Biodiversity Benchmark

© Terry Whittaker

© Terry Whittaker

Biodiversity Benchmark

Certifying excellence in nature-postive site management

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48 sites awarded Biodiversity Benchmark ()
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14 organisations with certified sites ()
7,800 hectares of land certified ()

Biodiversity Benchmark empowers land-owning businesses to make a meaningful impact for nature. Together, we can transform landscapes, protect wildlife, and create a thriving natural world for future generations.

The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark is the only standard that certifies the management of your business site for wildlife. Landowning businesses can be a positive force for nature’s recovery and we want to recognise and celebrate those businesses which have achieved excellence. 

Biodiversity Benchmark is designed to complement ISO14001 and tests the design and implementation of a business’s management systems to achieve continual biodiversity enhancement and protection on their sites. 

Biodiversity Benchmark Introduction Pack

Biodiversity Benchmark Requirements

“I’ve worked in extraction for a long time and have come across many standards – The Wildlife Trusts' Biodiversity Benchmark is by far and away the best.”
Jenny Oldroyd
Restoration Manager, Tarmac
People surveying by water's edge

Request a pre-assessment form

The first step to achieving Biodiversity Benchmark certification is requesting a pre-assessment form. Simply fill out and submit your details and we will reply via email with the form to complete. 

By completing this form, you provide us with essential information about your current land management practices and whether your site is ready to have an Initial BB Assessment.

Wildlife Trust Consultancies can be contracted to help you complete this form and can be contacted directly for a quote.  

Request a pre-assessment form

Biodiversity Benchmark Case studies

Diverse land-owning businesses are using The Wildlife Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark to transform their sites into thriving habitats through strategic planning, ecological monitoring, and community engagement.  

Met Office with lake and bullrushes, Biodiversity Benchmark, the Wildlife Trusts

The Met Office

Case study
Heath bee fly on a Viridor Biodiversity Benchmark site

Stockley Park

Case study
Marsh harrier flying over fields, The Wildlife Trusts

Marsh harrier - Andrew Parkinson/2020VISION

SES Water

Case Study
Meadow with purple flowers at Gatwick with plane flying in the background, Biodiversity Benchmark, The Wildlife Trusts

© Rachel Bicker

Gatwick Airport

Case study

Contact us

If you are seeking to achieve Biodiversity Benchmark it’s important to get the right advice.

Contact us now

How much does Biodiversity Benchmark cost? 

All prices quoted below include the relevant on-site assessments, quality assurance, certification, and a framed certificate when the Biodiversity Benchmark is first achieved. Membership of 'Club BB' is also included.  

Prices exclude VAT, and do not include assessor's expenses, additional assessments if required, or the optional pre-assessment form completion.  

To prepare for a Biodiversity Benchmark application, businesses may wish to contract a Wildlife Trust Consultancy to undertake ecological work, for example, species and habitat  surveying, writing biodiversity management plans, or completing the pre-assessment form.  

Note: Prices will be reviewed annually and are subject to change.

Single site

Cost for assessment and certification: 

  • £500 new client registration fee 
  • £7,200 + assessor expenses  
  • Includes: initial assessment, main assessment, quality assurance and certification 

Annual cost for assessment and re-certification: 

  • £3,000 + assessor expenses 
  • Includes: surveillance assessment, quality assurance and re-certification. 

Multiple sites

Cost for assessment and certification: 

  • Site 1: £7,200, + assessor expenses  
  • Sites 2-10: £5,760 per site, + assessor expenses  
  • Sites 11-20: please contact bb@wildlifetrusts.org to discuss  

Includes: initial assessment, main assessment, quality assurance and certification 

Annual cost for assessment and re-certification 

  • Site 1: £3,000 + assessor expenses 
  • Sites 2-10: £2,400 + assessor expenses 
  • Sites 11-20: please contact bb@wildlifetrusts.org to discuss  

Includes: surveillance assessment, quality assurance and re-certification.  

Biodiversity Benchmark Assessors

The following are trained and experienced Biodiversity Benchmark Assessors. They are all available for private consultancy to support organisations, although they would subsequently be disqualified from undertaking assessment of that organisation.

Claire Gibbs
Surrey Wildlife Trust, School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, GU24 0JN
claire.gibbs@surreywt.org.uk (01483) 795465

John Lamb
Lancashire Wildlife Trust, The Barn, Berkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, PR5 6BY
jlamb@lancswt.org.uk (01772) 317240

Colin Mendendez
Chalkhill Environmental Consultants, Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1NJ
colin@ctmwildlife.co.uk (01453) 827272