--- title: Pixcellence Blog | Clwyd Probert description: Clwyd Probert is the founder and editor of Pixcellence. He spent more than a decade as a professional photographer; in 2013 his studio photographed Hope 4 Apes at the Savoy, the Ape Alliance gala hosted by Sir David Attenborough and Brian May with Ian Redmond OBE, organised with charities including the Born Free Foundation. He continues to work with wildlife charities. Pixcellence is his effort to make UK biodiversity and climate evidence clear, sourced and accessible, illustrated in the tradition of Victorian natural history art. image: https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hubfs/a%20dystopian%20view%20of%20a%20world%20with%20no%20nature%20and%20steam%20punk%20technology%20and%20high%20pollution%20.jpg --- [![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png) ![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/) [![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=312&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/climate-change-what-is-it-uk-guide) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/protected-species-uk-guide) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [Biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) - [UK Ecosystems & Habitats](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/ecosystems-types-examples-uk-guide) - [Climate & Nature](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/climate-change-what-is-it-uk-guide) - [Wildlife & the Law](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/protected-species-uk-guide) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) [Pixcellence Blog](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) Categories **Browse All Categories** - [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) - [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) - [definition](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/definition) - [climate change](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/climate-change) - [photography](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/photography) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=90&height=90&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) ## Clwyd Probert Clwyd Probert is the founder and editor of Pixcellence. He spent more than a decade as a professional photographer; in 2013 his studio photographed Hope 4 Apes at the Savoy, the Ape Alliance gala hosted by Sir David Attenborough and Brian May with Ian Redmond OBE, organised with charities including the Born Free Foundation. He continues to work with wildlife charities. Pixcellence is his effort to make UK biodiversity and climate evidence clear, sourced and accessible, illustrated in the tradition of Victorian natural history art. #### More from Clwyd Probert [![Watercolour contrasting a short mown grass verge beside a new estate road with a species-rich hay meadow of yellow rattle, buttercup and knapweed behind a wooden fence, with a meadow brown butterfly and a mature oak.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/statutory-metric-hero-20261029-20261029-112418.webp?width=1000&name=statutory-metric-hero-20261029-20261029-112418.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/statutory-biodiversity-metric-explained-guide) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [The Statutory Biodiversity Metric Explained: Strengths, Criticisms and Evidence (2026)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/statutory-biodiversity-metric-explained-guide) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 The statutory biodiversity metric is the Defra tool that measures biodiversity value for biodiversity net gain (BNG) in England. It turns habitats into "biodiversity units" by scoring their area, ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/statutory-biodiversity-metric-explained-guide) [![Watercolour of a new housing estate edge beside a restored wildflower meadow and pond, with a badger in the foreground, a goldfinch on a thistle and a swallow overhead.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/bng-regulations-hero-hero-1.webp?width=1000&name=bng-regulations-hero-hero-1.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-regulations) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [BNG Regulations 2026: The Law, Exemptions and Compliance in England](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-regulations) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is required by Schedule 7A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, inserted by Schedule 14 of the Environment Act 2021. Unless exempt, every planning permission in ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-regulations) [![Watercolour of a former arable field restored as a wet floodplain meadow with shallow scrapes, ragged robin and young trees, and two lapwings, one in display flight.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/bng-guide-habitat-bank-20261029-20261029-112350.webp?width=1000&name=bng-guide-habitat-bank-20261029-20261029-112350.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-defined) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) ### [Biodiversity Net Gain Defined: BNG in Plain English (2026)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-defined) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 Biodiversity net gain (BNG) means leaving wildlife habitat in a measurably better state than it was before a development. In England it is the law: most new development must deliver at least a 10% ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-defined) [![Watercolour of a new English village edge at dusk, with a flower-rich meadow, young hedgerow and wildlife pond in the foreground and a barn owl hunting low over the grass.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/bng-guide-hero-20261029-20261029-112343.webp?width=1000&name=bng-guide-hero-20261029-20261029-112343.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity) ### [Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) Explained: The 2026 Guide for England](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is a legal requirement in England that most new development must leave wildlife habitat at least 10% better than it was before, measured in "biodiversity units" and ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain) [![Watercolour of a species-rich English meadow with orchids, knapweed and a common blue butterfly, a skylark on a fence post and a survey quadrat in the grass, with new village houses beyond a hedgerow.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/bng-metric-hero-20261029-20261029-001508.webp?width=1000&name=bng-metric-hero-20261029-20261029-001508.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-metric) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [BNG Metric Explained: How Biodiversity Net Gain Is Calculated (2026 Update)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-metric) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 29, 2026 The BNG metric, officially the statutory biodiversity metric, is the Defra tool used in England to measure a site's biodiversity value in "biodiversity units" before and after development, to show ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/biodiversity-net-gain-metric) [![Watercolour of an English farm in high summer: a flower-rich field margin with grey partridges beside ripening wheat, a skylark rising, and a hawthorn hedgerow with an oak beyond.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/agricultural-biodiversity-hero-20261029-20261029-000655.webp?width=1000&name=agricultural-biodiversity-hero-20261029-20261029-000655.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/agricultural-biodiversity) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [Agricultural Biodiversity: What It Is, Why It Matters and How UK Farms Can Restore It](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/agricultural-biodiversity) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 28, 2026 Agricultural biodiversity, also called agrobiodiversity, is the variety of life that food and farming depend on: the crops and livestock we raise and their wild relatives, plus the pollinators, soil ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/agricultural-biodiversity) [![Vast Arctic tundra landscape with low-growing vegetation, scattered wildflowers, distant snow-capped mountains and a pale expansive sky](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/tundra-ecosystems-guide-hero-hero-1.webp?width=1000&name=tundra-ecosystems-guide-hero-hero-1.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tundra-ecosystems-complete-guide) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [Tundra Ecosystem: Definition, Climate, Plants, Animals and the UK's Arctic Habitat](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tundra-ecosystems-complete-guide) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 28, 2026 A tundra ecosystem is a cold, treeless biome where only low-growing plants such as mosses, lichens, sedges and dwarf shrubs can survive, because winters are long and dark, the growing season lasts ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tundra-ecosystems-complete-guide) [![Watercolour of an English lowland landscape: oak woodland edge, flower-rich meadow with a brown hare, a flowering hawthorn hedgerow and a chalk stream with a kingfisher on a willow branch.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/what-is-biodiversity-hero-20261023.webp?width=1000&name=what-is-biodiversity-hero-20261023.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [definition](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/definition) ### [What Is Biodiversity? Meaning, Types and UK Examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 23, 2026 Biodiversity, short for biological diversity, is the variety of all life on Earth: the differences within species, between species and between the ecosystems they form together. It covers everything ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-biodiversity) [![Watercolour UK landscape contrasting a thriving biodiverse meadow with butterflies and otters against a degraded monoculture field — illustrating the scale of UK biodiversity loss.](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/biodiversity-loss-hero-uk-contrast-20260513-115613.webp?width=1000&name=biodiversity-loss-hero-uk-contrast-20260513-115613.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-loss-of-biodiversity) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [definition](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/definition), [climate change](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/climate-change), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [What Is Biodiversity Loss? Meaning, UK Evidence and 12 Examples](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-loss-of-biodiversity) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on October 07, 2026 Biodiversity loss is the decline in the variety of life — fewer genes within species, fewer species, and fewer healthy ecosystems — whether locally, nationally or worldwide. In the UK it is ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/what-is-loss-of-biodiversity) [![Thorburn-style watercolour of a clear English chalk stream with a brown trout, water crowfoot and a kingfisher](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/images/chalk-streams-uk-hero.webp?width=1000&name=chalk-streams-uk-hero.webp)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/chalk-streams-uk-freshwater-ecosystem) [biodiversity](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/biodiversity), [climate change](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/climate-change), [conservation](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/tag/conservation) ### [Chalk Streams: The UK's Globally Rare Freshwater Ecosystem (2026)](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/chalk-streams-uk-freshwater-ecosystem) ![Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/blog/authors/clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp?width=50&height=50&name=clwyd-probert-watercolour-400.webp) By [Clwyd Probert](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert) on June 19, 2026 Chalk streams are one of the rarest river habitats on Earth — only around 200 exist worldwide, and roughly 85% of them flow through England. Fed by groundwater filtered slowly through chalk aquifers, ... [Read More](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/chalk-streams-uk-freshwater-ecosystem) [All posts](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/all) [Next](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog/author/clwyd-probert/page/2) ![Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png?width=251&height=75&name=Pixcellence-Logo-CLR-Sidelock.png) - [Topics](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-topics) - [For Students & Teachers](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-students) - [About](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/#px-about) - [All Guides](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/blog) ©2026 Pixcellence, Inc. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.pixcellence.co.uk/privacy-policy)