Southend Barns

A collaborative Biodiversity Net Gain habitat creation and management project in the Chichester countryside between Eco-Logical Landscapes, & premier wedding venue and regenerative farm South End Barns.

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

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.

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:

Lowland meadow and neutral grassland, providing wildflower-rich areas for pollinators and farmland birds.
Ponds and reed beds, creating a network of freshwater features to support amphibians and invertebrates.
Restored ditches and wetland margins, improving water quality and habitat connectivity.
Scrub and hedgerow planting, reinforcing ecological corridors across the farm.

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

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.

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

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.

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.