Funding boost for biodiversity at Surrey nature reserve

National Highways, the Balfour Beatty landscape team, and the Salix nursery near Thetford, Norfolk, have joined forces in an initiative to restore wildflowers and reeds at Bolder Mere near Ockham in Surrey. 

As part of the replanting scheme, seeds have been taken from around Bolder Mere to grow at the nursery in Thetford, before transporting them back to the site near Junction 10 to replant, helping to restore a space for nature, abundant with wildflowers and other wildlife. 

Jonathan Wade, National Highways senior project manager on the M25 junction 10 scheme, said:  

“Our commitment to enhancing biodiversity is part of our mission at National Highways. The partnership with Balfour Beatty and the Salix nursery exemplifies how collaborative efforts can lead to significant environmental improvements. By focusing on initiatives like the replanting scheme at Bolder Mere, we are not only restoring natural habitats but also ensuring that these ecosystems thrive for future generations.” 

Kate Mann, Balfour Beatty’s environmental sustainability advisor on the scheme, said:  

“At Balfour Beatty, our work goes beyond the traditional focus of road investment and beyond operating, maintaining and improving roads. 

“This partnership is a powerful reminder of how we can work collaboratively together and for our stakeholders and partners to deliver biodiversity projects that support and enhance the environment. It is great to be helping biodiversity across this important site and be part of this ambition to protect unforgettable places forever.” 

Kate added: “Our project team continues to work tirelessly to restore and create these special habitats. Home to butterflies, adders, skylarks and Greater Horseshoe bats, these new habitats will help reverse the decline in these species and keep these wonderful grasslands full of life for generations to come.” 

A combination of hay-cutting and conservation grazing will be used to kickstart the restoration process. The seed is harvested from wildflower-rich donor sites locally using brush harvesters. 

Along with the seeding, a small area of scrub will also be created, allowing for a range of native species to return to the area. 

Technical advisors from Arcadis have co-designed the biodiversity solution with both Balfour Beatty, and experts from the nursery at Salix assisting National Highways with its biodiversity goals. 

National Highways is on course to achieve its 2020 commitment of halting the decline of biodiversity and achieving no net loss in biodiversity across its activities by 2025. 

And, in the next five years it will make a further move toward becoming nature positive by delivering at least a 10 per cent net gain in biodiversity on its major projects. 

National Highways’ Junction 10 improvement scheme will see an increase in the number of lanes to make journeys safer and a new junction layout to improve traffic flow. It will also make it easier and safer to enter and exit the M25, and reduce the pollution caused by traffic jams. 

For more information about the project and latest updates, visit the scheme website. 

Notes to Editors

National Highways is the wholly government-owned company responsible for modernising, maintaining and operating England’s motorways and major A roads.

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