Alscot aims to achieve carbon neutral status by 2050, thus assisting climate change.
It is our mission to work to secure a future for plant and animal species by the improvement and enhancement of natural grasslands and woodlands, encouraging rare and almost extinct species to thrive. The principal to establish a functioning ecosystem, where nature is given as much freedom as possible, is a leading influence for all future land projects at Alscot. Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a key component in achieving these objectives.
The need for receptor sites as part of the Biodiversity Offsetting scheme within Warwickshire, a policy revolution that is key in Government efforts to reverse biodiversity decline over the coming years, provides an opportunity for a new enterprise, which is sympathetic to the landscape and meets the environmental objectives for the Estate.
Being one of the first ventures of its kind in the UK, and having secured an agreement with the Local Authority, 47.86 acres of land has now been given over to Biodiversity Offsetting in the first phase.
The Alscot Biodiversity Project follows a process-lead approach to deliver landscape habitat creation and enhancement. Detailed surveys carried out by experienced ecologists, provided a base for a long-term management plan to be devised and formulated to enable delivery of an accountable long-term scheme.
The landmark deal, which commenced in April 2020, allows the Estate to offer biodiversity offsetting units to developers. A unit measures the proportion of land in any given location that will see biodiversity improvement. Activities such as the creation of habitats, compensate and mitigate biodiversity loss, due to development, elsewhere within the county. The scheme means economic activity can occur and the environment can continue to flourish.
Through careful management and investment, our objective is to increase the biodiversity value of the land, working through a process to restore existing meadows to neutral grasslands, assisted by the types and quantity of flora that is planted.
The project gives further scope to engage with the wider community and we are actively working with local primary schools to encourage and promote interest and understanding of biodiversity, climate change and the important business of offsetting. Biodiversity is something spectacular and Alscot recognises the importance of conserving it.
The introduction of sustainable practises has been implemented across the Estate as part of the wider long term strategic plan.