Investing in Wildlife and Supporting Biodiversity

Our operation includes a mix of main sites and a nationwide network of remote infrastructure sites that are surrounded by green spaces.

While we have to be careful that plants, trees and wildlife don’t impact our operational equipment and facilities, these green spaces provide a habitat for a diverse range of species to live alongside where we work.

Protecting the Environment Around Us

At our Swanwick Centre in Hampshire, in partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT), we created and continue to fund the 86 acre Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve. It features scenic lakes, woods and grassland, in what was once a brick quarry and sits alongside our Air Traffic control centre. In addition to its rich habitat, there are over two miles of paths around the lakes and woods which provide a valuable space for local people to relax and learn about nature.

During 2013 the educational centre, embedded within the reserve, hosted almost 1000 local school children, 30 community groups and 30 public events, providing the opportunity for visitors of all ages and abilities to explore and learn about the countryside.

Swanwick Lakes and NATS celebrated the achievements of the partnership, at the Reserve’s 20th anniversary in June 2013.

Becoming a Wildlife Investor

To demonstrate that we are committed to local wildlife, people and the environment, in March 2013, we formed a new partnership with HIWWT by becoming a ‘Wildlife Investor’. For more than 50 years, the Trust has been protecting habitats and creating Living Landscapes to ensure a wildlife-rich countryside and local seas.

Being a Wildlife Investor with the Trust provides additional financial support to enable them to carry out their important conservation work and inspire local people to cherish their wildlife. It also allows us to work closely with people who share our passion for conservation in and around our sites and green spaces. In particular, we will be able to work more closely with our colleagues at Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve on a range of projects that will benefit the partnership.

Biodiversity Benchmark

We are also working towards the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark for the Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve, and continue to support the reserve with team volunteering days.

The Benchmark is a process that enables any organisation which owns or manages land to assess its impact on the natural world, improve its contribution to the environment and demonstrate its commitment to biodiversity. It is designed to ensure that sites are managed to the highest standard, while rewarding biodiversity improvement by companies.

We have implemented a Biodiversity Management System for Swanwick Lakes Nature Reserve and completed the stage one certification audit in March 2014. We are working to achieve certification for the site in the next year.