Industry experts share experiences of Biodiversity Net Gain on small sites

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Development, Ecosystem Services, Environmental Improvement Plan
A scrubland site where the new garages will be built, which will also provide the necessary on-site BNG. (Credit: KADS Design Services Ltd) 

In this Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) guest blog industry experts sharing examples of BNG on small sites. They are:  Our guests discuss how they use the Small Sites Metric (SSM) calculation tool. It applies only to ‘small sites’ as defined …

The Sand Dune Managers Handbook: second edition  

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Coast and access, Connecting People with Nature, Marine environment, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Protected sites and species, Science and evidence, Wildlife
Image shows the handbook cover, with an image of a sand dune set at the bottom. The text reads: Sand Dune Managers Handbook

Natural England are delighted to announce the launch of the much anticipated second edition of the Dynamic Dunescapes Sand Dune Manager’s Handbook. This update has been written to support site managers and landowners to improve the condition of sand dunes …

Testing the Miyawaki Method in Our Urban Greenspaces

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Connecting People with Nature, Green Infrastructure, Landscapes and access, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network, Tree Planting, Wildlife
A project officer stands within the patch of newly planted trees

By Louise Butfoy, Trees Outside Woodland Project Officer, Kent Country Council As a Project Officer at Kent County Council, I’ve been working on the Trees Outside Woodlands project since its inception in October 2020. The project is funded by HM …

Drop in numbers of nesting hen harriers in 2024 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Hen Harriers, Natural England
A view of moorland landscape, which is breeding habitat for hen harriers

Hen harriers are very rare birds of prey found in moorland landscapes. They are rare because of illegal killing and disturbance, and Natural England monitors their numbers closely, tags individual birds to track their whereabouts, and supports efforts to tackle …

Progress in second year of the hen harrier southern reintroduction

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Hen Harriers, Wildlife
A captive female hen harrier sits on her eggs at the International Centre for Birds of Prey, 2024

The hen harrier southern reintroduction aims to establish a wild, farmland nesting population of hen harriers in the south of England. Supported by a conservation breeding programme, the project plans to introduce up to 100 juvenile hen harriers to a protected …

Natural England’s role in licensing to control badgers to prevent the spread of bovine Tuberculosis

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming, Licensing, Natural England, Science and evidence, Wildlife, wildlife and farming

Current government policy is to enable culling or vaccination of badgers to control bovine Tuberculosis (bTB). The Minister of State for Food Security and Rural Affairs has today (30 August) announced a refresh of the strategy for control of bovine …

Reflecting on the first six months of BNG

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Biodiversity Net Gain, Biodiversity Net Gain – Hints and Tips, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Natural Capital, Natural England, Nature-based solutions
A development at Woodhurst Park, Bracknell, Berkshire, that has incorporated BNG on-site. (Image courtesy of Berkeley Group)

By Chris Kaighin – Deputy Director, Biodiversity Net Gain Services It has been six months since the world-leading initiative Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) became mandatory for most planning applications under the Town and Country Planning Act. BNG makes sure development …

Green Infrastructure: delivering quality of life and environmental benefits for communities

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Climate change, Connecting People with Nature, Development, Environmental Improvement Plan, Green Infrastructure, Mapping, Mental health and wellbeing, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Nature Recovery Network
Image shows a lush green canal/waterway running through the centre of a neighbourhood. Red bricked houses stand either side of the new development estate. Lots of trees and bushes grow beside it.

David Drake, Director, People & Nature at Natural England In January 2023, Natural England launched the Green Infrastructure (GI) Framework to support the creation of good quality Green Infrastructure which maximises benefits for people and nature. GI helps local authorities, …

Thriving Together: Nature and Community

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Biodiversity, Coast and access, Connecting People with Nature, Education, Mental health and wellbeing, National Nature Reserve, Natural England, Nature Recovery, Parks, trails and nature reserves, Protected sites and species, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Image shows Earnse Bay, a bright blue sky hangs overhead, with wispy clouds stretching into the distance. A brown sandy shore can be seen for miles. A group of people are stood in the distance, exploring the sand and dunes.

Image: Natural England At the edge of Barrow-in-Furness, on the north-west coast of England, lies the island of Walney. A wild and windy landscape, it features some nationally rare and important habitats. It is linked to the much larger Morecambe …

We've enabled thousands of homes in the Tees area - and much more!

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Development, Environment Act, Environmental Improvement Plan, Nutrient Neutrality, Protected sites and species
A view of some of the saltmarsh wetlands that are part of the Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast Special Protection Area (SPA)

The Nutrient Mitigation Scheme (NMS) continues with our sixth nutrient credit round now open in the Tees. To date we have offered credits for over 6,000 new homes in the Tees catchment area and have mitigation ready to meet thousands …