HS2 celebrates five years of tree planting and habitat creation

As HS2 starts its next season of tree planting, the project is celebrating the first five years of habitat creation on Phase One.

Over 845,000 trees have now been planted and maintained including native species such as hazel, hawthorn, oak, blackthorn and silver birch. Ecology companies along the Phase One route have created 119 new wildlife sites which are already thriving homes for wildlife, ensuring HS2 protects the country 's biodiversity and leaves a lasting legacy for local communities.

David Prys-Jones, Biodiversity Lead at HS2 Ltd, said: “We 're now five years into our extensive environment programme to create more than 33 square kilometres of new wildlife habitats along the HS2 route, the equivalent of 23 new Hyde Parks lining the spine of the country.

“It 's fantastic to see our wildlife habitats thriving, but this is really just the beginning. Over the coming years, our ecology contractors will continue to create more habitats to sustain healthy populations of UK flora and fauna, providing a network of bigger, better-connected, climate resilient habitats and new green spaces for wildlife and people to enjoy. ”

As one of Britain 's biggest environment projects, HS2 is creating many jobs and skills opportunities for ecologists right across the country. Numerous ecology companies have worked on HS2 's environment programme so far, including Kenilworth-based SME Thomson Environmental who joined the project in 2017. The company employs local people, with around 30 people working on HS2, and has seen a 20 per cent increase in its workforce since 2017.

Looking ahead, HS2 's construction partner in Warwickshire and the West Midlands, Balfour Beatty VINCI (BBV) and their environmental partners will plant almost 1,000 hectares of woodland, hedgerow, wildflower grassland and wetland across the region - about the area of 1,300 football pitches - as part of HS2 's Green Corridor.

Amy Middlemist, Landscape Lead at Balfour Beatty VINCI said: “We 're proud to play our part in helping HS2 reach this major milestone. The planting activity we 've carried out so far is already having a positive impact on our sites across the Midlands. We 're looking to build on this, by continuing to deliver on an ambitious landscape and habitat creation programme in the months and years ahead. ”