Biodiversity Net Gain with Eastlight Homes & Open Spaces

First, we set off on a walk around the Outback and talked about what I am doing and how it could be applied in practice to both their existing housing estates and land they own that they may want to develop later.  It is a tricky subject and my background as a Landscape Architect is helpful. When bringing nature back into a more urban environment first you have to address the propensity of residents to desire a neat and tidy look, something we have aspired to for centuries. I believe this is almost instinctive given controlling nature has to date helped our survival. Creating open space and sight lines helps mitigate the threats of other people and large animals. Killing off animals further mitigates the threat they bring to our lives, livestock and our crops.  Now of course we have gone too far, and we need to rewire our thinking.  We spoke of soil and how important the soil of urban back gardens is and linking elements such as hedges as wildlife corridors.  Sophisticated green roofs entered the discussion and when it comes to creating woodland natural regeneration wins over tree planting because it is faster, has 0 carbon impact and costs a lot less. However, we live in a tick box society and like to point to statistics to demonstrate our achievements.  This was a good and friendly discussion.

Back at the barn and it was time for some further education.  The new planning rules say that if you develop a piece of land (not just for housing) then you must ensure there is at least 10% Biodiversity Net Gain. In crude terms, this means that if the land be developed land is assessed as having 10 ‘stars’ for biodiversity, then after the development is finished you must have achieved not 10 stars but an extra 10% net gain, so  it must have 11 stars of biodiversity or habitat. Not easy if you are building but given the devastating decline of biodiversity across the world and especially the UK entirely necessary. We cannot carry on the way we are. Alot more can be achieved on site with will and creativity, it sometimes takes a ‘stick’ too, BNG to my mind is the ‘stick’. Where 10% BNG cannot be achieved on site then it can be achieved offside which is where other landowners come in too. I won’t go into more detail other than to say there were many questions, some apprehensive faces and I think it was a useful session for everyone.

Eastlight made a little film too, here is the link: Jordan’s Farm STOC visit

The Barn is a great place for such gatherings and presentations so if this space would be useful to your company then please get in touch. Thank you to everyone who came, it was great to see you here.