Arup to Restore Nature at Nattergal’s Boothby Wildland

Arup to Restore Nature at Nattergal’s Boothby Wildland and Advance UK Nature-Based Carbon Removal

Landmark funding aimed at stimulating private investment in UK nature restoration carbon sequestration projects.
Project involves restoration of 67.5 hectares of carbon-depleted land, part of Nattergal’s Boothby Wildland project in Lincolnshire.
Arup has secured 10,000tCO2e of high-quality carbon removal credits, certified by Wilder Carbon, from this industry-leading initiative over the next 30 years.

Announced today, global engineering and sustainable development consultancy Arup has committed £1 million to a nature restoration project, partnering with Nattergal and Wilder Carbon in an industry-leading initiative.

This investment will support the restoration of 67.5 hectares of degraded land with carbon-depleted soils as part of Nattergal’s 617ha Boothby Wildland project in Lincolnshire, UK. By committing funding upfront rather than through land ownership, Arup is taking an innovative approach to private sector support for nature restoration. The firm hopes this model will inspire others to follow suit.

Arup has secured 10,000tCO2e of high-quality carbon removal credits over the next 30 years, aligned with the UK’s leading nature and climate standard. Native habitat restoration specialist Wilder Carbon has assessed and valued these credits using the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate, a strategic framework that measures and assures high-integrity carbon capture through habitat restoration and natural process reinstatement across the UK landscape.

In partnership with Nattergal and Wilder Carbon, this project aims to deliver nature-based carbon sequestration and storage, while providing broader environmental benefits. These include enhancing biodiversity, supporting flood attenuation, and improving soil health and water and air quality, with input from local communities and stakeholders.

Supporting greenhouse gas removal and nature restoration projects is a key element of Arup’s Net Zero Plan and commitment to becoming a science-based net-zero organisation. This partnership highlights how carbon-based financing can be implemented today, delivering long-term benefits for communities, nature, and organisations.

Natasha Connolly, Net Zero Programme Director, Arup, said: “Nature-based carbon sequestration schemes are not happening at the speed needed, so we are proud to be taking a different approach to stimulate nature restoration. By investing upfront, we and our partners will accelerate the ambition and delivery of this nature-positive wilding scheme through responsible and scientifically backed methods while securing future carbon credits for Arup that support our journey to becoming a science-based net zero organisation by 2040.”

Sarah Brownlie, Programme Director, Wilder Carbon, said: “This is such a great example of nature markets working in a high-integrity end-to-end manner through collaborative and transparent partnership. Nattergal are a Wilder Carbon Trusted Deliverer with a track record in delivering high-quality natural regeneration projects that maximise a landscape’s biodiversity and carbon potential and therefore, resilience. Matched with Arup, a Wilder Carbon Certified Partner who are committed to reducing their impact, whilst investing in nature-based solutions today, to secure more nature and climate benefits over time; all assured by the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate.”

Archie Struthers, CEO, Nattergal, said: “Nature is in crisis, and urgent action from the private sector is needed to recover the ecosystems our world relies on. Nattergal’s ambition to deliver Nature restoration at scale is only possible with the support of private finance, and we are delighted to see Arup leading the way in recognising Nature as an investable asset class. We are excited to work alongside Arup to continue delivering meaningful Nature restoration at Boothby Wildland and hope to see other businesses make similar investments in future.”