Green Corridor

Protecting important and legally protected species is just as important as protecting their habitats. We’ve studied how construction may affect wildlife and developed specific steps to reduce any impact. This covers bats, birds and amphibians.

Read our Environmental Progress Reports

Over half of the HS2 route runs through tunnels and cuttings. This helps preserve important wildlife habitats, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest like Long Itchington Wood in Warwickshire.

Discover HS2’s tunnels

We’ve designed HS2 to avoid habitats that cannot be replaced wherever possible.

Read our Ancient Woodland Summary Reports

Our Community and Environment Fund and Business and Local Economy Fund support communities affected by HS2 construction between London and the West Midlands. We have £40 million available to fund projects along the route. So far, more than 70 environmental projects have received more than £3 million through the Community and Environment Fund.

As well as our core woodland compensation programme – supporting hundreds of hectares of new planting – we’re investing in the restoration and expansion of native woodlands. Through a £5 million Woodland Fund, we’re helping landowners restore ancient woodlands and create new native woodlands along the route.

Explore the projects we fund

Our goal is to make sure the overall amount and quality of wildlife habitat is maintained across the route. This helps protect and support nature for the long term.