A 70-acre habitat hotspot will be created in West Cumbria to help nature and wildlife thrive.
The Cockermouth Habitat Bank – on land between Oakhurst Wood and Sandybeck Meadow National Nature Reserve near Brandlingill – will transform former sheep-grazing pasture into a biodiverse space where key habitats will be able to flourish.
It has been launched by Environment Bank, a leading off-site Biodiversity Net Gain provider, adding to its growing national network of dedicated nature recovery sites.
Environment Bank is working with local farmers who own and manage the land to build stronger ecological connections across the Cumbrian landscape.
They aim to create the right conditions to support native species to the area, including otters, red squirrels, and soprano pipistrelle bats.
It said: “Cockermouth Habitat Bank has been strategically placed to have a large-scale positive impact on nature, supporting biodiversity priorities and green infrastructure in Allerdale.
“A portion of Cockermouth Habitat Bank sits within flood zones, providing an opportunity to enhance natural flood mitigation. By improving soil health and resilience, the site will contribute to greater water retention and filtration, helping to manage flood risks in the local area.”
Anne Gray, a senior land manager at Environment Bank who oversees the site, said: “I love working on our Cockermouth Habitat Bank.
“It reminds me of the small mixed livestock farm I grew up on with sheep, cattle, hens and the odd pony or two (which sadly have become increasingly rare to find).
“Upland edge landscapes like these respond better to low-intensity approaches and really benefit from the sensitive management that traditional, mixed farming provides.”
