An ancient woodland site in Llanfoist near Abergavenny is benefiting from restoration work funded through E.ON Next's partnership with the Woodland Trust, after the energy company surpassed its original £500,000 donation pledge and contributed more than £657,000 to date.
Since December 2024, E.ON Next has automatically donated money to the charity on behalf of customers who sign up to one of E.ON Next's fixed term tariffs, at no extra charge. E.ON Next's donations have already funded restoration work in 14 different ancient woodlands needing vital restoration, from Llanfoist to Leicestershire.
The funding is helping the Woodland Trust carry out surveys in damaged ancient woods, undertake the work that will revive them, and will enable the Trust to continue monitoring their progress into the future.
At The Punchbowl in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, E.ON Next's donations have supported a range of important conservation measures. The Woodland Trust has introduced conservation grazing to enhance biodiversity across the site, while funding has also helped deliver essential fencing, remove redundant tree guards and complete a baseline survey to inform future restoration work.
Julian Lennertz, Chief Commercial Officer at E.ON Next, said:
“By taking greater control of their energy costs and choosing a fixed tariff, our customers are also helping to restore and protect some of the UK's most precious ancient woodlands – including sites here in Wales – all at no extra cost to them.
“That's exactly the kind of energy transition we want to see – making it easier to take positive action at home while supporting something bigger. Through our partnership with the Woodland Trust, we're helping create lasting benefits for nature while delivering value for our customers too.”
Darren Moorcroft, Chief Executive at the Woodland Trust, said:
“We're immensely proud of what we've been able to achieve thanks to E.ON Next funding, which has surpassed its pledge of £500,000 almost two years ahead of schedule.
“Ancient woodland restoration requires careful long-term planning, and the support from E.ON Next customers has already helped secure the foundations for impactful conservation work ahead.
“These vital natural habitats are a haven for wildlife, and bring health and wellbeing benefits to our communities. Thanks to E.ON Next and their customers, we can make a significant and lasting difference in protecting these essential ecosystems. We can't wait to see how much more can be achieved in the next two years of this partnership.”
E.ON Next's donations will support woodland restoration projects across the UK, including removing invasive species and creating room for native species to flourish, creating the right environment for biodiversity to blossom and providing habitat for insects, mammals and birds.
Well managed woodlands create habitats where plants have the space and right conditions to grow, allowing wildlife to thrive. These woodlands are also likely to be more resilient in the face of climate change and play a vital role in capturing atmospheric carbon.
