For the last three summers, shire horses have been at work each Lammas Day, mowing the new wildflower meadow on the former lawn of King’s College, Cambridge. The meadow isn’t just a quaint call back to East Anglia’s past, but gives a glimpse of the future, as new regulations come into force that require measurable biodiversity net gain across all new projects in England.

In this episode, we talk to Dr Cicely Marshall of King’s College, who has been tracking the impact of the meadow’s creation. The work of Dr Marshall, and other ecologists, has helped establish a metric for measuring biodiversity net gain. 

This metric, BSI and ISO member—and WSP head of ecology—Tom Butterworth explains, will help nourish biodiversity across England. 

And biodiversity net gain is already being used on projects like Kingsbrook, in Aylesbury, where, Helen Nyul describes, Barratt Developments has worked with the RSPB to bring nature closer to people’s homes.

Guests 

Dr Cicely Marshall, research fellow, plant science, King’s College, Cambridge

Tom Butterworth, head of ecology, WSP

Helen Nyul, group head of biodiversity, Barratt Developments

Image credit

Jacqueline Garget/Univeristy of Cambridge