Southend Barns
A collaborative Biodiversity Net Gain habitat creation & management project in the Chichester countryside between Eco-Logical Landscapes, & premier wedding venue & regenerative farm Southend Barns.
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Wide variety of Biodiversity Net Gain Units Available from Southend Barns. BNG units in the South Coast Plain & Chichester LPA: other neutral grassland, lowland meadow, traditional orchard, priority pond, broadleaved woodland, reed bed, mixed scrub. species-rich native hedgerow with trees and ditch. Upload your metric for an instant BNG quote.
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Southend Barns Biodiversity Net Gain Partnership
Ecological Landscapes has partnered with Southend Barns, a family-run farm and wedding venue set between key the key ecological areas of the South Downs and Chichester Harbour. The registered habitat bank established at Southend Barns is a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) project that will massively enhance wildlife value across fifty acres of farmland. The BNG scheme supports local ecological recovery while complementing the working farm’s long-term operations and heritage.
The Fleming family have always been innovative farmers. Originally the farm had mixed arable and dairy operations, they moved into intensive salad farming, and now they are a landmark regenerative farm growing maize, legumes, and wild farmed wheat on rotation. The focus is on producing the highest quality produce without damaging the land. This is achieved by minimal use of fertilizers and pesticides, and disturbing the soil as little as possible. The combination of regenerative farming and the creation of a protected BNG habitat bank is a guarantee that Southend Barns will have a meaningful impact on the ecology of West Sussex.​​​​
A Collaborative Vision
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The partnership was developed in close coordination with The Manhood Wildlife & Heritage Group, Chichester District Council, and the Local Nature Recovery Scheme, aligning the project with local conservation priorities and landscape-scale nature recovery goals. This is key to creating truly impactful habitat banks, that make a real difference to local and national projects. Southend Barns is perfectly located to play a key role in Chichester's nature recovery scheme.
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For the family at Southend Barns, this initiative reflects a deep commitment to stewardship — enhancing biodiversity on land that’s been in their family for generations while continuing to sustain a productive rural business and to enhance the beautiful setting of their rural wedding venue. Locking land into a BNG scheme is a meaningful way to preserve land & rural life for future generations.
Habitat Creation and Enhancement
The Southend Barns project converts predominantly arable land into a diverse mosaic of new and restored habitats, designed to support a wide range of native wildlife. The habitats include:
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Lowland meadow and neutral grassland, providing wildflower-rich areas for pollinators and farmland birds.
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Ponds and reed beds, creating a network of freshwater features to support amphibians and invertebrates.
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Restored ditches and wetland margins, improving water quality and habitat connectivity.
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Scrub and hedgerow planting, reinforcing ecological corridors across the farm.
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Each habitat type has been carefully mapped and designed to deliver measurable biodiversity uplift under Natural England’s BNG metric, contributing to both on-site and local nature recovery priorities.
Management and Delivery
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The landowner-led model was central to this project’s design. The family wished to retain direct involvement in habitat management, supported by Ecological Landscapes’ ongoing oversight and ecological expertise.
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A comprehensive Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan (HMMP) was developed by Ecological Landscape's CIEEM-registered ecologists, ensuring that the creation and maintenance of new habitats meet both scientific and regulatory standards. Ecological Landscapes will continue to work with the landowners and to monitor progress, providing adaptive management advice to secure long-term habitat success.
Supporting Local Nature Recovery
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It's becoming very clear that national & local strategies for nature recovery are key to creating country wide successes, strengthening landscape connectivity and climate resilience. The creation of biodiversity net gain units at Southend Barns demonstrates how farmland and biodiversity enhancement can work hand-in-hand — producing positive ecological, economic, and social outcomes for all. Protecting traditional ways of life whilst creating meaningful impacts for nature.
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The habitat bank at Southend Barns is secured by a Section 106 agreement, the first in the Chichester District. Enabling developers to purchase responsible BNG units offsite.
Q&A With Southend Barns
Why Did You Choose to Create a Habitat Bank​?
Creating a Biodiversity Net Gain habitat bank at Southend Farm felt like the natural next step in the regenerative journey we’ve been on. After years of intensive salad production, we know that we have to focus heavily on rebuilding organic matter and soil health, reducing inputs and moving towards more organic crop production. That shift has completely changed how we see the land — it’s not just productive acreage, it’s a living system.
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BNG aligns with that philosophy. It allows us to enhance habitats in a measurable, structured way while strengthening the long-term resilience of the farm.
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We’re particularly excited about the mixed orchard. It feels like a return to something traditional and diverse — fruit and nut trees, blossom for pollinators, layered habitats and productive land use all working together. It embodies the balance we’re trying to achieve between ecology and enterprise.
How have you found the process of setting up a habitat bank, and do you have any advice for others who are considering it?
The process has been thorough and detailed. There are habitat surveys, baseline calculations, legal agreements and long-term management commitments to think about. It’s not something to approach lightly. However, because it fits so closely with our regenerative approach, it has felt purposeful rather than overwhelming.
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Our advice to others would be:
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Be clear about your long-term vision for the land.
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Understand the 30-year commitment and make sure the management plan is realistic.
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Work with trusted professionals who understand both ecology and farming.
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Be patient — it’s a strategic decision, not a quick diversification.
Done properly, it becomes part of your overall land stewardship story.
How will the changes to your land benefit your businesses?
The benefits reach across everything we do.
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We host weddings and events on the farm, and all of our weddings are carbon neutral. Enhancing biodiversity and creating long-term habitats reinforces that commitment in a very real way. Couples are celebrating in a landscape that is actively being restored.
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The mixed orchard is especially exciting because it connects directly to our catering. All our food is prepared on site, and we plan to incorporate fruit and nuts from the orchards into our wedding menus. Guests will quite literally be eating produce grown on the land around them — which creates a genuine field-to-fork experience.
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At the same time, healthier soils, increased biodiversity and stronger ecosystems underpin our move towards organic crop production. Commercially, the habitat bank also brings stability and diversification, helping to future-proof the business.
How would you describe your experience of working with Eco-Logical Landscapes?
Working with Eco-Logical Landscapes has been central to making this project achievable.
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Their expertise has been invaluable in guiding us through the ecological assessments and ensuring the habitat plans are both robust and practical. His ability to explain complex metrics in a way that makes sense on a working farm has given us real confidence.
The team's experience has also been instrumental — particularly in shaping the design of the fields and ensuring it delivers both habitat value and long-term viability. Technical understanding combined with practical insight has made a real difference.
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Together, they’ve brought professionalism, reassurance and a collaborative spirit to what is a significant long-term commitment for us. Having that level of expertise alongside us has made the journey feel structured and positive.
