Our power stations require large areas for coal storage and waste handling. They are sited near wetland areas, rivers, woodland and grassland. We recognise our obligation to our communities and the environment to ensure that we reduce the impact of our work as much as possible.
We carry out landscape recovery on our sites, either by restoring the landscape after use or offsetting land in industrial use with lands that we restore to their natural habitat.
We actively manage certain areas, such as reedbeds to maintain their integrity, and protect other areas with fences or other barriers to allow the environment to restore itself to its natural state.
Any work we carry out is timed to cause the least disturbance to migratory birds and hibernating animals. When we re-build habitats, we create shelters for over-wintering birds, and we relocate newts to temporary homes until we can return them to improved receptor sites.
Once a recovered area has been completed, we meet English Nature* (2001) guidelines on monitoring populations, especially around water bodies.
We also comply with Regulation 46 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations, to meet the method statement for our mechanisms to ensure delivery.
*now called Natural England