World Wildlife Day - Why Wildfell matters
Every year on the 3rd March, World Wildlife Day by the WWF, celebrates the diversity of life on this planet. We recognise that both our nature recovery projects, Wildfell and Devana, play a key role in supporting future generations to be able to celebrate and enjoy nature.
To achieve this, we are committed to maximising positive biodiversity outcomes whilst creating high-integrity biodiversity units within each of our Habitat Banks. These units are required to meet strict ecological standards and legislation to deliver long-term environmental gains. In our case, this can be demonstrated through our secured Conservation Covenant with Plantlife acting as the official Responsible Body.
Google Earth - Wildlfell enhancements 2022 - 2025
Examples of High Integrity Units at Wildfell
- Woodland BNG units enhance existing or create new woodland habitats, which sources like the Woodland Trust indicate are in decline. Our units directly support ancient woodland restoration. Bringing these irreplaceable resources back into management supports a diverse variety of birds and bats that call these habitats home. We have created detailed management plans for existing and new woodlands, which ensure butterflies, moths, insects and fungi, that are essential for a strong ecosystem, can flourish. The combination creates shelter, food, and homes for a range of wildlife to create a diversity of life that we can celebrate.
- Water related Units, where we have created ponds, interconnected waterways and managed rivers, are key to successful nature recovery and delivery of high-integrity units. They support the habitats around them, not just the water bodies themselves. Our ponds and scrapes have created new habitats for great crested newts, frogs and toads and dragonflies, whilst our work on the river Pant River corridor will support kingfisher, otter, water vole and native crustaceans.
As mentioned, the real multiplier effect is that these interventions have a knock-on effect by supporting the habitats around them, but also well-managed areas improve water quality and can support catchment solutions to reduce flooding downstream.
A diverse variety of habitats is important, especially with sites like Wildfell spanning nearly 300 acres. To support this and build resilience, we have also created Scrub, Grasslands, Meadows, and Native Hedgerows – all to provide connected habitats to support species from dormice and hedgehogs to buzzards and owls.
Reflections on World Wildlife Day
Looking back over the planning, planting, establishment, and management of habitats at Wildfell. Our ecology team has been successfully monitoring increased Badger activity since 2021; we have worked with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust to create bumblebee ambassadors. We are striving to create habitats that are great for native species, and of course, we have engaged hundreds of people and partners on site, to take away learnings and a passion for nature, wildlife and biodiversity.
Buy off-site BNG units for biodiversity gain
