Ravenscraig recognised with Green Apple Award

As featured in The Herald

One of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration sites, Ravenscraig has been recognised with a Green Apple Award for its work to increase biodiversity and support sustainable regeneration across the former steelworks site.

The major North Lanarkshire regeneration project has been named a Commended winner in the Property & Estate Management sector’s Environmental Improvement category at the 2026 International Green Apple Environment Awards. 

The recognition follows a programme of environmental initiatives being delivered at Ravenscraig. This includes a new 13-acre woodland which was planted and is maintained in partnership with the Sustainable Woodland Company. Around 3,200 trees, including fruit trees, will eventually be established within the woodland, creating new habitats and increasing biodiversity across the site.

The woodland has also provided opportunities for the local community to get involved, with Primary 5 pupils from Our Lady & St Francis Primary School in Carfin visiting Ravenscraig to learn about biodiversity in their local area. Old tree guards are also being reused to reduce the number sent to landfill.

More recently, bee colonies have been introduced to support pollination across the woodland and surrounding habitats, complementing established butterfly areas which provide habitats for pollinators. This is in addition to ongoing conservation efforts to protect ancient woodland areas alongside purpose-built newt ponds, butterfly mounds, and plover nesting fields which provide protected breeding grounds and year-round habitats.

Ravenscraig’s environmental work extends beyond biodiversity, with Ravenscraig Limited committing approximately £200,000 each year to the local circular bus service. The investment maintains public transport connections to jobs, education and local amenities as development across the site continues, while reducing reliance on private vehicles.

Russell Wilkie, Director at Ravenscraig Limited, said: "Ravenscraig is a regeneration project on a significant scale and we have an opportunity to ensure its transformation delivers lasting benefits for the environment as well as the communities around us as the masterplan is developed.

"From protecting the ancient woodland and creating a new woodland and various habitats to supporting sustainable transport, we are continuing to invest in biodiversity and make sustainability part of Ravenscraig’s long-term regeneration. Receiving a Green Apple Award is great recognition of the work being delivered across the site and the commitment of everyone involved."

The Green Apple Awards are organised by The Green Organisation and recognise organisations for environmental best practice. Ravenscraig’s achievement will be formally recognised at an awards ceremony at the House of Lords, Palace of Westminster, London, on 23 November 2026.

For more information on the vision for Ravenscraig and the latest news, visit www.ravenscraig.co.uk.