Advancing Biodiversity: A Digital BioBlitz from the Capgemini Defra Client Account

In early July 2025, the Capgemini Defra Client Account hosted a unique environmental volunteering event in an urban green space in London. The initiative, a BioBlitz Day, brought together nature, technology, and community engagement to support biodiversity and pollinator health

Designed to align with the Account’s sustainability goals and broader environmental commitments, the event offered participants a hands-on opportunity to contribute to ecological data collection whilst also offering participants the restorative benefits of time in nature.

PARTNERING WITH POLLENIZE CIC​

The event was delivered in collaboration with Pollenize CIC, a community interest company dedicated to pollinator conservation. Capgemini’s partnership with Pollenize began in 2022 through the Tech4Positive Futures initiative, which led to the development of a digital rewilding tool. Our collaboration continued with the creation of NestSweeper, an AI-driven mobile app, designed to combat the threat of Asian hornets. ​

Given this strong foundation and shared commitment to environmental innovation, partnering with Pollenize by supporting a BioBlitz Day was a natural next step.

DELIVERING THE BIOBLITZ EXPERIENCE

A BioBlitz is a structured biodiversity survey designed to encourage citizen involvement in helping to generate ecological data. The day began with a welcome and introduction session, to explain the purpose of survey, provide some basic tools, give guidance on how to best make insect and plant observations and an overview of the iNaturalist Classic app, which was used to record those observations.​​

Participants then explored the site, photographing and logging sightings of insects, plants and flowers using the app. These observations are then uploaded to the global iNaturalist platform (via the app), where they can be reviewed by a community of nature enthusiasts and scientists.

“It was fantastic to see colleagues from Capgemini and Defra come together through a shared commitment to social value whilst using technology in a meaningful way to support environmental goals. A great example of purpose driven teamwork at its best.”

Rosanna Boxall, Defra Client Account, Sustainability Community Lead, Capgemini

SUCCESS STORY

While it is possible to run a basic BioBlitz event independently – simply by using the iNaturalist app to log observations – the experience delivered by Pollenize goes much further. What distinguishes their approach is the post-event analysis. Using Floradex, their bespoke biodiversity tool, the validated data is transformed into a tailored report identifying ecological gaps and recommending future planting strategies to support pollinators and improve ecosystem health. By managing logistics, applying scientific expertise, and leveraging digital tools, a simple survey is transformed into a powerful instrument for environmental actions. ​

To further extend the experience of the day, all volunteers received QR-coded wildflower seed packets – developed through the aforementioned Tech4Positive Futures initiative – allowing them to contribute to the rewilding project by creating pollinator-friendly habitats at home, reinforcing the concept that sustainability starts with small, local actions.

STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT​

The BioBlitz aligned directly with the Defra Client Account’s Sustainable Delivery Charter, a framework developed with Capgemini’s UK Sustainability team and endorsed by our client. The Charter reflects a shared commitment to reducing delivery emissions and contributing to nature – two priorities central to both Capgemini and Defra.

“This was a great example of people and technology combining in a fun activity to deliver benefits to the local environment and we are now exploring running further events in other parts of the country.”

Tony Richardson, Portfolio Manager & Client Sustainability Lead, Defra Client Account, Capgemini

IMPACT

The BioBlitz Day delivered measurable ecological and clear organisational value. Over the course of just one hour, participants recorded 457 new observations and identified 183 species – an impressive increase compared to the 118 observations and 85 species recorded in the same area between January 2018 and June 2025. This surge in data highlights the power of structured, volunteer-led action in generating valuable insights for biodiversity monitoring. The event brought together individuals from across the Defra Client Account, Defra and Capgemini, united by a shared commitment to environmental stewardship. It also demonstrated how well-designed initiatives can align grassroots engagement with strategic sustainability goals, while offering additional benefit such as improved wellbeing through time spent outdoors and connecting with nature.

WHAT’S NEXT

The journey continues in October 2025 with a Meadow Creation Day, where the team will return to the site to plant wildflower seeds based on insights from the BioBlitz. A second mini-BioBlitz will be carried out to increase biodiversity knowledge of the area and help track any changes.

“I’m really pleased we could contribute to nature through the efforts of our sustainability team volunteers, have fun in the urban outdoors and further our support for Pollenize – I’m off to plant my wildflowers!​”

Simon Weeks, Client Engagement Director for Defra Programmes & Projects, Capgemini