Stonehouse Habitat Bank
- County
- Gloucestershire
- Local planning authority (LPA)
- Stroud District Council
- National Character Area (NCA)
- Severn and Avon Vales
Biodiversity Units
Very high distinctiveness habitats
- Lowland meadows
High distinctiveness habitats
- Other rivers and streams
- Species-rich native hedgerow with trees
Medium distinctiveness habitats
- Rural trees
- Mixed scrub
- Other neutral grassland
- Other woodland; broadleaved
Ready to purchase now, subject to availability.
Habitat Bank overview
Our Stonehouse Habitat Bank is located near the village of Frocester, less than five miles from Stroud, right at the foothills of the Cotswolds.
Across almost sixty acres, our ecologists are transforming the gently sloping arable fields into a diverse mosaic of habitats to support a range of native flora and fauna.
Local people will be able to enjoy the Habitat Bank as biodiversity increases over the coming years with a public footpath crossing part of the site.
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.
Coverage
Biodiversity Units from Stonehouse Habitat Bank offer an effective local off-site BNG solution for the Stroud District Council LPA area and the Severn and Avon Vales NCA. They also provide adjacent coverage to the LPAs and NCAs listed below.
| Adjacent LPAs | Adjacent NCAs |
|---|---|
| Gloucester City Council | Arden |
| Cotswold District Council | Cotswolds |
| Tewkesbury Borough Council | Teme Valley |
| Forest of Dean District Council | Malvern Hills |
| South Gloucestershire Council | Dunsmore and Feldon |
| Mid Severn Sandstone Plateau | |
| Forest of Dean and Lower Wye | |
| Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges | |
| South Herefordshire and Over Severn |
Our vision
Stonehouse Habitat Bank has been cleverly placed to build connectivity with habitats found in the surrounding area.
A number of local nature sites are nearby including the Woodchester Park Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the Coaley Peak Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve, and two Local Wildlife Sites – the River Frome Mainstream and Tributaries, and Buckholt and Stanley Woods.
The habitats we’ve created have been selected to complement the rolling landscape and benefit a range of notable local species of wildlife including skylark, woodcock, and greater and lesser horseshoe bats. The trees and woodland we’ve planted will help support the neighbouring ancient woodland at Buckholt Wood.
We’re working closely with the local landowner whose cattle will help to manage the new grasslands through sustainable grazing, also supporting their farm business on the wider land holding.
Buy BNG Units
Find out the cost and availability of Biodiversity Units from Stonehouse Habitat Bank.
