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Biodiversity and Habitat

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Biodiversity and Habitat Preston

Good for Nature, Good for People

Healthy habitats are good for people and places. They also keep projects moving. We design and deliver biodiversity work that fits real sites, real budgets and day-to-day operations. From baseline surveys and Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) support to creating meadows, hedgerows and ponds, everything is planned so it can be maintained and evidenced over the long term. 

We are Arboricultural Association Approved and used to working around schools, housing estates, parks, farms, business parks, utilities and development sites across Preston, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the wider North West. 

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Quick Reference: What to Do and When

Objective 

Typical setting 

Intervention 

What you gain 

Establish your starting point 

Any site 

Baseline habitat survey and map 

Clear picture for planning, funding and future measurement 

Deliver BNG or simple habitat uplift 

Development plots, estates, campuses 

Habitat design, metric input, creation plan 

A compliant, buildable scheme with sensible maintenance 

Make space for nature fast 

Parks, schools, public realm 

Meadow creation, native hedgerows, tree and shrub belts 

Seasonal interest, pollinators and better structure 

Improve wet areas and edges 

Farms, SuDS, canals, reservoirs 

Ponds, scrapes, marginal planting, buffers 

Water quality gains and wildlife corridors 

Keep it thriving for the long term 

All sites 

HMMP, schedules, monitoring and photo records 

Predictable costs and evidence that habitats are working 

How We Work

  1. Baseline and aims
    We walk the site, map what is there and listen to what you need the space to do. We confirm constraints such as public access, protected trees, watercourses and services.
  2. Design and metrics
    For BNG we prepare practical designs, complete the relevant metric and set out a creation and management plan. For non-planning sites we keep it simple and focus on outcomes.
  3. Build and establish
    Planting, sowing, tree and hedge creation, pond works, deadwood and habitat features, plus any fencing or protection. We phase works around use of the site and school terms.
  4. Manage and monitor
    Maintenance that matches the habitat. Mow and collect in meadows. Hedge cuts at the right time. Checks on water, weeds and invasive plants. Short photo reports you can share.

What We Deliver

  • Baseline habitat surveys and maps
  • BNG design and metric input, including Small Sites Metric where appropriate
  • Habitat Management and Monitoring Plans (HMMP) with clear, seasonal tasks
  • Habitat creation: wildflower meadows, native hedgerows, woodland blocks, ponds and scrapes, marginal planting and SuDS planting
  • Tree and shrub belts for shelter, screening and structure
  • Practical biosecurity and invasive species support so gains are not lost
  • Monitoring and reporting with dated photos and simple measures

Speak To Us Today

Get in touch with Great Oaks today. We’re happy to answer any questions relating to arboriculture or grounds maintenance, or provide further info about our chainsaw courses.

Habitats that Work on Real Sites

Meadows that last

We select seed to match soil and use a cut-and-collect regime so soils do not get too rich. Paths are mown through for access. Display boards or simple signs help people understand what they are seeing.

Hedgerows that add structure

Mixed native hedges planted in staggered rows with guards or shelters. We plan formative cuts in year two so hedges thicken from the base and give instant benefits for birds and small mammals.

Woodland and belts that fit the space

Right species, right spacing. In parks and schools we mix faster and slower growers for early impact and long life. Mulch rings and simple watering plans keep establishment on track.

Water that draws wildlife in

Small ponds, scrapes and marginal planting convert wet corners into assets. We agree a simple de-silting and vegetation plan so they stay useful and safe.

Habitat features that cost little

Deadwood piles, log stacks, bug hotels and bird or bat boxes add value without adding complexity. We place them where maintenance teams can work around them.

BNG Made Practical

Biodiversity Net Gain is about leaving places better than you found them and proving it for the long term. We make that manageable. 

  • Clear designs that fit within your construction sequence 
  • Plant and seed choices you can actually maintain 
  • Simple responsibilities and schedules for the first years on site 
  • Monitoring notes in plain English with photos and measurable checks 
  • Coordination with tree protection and landscape plans so nothing clashes 

Working Around People, Permits and Seasons

Schools, parks and public spaces need timing and communication. We schedule around peak use, post clear signage and keep routes open. Where consents are needed for water, protected trees or conservation areas we plan works and paperwork together. 

Example Scenarios

  • School field to seasonal meadow: Baseline agreed, seed selected for soil, paths mown, staff given a short guide. Spring bulbs added near entrances for early colour.
  • Housing estate green spine: Native hedge with tree belt and meadow margins. Clear annual plan shared with grounds teams. Residents see quick visual improvements.
  • Utility site margins: Simple shrub and tree belts to create buffers, with a straightforward maintenance plan that fits permit windows and access needs.
  • Small development plot: BNG design using hedgerows, meadow blocks and a pond. Metric completed, HMMP issued, monitoring visits set in the diary.

Monitoring and Reporting

We visit at sensible times each year, check survival and condition, and make small adjustments. You receive a short note with photos, simple measures and next actions. If something is not working, we change it rather than letting targets drift.

FAQs

Can you help even if we are not in the planning system? 
Yes. Many schools, estates and businesses improve biodiversity without formal BNG. We keep it proportionate and usable. 

How long do we need to monitor for BNG? 
BNG schemes expect long-term monitoring and maintenance. We set a realistic schedule with clear, seasonal tasks so it remains achievable. 

Can you integrate this with tree protection and landscape works? 
Yes. We align with BS5837 and landscape plans so protection, planting and maintenance support each other. 

What if invasive weeds are present already? 
We map them and build control into the plan so gains are not undermined. 

How much does biodiversity work cost? 
Our initial advice is free and the fastest route to a sensible plan. For searchers who want a guide, national averages range from a few hundred pounds for a small baseline survey through to several thousand for multi-habitat creation and first-year maintenance on larger sites. Final costs depend on area, access, habitat mix and monitoring needs. Share photos and a postcode to get a tailored quote. 

Start a Biodiversity and Habitat Plan that Works

Great Oaks Tree Services. Practical habitat creation and BNG support that people enjoy and wildlife can rely on.

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Our biodiversity and habitat services