WILDLIFE

WILDLIFE

Blackburns Farm was awarded the coveted status of the Wildlife Trust Biodiversity Benchmark in 2023. It is the first farm to be awarded the title, joining the likes of Aggregate Industries, Center Parcs, EDF new nuclear power stations, Gatwick & Heathrow Airports, the Met Office HQ and Tarmac in demonstrating an ongoing commitment to biodiversity protection and enhancement.

“We believe that we can achieve more for wildlife by working together, everyone has a part to play in achieving nature’s recovery.”

– Lancashire Wildlife Trust

WILDLIFE TRUST BIODIVERSITY BENCHMARK

The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark is the only standard that certifies management of business landholdings in the best interests of wildlife. The Biodiversity Benchmark tests the design and implementation of a business’s management systems to achieve continual biodiversity enhancement and protection on their landholdings. The requirements of the Biodiversity Benchmark include encouraging partner organisations to define and fulfil objectives relating to the continual conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. The first partnership meeting was held at Blackburns Farm in December 2021 and included representatives from;

  • Enviromental Agency
  • Fylde Bird Club
  • Fylde Borough Council (Ranger Service
  • Lancashire County Council
  • National Farmers Union
  • Natural England
  • Ribble Rivers Trust
  • Butterfly Conservation
  • Country Landowners Association
  • Royal Society For The Protection Of Birds

Biological Heritage Site Status

As part of the Wildlife Trusts extended habitat survey of the farm, two of the established ponds were found to meet the Biological Heritage Site (BHS) selection guidelines. A proposal for the ponds to be included in the programme will be considered at the next meeting of the BHS Site selection panel. The objective of the Biological Heritage Sites selection guidelines is to enable the systematic identification of those sites, which together with the statutory wildlife sites, will make the most significant contribution to the biological diversity of Lancashire.

Great Crested Newt Ponds

During 2021, in partnership with Natural England and the Wildlife Trust, Blackburns Farm commissioned 6 ponds for the Great Crested Newt. As part of a national initiative to save the species. The project will be subject to annual surveys by amphibian specialists.
The Great crested newts have seen dramatic declines in their populations over the last 60 years despite being protected under UK and EU law. The new habitats that have been created specifically in an attempt to reverse the trend. .