Our environmental policy sets out how we will make improvements to biodiversity in our region.
Protecting biodiversity
We’re using our expertise and investment to make our region a better place, our lasting legacy will always be to leave places in a better condition than when we found them.
As a company, many of our everyday activities have an impact on the environment, so we have a massive opportunity to make a positive difference to the biodiversity in our region.
Minimising any negative impacts we have on the environment will also help build resilience into our ecosystems to sustain them for future generations.
Our targets
We have set a bold new ambition to improve the biodiversity of 10,000 hectares of habitat by 2027 – a commitment we’re calling our Great Big Nature Boost.
Importantly, we’re no longer confining our efforts to land designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (‘SSSI’), but will work with partners to make a much bigger contribution across the region. We’re also creating a dedicated in-house ecology and biodiversity team to manage risks and maximise biodiversity opportunities.
We will deliver our commitment by:
These activities can take place on Severn Trent owned land, Sites of Special Scientific Interest that we own, and land owned by third parties.
All improvements to Sites of Special Scientific Interest are independently checked and verified by Natural England. Other enhancement measures will be checked and verified by either a Wildlife Trust, Natural England or another recognised environmental organisation.
By 2030 we will plant 1.3 million trees, supporting our Triple Carbon Pledge and we have committed to 15% Biodiversity Net Gain across all capital programmes that require a Preliminary Ecology Appraisal (PEA).
To date we have planted over 600 acres and are targeting 400 acres more reaching almost the halfway point by 2025/26.
Our environmental goals, pledges and achievements
We’re always striving to improve the environment and our impact on it. Here’s a few of the things we’ve been doing recently.
We are enhancing nature through trees with our ambitious Legacy Forest Project to create 2022 acres of new woodland to offset 201,000 tonnes of carbon from the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games. We are also contributing large numbers of trees to the 1.3 million tree pledge by planting 359,377 trees so far.
To date we have planted 601 acres and are targeting 400 acres for the 24/25 planting season, reaching almost the halfway point by the end of AMP 7.
Our approach to protecting and promoting biodiversity
Our research has shown that our customers support an increase in biodiversity enhancement activity, so we’ve created a Biodiversity Outcome Delivery Incentive as part of our 2020 to 2025 business plan.
This gives us the opportunity to consult with key stakeholders and develop strategic partnerships, like the relationships we already have with organisations such as Natural England, show environmental leadership and innovate in the way we protect and enhance biodiversity.
We have commissioned local Wildlife and Rivers Trusts to undertake biodiversity audits on over 60 of our sites, identified as sites with good opportunities for biodiversity improvements, including our visitor experience sites.
The audits record the presence of Natural Environment Research Council section 41 species, invasive non native species and pollinator habitats. Using the audits findings, site specific biodiversity action plans will be implemented between 2020 to 2025.
Our environmental projects
We are committed to environmental sustainability through various projects including woodland management, moorland improvement, funding for farmers, biodiversity improvement grants, and employee volunteer programs.
Read more about our work in with landowners on our catchment management page.
Woodland creation, enhancement and management
We’ve made the commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions for the sector by 2030. To help build our resilience against climate change and improve biodiversity we are striving to plant trees and manage mature woodland in a sustainable way.
We’re in the process of building a partnership with the Woodland Trust, and we’re looking to work in collaboration with other conservation and wildlife organisations to help us achieve this.
Moors for the Future
We are key partners in the Moors for the Future partnership, enhancing moorland in the Peak District to reduce flood risk, improve water quality and reduce the risk of fires.
By 2025 this partnership will have improved biodiversity in over 600 hectares of moorland in our region.
Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme
We have added a number of biodiversity enhancement options to the Severn Trent Environmental Protection Scheme, which is part of our catchment management programme.
This will give farmers in our region the opportunity to apply for funding to help with projects including tree and hedge planting, as well as enhancing habitats for wildlife, these projects can help create natural solutions to flood management and improve soil quality. Other options include, meadow growing and pollinator enhancement.
Community Champions
All Severn Trent staff have the opportunity to make a positive difference for biodiversity in our region through our corporate volunteering project, the Community Champions scheme.
Each year our teams take part in conservation projects all over our region, like our work at Wolston Waste Water Treatment Site in Warwickshire.
We’ve identified spare land on our Wolston Waste Water Treatment Site, which would be ideal for providing links between an adjacent Wildlife Trust restoration project and the existing Site of Special Scientific Interest at Brandon Marsh.
Boost for Biodiversity Fund
Our Boost for Biodiversity Fund, which helps to improve biodiversity across our region, remains open to schools, community groups, non-governmental organisations and farmers.
We’ve been able to support projects such as improving existing wetlands, protecting native crayfish species and natural flood management schemes.
The fund has helped launch many successful projects across our region, each making a positive impact on the environment.
Regulatory considerations for biodiversity
Section 40 of the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act places a duty to conserve biodiversity on public authorities in England. That means we have a duty to conserve biodiversity as part of our policy or decision making.
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in August 2011, Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services provides a comprehensive picture of how to implement the country’s international commitments. It sets out the strategic direction for biodiversity policy for the decade to 2020 on land, in lakes, rivers and at sea.
Through our own biodiversity strategy, we support DEFRA’s mission “to halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well-functioning ecosystems and establish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people.”