Give a gift that restores nature: Biodiversity Credits in the South Downs
December 10, 2024
Are you struggling for gift inspiration this Christmas and looking for something a little bit different?
Did you know you can actually buy your very own piece of nature restoration that’s guaranteed for 30 years?
As part of the National Park’s Voluntary Biodiversity Credits scheme, we’re offering a chance to fund the creation of a new woodland habitat.
Sarah Westbrook, Nature-based Solutions Officer for the National Park, explained: “This is a really unique opportunity to support nature recovery in the South Downs.
“By buying a Voluntary Biodiversity Credit, you would be giving a loved one a share in the restoration of the iconic Iford Estate, near Lewes, which is working hard to create new habitats such as woodlands so that wildlife can thrive once again.
“Voluntary Biodiversity Credits are a way for individuals and organisations to contribute voluntarily to nature by investing in specific environmental projects, all supported and regulated by the National Park Authority.
“We appreciate this is a Christmas present with a difference and won’t be in everyone’s price range, but it’s certainly a gift that will leave a lasting legacy over many decades. It could be that you consider giving it to a loved one as a joint present and these credits are also open to businesses and community groups to purchase.”
The cost of one Voluntary Biodiversity Credit is £170, which secures a 3×3 metre parcel of land for nature recovery. Each credit is mapped with its own unique reference and secured formally to ensure it remains in place for at least 30 years.
Sarah added: “From biodiversity loss to climate change, the Iford Estate’s restoration projects address some of the most pressing environmental issues of our time.
“The South Downs National Park has an ambitious goal of securing 33 per cent of land managed for nature by 2030 and this gift directly contributes to its success.”
You can find out more here: https://earthly.org/projects/iford-estate-woodland-creation
Anyone interested can contact Sarah for more information at sarah.westbrook@southdowns.gov.uk