Coploe Hill, South Cambridgeshire
The Site
Located 10 miles to the south of Cambridge, this 30 hectare scheme is strategically located adjacent to existing sites of ecological significance to provide an opportunity for wildlife to thrive over a large-scale whilst vastly reducing the detrimental impact of habitat fragmentation.
| Biodiversity units available: |
200+ |
| Local Planning Authorities: |
South Cambridgeshire, Uttlesford |
| National Character Area: |
East Anglian Chalk |
| Unit types: |
Lowland calcareous grassland, neutral grassland, native hedgerows, watercourse, ponds |
The Vision
Connection
Our vision is about building resilience for the future and helping to facilitate the positive impact that can be secured for future generations through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). Our plan incorporates both habitat creation and enhancement focused around two sites of historical and ecological significance, Coploe Hill strip lynchets and Coploe Hill Pit Local Wildlife Site (LWS).
Enhancement
The scheme builds upon wildlife enhancements already undertaken to create new habitat areas at Coploe Hill which have resulted in increased numbers of species such as corn bunting, grey partridge, linnet, yellowhammer and brown hare.
Creation
A major focus of the scheme will be on the creation of neutral grassland along the western flanks of the Strip Lynchets. Set on a ridge at the very end of the Chilterns, the thin chalk soils are intrinsically suited to grassland creation to support the wildflowers, birds and insects typical of this rolling landscape. A detailed management and monitoring plan will ensure the required methodologies are implemented for both the enhancement and creation aspects of the scheme.
The Wider Context
Coploe Hill forms part of Rectory Farm, owned by the Wombwell family since 1926. The family ethos is steeped in the appreciation of the symbiotic relationship between the farmed and the natural environment, and their BNG scheme forms part of a wider strategy for nature recovery. Rectory Farm has participated in environmental schemes over several decades with comprehensive measures in place to provide space for nature to coexist within the agricultural landscape. This patchwork of areas already given over to nature will feed into the wider benefit of this scheme, allowing species to spread out across the farm and expand their range as the BNG habitats become established.
The marginal areas of Coploe Hill have already undergone a ten-year programme of grassland creation adjacent to Coploe Pit LWS coupled with scrub clearance on the Strip Lynchets to prevent root damage to the historic terraces.
Your Biodiversity Net Gain Partner
Our habitat creation and enhancement scheme will be closely monitored to achieve the desired outcomes. With expertise in quality habitat creation and with its own herd of native breed cattle for conservation grazing management, the Rectory Farm management team is well placed to provide successful ecological outcomes.
With a clear strategy in place for achieving BNG, Coploe Hill can provide a long term, secure space for your biodiversity offset requirements.
Coploe Hill will generate biodiversity units for:
- Lowland calcareous grassland
- Neutral grassland
- Native hedgerow
- Watercourse
- Ponds
For all enquiries please contact Katie Hilton or Jonathan Purkiss.
Click here to download the brochure.