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Biodiversity

Wilder Horsham District

Wilder Horsham District (WHD) is a partnership between Horsham District Council and Sussex Wildlife Trust and  established in response to the urgent pressures on biodiversity.

Wilder Horsham District has already achieved much to be proud of.  We would like to thank all landowners, community groups, organisations, partners, and individuals who have engaged with and supported the project so far. The initiative has recently been extended to 2028.

The Community Climate Fund logo is displayed because a photo of the project is unavailable

Biodiversity Duty

The Biodiversity Duty Report contains the actions the Council intends to take to enhance biodiversity within the District.

Under the Environment Act 2021, Horsham District Council is required to consider what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity as part of our Biodiversity Duty. Our 'First Consideration' document sets out the Council's current position and next steps we intend to take to fulfil this duty.

This will be kept under review and updated as necessary.

View of the River Arun taken by Toby Phillips Photography. Photograph shows a length of the river in summer with a lush green bank. A small group are paddling in orange and yellow kayaks.

A Declaration for River Recovery

Our Declaration for River Recovery recognises the importance to the natural world of rivers, their tributaries and streams and has been developed in conjunction with several neighbouring councils, as well as local conservation groups and two Rivers Trusts. It relates to the rivers Rother, Arun and Adur.

We are already making a lot of progress in the ongoing restoration of rivers and watercourses, much of which has been achieved through our ground breaking work with the Wilder Horsham District project working in partnership with the Sussex Wildlife Trust.

Highwood Hill Habitat Bank

Habitat Bank Criteria

For a Habitat Bank to sell biodiversity units on the market they must be registered on the national Biodiversity Gain Sites Register. To register the site, Habitat Banks must provide a signed legal agreement with a Local Authority or Responsible Body.

Horsham District Council wishes to help establish Habitat Banks within the District, and therefore the Council has created a Habitat Bank Criteria checklist which aims to guide prospective Habitat Banks with the information expected to be submitted for the Councils consideration for entering a legal agreement.