Practical Steps for Increasing Biodiversity on Your Land

Biodiversity is essential for creating a resilient and healthy ecosystem, whether you own a large estate or just a few acres. Enhancing biodiversity on your land can improve soil health, support wildlife, and contribute to vital ecosystem services like water filtration and carbon storage. But what steps can you take to make your land more biodiverse, no matter its size? And can you access funding to support these efforts?

This guide explores both large and small-scale strategies to boost biodiversity, offering practical tips for landowners of all sizes, as well as insight into government funding schemes designed to support biodiversity projects.

How Can I Increase Biodiversity on My Land?

Whether your land is expansive or small in scale, there are many effective ways to increase biodiversity. By creating diverse habitats and adopting sustainable land management practices, you can support a wide range of species and enhance the health of your ecosystem. Here are practical steps for landowners with both large and small plots:

Plant and Maintain Diverse Hedgerows

1. Hedgerows are vital for biodiversity. They act as natural corridors for wildlife, allowing animals and insects to move between habitats. For larger properties, planting long stretches of hedgerows with a mix of native shrubs and trees such as hawthorn, hazel, and blackthorn can greatly enhance biodiversity. Even on smaller plots, a single hedgerow can provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for birds, insects, and small mammals.
2. A mix of species in hedgerows supports a broader range of wildlife. Regular but careful management, like trimming every two to three years, allows for more flowering and fruiting, benefiting pollinators and wildlife.
   ‍

Create a Wildflower Meadow:

1. Whether you have a large estate or a few acres, setting aside even a small patch for wildflowers can make a huge difference for biodiversity. Wildflower meadows support pollinators like bees and butterflies, and they also provide habitat for birds, insects, and small mammals.
2. For larger landowners, dedicating a field to native wildflowers will create a biodiversity hotspot. On smaller plots, even a corner of your garden or a few square metres can attract valuable pollinators and wildlife. Many local nurseries offer seed mixes tailored to your area, making it easy to establish a pollinator-friendly meadow.
   ‍

Integrate Trees Through Agroforestry

1. Agroforestry, which involves planting trees alongside crops or pastures, offers significant biodiversity benefits. For larger landowners, integrating native trees in rows between fields or around pasture edges creates habitats for birds, insects, and mammals, while also improving soil health and water retention.
2. On smaller plots, planting a few well-chosen native trees can have a similar impact. Trees like oak, birch, or willow support a wide range of wildlife and can be integrated into gardens or small woodlands.

Leave Areas to Grow Wild

1. One of the easiest ways to encourage biodiversity is simply to leave sections of your land to grow wild. Whether you have a large estate or a small patch of land, allowing certain areas to regenerate naturally provides a habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals.
2. For larger landowners, you might designate entire sections for natural regeneration, while smaller landowners can focus on leaving wild patches in gardens or along property edges. Wild areas quickly attract wildlife and contribute to healthier ecosystems.

‍

Restore or Protect Wetlands

1. Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots, supporting amphibians, birds, insects, and plants. For larger properties, restoring wetlands or creating new ponds can enhance biodiversity and improve water management. If you have a few acres, creating a small pond or protecting an existing wetland area will still support local wildlife and contribute to ecosystem health.
2. Even small water features like ponds or shallow water habitats can attract frogs, newts, and birds, making them a valuable addition to a small plot
   ‍

Create Wildlife Corridors

1. Connecting habitats on your land with wildlife corridors encourages species movement, increasing genetic diversity and ecosystem health. Large landowners can connect different ecosystems (like woodlands and meadows) through corridors such as hedgerows or watercourse buffers.
2. For smaller properties, simply ensuring that your land connects to neighbouring habitats (such as leaving gaps in fences or planting native shrubs along property boundaries) can support the movement of small animals and pollinators.

Smaller-Scale Tips for Increasing Biodiversity

Even if you have only a small plot of land, there are still plenty of actions you can take to make a positive impact on biodiversity:

Create a Mini Wildflower Patch

A small patch of wildflowers in your garden or on unused land can attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. You don’t need a huge space—a few square metres can make a big difference. Consider planting a mix of native wildflowers to support local insects.

Plant Native Trees

Even one or two trees can greatly improve biodiversity. Choose native species like oak or rowan, which provide food and shelter for a wide range of insects and birds. In small spaces, you can opt for smaller native trees or shrubs like hawthorn or elder, which still offer great biodiversity benefits.

Install Bird Boxes or Insect Hotels

Attracting wildlife to smaller plots is easy with bird boxes, bat boxes, and insect hotels. These can provide homes for a variety of species, from birds to solitary bees, and they’re ideal for gardens or smaller acreages.

Create a Small Pond

A pond, even a small one, will support a surprising amount of biodiversity. Amphibians, birds, insects, and plants all thrive in and around water. Make sure to plant native aquatic plants and create gentle slopes to help animals access the water safely.

Can I Get Funding for Projects That Enhance Biodiversity on My Land?

Yes, there are several funding options available for landowners, regardless of the size of their land, to support biodiversity projects:

1. Countryside Stewardship (CS):
   • The Countryside Stewardship scheme provides financial support for biodiversity-enhancing practices, such as planting hedgerows, establishing wildflower meadows, and restoring habitats. This scheme is open to landowners and farmers of all sizes. Whether you're planting a small wildflower patch or restoring a large wetland, CS offers tailored grants to fit your project​.
2. Environmental Land Management (ELM) Schemes:
   • The Environmental Land Management (ELM) schemes are designed to support biodiversity and sustainable land management. The Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) is ideal for small-scale landowners who want to improve biodiversity on their land, offering payments for actions like creating flower-rich margins or planting trees​.
   • The Landscape Recovery scheme focuses on larger-scale projects, but even small-scale rewilding or restoration efforts can be supported through ELM depending on the scope.
3. England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO):
   • If you’re planning to plant trees, the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO) provides grants to help cover the costs of establishing new woodlands, regardless of the size of the project. Whether you’re planting a small grove or creating larger woodlands, this scheme can help with the expenses involved​.

Practical Examples for Biodiversity Projects

1. Small Acreage:
   • Wildflower Garden: Set aside a corner of your garden or plot for native wildflowers to attract pollinators.
   • Tree Planting: Plant a few native trees like oak or birch to create habitats for birds and insects.
   • Pond Creation: Build a small pond to attract amphibians and aquatic insects.
2. Larger Acreage:
   • Hedgerow Planting: Create or restore long hedgerows to serve as wildlife corridors and habitats.
   • Agroforestry: Integrate rows of trees into your farmland or pasture to support biodiversity while maintaining productive land use.
   • Wetland Restoration: Protect and enhance existing wetlands or create new wetland areas to boost biodiversity.

Whether you have a few acres or hundreds, you can take meaningful steps to enhance biodiversity on your land. From planting native hedgerows to establishing wildflower meadows, every effort counts toward building a healthier, more resilient ecosystem. And with government funding options like Countryside Stewardship, the Environmental Land Management schemes, and the England Woodland Creation Offer, there is financial support available to help you bring your biodiversity projects to life.

Incorporating these practical steps will not only improve the biodiversity of your land but also contribute to broader nature recovery efforts, ensuring that your land remains productive, sustainable, and beneficial to the environment for years to come.

‍