National Highways and Wildlife Trusts Win Top Honours for Landmark Nature Restoration Programme

National Highways and The Wildlife Trusts have been named the overall winners at the 2025 Biodiversity Challenge Awards, recognised for their ambitious nationwide initiative that has restored thousands of acres of natural habitats across England.

Their award-winning Network for Nature programme has, over the past five years, planted more than 13,000 trees, restored 35 kilometres of rivers and streams, and enhanced over 2,300 acres of land. The large-scale effort, selected from 48 entries, has helped reconnect fragmented habitats, boost biodiversity, and create spaces where both wildlife and communities can flourish.

Working together, National Highways and The Wildlife Trusts delivered 51 projects across 46 sites, each carefully designed to meet the needs of local landscapes and species. From reintroducing grazing animals to improve grassland ecosystems, to creating havens for birds, butterflies, and aquatic life, the programme has had a tangible impact on nature recovery nationwide.

Beyond environmental gains, the initiative has also supported local communities — offering training opportunities for volunteers and improving public access to natural spaces.

Steve Elderkin, National Highways’ Director of Environmental Sustainability, said:

“Our roads shape the landscapes they cross, and we have a responsibility to protect and restore the natural world around them. Through our collaboration with The Wildlife Trusts, we’ve delivered meaningful change for biodiversity and local communities alike.Over the past five years, the Network for Nature programme has shown what’s possible when infrastructure and environmental care go hand in hand.”

Cath Hare, Head of Grants at The Wildlife Trusts, added:

“England remains one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with many habitats fragmented and species under threat.This programme demonstrates the power of partnership – restoring vital ecosystems, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna, and giving nature the space it needs to recover.”

Organised by the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA), the Biodiversity Challenge Awards celebrate projects that go beyond standard environmental practices to deliver measurable gains for nature.

As part of the Network for Nature initiative, National Highways also carried out improvement works on 30 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) — areas legally protected for their rare wildlife and distinctive landscapes, such as ancient woodlands, wetlands, and chalk grasslands.