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€D IN BVRG H+ Report No PC/114/06/07/CD THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL

Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan Progress Report 2006

Planning Committee 19 April 2007

1 Purpose of report

1.1 To report to Committee on the progress of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan process.

2 Summary

2.1 The second Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan (EBAP) was launched in November 2004 and contains actions covering the period 2004-2009. This report details progress on actions for the financial year 2006/07.

3 Main Report

3.1 The first Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan was launched in March 2000 as a new and far reaching initiative to conserve and enhance the Capital's natural heritage. It was prepared by a partnership of many organisations concerned about the natural environment. The Action Plan put forward an ambitious programme of carefully targeted actions to enrich living habitats of the City and address the welfare of key plant and animal species.

3.2 The first Plan remains an example of best practice in its subject and will continue as a live document, providing relevant context and background information for the second EBAP 2004-2009. The Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership (EBP) worked to develop the second EBAP over a period of two years, and launched this new document in November 2004. The new EBAP received approval from the Planning Committee and the Executive in summer 2004. This next five year phase of the plan was developed in accordance with the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and the Scottish Executive Biodiversity Strategy, “Scotland’s Biodiversity: Its in your hands”, launched in May 2004. The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act imposes a duty on every public body to “further the conservation of biodiversity”.

3.3 The progress report in Appendix 1 details implementation during the financial year 06/07 of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2004-2009.

3.4 The main emphasis of this report is that implementation of the EBAP has continued to progress well. Actions for survey work, awareness, involvement, and practical habitat and species conservation work have continued. Experience gained over the first five year period has been used in formulating the actions for the eight priority habitats in the new EBAP, and in focusing actions towards a smaller range of species with special requirements e.g. swifts, juniper. Community awareness and involvement activity continues to be a priority, and the Biodiversity Officers and partner organisations have attended and organised numerous events to continue to raise awareness of biodiversity and its importance. In addition, much habitat and species conservation activity has been carried out with the involvement of local community groups and volunteers.

3.5 The annual f12k of Council capital funding (See Appendix C) acts as an important lever for partners to source other funds for implementation work, which recently have come mainly from Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Executive Biod iversi ty Action Grants.

4 Financial Implications

4.1 All financial implications are contained within existing budgets

5 Conclusions

5.1 It is clear that there is good progress in delivering the biodiversity actions contained in the EBAP. These actions involve a large number of partners, and an increasing number of community groups.

6 Recommendations

6.1 It is recommended that the Committee:

a) commends progress in implementing the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2004-2009; b) endorses the continuing work; and refers this report to the Council Executive for its information.

Director of City Development

Appendices Appendix 1: Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan Report 2006 - 2007

Contactlte I Susan Steel 8, Caroline Peacock 0131 469 3920

Wards affected All

Background Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan 2004 - Papers 2009

WFWPLANCOMEdin Biodiversity Action Plan - Progress 10 April 2007 Arwendix 1

Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan Progress Report 200617 1. Introduction

1.I This document reports on progress implementing the Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan Phase 2 (EBAP 2004-2009) in the financial year 2006-2007.

1.2 The primary focus of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership continues to be the implementation of projects identified in the EBAP Phase 2. Throughout the year, partners have continued to work steadily to implement a wide variety of actions. These have included:

. Community habitat enhancement projects on Council land and other greenspace; . Local volunteer surveys to identify core Swift breeding areas, which then inform planning casework; . Surveying, monitoring and translocating rare plants in Holyrood Park and the Pentland Hills; . Continued survey, monitoring and habitat work carried out by local volunteers and communities; . School grounds projects; . Awareness raising work at events such as Treefest and Craigmillar Fayre.

1.3 Survey and monitoring information is collected, processed and re- distributed by Lothian Wildlife Information Centre (LWIC), which continues to play an essential role in meeting natural heritage information requirements for both CEC functions and EBAP projects and activities.

1.4 In addition, in financial year 06/07 support has been given to a variety of partnership and community led projects which help to deliver the EBAP 2004-2009. Details of projects and initiatives given financial support are shown in Appendix C, along with details of match funding. The small CEC biodiversity implementation budget of €1 2,000 has leveraged external funding of €85,000 (see Appendix C) in the current financial year, a ratio of more than 15, excluding considerable uncosted volunteer time.

1.5 Appendix A lists membership of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership and Appendix B sets out priority species and habitats.

2. Im p Iem e nta t io n of Actions

2.1 The information below contains a summary of EBAP actions undertaken in 2006/7 under kev headinas. Policy

2.2 Wildlife sites reviewed - These have been completed for the Edinburgh City Local Plan area and will be completed for the Rural West Local Plan area by late 2007.

2.3 Swifts casework - Following adoption of the Development Quality Guidelines on biodiversity which included guidance on making provision for swifts in both new developments and restoration projects in and adjacent to the areas populated by swifts. Suitable developments are being targeted and swift boxes are now helping to provide new nesting opportunities to part compensate for those lost through demolition of old warehouses or restoration of tenements.

2.4 Forest Habitat Network - Edinburgh along with its neighbouring councils has commissioned Forest Research to produce a report on the Forest Habitat Network of Edinburgh and the Lothians. A presentation on the methodology and results of the study will be given to people involved with woodland creation and management when the report is launched in June. Results of the FHN study will also be used to update the 1991 Urban Forestry Strategy.

2.5 LNR designation for Burdiehouse - Edinburgh’s sixth Local Nature Reserve recognises the importance of this natural greenspace for wildlife and the local community .

Education and Awareness Raising

2.6 Examples of education and awareness raising activities include:

rn Attendance at events such as Treefest, Craigmillar Fayre, Gardening Scotland and other events by the Biodiversity Officers and other partners. Continued match funding for the Children and Families Department‘s “School Grounds for Awareness” Scheme to improve school grounds. Increased recruitment of local community members to voluntary projects relating to biodiversity e.g. Tree Warden scheme, Local Amphibian and Reptile Group surveys which provide invaluable information on protected species. rn Historic Scotland Ranger Service have led over 250 eventdguided walks/school visitslcommunity groups attended by a total of more than 4,500 people; these have included topics such as geology, minibeasts, waterbirds, habitats, bird identification skills, plants, amphibians, butterflies, and birdsong. rn Historic Scotland held a major bat event (Holyrood’s Big Bat Bonanza) with activities throughout the day and a bat walk in the evening. This event was in partnership with Lothian Bat Group and the Bat Conservation Trust, and was supported by SNH and the Bats and The Millennium Link project. . Pentland Regional Park Rangers continued their role in raising awareness of nature conservation issues amongst visitors to the hills, partner organisations, communities and stakeholders. . City of Edinburgh Rangers led guided walks for the public covering topics including bats, badgers, mini-beasts and geology. These were attended by 310 adults and 210 children, in addition to their regular programme of school visits to their sites.

Partners and Communities actions to improve Habitats

2.7 For example

. Native tree nursery distributing trees to schools etc Ground flora planting across CEC sites. Support the ‘Friends of Braidburn Valley Park’ in the creation of a wildflower meadow, part funded from the Scottish Executive Biodiversity Action Grants Scheme. Ongoing programme of maintenance carried out by BTCV volunteers to manage the North Edinburgh Cycle path wildlife habitats. Habitat management at Bawsinch SSSl and Red Moss raised bog is ongoing through the Scottish Wildlife Trust. . Community-led pond creation or restoration projects at Harlaw Wildlife Garden, Meadow’s Yard and Gorgie City Farm. . Improvements to school grounds creating small woodland, grassland and wetland areas where space permits through the School Grounds for Awareness Programme.

Partners and Communities action for Species

2.8 For example

. Collection of seed in Holyrood Park for propagation of rock whitebeam and sticky catchfly, in partnership with CEC and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Gorse removal around spring sandwort, sticky catchfly and sieve- toothed moss by Historic Scotland in Holyrood Park. . Increased protection for toad migration in Holyrood Park - road closures at critical times and drain covers on toad migration routes. . Clearance of encroaching scrub and bracken with BTCV volunteers and local estate to maintain coastal species-rich grassland site and in particular to ensure the survival of the Field Gentian. . Bird and bat boxes installed at Bridgend Community Allotment Site. . Substantial financial support from MOD allows for an expansion of the existing conservation programme for the Juniper population in the Pentland Hills, in partnership with the Pentland Hill Ranger Service and Forestry Research and using BTCV volunteers to take cuttings, berries and plant out. This site is now part of a national research programme. rn RSPB Farmland bird projects involving planting of wild bird cover on farmland at Ratho as part of a wider project across the Lothians. Volunteers and schools are involved with educational work as part of this project.

Survey and monitoring work

2.9 Extensive survey and monitoring work carried out by the Partnership, including:

rn Lothians Pond survey carried out by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group. rn Involvement of volunteers in survey programmes in both Holyrood Park and Pentland Hills. Monitoring of Rock Whitebeam saplings by Historic Scotland in partnership with Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh. Monitoring and mapping of badger setts by the volunteer Edinburgh and Lothian Badger Group. This information is then made available to Planning officers through GIs. Local volunteer members of the Scottish Ornithology Club have carried out a programme of survey across the city to identify core nesting areas for Swifts. This information is the basis for the information provided to Planning officers on GIs. rn Local volunteer members of the Lothian Amphibian and Reptile Group carried out a programme of survey for amphibians including the rare Great Crested Newt, a protected species. These records inform the Planning casework by identifying locations where protected species are present and making this available through GIS to Planning Officers. Monitoring of Sticky Catchfly and other priority species by Historic Scotland in Holyrood Park; rn An ongoing programme of survey and monitoring, involving local community volunteers, in the Pentland Hills. A total of 23 survey days with 16 volunteer ranger days took place in 2006. Counts of UK priority wader species along the Forth coastline; Butterfly species surveys and transects; National surveys for fungi (Hygrocybe spp) and Juniper; Annual survey of field gentian at Hound Point by Edinburgh Natural Hi story Association. rn Most species survey information logged and processed by Lothian Wildlife Information Centre. Advisory

2.10 For example

Voluntary groups such as the Lothian Bat Group who, as well as carrying out vital survey and monitoring work, also provide specialist advice to developers about known roost sites, as required. . The Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) continue to provide extra advice to farmers on enhancing habitats for farmland species. Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust and Scottish Agricultural College also provide an advisory service to farmers, and as well as carrying out practical work can also advise on different sources of funding and help. . Scottish Golf Environment Group are a member of the EBAP partnership who advise golf courses on increasing the habitat value of their courses and other issues of sustainable management. They have recognised Ratho Park with an award of excellence. 3. Links between Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership work and the Planning function

3.1 While the focus of the Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership is the delivery of the whole EBAP, an important part of the work of the Partnership is the gathering and recording of information about rare and legally protected species such as Great Crested Newts. This information is essential in informing the delivery of a quality Planning service and provides extensive baseline information on species distribution. This information is relevant to both Planning casework and other assessments such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). The expertise available through the partnership is an exceptional resource, and these services are often provided for free as ‘in kind’ support by agencies, partners or by volunteer experts. An important service delivered by the Partnership is the co- ordination and making available of this data through a Service Level Agreement with the Lothian Wildlife Information Centre. It must be stressed that there would be a significant and prohibitive cost to the City of Edinburgh Council of paying commercially for the survey work undertaken by the Partnership. This work therefore contributes significantly in assisting CEC in meeting its statutory duties towards biodiversity and protected species.

4. Awareness and Involvement in EBAP activities

Biannual newsletter highlighting biodiversity activities at local sites in the City sent out to partners, libraries, and schools and distributed at public events. e EBAP Summary document circulated to schools, and made available via partner organisations to promote the Edinburgh Biodiversity Plan and encourage more people to get involved. Biodiversity is an important element of sustainable development and local action (e.g. wildlife gardening, volunteering to clear invasive species) and contributes to the “do a little, change a lot” message promoted by the Scottish Executive. e Biodiversity Officers attendance at Ecoschools Event held at Royal Bank of Scotland, Gogarburn and participation in School Grounds for Awareness Forum helps to promote the ecoschools biodiversity module and provide practical help with promoting biodiversity in school grounds and wider community. e Involvement in CEC Allotment Strategy working group, biodiversity training workshops (e.g. on allotments and for the CEC Task Force), and promotion of “Garden in harmony with nature” leaflet to allotment holders, schools and the public help promote our message to a wide audience.

5. Funding the EBAP

5.1 The Biodiversity Officer post has now become a permanent Council post within Planning & Strategy. Meeting the objectiveslactions of the EBAP involves a substantial amount of in-kind funding from partner organisations in undertaking surveys, practical work and in staff time. Local naturalist volunteers also take part in survey work and practical conservation actions and raise awareness of biodiversity issues to a wide range of people. Match funding for many of the initiatives undertaken this year has been provided by the Scottish Natural Heritage community grants scheme.

See Appendix C for further details. Appendix A

THE EDINBURGH BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP STEERING GROUP

City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) CEC City Development (CECD) CEC Countryside Rangers CEC Children and Families (CEC&F) CEC Services for Communities British Waterways (BW) British Trust Conservation Volunteers Scotland (BTCV) Edinburgh Biodiversity Partnership Invertebrate Group (EBP Invert Group) Edinburgh and Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) Edinburgh Natural History Society (ENHS) Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) Historic Scotland (Hist Scot) Lothian and Amphibian Reptile Group (LARG) Lothian Badger Group Lothian Bat Group Lothian Wildlife Information Centre (LW IC) Pentland Hills Regional Park (PHRP) Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh (RBGE) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Scottish Agricultural College (SAC) Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Water (formerly East of Scotland Water) Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) Scottish Wildlife Trust Lothians Branch Water of Leith Conservation Trust (WOLCT) Woodland Trust Scotland

Wider Partners hip

University of Edinburgh Heriot Watt University Napier University Sustainable Landscape Group National Museum of Scotland (NMS) British Trust for Ornithology Butterfly Conservation East of Scotland Tern Conservation Group (ESTCG) Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise Fish Conservation Centre Fisheries Research Services - Freshwater Laboratory Forth District Salmon Fisheries Board Four Winds Inspiration Centre Game Conservancy Trust Lothian Conservation Volunteers Mammal Society of Great Britain Ministry of Defence (MOD) National Farmers Union Scotland Plantlife Railtrack Scottish Executive Scottish Farm Countryside Education Trust Scottish Ornithologists Club British Geological Survey SPOKES Scottish Landowners Federation List of Priority Habitats and Species

Priority Habitats: Coastal habitats Farmland habitats Rock faces Semi-natural grasslands Upland habitats Urban habitats Wetlands and watercourses Woodlands

Priority Species

Common Name Latin Name Common Name Latin Name

lnverte brates Birds Jumping Spider A elurillus v-in signitis Sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus Click beetle Sp. Ampedus balteatus Skylark Alauda arvensis Small Pearl-Bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Kingfisher Alcedo atthis Plume moth Sp. Capperia britann iodac tyla Swift Apus apus Blind white snail Cecilioides acicula Bittern Botaurus stellaris Hieroglyphic ladybird Coccinella hieroglyphica Knot Calidris canutus Planthopper Sp. Criomorphus moestus Linnet Carduelis cannabina Dung beetle Sp. Euheptaulacus sus Great spotted Dendrocopos major Micromoth Sp. Glyphipterix min ore /la woodpecker Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Leafhopper Sp. Hardya melanopsis Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Micromoth Sp. L ampron ia fuscatella Spotted flycatcher Muscicapa striata Flea beetle Sp. Longitarsus ganglbaueri Tree sparrow Passer montanus Hoverfly Sp. Pipiza luteitarsis Grey partridge Perdix perdix Wolf spider Sp. Pirata piraticus Great crested grebe Podiceps crisfatus Common Blue Polyommafus icarus Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula Henbane flea beetle Psylliodes hyoscyami Sand martin Riparia riparia Large red damselfly Pyrrhosoma nymphula Roseate tern Sterna douaallii Drosot,h il id-fl v SD. Sfe aana coleoD frata Common tern Sterna hirundo Ant Tefra morium caesp ifum Black grouse Tetra0 tefrix Cranefly Sp. Tipula gimmerthali Song thrush Turdus philomelos Cylindrical whorl snail Truncatellina cylindrica Barn owl Tvfo alba alba Six mot burnet Zvaaena tilioendulae ILapwing I Vanellus vanellus II I I

Common Name ILatin Name jlcommon Name ILatin Name I II I Trees and Shrubs Flowering Plants (contd) Juniper Juniperus communis Spring sandwort Minuartia verna Rock whitebeam Sorbus rupicola Flat-stalked Dondweed Pofamoqefon friesii 1 Floating water-crowfoot I Ranunculus penicillafus Flowering- Plants 1 1 1 Northern yellow-cress 1 Rorippa islandica 1 Isp. Quakina arass I Briza media 1 ]Green fiawort I Scroohularia umbrosa Sea rocket I Cakile maritima I IHairy stonecrop ]Sedum villosum Giant bellflower I Camoanula latifolia I ICranberrv I Vaccinium oxvcoccus Cornflower 1 Centaurea cyanus I IMountain pansy I Viola lutea Common centaurv 1 Centaurium ervfhraea I I Eelarass lzostera soo.

Bogbean I Menyanfhes frifoliata Wood millet I Milium effusum APPENDIX C

TABLE OF FUNDED PROJECTS SHOWING TOTAL MATCH FUNDING