Wildlife Trust Launches First Isle Of Wight Habitat Bank To Support Nature Recovery

Developers across southern England and the Solent are now able to reserve Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units at the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s first Isle of Wight habitat bank.

The new scheme, known as Wilder Little Duxmore, has been created to help restore nature while supporting developers who are unable to achieve mandatory biodiversity targets entirely on-site.

Under current legislation in England, new developments must deliver at least a 10% biodiversity uplift.

Where that cannot be achieved within a development, off-site BNG units can be secured elsewhere.

Located on a tributary of Wootton Creek, Wilder Little Duxmore is being transformed from former intensive arable farmland into a range of priority habitats, including neutral grassland, mixed scrub, species-rich hedgerows and rare chalk grassland.

The Wildlife Trust said the habitat bank will provide developers with greater certainty during the planning process by allowing early reservation of off-site biodiversity units.

Chalk grassland is considered one of the UK’s most threatened habitats, with around 80% lost since the 1940s.

It supports species including chalkhill blue and marbled white butterflies, skylarks, harvest mice and specialist wildflowers.

Deborah Whitfield, Senior Nature-Based Solutions Manager at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, said:

“We offer developers an accessible, high-quality route to deliver Biodiversity Net Gain.

"By enabling early reservation of units, we can provide certainty for planning compliance while delivering lasting gains for nature.

“Through our habitat banking model, which integrates into wider Nature Recovery Networks and is designed for long-term stewardship, we go beyond minimum compliance to create high-quality habitats that deliver real, long-lasting benefits.”

She added that the project gives developers an opportunity to support wider ecological recovery across the Island landscape.