Biodiversity at Parish Level

Wiltshire Botany 12, 2011, pages 26-35 BIODIVERSITY AT PARISH What is biodiversity? LEVEL Biodiversity is a term for the variety of wildlife which we ought to be maintaining and enhancing. It The example of Winsley refers to the existence of a large number of species, and variations within species, of living things (eg Pyramidal Orchid, the Marbled White butterfly), of John Presland the different communities of which they form a part (eg species-rich limestone grassland), and of the environments which these species and communities require (eg limestone grassland which has not been agriculturally improved by fertilisers, herbicides, etc). It is perhaps a fuller definition of “nature”, but with value judgements implied. The term “biodiversity” appears to have become more prominent than the formerly popular term “nature conservation”. Perhaps this is because “nature conservation” had become too associated in the public mind with maintaining rare species rather than a wide variety of species and a variety of entire communities. Biodiversity encompasses both. Furth- er, nature conservation may have implied that we only keep what we have, whereas biodiversity Cephalanthera damasonium (White Helleborine): thinking includes enhancement of existing commun- Winsley’s only UK Biodiversity Action Plan ities and creation of new ones to increase the number Priority Species and variety of organisms and link them up into networks through which species can more easily move and establish themselves more widely. However, “biodiversity” is not an activity - it needs a word added to say what we need to do. Perhaps we should speak of “biodiversity promotion”, since more than conservation is required. The Lawton Review (2010) has recently reported to the Government on how to take biodiversity further, taking the stance that we need to advance beyond trying to hang on to what we have to “large-scale habitat restoration and recreation”. A major aim, they argue, should be to enlarge and improve current wildlife sites, add new ones and find means of joining them up. Wildlife sites should be “more, bigger, better and joined”. “Biodiversity” became a focus of activity in the 1990s, with a kick-start from the Convention on Biological Diversity (the 'Rio Convention'). This was signed by a large number of countries in 1992, including the UK. The United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (Government 1994) was the UK Government's response. It describes the UK's biological resources and provides a detailed plan for the protection of these resources. It initiated the compilation of a national list of 1150 Priority Species and 65 Priority Habitats (Government 2008). My most recent information is that it had developed 943 Species Action Plans, 56 Habitat Action Plans and 162 Local Biodiversity Action Plans with targeted actions, but these are increasing all the time. The Lawton Review makes many specific recomm- endations for legislation to strengthen the process. The new coalition government has committed itself to a White Paper for the Natural Environment. 26 Wiltshire Botany 12, 2011, pages 26-35 What must public authorities do about revised in 2008. This revised plan contains Habitat biodiversity? Action Plans for Woodland; Wood-pasture, Parkland and Ancient Trees; Hedgerows; Calcareous Grass- Section 40 of the UK Natural Environment and Rural land; Neutral Grassland; Traditional Orchards; Farm- Communities Act (The NERC Act) 2006 states that all land Habitats; Built Environment; Standing Open public authorities must have regard to conserving Water; and Rivers, Streams and associated habitats. biodiversity in all of their activities. This is part of a These are the most significant of the UK priority wider commitment by the European Union to halt habitats within the county. Individual actions for biodiversity loss by 2010 (Countdown 2010). The some species are included under the Habitat Action duty means that all public authorities and their Plans, and a full list of Wiltshire BAP Priority statutory undertakers must make efforts to conserve Species is included in Section 3 of the overall Plan. biodiversity and therefore have a plan for doing so. However, the only action plan specifically for them is The local authority duties in relation to biodiversity a Bats Species Action Plan because they utilise a must extend across their entire range of activities, wide range of habitats. Finally activities supporting a such as Land Use Planning, Highways and broad range of habitats and species have been Transportation, Public Open Space, Leisure and grouped under a Generic Action Plan. Each of the Tourism, Land Drainage and Flood Defence, Habitat and Species Action Plans contains objectives, Regeneration Schemes, and so on. targets and actions that are easily measurable so that progress can be meaningfully and accurately The UK BAP Plan is a comprehensive guide to such determined. The Wiltshire Biodiversity Partnership enterprises, providing a model on which local plans has a new website at www.biodiversitywiltshire. are being based. Each major Local Authority plan org.uk, where the latest information about progress attempts to describe the biodiversity resources within and working group meetings and events can be its area, audit the activities currently promoting found. However, it is difficult to decide what biodiversity, and set out targets for key habitats and sequence of activities should be followed at parish species and methods of monitoring progress towards level in order to arrive at a plan. In the sections that them. Some town and parish councils are considering follow, I consider possible routes through the maze. following suit. Auditing key species and habitats The actual activities required are manifold. The Authority has to audit its biodiversity resources and I have taken the view that sensible planning cannot set targets. Planning applications for development be achieved if you don’t know what you’ve got. So I must be scrutinised carefully to maximise their propose that a parish needs first to list, in the light of contribution to biodiversity. There must be consult- the county plan, the special species and habitats ation with local people and bodies, particularly within its boundaries and how they are currently landowners. All staff and volunteers must be trained protected and managed. In practice, land ownership to act in accordance with biodiversity principles. does not precisely reflect habitats. The audit will Much education of the public is needed - in schools therefore, focus on sites, and on describing the and after. All these things must be done in special habitats within them. This section describes consultation with any other bodies involved and the types of species and sites to be looked at, and is particularly with other layers in central and local followed by a description of the parish of Winsley government. and a description of its key species, sites and habitats. How does this apply to small country parishes, my Legal protection for wild plants is very limited - own village of Winsley, for instance? Below, I try to animals do better. All wild plants are protected under put more flesh on the bones of this concept. The the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (amended in remit is plainly very wide, and this article does not 1985), in that no person may uproot any wild plant attempt to tackle it in its entirety. It concentrates on without the owner's consent. There are also a very the botanical aspects, though this cannot be done in small number of species with a greater degree of total isolation and there is also some discussion of protection listed in Schedule 8 of the Act. It is animal life. The terms “botany”, “flora” and “plants” normally an offence to pick, uproot, sell or destroy are used in a broad sense, including fungi and any of these plants, unless authorised. In some cases, lichens, which are not now normally regarded as this applies only when the intention is to sell the plant plants, but rather as belonging to kingdoms different – as for Bluebell. The UK BAP list of Priority from either animals or plants. Species provides further protection but the Act it stems from says little about what should actually be What should a parish do? done. There are two other main categories of plant which need to be taken into account: Firstly, the Parish biodiversity plan should be seen as part of the county plan. The Wiltshire Biodiversity Species listed in the Wiltshire Rare Plant Register Action Plan (BAP) was published in 2002, then (Pilkington 2007). About 275 plant species are in- 27 Wiltshire Botany 12, 2011, pages 26-35 cluded. A species has to be native to the county and England and other bodies, but the Wildlife Sites be rare internationally, nationally or in one of the two themselves are mostly privately owned and are man- vice-counties (North and South Wiltshire), or have its aged (or not) under their owners’ various private survival so threatened as to be included in the arrangements. The designation does not impose any International Union for Conservation of Nature requirement for particular forms of management. The (IUCN) list of plants threatened on a worldwide basis role of the project is to monitor the sites and to guide (http://www.iucnredlist.org/news/iucn-red-list-site- and facilitate their appropriate management for made-easy-guide), Schedule B of the Wildlife and biodiversity by advising owners and planning bodies. Countryside Act 1981 (as amended in 1985) or be a Protected verges. This scheme was set up in the UK BAP Priority species. Inclusion therefore implies 1970s and is managed in partnership between that protection, or at least watchfulness, is desirable, Wiltshire Council and the Wiltshire and Swindon but there is no clear legal backing. Biological records Centre. A special management Axiophytes. These are species which are important regime is implemented and signs are erected to because they are characteristic of important habitats.

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