Just off the coast of North Berwick, Scotland lies Craigleith– a small island and a hot spot for puffins.
Once one of the largest puffin colonies in Britain with more than 28,000 pairs, Craigleith is now home to a mere 1,000 pairs of puffins.
The dramatic decline is due to a plant invasion of tree mallow, which prevents the birds from nesting and rearing their chicks. But puffins, have no fear – the Enterprise Scotland team is here to help.
Several years ago, an Enterprise customer in Scotland visited the Scottish Seabird Centre. Upon returning his rental car, the customer shared with employees about his experience at the Centre.
“At the time we were actively looking for volunteer opportunities,” explains David R., Vehicle Acquisition Manager. “After speaking with the customer, we approached the Centre and found a good match with the volunteer opportunities.”
About the Centre
The Centre is a conservation and education charity focused on the Scottish marine environment.
“The Centre is a tourist attraction for both visitors to Scotland and for the local community,” says David. “Maintaining the marine environment is important for the people who are lucky enough to live in this area of natural beauty and for future visitors drawn to the area.”
For more than a decade, employees in Scotland have assisted the Centre with both fundraising and service projects.
“Our donations support the Centre’s daily operations, from conservation projects to educational activities,” says David. “One tangible way our services are utilized is through the removal of invasive tree mallow from Craigleith.”
Connecting service to customers
The employee group in Scotland feels fortunate to be supported by the Enterprise Holdings Foundation in their efforts to better their community and maintain a natural environment.
“Many of our customers visit Scotland to experience wildlife and nature,” says David. “The Foundation is supporting an accessible environmental cause which has operated in our community for several years and has displayed measurable positive results directly related to donations and volunteer work.”
Preserving the puffin population is a cause the Scotland team will continue to support.
“This project has pulled our team together nicely,” says David. “We’ve had fun while supporting the Centre and we hope to have more to share in the future!”
Want to find out more about how Enterprise employees are strengthening our communities? Read more.