Dragons’ Den star Deborah Meaden will be heard in SWR station announcements throughout June as the investor and environmental campaigner teams up with the train operator to back the Save Our Wild Isles campaign.

The campaign, launched by the RSPB, WWF and the National Trust this year, calls for an immediate halt to the destruction of UK nature and urgent action for nature recovery, while urging companies to commit to plans to become 'nature positive'.

To be nature positive means halting and reversing nature decline by restoring wildlife and having an overall positive impact on nature. Not only does SWR support the Save Our Wild Isles campaign, it is also the first train operator in the UK to sign the Nature Positive Business Pledge.

As one of the country’s largest train operating companies, serving customers across Devon and into much of southern England, the SWR network is home to a wide range of animal and plant species which it aims to protect and help flourish.

Recognising SWR’s backing for the Save Our Wild Isles campaign and commitment to biodiversity, Deborah Meaden has voiced the announcements which customers will hear at stations across the SWR network, encouraging them to play their part in creating habitats for nature and increasing biodiversity.

The clips originally featured in a series of short films created for businesses as part of the Save Our Wild Isles campaign. To view the films and find out how everyone can play a part in tackling the nature and climate crisis, click here.

Deborah Meaden, business leader and investor, said: 'Supporting the Save Our Wild Isles campaign is so important which is why I am pleased to see that South Western Railway is leading the way for rail in supporting nature and responding to the biodiversity crisis by pledging to become Biodiversity Net Positive by 2030 and also the first rail operator in the UK to sign the Nature Positive Business Pledge.'

A spokesperson for the RSPB, WWF and National Trust added: 'The state of biodiversity in the UK is critical and nature is in crisis with more than 40% of species populations declining since 1970 and the UK in the bottom 10% of countries worldwide for the nature we have left.

'Addressing this urgent issue is one of the defining challenges of our time, and businesses have a crucial role to play in reversing this trend by adopting sustainable practices and supporting conservation efforts.

'It's heartening to see industry leaders such as SWR committing to becoming nature positive. - only with this kind of action can we hope to save our wild isles.'