TLT strengthens sustainability pledge with continued commitment to Belmont

TLT strengthens sustainability pledge with continued commitment to Belmont

National law firm TLT has renewed its longstanding partnership with Somerset-based Belmont, for a three-year period.  

TLT became Belmont’s first corporate partner in 2022. The collaboration between the two organisations is focused on combatting climate change through nature restoration, embedding sustainability into corporate culture and communities, and funding inclusive access to nature.

Last year, the firm launched a high-integrity carbon offsetting partnership with Belmont, marking a new phase in TLT’s sustainability strategy focused on nature-based carbon removals and long-term sustainability.

Having achieved a transformative 93% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 (market-based) greenhouse gas emissions compared to its FY2019 baseline, surpassing its near-term Science Based Target initiative (SBTi)-verified goal five ahead of schedule in 2025, the double-stranded carbon offsetting strategy developed in partnership with Belmont remains the firm’s focus to address the remaining 7%.

Progress in the last year includes:

• 38 tonnes of carbon sequestered for near-term carbon offsetting through the Trees for Global Benefits project in Uganda.

• A pipeline of high-integrity, nature-based carbon projects secured through peatland restoration at Belmont’s Scottish site, Aberarder.  

In addition to further partnership milestones:

• 500 hours of nature connection funded, contributing to free access to rewilded landscapes for more than 15,000 children and adults from schools, universities, and community groups through Belmont’s nature connection programme.  

• 425,000m² of nature recovered, enabling rewilding, rewetting, and biodiversity enhancement across degraded landscapes.

• Volunteering by TLT colleagues, spent real time in nature on rewilding and community projects, contributing to positive mental health and wellbeing as well as nature restoration and awareness raising.

• Immersive, nature-based learning and networking experiences for client and TLT teams providing the opportunity to reconnect with nature, and one another. Hosted at the 250 year old Georgian Belmont Estate, or Watercress Farm - a key site in the organisation’s nature recovery journey for which TLT secured a 30-year conservation covenant in 2025, making it the first offsite biodiversity net gain (BNG) provider in North Somerset.

Over the next three years, TLT has committed to: increasing investment in the Aberarder peatland offsetting initiative, funding 400 nature connection hours annually, and target 320 volunteering hours each year. This is in addition to a commitment to uplift (recover) 225m2 of nature every year, for the next 30 years.

Maria Connolly, Partner, Head of Future Energy & Real Estate at TLT said: “Four years into our successful partnership with Belmont we are really proud of what we’ve achieved together. But there remains work to do. Committing to continued collaboration for an extended three year period cements a pipeline of increased volunteering, funding, and, importantly, recovery that allows us to effect more meaningful change together.

“Our partnership is about so much more than offsetting - we’re investing in nature-based solutions that unlock ecosystems, support communities, and create long-term impact.”

Henry Rossiter, Business Development Director at Belmont, commented:

"TLT and Belmont are an ideal fit. Together we have demonstrated our shared commitment to sustainability through regeneration and that our alliance is a successful one, grounded in delivering genuine impact. I am delighted that our work together will continue at least through to 2030 and look forward to welcoming many more TLT colleagues and clients on our restoration journey.”

‍