Biodiversity and Nature

We seek to manage and reduce the impact of our operations on biodiversity through creating new habitats, protecting and enhancing biodiversity on our own land, investing in conservation partnerships and nature-based solutions.

Our Biodiversity Strategy sets out how we will safeguard and enhance key habitats and species with the goal of limiting our potential impact on ecosystems, including rivers, streams, and sensitive habitats on land. It also involves investing in nature-based solutions to improve water catchment quality.

As a water and wastewater services company, our core operations (providing clean water, removing, and treating wastewater) affect the natural environment we depend on.

Our strategy focuses on three operational areas to minimise risks:

  • We own/manage ~500 hectares across 50 SSSI sites in England.

  • Over 720 SSSIs exist within our operational boundary.

  • We have robust management plans and consented work programmes for all SSSI landholdings.

BNG aims to leave the environment in a better state post-development and is mandated by UK law (Environment Act 2021). We commit to:

  • At least 15% BNG on all capital projects requiring ecological appraisal (exceeding the statutory 10%).
  • Partnering locally to deliver resilient and connected biodiversity improvements.

  • Strategic partnerships for larger scale projects.

  • Reducing pesticide use is one of the biggest changes we can make to have a positive impact on pollinators.

  • Grassland management focuses on creating and improving wildflower meadows to boost pollinator habitats.

  • Over 1 million trees planted via projects like Legacy Forest and partnerships. To date we have created 33 new woodlands, planted 72 tiny forests and worked with our environmental partners and landowners to plant a million trees

  • In 2019, we made a pledge to plant 1.3 million trees as part of our Great Big Nature Boost and we have made good progress to deliver our target by 2027.

  • AMP7 delivered 812 acres of legacy forest.

  • Forestry and Biodiversity teams established a Trees and Woodlands Community of Practice (COP) to improve company-wide best practices.

Collaboration and partnerships

Boost for Biodiversity grant fund has supported 27 projects as of March 2025, delivering over 130 ha of improvements across a range of projects, including woodland management and wetland restoration.

By 2030, we will have established new habitats across the Midlands for native species of wildlife, including great crested newts, otters and cuckoos.

 

As part of the project woodland management plans are created and implemented on privately owned woodlands to conserve the veteran trees and woodland understory species. Interventions include:

  • Veteranisation of older trees
  • Woodland thinning
  • Invasive species control
  • Bracken clearing
  • Livestock fencing

In the UK, upland ancient woodlands are identified by specific indicator species that thrive in these stable environments. Some key indicator species you might find are: Bluebell, Primrose, Wood Anemone, and Wild Garlic.

Natural Capital Accounting

A natural capital account for a place quantifies the type and quality of natural resources found there at a specific time, as well as the benefits associated with defined ecosystem services.

This information can be used to establish a baseline for a place, assess how activities may affect this baseline, and determine future prioritisation and planning. Our work in this area is still evolving.

We are committed to improving in line with best practice to deepen our understanding of our impacts and dependences on nature in the region that we serve. 

As our current natural capital account is limited to our landholding, it excludes the impacts of our operations, which extend beyond the land we own and can be negative as well as positive.

For a more detailed view of our natural capital accounts please visit see our ESG Databook .