Bath and North East Somerset BNG Scheme

Sitting atop a hill above Compton Martin, The Wrangle Habitat Bank has views out over both Blagdon Lake and Chew Valley Lake. Run by two families, one of whom has been on the land for two generations and over 100 years, the habitat bank will reclaim pasture and improve on an established woodland. The habitat will be maintained with low-density grazing, preserving the traditional family use.

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Set within the Mendip Hills National Character Area and Bath and North East Somerset Local Planning Authority, The Wrangle is a strategically positioned Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) habitat bank, delivering offsite units to meet statutory BNG requirements.

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The project includes the restoration of neutral grassland, enhancement of traditional orchards, rejuvenation of native hedgerows, and the careful management of lowland mixed deciduous woodland. Targeted habitat enhancements are designed to benefit local biodiversity with a strong emphasis on improving conditions for Greater and Lesser Horseshoe bats—both protected species of international importance.

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Exceptional Location for Bats

The site includes part of the Compton Martin Ochre Mine SSSI, which forms a hibernation roost for horseshoe bats and is a component of the North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC. This makes The Wrangle of national and international ecological significance. Management plans are structured to maximise bat foraging opportunities through continuous grazing with native cattle (Belted Galloways), retention of dunging fields, and the enhancement of commuting corridors such as wide, bushy hedgerows.

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New habitat features include:

• Native species-rich hedgerows with trees
•  Grassland enhancement to lowland meadow 
• Traditional orchard creation using locally appropriate species
• Woodland thinning and enrichment planting to promote structure and diversity

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The scheme is brought to market in partnership with Ethos Environmental Planning. The Wrangle is a self-funded, owner-managed project, demonstrating a strong commitment to stewardship, landscape character, and long-term biodiversity resilience.