At Dynamic Print, sustainability isn’t just about the paper we use. We believe businesses can make a difference in many different ways including creating spaces where nature and wildlife can thrive. During the 2020 lockdown, we decided to take on an unusual project: rewilding the disused garden behind our industrial unit in Norfolk. What started as an overgrown and unused space has gradually become a thriving wildlife garden, attracting birds, bees, insects, butterflies and, more recently, wild rabbits and even a hedgehog.
From an industrial estate garden to a wildlife haven
Our garden is south-facing, which gave us a fantastic opportunity to make the most of the space. Over several years, we’ve planted fruit trees, vegetables and wildflowers, created areas for pollinators and introduced a pond to encourage even more wildlife into the garden. We’ve also made use of recycled and upcycled materials, including an old pallet that has been turned into a compost area. One of the most rewarding parts of the project has been seeing how quickly wildlife has responded. What was once simply a disused garden has become a small but busy ecosystem in the middle of an industrial estate. And that’s something we think is worth celebrating.
Growing flowers from sustainable paper
There is also a strong connection between our wildlife garden and what we do at Dynamic Print. We specialise in creative and sustainable print solutions, including a growing range of alternative and recycled papers. We’ve used wildflower seeded paper, recycled paper and cotton-based papers as part of our planting project. Seeded paper is particularly interesting because, once its useful life as a printed piece has finished, it can be planted and given a second purpose. Instead of simply throwing a piece of paper away, it can become part of the natural environment. For us, this is a great example of how sustainable printing and biodiversity can work together.
A visit from Norfolk Wildlife Trust
Our wildlife garden has attracted interest from a number of organisations, and in 2023 we were delighted to welcome a team from Norfolk Wildlife Trust. We took them around the garden and showed them what we had created, including our new pond, flower areas, fruit trees, vegetable planting and composting area. We also talked about the different ways we had tried to encourage pollinators and wildlife into an otherwise ordinary industrial estate environment. The team were particularly interested in the transformation of the garden and we were thrilled by the feedback they gave us following their visit.
They told us:
“Your wildlife garden is a total surprise when coming in from the industrial estate and it is full of interest and colour.” They also visited our print workshop and discovered a side of the printing industry they hadn’t previously experienced. Their feedback meant a great deal to us: “It’s so inspiring to hear of all of the ways you are helping the environment.” And perhaps the comment that summed up the whole project for us was: “It’s wonderful to think that small businesses like yours are leading the way, not for profit but because it’s the right thing to do.”
Small changes can make a difference
We don’t pretend that our garden is going to solve the world’s environmental problems. But we do believe that small businesses can make positive changes, and that those changes can add up. A wildlife garden doesn’t have to be enormous. A few wildflowers, a compost area, a pond, fruit trees or plants chosen to support pollinators can all make a difference. And you don’t necessarily need a large country garden to do it. Our project started on an industrial estate in Norfolk. That’s perhaps what makes it so rewarding.
From our garden to a wider Norfolk project
Following their visit, Norfolk Wildlife Trust returned to work with us on a pilot scheme looking at how other businesses could introduce rewilding and wildlife-friendly areas into industrial estates. The idea is simple: could unused areas around businesses be turned into spaces that support nature? We were delighted to be involved. Industrial estates are often associated with buildings, concrete, vehicles and commercial activity. But there are frequently small areas of land, verges, gardens and unused spaces that could provide valuable habitats for insects, birds and other wildlife. We hope our little garden can demonstrate what is possible.
Sustainability at Dynamic Print
Our approach to sustainability goes beyond our garden. At Dynamic Print, we offer a range of eco-friendly and alternative paper stocks, including seeded paper and papers made using innovative recycled or agricultural materials. We also specialise in traditional print processes including foiling, embossing, debossing, die cutting and letterpress, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern digital printing. For us, sustainability is about asking better questions:
Can we choose a more responsible paper?
Can a printed item have a second life?
Can we reuse or repurpose materials?
Can a business environment provide something back to nature?
Sometimes, the answer is yes.
Supporting wildlife in Norfolk – one garden at a time
Our rewilding project has taught us that you don’t always need to make huge changes to make a difference. You can start with a patch of wildflowers, a compost heap, a few carefully chosen plants or simply allowing part of a garden to grow naturally. What began for us during lockdown has become something much bigger – a wildlife garden, a conversation about sustainability and an opportunity to work alongside organisations that share our passion for protecting nature in Norfolk. And we’re certainly not finished yet.
Watch this space…
Looking for sustainable printing in Norfolk?
If you’re looking for a Norfolk printing company that can help you explore more sustainable paper choices, creative print finishes or environmentally conscious print solutions, we’d be happy to talk.
Dynamic Print
Telephone: 01603 400040
From seeded paper and recycled stocks to specialist foiling, embossing and die cutting, we can help you find a print solution that looks fantastic while considering its environmental impact.
