Horwich Habitat Bank

County: Greater Manchester
Local planning authority (LPA): Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
National Character Area (NCA): Southern Pennines
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-021024004 & BGS-021024005

Birds-eye render of Horwich Habitat Bank before restoration

Biodiversity Units available:

High distinctiveness habitats

Ponds (priority habitat)

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Ditches
Mixed scrub
Ponds (non-priority habitat)
Other neutral grassland
Other lowland acid grassland

Buy Biodiversity Units

Habitat Bank overview

At our Habitat Bank nestled between Horwich and Bolton – located less than 20 miles from Manchester city centre – we are establishing stunning new habitats across almost 50 hectares of low-yielding grade 4 pasture farmland, including neutral grassland, acid grassland, native mixed scrub, ponds, and ditches.

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 Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council LPA and the Southern Pennines NCA.

Coverage

Adjacent LPAs	Adjacent NCAs
Chorley Council	Dark Peak
Salford City Council	Yorkshire Dales
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council	Lancashire Valleys
Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council	Pennine Dales Fringe
Blackburn w/Darwen Borough Council	Lancashire Coal Measures
	Manchester Pennine Fringe
	Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe
	Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield

Our vision

Our Horwich Habitat Bank provides a perfect steppingstone for nature between local moorland and the urban areas of Greater Manchester and West Lancashire. The site is located to the south of the West Pennine Moors, parts of which are notified as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). It also has connectivity with other habitats nearby, including species-rich grasslands, ponds, and pockets of woodland and scrub.

We are working to enhance and manage the grasslands as species-rich meadows, with ponds and enhanced ditches within the naturally wetter depressions. As the Horwich Habitat Bank develops over the years, we eagerly anticipate native wildlife, such as curlew and great crested newt, returning to the area. Protected species already residing there will benefit from the habitat improvements, including lapwing, skylark, grasshopper warbler, common toad, and brown hare.

Environment Bank has funded a conservation grazing course so that the landowner can farm traditional native cattle breeds on the Habitat Bank. The herd will improve the quality of the landscape by sustainably grazing the grasslands and scrub. While the cattle are grazing for conservation purposes, they’re also being reared for meat production to enhance the landowner’s existing farm business.

We’re also really pleased that the public will be able to access the site via existing footpaths, so that they can witness as the Habitat Bank continues to develop over the years.