two women and one man walking in a forest. There are lots of leaves on the floor and trees on both side of their pathway. They are all wearing wellies, and smiling and laughing as they walk

Natural Capital and Environment

For landowners interested in maximising the value of their natural capital, the expertise and experience of our Agriculture and Estates team will be invaluable. Our large team and practical approach gives you the support you need to achieve your goal.

A member of our agriculture and estates team on a farm talking to a client and smiling

Denise Wilkinson

Partner, Head of Agriculture and Estates Team

Working with clients whose business is often inextricable from their family lives, I know how important it is to truly understand how they and their business works so that I can give them the practical and strategic advice they need. I support my clients by ensuring that their future can be secured and that they achieve the best possible outcome.

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Man smiling wearing a green jacket standing in front of a brown wooden building. His hand are in his coat pockets and he is wearing glasses

James Frankland

Partner

Acting for landowners and farmers is about being at the heart of their business and family.  I enjoy working with clients and other advisers and being part of the client’s team.  I also enjoy working on diverse matters as my farming and charity clients tend to be innovative and always looking for the next opportunity.

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Meet the team

a black and white cow standing in a field looking forward. There are other black and white cows in the background that are in the same field

Working to achieve the outcomes conservation owners need

We provide the legal insight the conservation owners who are at the forefront of establishing new natural capital schemes need. Our clients include conservation charities, wildlife trusts, developers, farmers, rural land and estate owners, and councils.

Recent projects include developing Environmental Land Management Schemes, working on carbon credit sale documentation and links to land use in peat, trees and landscape recovery and setting up a habitat bank for biodiversity net gain credits.

Recognising that funding is often a crucial pillar of many natural capital schemes, we are experienced in navigating grant funding requirements and using biodiversity net gain, carbon credit, water quality and neutrality schemes to help fund conservation work.

image shows a person standing with green wellingtons, you cannot see their head, the photo is of their feet only. The person is standing on grey and white cobble stones. Some are covered in green moss

30 years of natural capital experience

Natural capital might be a new area of law to many, but we’ve been working on projects in this area since the mid-1990s. It gives us a depth of understanding that few can match.

We take a practical, solution-focused approach that recognises there is no standard route to achieving what’s required. As a result, you can be confident that when you bring us your end goal, we have the experience to be able to find the vehicle that will make it work.

As well as the expertise of our Agriculture and Estates team, we can also draw on the knowledge of our Real Estate team for insight on planning, regulatory, land use and management matters. It gives you a complete solution and seamless legal provision that adds value from beginning to end.

Services from our Agriculture and Estates team

Hear what our clients say about us

The team is proactive, rather than reactive. Has a fantastic support network to accommodate any specialisms needed across the team, collaborating with difficult/complicated matters, meaning you are always getting the right, and best advice.

They provide seamless cover for any out of office requirements and their communication skills are exemplary, meaning you always know where you are with a transactions/job.

Agriculture and Estates – Legal 500 2024

HCR Hewitsons have been a longstanding partner of our organisation and supporting land acquisitions, disputes and projects of national significance for a number of years.

The firm are able to drill down to the necessary detail of a case quickly and effectively.

Agriculture and Estates – Legal 500 2024

Many thanks for all your work on this and speedy responses to everything, you have made the whole process very simple for us. Thanks again!

Darren Gordon – General Manager Concept Environmental Solutions

Recognition of our work

Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk

Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk
Investors in People

Investors in People

Recommended for Quality

Recommended for Quality

Times Best Law Firm

Times Best Law Firm

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