Rebuilding a 175-year-old house with longevity & biodiversity top of mind.

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) legislation is a step forward for conservation but there are gaps when it comes to smaller-scale projects such as home extensions and small-scale "in-fill development". Whilst the large housing developers are now required to mitigate habitat loss and enhance biodiversity, smaller developments, typically undertaken by private individuals or small development companies, are not subject to the same scrutiny. Some County Councils and Borough Councils are implementing legislation to address this imbalance but not all. The result is a patchwork of inconsistency where critical microhabitats disappear year after year -ponds, hedges, and old orchard trees are just a few examples. The anticipated relaxation of planning laws under the Labour Government and the rising price of land is likely to intensify this issue, pushing wildlife even further to the margins.

Selective use of materials to lower the carbon footprint.

When I embarked on the rebuild of an 1850s granary building in the summer of 2023, it would have been easier and cheaper to source standard structural timber from a timber yard. However, that timber would in all likelihood have been imported, with limited transparency regarding its supply chain. So, I took a different approach: I sourced UK-grown timber from a plantation within the same county and by identifying and working with an independent timber-grading specialist, the correct timber to meet C26 standards was selected. Instead of rushing the process, I allowed the felled trees to season naturally. Once ready, they were sawn into the correct lengths and kiln-dried to achieve a consistent moisture level, minimizing shrinkage and distortion during the installation and construction phase. I used a local sawmill, and all operations - felling, sawing, and drying - took place within a 30-mile radius of the house build site. This significantly reduced the carbon footprint of the build and supported five local businesses.

Incorporating habitat improvement into the build

For sustainability and longevity, I also reused materials wherever possible. Old bricks were reclaimed from the old structure and repurposed. Other new materials were selected with specific environmental benefits in mind. I used Graphenstone paints, which purify the air. I chose roof tiles with a resin finish to enhance their longevity. Even the old internal roof timbers, such as the eaves and cross braces, were sandblasted and reintegrated into the structure, adding both aesthetic and structural value. To upgrade biodiversity I incorporated swift boxes, house martin cups, and bat boxes into the build, positioning them under the new soffits. These features will provide new nesting options where none existed before.

Multiple opportunities to do good.

During the rebuild, I discovered staples made from steel and known as a “dogs” - used to join timbers under load. Forged by on-site blacksmiths in the past, these simple devices are still used in construction industry nowadays to hold together wooden frameworks. In many ways, the "dog" serves as a fitting metaphor for my role in rebuilding a house to be better suited for humans but also much improved for wildlife.

Even if legislation does not at the moment fully align, we can, through individual and highly thoughtful actions, stitch together a thriving and diverse habitat through multiple micro-leadership actions. Humans are “connectors” that can hold the fragile framework of local habitats together while legislation catches up.

It will take 3-4 years for the swifts and house martins to hopefully select my house for a new colony - assuming they do. In the meantime "No Mow in May" and "No Prune in June" will hopefully boost insect, bee, and fly life in the garden and bring the birds in.

(picture credit: Round Wood of Mayfield)