What we offer
If you are a landowner, Biodiversity Net Gain could offer a way to generate income from your land while supporting nature at the same time. Our aim is to create Gold Standard Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), working with those who are committed to nature recovery.
We can support you every step of the way on your BNG journey: from the initial assessment of your land to creating detailed management plans, delivering and monitoring nature conservation work, finding a buyer for your units and setting up legal agreements.
Biodiversity Net Gain Site Assessment
This is the first step in assessing a site's suitability for Biodiversity Net Gain. We will visit your site and collect data on what species are present, the habitat type and its condition.
We will use this information to form a baseline, against which any changes resulting from habitat restoration or creation on the site can be measured.
We will then produce a Biodiversity Unit value for the site, which is calculated by working out the potential biodiversity gains that can be created from nature restoration and enhancement when compared to the baseline.
Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP)
In order to sell Biodiversity Units, a site must have a Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) that outlines how the land will be managed for the 30 years.
A HMMP contains detailed restoration plans, and outlines what mitigation measures may be required if habitats don’t progress as expected. The Plan also includes information on how the site will be monitored to ensure these issues are detected.
A HMMP is produced after an initial Biodiversity Assessment has been carried out. Ecological experts from Staffordshire Wildlife Trust can create the plan using an existing Biodiversity Net Gain Assessment and restoration suggestions, or work with you from the beginning of the project, calculating the baseline and creating potential restoration ideas.
Delivery of habitat management
Staffordshire Wildlife Trust has a proven track record of restoring degraded habitats, enhancing existing ecosystems and creating new habitats to support biodiversity.
As the county's leading nature coservation charity, we have management expertise in a full range of habitats inclusing wetlands, woodlands, grasslands, heathlands, and riparian habitats. We can create the ecological designs, or work from existing plans.
A recent example of restoration works we have carried out to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain include multiple projects across Stafford as part of the Stafford Brooks project.
Ongoing Ecological Monitoring
A Biodiversity Net Gain site must be monitored over the length of the agreement to ensure habitats are progressing as expected. Our team of qualified ecologists will visit your site at regular intervals, collecting data on species, habitat type and quality, and re- calculating the number of units.
If the site isn’t developing as hoped, we provide advice to help get back on track to meet your biodiversity goals.
Additional Services
We offer:
- River Condition Assessment Survey
- General advice on BNG project designs
- Acting as a Responsible Body for your project (setting up a Conservation Covenant on your land)
Contact us
Use the form below to drop us a line and we can talk you through our BNG services and the options for your land.