Meet Jess, our Head of Land (South)
With a passion for collaborative habitat recovery projects, Environment Bank’s Head of Land for the south of England, Jess, has played a key role in overseeing our southern Habitat Banks since joining the team in 2024.
A year on, Jess shares her thoughts about the current landscape for farmers in England, discusses her background in land management, and suggests why she thinks more farmers are becoming interested in diversification options like Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
What big challenges do you see currently facing farmers in England?
“Where to begin?! One of the biggest challenges would be the recent changes to inheritance tax and the impact this has had on succession planning.
The second would be the changes in government support over the last few years. The loss of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the sudden closure of the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) in March 2025 has left a big hole in many landowners’ budgets… and that’s before you consider all the added challenges caused by unpredictable weather!
While an update on SFI is expected later this summer, it’s clear that the new offer is likely to be smaller in scale with a greater focus on a targeted approach.
These recent changes have shown the fragility of government-funded schemes when compared with things like BNG, particularly Environment Bank’s partnership model which offers landowners a guaranteed income for more than 30 years. So, these alternative options are really giving landowners something different to explore.”
Why is BNG becoming such a popular option for farmers and landowners?
“BNG gives landowners an opportunity to diversify their income and create a mosaic of new habitats – but the key is that traditional and sustainable farming practices can be actively incorporated, making it a really inviting land option for farmers.
Environment Bank’s approach isn’t prescriptive like SFI or stewardship schemes. We are very collaborative and work with landowners to tailor the habitats and management actions to support their broad goals and ambitions for their farms.
Wherever possible, we aim for the habitats to complement the farming system, for example incorporating scrub species which support native breed cattle by providing shade, shelter, and food, which can in turn reduce farming overheads.
This approach allows us to ensure that the farming system functions as part of the BNG Habitat Bank like an ecosystem.”
What kind of feedback do you get from farmers and landowner partners?
“We work with a variety of landowners, from traditional farmers to large estate managers.
For all of them, there’s usually something about the benefits of BNG that piques their interest. This could come from a sentimental connection to the land, a desire to restore the landscape to what they can remember from childhood, or a passion for a specific species of wildlife.
Some people come to us with the misconception that we plan to totally rewild the land, but it’s very much not the case. When we create a BNG Habitat Bank, our collaborative design process ensures that there is always something for the landowner to farm, manage, and use. We don’t shut the gate and lock it up 30 years.”
What do you find most rewarding about your role?
“I think it’s been working with the landowners. They’re my favourite part of the job because they’re always really passionate about what we’re doing.
Each site is different, so each has its challenges, and every landowner has new and inventive ways of approaching things – and they’re not always necessarily conventional…
We’re working with some really exciting and pioneering technologies, like the no-fence cattle collars we’ve used on our Witchampton Habitat Bank in Dorset. They’ve worked incredibly well and have allowed us to maintain an open landscape visually and the grazier can move his cattle into different grazing compartments using just his phone!”
How did you first become interested in farming and land management?
“I did my degree in Rural Land Management at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester.
After graduating, I worked in traditional estate management for the National Trust in Devon and that was where I really got my interest in large-scale habitat restoration projects as part of a big collaborative group.
Since then, I spent time working in rural and general private practice, but I always really wanted to get back to the environmental roots and be part of a big project team…
What attracted me to Environment Bank was the fact that I can contribute towards large-scale habitat restoration projects alongside amazing landowners but with the benefit of secured funding which is such a necessity for restoration projects of this size.”
What would you say to anyone considering BNG for their land?
“I’d just say to reach out to us. We can chat through any preconceptions you might have had about BNG (you might be surprised!) we’re more than happy to answer your questions.
There might be a site that you would like to put forward for BNG but you’re unsure which areas of land to register. Don’t worry, we can review all your options together – and we might even be able to use a different part of the farm that you might not have thought was suitable.
Our approach with landowners is totally collaborative, even from those early discussions. We can really work out together to discover what’s possible – and what will have the best outcomes – for your farm.”