Hidden gem six miles from Nottingham city lands grand donation
Added by Love Business East Midlands | 22 August 2025
UPDATED: 27 August 2025
A local conservation trust has landed a £1,000 donation from The Wilkins Group, signalling the firm’s ongoing commitment to the local environment and its wildlife.
The global packaging firm based in Colwick, has provided a much-needed cash injection to Gedling Conservation Trust (GCT) as part of the firm’s ‘year of giving’ campaign.
The family business has pledged to support a different Nottinghamshire charity every month of 2025.
The Trust has said the money will provide essential Tern rafts to help sustain breeding at its Netherfield nature reserve.
The GCT, which now manages Netherfield Lagoons Local Nature Reserve, was set up in 2005 to take over the ownership of the site from UK Coal after the closure of Gedling Pit rendered the site redundant.
Now designated as a Local Nature Reserve, the site is teeming with wildlife such as Roe deer, grass snakes, and a variety of visiting birds including sandpiper and terns, and even great white egret, which were spotted on July 21, and a marsh harrier noted on July 10, 2025.
Justin Wilkins, joint managing director of The Wilkins Group, said:
“This is a particularly special charity for us as a company as it is located right on our doorstep.
“This nature reserve is a true hidden gem, you really would never believe it’s there. The peaceful, wildlife-filled spot is hidden away behind a major recycling and resource recovery centre. It’s like stumbling across a little oasis in the most unexpected place.”
The trust, which receives no Government or Local Authority funding, was extremely grateful for the substantial donation. Receiving the donation cheque on behalf of the charity were trustees Nicki Brooks and Mark Glover.
They said the funding would be invested in replacement equipment as well as contributing towards replacing breeding tern rafts. Tern rafts are floating platforms that mimic natural nesting habitats.
The Wilkins Group said it was immensely proud to help fund Gedling Conservation Trust’s work by making the organisation a recipient of the firm’s 12-month support campaign.
Justin said:
“We think it’s incredible that such a passionate group of volunteers have devoted their time and energy to caring for and protecting this space. Their commitment has helped turn a disused piece of land into something truly special.
“Nottinghamshire is our heartland, the place where many of our UK teams live and so to support local charities, especially one that is quite literally on the doorstep of our Nottingham based HQ is an absolute privilege.”
He said:
“When we launched our year of giving campaign, we were amazed at the breadth of different charity groups operating on our doorstep.
Now halfway through the campaign, we have seen first-hand the commitment of the volunteers and staff that work tirelessly for the community. To have been a part of this has been amazing.”
Other charities that have been supported by a £1,000 donation so far this year include Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, The Nottinghamshire Beekeepers’ Association, Papplewick Pumping Station, Green’s Windmill in Sneinton, Walesby Forest outdoor activity centre and Stonebridge City Farm.
The Wilkins Group is dedicated to improving the environmental impact of packaging wherever it operates, investing in packaging designs and innovations that aim to reduce and ultimately eradicate single-use plastics within the industry.
The team there is leading the way in sustainable packaging alternatives including board trays for food packaging, and the use of compostable materials.
For more information on The Wilkins Group, visit: https://wilkins.co.uk
