BAM UK & Ireland and Eden Project unite to lead nature recovery in the built environment

BAM UK & Ireland and the Eden Project have launched a pioneering collaboration to place nature recovery at the heart of the built environment. In a first for both organisations, the new partnership aims to spark industry-wide change across the construction industry.

The collaboration aims to inspire bold action, shift mindsets, and lead the industry towards a nature-inclusive future by challenging barriers to implementation and further embedding nature into every stage of BAM UK & Ireland’s projects.

Together, BAM UK & Ireland and Eden Project want to reimagine the built environment as a space where nature isn’t sacrificed but celebrated, with a purpose-driven three-year collaboration focusing on tangible action across three key pillars:

Educate: Create meaningful programmes that spark curiosity, share knowledge, and empower action for nature among our people, clients, and partners.
Act: Work with our client and partners to deliver projects that prove innovation, and biodiversity can thrive side by side to protect nature and improve human wellbeing.
Influence: Lead by example, challenge barriers to nature-based solutions and openly share our journey, successes and lessons to inspire industry-wide change.

Initially, BAM UK & Ireland’s focus will be on projects where it can maximise health, wellbeing, and biodiversity outcomes – for both its clients and its people. This includes health and education projects, as well as BAM UK & Ireland’s own estate.

The aim is to integrate nature by design through healing gardens and green spaces that support patient recovery, create outdoor learning environments, and establish biodiverse spaces for children and communities. BAM UK & Ireland also plans to enhance some of its offices, depots, and sites with nature-rich breakout spaces that improve the daily work experience for colleagues.

John Wilkinson, COO of BAM UK & Ireland, said:

“Since the early 1970s, animal populations have declined by 73%* and our industry has played a role in that devastation – but we now stand at the edge of a precipice. We can either accept that human activity has caused this destruction and work together to address it, or we can ignore it and watch as nature loss inevitably results in damage to human civilisation.

We’ve chosen to take a stand, and to do it alongside the Eden Project, to inspire and embed change across the built environment.”

YouGov research* conducted for BAM UK & Ireland in 2024 highlights that 84% of large UK businesses say nature recovery is important, however, to date limited action has been taken with only one third of businesses having a biodiversity plan. Investment in resources and increased staff awareness and participation both top the list as the biggest challenges preventing businesses from turning intent into action on biodiversity.

Andy Jasper, CEO of Eden Project, commented:

“Nature is not a luxury – it’s the foundation of our wellbeing, our communities, and our future. We are excited to be collaborating with BAM UK & Ireland, we have the opportunity to reimagine construction as a driver of ecological recovery and to prove that every space we build can also be a space for life.”

BAM UK & Ireland has already made major strides as part of its Biodiversity+ strategy, supporting the global Nature Positive agenda – aiming to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and achieve full recovery by 2050. 95% of BAM UK & Ireland’s construction projects now include wildlife structures, while 63% of BAM UK & Ireland’s infrastructure projects apply Biodiversity Net Gain principles often exceeding legal requirements, with landmark projects like the Cross Tay Link Road Green Bridge and the Thames Tideway Bug Hotel demonstrating BAM UK & Ireland’s commitment towards nature-positive design.