Located within the more urban outskirts of Whitby, our Habitat Bank covers nearly 15 hectares of land around the village of Ruswarp. The site lies within the floodplain of the River Esk and we’re transforming the existing grazed fields into a haven for native wildlife.

Following a thorough assessment of the site's vegetation, wildlife, geology, hydrology, soil chemistry, management history, and landscape connectivity, we determined the best possible habitats to establish and made sure these enhancements would be deliverable. We established an ecological baseline for the site using Defra’s biodiversity metric, so we can clearly demonstrate biodiversity gains over time.

This assessment enables us to generate a range of high-integrity Biodiversity Unit habitat types that will ensure robust ecological outcomes. We also offer planning support to make sure our Biodiversity Units provide an effective local BNG delivery solution for developers within the North Yorkshire Council LPA area or North Yorkshire Moors and Cleveland Hills NCA. Our Units are ready to purchase now, subject to availability.

Over the coming years, we’ll be extending the rich mosaic of habitats to increase species diversity and abundance and enhance the landscape. This will include an expanse of stunning wildflower meadows, native mixed scrub and ponds. 

Habitats like these are notable as a home for breeding and wintering birds, so the management and monitoring of our Whitby Habitat Bank will be supporting several bird species of special conservation status  – which is particularly exciting for us. Local species also include seals, water voles, otters, bats, eels, and salmon.