Bog Hall Habitat Bank
In 2024, Environment Bank launched its most ambitious nature restoration and rewilding project at the Castle Howard Estate.
Our flagship Nature Shares project at Castle Howard
Bog Hall Habitat Bank covers 440 acres of the 300-year-old North Yorkshire estate where our team of specialist ecologists are aiming to almost triple biodiversity by transforming the landscape over the next 30 years.
Set within the Howardian Hills National Landscape and designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC), Bog Hall was strategically selected for its substantial biodiversity uplift potential.
Supporting natural heritage
Restoring historic features of the captivating natural landscape
We chose land that was difficult to farm due to wetness, a feature that makes it valuable for nature. We haven’t taken any prime farmland out of food production and we expect to enhance productivity of neighbouring farms by increasing numbers of pollinating wildlife.
Bog Hall Habitat Bank is adjacent to a public bridleway, so we’re thrilled that local people get to see the site transform. Safari tracks and walking trails are being carefully planned so visitors can explore the site without impacting the developing habitats.
Restoring nature at scale
With a carefully designed habitat management plan
We’re enhancing habitats, including woodland and hedgerows, to encourage natural regeneration, and creating new grassland with seeds from local wildflower meadows. This will encourage rare and threatened native birds to return, like turtle doves.
Alongside a strategic management plan to use native livestock to mimic the grazing behaviour of wild animals that would have roamed the landscape historically, we’re also rewilding beavers – working closely with the Beaver Trust to design a release programme.
Our project expectations
30,000+ CO2e carbon captured
Enhanced local access to nature
Improved natural flood management
Advanced data collection
Our qualified ecologists will monitor the project’s success
We’ll be using on-ground surveys and advanced techniques such as acoustic surveys, camera traps, satellite photography, and environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis.
With extensive and ongoing data collection, we will be able to give a clear picture of the biodiversity uplifts created by our habitat restoration and rewilding endeavours.
Our 30-year project vision
This significant 30-year project launched in autumn 2024
Bog Hall habitat Bank has been fully funded in advance to cover restoration and rewilding for the project’s full lifetime to ensure biodiversity goals are met. Preparation for new habitats is underway and fencing is being installed for beaver rewilding to begin in 2025.
Significant landscape changes will be visible within the first two years. Over the next decade, our new ponds and scrubland will fully establish. We anticipate that within 15 years, the 440-acre Bog Hall Habitat Bank will have been entirely transformed.
Buy Nature Shares
With funding secured, we are now inviting businesses to get involved by purchasing Nature Shares in the Bog Hall Habitat Bank. By partnering with us, businesses will be contributing towards nature restoration – allowing them to share in the biodiversity uplifts this project is generating.