South West Water has been shortlisted for the Biodiversity Challenge Awards 2025 in recognition of its pioneering Upstream Thinking programme, which uses nature-based solutions to improve water quality and restore ecosystems. The awards celebrate projects that place biodiversity at the heart of their work, going beyond standard practice to show how infrastructure and nature can thrive together.
Now in its 15th year, Upstream Thinking tackles pollution at its source by partnering with farmers, landowners, and environmental organisations. Science-led interventions such as peatland restoration, wetland creation, habitat management, and sustainable farming practices have delivered measurable gains in water quality, biodiversity, and climate resilience.
The programme has already improved 144,000 hectares of land across South West catchments through better soil management, new woodland and wetlands, and the creation of buffer strips to reduce diffuse pollution. It has also part-funded the restoration of 5,000 hectares of peatland on Dartmoor, Exmoor, and Bodmin Moor, boosting water retention, capturing carbon, and protecting rare habitats. These efforts have supported wildlife such as water voles, otters, and marsh fritillary butterflies, while cutting sediment and nutrient run-off into rivers and reducing the need for downstream water treatment.
Delivered in collaboration with partners including the Westcountry Rivers Trust, Devon and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, the South West Peatland Partnership, and the University of Exeter, the programme combines ecology, land management, and local knowledge to create tailored solutions for each catchment.
“We’re thrilled to be shortlisted and proud to see Upstream Thinking recognised alongside other impactful projects,” said Ciara Dysart, Assistant Project Lead at South West Water. Carolyn Cadman, the company’s Chief Sustainability and Natural Resources Officer, praised the initiative as “a win for water and wildlife,” highlighting its long-term commitment to working with nature and local communities.
Winners of the Biodiversity Challenge Awards will be announced on 24 September at a special ceremony at the WWT London Wetland Centre.
