Winnington Habitat Bank

County: Shropshire
Local planning authority (LPA): Shropshire Council
National Character Area (NCA): Shropshire Hills

Birds-eye render of Winnington Habitat Bank before restoration

Biodiversity Units available:

Very high distinctiveness habitats

Lowland meadows

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Mixed scrub
Other neutral grassland
Other woodland; broadleaved

Buy Biodiversity Units

Habitat Bank overview

Situated approximately 14km west of Shrewsbury, our Winnington Habitat Bank stretches across nearly 35 hectares of land. There, we have been transforming the existing arable and species poor grassland fields into a thriving space for nature recovery – where key species like skylark, brown hare, and hedgehog can grow in abundance.

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 Shropshire Council LPA and the Shropshire Hills NCA.

Coverage

Adjacent LPAs	Adjacent NCAs
Cheshire East Council	Teme Valley
Herefordshire Council	Herefordshire Lowlands
Stafford Borough Council	Mid Severn Sandstone Plateau
Telford and Wrekin Council	Clun and North West Herefordshire Hills
South Staffordshire Council	Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Plain
Wyre Forest District Council
Malvern Hills District Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council

Our vision

The site has many features that have been identified under Shropshire Council’s Environmental Networks Policy, with its woodland allocated as a Core Area of high nature conservation value. It also falls within a B-Line, which aim to target the restoration and creation of wildflower rich habitats for bees, butterflies, and a range of other wildlife.

This is why we’re particularly excited for the priority habitats we’ve established to continue developing, creating greater connectivity for a variety of native species. This includes the beautiful wildflower meadows we’ve been installing. These meadows will be closed to the grazing livestock during the flowering months when the stunning fields will be in full bloom.

As the Winnington Habitat Bank has three public footpaths, we’re thrilled that the local community will be able to visit and observe the site as it thrives over the coming years. Such access is vital for providing local people a means to experience spaces rich in biodiversity.