Bolsterstone Habitat Bank

County: South Yorkshire
Local planning authority (LPA): Sheffield City Council
National Character Area (NCA): Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe
Biodiversity gain sites register number: BGS-050924002

Birds-eye render of Bolsterstone Habitat Bank before restoration

Very high distinctiveness habitats

Lowland meadows

Medium distinctiveness habitats

Mixed scrub
Other woodland; broadleaved
Ponds (non-priority habitat)

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Habitat Bank overview

Our Bolsterstone Habitat Bank covers nearly fifty acres just northeast of Stocksbridge and lies adjacent to a Local Nature Reserve.

We’re transforming the existing grassland into beautiful wildflower meadows rich in native flora and fauna. We’re really excited for the opportunities for ecological connectivity this site is offering for the surrounding area.

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.

Neighbouring LPAs
North East Derbyshire District Council
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Peak District National Park Authority

Neighbouring NCAs
Nottingham, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield
Dark Peak
Southern Pennines
Derbyshire Peak Fringe and Lower Derwent

Our vision

The Bolsterstone Habitat Bank strategically lies within Natural England’s Network Expansion Zone and sits on the doorstep of the Peak District National Park. It also sits adjacent to a series of Local Wildlife Sites. This makes it the perfect location to connect habitats with the surrounding region, allowing us to effectively restore the land to its historic landscape.

Across the site, we are creating a series of species-rich lowland meadows. These will be traditionally managed with hay cuts and aftermath grazing with conservation cattle. This site will also include new and enhanced pockets of scrub, and we will be enhancing the existing woodland to the south which will benefit existing adjacent ancient woodland.

A Public Right of Way (PRoW) lies across the southwest of the Habitat Bank, just outside of the woodlands along the southern boundary. We’re thrilled that the local community will be able to witness as this site continues to develop over the coming decades.