Biodiversity Net Gain pilot study

Biodiversity & habitat management planning | Biodiversity Net Gain assessment

Applied Ecology was employed by Natural England and the Escrick Park Estate in North Yorkshire to undertake an Extended Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Credits Pilot Project that investigated options for habitat creation and improved management of marginal farming land owned and managed by the Estate to provide an investment ready biodiversity credit scheme.

The project was one of only a small number of BNG pilot projects run by Natural England across England.

Applied Ecology completed habitat mapping and condition assessment of significant areas of the Estate’s land holding, and assessed options for habitat creation and management using DEFRA’s biodiversity metric calculator. Working with a team put together by Applied Ecology that included conservation grazing experts and a soil scientist, we delivered costed habitat creation and management options to take the project to the next development stage.

Project team discussing watercourse habitat enhancmeent opportunities with the Estate
Options for the enhancement of historic parkland were assessed and costed
Applied Ecology survey team assessing grassland condition
Proposed habitat interventions depicted as BNG units per hectare using GIS.