South East Water en route to surpassing the end-of-year target for biodiversity.

The drinking water-only company is proud to announce that it is managing 76 per cent of its company-owned land as it comes to the end of a five-year programme to improve biodiversity across its estates.

The business began the project in 2020, managing 1,166 hectares, and has significantly expanded its efforts to manage 1,650 hectares, an increase from 54 per cent in 2020 to 76 per cent in 2024. It is on target to reach 1673 hectares (77 per cent of company-owned land) by 2025.

By actively promoting biodiversity, the water company ensures vital natural processes such as soil formation, water purification, and nutrient cycling continue to thrive while supporting species preservation and giving back to the environment from which it takes its water.

Among the company’s work is the careful monitoring of the Wart-biter cricket, one of the country's rarest insects. To bolster this fragile population, South East Water introduced the crickets onto protected company land in 2015, at the beginning of the previous five-year programme, providing them with a safe habitat that promotes reproduction and population growth.

Additionally, in Kent, the business is working to restore areas of rare heathland at its Pembury site. This involves the removal of dense scrub to introduce light-filled, natural spaces surrounded by woodland, attracting species such as butterflies and bats that rely on open habitats for survival.

Richard Dyer, South East Water’s Biodiversity Manager, said: "Exceeding our biodiversity target is a tremendous milestone for us, reflecting on our commitment to preserve and enhance the environment. Our efforts demonstrate that proactive conservation and sustainable land management can have tangible, positive effects.

“As we continue the project, the benefits of biodiversity are expected to ripple through local ecosystems, supporting not only wildlife but also the communities that rely on healthy, sustainable natural sources. Ensuring there is a resilient supply of high-quality drinking water for years to come”

For more information on our work in the environment, please visit: www.southeastwater.co.uk/biodiversity