Arup Invests £1 Million in Nature Restoration at Boothby Wildland

Pioneering Partnership with Nattergal and Wilder Carbon to Enhance UK Carbon Sequestration

Global engineering and sustainable development consultancy, Arup, has announced a landmark £1 million investment in nature restoration at Boothby Wildland, a 617-hectare project in Lincolnshire led by rewilding specialist Nattergal. This initiative, in collaboration with Wilder Carbon, is set to restore 67.5 hectares of degraded land with carbon-depleted soils, reinforcing the critical role of the private sector in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises.

A New Model for Private Investment in Nature-Based Solutions

With 94% of UK-based companies within the Forbes2000 having set net-zero targets, demand for high-integrity nature credits is anticipated to increase by 15 fold by 2030 and 100 fold by 2050. Rather than acquiring land, Arup has chosen an innovative approach by committing funds upfront to support large-scale habitat restoration. This strategy secures 10,000tCO2e of high-quality carbon removal credits over the next 30 years, certified by Wilder Carbon’s industry-leading standard. The credits ensure that carbon sequestration efforts are measured, verified, and aligned with best practices in nature-based solutions.

By financing the project at an early stage, Arup aims to set a precedent for corporate investment in ecosystem recovery. This initiative comes at a crucial time, with only five years remaining to meet the global goal of restoring 30% of land and sea by 2030.

Danielle Mulder, BBC’s Sustainability Officer noted that “This is what good looks like”. 

Delivering Environmental and Community Benefits

Beyond carbon sequestration, the Boothby Wildland project will enhance biodiversity, improve soil health, support flood mitigation, and contribute to cleaner air and water. Community engagement is also a key component, ensuring that local stakeholders play a role in shaping the project’s positive impact.

Natasha Connolly, Net Zero Programme Director at Arup, emphasised the urgency of accelerating nature-based solutions:

"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."

A High-Integrity Collaboration

Wilder Carbon's Programme Director, Sarah Brownlie, highlighted the project's significance,"This is such a great example of nature markets working in a high-integrity end-to-end manner through collaborative and transparent partnership. Nattergal is 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. Matched with Arup, a Wilder Carbon Certified Partner, we see a responsible and forward-thinking approach to financing nature-based solutions today to secure climate and biodiversity benefits for the future."

Nature plays a crucial role in addressing climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide, regulating temperatures, and protecting against extreme weather. Forests, wetlands, and grasslands act as carbon sinks, capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it in plants and soils. Thus, restoring degraded ecosystems enhances their ability to sequester carbon, making nature-based solutions an essential strategy for mitigating climate change. This has far reaching benefits beyond the site as healthy ecosystems help regulate local climates, prevent soil erosion, and reduce the impact of floods and droughts by improving water retention.

Biodiversity is equally vital because diverse ecosystems are more resilient to environmental changes and better able to provide essential services. A rich variety of plant and animal species ensures pollination, soil fertility, and natural pest control, all of which support agriculture and food security. Biodiversity also enhances the stability of ecosystems, allowing them to adapt to climate shifts and recover from disturbances. Moreover, many species contribute to carbon storage, while healthy oceans, home to vast biodiversity, absorb about a quarter of human-produced CO₂.

Preserving biodiversity and restoring ecosystems not only help mitigate climate change but also support human well-being, ensuring clean air, water, and food for future generations. Investing in nature is investing in a sustainable future.

A Call to Action for the Private Sector

With climate targets looming, this initiative demonstrates the power of strategic corporate investment in ecological restoration. As businesses increasingly look for credible ways to meet net-zero commitments, nature-based solutions like Boothby Wildland offer a pathway to measurable, science-backed climate action.