Taking action
We’re making our neighbourhoods greener and healthier
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Our first Biodiversity Action Plan (PDF, 1.58MB) sets out our commitment to improving and protecting plants, trees, insects, birds, and other wildlife, in our neighbourhoods and communities.
“Nature plays a huge role in making communities better places to live, but across towns, cities and in rural areas, important natural spaces have been lost, leaving fewer biodiverse habitats and green places for people to enjoy,” explained Hyde Chief Operating Officer, Neal Ackcral. “That’s why we’re taking action.
“We want to create greener, healthier places. We’ll work with our customers and local organisations to enhance the green spaces in our neighbourhoods. We’re also including nature-friendly and climate-resilient plants, and designs in new developments.”
We’ve already started work on our action plan, which runs until 2027. We’ve expanded our colleague working groups, and asked our customers what’s important to them. We’ll be using their feedback to inform the tools and design guides we’ve been creating, to roll out our approach.
We’re also working with organisations to develop, and secure funding for, nature-led projects.
Through our Big Plant Out initiative, launched at the end of 2024, we’re working with customers and supply chain partners to improve green spaces on eight of our estates. Reaston Street in New Cross and our Stockwell estate were the first two projects; volunteers planted more than 50 trees and 700 bulbs at Stockwell alone last year.
Hyde Foundation has supported a number of projects in recent years, including Petworth Community Garden, which runs activities for local people to encourage them to care for environment and live healthier lifestyles.
“Projects like these help customers to be physically and mentally healthier. They support community cohesion, make neighbourhoods nicer places to live, reduce pollution and help combat climate change,” Neal said.
“By making biodiversity a priority, we can create neighbourhoods where both people and nature can thrive.”
Read our Biodiversity Action Plan. (PDF, 1.58MB)