Sound familiar? Dragons’ Den star to appear in Wild Isles railway announcements

Dragons' Den star Deborah Meaden will be heard in station announcements throughout June as part of the Save Our Wild Isles campaign. 

The TV star has teamed up with RSPB, WWF and the National Trust in calling for companies to commit to plans to become 'nature positive'. 

The recording will encourage rail customers to play their part in nature and help create habitats for nature and increase biodiversity.

The nature positive pledge involves a halt to the destruction of UK nature and urgent action for nature recovery. 

Deborah said: "Supporting the Save Our Wild Isles campaign is so important which is why I am pleased to see that South Western Railway is leading the way for rail in supporting nature and responding to the biodiversity crisis by pledging to become Biodiversity Net Positive by 2030 and also being the first rail operator in the UK to sign the Nature Positive Business Pledge."

South Western Railway (SWR) is the first UK train operator to sign up to the Nature Positive Business Pledge. The SWR network is home to a wide range of animal and plant species which the company has committed to protect and help flourish. 

In the past year, SWR has converted the equivalent of three football pitches into biodiversity gardens, has planted 15 wildflower meadows and introduced over 40 homes for insects and birds.

Amy Dickinson, SWR's Head of Sustainability, commented: "Save Our Wild Isles is a fantastic campaign and offers simple steps we can all make both at home or at work to help the wildlife on our doorstep. 

"It's a campaign that SWR is proud to support, as we want our network to be a place where nature can thrive, whether in our stations and depots, by the trackside or in our community gardens.

"We all benefit from biodiversity. That's why we'll continue to engage with our colleagues, customers and partners to support the unique habitats across the region we serve. Signing up to the Nature Positive Business Pledge means that our processes will be robust and we can learn together with others who are on a similar journey."

Meaden's recordings originally featured in a series of short films created for businesses as part of the Save Our Wild Isles campaign. You can view the films and find out more information here.