A new environmental charity, East Suffolk Trust (EaST), has been launched with at least £78 million pledged to restore landscapes and boost biodiversity across Suffolk.
Jointly established by Sizewell C, East Suffolk Council and Suffolk County Council, EaST aims to make East Suffolk the most ecologically diverse and resilient region in England.
The charity will distribute funds through a grant scheme targeting local environmental organisations.
Funded primarily by the Sizewell C nuclear project, the charity will receive annual donations of £1.5 million during the power station’s construction and its first 20 years of operation.
This will drop to £750,000 annually thereafter. Sizewell C is expected to run for at least 60 years, potentially up to 100, putting the total investment in local nature at over £100 million.
Clare Matterson CBE, Director General of the Royal Horticultural Society and EaST Trustee, said: “EaST has been launched to reverse the decline in biodiversity and restore nature in East Suffolk and the county as a whole.”
Philip Faircloth-Mutton, Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, said the fund would support everything from hedgerows to wetlands and help build resilient ecosystems to face climate and biodiversity challenges.
The trust is currently recruiting a CEO and plans to issue its first grants by spring 2026.
Councillor Tom Daly of East Suffolk Council said the trust provides a vital balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation. “I hope it will encourage schemes that protect biodiversity and support long-term sustainability.”
Julia Pyke, Joint MD of Sizewell C, added: “This charity is the first of its kind in the UK. Together with our voluntary work creating reserves like Wild Aldhurst, it shows major infrastructure can be a force for environmental good.”
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