Mixed Scrub BNG Units
Medium
Heathland and shrub
Trusted by Developers and Landowners
What is Mixed Scrub?
Mixed scrub is a habitat of dense or scattered shrubs, typically 1–5 metres tall, composed of a range of native woody species. It often develops as a transitional stage between grassland and woodland, or where land is left unmanaged. Scrub can form mosaics with grassland, woodland edges, or hedgerows, creating valuable structural diversity.
Why It Matters for BNG
Mixed scrub supports birds, pollinators and small mammals. Creating structurally diverse scrub helps deliver moderate to good condition units and strengthens habitat networks.
Allowing scrub to develop where appropriate generates BNG opportunities with minimal intervention. Managing age structure and species mix increases unit value while supporting wildlife.
Where It Is Found
Mixed scrub appears across a wide variety of landscapes, including:
• Grassland margins and pasture edges
• Woodland rides and glades
• Hedgerow expansions and field corners
• Brownfield sites and abandoned land
• Road verges, railway embankments, and quarries
How To Create Mixed Scrub From Scratch
Inputs
• Allow natural regeneration by excluding or reducing grazing and mowing to permit shrub seedlings to establish
• Directly plant or seed a range of native shrubs to speed up development
• Use thorny species such as hawthorn and blackthorn as “nurse shrubs” to provide protection for later colonisers
• Avoid herbicide or fertiliser applications, which suppress shrub establishment and understorey diversity
Management
• Plan for a varied age structure by planting in patches of different sizes and densities
• Retain open ground and grassy patches within new scrub to prevent uniform thickets
• In drier regions, favour drought-tolerant species such as gorse or more resilient provenances of hawthorn
• Where appropriate, coppice or cut back sections to create structural variety and prevent monocultures
Landscape
• Target planting on field corners, slopes, or margins where scrub links other semi-natural habitats
• Position new scrub adjacent to existing hedgerows, woodland, or grassland to create habitat networks
• Use scrub as a buffer strip along watercourses or between farmland and semi-natural habitats
• Plan scrub mosaics that combine dense thickets, scattered bushes, and edges to maximise biodiversity
How To Improve Existing Mixed Scrub
Inputs
• Supplement single-species thickets with additional native shrubs to broaden diversity
• Allow natural regeneration to add structural complexity without heavy intervention
Management
• Maintain a varied age structure by rotational cutting or coppicing patches
• Retain thorn thickets, bramble, and rose patches, which are valuable for invertebrates and nesting birds
• Prevent total succession to closed-canopy woodland if mixed scrub is the intended long-term habitat
Landscape
• Link scrub patches with hedgerows and woodland edges to strengthen ecological networks
• Retain gradual transitions from scrub into grassland or woodland, avoiding hard edges
• Incorporate open rides or glades for light-demanding plants and invertebrates
Target Condition
Mixed Scrub in Good Condition shows:
• A diverse mix of native shrub species, including both thorn and non-thorn types
• Structural variety, with dense thickets, scattered bushes, and open areas
• Evidence of natural regeneration and a healthy understorey
• Functional connections with adjacent habitats
The BNG Value of Mixed Scrub
• Distinctiveness: Medium
• Condition Potential: High, if structural diversity and species richness are maintained
• Habitat Connectivity: Provides strong links across fragmented landscapes
• Climate Services: Contributes to carbon storage, soil stability, and shelter for livestock
Species Typical of Mixed Scrubs
🌿 Shrubs
• Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)
• Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa)
• Dog-rose (Rosa canina)
• Bramble (Rubus fruticosus)
• Hazel (Corylus avellana)
• Elder (Sambucus nigra)
• Gorse (Ulex europaeus) on dry sites
🐦 Birds
• Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
• Common whitethroat (Curruca communis)
• Linnet (Linaria cannabina)
• Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
• Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
🐇Mammals
• European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus)
• Hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) [regionally restricted]
• Common pipistrelle (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) [bat species using scrub edges]
🐝Invertebrates
• Brown hairstreak (Thecla betulae)
• Numerous pollinators including bumblebees (Bombus spp.) and hoverflies (Syrphidae)
.jpg)
.avif)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Mixed Scrub?
A general BNG metric category for areas dominated by a mix of native shrubs and young trees (e.g., Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Willow) that doesn't fit the criteria for a specific, high-value scrub type (like Blackthorn or Gorse Scrub).
How is BNG measured here?
Assessment focuses on the species diversity of the scrub and the associated understorey/ground flora. Condition is based on the structure and extent of non-native species.
How can I achieve BNG?
Enhancement by managing the structure (rotational cutting/coppicing) to provide different age classes of scrub and controlling invasive species. Creation by planting diverse native shrubs.
What is the BNG target condition?
A Good condition often involves a mix of dense and open areas, a diverse shrub species mix, and evidence of ongoing management to prevent it from succeeding fully to woodland.
What management is required?
Rotational cutting or light grazing (where appropriate) to prevent succession to woodland and maintain the open-edge characteristics that benefit insects and birds.
Exploring Other Habitats?
Hazel Scrub
Hazel scrub is a native scrub habitat dominated by hazel, typically forming dense multi-stemmed shrubs or coppice stools usually less than 5 metres in height. It commonly occurs along woodland edges, ride margins, hedgerow networks and as transitional scrub developing on former grassland or farmland.
Hazel scrub provides structural habitat for birds and small mammals and produces nuts, catkins and leaf litter that support invertebrates and woodland food webs. It may also function as a transitional habitat facilitating woodland regeneration.
Lowland Heathland
Lowland heathland is a semi-natural habitat dominated by dwarf shrubs growing on nutrient-poor, acidic soils in the lowland zone, generally below about 300 metres above sea level. The vegetation is typically dominated by ericaceous species such as heather, bell heather, and cross-leaved heath, often with gorse species.
Lowland heathland usually occurs as a mosaic habitat, containing patches of dwarf shrub heath alongside acid grassland, bare ground, scattered scrub or trees, and occasionally wet heath or small bog areas.
Bramble Scrub
Bramble scrub is a dense scrub habitat dominated by bramble , typically forming thick thickets between 2 and 3 metres in height. It commonly occurs along woodland margins, grassland edges, road and rail embankments, brownfield land and other disturbed areas as part of natural vegetation succession. All bramble scrub parcels are also recorded as poor condition in the metric, regardless of their structure or species composition.
Ready to buy your units?
Easily buy your BNG units online today to ensure compliance and positive environmental impact.