Severn Trent has been crowned as Biodiversity Champion at the 2022 Responsible Business Awards for its £1.2 billion Great Big Nature Boost (GBNB) project, one of the biggest nature projects across the UK.

The company announced its GBNB plans in September 2020, committing to improve biodiversity across the Midlands through the revival of 12,000 acres of land (an area bigger than the size of Gloucester), plant 1.3 million trees and restore 2,000 km of rivers across the Severn Trent region by 2027.

Jason Rogers, head of water quality and environment at Severn Trent, said: “For us, the natural environment isn’t a bolt-on, it is a fundamental part of our core business, and the ultimate supplier of our ‘product’ - water. We know that when we take care of the natural environment, we take care of our water and the wellbeing of our community.

“When we improve the health of our region’s woods, soils, rivers and wetlands, we also invest in natural water filters to clean and care for water – improving the quality and making it better than ever.”

The award judges were particularly impressed with Severn Trent’s work with partners and third-party collaborators, who not only benefit from the work, but are also helping to go above and beyond original plans and Severn Trent was described as ‘An outright winner for this category’.

Jason added: “To be the standout winner from a wide range of leading businesses is a true credit to our ambitions, our delivery and the hard work of our employees and partners which means that we’re well on our way to meeting our targets. Currently over 4,600ha of land has been improved and 466,745 trees have been planted, with the rivers target already exceeded by over 1,200km as we strive to make our region the best it can be.”

To achieve these ambitious plans, Severn Trent has joined forces with the RSPB, National Trust, Moors for the Future Partnership, the Rivers Trust, National Forest, regional Wildlife Trusts and other conservation groups.

The company is also working with partners to revive peat bogs and moorland, and to plant wildflower meadows, all of which will not only help make the Midlands more diverse but also help river quality.

In addition to Severn Trent’s success with GBNB, in March 2022, the company announced its Get River Positive Plan: five pledges to transform river water quality across their region. Central to the pledges is a commitment that work carried out by the company will ensure storm overflows and sewage treatment works do not harm rivers.  The Get River Positive plan is underpinned by five key pledges that set a framework for water companies to lead the charge in protecting and revitalising rivers.  

For more information on the Great Big Nature Boost, please visit: www.stwater.co.uk/about-us/environment/biodiversity/ or Get River Positive: www.stwater.co.uk/get-river-positive/.