What is a Land Baseline Report—and Why Does It Matter

Published: 10 April 2025

If you own or manage land in England and are thinking about applying for grants, planting woodland, or even exploring Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), there’s one thing you’ll want before you do anything else: a clear understanding of your land.

That’s exactly what a Land Baseline Report provides.

Think of it as your land’s health check. It helps you understand the current condition, constraints, and potential of your land—so you can make informed decisions, avoid costly missteps, and unlock the right opportunities.

So, what exactly is a Land Baseline Report?

A baseline report gathers all the essential information about your land and puts it in one place. This includes habitat types, soil and slope, flood risk, nearby protected areas, existing infrastructure, access points, and more.

The aim? To give you a well-rounded picture of what your land is, and what it could be—whether you’re considering woodland creation, habitat restoration, SFI or CS grants, or entering the BNG market.

Why is a baseline report so important?

Because rural land decisions are long-term decisions—and making the wrong one can cost you time, money, and missed opportunities.

Here are just a few reasons why a baseline report is worth its weight:

• Avoid grant application failure. Many grants require you to meet eligibility criteria related to land condition, location, or designation. If you don’t know your baseline, you could waste months applying for a scheme you’re not eligible for.
• Spot constraints before they block progress. Planting trees near an archaeological feature? Proposing wetlands in a floodplain with poor access? These issues can delay or stop your plans altogether. A baseline report flags risks early.
• Save time with funders and advisors. When you’ve got a solid report in hand, conversations with ecologists, grant officers, or planning authorities become quicker, clearer, and more productive.
• Plan for the long-term. A baseline report doesn’t just help you apply for one scheme—it helps you see how your land might evolve across the next 5, 10, or even 30 years. That’s especially useful if you’re thinking about stacking payments or combining public and private finance.

Who is it for?

Whether you’ve inherited land and don’t know where to start, you’re an experienced farmer exploring diversification, or you're managing marginal land you want to put to better use, a baseline report is your practical starting point.

It’s particularly useful if:

• You’re unsure which scheme (SFI, CS, EWCO, BNG) is right for your land
• You’ve never used mapping tools like MAGIC or LIS before
• You need a clear, jargon-free assessment to discuss with advisors or family
• You want to future-proof your land use strategy

How does it work?

At AskGrant, we build each baseline report by bringing together data from a wide range of trusted sources—Natural England, Forestry Commission, Historic England, flood mapping tools, and more.

But we don’t just dump data on you. We organise it around your goals, highlight risks and opportunities, and keep it digestible and decision-ready.

Whether you’re eyeing up woodland creation, BNG unit sales, or just want to know what’s possible on your land—we help you start smart.

In summary

There’s no shortage of schemes and funding out there—but you can’t access any of it if you don’t know your starting point. A Land Baseline Report helps you move from “where do I start?” to “what’s next?”

If you’ve got land and questions, let’s answer them—starting with a baseline.

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