We’re delighted to announce that Thames Valley Park has won an International Green Apple Environment Award for Habitat & Biodiversity.
The award recognises the ongoing work at TVP to protect, enhance and diversify habitats across the park’s nature reserve, and the positive impact this is having on local wildlife.
Thames Valley Park has worked with AD Ecology, its on-site ecologist partner, over the past decade to develop and implement a long-term approach to habitat management and biodiversity.
The park’s 24-acre nature reserve was expanded to approximately 30 acres in 2024, with the addition of a further area of grassland. The reserve includes wildflower-rich grassland, ponds and wetlands, hedgerows, woodland and scrub, providing a range of habitats for wildlife.
A five-yearly Habitat Management Plan, supported by annual ecological monitoring, helps guide how these habitats are managed. This includes specific approaches to grassland and wildflower areas, ponds, ditches, woodland and hedgerows, while balancing nature conservation with the use of the space by the local and tenant communities.
The results show a significant increase in the number and diversity of species recorded at the park:
The nature reserve is open to both the local and tenant communities, with routes for walking, running and cycling. Seasonal ecology walks also give visitors the opportunity to learn more about the wildlife and habitats at TVP.
The International Green Apple Environment Awards recognise environmental excellence and best practice, with more than 700 entries submitted for the 2026 awards.
The award will be formally celebrated at the House of Lords, Houses of Parliament, Palace of Westminster, on 23 November 2026. The final award level – Green Champion, Gold, Silver or Bronze – will be revealed at the ceremony.
A fantastic achievement and recognition of the continued work to protect and enhance the natural environment at Thames Valley Park.
