E148 David Hill: The Architect of BNG

What happens when an ecologist stops waiting for government — and builds the system himself?Professor David Hill CBE, founder of Environment Bank and the architect of biodiversity net gain (BNG), joins Rich Stockdale PhD for a conversation that rewrites the rules of conservation.From founding the UK’s first environmental consultancy to forcing Westminster to legislate for nature, David’s journey is proof that change doesn’t come from policy papers — it comes from people willing to fight the system.They go deep on:How BNG became law — and why it almost didn’t.Why private investment is the only route to large-scale restoration.The £45 million surge in biodiversity markets.And the creation of The Foundation for Nature — a ratings agency for the planet.This is not a polite discussion about the environment.It’s about power, persistence, and the business of saving the natural world.