The collaboration marks a long-history of partnership work with the local nature conservation charity, which started in 2007 with a three-year biodiversity programme focused on auditing and protecting wildlife on Translink’s landholdings.
More recently, the two organisations have been working to help Translink’s employees become more ‘wildlife aware’ with training delivered to raise awareness of important species of plants, birds and mammals on their sites and how staff can work more in harmony with nature.
Translink’s transport network and in particular the railway environment is an important biodiversity resource offering important habitats for many species of flora and fauna. Railway land acts as a ‘green network’, linking cities and towns within the countryside and creating more ‘natural’ corridors through intensively managed agricultural areas.
The extent as well as type of property that Translink manages is impressive – over 200 miles of railway corridor alone, along with 700 bridges both underline and overline, 290 culverts, 3 tunnels, 10 viaducts, 23km of sea defences, 144 embankments and cuttings and 124 platforms. There is also an array of depots, garages and clerical support facilities spread right across Northern Ireland.
Although Translink’s first priority is to ensure that its services operate safely and that employees can work in a safe environment, the organization is very conscious of the business and wider benefits of biodiversity.
We are delighted to be partnering with Ulster Wildlife and working together supports our Go Eco – Biodiversity work-stream within the Translink Corporate Responsibility Strategy
Andy Bate, Translink Environmental Manager said: “Biodiversity is part of the Translink work culture and contributes to continuous business improvement through focussed activity underpinned by robust policies and processes. We are delighted to be partnering with Ulster Wildlife and working together supports our Go Eco – Biodiversity work-stream within the Translink Corporate Responsibility Strategy”.
Vickie Chambers, Supporter Relationship Manager at Ulster Wildlife, said, “We are delighted to welcome Translink on board as a corporate member and see our partnership for wildlife grow from strength to strength. We are all about championing the natural world and helping people live and work alongside nature – a vision Translink passionately shares. We are excited to be working together on future projects on Translink’s sites to benefit both wildlife and people, and setting a new standard for corporate engagement with biodiversity.”
The International Day for Biological Diversity was created by the United Nations to increase understanding and awareness of Biodiversity issues.