Furnace FarmBNG offset site

Site description

Furnace Farm extends to some 57 ha and lies around 4.5 miles south-east of Royal Tunbridge Wells, between the villages of Hook Green and Lamberhurst.

The majority of the site currently comprises other neutral grassland and arable cropland with hedgerows, though it also contains river corridor habitat and fragments of ancient woodlands that fall within the Local Wildlife Site TW12 Woods and Pasture near River Teise above Lamberhurst. At least 38 ancient woodland indicator species have been recorded in these woodlands since 1996, suggesting they have been continually wooded for hundreds of years.

Current habitats on site include other neutral grassland, modified grassland, lowland mixed deciduous woodland, cereal crops with a vast array of linear features including line of trees, native and species-rich native hedgerows, species-rich native hedgerows with trees and associated ditches. Individual trees and a priority river (River Teise) are also located on site.

Proposals aim to improve grassland habitats by enhancement through sensitive management opinions. Floodplain wetland mosaic will be created with the aim to produce a habitat suitable to support a variety of wetland plant communities. Mixed scrub will be created to boundary the River Teise running through the site, this will provide nesting habitats for bird species and act as a flood defense.

In addition, species-rich native hedgerows and ditches will be created to allow connectivity between the once fragmented land parcels within the site. With the aim of wildlife using these as corridors to adjoining habitats.

In addition, wet areas of the site will be designed to hold water during heavy rain events, potentially reducing flood risk for local settlements.

Fill out a form at the bottom of this page or email your development's BNG metric to bngenquiries@adonisblue.org.uk for a free BNG consultation.

These units are valid for a maximum of two years, provided site conditions do not significantly change.  If more than two years have lapsed between the site survey and habitat works being undertaken, an updated survey will be necessary to ensure recommendations remain valid.

Habitat Transitions