Introducing Meaningful Planet

If we told you there was a way to help restore nature, save money on your phone bill, and support Encounter at the same time, you’d be interested, right? Of course you would. Read on!

Here in Suffolk winter has finally arrived. Redwings and fieldfares have migrated in from Finland, Iceland, Scandinavia and parts of Russia, though not yet in the quantities we saw last year, and flocks of golden plover have moved south from Scotland to feed on our low-lying fields. After a gorgeous display of autumn colour most of the leaves have now fallen, and the elegant winter shapes of the trees have been revealed. I have to say, I’m glad of the colder temperatures: 20 degrees in November, with dog-roses flowering, was starting to feel very unsettling indeed.

Meet the mobile network that’s restoring nature:

We’re so excited to share the news that we’re teaming up with Meaningful Planet, a new, ethical mobile network which donates 10% of its profits to high-impact nature restoration projects. We’ve been so inspired by the work they’re doing with The Wildlife Trusts, which seems to us to be a shining example of how a business can create real-world change – and we’d like to invite you to come on board. Switching to Meaningful Planet and using the promo code ENCOUNTER10 helps you restore nature and saves you money – and you’ll be supporting Encounter with every call.

Meaningful Planet uses the unrivalled EE network infrastructure to deliver great coverage, high data speeds and excellent reliability. Its SIM-only plans all come with unlimited calls and texts, free EU roaming, UK-based support and no price rises, and of course you can keep your existing number. You can check their coverage map by going here.

Best of all, Meaningful Planet is offering Encounter’s users and supporters 10% off their bills – forever. So if you’d like your mobile bills to help fund nature restoration, as well as supporting Encounter, use this link to get your discount.

You’ll be seeing us post regularly about Meaningful Planet in the Encounter app and on our socials – and they’ll be shouting about the work we’re doing, too. Do follow them on Instagram and Facebook to keep up with all their news – and for now, do enjoy this photo of their co-founders, Nick and Richard, collecting seagrass seeds in the Solent. At Encounter we very much approve of this hands-on approach!

We’ve been continuing to track the progress of the seasons in the Encounter app, and it’s been fascinating to watch your species tags coming in, showing us what you’ve been spotting. If you’ve been using the app to help you notice nature but you haven’t yet created any journal entries, do give it a try. Research by our advisor, Professor Miles Richardson, shows that regularly making a note of the good things you experience in nature boosts your nature connectedness, which can have a lasting impact on your mental health and wellbeing – especially important over the colder months.

There’s so much to see, hear and experience over the coming months, from starling murmurations to feathery frost patterns, stubbornly singing robins to beautiful winter trees. Check the app every day for inspiration, and we’ll help you notice and connect to nature all the way through until spring.

With warmest wishes for winter,

Melissa
Founder, Encounter Nature