Lockheed Martin Space helps Durham Wildlife Trust project
The Great North Fen initiative, spearheaded by Durham Wildlife Trust, is focused on rejuvenating 60 hectares of lost wetland.
This venture recently received a boost from Lockheed Martin Space employees, offering both funding and manpower.
The scheme was selected for support by Jane Quan, Lockheed’s newly appointed social values project coordinator.
Lockheed Martin plays an active role in various North East initiatives, including a partnership with Northumbria University to create NESST—the North East Space Skills and Technology Centre.
As part of its dedication to the region and the company’s social values policy, Lockheed is keen to engage with environmental projects that have significant impact.
Durham Wildlife Trust’s vision for the Great North Fen involves the recreation of wetland habitats, which will store carbon and nurture local flora and fauna.
Lockheed Martin Space saw the conservation of peatlands—a potent carbon storage solution—as aligning perfectly with their social value principles.
Apart from providing 10 per cent of the funding needed for the restoration, a team led by Jane Quan spent a day at Ricknall Carrs near Sedgefield.
They worked on driving piles into the lowland peat to slow water flow, creating a habitat for wading birds.
Jason Skirrow, head of service and programme delivery at Lockheed Martin Space UK, was part of the group.
Mr Skirrow said: “The Lockheed Martin Space team is really pleased to be able to deliver on the Government’s social value initiative in a really impactful way by helping restore the peat bogs.
“These relic peat bogs in the Great North Fen act as a natural carbon sink to help fight climate change and reduce our impact to the environment.
“We had a great day in this environmentally important area and loved contributing our time and making a monetary investment to this vitally important project.”
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Emily Routledge, head of development and communications at Durham Wildlife Trust, expressed gratitude to the Lockheed team.
Ms Routledge said: “The Great North Fen is an ambitious nature recovery project which is creating interconnected landscapes that will support a diverse range of ecologically important wildlife and combat climate change by sequestering carbon.
“The support received from Lockheed Martin Space UK is an important step in the next phase of restoration on the fen and it was great to host their team on site and see them get hands on with the practicalities of wetland creation.”
