Barratt hands over 100,000 at Slimbridge to support WWT's Blue Recovery
A £100,000 donation was delivered to the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) this week when their new charitable partner, The Barratt Foundation, visited WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre to learn about their ambitions and explore how they'll be working together in the months ahead.
Wetlands are a key tool in the fight against climate change and WWT, the UK's leading wetland conservation charity, is aiming to create and restore 100,000 hectares of healthy wetlands in the UK to support biodiversity, reduce flood risk, improve water quality and store prolific volumes of carbon as part of what it describes as a Blue Recovery.
WWT also supports the health and wellbeing of thousands who explore wildlife and connect with nature at its 10 wetland sites, two of which are in the South West at Somerset’s WWT Steart Marshes and Gloucestershire’s WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
Read more: Barratt David Wilson Homes South West appoints new Managing Director
Andy Button-Stephens, who heads up The Barratt Foundation, a charity representing Barratt and David Wilson Homes, took his team to Slimbridge, the home of WWT since it opened over 75 years ago. As well as seeing the site’s living wetlands up close, the group learned from their expert guides about the positive impact wetlands have on nature.
"We completely support the ambitions of the Blue Recovery and its big picture thinking for the future of wetlands, and so the Barratt Foundation is delighted to make this donation,” says Andy. “The 100,000 hectares of wetlands that WWT is aiming to create and conserve is equal in size to all the land within the M25. It’s staggering and completely inspiring to see up close the work it does and wants to do, here in the UK and overseas.”
Visit Hampshire Biz News for bright, upbeat and positive business news from the county
"During our visit to Slimbridge, we were exploring opportunities to work together to support WWT’s ambitions" adds Gareth Rondel, Head of Sustainability Delivery of Barratt.
"That will, of course, see us sharing and showcasing the work of the charity with our customers, learning from each other about nature-based solutions to promote sustainable land development, and embracing volunteering opportunities for our team who are all thrilled about this partnership."
“We are really impressed by the way The Barratt Foundation has embraced the work we’re doing, and how they’re getting behind our ambitions for wetlands,” says Peter Lee, Head of Philanthropy and Partnerships at WWT.
"Wetlands are a vital habitat for 40 per cent of all known species and - even though they cover just six per cent of the earth’s surface - they store around 35 per cent of the world’s carbon. We’re very excited about having the Barratt Foundation support our Blue Recovery ambition and we will make the money they’ve donated work hard to help us achieve it.”
