Sustainability & Biodiversity Policy
Every outdoor space can do more: hold water, build healthy soil, feed pollinators, shelter wildlife and give people a deeper connection to the seasons.
Our position
Wallace Collective designs outdoor spaces for long-term human use and ecological value. We recognise that construction consumes materials and changes land. Our responsibility is to make those decisions carefully, reduce avoidable impacts and create meaningful opportunities for nature to recover.
This policy guides our design, specification, sourcing and planting decisions. It is not a promise that every project can achieve every measure. It is a commitment to ask better questions, make the best practical choices available and improve as evidence and materials evolve.
19%
Average decline in the abundance of studied UK species since 1970.
1 in 6
Assessed species are now threatened with extinction in Great Britain.
Source: State of Nature 2023, drawing on millions of records from monitoring schemes and biological recording centres.
Our commitments
Biodiversity cannot be added as a finishing touch. It begins with how a space is laid out, what is retained, how water moves and what is planted.
We look beyond decoration to create connected layers of habitat: trees, hedges, climbers, shrubs, perennials, ground cover and, where suitable, water. Planting is selected for the site, the people using it and the wider landscape.
We aim for a succession of flowers, fruit, seeds and shelter across the year. Native species are prioritised where they are the right choice, supported by resilient non-invasive plants that extend food and habitat for wildlife.
Healthy soil is an ecosystem in its own right. We minimise unnecessary disturbance, retain and improve viable site soil, use peat-free growing media, mulch responsibly and consider permeable surfaces, rainwater capture and nature-led drainage.
We favour durable, repairable materials and thoughtful detailing that lengthens the life of a project. We seek responsibly sourced timber, recycled or recyclable content and local supply where performance, provenance and availability allow.
At design stage we identify realistic opportunities for habitat, planting diversity, water management, material efficiency and waste reduction. We review this policy as knowledge, standards and our supply chain develop.
Planting with purpose
A wildlife-friendly garden is not defined by a single product. It is created by diversity, connection and time. A layered scheme offers more niches than a monoculture, while flowering succession helps avoid seasonal gaps in nectar and pollen.
How we apply the policy
We consider existing habitat, soil, drainage, exposure and the wider landscape before deciding what should change.
We agree which biodiversity, water, material and planting opportunities are relevant to the project and its long-term care.
The design records selected plants, materials and habitat features so that good intentions survive procurement and construction.
Planting needs suitable soil, water and aftercare. We explain establishment requirements and encourage clients to let the landscape mature.
Create the conditions for life, then give nature the time and space to respond.
Discuss your outdoor spacePolicy published September 2026 · Reviewed annually