A blog by Clare Rooney, Biodiversity Training Programme Manager
At Field Studies Council, we are passionate about equipping ecologists and environmental professionals with the skills they need to make a real difference for biodiversity. That’s why we’re thrilled to highlight the success of our Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for Assessors course, developed in close collaboration with the Environment Agency (EA) and Natural England.
A course built with expert guidance
The EA has been instrumental in shaping the watercourse aspect of Biodiversity Net Gain. Their National Biodiversity Team has supported Natural England in creating training on the watercourse module of the BNG Statutory Metric, ensuring it accurately reflects the physical features of watercourses and their riparian zones.
Unlike area or hedgerow habitats, assessing watercourses requires specific River Condition Assessment training. Enhancements to a watercourse focus on working with natural processes to improve biodiversity, whether through physical changes to the watercourse itself or its surrounding riparian zone.
Course attendee, May 2025“Excellent oraganisation, clear communication and learning materials, extremely well delivered. Complex ideas were conveyed very clearly and with patience. The whole thing was very enjoyable – fantastic job – thank you!”
From concept to classroom
Our Field Studies Council Biodiversity training team initially collaborated with Natural England to develop the online Biodiversity Net Gain for Reviewers course. Feedback from that course, combined with wider discussions about skills gaps in the sector, highlighted the need for an advanced, in-person course for assessors. From the very beginning, the EA played a key role in shaping the Biodiversity Net Gain for Assessors course. They generously shared training resources, reviewed our materials, and sent a senior team member to support the first run of the course. Their feedback helped ensure that the training is fully aligned with policy, best practice guidance, and statutory requirements.
“I thought the training session on watercourse BNG was incredibly well run and perfectly pitched. The speed and presentation of the content was perfect, and the combination of both site visits were complementary to the classroom training. Focusing on the riparian zone, encroachment multipliers and areas of uplift worked perfectly in an introductory course where overcomplication is easy to do.”
EA Senior Advisor (National Biodiversity)
Continuous improvement and real impact
Thanks to the EA’s expert input, our first course run received constructive feedback that required only minor adjustments. The result is a comprehensive, practical course that gives participants the confidence and expertise to assess and enhance watercourse biodiversity effectively.
Learn more about the ‘Biodiversity Net Gain for Assessors‘ course and view upcoming dates here.