London Heathrow has received The Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark Award for a sixth consecutive year.
Heathrow is the only airport to receive this award. The UK’s hub actively manages around 100 hectares across 13 sites for nature conservation, including four reserve areas that are open for local people.
Heathrow is a founding supporter of the Colne Valley Park Community Interest Company, providing vital habitats for protected wildlife, as well as essential community facilities. Heathrow is also involved in environmental education and supporting community volunteering.
Sustainability director, Matt Gorman, said, ‘We are delighted to have been recognised for our continued commitment to biodiversity around Heathrow and winning the award six years running is an achievement we are really proud of. We are committed to running Heathrow responsibly and continually building on our success.’
The Wildlife Trust independently judges more than 40 organisations’ commitments to biodiversity, visiting each site and assessing their compliance with strict environmental requirements.
Heathrow was awarded the Biodiversity Benchmark for its continued commitment to biodiversity, preserving a wide variety of species in the area and managing the land to support them. The Princes Lakes were also praised for their potential for improvements to wildlife and habitats.
The UK’s hub also collaborates with nearly 320 businesses to establish innovative solutions and operating procedures, aimed at improving environmental performance.
Heathrow recently won a Sustainability Leaders Award for the new Terminal -II and was named ‘Champion of Champions’, winning four International Green Apple Awards for Environmental Best Practice and Sustainable Development.
The awards reflect Heathrow’s firm commitment to enhancing the local, regional and national economic and social benefits of the airport, the airport said.