About Oli Ong

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So far Oli Ong has created 90 blog entries.

Using Beavers to Benefit Ecosystem Health

Article prepared by Rachel Crapper, Assistant Ecological Consultant Importance of Ecosystem Health Healthy communities rely on a well-functioning ecosystem. They provide fresh water, clean air, medicines and food security. They also limit disease and stabilize the climate; which in turn makes a robust environment for flora and fauna. How do beavers help? Read more »

Budget boost for farmers and environment with extension to Agricultural Property Relief

As part of the Spring Budget 2024, the Government has announced an extension to the existing scope of Agricultural Property Relief. This will now include all environmental land management schemes, covering the Sustainable Farming Incentive, Countryside Stewardship (and other stewardship schemes) and Landscape Recovery, as well as the England Woodland Creation Offer and other similar Read more »

Nicholsons New Associate Director: Freddie Gibbs, Head of Garden Design

I first joined Nicholsons back in the summer of 2016 on a placement year during my degree in Product Design at the University of Bournemouth. After I completed my studies, I returned as an assistant within the team and have continued to progress through different roles: Studio Manager, Garden Designer to Senior Designer, Head Read more »

Where Conservation is Challenged by Climate Change

As gardeners, we are veterans of the biosecurity threat with more emerging pests and diseases arriving on our shores as each month passes. Last year, Dr Nicola Spence, the Chief Plant Health Officer, delivered a lecture at the Forestry Conference outlining the pests and diseases arriving in Britain to infect our native species. She Read more »

Bats Hibernation and What it Means for Development

December is the month where the ‘big sleep’ typically starts for bats. They may have already started longer periods of physical inactivity referred to as ‘torpor’ during November depending on weather, temperatures and food availability. December typically sees the temperature getting colder and bats moving to their winter roosts, sometimes in small groups, but Read more »

Statutory Biodiversity Credit Prices

On the 27th July 2023 DEFRA announced the indicative prices for statutory biodiversity credits: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/statutory-biodiversity-credit-prices#area-habitats Where biodiversity net gain credits are not able to be balanced on site, or off-set within land held by the developer, credits may be purchased from DEFRA’s “credit sales service” at a ratio of 2 credits per 1 biodiversity unit Read more »

John Lockhart Qualifies as Building with Nature Assessor

“We are delighted to announce that John Lockhart has been granted approved assessor status for Building with Nature (BwN). Building with Nature is the UK’s first accreditation scheme that provides a robust benchmark for green infrastructure.  The scheme is now becoming widely recognised and valued.  It involves an independent evaluation against 12 identified standards, Read more »