Staff from a Heysham power station have led a major clear up of a local nature reserve and beach.
More than 80 members of staff from Heysham 2 power station came together in glorious sunshine to clean up Heysham Nature Reserve and the nearby beach, filling two vans and two full skips of rubbish in just two hours.
Armed with gloves, bags and plenty of enthusiasm, volunteers worked throughout the morning to clear litter from the reserve and the beach adjoining Ocean Edge holiday park.
This special project builds on Heysham Power Stations owners' EDF’s fleetwide Pride in our Plant campaign, which encourages teams to come together for regular coordinated deep cleans at the power stations that reinforce high housekeeping standards.
The aim is to foster pride in maintaining a clean, safe and well-presented workplace.
Following the success of Pride in our Plant at the station, the team at Heysham 2 were keen to extend their efforts beyond the site boundary and make a positive difference to the local community and environment.
Dubbed Pride in our Nature Reserve, teams from across the station took part in a large-scale litter pick, helping to protect the much-loved coastal area, improve safety and support local wildlife.
"We are extremely grateful to the EDF volunteers for giving up their time to keep this beautiful stretch of coastline clean," said Sheldon Barton, Maintenance Manager at Ocean Edge Holiday Park.
"We have a great working relationship with EDF and value the efforts of those involved. Initiatives like this really do make a difference to our holiday homeowners and guests.”
Andy Bulloch, Plant Manager at Heysham 2, said: “Pride in our Plant has been a huge success on site, so it was fantastic to see that enthusiasm carried through into the community. The team really got behind this initiative and made a big difference in a short space of time, showcasing what can be achieved when everyone pulls together.”
Heysham Nature Reserve is owned by EDF and managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust (LWT), making it an important partnership site for protecting local wildlife and providing a valued space for the community.
The reserve is regularly maintained by LWT staff, with external contractors supporting more extensive work. However, it has been some time since a large-scale clean-up across the whole site has been possible, making this recent volunteer effort particularly valuable.
Reuben Neville, Nature Reserve Warden at Lancashire Wildlife Trust, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to the team from Heysham 2. Their efforts have made a noticeable improvement in just a few hours, helping to protect our wildlife and ensure our reserve is an enjoyable place for everyone who visits.”
Throughout the day, Heysham 2 teams spoke with members of the public who regularly use the area, with feedback overwhelmingly positive and many praising the scale and importance of the effort.
EDF is keen to build on the success of the day, with similar volunteering sessions planned in the future as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to supporting the local environment and the community.
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