There are significant areas rich in wildlife and biodiversity across and adjacent to Pennon’s operational sites and projects, including a number protected by law. We are committed to the protection, enhancement and sensitive management and stewardship of our landholdings and to contribute to the same across the landscapes and catchments in our operational areas, for the benefit of biodiversity and wildlife.
Pennon Group has created a Group-wide biodiversity strategy to provide a cohesive approach across the organization and build on existing excellent work within its businesses. The Group is committed to protecting, enhancing, and sensitively managing its landholdings, contributing to the same across landscapes and catchments in operational areas for the benefit of biodiversity and wildlife. Pennon's landholdings and operational areas hold significant biodiversity opportunities for enhancement through responsible stewardship. South West Water actively manages several conservation-designated landholdings through its partnership with South West Lakes Trust and is recognized for its innovative approach to managing invasive species.
South West Water plays a critical role in protecting and enhancing the region's natural environment through its 'source to sea' approach, favouring innovation, sustainable solutions, and partnership working to deliver positive outcomes for ecosystems and habitats. The company works to minimize its carbon footprint, improve raw water quality through its Upstream Thinking catchment management initiative, and continue improving biodiversity through environmental projects. Since 2010, South West Water has been working with local partners, farmers, and landowners to deliver its award-winning Upstream Thinking program, establishing relationships with key regional delivery partners.
To date, the Upstream Thinking approach has improved land management across 127,000 hectares, outperforming the 123,000-hectare target by March 2025, achieved through initiatives across Exmoor, Dartmoor, and Bodmin Moor. Additionally, South West Water has restored 1,550 hectares of peatland since 2020 and planted over 250,000 trees since 2020, meeting its 2025 target a year early.
Pennon Group demonstrates its commitment to biodiversity and environmental stewardship through its biodiversity strategy, responsible landholding management, 'source to sea' approach, and the multi-award-winning Upstream Thinking program, aiming to improve water quality, biodiversity, climate resilience, and restore natural habitats.