DOCSLIB.ORG

This ISA Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Integrated Sustainability Appraisal for the North East Transport Plan 2021-2035 ISA Report Updated version following consultation on the Transport Plan Transport North East Strategy Unit March 2021 ISA Report for the North East Transport Plan ISA Report Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Cheryl Beattie Nick Chisholm-Batten Iain Bell Senior Consultant Associate Director Regional Director Ryan Putt Environmental Consultant Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position V3.0 8th March 2021 Final version 8th March 2021 Nick Chisholm- Associate Batten Director Prepared for: Transport North East Strategy Unit Prepared by: AECOM Limited One Trinity Gardens, First Floor Quayside Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 2HF United Kingdom T: +44 (191) 224 6500 aecom.com © 2021 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Transport North East Strategy Unit AECOM ISA Report for the North East Transport Plan ISA Report Table of Contents Non-Technical Summary ..................................................................................... 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 1 The North East Transport Plan 2021-2035 ............................................................................................. 1 Integrated Sustainability Appraisal explained ......................................................................................... 5 This ISA Report ....................................................................................................................................... 7 2. What is the scope of the ISA? ................................................................. 9 ISA Scoping Report ................................................................................................................................. 9 Content of the ISA Scoping Report ....................................................................................................... 15 3. Assessment of reasonable alternatives for the NETP ........................... 24 Reasonable alternatives in ISA ............................................................................................................. 24 An area-led approach to considering reasonable alternatives .............................................................. 24 Tyne and Wear ...................................................................................................................................... 26 City of Durham ...................................................................................................................................... 32 Post-industrial communities .................................................................................................................. 36 Coastal areas ........................................................................................................................................ 42 Market towns ......................................................................................................................................... 46 Rural areas ............................................................................................................................................ 50 Overall conclusions ............................................................................................................................... 56 4. Appraisal of the current version of the NETP ........................................ 57 Background ........................................................................................................................................... 57 Current version of the NETP ................................................................................................................. 57 Appraisal of the NETP work programmes ............................................................................................. 60 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................ 60 Water and Soil Resources .................................................................................................................... 65 Historic Environment ............................................................................................................................. 67 Landscape ............................................................................................................................................. 71 Air Quality and Noise ............................................................................................................................ 74 Climate Change and Flood Risk ........................................................................................................... 77 Population ............................................................................................................................................. 81 Human health ........................................................................................................................................ 85 Equalities ............................................................................................................................................... 88 Rurality .................................................................................................................................................. 90 Cumulative effects with other plans and programmes .......................................................................... 93 5. What are the next steps? ...................................................................... 95 Appendix A Policy and plan review and baseline information ......................... 97 Prepared for: Transport North East Strategy Unit AECOM ISA Report for the North East Transport Plan ISA Report This page has been left intentionally blank. Prepared for: Transport North East Strategy Unit AECOM ISA Report for the North East Transport Plan ISA Report Non-Technical Summary What is an Integrated Sustainability Appraisal? An Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) has been carried out to inform the preparation of the emerging North East Transport Plan 2021-2035 (NETP). ISA is a process that transport authorities such as the North East Joint Transport Committee undertake to inform their transport plans. ISA fulfils the requirements for Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)1 and discharges the duties for Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA)2 and Health Impact Assessment (HIA). It also enables issues relating to rural areas to be effectively considered through a rural proofing exercise. Transport authorities use ISA to assess transport plans against a set of sustainability objectives and the baseline developed in consultation with interested parties. The purpose of the appraisal is to help identify (and so be in a better position to avoid) negative environmental and socio-economic effects. It is also designed to identify opportunities to improve the environmental quality of the North East and the prosperity and quality of life of the region’s residents through the NETP. It also helps ensure that equalities and health considerations are considered appropriately through plan development and rural issues are addressed. What is the North East Transport Plan? The North East Transport Plan 2021-2035 (NETP) is the first comprehensive transport plan to be developed for the North East region, comprising the local authority areas of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland. It brings together the region’s two local transport authorities (the North East Combined Authority and the North of Tyne Combined Authority) and meets the requirement under the Transport Act 2000 that they produce a single local transport plan via the North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC). Prior to the NETP, ten-year Local Transport Plans (LTPs) were published in 2011. These did not cover the North East as a whole; instead they presented three separate transport plans focusing on each local transport authority area: Tyne and Wear, Durham and Northumberland. The NETP, which will comprise an overarching strategy document accompanied by an Implementation Plan, will supersede the LTPs which are set to expire in 2021. It will set out the North East’s transport priorities up to 2035 and will communicate opportunities for investment and improvements to the region’s transport network. The NETP will form the basis for bids and requests for funding inward transport investment to the region from central government and other sources. Purpose and content of this ISA Report This ISA Report accompanies the latest version of the NETP3 and is the third document to be produced as part of the ISA process. The first document was the ISA Scoping Report4, which
Recommended publications
  • Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale part of VC65 JOHN L. DURKIN MSc. MIEEM BSBI Recorder for County Durham 25 May Avenue. Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF [email protected] Contents Introduction to the rare plants register Notes on plant distribution and protection The individual species accounts in alphabetical order Site Index First published 2010. This is the 2011, second edition. Improvements in the 2011 edition include- An additional 10% records, most of these more recent and more precise. One kilometre resolution maps for upland and coastal species. My thanks to Bob Ellis for advice on mapping. The ―County Scarce‖ species are now incorporated into the main text. Hieracium is now included. This edition is ―regionally aligned‖, that is, several species which are county rare in Northumberland, but were narrowly rejected for the Durham first edition, are now included. There is now a site index. Cover picture—Dark Red Helleborine at Bishop Middleham Quarry, its premier British site. Introduction Many counties are in the process of compiling a County Rare Plant Register, to assist in the study and conservation of their rare species. The process is made easier if the county has a published Flora and a strong Biological Records Centre, and Durham is fortunate to have Gordon Graham's Flora and the Durham Wildlife Trust‘s ―Recorder" system. We also have a Biodiversity project, based at Rainton Meadows, to carry out conservation projects to protect the rare species. The purpose of this document is to introduce the Rare Plant Register and to give an account of the information that it holds, and the species to be included.
  • Durham Rare Plant Register 2016

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2016

    County Durham Rare Plant Register 2016 JOHN L. DURKIN MSc. MCIEEM BSBI Recorder for County Durham 25 May Avenue. Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF [email protected] www.durhamnature.co.uk Contents Introduction to the rare plants register Notes on plant distribution and protection The individual species accounts in alphabetical order Site Index First published 2010. This is the 2016, fourth edition of the “RPR”, dedicated to Keith Cunningham, who helped so much with the early databases and in many other ways. Improvements in this edition include- The new English Red List is incorporated into this edition. An additional 10% records, most of these more recent and more precise. Cover picture—Bird’s Eye Primrose at Widdybank Fell. Introduction Most counties are in the process of compiling a County Rare Plant Register, to assist in the study and conservation of their rare species. The process is made easier if the county has a published Flora and a strong Biological Records Centre, and Durham is fortunate to have Gordon Graham's Flora and the Durham Wildlife Trust’s “Recorder" system. We have also had a Biodiversity project, based at Rainton Meadows, which until 2013 carried out conservation projects to protect the rare species. It is hoped that the “RPR” will act as a stimulus for local botanists to make special efforts to improve the database by recording these species. The register will be used to increase our understanding of the status and distribution of the rare species, and to aid and promote their conservation. Species Covered Three groups of vascular plant species are included.
  • Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2011 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale part of VC65 JOHN L. DURKIN MSc. MIEEM BSBI Recorder for County Durham 25 May Avenue. Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF [email protected] Contents Introduction to the rare plants register Notes on plant distribution and protection The individual species accounts in alphabetical order Site Index First published 2010. This is the 2011, second edition. Improvements in the 2011 edition include- An additional 10% records, most of these more recent and more precise. One kilometre resolution maps for upland and coastal species. My thanks to Bob Ellis for advice on mapping. The ―County Scarce‖ species are now incorporated into the main text. Hieracium is now included. This edition is ―regionally aligned‖, that is, several species which are county rare in Northumberland, but were narrowly rejected for the Durham first edition, are now included. There is now a site index. Cover picture—Dark Red Helleborine at Bishop Middleham Quarry, its premier British site. Introduction Many counties are in the process of compiling a County Rare Plant Register, to assist in the study and conservation of their rare species. The process is made easier if the county has a published Flora and a strong Biological Records Centre, and Durham is fortunate to have Gordon Graham's Flora and the Durham Wildlife Trust‘s ―Recorder" system. We also have a Biodiversity project, based at Rainton Meadows, to carry out conservation projects to protect the rare species. The purpose of this document is to introduce the Rare Plant Register and to give an account of the information that it holds, and the species to be included.
  • County Durham LTP3 HRA Screening 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Appropriate Assessment Process 3 1.2 Natura 2000 Sites 3

    County Durham LTP3 HRA Screening 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Appropriate Assessment Process 3 1.2 Natura 2000 Sites 3

    Contents County Durham LTP3 HRA Screening 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Appropriate Assessment Process 3 1.2 Natura 2000 Sites 3 2 Identification and Description of Natura 2000 Sites 5 3 Description of the Plan 15 3.1 LTP3 Strategy and Delivery Plan 20 4 Methodology: Broad Impact Types and Pathways 21 5 Screening Analysis of Draft LTP3 25 5.1 Goals and Objectives 25 5.2 Draft policies and related interventions in the three year programme 25 6 Assessment of Likely Significance 57 6.1 Assessment of Likely Significance 57 6.2 Other plans and projects 75 7 LTP3 Consultation: Amendments and Implications for HRA 77 Appendices 1 Component SSSIs of Natura 2000 Sites within 15km of County Durham 95 2 Summary of Favourable Conditions to be Maintained, Condition, Vulnerabilities and Threats of Natura 2000 Sites 108 3 Initial Issues Identification of Longer-term Programme 124 County Durham LTP3 HRA Screening Contents County Durham LTP3 HRA Screening Introduction 1 1 Introduction 1.0.1 Durham County Council is in the process of preparing its Local Transport Plan 3. In accordance with the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) (Amendment) Regulations 2010 and European Communities (1992) Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Wild Fauna and Flora, County Durham is required to undertake Screening for Appropriate Assessment of the draft Local Transport Plan. 1.1 Appropriate Assessment Process 1.1.1 Under the Habitat Regulations, Appropriate Assessment is an assessment of the potential effects of a proposed project or plan on one or more sites of international nature conservation importance.
  • Durham Rare Plant Register 2013 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2013 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale Part of VC65

    Durham Rare Plant Register 2013 Covering VC66 and the Teesdale part of VC65 JOHN L. DURKIN MSc. MCIEEM BSBI Recorder for County Durham 25 May Avenue. Winlaton Mill, Blaydon, NE21 6SF [email protected] www.durhamnature.co.uk Contents Introduction to the rare plants register Notes on plant distribution and protection The individual species accounts in alphabetical order Site Index First published 2010. This is the 2013, third edition. Improvements in this edition include- An additional 10% records, most of these more recent and more precise. New colour coded maps produced from DMAP. This edition is “regionally aligned”, that is, several species which are county rare in Northumberland, but were narrowly rejected for the Durham first edition, are now included. Cover picture—Spring Gentian at Widdybank Fell. Introduction Many counties are in the process of compiling a County Rare Plant Register, to assist in the study and conservation of their rare species. The process is made easier if the county has a published Flora and a strong Biological Records Centre, and Durham is fortunate to have Gordon Graham's Flora and the Durham Wildlife Trust’s “Recorder" system. We have also had a Biodiversity project, based at Rainton Meadows, which until 2013 carried out conservation projects to protect the rare species. It is hoped that the “RPR” will act as a stimulus for local botanists to make special efforts to improve the database by recording these species. The register will be used to increase our understanding of the status and distribution of the rare species, and to aid and promote their conservation.
  • County Durham Local Development Framework

    County Durham Local Development Framework

    County Durham Local Development Framework Technical Paper No. 20 Minerals April 2010 – Version 1.4F 1 Contents Section Page 1 Introduction 3 2 Why are minerals important? 9 3 Policy Context 12 4 County Durham’s Geology 17 5 Mineral Resources and Mineral Working – baseline data and evidence 21 base gaps 6 Scoping the Minerals Content of the Core Strategy 48 7 The future Need for Aggregates 50 8 The future Requirement for Non Aggregates 61 9 Where should new mineral working occur? 68 10 Key policy areas 76 11 Further information 94 Appendices 1 Policy Context 96 2 Mineral Local Plan – Schedule of Saved Policies 110 3 Mineral Sites in County Durham 111 4 Problems encountered in preparing forecasts for Mineral Extraction. 119 5 North East Regional Aggregates Working Party 123 Annual Aggregates Monitoring Reports Information. 6 Detailed Permitted Reserves and Mineral Sales information and Future 129 Need. 7 Profile of Mineral Working and environmental constraints by sub regional 140 areas 1 North Pennines 2 Dales Fringe 3 East Durham Limestone Plateau 4 West Durham Coalfield 5 Wear and Tees Lowlands 8 Glossary of Terms 159 2 SECTION 1.0: Introduction 1.1 On the 1st April 2009 a new unitary ‘County Council’ replaced the existing County Council and all of the seven District and Borough Councils in County Durham. In preparation for this, the Development Plans function was subject to early integration and work was started in 2008 on a new Local Development Framework (LDF) for the whole of County Durham. To avoid jargon we call it the ‘County Durham Plan’.
  • INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION in GREAT BRITAIN No. 2: NORTH

    INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION in GREAT BRITAIN No. 2: NORTH

    INVERTEBRATE CONSERVATION IN GREAT BRITAIN No. 2: NORTH-EAST ENGLAND Adrian Fowles 1991 Contents FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 8 COASTLANDS ............................................................................................................................ 14 WOODLANDS ........................................................................................................................... 22 LOWLAND GRASSLAND ............................................................................................................ 30 LOWLAND HEATHLAND ........................................................................................................... 35 OPEN WATER and its margins .................................................................................................. 42 LOWLAND PEATLANDS............................................................................................................. 50 UPLANDS .................................................................................................................................. 55 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 63 APPENDIX 1: SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY ................................................................................... 64
  • Housing Land Allocations Site Specific Mitigation & Commentary

    Housing Land Allocations Site Specific Mitigation & Commentary

    County Durham Plan Sustainability Appraisal – Pre-Submission Stage APPENDIX D - Housing Land Allocations Site Specific Mitigation and Commentary October 2013 Housing Land Allocations Site Specific Mitigation & Commentary Site Reference Mitigation & Commentary CENTRAL DELIVERY AREA HA5 - Sniperely Considering the size and location of site, several services/ facilities (e.g. education, GP, Park convenience shopping, retail park, business park/ industrial estate & main town) are likely to be outwith walking distance for many residents; and this fact may to a certain extent be mitigated by the decent bus score. However, access to bus services would need to be improved to provide adequate service to this development (particularly to the north of the site) - operators should consider providing service stops within the site (potential quantum of development/ mix of housing likely to encourage operators to do so). Due to potential size of development, developers should also consider including a local centre to provide ‘essential’ services and reduce the need to travel and minimise severance issues. For instance the A167 & B6532 both highly-trafficked routes would act physical barrier so as well as the above adequate, safe and legible pedestrian and multi-routes routes which link to the existing network/ underpass. Sewage treatment works and waste transfer station adjacent to site so measure to minimise noise/ air pollution/ odours will be required: may be difficult to mitigate. There are likely to be waste water constraints on development as it has been forecast that the current network will exceed headroom between 2015 & 2021 – investment will be required. BAP habitats/ species are present on/ adjacent to the site (barn owls & great crested newts) as well as Pity Me Carrs (CWS) is 960m, Barepark Bog (CWS) 1.4km & Brasside Pond (SSSI) 3km from the site; so further advice from ecology team may be required in respect of potentially mitigating for increased recreational impacts and/ or habitat/ species loss and disturbance.
  • LTP SEA Scoping Report (2) 1 Introduction

    LTP SEA Scoping Report (2) 1 Introduction

    Contents 1 Introduction 2 1.1 Health Impact Assessment 2 1.2 Habitat Regulations Assessment 3 2 County Durham Local Transport Plan 3 5 3 The SEA Scoping Stage 8 4 Links with Other Plans and Programmes 9 5 Establishing the Baseline 16 5.1 Central Durham 17 5.2 North and East Durham 29 5.3 South Durham 44 5.4 West Durham 57 5.5 Data limitations 72 6 Environmental Problems and Constraints 73 7 Likely Evolution of Baseline without LTP3 81 8 Description of Areas likely to be Significantly Affected 86 9 SEA Objectives and Indicators 87 10 Next Stages and Methodology 91 Appendices 1 Appendix 1: Review of other plans, policy and programmes 96 2 Appendix 2: Review of Baseline Information 230 3 Appendix 3: Natura 2000 Sites 322 LTP SEA Scoping Report (2) 1 Introduction 1 Introduction 1.1 The County Durham Local Transport Plan is being prepared by Durham County Council to set out the strategic objectives, policies and targets for developing transport systems and services in the County between 2011 and 2016. It will also include an implementation plan to present in more detail how those objectives, policies and targets will be delivered. 1.2 European Directive 2001/42/EEC (‘the SEA Directive’) requires that the preparation of Local Transport Plans includes a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to ensure environmental considerations are systematically addressed in the process and integrated into the decisions made and policy options selected. The SEA is also to ensure that any significant adverse effects are identified and mitigated as far as possible, both in the preparation and implementation stages of the plan.
  • Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) Contents

    Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) Contents

    The County Durham Plan Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report February 2016 Contents DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET 1. DOCUMENT CONTROL SHEET 3 REGION 1. INTRODUCTION 5 1.1 Overview of County Durham 8 2. STAGE A1: OTHER POLICIES, 13 PLANS AND PROGRAMMES 2.1 Key Messages 19 3. STAGE A2: BASELINE 30 INFORMATION 3.1 Social Welfare and 32 Communities 3.2 Health 33 3.3 Housing 34 3.4 Crime 35 3.5 Economic Vitality 36 3.6 Education and Skills 37 3.7 Access and Transport 38 3.8 Climate Change 40 3.9 Air, Water and Soil Quality 42 3.10 Biodiversity and 47 Geodiversity 3.11 Landscape 57 3.12 Heritage 67 3.13 Resource Efficiency 69 3.14 Likely Evolution of 71 Baseline without the Plan 4. STAGE A3: IDENTIFYING KEY 77 SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES 4.1 Discussion of Key Sustainability Issues at an Area 88 Level 4.2 Central Durham Area 88 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) Contents 4.3 North Durham Area 101 4.4 East Durham Area 110 4.5 South Durham Area 122 4.6 West Durham Area 135 5. STAGE A4: DEVELOPING THE 152 SA FRAMEWORK 6. CONCLUSION AND NEXT 161 STEPS APPENDICES . APPENDIX A: REVIEW OF POLICIES, PLANS AND 163 PROGRAMMES National 183 Sub-national / Regional 237 Local 253 . APPENDIX B: REVIEW OF 284 BASELINE DATA Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) Document Control Sheet 1 1 Document Control Sheet Prepared by Nadia Wetherell - Sustainability Strategy Officer Claire Hattam - Sustainability Strategy Officer Dean Pearson - Sustainability Strategy Officer Reviewed by Stephen McDonald - Senior Sustainability Strategy Officer Approved By Steve Bhowmick - Environment and Design Manager Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) 3 Introduction 1 Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (2016) 4 Introduction 1 1 Introduction 1.0.1 This document is the Scoping Report for the Sustainability Appraisal (SA), (including the requirements for a Strategic Environmental Assessment) of Durham County Council's Local Plan.
  • Risk Maps for Individual Host Species and Lists of Designated Sites at Risk

    Risk Maps for Individual Host Species and Lists of Designated Sites at Risk

    APPENDIX 2: RISK MAPS FOR INDIVIDUAL HOST SPECIES AND LISTS OF DESIGNATED SITES AT RISK. Figure 1 Risk posed to V. myrtillus under the three different risk scenarios. .......................... 2 Figure 2 Risk posed to V. vitis-idaea under the three different risk scenarios. ....................... 3 Figure 3. Risk posed to C. vulgaris under the three different risk scenarios. .......................... 4 Figure 4 Risk posed to SSSIs for species V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, A. uva-ursi and C. vulgaris under the three different risk scenarios. ............................................................. 5 Figure 5 Risk posed to SSSIs for species V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea and A. uva-ursi under the three different risk scenarios. ..................................................................................... 6 Figure 6 Risk posed to SPAs for species V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, A. uva-ursi and C. vulgaris under the three different risk scenarios. ............................................................. 7 Figure 7 Risk posed to SPAs for species V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea and A. uva-ursi under the three different risk scenarios. ........................................................................................... 8 Figure 8 Risk posed to SACs for species V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, A. uva-ursi and C. vulgaris under the three different risk scenarios. ............................................................. 9 Figure 9 Risk posed to SACs for species, V. myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea and A. uva-ursi under the three different risk scenarios. ................................................................................... 10 Table 1 Lists of all SPAs selected out as potentially suitable, with details of the total suitable area and their inclusion in each of the risk scenarios. ................................................... 11 Table 2 Lists of all SACs selected out as potentially suitable, with details of the total suitable area and their inclusion in each of the risk scenarios.
  • 1 the Vasculum

    1 the Vasculum

    THE VASCULUM APRIL 1969 Vol. LIV No. 1. Price 7/6 per annum, post free Edited by T. C. DUNN, B.Sc. THE POPLARS, CHESTER-LE-STREET BY THE WAY Secretaries of Societies and other contributors to "The Vasculum” are invited to send their notes to the Editor before 15th June. 1969 DERELICT PIT HEAPS. As a result of extensive closures of coal mines in the NorthEast, many pit heaps are no longer in use. Many of these are at present just being forgotten, whilst others are being carried away to be used as filling during road works and building operations. Although experiments have been tried in connection with covering derelict heaps by planting trees, there seems to be no organised policy for doing so. The early stages of colonisation of a derelict heap can make a very useful educational project. Some of the plants which find their way into the habitat are quite uncommon and sometimes require a good deal of careful investigation to explain their arrival. Some of the heaps also provide splendid places for insects. Although the plants have been investigated by one or two specially interested workers, we know of no research into the animal succession that must occur alongside the plants. The insect fauna, in particular, would form a very interesting and useful study. Here is a suggestion for one of the school groups or just a small group of interested naturalists. PESTICIDES AND PARASITES. Since many birds literally fell out of the sky some 10 years ago in this country and Rachel Carson highlighted the same situation in the U.S.A., what has happened as far as the use of organochlorine pesticides is concerned? It is true that the worst of them have been banned, but there are still many to be bought in any garden shop.