BMW - Recharge in Nature Project
National Parks UK is working together with BMW UK on the Recharge In Nature project, a three year initiative announced in October 2022.
For the UK’s 15 National Parks, this is a partnership that can genuinely help us move forward in key areas such as EV infrastructure, sustainable tourism and biodiversity thanks to BMW’s national-level, multi-year support.
Sustainable tourism is one of the most pressing issues for all 15 of the UK’s National Parks. With over 100 million visitors every year, and recent Covid-related additional pressures, there are both opportunities and threats linked to domestic tourism. We welcome the opportunity to develop and promote sustainable tourism further thanks to the support of BMW UK.
Most National Parks are under-served by EV chargers and are at risk of getting left behind as drivers turn increasingly to EV usage. This is why BMW’s commitment to install or upgrade EV charging posts across all 15 of the National Parks is so welcome. Their support is speeding up the provision of EV chargers in some of our priority locations, helping visitors, local communities and our teams out in the field too.
A range of locally-led National Parks projects will be directly supported by BMW through the Recharge In Nature Fund. Across three years there will be a grant available for every National Park to deliver impact-led projects in a range of areas including biodiversity; nature restoration; sustainability and well-being. These projects will deliver benefits for nature and people in every National Park.
As the National Parks make efforts to move towards a lower-carbon society, to promote sustainable UK tourism and to restore and enhance our landscapes, working with partners like BMW is a vital way to progress faster and to promote the role that we all need to play in securing a healthier future for our planet.
Sustainability is at the heart of our business and enhancing the EV recharging network in the UK’s National Parks will help to make these favourite destinations more accessible for the increasing numbers of drivers who choose an electric car, as well as to support local communities in their shift to the new technology. With biodiversity and the health of UK nature more important than ever before, we are also pleased to support a range of local projects within the Parks to help preserve these precious landscapes for the future.
Chris Brownridge, CEO, BMW UK.
“The UK’s National Parks are enjoyed by millions of visitors, near and far, every year and increasingly they are looking for transport options that will benefit people, place and planet. In the Lake District, we’re aiming to be a net zero National Park by 2037 and one of the best ways to achieve this is by reducing carbon emissions from visitor travel. Our partnership with BMW is a significant step towards this. Whilst we continue to encourage people to travel to and around the park by public transport, visitors travelling in electric vehicles presents a real opportunity to lower the National Park’s carbon footprint. Our new BMW charging points will give visitors and communities a wider choice of sustainable travel options, meaning we can all play a part in continuing to protect and enhance this special place.”
Richard Leafe, CEO, Lake District National Park
