The loan has enabled environmental consultancy Nature Impact to purchase 70 acres of land in Rolvenden, Kent and another 52 acres in Wadhurst, East Sussex – two sites that offer huge potential to unlock underutilised and degraded farmland.
The projects will see the restoration and creation of a wide range of habitats, including native wildflower meadows, traditional orchards, woodland, scrub, ponds, wetlands and hedgerows. The goal is to restore biodiversity in a way that harmonises with the unique characteristics of the landscape, sequesters carbon, and unlocks a wealth of invaluable ecosystem services to benefit the local community.
What is biodiversity net gain?
The UK government introduced the biodiversity net gain (BNG) scheme in February 2024, placing a legal requirement on residential, commercial and infrastructure developers to demonstrate a minimum net gain of 10% of biodiversity as a condition of planning permission. This different approach to development channels focus into nature conservation, biodiversity protection, and ensuring that habitats for wildlife are left in a measurably better state than they were beforehand.
For the purposes of BNG, the biodiversity value of a piece of land is measured in standardised biodiversity units. Typically, a habitat will contain a number of biodiversity units, depending on its size, quality, location and type.
If a biodiversity net gain cannot be achieved on site, developers can make gains through off-site BNG units. This is where Nature Impact offers its service as it estimates that 50% of BNG units will need to be purchased off-site.
Laying sustainable foundations
Founded in 2023, Nature Impact’s mission is to be a leading natural capital developer in the UK, with a focus on providing off-site BNG units for London and the Southeast. By being early leaders in this space, Nature Impact are working to develop the market for investable, high-integrity natural capital projects.
Through acquiring degraded, unproductive farmland, various methods can be utilised to restore biodiversity and sequester carbon. The creation of wetlands provides habitats for species at risk of extinction, whilst hedgerows supply resources for mammals, birds, and insect species. These techniques also unlock a host of other benefits such as critical flood management to local communities. Nature Impact looks to do this initially via direct land ownership, with ambition to scale as the ecosystem-service market develops.
Alongside the ecological significance of these projects, Nature Impact will also use these properties to provide additional green space and access for local communities, with engagement, access and connection key to their business model.
“Biodiversity Net Gain has the potential to drive huge growth in UK nature markets – something we desperately need right now as we grapple with the shocking decline in our nation’s biodiversity,” explains Tom Nelson, co-founder of Nature Impact.
“We are incredibly grateful to the team at Triodos for developing an innovative lending model that will enable us to transform the sites in Rolvenden and Wadhurst, and create havens for wildlife. Taking a nature-first approach, we ultimately want to establish hundreds of groundbreaking biodiversity projects across the country. We believe this loan could represent a tipping point for nature finance, and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this movement.”
Poor in biodiversity, rich in opportunity
Biodiversity underpins much of what we need to survive, from food and clean water to our mental health and wellbeing, not to mention our economy too, with over 50% of global GDP directly dependent on nature. Therefore, it’s deeply concerning that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, despite being equipped to fight biodiversity loss and climate change.
“Triodos has been advocating for the critical role of the financial system in reversing biodiversity loss for more than four decades, and we are proud of our heritage as a frontrunner in financing nature-based solutions,” comments Laura Rumph, senior relationship manager for nature, food and resource at Triodos Bank UK.
"Innovative business models have the potential to supercharge nature restoration, and we hope this project will boost confidence in biodiversity net gain among investors. We are delighted to have found a partner in Nature Impact who are totally aligned with our vision and mission, and we are excited to work with them to bring about lasting change".
“Amidst our recent lending target announcement for nature-based solutions," continues Laura "our aims encompass conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of both natural and semi-natural ecosystems, alongside establishing new ecosystems in human modified environments such as urban areas.
Working with Nature Impact presents a unique opportunity to kickstart our journey towards creating more connected spaces for nature and communities".
An excellent concept. But I am concerned that the article made no reference to working in partnership with local NGOs, or to ensuring that land purchase supported the landscape scale restoration strategies for the region.
What does NGO stand for please ?
FYI - Nongovernmental Organisations are often a not-for profit organisations that provide some kind of public service but aren't controlled by any governmental dept:)
Hi Brian, good observation. Nature Impact is working with several local consultants and contractors to deliver these two projects. Their Community Benefit Society will also provide community access in the years ahead. Please let us know of any local NGOs that may be relevant to us, e.g., community orchards. Regarding the Local Nature Recovery Strategy, Nature Impact consults with the Nature Partnerships and Local Planning Authorities on all of our projects to ensure we target nature restoration in the right areas and for the right habitats and species. I hope that helps.
Excellent. I will share it with friends and family.
Very happy to see Triodos contributing in such a direct way to solutions to the biodiversity crisis.
We live in Rolvenden and think this is a great idea. Is it possible to have more details about where this is exactly?
Hi Alison, that's great that you are so local! The farm is in the Kensham area, southwest of Rolvenden.
Very interesting and encouraging.
Very encouraging and shows an alternative model of "growth" is possible.
Good idea. Hope the community involved with the project. Ideal for younger members to learn from.
...sounds like a great initiative, I'm particularly stoked at the prospect of orchard reintroduction being a part of this vision given how many of these potential wildlife havens have been removed from the landscape since the 40's .
It is clear BNG has and will encourage financial inovation in a 'biodiversity market'. But it remains very unclear as to whether this will benefit wildlife. What proection is there to prevent the land use subsequently being changed to something less biodiverse, like housing or back to farming after the BNG 30 year contract period? Will not Nature Impact as owners will have significant opportunity for capital gain on the land value if it is not put in trust for perpetuity? Who are the ecologists advising on protection of existing as well as developing improved biodiversity on these sites?