Aviva Joins Forces with Nattergal, Supporting £40 Million Seed Round

Nature restoration company Nattergal has successfully closed its seed round, securing an impressive £40 million ($52.2 million) in equity funding. Lansdowne Partners, one of its co-founders, led the charge. This substantial investment represents one of the largest seed equity raises in the Nature restoration space, marking a pivotal moment for Nattergal as it ramps up its operations and expands its impact.

The role of private finance in restoring Nature cannot be overstated. It's a driving force in addressing critical issues like climate change, food security, water scarcity, and improving mental and physical well-being. In a world under immense pressure, the UK stands out as one of the most Nature-depleted nations globally. It faces a potential 12% hit to its GDP if immediate steps aren't taken to mitigate Nature-related financial risks. The opportunity for corporate and global leadership is immense, particularly in line with initiatives like the UK's 30% by 2030 Nature protection goals and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD).

With this latest round of funding, Aviva has joined Nattergal as a key institutional investor. Through its corporate venture capital fund, Aviva Ventures continues to advance its sustainability mission, focusing on innovative solutions that align with its goals to restore nature and biodiversity.

In a significant move, Aviva's Chief Sustainability Officer, Claudine Blamey, joined Nattergal 's Board as a Board Advisor. Her wealth of experience and strategic insight will be instrumental as the company navigates this exciting new phase of growth.

"Investing in Nattergal supports an important element of Aviva's sustainability ambition, to protect and restore biodiversity through Nature-based solutions. I'm delighted to be appointed to the Nattergal Board and I'm looking forward to contributing to their gold-standard approach to delivering Nature restoration at scale."

Archie Struthers, CEO of Nattergal, adds: "Our ambition to deliver Nature restoration at scale is only possible with the support of leading institutional investors such as Aviva. This strong support we have received in our equity raise is a testament to our business model and a clear signal that Nattergal is playing a leading role in making Nature an investable asset class. We're excited to work alongside Aviva and all our shareholders in our next phase of growth."

In addition to Lansdowne Partners and Aviva, Nattergal has garnered support from a diverse group of pioneering institutional, venture, and angel investors, all of whom are firmly aligned with the company's commercial vision to combat the biodiversity crisis.

The seed funding round has also enabled Nattergal to acquire three strategic sites, with the most recent being Harold's Park Wildland in Essex, purchased in June 2024. These acquisitions are vital for showcasing Nattergal's expertise in Nature restoration and proving the effectiveness of the blended finance models that form the foundation of its business approach.

Restoration efforts have already begun at Harold's Park Wildland, where funding will partly come from selling Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units to the property sector. The project also promises to deliver a range of community benefits, from local job creation to improved public access to Nature.