Appx to Biodiversity AP

Wild Islington Islington’s Biodiversity Action Plan Final Document Islington Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership The following groups were involved in the production of this Biodiversity Action Plan: London Borough of Islington London Wildlife Trust London Metropolitan University Friends of Gillespie Park British Waterways Islington Gardeners Society Quill Street Allotment Association BTCV Friends of New River Pollard Thomas & Edwards Architects Highbury Builders Collective Culpepper Community Gardens Thornhill Bridge Community Gardeners Arvon Road Allotments Association The Peabody Trust Hepher Dixon London Biodiversity Partnership Greater London Authority Islington Early Years Team Glendale Grounds Management Groundwork Camden and Islington Learning Through Landscapes Islington Arts and Media services Crouch Hill Community Trust - 2 - Acknowledgements We would like to thank all the members of the partnership who have contributed to the formulation of this document and look forward to their continued support in the implementation of this plan. Further Information For further information regarding this document contact: Islington Nature Conservation Team Islington Ecology Centre 191 Drayton Park Gillespie Park Local Nature Reserve London N5 1PH Telephone: 020 7354 5162 Fax: 020 7288 1717 Email: [email protected] Website: www.islington.gov.uk - 3 - Contents Page Islington Biodiversity Partnership 2 Acknowledgements 3 Further Information 3 Introduction 5-7 1. What is Biodiversity? 5 2. The Earth Summit 5 3. The UK’s Biodiversity Program 5 4. Biodiversity in London 5 5. Biodiversity in Islington 6 6. Biodiversity and People 7 7. Abbreviations 7 The Habitat Action Plans 8-63 1. Built Environment 9 2. Canals and Waterways 18 3. Parks and Openspaces 30 4. Private Gardens and Allotments 38 5. Railside Land 46 6. School Grounds 52 The Species Action Plans 64-89 1. House Sparrow 65 2. Hedgehog 73 3. Stag Beetle 78 4. Bats 82 5. Black Poplar 86 - 4 - Introduction 1. What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity is the word used to describe the abundance of life on earth. It covers the whole range of living things; animals and birds, trees and flowers, insects and fungi. Biodiversity is not just about the rare and the threatened. It applies not only to whales and rain forests, but also to the wildlife we see and experience every day, from the robin on our bird table to the dandelions in our lawns. It is absolutely vital that we protect and maintain our biodiversity. Biodiversity underpins the life systems of this planet that provide for all our needs: the food we eat, the air we breathe, many of the clothes we wear and many of our medicines. We are also part of the natural world and contact with it significantly improves the quality of our lives, reducing stress and helping us remain calm. It would be a much poorer world without the sound of bird song or the sight of daffodils in spring. 2. The Earth Summit In 1992 over 150 countries, including the UK, came together at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to make a formal commitment to work together to protect the environment. One of the agreements signed was the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aimed to protect the global diversity of species and habitats. 3. The UK’s Biodiversity Programme The UK was one of the first countries in the world to follow up on the convention with the production of a UK Biodiversity Action Plan, published in 1994. This identified species and habitats, which needed protection and action across the UK. It was also recommended that every local area should develop its own Biodiversity Action Plan, put together by a partnership of local people and organisations. 4. Biodiversity in London The London Biodiversity Action Plan was produced by the London Biodiversity Partnership. This Partnership consists of a large number of organisations including local government (GLA, Local Authorities), statutory bodies (English Nature, Environment Agency), NGO’s (RSPB, London Wildlife Trust) and private landowners (Peabody Trust, Thames Water). Volume 1 of the plan is an audit, describing the variety of habitats and species across the capital, and outlining the major threats as well as the opportunities for conservation. Volume 2, “The Action”, published in January 2001, outlines the action required to improve the - 5 - plight of habitats and species found across London. This has set the format for all Biodiversity Action Plans across London, including Islington’s. 5. Biodiversity in Islington When we talk about wildlife in Islington, many people might ask what wildlife? But that is not the case, there is an abundance of wildlife on our doorstep, you sometimes just need to take the time to look. Urban areas are becoming increasingly important refuges for wildlife as the intensification of agriculture has turned large parts of the countryside into ‘green’ deserts with little opportunity for wildlife. In fact, several nationally rare species such as the Black Redstart and the House Sparrow are dependent upon urban areas for their survival. Islington is not without its rarities and more unusual wildlife. Gillespie Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) had the first confirmed British breeding record of the Mediterranean butterfly, the Long-tailed Blue. Gillespie Park LNR also has two species of orchid; the Pyramidal and the Bee Orchid. The Borough also boasts two native Black Poplars, Britain’s rarest tree, and a Council Estate in Finsbury Park is home to a large population of Early Meadow Grass, a nationally scarce species normally only found in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Eighteen months ago the Islington Biodiversity Partnership was formed, led by the London Borough of Islington. The aim of the Partnership is to bring organisations and local people together with an interest in or have an influence over the natural environment of Islington, to write a strategy for the protection, conservation and enhancement of the wildlife in the Borough: the Islington Biodiversity Action Plan. The Partnership looked at Biodiversity in Islington and agreed six priority habitats and five priority species, which are particularly important to Islington. The habitats and species prioritised are: Habitats: Species: Built Environment House Sparrow Canals and Waterways Hedgehog Parks and Openspaces Stag Beetle Private Gardens and Allotments Bats Railside Land Black Poplar School Grounds Each of these now has an Action Plan with information about the habitat or species, potential threats to it and actions and targets over the next five years. This plan is the resulting document. The protection and care of our wildlife is something that everyone can contribute to and benefit from and this Action Plan will help to co-ordinate that approach. - 6 - 6. Biodiversity and People The Biodiversity Action Plan is not just something that will benefit wildlife; it will benefit people as well. Biodiversity is a quality of life issue. An environment rich in wildlife is a good quality environment for people to live in too. There are physical benefits to be obtained, for example the effect trees have on pollution levels and the microclimate of the streetscape, but there are others too. The benefits of natural areas to health are now well documented. There are physical health benefits to be gained from walking and exercising in these areas and even through practical nature conservation work. There are also mental health benefits from the reduction of stress and the promotion of general mental well being. Human beings are designed to be part of the natural system and in urban areas we can too often be cut off and isolated from the natural world, particularly those on low incomes who can’t so easily ‘escape’ out to the countryside. Biodiversity should also be an important element of regeneration. Incorporating biodiversity elements into buildings, for example, green roofs can substantially contribute to making buildings more sustainable as they provide insulation and reduce water run off. They also improve the fabric of the building by protecting flat roofs and reducing running costs as well as making them more pleasant to occupy (improved internal climate, more visually stimulating than grey roofs). 7. Abbreviations GLA Greater London Authority NGO Non Governmental Organisation RSBP Royal Society for the Protection of Birds - 7 - The Habitat Action Plans 1. Built Environment 2. Canals and Waterways 3. Parks and Openspaces 4. Private Gardens and Allotments 5. Railside Land 6. School Grounds - 8 - 1. Built Environment 1. Aims To promote and increase awareness of the potential and value of the built environment for biodiversity in Islington. To encourage the establishment of suitable practices for biodiversity in the built environment. 2. Introduction The London Borough of Islington is one of the smallest and most built up of the London boroughs, and has the smallest amount of green space per person. For such a densely urban borough where green space is precious, the built environment provides the most significant opportunity we have to enhance biodiversity in the borough. Buildings can provide nesting opportunities for birds such as the peregrine falcon and the black redstart. Walls can provide habitats for ferns, grasses and mosses as well as a number of other plant species such as ivy, shaggy soldier and buddleia. Trees and roadside verges not only provide visual enhancement to the built environment but also help reduce pollution and provide habitats for invertebrates and birds. The enhancement of biodiversity in the built environment can be achieved through the use of green roofs, climbers on walls and artificial nest sites. The built environment includes all physical features such as buildings and their associated surroundings, streets and hard surfaces, and roadsides and verges. This action plan will not cover gardens and allotments, parks and open spaces, railside lands or school grounds, although these make up a significant part of the built environment. These have all been identified as being priority habitats in their own right and therefore have their own separate habitat action plans.

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