Yealands Wine Group
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
WHO THEY ARE
Based in Blenheim, at the tip of New Zealand’s South Island, Yealands Estate is the first winery in New Zealand to aim to be carbon zero from its inception.
The aim of our work with Yealands was to develop a community engagement strategy, a focus on “sharing what nature teaches us”, supporting and disseminating the sustainable practices of the Yealands estate, and encouraging conversation and sustainable action on every scale — domestic or commercial.
WHAT WE DID
With the overall strategy clearly established, we needed to determine which specific area, if brought to life effectively, would have the greatest impact. After careful consideration, we chose to concentrate on the initial stages (Resources and Toolkits), aiming to create the essential catalyst that would set the entire strategy in motion. The resulting design outcome was a thoughtfully crafted ‘Field Guide to Beautiful Biodiversity,’ which is positioned within stage one of the strategy – Resources for learning and engagement.
A Field Guide to Beautiful Biodiversity
This project began with the development of a well-structured community engagement strategy; the fundamental building blocks of which were carefully formed during an intensive design sprint held at Yealands. The strategy was thoughtfully composed of four key, learning-oriented stages: Resources, Toolkits, Experiences, and Application. Importantly, the approach was designed with a diverse audience in mind, encompassing everyone from local residents in the region, including those involved in various forms of farming and land use, to home gardeners, lifestyle gardeners, school teachers, and students — all of whom play an essential role and can be considered dedicated caretakers of the landscape.
Strategy Document
Illustration by Leroy Buxton
