TO mark World Environment Day, London Stansted is shining a light on the surprising wildlife and nature quietly thriving around the airport, from deer and foxes to rare wildflowers and great crested newts.

Surrounded by the Essex countryside, the airport is home to a rich variety of plants and animals, many living just beyond the fence, often unnoticed by the thousands of passengers passing through each day.

Here are five things you might not know about the airport’s wild neighbours, and how the airport’s environment team is helping them thrive:

1. There’s a secret nature habitat north of the runway
   Six years ago, the team transformed a patch of unused land – about the size of two football pitches – into a dedicated wildlife habitat area. Tucked away from public access, the area now features ponds, grassland and woodland, creating a peaceful retreat where wildlife can flourish. Deer, rabbits, badgers and even great crested newts have since moved in, while wildflowers like sneezewort, wild angelica, marsh marigold, water figwort and skullcap are blooming across the site.
2. Foxes and deer are regular visitors to the fence line
   It’s not just the habitat area where animals are found. Around the airport’s boundary fence, it’s common to see foxes, rabbits and grazing deer. The airport’s countryside location means these animals have space to roam, and they’re not bothered by the aircraft overhead.
3. Rare flowers are blooming near the runway
   In woodland close to the terminal, you’ll find Oxlips – a rare wildflower found only in parts of East Anglia. The airport is helping the National Trust collect seeds from these flowers to grow new plants for rewilding projects in places like Hatfield Forest, where the species has been in decline.
4. Horses are helping with woodland work
   Instead of using heavy machinery that can damage sensitive habitats, Stansted uses Suffolk Punch horses to carefully extract felled wood in the woodlands that surround the airport. It’s a traditional method that protects smaller plants and minimises disruption to wildlife.
5. It’s all part of a bigger green plan
   Stansted has big ambitions when it comes to the environment. The airport has committed to preserving biodiversity and aims to reach net zero carbon by 2038. These commitments are set out in its new five-year Sustainability Strategy – Creating a Sustainable Future for All which sets out clear goals to protect local wildlife, promote greener operations and support the communities it serves.

Martin Churley, MAG’s Head of Environment, said:

“There’s a lot more nature around the airport than people realise. Stansted is truly an airport in the countryside, and we’ve worked hard to create spaces where wildlife can thrive. It’s great to see deer, foxes and rare flowers living happily just beyond the runway. Our new sustainability strategy helps ensure that as the airport grows, protecting nature and biodiversity remains a top priority.”