Biodiversity Plans for Owlstone Croft

We have big plans for biodiversity at Owlstone Croft.  Our long-term goal for the site is to create a sustainable College community that will work in harmony with the neighbouring nature reserve.

Our landscaping plans include the creation of extensive and biodiverse green roofs, rain gardens and ornamental planting for new post graduate accommodation.  In addition, the site will be re-profiled so that bee lawns established in communal garden areas can transition into meadow grassland and damp grassland towards the eastern boundary.  The existing perimeter hedgerow will be retained and enhanced through planting of native scrub species with shade tolerant meadow grassland beneath. New native hedgerows will also be planted around the new residential buildings and to the other site boundaries.  New native tree planting is also proposed across the site.

In addition to planting, we are proposing to improve lighting conditions at the site boundaries to enhance habitats for wildlife.  The cumulative effect of these improvements would result in a significant net gain in biodiversity net gain of circa 51%.