Gatwick recognised for enhancing local biodiversity
Gatwick Airport has scooped two prestigious awards for its commitment to protecting and enhancing the natural biodiversity of the local greenspace surrounding the airport.
The airport has retained its Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark Award (an independent verification of Gatwick’s biodiversity programme) for the third year running and, for the first time, been awarded a CIRIA Big Biodiversity Award.
Gatwick’s biodiversity greenspace includes 75 hectares of thriving woodlands, grasslands and wetlands, inhabited by hundreds of species of mammals, insects and bees, many of which are rare or protected, now flourishing as a result of Gatwick’s biodiversity programme.
Gatwick’s biodiversity team works collaboratively with a wide range of organisations and external experts to ensure it follows best practice while working closely with conservation organisations and local experts, ably assisted by an active programme of volunteers and community groups.
In the past year the team has worked closely with the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership and the Sussex Wildlife Trust carrying out regular audits to track and monitor the biodiversity population.
The Biodiversity Benchmark Award includes an on-site assessment by the Wildlife Trust who review management systems for Gatwick’s Biodiversity Action Plan areas, biodiversity targets and carry out a review of progress.
The CIRIA Big Biodiversity Award aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity across the construction and infrastructure industry while recognising businesses whose enhancements increase opportunities for local biodiversity beyond normal business practice.
Gatwick Airport’s Environment Health and Safety Director Steve Howells said: “These awards are fantastic recognition of the important partnership work taking place at Gatwick with a wide-range of valued partners and volunteers to enhance and protect the beauty of the natural biodiversity surrounding the airport.
“Gatwick has shown that running a busy international airport is compatible with enhancing the unique biodiversity, ensuring our local communities can continue to enjoy what is an important local asset.”
Peter Dorans, Corporate Relations Manager at The Wildlife Trusts said: "As in previous audits, Gatwick was extremely well prepared and able to show the positive biodiversity impact they are making. Our assessor was particularly impressed with the continued excellent use of partnership working. Also to be commended is the use of the Gatwick GIS system 'Gatwick SAFE' to store and display biodiversity information and species records.”
Independent CIRIA judging panellist, Dr Phil Askew of the London Legacy Development Corporation said: "It is great to see Gatwick developing and implementing a comprehensive biodiversity action plan that engages the community and involves real expertise. Projects like this show how large landowners and operators can make a real difference, especially where their operational requirements could restrict the creation of habitat and biodiversity. The involvement of community is particularly heartening.”
Kevin Lerwill of the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership said: “The Gatwick Greenspace Partnership has been associated with Gatwick Airport since 1994 with a shared aim of enhancing our local green spaces for the benefit of local people and wildlife, ably supported by a passionate team of volunteers who are the lifeblood of our work.
"With the support of local authorities, we deliver a wide range of practical, educational, ecological and advisory work to a wide variety of audiences and look forward to continuing our close partnership with Gatwick to protect and enhance our local greenspaces.”