Supporting nature recovery across our Real Assets portfolio

At Foresight, we believe that renewable energy infrastructure should do more than generate clean power - it also has the potential to nurture the ecosystems around it. As set out in our Nature Recovery Ambition Statement, we aim to be as ambitious about nature recovery as we are about developing our business.  

Across our global Real Assets portfolio, we’re implementing tangible improvements that support the resilience of our assets, restore biodiversity, and mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. Here are just a few highlights: 

Bees and biodiversity  
In partnership with a local beekeeper we’ve installed over 70 beehives across 7 Foresight Solar Fund (FSFL) solar assets in the UK. These hives boost pollinator populations critical to agriculture, supporting plant growth and food production. Their locations were carefully chosen by the Foresight team to ensure that they would be situated close to existing hives and available nectar, creating optimal conditions for success. The resulting honey is sold locally by an independent beekeeper, with an average of one and a half boxes (or supers) of honey produced in the 2025 spring season. This project underlines how through the responsible management of our sites, we can support biodiversity and the economies local to our assets. 

Photo 1: Solar and bee farm at Sandridge

Wildflower meadows and wildlife shelters 
Our Foresight Environmental Infrastructure (FGEN) Future Biogas anaerobic digestion sites use energy crops and agricultural waste to generate biomethane, which can replace fossil gas in the UK’s gas network. Across five of these sites in England we have carried out a broad range of biodiversity enhancements including building hedgehog shelters, bat and bird boxes, and bee and bug hotels, whilst partnering with My Square Meter to establish wildflower meadows, creating thriving ecosystems alongside clean energy infrastructure.  

Nature recovery in Spain 
At our FSFL Lorca sites located near Granada in Southern Spain, we have been delivering biodiversity improvements through pond installations and the introduction of bird nesting houses. These improvements support nature recovery and contribute to operational resilience, with water sources such as ponds helping to reduce dust levels during the dry season, which can otherwise impair solar panel performance. These ongoing efforts have helped to support the recovery of the lesser kestrel, a small falcon native to the region that has experienced significant population decline in recent years¹. The nesting houses are monitored via CCTV, with third-party specialists two years into studying bird behaviour and habitat success over the seven-year period of the project - underlining our commitment to long-term, evidence-based improvements in biodiversity recovery. 

Photo 2: Installed bird nesting houses at Lorca 

Tree planting in Australia 

At our Hume hydropower plant in New South Wales, we are leading a revegetation project to enhance local biodiversity and support wildlife. We have worked with local experts to select native shrubs and trees which will support local wildlife, with members of the Foresight team also helping with planting. The work includes installing water saving devices and fencing protectors, preparing tree holes, and spot spraying to ensure the best conditions for growth. In a rural area experiencing climate-related challenges including an increase in floods, droughts and bushfires² we recognise that we can play an important role in providing biodiversity enhancements which can support the ecosystem around a key asset.  

Photo 3: Tree planting at Hume  

A global portfolio with local impact: These initiatives reflect our commitment to integrating biodiversity into how we manage our assets globally. Across our portfolio, we are committed to working closely with local experts to understand where we can deliver the most impact, as we focus on ensuring that our assets are positively interacting with the communities within which they operate. This demonstrates that designing with nature in mind enables us to restore ecosystems, strengthen resilience, and deliver sustainable energy. 

1) What's driving Lesser Kestrel declines despite conservation efforts?

2) Climate change threatens billion-dollar industry