Press Releases - January/February 2008
Item 5

No. 2008/02/04
February 2008

Power struggle for Conservation Awards

Companies all over Britain leapt into action on January 1 for the start of the BTO – British Energy Business Bird Challenge. This biennial competition, run by the British Trust for Ornithology, recognises and celebrates the sensitive habitat management of industrial sites. Throughout 2008 the BTO will be looking for business sites with: the most innovative conservation initiatives; the greatest diversity of bird species; and the most community involvement in conservation.

Particular interest this year will be focused on the struggle between the power stations. RWE npower, EDF Energy and Magnox North are up against the Competition’s sponsors, British Energy, who have a long history of doing particularly well in the Challenge. In the last Challenge in 2006 British Energy sites won prizes in all three of the categories; conservation, community and birds. The 11 power station sites will be busy through 2008 putting conservation initiatives into action and out in all weathers looking for the more elusive species of birds using their sites.

The 2008 Challenge has attracted a diverse range of companies, making this the most inclusive Challenge ever. Over 60 sites from aggregate, water, waste, power, industrial, agricultural research and commercial sectors have entered so far. There is still time for companies to enrol; the BTO will be accepting entries until the end of February. The charity is still looking for business sites where space is provided for birds, for local communities and for biodiversity.

The Business Bird Challenge offers the opportunity for the Commercial and Industrial sectors to publicise their conservation efforts, the flourishing partnerships that exist within local communities and benchmark their initiatives against those occurring at other sites throughout the UK.

Kate Aldridge (Challenge Organiser) said “The Business Bird Challenge brings industry and the environmental sector together. It is an opportunity for companies to celebrate their contribution to the conservation of birds and biodiversity. Competitors in previous Challenges have had their enormous conservation efforts rewarded by some particularly interesting bird sightings. However, it is the habitats provided and their continued maintenance for birds of conservation concern that the Challenge is particularly designed to commend.

We are looking forward to an exciting year, especially in the power companies sector where there is a real spark of competition, as businesses take on the challenge presented by British Energy, the generous sponsors of this year’s competition.”

For further information please contact:

British Trust for Ornithology
Kate Aldridge on 01842 750050 or e-mail:

Please see over for a list of sites registered so far and notes for editors

BTO – British Energy Business Bird Challenge 2008 sites so far…

Notes for Editors

1. The Business Bird Challenge began in 1994 and is a unique partnership between businesses, the BTO and local communities which encourages biodiversity on business and industrial sites. Held every two years, the Challenge has become a celebration of environmental initiatives by businesses throughout the UK, in the categories of Conservation, Community and Birds.
2. Images of birds are freely available for use in association with this press release. Please contact to request an electronic version.
3. The BTO has an ISDN line available for radio interviews.