Nature in Derbyshire needs more space. Wildlife populations have declined; habitats have become fragmented and many species struggle to move across the landscape. 

At the same time, new homes, infrastructure and businesses continue to be built. The question is not whether development happens, but whether nature benefits at the same time. 

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is one of the most significant changes to environmental policy in decades because it requires developers to leave nature in a measurably better state than before. For Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, it is also a major opportunity to create more space for wildlife and accelerate nature recovery across the county. 

When Biodiversity Net Gain became mandatory in February 2024, it marked a genuine turning point for nature in England. For the first time, the construction industry was legally required to leave the natural environment measurably better than they found it, with a minimum 10% improvement in biodiversity value for every development. 

It is an ambitious piece of legislation. But legislation is only as effective as the way it is delivered, which is why Derbyshire Wildlife Trust chose to play an active role in making it work for nature. 

A New Approach to Nature Recovery 

Biodiversity Net Gain legislation creates a mechanism for developers to contribute to nature recovery when construction takes place. For Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, it provides a way to secure and restore land for wildlife that would otherwise be beyond our reach. Every pound generated through this work is reinvested into creating, protecting and restoring habitats across Derbyshire. 

It is also important to understand what BNG does and does not do. 

The BNG legislation has not made development more likely. The Government has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament and development will continue to happen. What BNG legislation does is ensure that when development takes place, nature must be left in a demonstrably better condition than before. That is a significant improvement on the planning system of the past. 

Our planning team continues to provide the same independent ecological advice to local planning authorities that it always has. We remain a strong voice for wildlife in planning decisions and continue to advocate for the best possible outcomes for nature. 

Choosing not to engage with the Biodiversity Net Gain legislation would not stop development. It would simply leave the delivery of nature recovery to organisations whose primary purpose may not be wildlife conservation. By getting involved, we can help ensure that BNG legislation delivers genuine, lasting benefits for nature rather than becoming a box-ticking exercise. 

Wildlife Trusts are uniquely well placed to deliver BNG units to the construction industry, because every decision we make is guided by what is best for wildlife and the long-term recovery of nature. The sites we select, the habitats we restore and the way we manage land are all driven by our charitable mission to create a wilder Derbyshire. 

How it works, and why it works for wildlife 

Rather than purchasing land that is already thriving for wildlife, we focus on acquiring land that is currently in poor ecological condition, ideally close to existing wildlife-rich areas and accessible to local communities. 

We then restore these sites through rewilding and nature recovery, allowing natural processes to return and habitats to develop over time. The biodiversity improvements created on these sites generate biodiversity units, which can be purchased by developers who need to meet their Biodiversity Net Gain obligations attached to their planning applications. 

The income generated enables us to secure and restore even more land for nature. 

Each site becomes part of Derbyshire's Nature Recovery Network: strategically located, ecologically connected and managed by our living landscape experts to deliver lasting benefits for wildlife and people. 

A few things distinguish the way Derbyshire Wildlife Trust delivers BNG units: 

We do more:  While legislation requires a 10% biodiversity net gain, we aim to create at least a 20% buffer above what is required on every site. 

We secure land for the long term: The legal requirement is for habitats to be maintained for 30 years. We will safeguard these sites for nature indefinitely. 

We keep sites accessible: All our habitat banks are open to the public because connecting people with nature is just as important as protecting it. 

We put nature first:  Rewilding and natural processes guide our approach wherever possible, creating resilient habitats that deliver benefits far beyond the biodiversity metric. 

Every pound goes back into nature: Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is a charity, not a commercial organisation. The income we receive from Biodiversity Net Gain is reinvested directly into our charitable mission, not distributed to shareholders or investors. 

That means acquiring land for nature recovery, restoring habitats, managing sites for wildlife, improving public access to nature and helping build a connected Nature Recovery Network across Derbyshire. 

Biodiversity Net Gain legislation is not a silver bullet. It is one of the tools that helps us secure a wilder future for Derbyshire. 

Our first steps 

Since acquiring our first habitat bank site at Old Whittington in 2023, we have established Derbyshire's first Biodiversity Net Gain habitat bank, Wild Whittington, in Chesterfield secured through a formal Section 106 agreement with Chesterfield Borough Council. 

We have since registered our second site at Common Farm in Amber Valley and recently secured Middleton Moor in the Derbyshire Dales, which is currently progressing through the registration process. 

Each acquisition has been guided by our Nature Recovery Network mapping, helping us identify where creating new space for nature will have the greatest impact by connecting habitats and enabling wildlife to move more freely across the county. 

What we are building is landscape-scale nature recovery, funded through the planning system. 

Restoring land in this way does far more than generate biodiversity units. Rewilded sites can store carbon, reduce flood risk, improve water quality and provide accessible natural green spaces for local communities. These wider benefits are one of the reasons we believe Biodiversity Net Gain has such potential to help deliver our vision for a wilder Derbyshire. 

 What comes next 

The UK's ambition is to see 30% of land and sea managed effectively for nature. For Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, that means creating more habitat banks, restoring more ecosystems and expanding the Nature Recovery Network across the county. 

The Biodiversity Net Gain market is still developing, the legislation will apply to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPS) later in 2026, and its potential is becoming increasingly clear. As our experience grows, so too does the opportunity to secure more land for nature recovery and create lasting benefits for wildlife and people. 

In the coming months, we will be sharing more about what we have learned, the projects we are developing and how this work contributes to our wider vision. 

Ultimately, Biodiversity Net Gain is about creating more space for nature. 

By securing land, restoring habitats and connecting landscapes, we can turn today's development into tomorrow's nature recovery. That means more places for wildlife to thrive, more opportunities for people to connect with nature and a stronger, more resilient natural environment for future generations. 

For Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, that is exactly why this work matters.

Read more about BNG here.