Restoration and rewilding begins at Castle Howard

The North Yorkshire estate is set to restore 440 acres of low-yield farmland in a decade-spanning initiative. 

Biodiversity Net Gain provider Environment Bank will be delivering the project over the next 30 years, transforming difficult to farm green space into Bog Hall Habitat Bank, offering high integrity Nature Shares to businesses in the process. 

Selected for its significant biodiversity uplift potential, the boggy marshland is considered to be of high ecological value. Located in the Howardian Hill National Landscape, one area is already designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation [SINC].

‘We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with the Castle Howard Estate Team, who are passionate about protecting the natural world. This project is particularly exciting for us, not only due to its potential benefit for nature but also for the unique opportunity to contribute to the restoration of historic natural features on a nationally significant heritage site,’ said Emma Toovey, Chief Ecology Officer at Environment Bank. ‘The naturally wet and boggy site provides the ideal conditions to nurture and reestablish a vast range of flora and fauna. Most exciting of all perhaps, are our ambitions to re-introduce beavers.’

Once complete, the Castle Howard project is expected to generate a near-200% biodiversity uplift, sequestering over 30,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas emissions over 30 years. Additionally, bat populations will increase by as much as 250%, while plant diversity and numbers of pollinators could leap by 60 and 140% respectively. 

‘Castle Howard has a 300-year history as a custodian of the natural environment, and we now have a key role to play in responding to the ecological challenges we face today,’ said the Honorable Nicolas Howard of Castle Howard. ‘We know we must take quick and urgent action to combat biodiversity loss and help turn the tide on climate change. These plans will ensure we create a positive legacy for our local communities and the wider environment in which they live, securing the future of the Estate for generations to come.’

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