Cost
$ 265 /credit
Credits
Habitat Restoration and Land Rewetting - Timsbury, UK
Biodiversity Net Gain Units
Voluntary Biodiversity Credits
This project transforms a former goat farm into a diverse habitat bank in Timsbury, UK. To do this, it employs diverse restoration practices, including extensive planting of local native wildflowers, grasses, herbs, scrub and woodland species. Situated within the West of England Nature Partnerships nature recovery network, this area is envisioned as a key site for enhancing ecological connectivity and biodiversity and landscape quality regionally.
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Project information
The Sleight Farm project
The project is located in Timsbury, within Bath and North East Somerset, which is a strategic focus area for grassland restoration, particularly priority lowland meadow creation. The project directly addresses the ecological impacts of its past as a goat farm, which resulted in over-grazing and soil compaction. Situated within the West of England Nature Partnerships nature recovery network, the farm is envisioned as a key site for enhancing biodiversity and landscape quality regionally. More broadly, it responds to the national mandate for Biodiversity Net Gain under the Environment Act 2021 and aligns with Bath and North East Somerset's Ecological Emergency Action Plan and national biodiversity strategies.
The project's approach is centered on comprehensive habitat restoration and creation, with a strong emphasis on establishing priority lowland meadows through techniques like nutrient stripping and native seed sowing. Woodland enhancement involves strategic thinning and native shrub planting, while land re-wetting is being undertaken to restore natural hydrological processes crucial for the Conger Brook and the wider River Avon catchment. An adaptive management framework is in place to tackle challenges like climate change and invasive species, supported by a rigorous 30-year monitoring program to track ecological progress.
Anticipated positive impacts are substantial, with a projected 69.31% increase in the condition and quality of habitats. The project is set to benefit a range of key species and various invertebrates vital for the ‘B-Lines’ - insect pathway network connecting Bath and the Severn Estuary. By restoring grassland, woodland and watercourse habitats, the project will significantly enhance ecological connectivity across the landscape. This restoration is also expected to boost essential ecosystem services such as soil health, pollination and water quality, underscoring the project's multifaceted contribution to environmental recovery at local, regional and national scales.
Sustainable Goals
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Intervention
Habitat restoration and creation
Location
Timsbury, England
Standard / methodology
BNG / DEFRA Metric 4.0
Project impact
Local impact
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Good for earth
This project presents a significant opportunity to increase the amount of high-quality habitat available to a range of species in the Bath and North East Somerset area. The project aims to create and restore priority lowland meadows, enhance woodlands and re-wet areas, thus providing diverse habitats supporting mammals such as the Barbastelle bat, hedgehog, dormouse, a range of birds such as the skylark, tawny owl and kestrel, insects such as the chalkhill blue butterfly, and amphibians like the great crested newt. The chance to boost biodiversity of the site and connect up existing pockets of good quality habitat is expected to bolster the resilience of local species to factors like climate change.
Sleight Farm is strategically positioned to become a key site within the West of England Nature Partnerships nature recovery network and serve as a vital habitat stepping stone for invertebrates as part of the national B-Lines network. As a result, the proposed habitat plans will provide crucial support for regional biodiversity, allowing for the expansion and increased resilience of many species. This restoration will also significantly improve ecosystem services, enhancing soil health and fertility, improving freshwater quality in the Conger Brook catchment, contributing to flood and storm mitigation by slowing water flow, and increasing the retention and build-up of soil organic matter, while considerably boosting the overall biodiversity of the site by creating a mosaic of complementary habitats.
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Positive for people
This project is dedicated to significant ecological restoration and achieving a substantial increase in biodiversity. The core of this initiative lies in creating and enhancing vital habitats, supporting a diverse range of species, and improving the connectivity of ecological networks in the Bath and North East Somerset area.
Detailed information specifically outlining the project's actions to address broader social issues or its direct social impact is not currently a prominent focus of the project's publicly available information. The emphasis remains on the significant ecological transformation and the resulting environmental benefits for the region.
How we assess for quality
The Earthly scoring process
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