Heighington Habitat Bank

County: Durham
Local planning authority (LPA): Darlington Borough Council
National Character Area (NCA): Tees Lowlands
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-101024002

Birds-eye render of Heighington Habitat Bank before restoration

High distinctiveness habitats

Ponds (priority habitat)

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Other neutral grassland

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Habitat Bank overview

Across nearly fifty acres of arable land and pasture just five miles northwest of Darlington town centre, we are establishing new priority habitats, creating far greater connectivity for native wildlife.

We are eagerly transforming the site into a beautiful expanse of wildflower grassland with a network of natural ponds to support a diverse abundance of pondlife.

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
Durham County Council
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
North Yorkshire Council

Neighbouring NCAs
North York Moors and Cleveland Hills
Durham Magnesian Limestone Plateau
Pennine Dales Fringe
Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe
Vale of Mowbray

Our vision

Accessible via two public footpaths from the north and south sides of the Habitat Bank, the space is becoming a wonderful haven that the local community can admire at their leisure – observing the beautiful meadows as they develop over the years.

Traditional lowland hay meadows will benefit the wildlife and increase species diversity. The Habitat Bank has been designed to complement the agricultural character of the surrounding landscape.

As Heighington Habitat Bank sits within an area that suffers from significant risk of surface water flooding, the enhancements our habitats will make to the soil are vital for improving the landscape’s resilience against flooding by improving soil health.

Our habitat enhancements will truly complement existing hedgerows that surround the site’s five fields. Several species of principal importance living in proximity to the Habitat Bank, including skylarks, cuckoos, yellowhammers, lapwings, grey partridges, brown hares, and hedgehogs, will benefit from the new habitats and management changes.