We recently teamed up with digital network provider, Openreach, to connect our rural Maeshafn office near Mold to some of the fastest and most reliable broadband speeds in Europe. For wildlife to recover, we are keen to see Nature Recovery Networks, where habitats are bigger, better and more joined up. This support from Openreach has made us better connected digitally too.

Some of our work is data hungry, such as providing mapping for environmental impact surveys for developers, or for our work with landowners where we are identifying land for wildlife improvements. Prior to our new connection, our staff had to leave the Maeshafn office and download documents at home – where their broadband speeds were quicker and more reliable than our office. Our new connection has given us an efficient office for both our staff and volunteers.  

Frances Cattanach, North Wales Wildlife Trust CEO, explains: “North Wales Wildlife Trust is no different to any other organisation or business in that everything is moving online or being digitised. From sharing resources to saving our finances everything is moving to a shared central drive and our poor broadband was causing us real difficulties.”

“During lockdown we were finding that communication and collaboration improved among the team as our home broadband was better than what we had in the office."

“Working full-time from home isn’t an option as we need to be on site in Maeshafn but the new ultrafast connection that Openreach engineers have installed means we can now go back to the office with confidence."

“We turned to Openreach for a solution to our connectivity problem and their engineers have been incredible. Having fast, reliable fibre broadband means we can do so much more and quicker. Maps for instance are vital tools in protecting our natural habitats so being able to pull them together in the office – and not having to down tools and rely on home broadband – is a huge bonus.”

“As an organisation it also important that our team – who are often dotted across North Wales – are able to communicate effectively in order to be able to collaborate. Having ultrafast broadband enables us to do this and we’re all delighted with the results."

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