Learn How Biodiversity Can Be Easy For Estates

The big talking point these days is biodiversity, and OUTCO’s people don’t just talk the talk, they also walk the walk. OUTCO Director Johan Ingles- Le Nobel’s award-winning wildlife garden, nestled in the heart of the Surrey Hills, serves as a blueprint for developers seeking to create thriving, nature-rich communities that demonstrate biodiversity net gain, harmonise with the environment and enhance the lives of their residents. Awarded 2020 Surrey Wildlife Trust’s “Large Wildlife Garden of the Year” and featured on TV, this garden isn’t just a celebration of a beautiful space; it is a living embodiment of the principles of biodiversity and sustainable design.

Rethinking the Landscape: A Paradigm Shift

For decades, private gardens and commercial property landscapes have been associated with meticulously trimmed lawns, perfectly aligned hedges, and an absence of so-called “weeds.” However, a growing appreciation for the ecological significance of native and wild habitats is prompting a shift towards a more naturalistic approach – one that embraces the inherent beauty and resilience of wild spaces. This paradigm shift has far-reaching implications for the facility maintenance sector. As awareness of the environmental crisis deepens, FMs are increasingly aware of the need to create spaces that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability and biodiversity. This creates facilities that connect their occupants with nature, provide a sanctuary for wildlife, and contribute to a healthier planet.

The Wild Heart of a Sustainable Development

This award-winning wildlife garden exemplifies a new approach to landscape design and gives FMs many pointers how to achieve this. The wild space transcends mere aesthetics, functioning as a complex ecosystem. A wildflower meadow planted with native perennials attracts a myriad of pollinators. A pond, lake and meandering stream offer vital water sources and breeding grounds for aquatic life and bring in an entire new spectrum of biodiversity such as dragonflies, newts and bats. When the Surrey Bat Group surveyed the garden, they found 9 different types of bats frequented the garden, including 3 unusual UK species.

Native hedgerows and dense shrubs provide berries and shelter and nesting sites, further augmented by 62 bird boxes and a large self-made floating duckhouse dotted about the place to encourage the birds, which include mandarin ducks, grey wagtails and nightingales, a bird list incorporating 48 species in all. Fallen logs are left to decompose naturally instead of being cleared away, and further rock, herb and vegetable gardens create microhabitats for invertebrates and reptiles. Further human intervention included building hedgehog shelters, hiberculums for dormant invertebrates, bee hotels and bat boxes – a multi-layered approach that ensured that a very diverse range of species can thrive in a harmonious balance.

Nurturing Nature’s Cycle for Biodiversity Net Gain

The garden’s biodiversity net gain success also lies in its adherence to sustainable practices. Avoiding harmful chemicals and embracing natural pest control methods maintains a healthy balance within the ecosystem. Composting enriches the soil naturally, eliminating any need for artificial fertilisers. Nothing goes to waste and in the wild space and at the back, a maintenance area has composting bins built out of old pallets. This closed-loop system enhances soil fertility and promotes a thriving environment for plants and the creatures they support. The space is designed to provide year-round sustenance and shelter for wildlife.

Being 3/4 woodland, the woodland Spring blossoms offer a feast for pollinators, while summer berries and seeds nourish birds and mammals. Autumn leaves and seed heads sustain overwintering birds, and evergreen shrubs provide vital protection during the winter months. This seasonal adaptability ensures that the garden remains a vibrant haven throughout the year, with regular Kingfisher visits throughout the winter months. Further small features such as bucket ponds, insect hotels, and hedgehog houses, demonstrate that even small spaces can be transformed into flourishing ecosystems. Creative solutions such as this offer valuable inspiration for FMs, proving that with thoughtful planning and execution, any garden can become a vital habitat for wildlife. It’s a place where nature is allowed to flourish, where native plants and animals coexist in a vibrant, self-sustaining ecosystem.

Key elements of the approach included:

Native Plant Palettes: Carefully curated selections of native flora that cater to the needs of local wildlife throughout the seasons.
Habitat Diversity: Creating a mosaic of microhabitats through variations in vegetation type, height, density, and texture.
Water Features: Integrating ponds, rain gardens, or even simple birdbaths to provide crucial sources of water for a myriad of species.
Organic Practices: Avoiding the use of pesticides and herbicides, allowing nature’s own systems of pest control to maintain balance.
Creating Light: Cutting down out of control non-native Ponticum to rejuvinate the forest floor and allow sunlight to encourage plants
Minimal Intervention: Embracing the natural cycles of growth and decay, leaving fallen leaves and dead wood to support a hidden world of decomposers and invertebrates.

A Happy Compromise: Biodiversity Net Gain with Communal Areas

A biodiversity net gain garden isn’t just a big scruffy wilderness though. It still also incorporates bedding and lawn areas for entertainment and sports, with a path structure and parking for cars. But the difference is in the approach taken to create these. The paths round the garden, for example, are sympathetically created using the recycled leaf litter in the woodland areas, and round the lawn it has creeping thyme deliberately planted between the tiles to encourage pollinators. All ornamental beds are kept to a minimum as they are labour intensive, but woodland chippings and self-created compost make sure that the moisture and nutrient level stay high all year round and no artificial irrigation is required.

From Biodiversity Net Loss to Biodiversity Net Gain: A Developer’s Imperative

For developers in the UK, the concept of biodiversity net gain (BNG) is no longer a matter of choice but a legal obligation. BNG mandates that new developments must result in a measurable biodiversity gain compared to pre-development conditions. Under the Environment Act 2021, all planning permissions granted in England (with a few exemptions) except for small sites have to deliver at least 10% biodiversity net gain from 12 February 2024 onwards. BNG was required for small sites from 2 April 2024. BNG will be measured using Defra’s biodiversity metric and all off-site and significant on-site habitats need to be secured for at least 30 years.

Wildlife gardens such as this one offer a compelling solution to this challenge. By integrating nature-rich landscapes into their projects, developers can not only meet their legal obligations but also reap a multitude of benefits:

Ecological Resilience: Diverse ecosystems are better equipped to withstand environmental stressors and climate change impacts.
Community Well-being: Access to green spaces has been linked to improved physical and mental health, reduced stress, and increased social interaction.
Economic Value: Studies have shown that properties with access to green spaces and natural features command higher prices and rent premiums.
Positive Brand Image: Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and biodiversity enhances a developer’s reputation and attracts environmentally conscious consumers.

A Wild and Wonderful Future For FMs and Developers

By adopting the principles of wildlife gardening and embracing the concept of biodiversity net gain, developers have the power to transform their projects into vibrant, sustainable communities that enrich both human and ecological well-being. By taking inspiration from Le Nobel’s rewilded space, we can create a future where nature and development coexist in harmony. Wildlife gardens offer a strategic pathway for developers to achieve biodiversity net gain and enhance the ecological value of their projects. By incorporating native plants, diverse habitats, and water features, developers and FMs can create a thriving ecosystem for various species, contributing to a more resilient, beautiful, and cost-effective landscape. Embracing a “rewilding” approach can further amplify these benefits. Prioritising biodiversity through wildlife gardens and rewilding can result in increased property values, an enhanced brand image, and improved community well-being, creating a win-win situation for both property managers and the environment.

Talk to OUTCO how we can help your biodiversity…