Managed by the off-site Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) provider, the Environment Bank, announced that the 85 acre site at Greatworth near Brackley will become a habitat bank, to support species including great crested newts, common toads, grass snakes, polecats, brown hares and water vole.
Part of the national biodiversity gain sites register, Greatworth will enable developers to buy biodiversity units to offset environmental harm for their planning applications.
The Greatworth Habitat Bank connects habitats across the area, several of which are named in Northamptonshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). The Environment Bank described the fields as designated fields as “low-value” arable which are located within a mile of several wildlife sites and close to the Helmdon disused railway Site of Special Scientific Interest and Farthinghoe nature reserve.
A public footpath crosses the Habitat Bank, enabling the local community access to the developing habitats and native wildlife. According to the Environment Bank, these projects provide an income to rural landowners and farmers (who retain ownership) as a solution to tackle the UK’s critical biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse.
