Biodiversity Net Gain is an approach to land management that aims to deliver measurable improvements for biodiversity by creating or enhancing habitats, watercourses and hedgerows in association with development (Planning Advice Service, 2021). All commercial developments which have biodiversity within their red line boundary will require developers to provide a 10% increase in the equivalent natural habitats, either in the form of Habitat, River and Stream or Hedgerow units, requiring a net gain in all of those which occur within the red line boundary.

The mitigation hierarchy stipulates that where possible all losses should be mitigated or delivered on site-first, however where it isn’t possible to deliver all of the 10% Biodiversity Net-Gain on site, developers will need to look for local off-site solutions.

Over the last 60 years Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has worked tirelessly to restore and support nature across Derbyshire. With this specialist local knowledge and expertise, Wild Solutions is uniquely positioned to deliver high quality natural spaces needed for off- site Biodiversity Net-Gain, that can also generate the wider ecosystem services that society needs. Further in a report undertaken by SLR Consulting for Derbyshire County Council, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust were recognised by the report’s authors as being very well placed to deliver BNG across the county, because of the network of landholdings and the understanding of the county’s wildlife and habitats (SLR, 2022).

As the provider and protector of wildlife in Derbyshire, we believe we have a moral obligation to ensure that Biodiversity Net Gain, doesn’t simply result in greenwashing but delivers the most effective solutions for society and nature.

Our approach to BNG delivery is nature-led, and underpinned by the latest research and evidence. Using natural regeneration and nature-based solutions, we are creating resilient ecosystems that not only ensure the right habitat in the right place, but minimise the carbon expenditure associated with developing and managing new habitats.

Using GIS and spatial modelling, we have created a strategic roadmap, prioritising where to focus habitat creation in order to support nature recovery networks and maximise other ecosystem services, such as natural flood management. This process ensures that all of the biodiversity we create is strategically located - building on the Lawton principles of bigger, better, more and joined up and supporting the organisation wide objective of achieving 33% of land managed for nature, by 2030.

As well as being strategically located for nature, all our sites have public access and where possible, are located close to the impacted communities and urban settlements.

We will ensure that all of our sites will be protected in perpetuity, ensuring that both nature and people can benefit from our sites well beyond the 30 year Biodiversity-Net Gain period.

Wild Whittington is Derbyshire Wildlife Trusts first habitat banking site in Chesterfield. Located in the settlement of Old Whittington and is just 5km from the city centre. The 24ha site, previously used for agriculture, sits between two woodland corridors – to the north the site connects to Grasscroft Ancient Woodland and Local Wildlife Site, that forms part of a woodland corridor that extends up the drone valley, into Unstone and Coal Aston – and to the south, a young broadleaf woodland that connects the site to the Doe Lea corridor and Chesterfield city centre.

Woodland, Grassland and Scrub Biodiversity Net-Gain Habitat Units are now for sale at this site.

The habitat delivery at Wild Whittington is secured with a Section 106 agreement with Chesterfield Borough Council and the site successfully been used to support a number of local developments to achieve 10% net-gain.