SEGRO and Kew Reach partner to enhance biodiversity at Slough Trading Estate
SEGRO, a leading owner, manager and developer of modern warehouses, industrial property and data centres, has commissioned Kew Reach, a partnership between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and Greensphere Capital, to deliver a comprehensive, industry-leading biodiversity enhancement programme at Slough Trading Estate, creating a blueprint for how nature can be integrated into industrial estates across the UK
Home to more than 320 businesses employing around 15,000 people, Slough Trading Estate already includes landscaped areas of ecological value. The programme aims to build on this foundation by creating more space for wildlife, improving habitat quality and connectivity, and creating greener, more attractive spaces for the people who live, work and pass through the site.
SEGRO appointed Kew Reach to provide scientific guidance, drawing on the expertise of ecologists, landscape architects and the wider scientific resources of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Working closely with SEGRO’s management, operational and sustainability teams, Kew Reach assessed how the estate functions, the constraints that shape it and where there is greatest potential to deliver meaningful ecological and environmental benefits.
As part of the programme, around 500 trees and shrubs are expected to be planted across the project area. The programme will be delivered over a ten-year period, supporting the fulfilment of biodiversity commitments secured through the Section 106 agreement associated with the Simplified Planning Zone (SPZ), agreed between SEGRO and Slough Borough Council for the period 2024-2034.
Jo Jackson, Director, Western Corridor, SEGRO, said:
“The landscapes around our buildings have an important role to play in creating places that are more resilient, more attractive and better connected to the natural environment.
“This partnership with Kew Reach gives us practical, science-led guidance that will help our teams make better long-term planting decisions. From supporting biodiversity and improving air quality to providing shade, cooling and climate resilience, it will help ensure our landscapes continue to deliver value for customers, employees, local communities and nature alike.
“Industrial and logistics developments are designed to have a life span of several decades, so it is important to think well beyond today's requirements and consider how they can continue to meet the needs of occupiers and contribute to economic growth in the decades ahead.”
Charlie Roper, Director of Business Development, Kew Reach, said:
“The climate conditions many trees will experience in the coming decades will be very different from those in which they were originally selected. The challenge is to plant more and to plant well, using the best available science to make better decisions about what species are planted and where.
“This project combines climate resilience, biodiversity and practical delivery into a single framework that can inform landscape strategies across SEGRO's UK portfolio. It demonstrates how commercial landscapes can support nature, improve environmental performance and continue delivering benefits for people long into the future.”
The work at Slough also provides a potential opportunity across SEGRO’s wider UK portfolio. As part of the relationship, SEGRO and Kew Reach have developed a bespoke, regionalised planting guide to support landscape and species selection across other industrial estates. Drawing on peer-reviewed science and an assessment of more than 300 species against projected future climate conditions, the guide considers a broad range of factors including biodiversity value, drought and flood resilience, urban cooling, air quality and allergenic pollen load. Together, these criteria provide a practical framework for selecting planting that can deliver environmental benefits today while remaining resilient to the changing climate.
About SEGRO
SEGRO is a UK Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), listed on the London Stock Exchange and Euronext Paris. The company owns, manages and develops modern warehousing, industrial property and data centres across the UK and seven other European countries, with a portfolio of 10.9 million square metres of space (117 million square feet).
Founded in 1920, SEGRO's active approach to asset management and disciplined approach to capital allocation has created a portfolio of high-quality, sustainable buildings in some of Europe's largest cities and at key transport and digital infrastructure hubs.
From big-box logistics to urban warehousing and data centres, SEGRO creates the space that enables extraordinary things to happen. It provides the infrastructure of modern economies and everyday life, enabling efficient, low-carbon supply chains and digital connectivity across Europe, helping drive growth and job creation. This space supports a diverse customer base including retailers, manufacturers, logistics providers and technology companies.
SEGRO is committed to being a force for societal and environmental good, prioritising Championing low-carbon growth, Investing in local communities and environments, and Nurturing talent.
For more information, visit www.SEGRO.com.