German car brand BMW have made a significant investment to the UK’s national parks by supporting sustainable tourism and restoration of nature.
The company’s ‘Recharge In Nature’ partnership with National Parks will see the brand tackle a range of diverse environmental challenges, initially at five parks across Scotland, England and Wales, but will eventually impact all 16 of the parks.
The first five projects will focus on South Downs, Eryri (previously Snowdonia), North York Moors, Dartmoor and Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Parks.
One example at South Downs will see the restoration of dew ponds, which suffer during the hotter summers. These restored ponds will provide an important nature corridor, helping to support an array of wildlife including frogs and toads, dragonflies, hedgehogs and bats.
The other projects include
Loch Lomond & The Trossachs – Development of a transport project to run over the peak summer months, aimed at providing more sustainable travel options to the National Park, reducing emissions and pressure on local roads, as well as making popular locations more accessible to visitors who don’t have access to a car.
Eryri (Snowdonia) – Restoration of natural flood defences to enhance farmland and protect precious rivers, lakes from phosphate pollution.
Dartmoor – Expansion of a youth nature engagement scheme to create the next generation of custodians of Dartmoor National Park.
North York Moors – Support provided to disadvantaged young people from across the Northeast to have an active volunteering role in the National Park and their community.
Speaking about the ‘Recharge In Nature’ project, Chris Brownridge, CEO of BMW UK said: “Sustainability is at the heart of our business and, with biodiversity and the health of nature more important than ever, we’re delighted to support a range of local projects within the National Parks, helping preserve these precious landscapes for future generations. The UK’s amazing National Parks are far more than just green spaces, they act as vital hubs for communities as places of learning and wellbeing.
“This partnership is part of a wider decarbonisation and circularity strategy that’s been committed to by the BMW Group; taking responsibility for developing new solutions for our vehicles and beyond. The National Parks projects takes this a step further in helping communities and nature thrive in harmony, supporting both people and the environment simultaneously.”