Ardingly Habitat Bank

County: West Sussex
Local planning authority (LPA): Mid Sussex District Council
National Character Area (NCA): High Weald
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-281024001

Birds-eye render of Ardingly Habitat Bank before restoration

Biodiversity Units available:

Very high distinctiveness habitats

Lowland meadows
Species-rich native hedgerow with trees – associated with bank or ditch

High distinctiveness habitats

Lowland mixed deciduous woodland

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Mixed scrub
Other neutral grassland
Ponds (non-priority habitat)
Other woodland; broadleaved

Low distinctiveness habitats

Native hedgerow

Buy Biodiversity Units

Habitat Bank overview

Here we will transform the existing arable fields into a rich and diverse mosaic of wildflower grassland, mixed scrubland, woodland, and ponds. Meadows will be managed using conservation grazing strategies to benefit the land – reflecting traditional and historic land management techniques.

Located less than ten miles from Crawley, our forty-hectare Ardingly Habitat Bank was secured in 2024. We’ve carefully designed a suitable habitat management plan to boost biodiversity, using strategies to take advantage of the site’s closeness to the Wakehurst and Chiddingly Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

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.

Biodiversity Units from this Habitat Bank are ready to purchase now, subject to availability. Provided alongside expert planning support, these Biodiversity Units offer an effective local off-site BNG solution for the Mid Sussex District Council LPA and the High Weald NCA.

Coverage

Adjacent LPAs	Adjacent NCAs
Lewes District Council	Low Weald
Wealden District Council	Pevensey Levels
Horsham District Council	Romney Marshes
Crawley Borough Council
Tandridge District Council
South Downs National Park

Our vision

We’ll be connecting habitats across the local landscape, particularly between pockets of ancient woodland to allow wildlife to travel.

By enhancing the landscape and creating new habitats for wildlife, we hope to see a number of species increase in abundance over the coming years. This may include reptiles such as slow worms, amphibians such as great crested newts, invertebrates such as stag beetles and silver-washed fritillary butterflies, and birds such as nightingales.

We’re also planning to enhance the health of the soil by reducing nutrient levels and improving its structure. This will not only help the habitats thrive, but it will also enable the soil to better store and filter water. Enhancements such as these are so vital for helping make the landscape more resilient against the worst effects of climate change.