11th August 2026
The Land Trust is proud to support innovative approaches to nature recovery, and Cornwall Wildlife Trust is demonstrating how Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) can help create lasting benefits for wildlife, communities and the wider environment in Cornwall through long term habitat restoration and management.
Through its habitat bank programme, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is restoring and enhancing habitats across Cornwall, providing organisations with opportunities to invest in nature while delivering measurable biodiversity improvements. A key example of this work is Lanvean Bottoms, a well-established 5 hectare nature reserve near St Mawgan in north Cornwall that has been cared for by Cornwall Wildlife Trust for over 30 years.
With slopes of oak and hazel and wildlife-rich habitats, Lanvean Bottoms is an important site for nature in Cornwall. Home to species including dormice and renowned for its winter displays of scarlet elf cup fungi, the reserve plays a valuable role in supporting biodiversity across the wider landscape. Through Biodiversity Net Gain investment, Cornwall Wildlife Trust is securing the long-term enhancement and management of these habitats, helping to strengthen biodiversity, improve climate resilience and increase ecological connectivity across Cornwall.
As a Responsible Body, the Land Trust plays an important role in ensuring that BNG commitments are secured and managed for the long term. Responsible Bodies help provide confidence that habitats created or enhanced through BNG will continue to deliver ecological benefits for decades to come, supporting both planning requirements and meaningful environmental outcomes.
Callum Deveney, Director of Nature Recovery, Cornwall Wildlife Trust speaks on the partnership “Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been managing nature reserves for over 60 years and is committed to delivering high-integrity Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) units that create lasting benefits for Cornwall’s wildlife. We could not have partnered with a more experienced and professional Responsible Body than the Land Trust, whose expertise, passion for nature, and shared objectives align so closely with our own. We look forward to building on this strong partnership for many years to come.”
Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s work demonstrates how BNG can go beyond compliance, creating opportunities to restore habitats, strengthen climate resilience and support the recovery of local wildlife. Projects such as Lanvean Bottoms showcase the potential for partnerships between conservation organisations, developers and land managers to deliver transformative environmental benefits.
Ben Christie, Head Ecologist, the Land Trust said “Projects like Lanvean Bottoms demonstrate how Biodiversity Net Gain can be a powerful tool for delivering meaningful, long-term nature recovery. By creating and enhancing habitats at scale, Cornwall Wildlife Trust are restoring fragmented ecological networks, supporting wildlife populations and building resilience to the impacts of climate change. As a Responsible Body, the Land Trust is proud to support initiatives that secure the long-term stewardship of these habitats.”