Aviva backs Bristol bid to become UK’s first Wetland City

Bristol is aiming to become the UK’s first accredited Wetland City under a new five-year initiative led by wetland charity WWT and funded by Aviva. 

The programme will support more than 200 projects across the city, including restoring ponds, rivers and brooks, as well as creating new mini wetlands designed to capture and redirect rainwater to help reduce flood risk.

WWT said the initiative would build on existing work by local community groups and is being supported by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority.

The city has been selected due to its long-standing relationship with water, including more than 100 miles of waterways and its proximity to the Severn Estuary.

The project comes as UK cities face growing climate-related challenges. According to data cited by Aviva, almost one in three homes across Bristol’s constituencies were at risk from river, coastal or surface water flooding in 2025.

Sarah Fowler, chief executive at WWT, said wetlands could help communities adapt to rising temperatures and increased flooding.

“We’re already seeing how rising temperatures and increased flooding devastate communities and livelihoods,” she said.

“Wetlands can buffer us from flooding, purify polluted water sources, boost our moods and provide a vital home for wildlife.”

Nature-based resilience

Aviva chief sustainability officer Claudine Blamey said the insurer supported practical approaches that could help communities adapt to the effects of extreme weather.

“We support practical, nature-based approaches to climate adaptation that can help create more resilient, nature-rich places for communities, so we can reduce risk as well as insure it,” she said.

The initiative forms part of a wider ambition to increase the role of wetlands in urban planning and climate adaptation strategies.

WWT said Bristol would work towards Ramsar Wetland City accreditation, an international designation recognising cities that demonstrate a strong commitment to protecting and integrating wetlands into urban life.

There are currently 74 accredited Wetland Cities across 27 countries, but none in the UK.

WWT and Aviva said they hope Bristol’s programme will create a model for other towns and cities seeking to improve resilience against flooding, heatwaves and other climate-related risks.