Introducing Glebe Land, BNG units in East Anglia

Discover Glebe Land at Hope Hall, where a long-standing family commitment to nature is creating new opportunities for wildlife and biodiversity net gain.

For our family, biodiversity net gain has always been about more than just meeting planning requirements. It is about looking after the English countryside for the future and giving wildlife the space it needs to thrive.

That is why we are particularly excited to introduce Glebe Land, a new 8.09-hectare area of land at Hope Hall that will provide a range of biodiversity net gain (BNG) units for developers in East Anglia.

With a mixture of grassland, scrub, trees, woodland, ponds and ditches, Glebe Land is a diverse addition to Hope Hall. We’re looking forward to seeing how wildlife flourishes on the land.

A drone shot of Glebe Land, including a pond - one habitat type for BNG. — One of the ponds at Glebe Land, providing valuable wet habitat and supporting wildlife across the site.

Our family’s commitment to nature

Glebe Land represents our commitment to creating and managing habitat for the long term, and giving wildlife a space to thrive

Restoring and maintaining habitats is not something that started with the introduction of biodiversity net gain requirements, rather it has been a passion for our family for many years. We have seen how changes in land management can create more opportunities for wildlife, providing food and shelter and giving species space to live and move through the landscape.

“For our family, looking after the land and creating space for nature has always been important. BNG has given us an opportunity to build on that work and protect these habitats for the long term. It is incredibly rewarding to see how the land develops over time and, hopefully, to see more wildlife making use of it.”

– Angus Dudley, Director, BNG Units Ltd

Introducing Glebe Land

Glebe Land covers 8.09 hectares and includes a variety of different habitats.

The site includes:

Other neutral grassland
Mixed scrub
Hedgerows
Individual trees
Other woodlands; broadleaved
Ponds
Ditches

Each habitat has its own value, but together they create a varied landscape which will offer plenty of opportunities for wildlife to thrive.

A special feature: the ditches

One of the most exciting features of Glebe Land is its ditch habitat.

Ditches are an important part of many rural landscapes, providing seasonal wet areas that can support wildlife and help connect different habitats across the countryside.

Ditches generate watercourse units, and the metric’s trading rules mean these cannot be met with area habitat units. A development that affects a ditch needs ditch units specifically, and few are available on the market. That makes Glebe Land a strong option for developers who need them.

For us, protecting and managing these features is another way of making sure the land continues to support nature.

A ditch at Glebe Land - an important habitat type for BNG that is uncommon on the market. — Running through Glebe Land, our ditches provide valuable wet habitat and create connections for wildlife across the landscape.

More than just biodiversity units

Our aim with Glebe Land is to manage the land as a whole alongside Hope Hall and give the different habitats the opportunity to develop over time.

This means looking at how grassland, trees, scrub, woodland, ponds and ditches work alongside one another and how they can contribute to a healthier and more varied landscape.

This is where the long-term approach comes into play. Off-site BNG habitats must be secured and managed for at least 30 years, and at Glebe Land that is secured by a section 106 agreement. This gives us the opportunity to watch our land change and develop over time and taking the responsibility for BNG unit management out of the hands of the developers.

Looking to the future

Glebe Land is the latest addition to Hope Hall’s growing biodiversity offering, but it is also another step in our family’s ongoing commitment to nature.

Over the years, the habitats will be managed and maintained, giving them time to develop. And, hopefully, we will continue to see more wildlife making use of the land.

For developers, Glebe Land offers access to a diverse range of BNG units, including the increasingly sought-after ditches.

For us, it is another opportunity to care for the land we love and leave it in a better state for the future.

Interested in finding out more about BNG units at Glebe Land? Get in touch with BNG Units Ltd to discuss availability and how these units could help meet your development’s biodiversity net gain requirements.