Bristol

WWT, the wetland charity

Aviva is helping to protect and restore nature through its partnership with WWT, the wetland charity. Together, we are supporting two ambitious programmes.

Our Wetland Cities Programme aims to carry out over 200 wetland projects across Bristol. This is the first part of an ambitious programme to help UK cities combat the impacts of climate breakdown. This programme is supporting Bristol on a journey to become the UK's first Wetland City. Bristol has always been shaped by its relationship with water, and this exciting programme shows how we can work with nature to tackle some of the biggest challenges facing the city. By creating and restoring wetlands across Bristol, we aim to help reduce flood risk, support wildlife, improve people's health and wellbeing, and help build resilience to a changing climate.

Our Saltmarsh Programme aims to reverse the decline of the UK’s saltmarshes as climate-critical wetlands that store carbon, boost biodiversity and protect communities from flooding. Our funding is enabling WWT to create one of the UK’s largest new saltmarsh restoration sites on the Severn Estuary, where scientific research, habitat design and community engagement are underway to bring this ecosystem back to life. This work includes land acquisition at Awre in the Forest of Dean, detailed ecological surveys and engineering design to reintroduce tidal flows, and the installation of long-term monitoring equipment to understand how restored wetlands can benefit people and nature. Together, these efforts are helping build the evidence base for large-scale wetland restoration and ensuring communities remain at the heart of environmental change.

_{Photo credited to WWT, the wetland charity.}