A living landscape A call to restore the UK’s battered ecosystems, for wildlife and people

Adaptation to climate change Sustainable local economies Abundant wildlife Healthy cities and green space for all So much of the UK now is packed with development Beatrice Fenton/BBC and wildlife is in retreat. There are many fi ne nature A LIVING LANDSCAPE reserves but our future must be to integrate human and natural communities and restore a better balance. This document lays out exciting and important new plans. Professor Aubrey Manning OBE President of Matthew Roberts. Cover picture: St Ives and the river Great Ouse, Cambridgshire, Dae Sasitorn/lastrefuge.co.uk Where will our water come from? When will our land use become truly sustainable? How can our environment adapt to climate change? What would it take to rebuild a wildlife-rich countryside? Why are so many people disconnected from nature?

Priestcliffe Lees nature reserve, owned by Derbyshire Wildlife Trust: a treasure chest of local biodiversity. The Wildlife Trusts see such places as nodes from It’s time to think big which plants and animals can recolonise a recovering landscape To adapt to climate change, the UK’s wildlife will need to move Driven by local people and aspirations, The Wildlife Trusts play along ‘climate corridors’ up and down the country, or to shadier a leading role not just in developing the vision but in mustering slopes or cooler valleys. Wildlife has done it all before, after the the support that can allow communities to drive their own last ice age, but this time the change is faster and there are change. We do this by working closely with community groups, unexpected obstacles: cities, motorways and expanses of hostile businesses, land managers and local authorities on landscape- countryside. scale projects around the UK. If we don’t give our wildlife enough room to manoeuvre, a We look to the Government to show leadership also. The collapse in biodiversity is inevitable. For decades we have been Government needs to be brave enough to remove the obstacles slowing the decline in biodiversity by protecting small oases of preventing our wildlife from adapting; to buy more time by wildlife as an emergency measure. Now, in the face of climate resolving to reduce our greenhouse gas change, it is essential that we link these oases and restore our emissions; and to show political will by serious ecosystems and natural processes at a speed and on a scale investment in rebuilding biodiversity on a that we would once have felt was impossible. landscape scale. We need to create our Living Different parts of the UK will need to take different Landscape now. Our window of opportunity will approaches, depending not only upon natural habitats but upon soon close. local social and economic needs. And change on this scale Stephanie Hilborne needs deep-rooted support across many constituencies. Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts

2 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 3 This page and following: blue-sky.com 5 A living landscape landscape living A in 1850 in for agriculture agriculture for LOST LAKE LOST

This was the site of of site the was This Whittlesey Mere – the the – Mere Whittlesey largest lake in lowland lowland in lake largest Turn over to see see to over Turn future better a England. It was drained drained was It England. FEN Britain in lowland lowland in Natural England Natural This National Nature Nature National This Reserve was the fi rst rst fi the was Reserve WOODWALTON WOODWALTON HOLME FEN HOLME Today it’s managed by managed it’s Today Holme Fen National National Fen Holme (now The Wildlife Trusts). Trusts). Wildlife The (now Nature Reserve is the the is Reserve Nature largest birch woodland woodland birch largest MD for Environment and Regeneration, County Council County Kent Regeneration, and Environment for MD reserve owned by the SPNR SPNR the by owned reserve

All local authorities can play a part in creating a a creating in part a play can native our authorities give local will All which habitats of mosaic Peter Raine Peter wildlife a fl exible future. Planning policies and strategic strategic and policies Planning future. huge exible offer fl a partners, with wildlife often now. grasp acquisition, land must we which opportunities Yaxley village, just south of of south just village, Yaxley is centre city The Peterborough. Fen Woodwalton from miles eight continually DRAINAGE CONSTANT CONSTANT pumps must work work must pumps Peat shrinkage means shrinkage Peat sea level, under constant constant under level, sea threat of fl ood. The drain drain The ood. fl of threat much of the area is below below is area the of much DECLINE WILDLIFE WILDLIFE many decades many two reserves over over reserves two steadily eroded the the eroded steadily intensive farming have have farming intensive species diversity of the the of diversity species Invasive species, water water species, Invasive pollution and the effects of of effects the and pollution www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org WIND WIND is exposed is EROSION underlying clay clay underlying www.wildlifetrusts.org inches left before the the before left inches soil in just 150 years. In In years. 150 just in soil places there is barely 18 18 barely is there places y the loss of 14 feet of peat peat of feet 14 of loss the Intensive farming has seen seen has farming Intensive a w l i a r A1(M) motorway A1(M)

e n i l n i East Coast Coast East a mainline railway mainline m An area of Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire of area An fertile, still 2000: in farmland and – time of out running but of richness the eroding gradually it within Reserves Nature the wildlife are also the building blocks that make up up make that blocks building the also are which wildlife on environment functioning healthy, the wildlife amount to the same thing. The species, species, The thing. same the to amount our wildlife comprise that ecosystems even and habitats he desire for a sustainable world and one rich in in rich one and world sustainable a for desire he

A LIVING LANDSCAPE LIVING A

The local Wildlife Trust’s Great Fen Project (overleaf) (overleaf) Project Fen Great Trust’s Wildlife local The Today the area provides few opportunities. The market market The opportunities. few provides area the Today The picture also shows two places which escaped the the escaped which places two shows also picture The into working order, for the benefi t of people and wildlife. and people of t benefi the for order, working into landscapes in the county, and few jobs outside farming. outside jobs few and county, the in landscapes back countryside the putting by that all change to aims poorly on measures such as housing, employment and and employment housing, as such number the measures on half than poorly fewer are There other services. with to access compared here hectare per footpaths public of example of truly sustainable land use. land sustainable truly of example performs picture, the of right the off just Ramsey, of town land provided plentiful food and natural resources for local local for resources natural and food was plentiful result The provided land wildlife. for habitat unrivalled an an and and people, England, in areas prosperous most the of one In the past the fens were a vast complex of rivers, streams, area rich streams, a is this rivers, of Yet complex vast a were fens the The past the reedbed. In and bog raised woodland, grassland, wet spraying, uncontrolled water levels and nitrogen pollution pollution nitrogen and levels water the and uncontrolled species, of spraying, stores treasure their at away eating are depend. they which upon habitats wholesale drainage of the fens: Woodwalton Fen National National Fen Woodwalton fens: the of Holme and drainage 1910, in wholesale established crop (centre), Reserve pressure: under Nature are too They top). (centre NNR Fen the soil level has fallen 14 feet, due to shrinkage and wind wind and shrinkage to due feet, 14 fallen has left. peat level of soil the inches 18 only are there places In erosion. Cambridgeshire fens, south of Peterborough. It includes includes It Peterborough. of south fens, that but Cambridgeshire Britain, in land productive A most the of disappearing. some is soil peat The price. a shows at 1850 comes in bounty foresight) remarkable (with planted marker How not to do it do to the not in How farmland of area an shows photograph This we all depend. This is why The Wildlife Trusts are leading leading are Trusts Wildlife The why is This depend. a on all we work conservation nature making in way the scale. landscape T there is no environmental limit to land use. use. land to limit environmental no is landscape there a on work to is solution The processes natural harnessing scale, The idea of a modern-day ark in a sea of of sea a in ark modern-day a of that idea The belief the is So dead. is emptiness

A living landscape landscape living A Nature can’t exist in a box... a in exist can’t Nature 4 The fens stand as one of the most misunderstood, neglected and extraordinary A LIVING LANDSCAPE features of the British landscape. I am very proud to be involved with a new drive to protect, understand and evangelise this unique part of our country. Stephen Fry President, The Great Fen Campaign

NEW WHITTLESEY MERE Although not on the ...and we can’t exist without nature original site, the lake will be named after the original. Visitors will explore the By perhaps 2035, a crane’s-eye view of a project’s waterways in electric boats reborn wetland reveals fl ood protection for REEDBED surrounding farmland, access by foot, boat OPEN WATER and cycle, abundant wildlife and a thriving, diverse, sustainable local economy WET MEADOW

o walk all day without retracing your steps, among habitats and species that exist nowhere else on this scale; for lowland England it seems an impossible dream. But it is the vision of the Great Fen Project – to recreate an inspirational ROAMING T landscape not seen since the 17th century. It will take a GRAZERS SEASONAL FLOODING lifetime to complete, and will leave a living legacy for Areas of scrub, grassland and woodland future generations. will be grazed by free- roaming cattle and horses, It’s all about working together to create a shifting, semi-wild landscape The project is a partnership between the Environment DRY GRASSLAND Agency, Huntingdonshire District Council, Natural England and the local Wildlife Trust. It will restore and recreate 3,700 hectares between Huntingdon and Peterborough; reconnect Woodwalton and Holme Fen, halting the deterioration of both sites; promote natural processes such as grazing and peat generation; and have a positive impact upon the region’s land and water management, and rural economy. NEW SPECIES Threatened species not With excellent transport links, and Peterborough, usually seen in this area Huntingdon and Cambridge all within 20 miles, the Great will return and thrive: fen Fen will power a new local economy. Hotels, B&Bs and violets, nightingales, cranes and spoonbills – perhaps restaurants will appear, and there will be more jobs in RENEWABLE even great bustard wildlife-friendly farm products, reed harvesting, and grass RESOURCES and hay production. Management of the reserve itself will Management of wildlife provide paid and volunteer work. BROADLEAF WOODLAND areas could allow commercial cropping of reed for local thatch, Better ecosystem services organic dairy and meat For wildlife, the area will improve so much that new production species, such as spoonbill and common crane, could establish. The loss of peat will be arrested, and habitats unique to this resource will return. Inspired by local Wildlife Trusts across the UK, living landscapes such as the Great Fen are a vision for people 100,000 as much as for wildlife. They will deliver better ecosystem VISITORS Tourism from the UK services such as fl ood protection, aquifer recharge, soil and abroad will create conservation, nutrient reduction and absorption of carbon more opportunities for dioxide. They are also high-quality environments, that local people than the Within a few decades the same farmland that used people enjoy visiting or living in, and a major antidote to area will be transformed, thanks to to be here the urban-centred life most of us have to live. the leadership of the Wildlife Trust Above all, they have the capacity to remind us that we for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, too are still part of nature. Northamptonshire and Peterborough

6 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 7 To rebuild biodiversity and adapt to climate change we need visionary thinking which takes the whole of A LIVING LANDSCAPE the UK’s environment into account. Natural England looks forward to working with The Wildlife Trusts and others to champion a landscape-scale revolution. Helen Phillips Chief Executive, Natural England South West Regional Biodiversity Partnership Matthew Roberts Restore, recreate, reconnect To rebuild biodiversity on a landscape scale, you must fi rst identify the best potential areas. This example, from the South West Wildlife Trusts and partners, shows how a region’s key habitats can be mapped

Over the last three years the South West The map is intended to inform STRATEGIC NATURE AREAS Wildlife Trusts have developed a science- conservation strategies and regional spatial Woodland based framework to help identify what, planning. It is recognised by the Regional Chalk downland where and how much habitat needs to be Assembly, Defra, Natural England and the Limestone grassland created to guarantee the long-term survival Regional Development Agency. Neutral grassland of the region’s biodiversity. The Wildlife The South West Wildlife Trusts Coastal & fl oodplain grazing marsh Trusts, Natural England and other partners themselves have begun landscape-scale Purple moor grass & rush pasture have applied this to create the South West projects in each county. All depend on the Upland heath Nature Map (see map). support of local communities and Lowland heath Focusing on UK Biodiversity Action Plan landowners. The aim is to include large Standing open water habitats, the framework defi nes and selects areas of land in conservation programmes, Mosaic a set of ecologically viable units of habitat, but also to ensure they are compatible with Coastal called Strategic Nature Areas (SNAs). Each the needs of local people. Farming, Principal rivers SNA is a potential landscape in which recreation, education, and rural County/unitary authority boundary wildlife populations and rural communities infrastructure (roads, houses, businesses) can thrive in the long-term, and through can all exist alongside and within SNAs. A youth project in Rede which habitat fragments can be reconnected Wood, Suffolk. The Wildlife Trusts are forging to create a self-sustaining whole. local connections with The project uses a practical, evolving people across the UK methodology which takes account of ecological viability. Critically, it also involves 150 local conservation experts across the region. As a result the South West Wildlife The Wildlife Trusts’ unique strengths Trusts believe that the SNAs on this map Local connections, broad ecological expertise and 2,200 reserves are the places where habitat should be As the next eight pages show, The Wildlife Knowledge conserved, connected and created. Their Trusts play a leading role in landscape-scale The examples overleaf show how we can development will be crucial in the race to projects all over the UK, from city to work with nature rather than against it. To help species, habitats and landscapes adapt mountain top to seashore. As well as the do this means understanding the local to the pressures of climate change. wetland example (p6), the next section ecology, wildlife, water and soils that make features fi ve other key landscape types to up the landscape, and also local economic, Wildlife Trusts in other show the challenges that need to be met cultural and social needs. The Wildlife Trusts English regions are and the benefi ts that can be delivered. are driven and owned by people with working together to These benefi ts are not just environmental, unrivalled knowledge of their local area, past produce biodiversity maps like this, and the but social and economic. Government and present. This must inform our future. approach is being should lead in setting policies and providing adopted in principle by incentives (p18-19). In the meantime, The Four decades of partnership regional authorities around England What is a viable size? RUSH GRASSLAND Based Wildlife Trusts are taking a lead locally. Since the 1960s, local people have come Deciding how big a patch of a on the population dynamics 170ha together through their Wildlife Trusts to save particular habitat needs to be to of the marsh fritillary butterfl y Leadership precious places for wildlife. They have given survive in the long term is a CHALK DOWNLAND Based developing science. Methods A step-change in our land use practice and advice on land management, taken on on the area requirements of used to defi ne the size of policy requires local as well as national nature reserves and infl uenced planning the stone curlew 1,500ha Strategic Nature Areas include leadership. Wildlife Trusts around the UK are decisions. All this time we have worked with looking at the population WOODLAND Based on the dynamics or area requirements needs of species sensitive to giving local authorities, businesses and schools, community groups, statutory of key species, the penetrating edge effects 1,650ha community leaders the confi dence to do agencies, local authorities, landowners and effects of surrounding land use what they know is right for their area and businesses to inspire people about wildlife. (so-called ‘edge effects’) and the LOWLAND HEATH Based scale of major disturbance on the pattern of large-scale 800ha their grandchildren – to be optimistic, to We are perfectly placed to unite with our events such as fi res. fi res in this habitat make brave decisions and take bold steps partners behind major new initiatives that towards a better future. bring together all this work.

8 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 9 Having the project working on the Dart is a great opportunity for local farmers to have some A LIVING LANDSCAPE fi nancial help to tidy up the environment. The scheme offers great advantages to wildlife, the river, local community and even tourists. Group of Devon farmers, Dart Catchment Project, Devon Mike Read/ Wildlife Trust Woodland and forest Letting hotspots revert to nature – and working to fi ll in the gaps

Why do woodlands matter? Natural woodland is typically a mosaic of Ancient woodland is perhaps our richest different habitat types, including old stands wildlife habitat. It once cloaked most of of high forest, scrub areas, and forest Britain, but we now have one of the lowest glades. Allowing natural forest landscapes coverage levels in Europe. Half our ancient to re-establish means looking differently at woodland has been lost since the 1940s. the landscape, and the processes at work Woodland plays a vital role in recycling within it. In upland areas, Wildlife Trusts are carbon dioxide and water vapour and, like working with landowners to restrict or bogs and wetlands, regulates water fl ow exclude grazing from large areas around into rivers. It’s also highly valued by local remnants of woodland. Meanwhile, in people for recreation. lowland areas, we are supporting While we continually hear of the threats landowners and communities to remove to forests worldwide, there are stunning fencing around woodland, allow areas to examples of woodland being recreated, or scrub up and encourage grazing animals regenerating naturally. Much of North East to roam more freely. USA was once farmland, but abandonment in the early 1900s allowed the trees to One example of Wildlife Trust action return. Some of that forest is now The Low of West Sussex and south protected in national parks. is a diverse landscape containing some of England’s best ancient woodland, The main challenges as well as other wildlife-rich habitats. UK woodland is often heavily modifi ed or is leading a project to managed, and plantations typically lack the enhance, create and reconnect habitat structural and species diversity of ancient here within an area of 93 square miles. woodland. Traditional , pollarding Local communities and farmers have and grazing can be benefi cial, but they are agreed a shared vision for the project area. now rarely economically viable. The aim is a landscape akin to the Left naturally, lowland woodland can original forest, with glades, pastures and return quite easily. However, many people wetlands as well as dense woods. Large, see large areas of scrub as untidy. In free-roaming animals will graze in core woodland areas and the natural processes upland areas, regeneration is slower and Forests are as useful as they often hampered by grazing, impoverished of decomposition and regeneration will be are beautiful. Sussex Wildlife soils and a lack of seed source. Grants like encouraged. Between these core areas the Trust has begun a project to Trust is working with farmers to encourage bring back semi-natural the English Woodland Grant Scheme can woodland cover to a large area help, but there is insuffi cient funding. them to farm more sensitively for wildlife. of West Sussex and Surrey Pictures by local Wildlife Trusts Duncan Hutt 22 landscape-scale projects to CUMBRIA DERBYSHIRE DEVON GLOUCESTERSHIRE HAMPSHIRE restore, recreate and reconnect Curlew will benefi t from All the projects here and on the following enhanced pages include multiple partners. Areas wetland quoted are for the fi nished project area, regardless of who owns the land. A hectare is 10,000 square metres, or 2.5 acres. ■ 1 hectare = a football pitch ■ 200 hectares = Regent’s Park Witherslack Large Area 3500ha The OnTrent Project 96,000ha Dart Catchment project c.12,000ha Severn/Avon Vales Wetland 10,000ha North Langstone Harbour 1350ha ■ 5,500 hectares = Loch Ness Shoreline to mountain-top south of Kendal: mire, Works at a strategic level to infl uence policy and EU-backed business and community project to Wetland restoration project between three Wildlife Salt marsh, grazing marsh, oyster beds, and saline limestone pavement, grassland, ancient woodland. awareness, and improve the health of the fl oodplain. restore the health of an entire river catchment Trusts in fl oodplains of the rivers Severn and Avon lagoons on an extensive stretch of the Solent coast ■ 38,000 hectares = Isle of Wight ■ ■ Derbys, Notts, Staffs and Lincs Wildlife Trusts ■ ■ Glos, Warks and Worcs Wildlife Trusts ■ Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust

10 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 11 We probably should not restrict the ‘re-wilding’ approach just to the Highlands. Our river basin management planning A LIVING LANDSCAPE should unite conservation, development, transport and sustainable fl ood management in a single, holistic vision of the future. Dr Chris Spray Director of Environmental Science, Scottish Environment Protection Agency Niall Benvie Chris Gomersall/npl.com Good husbandry in the uplands has a huge impact on water management and carbon absorption

Essex Wildlife Trust’s pioneering coastal realignment created a natural coastal defence and a successful farm Uplands: supporting changes in farming Coasts: restoring natural defences Why does it matter? What are the main challenges? downstream, and for the climate benefi ts of Why does it matter? What are the main challenges? the Heritage Lottery Fund, WWF (UK), Though often degraded by deforestation and Overgrazing by sheep was the greatest land management that stores more carbon. UK coasts are among the most varied and Managed coastal realignment requires Environment Agency and English Nature, it overgrazing, uplands contain our greatest threat, but changes in agricultural payments scenic in the world. The richest parts are diffi cult, strategic decisions to abandon or was the largest coastal re-alignment in variety of habitats, and are vitally important are reducing this to benefi cial levels. One example of Wildlife Trust action lowland mudfl ats, marshes and estuaries, dismantle defences. Wildlife Trusts around Europe. The new marshes quickly as places to get away from the bustle of Wildlife Trusts are working with upland Eigg in Scotland is an outstanding case of with their birdlife, wild fl owers, and nursery the UK are working with local communities established a wide range of plants used by everyday life. As well as controlling erosion communities to reduce cultural and landscape-scale conservation driven by local grounds for sea life. They act as fl oodplains, to achieve a shared vision and sense of many invertebrates and coastal birds. They and regulating water supply, upland forests aesthetic concerns about withdrawing people. With the help of the Scottish Wildlife carbon sinks, and fi lters for estuaries. Yet purpose. Grants are needed to encourage also support three commercial fi sh species and peat bogs play a vital role in regulating farming and restoring upland habitats. Trust and others, the island is now owned by vast swathes have been drained, ploughed farmers to leave areas for the sea to reclaim. and trial oyster beds. The main farm still carbon dioxide. The peaty soils hold huge Reducing grazing need not mean the end of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. The forest is up, built upon or walled off from the sea. grows arable crops where Essex Wildlife amounts of carbon in partially decomposed farming; it simply means farming differently. protected from overgrazing, and the raised Climate change predictions suggest One example of Wildlife Trust action Trust demonstrates a wild range of wildlife- organic material. Drier, thinner soils that However, more needs to be done. Upland bog is recovering from drainage and conifer devastating coastal fl oods could occur within In 2002, breached the friendly farming methods. The marsh-grazed have been drained or planted with conifers farmers and land managers need to be planting. The islanders themselves, properly a few decades. This means these habitats sea wall at Abbotts Hall farm on the sheep fetch a premium at market, and the lose much of this carbon to the atmosphere. rewarded for fl ood control benefi ts felt trained and equipped, completed this work. have an increasingly important role to play in Blackwater estuary to create 81 hectares of habitat supports a greater diversity of wildlife absorbing marine fl oodwaters. salt marsh and grazing marsh. Funded by such as lapwings, skylarks and hares.

KENT Wild service is an LANCASHIRE LINCOLNSHIRE LINCOLNSHIRE MONTGOMERYSHIRE NORTHUMBERLAND ancient woodland indicator

Wigan Flashes should attract breeding bittern Blean Woods 3,000ha Wigan Flashes 400ha Baston & Thurlby Fen 800ha Coastal and Marsh 116ha Cambrian Mountains c.39,000ha Border Mires c.3,000ha Acquisition and restoration of ancient and semi- Linking fragmented mosses, blanket bogs and Recreation of fenland habitats on arable land and Integrated management and inland expansion of Working with landowners to manage moorland, bog Working with Forest Enterprise to restore blanket bog natural woodland complex north of . wetland in the Wigan Flashes river valley. former gravel workings in south Lincolnshire. Trust, Natural England and MOD land near Grimsby and acid grassland in the Cambrian Mountains. sites throughout the southern Kielder Forest. ■ ■ Lancs, Manchester and Merseyside Wildlife Trust ■ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust ■ Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust ■ Wildlife Trusts Wales ■ Northumberland Wildlife Trust

12 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 13 There are defi nitely more birds now, and we haven’t really started. Friends come round and A LIVING LANDSCAPE we go out looking for wildlife. I can see nothing but good in it. It helps us fi nancially, makes the place more attractive, and it’s something good for the future. Bill Reid cattle farmer, Landscapes for Wildlife project, Lowland grassland Calling landowners! Help connect up those isolated fragments!

Why does it matter? reconnect the isolated fragments. Fears Lowland grassland, including chalk over the right of access are another downland and hay meadow, includes some diffi culty in creating new areas of open of the richest areas for wildlife in the UK. downland. But because these habitats often occur in Targeting activity on the ground is areas well suited to modern, intensive essential. Wildlife Trusts are working with agriculture, all but the steepest, wettest or others to identify and focus effort on the most inaccessible sites have been lost – 98 areas with most potential to reconnect per cent since the 1950s. With a few habitat. Agricultural payments and other notable exceptions, such as Salisbury Plain, assistance needs to be directed towards the surviving sites are small, isolated and these areas, to help fi ll key missing pieces fragmented. in the jigsaw. These schemes need to be Grassland habitats are often associated backed up by other capital grants and with culturally important landscapes. The mechanisms to help farmers operate more downlands of Wiltshire hold some of the effectively, such as machinery rings and richest concentrations of archaeological cooperative grazing systems. sites in Europe. Most of the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) of One example of Wildlife Trust action lowland England, from the Cotswolds to Working with Natural England, and with the , are predominantly funding from the Tubney Charitable Trust, grasslands, and are among our most the Somerset and Wiltshire Wildlife Trusts treasured and visited landscapes. are reconnecting grassland habitats on a landscape scale in the Mendip Hills and the What are the key challenges? Braydon Forest area respectively. As well as The fragmentation of much lowland targeting Environmental Stewardship grassland makes it diffi cult to manage with advice, these long-term, multi-partner modern agricultural equipment and projects aim to make locally-harvested wild commercial breeds of cattle. Hay meadows fl ower seed and green hay available to and water meadows in particular need farmers, alongside helping to source precision management on a small scale, suitable cattle and machinery. At Blakehill, a former military airfi eld, which is not feasible for most hard-pressed The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust has also set Wiltshire Wildlife farmers. In England, the new Environmental up its own farm with native cattle and Trust is restoring 200ha of grassland to Stewardship scheme helps, but increased introduced traditional haymaking to species-rich hay higher level grants for restoration are manage a network of hay meadows in the meadow and pasture north of the county. – the largest project needed to restore the areas that can of its kind in the UK

NORTHUMBERLAND OXFORDSHIRE SCOTLAND SHROPSHIRE SOMERSET STAFFORDSHIRE

Druridge Bay 400ha Sustainable Wetlands Project 700ha Isle of Eigg 2,998ha Stiperstones 64,000ha Mendip Scarp Project c.6,000ha Staffordshire Washlands 5,000ha Open water, reedbed, grassland, woodland, sand Wet grassland around Upper Thames tributaries in Outstanding example of environmental restoration Six-mile ridge of heathland restoration and recreation Habitat management and linkage, regardless of Rivers, streams, marshy grassland and reedbed in dunes and foreshore owned by many partners. Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. involving the entire community. Small Isles, Hebrides. in south Shropshire, 15 miles south of Shrewsbury. ownership, along the Mendip Scarp above Cheddar. fl oodplains of the rivers Trent, Sow and Penk. ■ Northumberland Wildlife Trust ■ Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust ■ ■ Shropshire Wildlife Trust ■ ■ Staffordshire Wildlife Trust

14 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 15 We must rebuild the British landscape, in town and countryside. Fragmented habitats need to reconnect, and we need to work A LIVING LANDSCAPE with natural systems for environmental protection, recreation, healthy living and sustainable food production. The Wildlife Trusts are ideally placed to weave whole landscapes back together. Professor Chris Baines Environmental adviser, author and broadcaster

By the time these children in Walsall are grown up, the surrounding city may be more Urban areas green and pleasant than their parents could imagine Encouraging everyone to see the benefits of healthy, green cities

Why do urban areas matter? space can be included in new development The Wildlife Trusts have been working with (p18). Developers can perform a vital role, people in built-up areas for many years funding habitat creation on the back of because our towns and cities can be development, which in turn enhances the havens for wildlife in an increasingly hostile quality and value of new buildings. Local countryside. Gardens, parks, derelict land, authorities can make a huge contribution veteran trees, canals and rivers welcome a to wildlife through more sensitive wide variety of species. management of open spaces. Local Urban areas provide perhaps the best communities are an even more powerful opportunities for people to encounter force in managing these areas. nature. Wildlife-rich green space, where people can get away from it all, is widely One example of Wildlife Trust action regarded as crucial to a high quality of life. While it may conjure images of endless We can also link wildlife with progressive buildings, Birmingham and the Black new building styles and tackling climate Country is one of the UK’s most diverse change. For example, green roofs can help areas for wildlife, with more rivers and absorb heavy rainfall and regulate the canals than Venice. Alongside two million temperature of buildings, as well as people live otters, water voles, peregrines, providing wildlife habitat. great crested newts, threatened crayfish, and huge numbers of unusual plants. The key challenges Capitalising on this hidden richness, Huge numbers of houses are expected to the local Wildlife Trust has been working be built over the next 25 years, many on with local authorities and others to urban brownfield sites which can be achieve a ‘transformation of the rich in wildlife. However, developers environment’, with cross-party and central increasingly see the economic benefits of Government support. creating space for nature within new The Trust plans to create strategic residential areas. ‘multi-use green corridors’, rich in wildlife. Moreover, in many urban areas there is These will link the key population centres, pressure to remove ‘untidy’ scrub, mow key nature reserves and other natural amenity grasslands extremely short, and heritage features. Perhaps the most remove vegetation on ditch banks and dramatic proposal is a ‘green bridge’ verges. But with proper planning and nature reserve linking Dartmouth Park to support from local Wildlife Trusts, carefully West Bromwich town centre, flying designed networks of wildlife-friendly green over its bypass. Matthew Roberts Matthew Paul Hobson Mike Lane STAFFORDSHIRE SUFFOLK SUSSEX WILTSHIRE WORCESTERSHIRE The brown Want to know more? hairstreak is a These are just a few examples. All 47 key species Wildlife Trusts are on wildlifetrusts.org. Simply click on 47 local Wildlife Trusts to find the contact details, or phone 0870 Marsh harriers benefit from 0367711. Project websites include: diverse coastal Great Fen: greatfen.org habitat River Dart: cycleau.com Weaver Hills 3,700ha Dunwich-Walberswick 1,600ha Lewes Downs 1,000ha Landscapes for Wildlife 7,813ha Forest of Feckenham 20,000ha Isle of Eigg: isleofeigg.org Integrated management of acid to alkaline types of Integrated management of a large, multi-landowner Restoring and improving species-rich chalk Working with landowners of woodland and farmland Meadows, pasture, woodland, agricultural land, OnTrent Project: ontrent.org species-rich grassland between Leek and Ashbourne. stretch of heathland and woodland downland in east Sussex, regardless of ownership to restore biodiversity in the Braydon Forest area. hedgerows and veteran trees east of Worcester. Severn/Avon Vales: severnwetlands.org.uk ■ Staffordshire Wildlife Trust ■ ■ Sussex Wildlife Trust ■ Wiltshire Wildlife Trust ■ Worcestershire Wildlife Trust

16 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 17 Neil Hoyle/Notts WT The last time the UK’s wildlife faced a challenge on this scale was at the end of the last ice age. We need to find ways to help our A LIVING LANDSCAPE wildlife become more resilient to the trials it faces in the 21st century. We must now work on a landscape scale if we are to give wildlife a chance and allow future generations to enjoy nature as we have. Sir David Attenborough Vice President of The Wildlife Trusts Matthew Roberts Cambourne in Cambridgeshire is an example of designing What needs to happen now wildlife-rich countryside into the heart of a new community The natural systems on which our health, resources and wellbeing depend are in urgent need of repair. Here we map out a four-point plan which can transform our environment in a generation

e are at a turning point in the way we manage our efforts to think bigger and longer term: whole river catchments, environment. Agriculture is beginning to encompass robust habitat complexes such as woodland and grassland, entire stewardship of the countryside, planning policy is tracts of upland, and major coastal realignment. We can re-connect embracing creative conservation, climate change the fragmented habitats in our towns and countryside to transform demands sustainable water management solutions, our landscape within a generation. W and we are realising how green surroundings improve our economy, This is our image of the future; living landscapes that support, health and wellbeing. We must harness these changes. provide, inspire and renew. Through them we can halt biodiversity Transforming our environment is possible when Government, loss, create truly sustainable communities, reconstruct a resilient industry and society work towards a common purpose, with a countryside able to adapt to climate change, and enjoy business combination of policy change and incentives. Our rivers, for example, that grows as a result of, rather than at the expense of, a healthy have been dramatically transformed in the last 30 years by an environment. improvement in water quality. It is a tantalising future that offers a better quality of life for us all. We must use such examples to spur us on. With 50 years of And it is within our grasp if we can embrace the vision, commitment conservation legislation to learn from we need to accelerate our and determination to make it happen.

Use the Invest in Tailor policy Buy time: 1 planning 2 landscape- 3 and practice 4 address system to enhance scale management for landscape-scale climate change biodiversity and restoration restoration ● Map regional and local ● Inspire local people to improve ● Focus fiscal measures ● Protect our most important sites ● Integrate policies ● Reduce CO2 emissions by 60 opportunities their quality of life Use incentives such as Planning Gain Local Wildlife Sites and the statutory Ensure that policies on water, agriculture, per cent by 2050 Regional and local planning authorities Use mechanisms such as community Supplement and stimulate new sites network provide the catalyst for planning and regeneration integrate at all Government must keep on track to meet should identify and map habitat planning and Local Strategic Partnerships measures such as land ‘banking’ many landscape restoration schemes. levels to promote landscape-scale its target set in 2003. If not, the damage restoration opportunities as a matter of to engage and inspire local people about schemes or community land trusts to All local authorities should have the restoration. Policies should incorporate could counteract the positive impacts of urgency. All planning documents (such landscape-scale conservation. promote habitat restoration. resources to ensure that their Local natural processes to ensure long-term landscape restoration. as Regional Spatial Strategies and Local ● Use local knowledge ● Tailor incentive and Wildlife Site systems are operating to cost effectiveness and sustainability, ● Develop a UK sustainable Development Frameworks) should The voluntary sector, Local Record funding schemes common standards. such as moving away from hard flood energy policy defences to more natural solutions. include these maps so they can influence Centres and other experts should help Use agri-environment and forestry ● Manage public and private land Focus on reducing demand by improving Regeneration projects such as Thames land use decisions. Government should create the opportunity maps. Habitat incentives to promote habitat restoration Manage the public estate to enhance energy efficiency. Include a shift from Gateway and The Olympics should make support mapping by facilitating a UK- restoration must be based on the history and make low-intensity farming systems biodiversity. Parks, housing, hospitals and large-scale, centralised generation to a contribution to delivering living wide spatial framework for landscape- of local environment, landscapes and economically viable for farmers. Public schools can contribute to landscape- micro-generation, and renewable landscapes. scale conservation. wildlife, and significant local social and bodies and other funding organisations scale conservation, and also enhance technologies. health and wellbeing. Business and ● Build living landscapes into ● Recognise there is a limit economic issues. must embrace large-scale habitat ● Invest in monitoring impacts of Make opportunity maps a key restoration and reflect these ambitions in industry should use its land holdings in social policy ● Maximise use of the system climate change on biodiversity mechanism for helping to establish their funding programmes. the same way. Public and private Promote living landscapes through social Continue to shift planning policy into Ensure we maintain a robust, science- environmental limits, ensuring that ● Set local authority priorities organisations should secure The Wildlife policy such as tourism, schools, outdoor restoring and creating habitats, and based approach to climate change and development does not deplete natural Local authority programmes such as Trusts’ Biodiversity Benchmark scheme learning provision, preventative incorporating green infrastructure. Local its impact on UK wildlife. This requires resources and processes, and does not Local Area Agreements should set for land management. healthcare, volunteering schemes and authorities must enhance biodiversity in increased investment in recording, threaten the integrity of future landscape- targets for landscape-scale restoration youth work. development decisions. Proposals that research and monitoring, through bodies scale developments. and integrate social and economic spend hinder landscape-scale restoration, such such as Local Record Centres and the into this context. as unsustainable housing schemes, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. should be reviewed.

18 A living landscape www.wildlifetrusts.org www.wildlifetrusts.org A living landscape 19 A LIVING LANDSCAPE

Find out more There is a 50-page extended version of this report. It covers the science behind landscape-scale conservation, ����������������� its links to Biodiversity Action Planning, and 10 landscape- ����������������������������������������������������������������������� scale project studies – all of which demonstrate The Wildlife Trusts’ unique connection with local communities. ● To download the full report, visit ‘publications’ on wildlifetrusts.org Or ring 0870 0367711 for a free copy

About The Wildlife Trusts There are 47 local Wildlife Trusts across the whole of the UK, the Isle of Man and Alderney. We are working for an environment rich in wildlife for everyone. Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust’s state-of-the-art With 670,000 members, we are the largest UK voluntary low carbon visitor centre organisation dedicated to conserving the full range of the UK’s at Attenborough is the habitats and species whether they be in the countryside, in showpiece of a 147ha cities or at sea. 108,000 of our members belong to our junior reserve championed by branch, Wildlife Watch. local people since 1966. The entire Wildlife Trusts We manage 2,200 nature reserves covering more than movement is founded on 80,000 hectares; we stand up for wildlife; we inspire people a responsible attitude to about the natural world and we foster sustainable living the natural world and future generations

Copyright The Wildlife Trusts. Printed by Cambrian Printers, Aberystwyth, on FSC recycled paper. Repro by AT Graphics, Peterborough. Editor: Rupert Paul. Layout: Phil Long