How to Build a Railway is a twelve-part podcast series exploring the story behind the construction of the UK’s new high speed rail line.

As the largest single environmental project in the UK, protecting and enhancing the environment has always been an integral part of the HS2 programme. Since 2009, every metre of the design has been carefully considered in navigating sites of natural significance.

This episode explores endeavours to protect, replace and improve the green spaces that will run alongside the railway – creating the equivalent of 23 new Hyde Parks lining the spine of the country.

HS2 has already started planting new woodlands and creating new wetlands, grasslands and meadows which are already thriving homes for wildlife.

Featuring

Kathleen Covill, Natural England’s Principal Advisor

Simon Mackrell, director at Thomson Environmental Consultants

David Prys-Jones of HS2

Kat Stanhope of HS2

In this episode, we learn about the opportunities to minimise the environmental impact throughout the construction and operation of HS2 and how the project is creating new ecological sites for protected species.