Filey Habitat Bank

County: North Yorkshire
Local planning authority (LPA): North Yorkshire Council
National Character Area (NCA): Vale of Pickering
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-260325002

Birds-eye render of Filey Habitat Bank before restoration

Very high distinctiveness habitats

Lowland meadows

High distinctiveness habitats

Ponds (priority habitat)

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Mixed scrub
Other neutral grassland
Species-rich native hedgerow

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Habitat Bank overview

Across nearly 35 acres of arable cropland in rural Filey, we’re establishing a vast Habitat Bank – creating and enhancing a range of habitats.

Here we are providing valuable shelter for a range of vulnerable species of wildlife, which we expect to see growing in abundance over the coming decades.

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.

Neighbouring LPAs
Middlesborough Council
York City Council
Pendle Borough Council
Bradford Metropolitan District Council
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
North York Moors National Park Authority
Darlington Borough Council
Durham County Council
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Lancaster City Council
Leeds City Council
Doncaster City Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Lancashire County Council

Neighbouring NCAs
North York Moors and Cleveland Hills
Yorkshire Wolds
Howardian Hills

Our vision

At our Filey Habitat Bank, we’re creating two broad expanses of rich grassland, abundant in native wildlife and plants.

The fields will be shut across the flowering season when the Habitat Bank will be thriving with beautiful wildflowers each year. After which, the livestock will continue to graze sustainably – protecting the landscape and allowing the landowners to continually benefit from agricultural income.

The Habitat Bank lies within the floodplain of the River Hertford, which means that the work we are doing to enhance the soil quality is important for building a more resilient landscape. Over time, the soil health will improve, allowing it to store more water – making the entire area more effective at managing flood water.

Otters and water voles living along the river will benefit significantly from the habitats we’re developing over the coming years. We’re really excited to see threatened species, such as great crested newts, grow in abundance over time.