Press Releases - November/December 2009
Item 35

No. 2009-11-43
November 2009

Boom Time for Business Birds

Industries across the UK are being challenged to make their sites more attractive to wildlife and birds in particular. Leaders in wildlife conservation and industry met to launch the BTO – EDF Energy Business Bird Challenge 2010.

The BTO - EDF Energy Business Bird Challenge, launched at Hartlepool Power Station, is a celebration of the partnership between business and the environment. It attracts a wide variety of companies keen to show that they are actively involved in conservation and managing their sites for wildlife.

Launching the event, Elliot Morley MP BTO’s Vice President, said: “I warmly congratulate BTO, EDF Energy and partners for promoting the Business Bird Challenge 2010.”

“Many industrial sites in this country are havens for wildlife – this is a wonderful opportunity to showcase what industry is doing with land management for wildlife, people and local communities.”

Companies across the UK are busy tweaking their sites in preparation for this competition which sees businesses as diverse as Anglian Water, Lafarge, Tarmac, EDF Energy, Syngenta all taking part. The 2010 Challenge has been given an extra turbo-boost by EDF Energy’s generous sponsorship. They now boast three previous champions, its nuclear power stations Heysham, Sizewell and Dungeness.

Andy Clements, BTO’s Director,

said: “Many industrial sites across the UK are important for wildlife and this is perfectly illustrated here on Teesmouth, where Hartlepool Power Station is surrounded by sand dunes, pools, mudflats and marshes full of birds.”

“It is important that industry is able to celebrate its major contribution and the Business Bird Challenge helps to do just that; it’s great news for both people and wildlife.”

Khalad Hussain, EDF Energy - Director of Property Services,

said “The year 2010 is also the UN’s International Year of Biodiversity, the BTO - EDF Energy Business Bird Challenge offers the perfect opportunity for all businesses and industries that consider biodiversity in their land management to showcase what they are doing for wildlife.”

“Let’s make this a real celebration of UK business championship of the environment.”

The Challenge is open to a wide variety of businesses and industries that have land that benefits wildlife, and the BTO and EDF Energy urge further companies to take up the Challenge.

Photograph caption: (right to left)
Rt. Hon. Elliot Morley MP at EDF Energy’s Hartlepool Power Station on Teesmouth with, Khalad Hussain, EDF Director of Property Services, Andy Clements, BTO Director and Richard Bradfield, plant manager at Hartlepool Power Station. At the launch the BTO and EDF Energy teams were joined by representatives from other Teesside industries and previous Challenge participants such as Lafarge, Northumbrian Water, Tarmac and Huntsman Tioxide.

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 100 at its offices in Norfolk and Stirling, who analyse and publicise the results of project work. The BTO’s investigations are funded by members,government, industry and conservation organisations.

3. The combination of EDF Energy and British Energy forms one of the UK’s largest energy companies. The combined business is the UK’s largest producer of low carbon electricity. With a current installed capacity of around 16.5GW, we produce almost one-quarter of the nation's electricity from our nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms.

We provide power to a quarter of the UK’s population via our electricity distribution networks in London, the South East and the East of England and supply gas and electricity to over 5.5 million business and residential customers. Through Our Climate and Social Commitments we have launched the biggest environmental and social packages of any UK energy company. The company is also a key player in national infrastructure projects including management of private electricity networks serving four London airports and the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, the country’s first major new railway in 100 years. EDF Energy and British Energy together employ nearly 20,000 people at locations across the UK. The combined companies are part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

For further information please contact:

Paul Stancliffe (Press Officer)
Office: 01842 750050 (9am to 5.30pm)
Mobile: 07845 900559 (anytime)
Email:

Kate Aldridge (Challenge Organiser)
Office: 01842 750050 (9am to 5.30pm) (Monday to Thursday)
Email: 

Martyn Butlin (EDF Energy/British Energy)
Office: 01524 863565 (9am to 5.30pm)

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Please contact quoting reference 2009-12-48

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