Whitchurch Habitat Bank
- County
- Hampshire
- Local planning authority (LPA)
- Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council
- National Character Area (NCA)
- Hampshire Downs
- Biodiversity gain sites register number
- BGS-030326001
Biodiversity Units
Very high distinctiveness habitats
- Lowland meadows
High distinctiveness habitats
- Lowland calcareous grassland
- Lowland mixed deciduous woodland
Medium distinctiveness habitats
- Other neutral grassland
- Other woodland; broadleaved
- Other woodland; mixed
Habitat Bank overview
In autumn 2025 we launched Whitchurch Habitat Bank, an almost 250-acre BNG site halfway between Basingstoke and Andover. A vast woodland area with two expanses of grassland, Whitchurch Habitat Bank has been designed to enhance the existing habitats, complementing the local area and building ecological connectivity across the landscape.
BNG delivery
At every Habitat Bank, we always look at the land to determine what can be achieved from the very start. Our biodiversity experts assess the soil, wildlife, vegetation, geology, hydrology, management history, and connectivity across the local landscape.
We take a baseline for each Habitat Bank using the statutory biodiversity metric. We carefully select the best possible habitats for us to establish so we can deliver and demonstrate measurable biodiversity gains over time.
Coverage
| Neighbouring LPAs |
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Wokingham Borough Council
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Test Valley Borough Council
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West Berkshire Council
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Winchester City Council
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Hart District Council
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East Hampshire District Council
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| Neighbouring NCAs |
|---|
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Thames Basin Lowlands
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North Downs
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South Hampshire Lowlands
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Salisbury Plain and West Wiltshire Downs
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Wealden Greensand
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South Downs
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Thames Basin Heaths
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Berkshire and Marlborough Downs
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Our vision
The location for Whitchurch Habitat Bank was specifically chosen because it gave us a great opportunity to support a number of designated nature sites nearby. There are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) within two miles of the Habitat Bank: the River Test, Bere Mill Meadows, and Micheldever Spoil Heaps.
Whitchurch Habitat Bank is largely comprised of ancient woodland, home to iconic species such as oak, ash, birch, beech, hazel, sycamore, and field maple. The Habitat Bank is also surrounded by numerous parcels of ancient woodland, including Brickkiln Copse, Laverstoke Wood, and Round Wood.
By enhancing this space, our ecologists are aiming to provide foraging and nesting opportunities for a range of priority woodland and grassland species, including the western barbastelle bat, white admiral butterfly, and marsh tit. We hope to see these species increase in abundance as the habitats, including a large area of lowland mixed deciduous woodland, are enhanced.
Buy BNG Units
Find out the cost and availability of Biodiversity Units from Whitchurch Habitat Bank.
