Skipwith CONNECTED: Restoring Nature across landscapes
Biodiversity Net Gain
A BOLD VISION FOR
SKIPWITH’S FUTURE
Imagine a landscape where wetlands, heathlands, and woodlands thrive together—where nature and wildlife flourish in harmony.
At Skipwith, we are making this vision a reality.
Location
Situated between York and Selby, Escrick Park Estate has been a dedicated steward of nature for centuries. Now, we have a unique opportunity to expand and restore habitats, creating a seamless connection between Skipwith Common National Nature Reserve (NNR), the Back Common and the surrounding farmland. This ambitious project will enhance biodiversity, support rare species, and create a landscape that benefits both wildlife and people.
OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Enhance Biodiversity
Restore and connect diverse habitats to support a wide range of species.
Promote Sustainable Land Use
Transition from arable farming to conservation-focused practices that align with natural processes.
Foster Community Engagement
Provide educational and recreational opportunities for the public to connect with and appreciate nature.
Ensure Long-Term Stewardship
Commit to the ongoing management and monitoring of restored habitats to maintain ecological integrity.
THE SKIPWITH CORRIDOR
The area south of Skipwith village is primarily arable farmland, but poor drainage, varied soils, and small field sizes make farming increasingly difficult. Instead of struggling against nature, we’re embracing it— by transforming these fields into a thriving buffer for Skipwith Common.
With the natural re-wetting of the landscape, we will restore:
- Lowland fen and priority ponds
- Wet and dry grassland
- Reedbeds and wet woodland
- Diverse scrub habitats
Through minimal interventions and natural water movement, we will safeguard the NNR, reduce the pressures of intensive farming, and create new opportunities for species to expand and flourish. Longhorn cattle grazing will further support a dynamic and self-sustaining habitat mosaic.
Restoring Heathland:
A Rare Opportunity
The restoration of Skipwith’s heathland is vital. Over the past 250 years, an estimated 97% of heathland in the Vale of York has disappeared, making Skipwith Common one of the last strongholds of this internationally important habitat. Four small fields once part of the original heathland will be restored, creating new areas of:
- Acid grassland
- Lowland wet and dry heath
- Early successional habitats for rare species
Additionally, ‘daylighting’ historic culverted drains will introduce more wetland elements, further increasing biodiversity. Skipwith Common already boasts the largest designated lowland wet heath in northern England and this project will significantly strengthen its ecological resilience.
Restoring the farmland mosaic at Adamsons
Once a patchwork quilt of over two dozen field in the 1940s, the farmland at Adamsons Farm, at the western end of the project, has been reduced to four monoculture fields abutting Skipwith Common NNR. The project will see the hedgerows reinstated along their historic lines to subdivide the area into 21 separate fields. This will be integrated with farm ponds and
scrub, the ‘daylighting’ of culverted drains, more naturalised watercourses and catch ditches.
Furthermore, the traditional orchard once integral to every farm in the area, will be replanted. This will bring the farm alive for nature in a way that it hasn’t been since the advent of "The Green Revolution" and will deliver further resilience to Skipwith Common. Simultaneously, the area will help provide some winter grazing for the cattle that manage Skipwith Common and much of the rest of the site, providing a holistic grazing system.
This will include:
- Dry meadow grassland
- Scrub and priority ponds
- Hedgerows and watercourses
- Traditional orchard
A Thriving Bastion of Wildlife
This project isn’t just about restoring habitats—it’s about connectivity. Through Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) principles, we’re creating long-term, high-quality habitats with a 30-year commitment to their success.
This project aligns with the Lawton Principles, established in the landmark review ‘Making Space for Nature’ (2010), which calls for conservation that is:
- Bigger – Expanding current wildlife sites
- Better – Improving habitat quality
- More joined up – Strengthening connections between landscapes
By restoring and reconnecting Skipwith Common NNR with the Back Common and the surrounding landscape, linking up over 454 hectares (1,124 acres) at a landscape scale, the project embodies this approach, ensuring a future where nature is not just protected but allowed to thrive. This will multiply the benefits for wildlife, allowing species to move, adapt, and thrive.