Case Study

Wildfell. A BNG habitat bank in North Essex

Creating habitats for Biodiversity Net Gain since 2021

Wildfell is a 300-acre site for nature recovery in North Essex. The site delivers a 150-acre off-site habitat bank and 125 acres of woodland creation.

Overview

Established in 2021, Wildfelll is a 300-acre site for nature recovery. It delivers a 150-acre off-site habitat bank and 125 acres of woodland creation.

The first phase of this habitat bank was completed in Spring 2024.

Location

Grays Lane, Wethersfield, Braintree, Essex CM7 4EL

Habitat unit types available

Grassland and other neutral grassland
Shrub and heath, mixed scrub
Woodland and forest, and other mixed woodland
Hedgerow species: rich Hedgerow with trees
Grassland: traditional orchard
Lakes and ponds (non-priority)

Local Planning Authorities (LPA)

Braintree District Council
NCA (National Character Area) South Suffolk, North Essex Clayland

Wildfell is a 300-acre site for nature recovery in North Essex. The site delivers a 150-acre off-site habitat bank and 125 acres of woodland creation.

Related Services

The map demonstrates how this habitat bank will develop the ex-arable farmland by 'Year 30'.

Slide left to see the planned enhancements

News

Celebrating nature recovery: Capturing Biodiversity Net Gain from your viewpoint

Ground Control Evergreen invites you to see nature recovery in action, through your lens.

News

Ground Control’s Wildfell Habitat Bank Secures Biodiversity Boost with Plantlife Partnership

Welcoming Plantlife as ‘Responsible Body’, enabling Wildfell Habitat Bank to deliver high-integrity Biodiversity Net Gain units

News

Evergreen Fund: Five years of habitat creation and climate action

Reflecting on five years of sustainable impact

News

Wildfell wins Excellence in Biodiversity Conservation and Enhancement

Awarded at the 2024 Essex Housing Awards

News

Championing pollinator conservation with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust

In partnership, we support a citizen science initiative to boost bumblebee monitoring and habitat health in Essex

Article

The evolving biodiversity net gain market: Insights from Evergreen

In this HortWeek Podcast, Emma Hindle, and Brian Smith discuss how the BNG market has developed since the policy took effect.

Article

Welcome to Wildfell

FMJ reports on how the Wildfell nature-recovery project in Essex is strategically restoring nature, engaging partners, and creating economic value through biodiversity net gain.