Press Releases - May/June 2008
Item 2

No. 2008/05/15
May 2008

Competitors vie for British Energy’s Conservation Crown

What do a Great Bustard, 211 bird species and over 1000 nest boxes have in common? - the BTO – British Energy Business Bird Challenge. Staff and volunteers at 69 industrial sites across the UK are taking part in the competition sponsored by British Energy and run by the British Trust for Ornithology. It recognises the sensitive management of industrial sites across the country, which is reflected in their use by a remarkable number of bird species.

The BTO - British Energy Business Bird Challenge started on New Year’s Day. Participating companies have been busy recording the birds using their landholdings, reporting their conservation initiatives and showcasing their work with local communities. Their aim is to win one of the Challenge’s coveted awards.

Particular interest is focused on which companies will win the two ‘Industry and Power Companies’ crowns. RWE npower, EDF Energy and Magnox North are up against the Competition’s sponsors, British Energy. The stations have mobilised staff and volunteers and are working closely with local bird clubs and ringing groups to look out for the more elusive birds using their sites. So far, they have been remarkably successful.

The Dursley Birdwatching Group discovered a Great Bustard (from the 2004 release programme) using Oldbury Power Station, Gloucestershire (Magnox North) in January. They currently lead the bird count in one of the Industry and Power Companies categories, with 91 bird species. A White Stork visited Cottam Power Station (EDF Energy) in Nottinghamshire. Heysham Power Station, Lancashire (British Energy), finding themselves behind Oldbury in the bird count, have recently raised the rarity stakes by catching and ringing a White-throated Sparrow from North America.

It’s not just about bird lists. Hundreds of volunteers have been taking part in an enormous range of conservation activities organised by companies. School children and anglers have been enlisted into work parties, doing their bit for Corncrake conservation and scrub management at King’s Dyke, Cambridgeshire (Hanson Building Products) and Ogston Reservoir, Derbyshire (Severn Trent Water) respectively. By far, the most popular activity taking place at the sites was bird box making, repair and replacement. So far, more than 1,000 new boxes and nesting sites have been constructed for the Challenge. Rutland Water, Rutland (Anglian Water) must have had an army at work to make their 300 nest boxes and 40 duck boxes.

Kate Aldridge (BTO Challenge Organiser) commented, “Few people appreciate that many business sites are actively managed for the benefit of wildlife. Staff and volunteers involved in the BTO-British Energy Business Bird Challenge have been creating reed beds and ponds, managing water levels, and providing cover and food crops, directly for the benefit of birds. It is terrific to see their efforts rewarded with such a wide variety of bird species”.

Christine Blythe (British Energy, Senior Estates Surveyor), “British Energy's staff, wildlife wardens and volunteers are all enthusiastically monitoring our power stations to add to their species counts. We have certainly noticed that the challenge is very competitive this year as more companies are managing their sites for wildlife. The challenge is a real reflection of the business sector's contribution to conserving biodiversity."

Please see over for Notes for Editors

Notes for Editors

1. The Business Bird Challenge began in 1994 and is a unique partnership between businesses, the BTO and local communities which encourages biodiversity on business and industrial sites. Held every two years, the Challenge has become a celebration of environmental initiatives by businesses throughout the UK, in the categories of Conservation, Community and Birds.
2. The BTO is the UK’s leading bird research organisation. Over thirty thousand birdwatchers contribute to the BTO’s surveys. They collect information that forms the basis of conservation action in the UK. The BTO maintains a staff of 80 at its offices in Norfolk and Stirling, who analyse and publicise the results of project work. The BTO’s investigations are funded by government, industry and conservation organisations.
3. British Energy is the UK’s largest producer of electricity and the lowest carbon emitter of the major UK electricity generators. With 6,000 skilled employees they produce around one sixth of the nation’s electricity. They own and operate eight nuclear power stations around the coast of England and Scotland, together with one coal fired station in Yorkshire.
4. Images of birds are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request an electronic version.
5. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.

For further information please contact:

British Trust for Ornithology
Graham Appleton on 01842 750050 or e-mail:
Kate Aldridge on 01842 750050 or e-mail:
Paul Stancliffe on 01842 750050, e-mail:

British Energy
Martin Pearce on 0207 266 8390