About Biodiversity
This October, join Farmers Weekly live for a look at biodiversity net gain agreements. Our expert panel will discuss where potential income can be found and the issues to watch out for.
From November 2023 there will be a legal obligation for developers to increase the biodiversity on their sites by at least 10%, known as biodiversity net gain (BNG).
It will often not be possible to achieve this on the building site itself, so farmers and landowners are already being approached by developers looking for additional land to help them meet this.
There will be payments for biodiversity units and long-term agreements for managing the BNG land.
There are many considerations, not only the legal and tax implications but also the impact on the long-term future of a land holding.
Discussion will include:
- Different models for delivering BNG
- Legal and tax implications
- Planning considerations
- An interactive look at the onsite habitat bank
Refreshments will be available throughout the day and lunch will also be provided.
Expert advice
Gain critical insights and guidance from those who built a diversification business
Case study tours
View the site/project on the day to see how it was diversified to create a new income stream
Networking opportunities
Meet like-minded farmers from across the UK farming industry to share experiences and ideas
Hear from speakers
Have your questions answered and discuss your ideas with professionals and peers
Agenda
| 09:00 |
Attendee registration desk opens, teas, coffees and speakers to arrive at the venue for networking breakfast/coffee and speaker briefing meeting |
| 09:25 |
Welcome from Suzie Horne, business editor at Farmers Weekly |
| 09:30 – 09:55 |
General overview of biodiversity net gain (BNG) - Tom Mason, Environment Bank (20 mins + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 09:55 – 10:20 |
Interactive overview of the BNG project/Habitat - Tom Mason, Environment Bank (20 mins + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 10:20– 10:45 |
Ecologist Tom Rethero, Environment Bank (20 mins + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 10:45 – 11:15 |
Coffee/comfort break |
| 11:15 – 11:40 |
Guide to legal implications for these types of development - Harvey Davies, Thrings (20 mins + 5 mins Q&A) |
| 11:40 – 12:05 |
Suzie Horne, morning sessions summary |
| 12:05 – 13:15 |
Lunch |
| 13:15 - 13:40 |
Guide to tax implications, Neil Berry, MHA |
| 13:40 – 14:30 |
Opportunities and challenges - Q&A session with all advisors, plus Alexander Ward, estate owner |
| 14.30 - 15:00 |
Suzie Horne, closing remarks |
Meet the host
Suzie Horne is Farmers Weekly’s Business Editor. She has a Yorkshire family farming background and an HND in agricultural marketing and business administration.
Suzie has an extensive background in agricultural journalism and is interested in all farm business and rural issues.
Speakers
Tom Mason
Tom Mason leads the Land Teams across the Southern regions for the Environment Bank.
Tom Mason
This includes oversight of the onboarding of land for delivering biodiversity net gain, negotiation of commercial agreements and facilitating the delivery of projects in the region.
Tom has a demonstrated history of working with farmers and landowners. Following work as an arable operator in East Anglia, Tom undertook a MSc in Rural Land & Business Management at the University of Reading before embarking on a career as a land agent with a large national property firm.
Following this, he spent two years with the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) advising members on land and rural property related matters as well as contributing to lobbying at local and national government levels. He then joined Environment Bank in July 2022.
Tom Rothero
Tom brings 13 years of commercial and ecology experience from the environmental consultancy sector to Environment Bank where he oversees the running of the National Ecology team.
Tom Rothero
Tom brings 13 years of commercial and ecology experience from the environmental consultancy sector to Environment Bank where he oversees the running of the National Ecology team.
After over a decade of delivering ecological consultancy services to the development sector across the country, Tom joined Environment Bank in 2021 and has played an instrumental role in establishing a national network of large-scale nature recovery projects that deliver significant uplifts in biodiversity value in response to the soon-to-be mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) planning requirement.
Harvey Davies
Harvey is a solicitor in the Agriculture team at Thrings and is a member of the NFU and Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
Harvey Davies
Harvey is a solicitor in the Agriculture team at Thrings and is a member of the NFU and Country Land and Business Association (CLA).
In addition to his role at Thrings, Harvey also owns and manages a farm enterprise in Herefordshire.
He is passionate about rural business and its potential to deliver a positive economic and environmental impact.
He possesses a unique blend of legal and business experience in the farming sector which underpins a deep understanding of agricultural businesses and their requirements.
He advises agricultural clients regularly on the planning and environmental challenges affecting the sector and has developed particular expertise in natural capital markets, including biodiversity net gain.
Neil Berry
Neil is a Chartered Tax Adviser with over 25 years’ experience.
Neil Berry
Neil is a Chartered Tax Adviser with over 25 years’ experience.
Starting his career at a local medium-sized practice, Neil moved to Edinburgh to join a Big Four international practice where he qualified.
Spending time in the private client department, he gained experience in tax planning for high net-worth individuals and their associated businesses.
Moving back to the Midlands, Neil then spent three years specialising in VAT before moving to London to work for a top 20 firm of accountants.
Advising on all areas of tax, in particular corporate, international and financial products, Neil now focuses on bringing a wealth of city and Big Four experience to the firm’s clients.
Venue
Cornwell Manor
Cornwell, Chipping Norton
Oxfordshire
OX7 6TT
Tel 01608 658555 / office 01608 698673
More information is available at the Cornwell Manor website.
The postcode for Cornwell is OX7 6TT. If you are travelling from London this should bring you into Chipping Norton via the M40, coming off at Junction 8 for Oxford, then follow the A40 into Oxford and the A44 towards Evesham, via Woodstock and Blenheim Palace until you reach Chipping Norton.
From Chipping Norton: as you approach Chipping Norton on the A44 from Woodstock turn left at the double mini roundabout into Chipping Norton town centre.
Go over the pelican crossing and turn left onto West Street (which appears to be straight on as the road forks to the right). Pass the The Fox and The Kings Arms on your left and proceed straight on over the mini roundabout to Churchill and Bledington. After about 3.5 miles, before you reach Churchill, turn right at a small crossroads, signposted to Cornwell and Kingham Hill School.
Continue along this road for 1.8 miles, over a humpback bridge and you will soon see the lakes and the manor up ahead of you to your right.
The entrance to Cornwell Manor is on the right, the drive signposted “Private Road: Manor House entrance only”. Please enter here and park in the parking area to the left of the house and ring the bell at the front door.
The what3words location for the main house entrance is: freshest.hothouse.clutches
Supplier entrance (large lorries or marquee deliveries for the field location) is: fuzz.swarm.fight
Headline partner - Environment Bank
Environment Bank
To address the critical issue of biodiversity loss, we are looking for landowners and farmers to establish a nationwide network of biodiverse Habitat Banks.
Find out more about Environment Bank: environmentbank.com
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