Land management & monitoring
South East Water owns 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which have been identified for their unique flora, fauna or geological features.
These sites range from chalk grassland, heath and ancient woodland to species specific designations, each of them require specialist management plans to protect their unique qualities.
Natural England oversees the management of all SSSI sites and ranks them according to their condition. Some 70% of our sites are classified as being in a favourable condition, compared with the industry average of 45%.
By managing our sites well, we are ensuring the survival of a number of rare and endangered species.
Broad Oak
One of our sites comprises 1,000 acres of woodland and mixed farmland in Broad Oak, near Canterbury, Kent. It is maintained by the Kent Wildlife Trust under an initiative launched in 2006.
As part of its commitment to Broad Oak, South East Water has funded a Conservation Project Officer for three years to improve wildlife in the area and establish biological data.
The project annexes the Broad Oak nature reserve to large tracts of other woodland in the area, which is already owned and managed by Kent Wildlife Trust, to make it easier for it to manage the wider area more efficiently.
Monitoring our Land
We regularly monitor the status of all our land holdings to ensure our management plans are suitable and up to date.
Each year we carry out butterfly, bird, mammal, reptile and botanical surveys at a number of key sites, as well as specialist surveys for great crested newts, dormice and other protected species.
Using the data obtained, we are able to monitor changes in species and community structure, and adapt our practices, such as the regularity of grass cutting, to encourage the long term survival of wildlife.