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How habitat boxes can improve biodiversity
Biodiversity in the UK is dwindling, but manufacturers are embracing nature, writes Maisie McKenzie, biodiversity manager at Wienerberger UK & Ireland
Maisie McKenzie is biodiversity manager at Wienerberger UK
Biodiversity in the UK is dwindling, but manufacturers are embracing nature, writes Maisie McKenzie, biodiversity manager at Wienerberger UK & Ireland #UKHousingBiodiversity has always been a critical part of the UK’s ecosystem. From providing food and raw materials to regulating climate and freshwater quality, the standard of human life on Earth depends on a healthy and thriving biodiversity.
Its protection and management, however, has not always been a priority. Since 1970, UK species have declined by about 19% on average, and nearly one in six species are now threatened with extinction.
But things are changing. Net zero targets are no longer a distant ambition but a looming goal demanding attention and action. The restoration and sustainable handling of our biodiversity is intrinsic to the UK’s ongoing green agenda and policies. We can see this in the introduction of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) in February 2024, requiring developers to leave the land in a measurably better state than it was before development. Now, there is space in the planning and development sector for sustainability.
This February, the UK government published a national biodiversity strategy and action plan, Blueprint for halting and reversing biodiversity loss: The UK’s national biodiversity strategy and action plan for 2030. The document set out how the UK is planning to work towards its commitments in the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), including how to reduce biodiversity threats and implement solutions in a variety of sectors.
Every stakeholder in the built environment sector has a part to play in halting the decline of biodiversity. But manufacturers are in a unique position to promote green innovation, by using materials that protect wildlife while not delaying or disrupting project deadlines or work.
Manufacturers such as Wienerberger have looked to merge urban housebuilding with biodiversity through eco-habitat boxes. Eco-habitat boxes are integrated wildlife boxes within bricks, tiles and other masonry materials that offer durable and discreet habitats for British birds, bats, bees and other species. For architects and specifiers, these boxes are a fuss-free and inexpensive solution.
The emergence of such units has come at a time when homeowners and commercial property tenants have a greater appreciation of nature. Our post-lockdown societies have a deeper understanding of the benefits of being exposed to nature and wildlife, and biodiversity loss is becoming not just common knowledge, but a common concern.
Wildlife boxes are only becoming more adaptable and versatile as their popularity increases with both homeowners and house builders. For example, all Wienerberger Eco-Habitat boxes are produced in the UK to standard brick and tile sizing with ease of application and durability at the heart of the designs. They can also be faced in any brick type, regardless of manufacturer, stone finish or suitability for render. By being produced using the same masonry, the product can expand and retract with the building, making it a long-lasting option, a priority when building with biodiversity net gain in mind.
Conversations about biodiversity are no longer on the margins, but at the heart of the continuing net zero agenda. As we approach 2030, meaningful solutions that get us a step closer to a greener, more sustainable future should be championed. Eco-habitat boxes are a small but important action we can take to help halt the decline of biodiversity. Straightforward inclusions in housebuilding are perfect for house builders, developers and specifiers who are working on sustainable changes that can be made without hassle or significant expense.
These simple innovations within building materials are a leading example of how biodiversity is here to stay, and now is a better time than ever to get in the loop.
Maisie McKenzie, biodiversity manager, Wienerberger UK & Ireland
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