Biodiversity Strategy for Lower Valley Farm

Client

Cambridgeshire County Council

Focus

To develop design and management proposals for Lower Valley Farm – a proposed Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) offset site. The design included new chalk grassland which links to an existing Site of Special Scientific Interest, a hedgerow pattern which mirrors that from the 1600’s, new woodland and scrub planting, and a new footpath network which will allow visitors to see the transformation.

Purpose of project

To develop a Biodiversity Net Gain initiative using Lower Valley Farm in South Cambridgeshire to provide developers with an opportunity to purchase biodiversity ‘offset’ credits that are then used to enhance the value for biodiversity of the Farm itself.

What we have delivered

• A UKHab survey and condition assessment of the site to establish the biodiversity baseline.
• Consideration of three potential enhancement options for the site, and a BNG assessment undertaken of each.
• Development of a number of habitat objectives to underpin the vision for habitat enhancement at the site, along with individual management plans for each habitat to be maintained or created on site.
• A 20-year implementation and management plan and multiple figures (both in QGIS and AutoCAD) showing the different phases of work, as part of the Biodiversity Strategy.

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