The Holkham Nature Initiative
Biodiversity credits now available to buy
Natural capital within one of Britain’smost significant coastal landscapes.
The Holkham Nature Initiative is our Biodiversity Net Gain habitat bank at Wells-next-the-Sea, Norfolk. Across 12.7 hectares of former agricultural grassland, we are creating a mosaic of species-rich neutral grassland, mixed scrub, new native hedgerows, enhanced ditches and reedbed. The site sits alongside the North Norfolk Coast designated complex and adjacent to Holkham National Nature Reserve, strengthening ecological connectivity while protecting the integrity of surrounding habitats. All habitats are designed in accordance with the Statutory Biodiversity Metric and secured through a 30-year Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan. Monitoring and adaptive management are built in from the outset.
This is long-term land stewardship – not short-term offsetting.
The location
Here are two maps showing the location and outline of the Holkham Nature Initiative site.
Location
Site outline
An overview
A living landscape, carefully restored.
At Wells-next-the-Sea, 12.7 hectares of former agricultural grassland are being reshaped into species-rich meadow, mixed scrub, native hedgerows and enhanced wetland features. This is not isolated habitat creation. The site sits beside the North Norfolk Coast’s internationally designated marshes, dunes and grazing lands, and adjacent to Holkham National Nature Reserve. Its role is to strengthen ecological connections – linking farmland to marsh, scrub to dune, inland to coast. Habitats are designed in accordance with the Statutory Biodiversity Metric and secured through a legally binding 30-year management and monitoring programme. The work is grounded in practical conservation, informed by ecological data and delivered by the team who manage over 4,000 hectares of nationally significant habitat at Holkham.
Our approach
Landscape recovery, the Holkham way.
Nature recovery here is guided by our long-term estate stewardship and our WONDER strategy – restoring ecological function, improving water systems, strengthening soils and increasing biodiversity in ways that endure. The Holkham Nature Initiative will: restore low-diversity grassland to botanically rich neutral meadow; establish new species-rich native hedgerows to strengthen habitat corridors; re-profile and enhance ditches to improve hydrology and water quality; create wet grassland and reedbed to support birds, pollinators and amphibians; and secure 30 years of structured monitoring and adaptive management. This is Biodiversity Net Gain embedded within a working landscape — not set apart from it.
The habitats
The site lies at Wells-next-the-Sea, North Norfolk (TF 92606 43494), within the North Norfolk Coast National Character Area and Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Positioned between agricultural land and internationally designated coastal habitats, it acts as a stepping-stone landscape – strengthening ecological connectivity without compromising surrounding protections. The site will be a mix of three main habitat types…
Meadow
MEADOW
Former modified grassland is being carefully restored through soil preparation, reseeding with diverse native meadow mixes, and long-term rotational management.
Wet grassland areas and shallow scrapes introduce structural variation and seasonal water – increasing ecological value and resilience.
Hedgerow
HEDGEROW
New native hedgerows are being planted using locally appropriate species to reinforce the landscape framework and guide movement through the site. Existing hedgerows are retained and protected. Management ensures strong establishment, structural diversity and long-term condition resulting in nature-rich hedgerows.
Water and wetland
WATER AND WETLAND
Existing field ditches are being enhanced through re-profiling, shelf creation and aquatic planting. Six-metre vegetated buffers reduce nutrient input and support water quality. A new reedbed section strengthens wetland habitat and increases ecological diversity.
Why Holkham?
Stewardship, not speculation
This is land we own and manage for the long term.
Landscape context
Situated within one of the UK’s most ecologically significant coastal environments.
Measured delivery
Clear habitat targets aligned to the Statutory Biodiversity Metric.
Security
Thirty years of legally secured management and monitoring.
Credibility
Managed by the team responsible for the Holkham National Nature Reserve.
Make an enquiry
If you are seeking off-site Biodiversity Net Gain units within North Norfolk, we welcome enquiries from developers, planning consultants, infrastructure providers and local authorities.
Please provide details about the project location, your Local Planning Authority, your planning reference (if available), habitat type and units required, and your delivery timescale.
Our team will respond with availability and next steps. We look forward to hearing from you.
Biodiversity Net Gain – Our FAQs
Biodiversity Net Gain is a legal requirement in England requiring most developments to deliver at least a 10% measurable improvement in biodiversity. The uplift is calculated using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric and must be secured and managed for a minimum of 30 years. At Holkham, habitats are created and enhanced in line with this legislation and secured through a legally binding agreement.
If sufficient biodiversity uplift cannot be achieved within a development boundary, units can be secured from an off-site habitat bank. The Holkham Nature Initiative provides off-site biodiversity units within North Norfolk, delivered within a managed estate landscape.
Units are calculated using the Statutory Biodiversity Metric (Version 1.0.3), which assesses habitat type, distinctiveness and condition, area or length, and strategic significance. Baseline surveys and clearly defined habitat targets determine the number of units generated on site.
All off-site BNG habitats must be secured for a minimum of 30 years. At Holkham, this is achieved through a Section 106 agreement, supported by a detailed Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan.
BNG sites must be managed by competent landowners with ecological oversight. The Holkham Nature Initiative is managed by Holkham Nature Reserve Ltd, the team responsible for overseeing over 4,000 hectares of nationally significant habitat. Monitoring is undertaken at agreed intervals and reported to the Local Planning Authority
Yes. The Holkham Nature Initiative sits within North Norfolk District Council and aligns with local and national BNG requirements. Developers should confirm location suitability with their planning authority at an early stage.
Early engagement is strongly recommended – ideally at pre-application or scheme design stage. This ensures availability aligns with planning timetables and avoids delays at determination.
The site delivers meadow, scrub, hedgerow and wetland habitats, designed to reach defined target conditions under the Statutory Biodiversity Metric. All habitats are secured for long-term management within the wider Holkham landscape.
The Holkham Nature Initiative is progressing through registration on the Biodiversity Gain Site Register. Units can only be formally allocated once registration is complete.
WONDER journals
Find out more about what is going on across the wider Holkham Estate. From natural capital uplift and carbon reduction projects to Holkham National Nature Reserve updates and news from our incredible team, our journal is a source of inspiration.
“Mortimer Environmental are delighted to have worked with The Holkham Nature Initiative and their partners in regenerating biodiversity of the cherished North Norfolk landscape. Holkham Nature Initiative’s vision aligns with our own, bringing together the needs of both biodiversity and local residents through the preservation, restoration and re-creation of natural habitats that can be appreciated by one and all. ”
Oliver Barnett – Mortimer Environmental