Lowland Meadows Ltd talk about Biodiversity Net Gain

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is legislation that is set to come into effect next month (January 2024), and it means developers are responsible for replacing the biodiversity that is lost by their development. They can do this either on their site or off site (by acquiring biodiversity units). 

If landowners produce biodversity units, then these can be sold to developers. This means the landowners can benefit financially whilst also contributing to nature recovery. 

One compay that focuses on the creation of biodiversity units is Lowland Meadows Ltd, run by Ed Donell and Ben Jones. The pair are particularly passionate about species-rich meadow habitats, and believe a change of land-use should be avoided when it comes to creating biodiversity units. 

Ed and Ben are currently working on a project at Grabhams Farm in Stapley, Somerset. So we decided to chat to them all about the project and the benefits of BNG... 

Can you tell us about the project?

The main aim for the project at Grabhams Farm is to create biodiversity units that can be sold for offsetting developments. However the intention of the landowners, in collaboration with Lowland Meadows, is to be more ambitious than that.

The landowners are keen for it to be a place which the local community are free to visit for their enjoyment. BNG legislation requires land to be managed for nature for 30 years. We are therefore looking at 30 years where we are responsible for the management of the grasslands on site. During that time we also want to create a business model that is sustainable so that the site continues to support species-rich grassland long after the completion of the project.

Historically the farm has been pasture and we do not want to change that. The main changes to the management are the lowering of stocking rates, stopping nutrient inputs and leys, altering the timing and frequency of the hay cut and the steady introduction of native plant species.

The species we are introducing are predominantly broad-leaved herbs that have been lost from parts of the site. These are being sourced both on-site in areas which still maintain species-richness and from comparable sites close by that support a wide range of wildflowers with local progeny. In time we may change the breed of cattle to the Ruby Red Devon, or another native species that we can source locally, that will be best suited to the diverse grassland diet.

Grabhams Farm is a really exciting piece of land because it still has little pockets where some fantastic native species continue to thrive. Common and Heath Spotted-orchid, Common Knapweed, Oxeye Daisy and Autumn Hawkbit are just a few of the plants that can still be found on site. Assisting these beautiful species expand from those restricted pockets is why we’re so passionate about what we do.

Why did the owners decide to start this project?

The current owners bought the land with a mind to restoring biodiversity on site while continuing the historical farming practices. The land received a Mid Tier Countryside Stewardship grant three years ago.

What they didn’t anticipate was the chance to earn a significant income from that restoration, with the required surveying and management led externally by professional ecologists. Ultimately it is their passion for wildlife that led them to this project. The chance to create species-rich grassland whilst maintaining the traditional management of the site and earn an income from that process was a great opportunity for them.

Can you tell me about selling the BNG to developers? What does this involve and why is it beneficial for farmers?

The sale of the gain in biodiversity value is done through agreements with the Local Planning Authority. They will require the land to be secured so that 30 years of conservation management can take place. This will include baseline surveys and a management plan created by professional ecologists, as well as detailed costings and reasoned projections for the gain in biodiversity over the course of the plan. Once this is in place developers who require those units for off-setting can be approached.

Off-site biodiversity units will be an important commodity for developers to acquire to enable them to meet planning requirements. The exact value of each unit will be market driven, however research carried out by the government in 2021 estimated their value at £20,000 each. Whilst different sites will vary in their potential to create a gain in biodiversity, grassland with low botanical diversity can triple or more in terms of their biodiversity unit value if they are restored to the species-rich grassland that we plan to create at Grabhams Farm. That means a significant net gain that can be sold to developers.

Another aspect of BNG that we feel is particularly exciting for farmers is that often the least productive areas of their land are the most valuable for habitat restoration. BNG can form just one of a variety of approaches to maximise the value of their land. 

Moreover, various grants should become available to farmers as the habitats become more species-rich. Grabhams Farm has already achieved Mid Tier Countryside Stewardship and will aim for Higher Tier or an equivalent in the future. This will be an important revenue stream at Grabhams Farm that will assist in creating a sustainable business beyond the lifetime of the project.

Are there any requirements for farmers before they carry out projects like this?

The main thing is to be able to produce a detailed baseline survey and management plan for the land parcel that you would like to manage for the production of biodiversity units. This will often require the assistance of professional ecologists, particularly botanists, with land management experience and a knowledge of UKHab surveying methodology and BNG legislation.

A desire to manage that area of land for biodiversity is crucial, as the 30 year management plan must be adhered to in order to be successful and abide by the requirements of the legislation. Farmers will therefore need to feel happy with an alternative approach to management over the long-term for some of their land.

Tell me about Lowland Meadows?

We want to make clear how we differ from other BNG businesses. Lowland Meadows aims to share the profit of the biodiversity units we sell with the farmers we partner with, rather than pay the farmer through lease of the land. This means the farmer gets the best value from their land and Lowland Meadows creates the highest value habitats possible.

We feel this is important, as it means landowners have a direct stake in the aims of the project. We acknowledge that each farmer will have their own individual business with its own set of requirements. We want to create a bespoke plan for each site that can be flexible to get the best outcomes possible.

Our aim is to make the management of land for biodiversity and the sale of the arising biodiversity units a straightforward process for the people we partner with. We will carry out all the surveying and reporting required throughout the 30 year project, we will take full responsibility for managing the project and making sure it is successful, as well as engaging with the Local Planning Authority and developers to sell the units. This will ensure that landowners who partner with us have a smooth introduction to BNG and enjoy seeing some of their land improve in species-richness.