurricane wind that occurred in 2017. We managed to fulfil this goal, but the event touched so many hearts, generated so many positive emotions, that various companies themselves began to put forward a question to us: ‘Are we going to keep on planting’? We couldn’t refuse, thus the rollout of another edition, although this year we are to lay even greater emphasis on education, and the involvement of children who are to show up at the site in an impressive group of one hundred seventy – says Monika Brzozowska, Torus Marketing Director.
There is power
The commune of Dziemiany, forest district of Głuchy Bór, Lipusz Forest Inspectorate – this is where on October 14, five hundred people are to show up – company employees, friends, and families with kids, among others. They will head to the forest, actually to the place which, thanks to them, will become a forest one day, where upon a short tutorial provided by foresters, they will get down to planting. There is a lot of work ahead – with 32,000 pieces of Scots pine prepared, along with 2,700 pieces of silver birch, to be planted over the area of four hectares. However, there will be even more satisfaction from actively (and productively) spent time. A dozen or so Tricity companies and organizations got involved in the campaign.
- We are perfectly aware of the fact that responsible business cannot exist in isolation from most burning problems of the XXI century, with climatic and environmental changes, such as deforestation, or the ongoing biodiversity crisis, being certainly some of them. The initiatives such as ‘Do Nasadzenia’, which we have the pleasure of co-creating, are primarily educational events. To the joint planting effort, we invited our employees with their children, thanks to which we make the new generation conscious of various environmental matters, and we show that everybody, if only they want, does have an influence. One cannot forget about the integrational aspect of the event. CSR is becoming a source of satisfaction for our employees – by doing something good, we are strengthening interpersonal bonds, which is extremely important in the period of the post-pandemic isolation – says Aleksanda Bugajska, Talent Development Director in GetResponse.
– We are glad we can join forces with Torus, and continue Poland’s all-important reforestation efforts – said Richard Alcock, Head of Service Management in Thomson Reuters in Gdańsk. At Thomson Reuters, we are engaged in being part of the community in which we live and work. Every year, our employees dedicate thousands of hours to non-profit organizations all around the world. Voluntary works are at the centre of our corporate culture, and we engage in exerting positive influence through the support of various important social activities – he added.
- Since 2019, arm in arm with fellow Tricity companies, ERGO Hestia employees have met up in the area of Lipusz forest district, where enormous hurricane winds knocked down millions of trees in the summer of 2017. This year’s edition of ‘Do Nasadzenia’ is an opportunity not only to conduct further planting works, but also to meet foresters – people who know the forest and its respective rules inside out, as well as to participate in multiple educational workshops. Natural environment is a value you cannot overestimate, with contacts with nature positively affecting our wellbeing, health, and mood. This is why, our employees will yet again plant trees together, and integrate in the wilderness, so as to draw energy and power which stream from the surrounding nature – says Mario Zamarripa, Sustainable Growth Director in ERGO Hestia.
Education and fun
At the site, one will find tons of attractions for kids and adults prepared by Lasy Państwowe, and Social Cooperative ZEROBAN, among others. Making your own forest wax tablets with the scent of the forest, hotels for insects, or the natural forest ecosystem enclosed in glass, and then taking it to your home, garden, or onto your balcony, accounts for an extremely important and interesting experience. Thanks to it, we can explore nature ourselves, while educating the younger ones – showing them how important a role the nature, forests, and animals play for the human – even the smallest ‘pollinators’. During the display combined with respective workshops, various species of mushrooms will be presented, linked in pairs, an edible mushroom against a similar inedible one. Learning about their unique properties will allow everybody to easily tell one from the other in the future. The foresters will also show how to distinguish forest tree shoots by their leaves, and will take everybody for an educational walk. Coffee enthusiasts and others will find it curious to be given an opportunity to make natural peeling from … the grounds of coffee you will drink on site. ‘Do Nasadzenia’, in many respects, is a unique event. This actively spent day – in the open, communing with nature, with multiple attractions and workshops – will provide a great deal of knowledge and positive emotions which the participants will take home, and which they will surely share with others for a long time.
Health from nature
During the event, a currently all-important aspect is to be brought up – mental health. During the workshop with Można Zwariować Foundation, the participants will be able to learn about the psychological first (self)aid, whose essential element lies exactly within the contact with nature.
– Nowadays, we are living in a relentless pace, being often exposed to stress, which some of us are handling better, some others worse. Depression, professional burnout, or anxiety about tomorrow, are all frequent phenomena, something which can affect anybody, even those strongest and most positive. Therefore, it cannot remain a taboo topic; we must speak openly about problems, and try to address them in the earliest stage possible, showing numerous ways that lead to the better mood – comments Monika Brzozowska.
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ORGANIZER: Torus
STRATEGIC PARTNER: Lasy Państwowe (State Forests)
PARTNERS: GetResponse; ERGO Hestia; Thomson Reuters
PARTICIPANTS: Swarovski Global Business Services; State Street Bank International; RICOH Business Services Polska; Sollers Consulting; DNV Poland; Foundever Poland; Dr. Oetker Polska; Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Oświatowe; Northvolt Systems Poland; BTV; PZFD Trójmiasto; Cefetra Polska; Collab
MEDIA COVERAGE: Trojmiasto.pl; Eurobuild CEE; Pro Progressio, Focus on Business
