Powering nature restoration: SSEN Transmission launch landmark partnership with Scottish nature charity

Powering nature restoration - SSEN Transmission launch landmark partnership with Scottish nature charity.

SSEN Transmission is leading the way in nature restoration by becoming the first energy company to partner with nature charity SCOTLAND: The Big Picture to help power nature restoration efforts in the north of Scotland.

In a landmark partnership, SSEN Transmission, the electricity transmission network operator for the north of Scotland, is putting nature first by pledging to support the charity’s Northwoods Rewilding Network, a Scotland-wide chain of landholdings which are all committed to nature recovery.

Northwoods creates a community of land partners throughout the country who share a vision for an ecologically restored landscape.  The charity steps in by providing funding and guidance to landowners to help them carry out the ecological nature restoration they envisioned for their land. 

There are over 85 landholdings involved in Northwoods spread throughout Scotland, and the majority are considered small or medium sized – from working farms and crofts to community woodlands.   Together, this network is creating ecological stepping stones throughout the country - places where wildlife and people thrive.

SSEN Transmission has strong ambitions to create a legacy of thriving people and places, with major ambitions to restore nature throughout their network area. The company launched a new Nature Strategy as part of its wider Sustainability Strategy in September, reaffirming its commitment to delivering 10% Biodiversity Net Gain on all projects gaining consent - leaving a positive legacy for nature.

But that’s not all.  With £20 billion of investment planned to carry out a programme of essential electricity transmission upgrades throughout Scotland - known as the Pathway to 2030 projects - SSEN Transmission is determined to ensure it puts sustainability at the forefront of its plans, with a strong commitment to ensure the natural environment is protected at every step.

Partnering with wildlife and nature restoration experts such as SCOTLAND: The Big Picture helps ensure SSEN Transmission is continuing to do the right thing for people and the planet.

The partnership will involve supporting SCOTLAND The Big Picture's Northwoods Rewilding Network project which is spread throughout the country.

Emily Johns, SSEN Transmission’s Nature Positive Strategy Manager, said:
“This is a huge step forward for SSEN Transmission in becoming the first energy company to partner with SCOTLAND: The Big Picture, who are experts in nature restoration in Scotland.  

“Not only is their knowledge about Scotland’s unique nature immensely valuable, but their extensive understanding of the social and cultural context of the land use in the Northwoods Rewilding Network is of huge significance – we want to make sure that we can play our part in building a community of nature restoration throughout the country.

“By creating a network of ecological stepping stones throughout the north of Scotland, it means wildlife species can link from place to place with the right habitats available for them to grow and thrive. 

“We’re so excited to launch this partnership, which clearly establishes our commitment to nature and the environment. With our longstanding promise to biodiversity net gain already built into our projects, we want to go ever further and make sure we’re actively leading in nature restoration in the country, and we’re thrilled to work with the team at SCOTLAND: The Big Picture to help us on that journey.”

James Nairne, Northwoods Project Lead at SCOTLAND The Big Picture:
"SCOTLAND: The Big Picture created the Northwoods Network specifically to help remove the barriers to rewilding. Finding the required funding to take nature recovery forward is by far the most significant barrier. Having a robust partnership with SSEN Transmission will really help us to make a difference on the ground."

To find out more about SSEN Transmission’s newly launched Sustainability Strategy visit: https://www.ssen-transmission.co.uk/about-us/sustainability/sustainability-strategy/