Ripon Habitat Bank
- County
- North Yorkshire
- Local planning authority (LPA)
- North Yorkshire Council
- National Character Area (NCA)
- Pennine Dales Fringe
- Biodiversity gain sites register number
- BGS-251024002
Biodiversity Units available:
Very high distinctiveness habitats
- Lowland meadows
Medium distinctiveness habitats
- Mixed scrub
- Other neutral grassland
High distinctiveness habitats
- Ponds (priority habitat)
- Other rivers and streams
Habitat Bank overview
At the eastern edge of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) lies our 17.5-hectare Habitat Bank on the rural outskirts of Ripon, around 20km north of Harrogate.
The site is surrounding by hedgerows and woodland parcels, and we are building new habitats to develop ecological connectivity with the surrounding landscape.
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 North Yorkshire Council LPA and the Pennine Dales Fridge NCA.
Coverage
| Adjacent LPAs | Adjacent NCAs |
|---|---|
| Leeds City Council | Tees Lowlands |
| City of York Council | Yorkshire Dales |
| Lancaster City Council | North Pennines |
| Durham County Council | Vale of Mowbray |
| Pendle Borough Council | Southern Pennines |
| City of Doncaster Council | Southern Magnesian Limestone |
| Darlington Borough Council | Durham Coalfield Pennine Fringe |
| Yorkshire Dales National Park | Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield |
| Ribble Valley Borough Council | |
| North York Moors National Park | |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council | |
| Middlesborough Borough Council | |
| Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council | |
| Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council | |
| Bradford Metropolitan District Council | |
| Wakefield Metropolitan District Council |
Our vision
Our Ripon Habitat Bank sits within a 3km radius between a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This makes the site a particularly strategic location for biodiversity restoration – allowing us to build connectivity between our high distinctiveness habitats and these designated sites.
We’re transforming the landscape into a broad wildflower meadow rich in native flora and fauna, encouraging natural variations in structure between the wetter and drier areas of the site. We will be creating pockets of scrub which will help link up existing woodlands, both within the site and wider landscape.
We’re excavating ponds across the site, targeting natural springs, depressions, and wetter areas, creating a beautiful mosaic of habitats that provide a haven for species of wildlife. Particularly, we are creating scrapes for curlew and lapwing which have gone through a significant national decline in recent decades.
Our enhancements will revitalise the soil, improving health and structure to create a more resilient landscape. The site will provide a home for a range of wildlife, including protected species such as barn owl, otters, and great crested newts.
Buy BNG Units
Find out the cost and availability of Biodiversity Units from Ripon Habitat Bank.
