GAL works with two Wildlife Trusts to remove CO2e

Image courtesy GAL

Building on GAL’s industry-leading approach to biodiversity, which has seen it awarded the Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Benchmark for the past 11 years, the airport operator is now partnering with Kent and Somerset Wildlife Trusts. 

The partnerships will support two new projects which will see degraded former agricultural land transformed into species-rich habitats over the coming years. 

These projects will help to support wildlife and ecology, contribute to flood alleviation and benefit local communities for years to come, while also capturing carbon. 

The projects have been facilitated by Wilder Carbon, a not-for-profit which matches organisations looking to expand their sustainability work with wildlife organisations which deliver high quality environmental projects.  

GAL has invested £1 million which will be used to remove 10,000 tonnes CO2e via the Wilder Carbon projects at  Ironhurst Valley Nature Reserve in Kent and  Honeygar Farm in Somerset . 

These carbon emissions will be significant proportion of what’s left after GAL has successfully delivered a £250million capital programme to reduce carbon emissions as far as possible.

This carbon removed from the atmosphere via these projects will “offset” the residual emissions generated by the airport operator between 2030 and 2039, which cannot be eliminated. 

GAL is making this investment now to assure the transformation of these sites, paving the way for future benefits in the decades to come. 

Mark Edwards, Head of Sustainability, London Gatwick said: “We have an unwavering commitment to sustainability and to achieving our aim of being net zero for emissions under our direct control by 2030. We are making great progress, as detailed in our  2025 Sustainability Report .  

“We are doing all we can to reduce our carbon footprint but come 2030 a small proportion of greenhouse gas emissions will remain. We won’t be able to eradicate these emission sources for various reasons such as the technology not yet existing.  

“In order to achieve Net Zero, we will need to remove these residual emissions. 

“Collaborating with Wilder Carbon offered us the opportunity to support local,  high integrity , nature-based projects that offered considerable benefits in addition to carbon removal. 

“We carefully considered which projects to partner with and I’m delighted that Ironhurst is so close to the airport. I’m excited to see how nature will transform Ironhurst and Honeygar over the coming years as our partnership progresses. Our thanks go to the Wilder Carbon team for helping us find our partner sites, and to the two Trusts.” 

Georgia Dent, Chief Executive Officer, for Somerset Wildlife Trust said: “If we’re serious about restoring nature at scale, we need responsible organisations which have a demonstrable commitment to reducing carbon emissions to invest in high quality, impactful projects that lock up carbon and rebuild biodiversity here in the UK. 

“This investment relates specifically to emissions from London Gatwick’s own existing operations – and is part of their overall commitment to reach net zero. This partnership will help restore habitats and keep carbon secured in healthy peat at Honeygar for generations to come, delivering lasting benefits for climate and wildlife in Somerset.”

Ben Dart, Chief Operating Officer at Kent Wildlife Trust said: "Ironhurst Valley Nature Reserve represents exactly the kind of long-term, high-integrity investment that UK nature recovery urgently needs.

“By partnering with Gatwick Airport, we’re able to restore native habitats that will lock up carbon, strengthen biodiversity, and deliver lasting ecological benefits for Kent and beyond."

Sarah Brownlie, Programme Director, Wilder Carbon said: “We are delighted to see GAL adopting the Wilder Carbon Standard for Nature and Climate for this important investment in UK nature recovery. By committing to high-integrity natural climate solutions, Gatwick is securing long-term carbon benefit while restoring diverse native habitats that strengthen biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. 

“Early investment is critical; it unlocks the finance needed to establish projects now, so that verified climate and nature benefits are delivered over the decades ahead.

“This partnership demonstrates how responsible organisations can decarbonise and address residual emissions while contributing meaningfully to nature recovery at scale.”

As well helping to counter the emissions, the sites will provide long last ecological benefits. For example, the Ironhurst Valley site will be transformed from arable and pasture to a mix of species-rich grassland, a wet floodplain meadow, and mixed deciduous woodland.  

This will not only achieve significant carbon removals, but also a large uplift in biodiversity and in soil health.

London Gatwick is a member of  Sustainable Aviation – a coalition of UK airlines, airports, aerospace manufacturers, fuel producers and partners, all committed to delivering net zero carbon aviation.

Earlier this year the coalition issued an  Advanced Market Signal related to greenhouse gas removals. The commitment will see Sustainable Aviation members invest more than £2 million to buy greenhouse gas removal (GGR) credits to support early development of the GGR market. 

In its  2025 Sustainability Report GAL updated its progress towards its Decade of Change 2030 sustainability goals including becoming net zero for  Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030.