The Wildlife Trusts are the UK’s largest grassroots movement for nature, made up of 47 local Wildlife Trusts working across the UK, Alderney and the Isle of Man. Founded in 1912, they protect and restore wildlife on land and at sea, manage over 2,600 nature reserves, work with communities, influence policy and deliver practical conservation at landscape scale.
Their strength lies in combining local knowledge with national reach. Across the movement, Wildlife Trusts are using nature-based solutions to restore habitats, reconnect landscapes and create long-term benefits for wildlife, climate and communities.
What they bring to Better BNG
Many Wildlife Trusts provide BNG and ecological consultancy services, including baseline surveys, onsite BNG design, habitat management and monitoring plans, offsite habitat units and conservation covenants where Trusts are designated Responsible Bodies.
The Wildlife Trusts are also active in wider nature markets. This includes nature-based carbon, such as the major Aviva partnership to restore and create temperate rainforest in the UK, and nutrient neutrality, where Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust helped demonstrate how nature-based nutrient mitigation can unlock sustainable development while reducing pressure on rivers and the Solent.
Nature markets / BNG website
Plantlife is the global charity working to protect, restore and celebrate wild plants and fungi, which underpin healthy ecosystems and support wildlife, climate resilience and people’s connection to nature. Founded in 1989, its work spans meadows, grasslands, woodlands, coasts, peatlands and farmland, combining science, site management, policy advocacy, public engagement and specialist habitat restoration. They have 24 nature reserves across the UK.
What they bring to Better BNG
Plantlife brings specialist expertise in wild plants, fungi, species-rich grasslands and botanical restoration. Its BNG and nature markets work can help landowners and developers design, restore, monitor and manage habitats that deliver genuine ecological value over the long term.
Plantlife also supports BNG delivery through ecological consultancy, habitat management and monitoring plans, offsite habitat units and conservation covenants where it acts as a designated Responsible Body.
Founded in 2001, The Rivers Trust is the umbrella body for a network of 65 local Rivers Trusts working across Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland to restore wild, healthy, natural rivers. The movement brings together catchment science, data, practical delivery, landowner engagement, partnership working and community action to improve rivers, wetlands and freshwater habitats for wildlife and people.
Its work focuses on improving rivers, wetlands and freshwater habitats for wildlife and people, while supporting wider outcomes such as water quality, flood resilience and climate adaptation.
What they bring to Better BNG
The Rivers Trust movement brings catchment-scale expertise to BNG and nature markets. This includes opportunities linked to watercourse units, river restoration, wetland creation, natural flood management and nature-based solutions that improve biodiversity and resilience across whole catchments.
Through Better BNG, The Rivers Trust can help connect biodiversity investment with practical local delivery and wider benefits for rivers, wildlife and communities.
Nature markets website
Link to be confirmed.
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, standing up for native woods and trees since 1972. WT owns and cares for over 1,250 sites covering almost 30,000 ha across the UK.
Its estate includes ancient woodland, wood pasture, veteran trees, newly established woods and scrubland, as well as other valuable habitats such as flower-rich grasslands, heaths, ponds, lakes and moorland. Many of its sites provide everyday access to nature for local communities.
What they bring to Better BNG
The Woodland Trust brings extensive experience in woodland creation, restoration and long-term management. It also has wider nature markets expertise, including experience connected to woodland carbon and long-term habitat stewardship.
Through Better BNG, the Woodland Trust can support woodland-based biodiversity opportunities that deliver for wildlife, climate and people over the long term.
Nature markets website
Link to be confirmed.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is one of the UK’s largest nature conservation charities, working to save threatened species, protect and restore habitats, manage nature reserves and inspire people to take action for nature. Founded in 1891, its conservation work is driven by science and evidence, with expertise across species recovery, landscape restoration, policy, protected areas and public engagement. They have 226 nature reserves across the UK.
What they bring to Better BNG
The RSPB’s BNG and nature markets offer draws on its ecological science, reserve management experience and long-term conservation delivery. Through Better BNG, it can help developers support measurable biodiversity outcomes while contributing to trusted habitat restoration and stewardship on land managed for nature.
Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) is an independent environmental charity, founded in 2011, working to protect and restore biodiversity in Oxfordshire and neighbouring areas. It funds local environmental projects, supports community access to nature and works with communities, landowners and developers to create biodiverse habitats where nature can thrive.
What they bring to Better BNG
TOE has a strong track record in Biodiversity Net Gain, including early delivery of BNG units and habitat banks in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Its model connects developer investment with high-integrity local nature recovery, helping fund practical environmental projects and long-term habitat management.
