Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 s.(40)

“Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity” Integrating Biodiversity into development …realising the benefits

Contents Quicklinks

Foreword More about biodiversity Garden design Introduction What is sustainable development? Urban infill Protected species Junction improvements What is Biodiversity? Stages of the planning process Commercial expansion Where is the wildlife? Ecological consultants Greenspace in residential development Appropriate survey times Edge of town Integrating biodiversity into development Key players Old building conversion Integrating biodiversity checklist Basic principles of enhancing Riverside development and creating Mineral development Case studies Format for mitigation plan Greenfield site Legislation UK BAP habitats and species Brownfield site East of England BAP habitats Reading and references and species Biodiversity conservation – Essex BAP habitats and species statutory obligations Updated January 2007 Glossary Local authority BAP forums Acknowledgements

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CONTENTS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Foreword

John Hall Peter Martin

Biodiversity means the rich variety of life – good health – they are less likely to fall ill I am delighted to introduce Essex the superb range of plants and animals and quicker to recover. Looking after Biodiversity Project’s new guide for and the habitats in which they and we live. important green spaces within or close to planners and developers. This document our towns and connecting these with provides a great deal of advice relevant to Walk through a bluebell wood near attractive green corridors generates civic Essex and also points the reader in the Colchester or Chelmsford in Spring, pride in the population – and investment right direction for much more advice from vibrant with birdsong, and you will feel tends to follow. other sources. We hope that it will assist biodiversity without having to know the those in Essex who can influence names of all the many plants and animals Massive development is proposed in Essex biological diversity – or biodiversity – which make up this complex web of life. over the next 20 years, and this is an through the process of development, opportunity to ensure that good quality making the wildlife of Essex as rich and Cycle to work along the greenways of green space, which is valuable for people diverse as possible for the benefit of all. Harlow and Basildon and you will feel the and for biodiversity, is integral to any biodiversity of the hedgerows and regeneration plans. The Government has made it clear that wildflower areas. sustainability must lie at the heart of the Developers need to work well with planning process.This is a critical time for Stroll or jog with friends in the evening Planners to integrate biodiversity into their the wildlife of Essex as the county comes along the banks of the Chelmer, the development proposals under unprecedented development Roding or one of many other Essex rivers pressure. We need to ensure that and you realise the richness of life, and this This Guide is designed to be used. It cuts development is carried out in a relieves the stresses of the day. through the complexities of biodiversity sustainable way so that the needs of legislation and protected species to give future generations are not compromised We strive to emulate nature in our quick access to detailed information for by the decisions we are making now. gardens where we relax in our own little developers, planners and all those Maintaining biodiversity is a key element piece of Essex. This is all biodiversity and working for a better quality of life in Essex. of this. it is a very important part of our quality of life. John Hall This guide is a tool to help people Director of Essex Wildlife Trust understand how to protect and enhance What has biodiversity got to do with this county’s rich biodiversity heritage and development? we hope that it is used and welcomed by many. Biodiversity is valuable. House prices are higher in areas with access to biodiverse Councillor Peter Martin green spaces.The richness of environment Cabinet Member with responsibility makes people feel good and stimulates for Planning

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT FOREWORD Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Introduction

The draft Regional Spatial Essex is an exceptional county. With a In May 2003, the Planning Group of the Development provides a superb Strategy for the East of England population of 1.6 million people, and its Essex Biodiversity Project held a Planning opportunity for biodiversity gain. Planners This guide aims to: proposes 123,400 new homes in proximity to London, Essex is a vibrant and and Biodiversity Seminar. We asked and developers are influential in the Essex, Southend and Thurrock dynamic place to live and work. Towns planners what they most needed to help quality of life of people living in and • Help save time in processing between 2001 and 2021. have good transport links and enjoy them integrate wildlife into their everyday around new developments in Essex. applications. economic and cultural success. Highly planning decisions. Ultimately, through links to wider • Promote consistency with productive farmland shapes the rural countryside, development could lead to a Government planning policy landscape. A superb coastline attracts One outcome identified, was the need for countywide improvement for biodiversity. guidance for protecting the Parts of two of the Growth Areas both commercial and leisure use, with best practice to guide the protection and natural environment. identified in the ODPMs Sus- large ports and a national reputation for enhancement of wildlife, or ‘biodiversity,’ Developers and planners need to take • Illustrate the roles and tainable Communities Plan lie sailing. in development schemes. responsibility for biodiversity. They must responsibilities of the key players within the county: Thames engage proactively with statutory and in the stages of the planning Gateway, South Essex and the Amidst this economic and social success, This guidance is intended to help integrate non-statutory nature conservation process. Stansted/M11 area. there is a wealth of wildlife. Some species the protection and enhancement of organisations, and those organisations • Encourage early interaction or areas are of international or national biodiversity in development schemes must respond positively and constructively between Local Planning importance, while others are recognised through: in return. Authorities, consultees and for the value they have to local people.This applicants (including designers variety in our natural heritage, or • Helping set biodiversity and develop- Only through wide acceptance of the and contractors) in matters biodiversity, is recognised as an important ment in context. importance of biodiversity can its future be relating to biodiversity. aspect of our quality of life and an • Setting out key issues and principles assured. The essence of the Biodiversity indicator of sustainable development. – explaining how they are relevant. Action Plan process is partnership work • Exploring development issues away from but complementing designated Essex is under increasing development thought pertinent to Essex through nature conservation sites. pressure. There are plans to expand case studies existing ports, airports, transport links and • Signposting further sources of infor- By Essex Planners and Developers housing numbers. For these developments mation. integrating biodiversity into future to be sustainable, they cannot go ahead • Achieving development that makes a development, realising the benefits at the expense of wildlife. Planners and significant contribution to biodiver- whenever possible, they can ensure Essex developers must work in partnership with sity in Essex. remains an exceptional county for both conservationists to help reach shared people and wildlife. goals of protection, enhancement and The guide ends with a checklist that can creation. be used by both developers and planners to ensure that biodiversity has been Taking a proactive approach is crucial if integrated into the development – and the growth is to be sustainable. Realising the maximum potential realised. benefits wherever possible, by integrating biodiversity into future development, will Sustainable development must not result ensure Essex remains an exceptional in a net loss of biodiversity, but should county for both its people and its wildlife. conserve and ideally enhance it.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCTION Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

What is biodiversity?

In Great Britain in 2003, Biodiversity simply describes all living “Although only about 10 per cent of • Our intertidal and wetland habitats, nearly half of lower plants and things – the variety of life on earth – all England's land cover is urbanised, we are amongst others, help reduce the risk of a third of vascular plants were plants, animals and the places that they an urban nation; almost 90 per cent of the flood damage. ‘threatened’ or nationally live. population lives in towns and cities. This • Reedbeds and other habitats are being scarce, while 16 per cent of figure is set to grow. The role of the developed for their pollution filtering vertebrates were considered Planners and developers should aim to natural world, albeit often in stylised properties. ‘threatened’ protect and enhance biodiversity in its forms, in enhancing the quality of life in • Natural processes help maintain the widest sense. No development scheme is urban areas has long been recognised”. beauty of our land and coastline. too small or too large to be unable to • Our natural areas contribute to The protection and enhancement of provide for biodiversity. Working with the grain of nature – a essential large-scale processes such as biodiversity is a key indicator and Biodiversity Strategy for England, 2002. climate stability and nutrient cycling. component of sustainable development. Why conserve and enhance biodiversity? By protecting and enhancing biodiversity Revealing the value of nature, 2002 Working with the grain of nature – a in development you improve the quality of English Nature. Biodiversity Strategy for England, 2002 “It is important to work in “Improving the quality of life for the the built environment. This results in sets out the Government’s vision for partnership to safeguard areas people of this country is perhaps the most desirable places to live, work and visit. conserving and enhancing biological of high biodiversity value, in- important duty of Government. We have diversity in England. It includes the broad cluding areas of brownfield set measurable indicators across the “Many of nature’s services are aim that planning, construction, land. In the Thames Gateway, whole range of issues that matter most to fundamental to our existence, yet their development and regeneration should birds such as the Black Redstart people, and are likely to matter to future importance is often unrecognised, the have minimal impacts on biodiversity occur, plus a diverse assemblage generations too. That means measuring appropriate species mix for a habitat and enhance it wherever possible. of insects, including UK Bio- how we perform on the big, important provides an insurance function, where diversity Action Plan species, things such as people’s health, the state some species provide key ecological roles, In moving towards this vision the such as the Shrill Carder Bee.” of the economy, employment, transport, others can step in if conditions change. Government’s objectives include: To crime and the environment.” Without the conservation of biodiversity Sustainable development promote sustainable development – by Our Environment, Our Future: The the long term functioning of many natural ensuring that biodiversity is conserved and Regional Environment Strategy for By the Deputy Prime Minister and ecosystems may be affected”. “Biodiversity – the variety of life on earth enhanced as an integral part of economic, the East of England. Secretary of State for the Environment, – is at the heart of our aim for a more social and environmental development, so Transport and the Regions, The Rt Hon Revealing the value of nature, 2002 sustainable future. that policies and decisions about the John Prescott MP. English Nature. development and use of land integrate We have a duty to ensure a diverse and biodiversity with other considerations. Is Biodiversity a measure of your Biodiversity has a function. Much of what thriving natural environment for it is quality of life? comprises biodiversity, as part of a natural essential to the economic, social and Many would argue that regardless of all system, also has a function in the system spiritual health and well being of this and of the above, nature should be protected Much of what makes Essex special is we live in. Pollution can be filtered, flood future generations.” for nature’s sake. We are stewards to the linked to biodiversity. By protecting, waters alleviated, air cleaned by natural world and should care for it enhancing and creating biodiversity biodiversity. Working with the grain of nature – a accordingly. resources – you are improving the quality Biodiversity Strategy for England, 2002. of life of the people who live, work and more about biodiversity INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT visit the county. WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? about sustainable development Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

More about biodiversity

Biodiversity describes all living things – 2 Biodiversity Action Plan, or BAP,species • At the local level, nine of the 14 the variety of life on earth – all plants, and habitats districts or boroughs within Essex have animals and the places that they live. biodiversity or nature conservation The Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit was held forums dealing with biodiversity action The term biodiversity has been widely in June 1992 to address concerns at the and five of these now have published accepted since the Earth Summit in Rio in loss of the world’s biodiversity.As a result, long-term BAPs. 1992. Countries acknowledged that the the Convention of Biological Diversity was world’s biological resource was being signed committing more than 150 At each of these levels these plans clearly seriously depleted and that something countries to conserve and enhance their indicate that a broad range of players, had to be done about it. As a result, 159 biodiversity and contribute to the global including planners and developers, can world leaders signed The Convention of resource. take action to contribute positively to BAP Biological Diversity, and by doing so, targets. committed their countries to do • There is the Global Action Plan – ‘The something about it. Convention of Biological Diversity’ Planners and developers should aim to • As a result of signing this we have our protect and enhance biodiversity in its When considering biodiversity in government’s response – the UK BAP widest sense. Even where there is no developing and planning, there are two • We have our country’s interpretation of significant habitat or protected species groups of species and habitats often this UK plan – the England Biodiversity present on a site, biodiversity is still an mentioned. Strategy important consideration, as all new • At a regional level we have the East of development will be expected to 1 Protected Habitats and Species are England Biodiversity Forum who are enhance biodiversity and create habitat defined as those protected by: currently drawing up targets for their where possible. Looking at protected priority habitats and BAP species and habitats is simply • The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 • Within the county we have the Essex the first step in doing this. as amended, Biodiversity Action Plan produced by • The Countryside and Rights of Way Act Essex Biodiversity Project. The Essex 2000 (the CRoW Act 2000), BAP was published in 1999 and • The Conservation (Natural Habitats, currently sets out what should be done &c) Regulations 1994 (The Habitat and by whom to ensure a future for 25 Regulations), species and 10 habitats within the • The Badgers Act 1992, county. UK BAP species and habitats • The Conservation of Seals Act 1970, East of England BAP species and habitats • The Deer Act 1991. Essex BAP species and habitats Local authority BAP forums

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT MORE ABOUT BIODIVERSITY Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Where is the wildlife?

Throughout the UK some Click on the names in the species have been afforded illustration for links to the special protection, with such habitats and species species usually, although not always, being the most vulnerable ones. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (with amendments in later legislation) is the principle mechanism for the legislative protection of wildlife in this country. It protects both species and sites of UK importance. The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CRoW Act 2000) is supplementary to the Wildlife and Countryside Act, which it strengthens and updates.

Mammals are also protected from cruel acts by the Mam- mals (Protection) Act, 1996. In addition, badger, deer and seals have their own legislation.

Badgers Dormice Reptiles Barn Owl Great Crested Newt Water Vole Bat Invertebrates White Clawed Crayfish INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Nesting Birds Otter Wild Flowers Appropriate survey seasons WHERE IS THE WILDLIFE? Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Protected species in Essex

Badgers

Barn Owls

Bats

Nesting birds

Dormice

Great Crested Newts

Invertebrates

Otters

Reptiles

Water Voles

White-Clawed Crayfish

Wildflowers

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Badgers

Where they can be found While badgers are protected, the Government recognises that there may be occasions where it is necessary to undertake activities normally prohibited by the Act. To this end Badgers could be living in, and under, woodland, scrub or hedgerows. They like to dig the legislation includes provisions for the issue of licences permitting action to be taken into a bank or slope, so look in old pits or quarries, steep banks under hedges, any change for certain clearly specified purposes. of level. They will forage over a wide area, using open grassland, gardens, woods, anywhere they can find food. Two bodies issue licences in England:

Characteristic signs • DEFRA issues licences in situations where badgers are causing problems or where certain legitimate activities are impeded by the protection afforded to badgers and Entrances to the setts are typically a flattened arch shape around 20-30cm high by 25- their setts. Gerald Downey 35cm wide. Outside the entrance holes will be spoil heaps of excavated soil. Badgers are • English Nature issues licences for the development of land and for a number of rarely seen, useful field signs are therefore: tufts of hair caught on barbed wire fences; specialist purposes, including conservation, research, law enforcement and conspicuous badger paths; footprints; latrines (small excavated pits in which droppings archaeological investigation. are deposited); snuffle holes (small scrapes where badgers have searched for insects and plant tubers; day nests (bundles of grass and other vegetation where badgers may sleep English Nature only usually licenses sett interference after detailed planning permission above ground) and scratch marks on trees (usually near the sett). has been granted so that there is no conflict with the planning process. Local authorities and developers need to be aware that for many projects it may be necessary for an Aim environmental assessment to be carried out if the proposed development site hosts badgers. Before the planning application is determined, the local planning authority The principle aim is to retain setts, foraging areas and corridors used to travel between should request a detailed ecological survey/report and developers should be prepared setts. Loss of any foraging areas should be compensated through improving the quality to provide information, including: of the remaining areas of grassland (subject to other biodiversity interests). Where impacts are unavoidable, see “Badgers on site” below for issues to address. • the numbers of badgers on the site, or that are affected by the proposal; • the impact that the proposal is likely to have on badgers and what can be done in The Law the way of mitigation; • if the impact is necessary or acceptable; Badgers and their places of residence (normally called setts) are protected by the • if a licence will be required from English Nature. Protection of Badgers Act 1992. This legislation was introduced to prevent cruelty to badgers, particularly that associated with badger baiting.The level of protection that the Planning and licensing applications are separate legal functions: planning permission Act gives badgers is unique for a wild mammal that is not considered rare. Work that from the Local Planning Authority is no guarantee that development operations will disturbs badgers without a licence may be illegal; badgers may be disturbed even if the not breach the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. It is important, therefore, that developers work does not directly interfere with or cause damage to their sett. and planners take adequate account of badgers at the planning stage in order to ensure that a licence is likely to be issued by English Nature. English Nature guidelines suggest that a buffer zone between the sett entrances and the building work is established. For example, use of heavy machinery should only be Badgers on site – organising work carried out at distances greater than 30m from the sett, work with lighter machinery at distances greater than 20m and light work such as hand digging or scrub clearance at When any protected species is thought to occur on site, early advice should be sought distances greater than 10m. from professional consultants, or from local experts, as this can prevent costly delays at a later date.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Following the advice below will help developers to avoid committing offences and Further Information increase the likelihood of obtaining a licence from English Nature if necessary: http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/badgerdev.pdf • Any scheme proposed to offset the effects of development must be based on competent advice and an appropriate survey carried out at the correct time of the http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/badger.htm year; • Observations may be necessary over a period of time before insight can be gained (English Nature) Badgers and Development. A Guide for Planners and Developers into how badgers are using a site. Bait marking (a method used to map defended territorial ranges) and other survey techniques are usually effective only at certain (RSPCA) Problems with Badgers (available from RSPCA HQ, Wildlife Dept. Tel: 08700 times of the year; 101181) • At times, particularly in winter, it is often extremely difficult, even for the experts, to tell whether or not a sett is occupied. For this reason, and due to the possible presence of a pregnant or nursing sow with cubs and the reluctance of badgers to emerge for long periods in winter, sett exclusion and destruction should normally be limited to between the beginning of July and the end of November; • Those in charge of a development must ensure that clear instructions are given to all the workforce where care needs to be taken not to cause unlicensed damage to setts or disturbance to badgers; • Machinery used near setts should be operated by experienced persons with fine control of excavators or other groundwork technology, preferably supervised by someone who can advise competently on badgers; • Fires should only be lit, and chemicals stored, well away from setts; • Any trenches left open overnight should have a means of escape for any animals that might fall in; • Trees should be felled so that they fall away from active setts; • Account should be taken of the effect the work will have on the territory of each badger social group. For large developments it may be necessary to provide artificial setts, enhanced feeding areas and access routes for badgers both before and during building work. Small developments should ensure that badger paths are not obstructed and small, but seasonally important, water sources and feeding areas are not destroyed; • The law does not permit licences to capture badgers for development purposes, so physically moving them out of the way of development is not an option. Similarly, if inappropriate development (eg that isolates a badger territory by surrounding it with roads) results in problems such as increased road deaths, licences cannot be relied upon to move the badgers afterwards; • Badgers can cause considerable damage to gardens and they should not be encouraged to rely solely upon these as a source of food or for places in which to dig new setts; INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT • Destruction of main setts should be considered only as a last resort. SPECIES 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Barn Owls

Where they can be found

Barn owls are often found in close proximity to humans, making use of farm buildings, dovecotes, church towers, bale stacks and a wide variety of derelict and unused buildings, as well as hollow trees and cliff sites where available.

Characteristic signs

Beams or wall ledges will reveal long and thick white splashing on beams, rafters and floor, often with a build up of pellets beneath the favoured roost sites. The pellets will contain the indigestible remains of prey species such as bone, fur and feathers. Pellets are dense, cylindrical masses averaging 5-6cm in length, although can vary between 1cm-10cm. Fresh pellets have a black, shiny appearance. David Harrison Aim

The principle aim is to protect the roost and breeding site. Provision for Barn Owls can be incorporated into the parts of the development site used by the birds and new nest boxes can be provided or other nearby buildings which are not due for development.

The Law

In addition to the basic protection afforded to all wild birds (see Nesting Birds), those listed in Schedule 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), including birds of prey, an offence is committed if they are recklessly disturbed while building a nest or is in, on or near a nest containing eggs or young or disturbs dependent young of such a bird.

Further information

Barn Owls on Site: A Guide for Developers and Planners. Barn Owl Trust and English Nature 1995

http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/barn%20owl.htm

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Bats

Where they can be found are often referred to as European Protected Species because they enjoy the extra protection under the Habitats Regulations. Bats require safe summer roosts/hibernation sites and suitable foraging areas. Bats may use several roost sites during the year.They will often return to a roost site at the Under this legislation, it is illegal to: same time each year. Buildings are most frequently used in summer but any age and • Intentionally kill, injure, or capture bats or their young type of building may be utilised. Cave-like places, such as tunnels or cellars buildinds • Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to areas used by bats such as churches and timber-framed barns, and trees with holes and crevices, are used for shelter or protection for hibernation. • Intentionally or recklessly disturb bats while they are occupying a structure or place which is used for that purpose. Could be living in the roof of the house, the barn (including inside the loose fitting timber joints), inside almost any building. Bats are commonly found in roofs. Outside they may Licensing roost above soffit and behind fascia and barge boarding, between underfelt and boards/tiles, under lead-work – such as flashing around chimneys, and between or under Planners should be aware that developments affecting bats need a license from the stone tiles. Inside they may be found, along the roof ridge beam and under the ridge tiles Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) before work is carried (or lead ridge), hanging from roofing felt or roof supporting timbers, around the chimney out. If planning permission is given for proposals that do not satisfy the licensing breast, in the joints of joists, such as mortice and tenon joints that have become twisted requirements, the license application may be turned down and the development cannot or warped or have ‘shrunk’ allowing bats access, and in splits in old timbers in roof voids. then go ahead.

Bats also roost in old trees – look for cracks, splits, under bark, holes where branches Developers apply for a licence only after planning permission has been granted and have broken off. Bats can use these roosts in both summer and winter, and wherever a license is granted only if: possible old trees should be retained except where there is a safety risk. Cutting back a there is no satisfactory alternative; and old branches and reducing the weight on the tree can often extent its life. b the population of bats will be maintained at favourable conservation status in its natural range. Bats follow linear features such as hedgerows when feeding at night, they fly around tree canopies, and they follow rivers too. Bats are strongly associated with water.Feeding It is for the developer to ensure compliance with the law during the actual sites can be anywhere eg. woodland, parkland, hedgerows/linear features, grassland implementation of the development, not the planning authority. It is for the planning and water bodies. authority to monitor whether planning conditions are being properly discharged.

Characteristic signs Further information

The most characteristic signs are droppings. These are roughly the size and shape of Bat Mitigation Guidelines English Nature Jan 2004. mouse droppings but they will crumble to a powder when dry and they are generally http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Batmitigationguide2.pdf found either stuck to walls or scattered beneath where the bats hang or beneath General guidance note for all European protected species – Defra’s European Protected the roost exit. Brown staining at entrance holes white urine stains on timber are another Species Guidance Note (available to download from English Nature’s website). sign of long-term roosts. Bat Workers Manual (available from JNCC’s mailing house NHBS Tel: 01803 865913). Focus on Bats. Discovering their lifestyle and habitats (available from English Nature’s The Law website or enquiry service). Bats in Roofs. A Guide for Surveyors. (available from English Nature’s website or enquiry Bats are protected under The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (the service).A CD on mitigation in barn conversions is available from Hertfordshire Biological INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Habitats Regulations) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). They Record Centre ([email protected]) SPECIES 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Nesting birds

Where they can be found

Found especially in woodland, scrub and hedgerows, but ground-nesting birds can occur anywhere. Birds also nest in buildings, cliffs and cliff-banks.

The Law

All nesting birds are protected under Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. It is illegal to kill or disturb them. Some species have extended protection covering young away from nests. Harold McSweeny – picture taken under license from the Nature Conservancy Council No work should take place in nesting habitats between 1 March to 31 July. There are some exceptions where breeding continues after July, eg. Sand Martins to mid September. The duration of breeding season can vary depending on the weather.

Vegetation can be cleared outside the breeding season from the end of October to mid February. If nests are discovered, work should stop immediately and the site fenced and protected under ecological supervision.Work can only continue after the young have left the nest.

Further information

(RSPB) Wild Birds and the Law. A Plain Guide to Bird Protection Today (available from English Nature’s enquiry service).

http://www.rspb.org.uk/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/index.asp

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 5 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Dormice

Where they can be found

Most dormice live in old deciduous woodland and thick hedgerows.

Characteristic signs

The best indicator of the presence of a dormouse is opened hazel nutshells on the woodland floor. Dormice open these nuts by making a neat round hole on one side and leave characteristic tooth marks around the edge of the hole.

Aim

The principle aim is to protect the dormouse habitat.

Further information

Dormouse Conservation Handbook. English Nature

http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/dormouse.htm Chris Gibson

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 6 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Great Crested Newts

Where they can be found It is for the developer to ensure compliance with the law during the actual implementation of the development, not the planning authority. It is for the planning Great Crested Newts (GCN) breed in ponds, but spend most of the year outside the pond authority to monitor whether planning conditions are being properly discharged. in long grass or rough vegetation up to 500 metres away. They hibernate in the gaps between stones in walls or rockeries, and in piles of logs. Any pond in Essex can have It is considered best practice for survey work for protected species (including great crested GCN resident, from small garden ponds up to farm field type ponds. newt) to be carried out prior to any planning application.Where a development is subject to the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, it is a legal requirement that The Law planning authorities assess the potential impact of development upon great crested newts before issuing planning permission. Great crested newts are protected under The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (aka the Habitats Regulations) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act Any report which accompanies a planning application and which deals with great crested 1981 (as amended). They are often referred to as European Protected Species because newts must be accompanied by: they enjoy the extra protection under the Habitats Regulations. • A survey, which identifies presence/likely absence, relative population size, etc; Under this legislation, it is illegal to: • An assessment of the development’s impact on great crested newts; and • A mitigation strategy. • Intentionally kill, injure, or capture great crested newts or their young; (this includes the eggs of great crested newts) Has an appropriate methodology been used? • Intentionally or recklessly damage, destroy or obstruct access to areas used by great crested newts for shelter or protection The most important survey methods for detecting great crested newts in water bodies • Intentionally or recklessly disturb great crested newts while they are occupying a are bottle trapping, torching and egg searching. More detailed information describing structure or place which is used for that purpose. these survey techniques can be found in Great crested newt mitigation guidelines and the leaflet Surveying for (great crested) newt conservation. Licensing Further information Planners should be aware that developments affecting great crested newts need a license from the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) before work Great Crested Newt Mitigation Guidelines English Nature Aug 2001 is carried out. If planning permission is given for proposals that do not satisfy the licensing requirements, the license application may be turned down and the development cannot http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/gcn0801w.pdf then go ahead. http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/great%20crested%20newt.htm Developers apply for a licence only after planning permission has been granted and a license is granted only if: Great Created Newt Conservation Handbook (Available from English Nature’s enquiry service or to download from the website) a there is no satisfactory alternative; and b the population of great crested newts will be maintained at favourable conservation Great Crested Newts: Conservation Licences for Pond Management Work (Available status in its natural range. from English Nature’s enquiry service or to download from the website)

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 7 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Invertebrates

Where they can be found

Invertebrates are remarkable for the extent to which they have successfully adapted to • Varied habitat structure a multitude of different habitats. • A range of conditions from bare ground to grassland in varying states (anything from short rabbit grazed turf through to tall tussock forming grasses) to scrub Essex supports a range of wildlife habitats that favour many invertebrates, some of which species – a mixture of these habitats (or ‘mosaic’) adds value. we are familiar with eg. Butterflies, moths, dragonflies and beetles, while other groups Peter Harvey we know less well.Among the latter are some that are extremely rare in Britain including • Lack of intensive management a number of UK Biodiversity Action Plan species, which occur in nationally important • Invertebrates have annual life cycles and need continuity of environmental metapopulations in the South Essex Region. conditions to ensure breeding success. • Brownfield sites offer refuges from fertilisers and pesticides that have contributed The Blue Carpenter Bee Ceratina Some of the best habitats for invertebrates are those where nature has been allowed to an impoverished invertebrate resource in the wider countryside. cyanea is a rare bee confined to to take its course free from significant human intervention. Key habitats to watch out for southern England, with most re- include: See reading and references for more detailed information on habitat features and the cent records from West Sussex and requirements of invertebrates. the Maidstone area of Kent. It was • Areas of flower rich grassland free from regular mowing regimes. rediscovered in Essex after nearly • Areas of early successional or ‘pioneer’ habitats (eg. some brownfield sites). Planning guidance 100 years in 1993 at a site in • Wetlands including damp flushes, pools, wet woodland and coastal habitats. Thurrock, where it was present in • Scrubland especially where mixed with other habitats like grassland or a wetland. Since 1994 a wide range of invertebrate species have been identified for special attention very large numbers, but the site is as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In 2002 The England Biodiversity Strategy now a large housing estate. Other Brownfield sites are of particular significance in Essex and include various types of post Working with the Grain of Nature referred to the need to integrate brownfield site more recently discovered sites have industrial land and old quarries. Habitats here offer a number of characteristics that biodiversity issues into policies and programmes for sustainable urban communities. also been lost to development or are you can watch out for when assessing the value of a site for biodiversity.These include: Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 9 – Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (2004) under threat. This species nests in provides UK BAP species with ‘priority species’ status and signals that measures to dead broken bramble stems, so the • Bare ground and a sunny aspect address the conservation of their populations are a regional planning issue (via the presence of a certain amount of • Essential for ground nesting invertebrates as well as for helping invertebrates to Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England – RSS14) while planning applications bramble scrub in open situations reach operating temperature (they are all cold blooded). should be determined with consideration for the proposed development’s effect upon where dead stems are exposed to the • Rubble, metal, roofing felt, dead wood – if they are in direct sunshine these can both protected and priority species. sun is crucial to its survival. It is all offer warm spots for basking. likely to prefer bramble growing in Further information drought-stressed and mineral- de- • Free draining substrates (eg. sand, gravel, chalk, PFA). ficient situations. The bee collects • Create parched conditions that slow down the natural process of succession and Habitat management for invertebrates – A practical handbook P.Kirby (1992) JNCC, pollen from a variety of flowers in- favour plants that support scarce invertebrate species. RSPB and National Power. cluding yellow composites, knap- • Such substrates are often nutrient poor, another factor that exerts stress on the weed and bird’s-foot trefoil. plants, with benefits for invertebrates. Organising surveys to determine site quality for invertebrates English Nature (2004)

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 8 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Otters

Where they can be found

Otters are now on the increase in Essex Rivers, they have long territories and are very mobile. Any riverside development could affect them. Survey might not reveal their passing use of a particular spot.They are also found in streams and lakes. Holts are made in undisturbed riverbanks especially under exposed tree roots.

Characteristic signs Alan Williams Otter droppings are black or dark greenish and tar-like when fresh.With age, droppings fade to grey but retain their sweet, musky smell. Fish bones are usually clearly visible. Otter droppings are found in conspicuous places such as ledges under bridges, on prominent rocks and grass hummocks. In wooded river reaches otters will frequently spraint on overhanging tree roots or boughs.

The Law

Otters are protected are protected under The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (aka the Habitats Regulations) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). This means it is Illegal to kill, capture, and disturb Otters or to damage or destroy their places of shelter.

Disturbance level not associated with seasons.

Aim

The principle aim is for development not to destroy otter habitat. Riverside development should leave a corridor for the movement of Otters, and all other waterside wildlife for that matter.Leave an undeveloped corridor at least six metres wide.Where road bridges cross streams provide a ledge under the road and above the waterline. Mitigate habitat loss by creation of features of value/artificial holts. Maintain access corridors along watercourses during works Reduce road mortality by using fences/culverts at ecologist’s direction.

Further information

Otters and River Habitat Management. Environment Agency 1999

http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/otter.htm

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 9 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Reptiles

All native reptiles are protected species.Adders, grass snakes, slow worms and common Aim lizards are legally protected species that are likely to be encountered on development sites throughout Essex wherever suitable habitat occurs. The principle aim is to avoid any impact on reptile populations. If this cannot be achieved then compensate by small-scale relocation and exclusion combined with habitat creation, Where they can be found enhancement or restoration on-site or in the immediate surrounding area.Where major impact is unavoidable and on-site compensation is not possible reptiles will need to be The adder is Britain’s only venomous snake, although it rarely bites (only when translocated away from the site, to any area that provides equivalent or better habitats. threatened). Diamond-shaped pattern along back with blotches on the side and vertical pupils is distinctive, not to be confused with the grass snake that has a yellow collar The Law and round pupils. It favours habitat such as heathland, seawalls, woodland glades, urban fringe, mineral extraction sites and rough grassland. It is largely diurnal, often basking All reptiles are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) in the sun in open areas not too far from cover. It feeds mainly on small mammals, Schedule 5. nestlings and lizards.Adders hibernate from October to March. It is widespread in suitable habitat but declining. Under this legislation, it is illegal to:

http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/adder.htm • Intentionally kill or injure adders, grass snakes, slow worms or common lizards.

Grass snakes use a wide variety of habitats containing open sites for basking and wet It is also an offence to sell these species or catch them with the intention of offering areas for feeding. Rivers, marshes, damp meadows and still water bodies are all potential for sale. habitats. They will also live in drier sites for example open woodland, rough grassland, allotments and heathland. Eggs are laid in a warm environment in early summer eg. There is no provision for licensing the intentional killing or injuring of grass snakes, slow compost or manure heaps, rotting logs and less commonly, moss or piles of dead leaves. worms or common lizards during development.The defence in the Act permits otherwise Grass snakes hibernate in places such as rubble piles, mammal burrows and tree roots. illegal activity if it is the incidental result of a lawful operation and could not reasonably have been avoided. Implementation of a valid planning permission is a lawful operation http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/grass%20snake.htm but does not give developers carte blanche to disregard the law. However, the phrase “could not reasonably have been avoided” provides an important caveat and illustrates Slow worms prefer to live in damp and warm habitats. Woodland, grassland, railway why local planning authorities need to have due regard to relevant planning policy embankments, allotments and gardens potentially support slow worms. They are also guidance. frequently found on wasteland sites.They hibernate in winter under piles of leaves, within tree roots and in ground crevices. For a local planning authority to be able to determine a planning application that may have an impact on grass snakes, slow worms or common lizards, the planning application http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/slow%20worm.htm must be accompanied by:

Common lizards or viviparous lizards favour sheltered habitats containing dry, warm a a survey, which identifies presence/likely absence; population size, etc. places where they can bask in the sunshine.The majority of lizards are found in grassland, b an assessment of the development’s impact on the reptiles hedgerows, woodland edges, roadsides and frequently railway embankments and c a mitigation strategy, if mitigation is feasible without detriment to the species. wasteland sites. If the application does not include all of the above, the authority should request them http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/common%20lizard.htm prior to determining the application.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 10 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Further information

Evaluating local mitigation/translocation programmes: Maintaining Best Practice and lawful standards. HGBI advisory notes for Amphibian and Reptile Groups (ARGS). (HGBI 1998)

The English Nature leaflet, Reptiles in Your Garden, provides general advice and has details of species identification.This leaflet is available free from English Nature’s Enquiry Service (Tel: 01733 455000).

The Herpetofauna Groups of Britain and Island (1998). Evaluating local mitigation/translocation programmes: Maintaining Best Practice and lawful standards. HGBI Advisory Notes for Amphibian and Reptile Groups (ARGs), can be downloaded from the Froglife website (see above).

JNCC. 2003. Herpeofauna Workers’ Manual. JNCC, Peterborough.

Reptiles: guidelines for developers is an English Nature leaflet outlining where they can be found, their protection in law, as well as good practice mitigation and compensatory measures. ISBN 1 857 16 8070. Available from English Nature’s Enquiry Service (Tel: 01733 455000).

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 11 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Water Voles

Where they can be found • Excluding water voles from development areas. Careful removal of above ground greenery causes water voles to move on. Green Water voles live in rivers and streams, down to quite small brooks and ditches. shoots should be removed at frequent intervals to discourage the voles from returning. This method is not suitable for large areas and will only be effective if there is suitable Characteristic signs unoccupied habitat close by for water voles to move into. Only try exclusion when water voles are active – late summer is the best time. Droppings are the most characteristic signs and most are usually deposited at discrete latrine sites near the nest or where they leave or enter the water.Water Vole droppings • Trapping, removing and releasing the voles in an appropriate site. are about 8-12mm long and 4-5mm wide, cylindrical with blunt ends and symmetrical. If there are no alternatives, it may be possible to trap and transfer water voles to a (Rat droppings are always larger than water vole droppings and have an unpleasant suitable site nearby. Professional advice should be sought and close liaison odour). maintained with Wildlife Trusts and English Nature Terry Whittaker Aim • Incorporating habitat enhancement into the works. Development sometimes provides opportunities for this (eg. the restoration of The principle aim is for development to avoid water vole habitats, protect the river itself vegetated bankside corridors to link fragmented water vole populations). and a strip of land alongside the river at least six metres wide and prevent any activity that could lead to pollution of the river.Only if the destruction of the water vole habitats Licences are available from English Nature for scientific research or protection of health cannot be avoided consideration should be given to the provision of alternative habitats, and safety. There is no license for the intentional destruction of water vole burrows for preferably located nearby, such as a new pond or ditch or equivalent or greater length development or maintenance. or area. Planning authorities The Law • Must ensure checks for the presence of water voles have been made, including water Since April 1998 the water vole has received limited legislative protection through its vole surveys by qualified ecologists and checks with local record centres. inclusion on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.Their places of shelter • Should attach appropriate mitigation/planning conditions to protect water voles. are protected, but the voles themselves receive no protection. It is an offence to • Must consult English Nature for all works affecting water vole habitats. intentionally: Further Information • Damage, destroy or obstruct access to any structure or place which water voles use for shelter or protection. (English Nature) Water Vole: Guidance for planners & developers (available from English • Disturb water voles while they are using such a place. Nature’s website or enquiry service)

Where building work is likely to affect water voles or their habitat the following action Water Vole Conservation Handbook. English Nature; Environment Agency; Wildlife may be taken: Conservation Research Unit 1998.

• Planning the development to avoid water vole habitats. http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/pdf/Wvole.pdf Water voles spend most of their time close to water. Leaving an undeveloped area http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Species/water%20vole.htm around ponds or along ditches and streams is the best way to protect them. Macdonald D. and Strachan R. (1999). The mink and the water vole. Analyses for INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT conservation. Environment Agency and WildCRU. Oxford. SPECIES 12 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

White-Clawed Crayfish

Where they can be found

Streams, rivers, canals, lakes, reservoirs, and gravel pits. Clean water, high oxygen, and little sediment. Rocks or tree roots for refuge.

The Law

Norfolk Biodiversity partnership White-clawed Crayfish are under The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (aka the Habitats Regulations) and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), which means it is Illegal to catch and/or handle without a license.

Should not be disturbed between November and June. Activity is reduced and females are carrying eggs.

Works affecting watercourses to be supervised by suitably trained and licensed ecologists. Ecologists to capture and move animals.

Further Information

(English Nature/Environment Agency) Guidance on works affecting Atlantic White- clawed Crayfish (available from English Nature’s North Mercia Team Tel: 01743 282000)

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 13 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Wildflowers

Where they can be found

Almost any grassland site that is not closely mown. Valuable sites are roadside verges, railway embankments, meadows and pastureland and scrubland.

So much species rich grassland has been lost in the past 50 years, (95 per cent of the 1945 level by 1995) that any further loss of the remnant grasslands should be resisted. Use development opportunities to create new areas, but see case studies in this guide

Colin Austin The Law

All wild plants, listed under Schedule 8 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as amended), are protected in law from intentional uprooting, picking or destruction. An offence is also committed if an unauthorised person intentionally uproots any plant not included in that Schedule (ie. without the consent of the owner or occupier of the land).

Further information

http://www.essexwt.org.uk/habitats/grass.htm

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES 14 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Habitats in Essex

Allotment Saltmarsh

Arable Scrub

Barn Sea wall

Canal or ditch

Churchyard

Derelict land

Dying tree

Farmhouse

Gardens

Hedgerow

Lake

Large tree

Old woodland

Orchard

Pond

Quarry

River corridor

Roadside verge

Rough grassland

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Allotment

In particular, look out for:

Bats Great Crested Newts Badgers Reptiles

Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal order made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the authority’s consent.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Arable

In particular, look out for:

Barn Owls Nesting birds Great Crested Newts David Smart Badgers Water Voles Reptiles

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Barn

In particular, look out for:

Barn Owls

Bats

Nesting Birds Old Building Conversion

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Canal or ditch

In particular, look out for:

Bats Badgers Nesting birds Great Crested Newts Water Voles Otters White-Clawed Crayfish Riverside development

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Churchyard

In particular, look out for:

Bats Great Crested Newts Badger Reptiles Wildflowers

Adrian Knowles Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal order made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the authority’s consent.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 5 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Derelict land

In particular, look out for: Brownfield sites

Great Crested Newts The term Brownfield site (or previously Key points to consider in relation to • Shallow substrate and summer developed land) refers to land with a Brownfield site habitats: drought should help to prevent rapid Invertebrates whole range of previous uses, ranging vegetation colonisation, providing Reptiles from mineral extraction sites such as old Survey – Sites with potentially significant valuable areas of bare and sparsely sand and chalk quarries, post-industrial habitats should be subject to specialist vegetated ground and allowing the Wildflowers land, silt lagoons and fuel ash lagoons.The survey at suitable times of year to evaluate development of a diverse but drought- habitats that occur on these sites are often their fauna. stressed vegetation including bramble, very flower-rich and structurally diverse important for example to the Blue because they have developed on nutrient- Mitigation – Where development is Carpenter Bee. poor and sometimes contaminated permitted then habitat loss should be • Deeper substrate would allow the substrates, and are subject to sporadic mitigated for both species and the overall colonisation by deep rooted perennials disturbance rather than cutting or grazing invertebrate assemblage by the creation important to invertebrates such as regimes. of comparable habitat nearby. The Black Horehound Ballota nigra and following are some key points to consider: Carrot Daucus carota. Bird’s-foot Trefoil These habitats may support very large and Lotus, Red Bartsia Odontites verna, diverse invertebrate assemblages, vastly • Vegetation should be allowed to Red Clover Trifolium pratense and more so than the modern agricultural develop naturally on a made substrate Lucerne Medicago sativa are all countryside and indeed many semi-natural consisting of mineral deficient material important forage plants for long habitats. They have much more in and a low level of management. Plants tongued bumblebees and could be common with the wildlife-rich countryside stressed by water deficit and mineral seeded. of the past than the modern countryside. deficiency are often the most important for associated invertebrates. Management regime – Occasional Brownfield sites are the new lowland • Topography and substrate depth disturbance to re-expose bare ground heaths and flower-rich meadows, and in should be varied with mounds and would become necessary every few years. Essex they can assume regional and hollows to provide varied hydrology. national significance for their invertebrate The provision of low banks and sandy More general management information is fauna, with populations of many Red Data areas would provide nesting areas for available from books such as Habitat Book, Nationally Scarce and Essex Red ground nesting aculeate Hymenoptera management for invertebrates – A Data species, as well as a number included and would only colonise with practical handbook (See reading and in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. vegetation slowly, allowing for a low references) maintenance strategy.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 6 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Dying tree

In particular, look out for:

Bats Nesting birds Invertebrates

Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal order made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the authority’s consent.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 7 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Farmhouse

In particular, look out for:

Bats Barn Owls Great Crested Newts Old building conversion

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 8 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Gardens

In particular, look out for:

Bats Nesting birds Great Crested Newts Badgers Reptiles Garden design

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 9 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Hedgerow

In particular, look out for:

Badgers Bats Dormice Great Crested Newts Nesting Birds Invertebrates Reptiles

Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal order made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the authority’s consent.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 10 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Lake

In particular, look out for:

Bats Nesting birds Great Crested Newts Water Voles Otters Reptiles

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 11 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Large tree

In particular, look out for:

Bats Nesting birds

Phil Luke Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal order made by a local planning authority that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a tree without the authority’s consent.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 12 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Old woodland

In particular, look out for: Aim Characteristics Importance

Bats Ancient woodland is irreplaceable and Woodland is more than just trees, being Many animals of the woodlands depend should be strongly protected.There would structured as a number of layers. These on more than one layer. Bats will roost in Nesting birds have to an exceptionally good case to be start on the ground as the field layer, cracks in large old trees, but feed on the Great Crested Newts made for removal of any ancient wood- where wildflowers like Bluebell grow. insects that are there because of the land. The great losses of old woodland Above this is the understorey of Brambles flowers on the ground. The whole of the Badgers that have occurred are well known, and shrubs and young trees, then comes woodland vegetation is linked together Invertebrates new woodland creation is a popular another layer of smaller trees like Haw- underground by a network of fungi whose option. thorn and Hazel. Finally over the top is the threads penetrate the soil and the roots of Reptiles canopy layer of mature trees like Oak,Ash plants and move nutrients around from Dormice However, old woodland is a very complex or Lime. plant to plant. habitat. It takes time for woodland to Wildflowers develop this complexity. It is estimated Many of the trees will be dead, and this In general the older and more natural the that it may take 400 years for a new together with dead branches and dead woodland the greater is its nature woodland plantation to fully establish. wood on the ground forms valuable conservation value Tree Preservation Order (TPO): a legal habitat as well order made by a local planning authority Management that makes it an offence to cut, lop, uproot, or wilfully damage or destroy a There are few wholly natural woodlands tree without the authority’s consent. however, most having been managed for some purpose, coppiced for wood and A graded edge to woodland provides a timber production or kept for game shoot- wider variety of habitat and encourages ing. The way a wood is managed is very a wider variety of species. Retain or Create important, and even where neglected and manage a series of layers, from short these can be enhanced by suitable man- to long grass to shrubs to understorey to agement. Improved management of exist- trees. ing woodland can be a more important planning gain than new planting.

New woodland planting

Woodland and trees should not be planted on sites which already have a wildlife value, like flower rich grassland or heathland.

For those who want more woodland but who cannot wait centuries for natural INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Short grass and flowers herbs and shrubs understorey trees regeneration, new woodland plantings HABITATS 13 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

should mimic the features of old Further information woodland, and where possible link to them. There is plenty of advice on woodland creation, in books and on the internet. Use a variety of species appropriate to the Look at our reference section or start at area, with plants of local origin when http://www.forestry.gov.uk/keepersoftime possible, and the National Vegetation Classification is a useful guide to Deer management woodland types. Plant trees randomly; not in rows. Plant the field layer and the A word of warning; many woodlands are understorey too, with rides kept open for now heavily over-populated with Deer. the wildflowers and butterflies. Though these animals are popular with visitors, they are herbivores and will eat all If the site is large enough, think about fresh young growth. In some woodlands including a pond too. Glades, rides and the deer have eliminated the ground flora and woodland edge are valuable areas, with prevent tree regeneration from seed, and variation of sunny, humid and sheltered they can wreck new plantations. All conditions. species of deer need to be kept under con- trol, and there is plenty of advice available on this matter, the following links are a good place to begin.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/fcin36.pdf/ $FILE/fcin36.pdf – The Impact of Deer on Woodland Biodiversity

http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk

Principles of Enhancing and INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 14 Creating Biodiversity Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Orchard

In particular, look out for:

Bats Nesting Birds Invertebrates Wildflowers

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 15 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Pond

In particular, look out for: Aim Typical profile of small pond

Bats Existing ponds should be retained and Gentle slope Max slope Water depth Water depth improved if necessary. If development for ease of access 1:3 c. 20cm c. 0.5cm Great Crested Newts by wildlife involves the loss of a pond a new pond Water Voles should be recreated elsewhere on the site. Water depth Otters at least 60cm, Characteristics ideally 90cm Planting pockets Reptiles for emergent and A healthy pond swarms with life, and marginal plants serves as a nursery for spectacular insects Wildlife Trusts’ Wetland Restoration like dragonflies and amphibians like frogs Manual and newts. A large pond or lake will Conservation License requirements Sustainable Drainage Schemes support more varied aquatic life than a The manual includes more than 250 small one. Fish movements are regulated under a Ponds can from a useful part of a pages, plus illustrations, held in a hard- variety of legislation.Application forms for Sustainable Urban Drainage Scheme backed ring-bound file. Further information fish introduction/removal are available (SUDS). Copies of the manual cost £45 from the Environment Agency Fisheries, www.brookes.ac.uk/pondaction/pondsfor Recreation and Biodiversity Team at the http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ The Wildlife Trusts planners.pdf – The Importance of Ponds: Ipswich office. commondata/acrobat/a5_suds_v3.pdf UK Office A guide for planners and developers. Tel: 01636 670089 There is no specific regulatory control For advice on techniques see http://www.essexwt.org.uk/Leaflets/ regarding pond/wetland plants but http://www.ciria.org/suds/suds_ ponds.htm damaging non-native plants should be techniques.htm avoided such as Japanese Knotweed, http://www.pondstrust.org.uk Giant Hogweed, Himalyan Balsam, Australian Swamp Stonecrop, Floating Pennywort, Parrot's Feather, Floating Waterfern and Least Duckweed.

It is an offence under Section 14(2) of the Garden Design Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to 'plant or otherwise cause to grow in the Riverside Development wild any plant listed in Schedule 9 Part II. The only flowering plants currently listed Mineral Development in Schedule 9 are Japanese Knotweed and Giant Hogweed. Greenfield Site

Principles of Enhancing and INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 16 Creating Biodiversity Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Quarry

In particular, look out for:

Badgers Bats Nesting Birds Invertebrates Great Crested Newt Reptiles Water vole

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 17 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

River corridor

In particular, look out for: Coasts and rivers

Badgers The 300-mile Essex coastline is of (PPS25 available to view or download at: Tree canopies can reduce the rate at which Bats international importance for nature http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp rainwater reaches the ground. Reed beds conservation. It is also important for its ?id=1504639). and ponds can also help to filter dispersed White-clawed Crayfish open landscape and numerous historic pollutants and clean water that drains off Great Crested Newts features. Since the coastline is of extreme Under the Water Framework Directive, roads, roofs, car parks and agricultural environmental sensitivity, sustainable emerging River Basin Management Plans land. All new development should incor- Nesting birds development requires that there should be and Flood Risk Strategies should play a porate features of sustainable drainage Otters very strong planning policies to protect key role in targeting areas for wetland systems. and promote the conservation of its restoration to help alleviate threats of Reptiles natural resources and heritage. Both the flooding and meet biodiversity targets.This (SDS: http://www.ciria.org.uk/acatalog/ Water Voles Essex & Southend Replacement Structure positive approach could produce a ‘win- C609.html Also see PPS25) plan and Local Plans in coastal areas give win’ situation for flood risk management strong protection to the undeveloped and nature conservation. For example, for Essex coast and estuaries. riverside development it is prudent to pull back to higher land away from rivers, The Government’s Planning Policy allowing high-risk floodplain land to Statement 25 (PPS25), Development and provide a natural green buffer with Flood Risk, is founded on the benefits for people and biodiversity. presumption against inappropriate devel- opment in floodplains. Storm events and Sustainable Drainage Systems (SDS) floods are likely to become more frequent as a result of climate change and further PPG25 makes specific mention of exacerbated by sea level rise. sustainable drainage systems (SDS) in reducing run-off from hard impermeable Experience shows that hard defences are surfaces, and the environmental benefits not always the best means of reducing in delivering ‘soft’ drainage and storm risks. Maintenance and restoration of water management solutions for floodplains and coastal wetlands are more development schemes. Planner and effective. By working with nature, rather developers should work closely with the than against it, we can better protect Environment Agency (EA) in order to people and property as well as providing develop practical and effective surface valuable habitats for wildlife. water management systems.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 18 Riverside development Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Roadside verges

In particular, look out for: Where Characteristics

Nesting Birds In the 1970s a number of important Special roadside verges are of high verges were designated as Special biodiversity value and where properly Wildflowers Roadside Verges. Since then the number managed, support a wide variety of has grown and there are now over 100 threatened or declining species. Four very sites covering more than 44km of roadside important and nationally scarce plants habitat across Essex. Reviews of, and mainly restricted to verge sites include Adrian Knowles additions to, this list of special verges are sulphur clover, crested cow-wheat, lesser carried out annually. A site will not be calamint and cowslip. adopted formally as a Special Verge unless it has been assessed according to various Sensitive management can provide a huge biodiversity and safety criteria. potential for wildlife associated with the verges and also for wildlife in the Aim surrounding countryside. Verges act as corridors helping to connect fragmented Where possible, development which or isolated habitats by allowing species to would involve the loss or damage to a travel between them. special roadside verge should be avoided. Further information • Ensure Special Roadside Verges are not lost to road widening, junction For more information about roadside improvements or new access points to verges or to propose new sites contact properties. either • Leave cutting to authorised The Conservation Manager at Essex contractors. Wildlife Trust,Tel 01621 862960. • Avoid planting trees and non-native or plants such as bulbs grasses and Essex County Council Countryside and garden plants. Ecology Officer 01245 437655. • Ensure Special Roadside Verges are protected from unwanted dumping.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 19 Junction improvements Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Grassland

In particular, look out for: Characteristics Aim Further information

Bats There are three main kinds of grassland Wherever possible grassland habitats The Flora Locale organisation offers all of in Essex influenced by the acidity or should be protected from development or the advice that you will need on grassland, Nesting birds alkalinity of soil and also the water conversion to woodland. If development and on other habitats as well. Great Crested Newts content and heaviness. can enable the restoration of grassland http://www.floralocale.org/ this should be encouraged. Badgers The most commonly found is neutral and then look at their Knowledge Zone Invertebrates grassland. It includes enclosed and Management http://www.floralocale.org/content.asp? managed grassland such as hay meadows did=23899 Otters and pastures, a range of grasslands which To improve biodiversity and conservation Reptiles are inundated with water periodically, value: See also permanently moist or even waterlogged http://www.essexwt.org.uk/habitats/grass. Wildflowers grassland, where the vegetation is • Take into account site’s characteristics: htm dominated by grasses, and tall and soil type, hydrology, current use, past essexwt.org.uk/Tables/Wildflower_ unmanaged grassland. use and management. Meadows.htm • Apply the correct cutting regime. Calcareous grassland can be found in • Keep soil fertility down by removing north west Essex and in Thurrock. the cuttings off the site. Calcareous grasslands contain an excep- • Consider the long-term management tional diversity of rare plants. requirements. • If re-seeding, seed should come from Acid grasslands are now rare in Essex and as local a source as possible or even they provide an important reservoir of rare spread hay from a neighbouring site on species in our area. to the site.

Importance

Species-rich grassland benefits a wide variety of wildlife especially insects and particularly those species requiring pollen and nectar sources eg bumble bees, butterflies, moths and some beetles.

Principles of Enhancing and INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Creating Biodiversity HABITATS 20 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Saltmarsh

In particular, look out for: Coasts and estuaries

Nesting birds The 300-mile Essex coastline is of Under the Water Framework Directive, international importance for nature emerging River Basin Management Plans Invertebrates conservation. It is also important for its and Flood Risk Strategies should play a Otters open landscape and numerous historic key role in targeting areas for wetland features. Since the coastline is of extreme restoration to help alleviate threats of Water Voles environmental sensitivity, sustainable flooding and meet biodiversity targets.This development requires that there should be positive approach could produce a Saltmarsh has a high degree of protection very strong planning policies to protect ‘winwin’ situation for flood risk man- through both international and national and promote the conservation of its agement and nature conservation. For legislation. Determine the relevant des- natural resources and heritage. Both the example, for riverside development it is ignation and consult the government Essex & Southend Replacement Structure prudent to pull back to higher land away circular Statutory obligations and their plan and Local Plans in coastal areas give from rivers, allowing high-risk floodplain impact within the planning system Part 1. strong protection to the undeveloped land to provide a natural green buffer with Essex coast and estuaries. benefits for people and biodiversity.

The Government’s Planning Policy Coastal Squeeze Statement 25 (PPS25), Development and Flood Risk, is founded on the presumption Risks to coastal communities are increas- against inappropriate development in ing and ecologically important habitat is floodplains. Storm events and floods are being lost because, as sea levels rise, hard likely to become more frequent as a result coastal defences are squeezing out salt- of climate change and further exacerbated marshes and wetlands. Government and by sea level rise. Experience shows that Local Planning Authorities should seek out hard defences are not always the best and support rural opportunities for man- means of reducing risks. Maintenance and aged realignment by setting back sea restoration of floodplains and coastal walls and allowing new wetlands to de- wetlands are more effective. By working velop as a sustainable option for coastal with nature, rather than against it, we can defence. Where appropriate, landowners better protect people and property as well who want to restore coastal wetlands as providing valuable habitats for wildlife. should be helped through effective part- nerships, guidance for change of use and PPS25 available to view or download at: financial compensation for the loss of land http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp and income. ?id=1504639 Abbotts Hall Farm managed realignment: http://www.essexwt.org.uk/sites/Abbotts Biodiversity conservation – %20Hall%20Farm.htm statutory obligations

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 21 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Scrub

In particular, look out for:

Nesting birds Great Crested Newts Badgers Invertebrates Reptiles

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 22 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Sea wall

In particular, look out for:

Nesting birds Invertebrates Reptiles

Sea wall habitat is likely to have protected status

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITATS 23 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Integrating biodiversity into development – realising the benefits

The following key principles provide a structure to guide our approach:

ASSESS the biodiversity value of the site

PROTECT current key habitats and species of wildlife interest

ENHANCE and CREATE The following diagram shows the stages of the planning application process (in this enhance existing habitats or create new areas example where a protected species is present). We have highlighted the key MITIGATE principles for ease of reference. Use this against potentially damaging impacts on wildlife information as a quick reference.

COMPENSATE Refer to subsequent sections dealing with each principle in turn when you need where damage is unavoidable to wildlife further guidance on steps to take and/or where to find more information. These MONITOR and ENFORCE pages address each principle in turn to promote the success of enhancement, mitigatory and showing who needs to do what and when compensatory measures in the development proposal’s life. Note: bear in mind that in practice the A CHECKLIST steps set out under each principle often for developers and planners merge into the next.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Stages of the planning process for a site where protected species may be present

Pre-application stage Application stage Post-application stage

Certain types of planning applica- 1 Assess the biodiversity value of the site and its 4 Consider validity of survey findings and suitability of 7 If applicable acquire the necessary licence before any tion may have “significant environ- surroundings, formal wildlife designations of land, proposed mitigation, with advice from English Nature licensable acts commence. mental effects” (Environmental Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species, and other relevant conservation bodies if necessary. The actual mitigation work must be planned well and Impact Regulations). presence or absence of legally protected species, Request any additional information and negotiate executed well by the developer. and identify opportunities for enhancement. any required amendments. Agree the mitigation Responsibility: Developer For more information on this Consult with appropriate bodies (eg. English Nature strategy with the developer. important area, refer to The Essex Area Team, Essex Wildlife Trust, local record holders) Responsibility: Local Planning Authority Guide to Environmental Impact about biodiversity records and/or employ ecological Assessment – October 2002, consultants to survey application site, using best 8 Manage and monitor to ensure that planning produced by the Essex Planning practice techniques. Redesign to reduce impacts. conditions and the mitigation strategy are adhered to. Officers’ association. Responsibility: Developer 5 Determine application in the light of the information ISBN 1 85281 195 1. Responsibility: Local Planning Authority/Developer provided with regard to PPS 9 and any relevant statutory provisions. Responsibility: Local Planning Authority 2 Employ consultants to assess the impact of the 9 Feedback – to planning authority/county recorders/ development on any protected species found to be LRC/community about what is found. present and if necessary produce a mitigation package. Responsibility: Developer 6 Attach conditions or planning obligations to any Responsibility: Developer planning permission granted to ensure the implementation of the mitigation strategy. Responsibility: Local Planning Authority

3 Discuss proposals with planners, including any mitigation, prior to submission of planning application. Where application not accompanied by pre- Responsibility: Developer application survey, make initial assessment of biodiversity value using where is the wildlife and ask for survey if considered appropriate Responsibility: Local Planning Authority

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Format for Mitigation Plan INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

ASSESS – Assessing biodiversity on site or potentially affected by the proposal

Developers and applicants • Refer to the Local Plan for the area – 4 Writing the ecological survey ASSESS identify relevant policies. report (or ‘Scoping study’) Pre-application stage: 2 The field survey: Your ecological survey should include the Overview: following: Check Developers and Finding out what wildlife exists on and • Where is the wildlife for guidance on • An assessment of the status and extent applicants around the site needs to include: habitat features to watch out for. of all protected species population/s Pre-application stage and Biodiversity Action Plan species or • Desk study – Enquiring into the historic Note that most protected species lifestyle habitats. This may require looking data available for a given site. means that survey work needs to be done outside the development footprint.The • Field survey – Survey by a suitably within a suitable period during the year – method of survey/investigation should • Desk study qualified person to bring any historic see appropriate survey seasons for be stated. • Field survey data right up to date. information on suitable survey times. • A summarised assessment of the • Taking stock overall impact of the development • Writing the ecological Do I need to employ a consultant? You 3 Taking stock: proposal taking account of mitigation survey report can begin the assessment process yourself and compensation measures. by seeking historic information for the Consider the information you’ve gathered: • Establish the ecological framework area in and around your chosen site. This that the development will sit within. may give clues about known biodiversity • What biodiversity issues exist? Use information to Protect (see next interest. The site visit will provide more • What measures are needed to address section) what already exists and to information. Field survey will need to be biodiversity issues on or around the design development that enhances the carried out a by a suitably qualified person site? ecological value of the area. such as an ecological consultant – see • Consider what work your chosen • Where applicable – a compensation Ecological consultants for more ecologist/consultant needs to do and strategy to include a reasoned state- information. how this interacts with your ment as to the choice of compen- development proposal. Identify Local sation; clear and timetabled methods; 1 The desk study: Plan policies that represent either a timetable for the whole project and constraints and/or useful links with any need for a licence from Defra or • Check for sources of information – see other policy areas – In terms of English Nature. Key players and also for example the biodiversity these include open space, MAGIC website http://www.magic. recreation, sustainable transport links Note: the methods needed to produce an gov.uk for information about desig- such as footpaths and cycle ways, adequate survey vary according to the UK BAP species and habitats nated sites in the area. sustainable design and construction, species or species group concerned. This East of England species and habitats • Seek further information from the key sustainable drainage, landscape. is a specialist subject area that your Essex BAP species and habitats players on any designated sites/ consultant should investigate and advise Local authority BAP forums biodiversity flagged up by your initial on. Refer to Reading and references for Ecological consultants information trawl. guidance on where to source relevant Key players information. Appropriate survey seasons

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

ASSESS – Assessing biodiversity on site or potentially affected by the proposal

Planners ASSESS Pre application stage: Application stage:

This early part of the planning process • Refer to Developers and applicants plays a crucial part in paving the way for section. Planners integrating biodiversity into development. Pre-application stage Check: • Promote pre-application discussions • Where is the wildlife for guidance on where possible. habitat features to watch out for. • Refer to the information for developers • Print off the above references and take and applicants. them with you on the site visit as an • Where’s the wildlife? • Make applicants aware of this aide memoire. • The site visit guidance, and the ‘signposts’ the • Does the site warrant ecological • Seeking advice guidance offers to other sources of survey? Where you need advice • Protected species information too. request the views of ecologist • Promote reference to the Local Plan colleagues in house and/or consult and flag up biodiversity’s status as a relevant organisations. See Key players cross-cutting theme and its conse- for further details. quent synergy with other policies (for • Where the site does need a survey and example open space, recreation, sus- none exists make the applicant aware tainable transport links such as foot- of their responsibility to address such paths and cycle ways, sustainable issues and refer them to this guidance. design and construction, sustainable • Where protected species are known or drainage, landscape). suspected to be on site refer to Protected Species in Essex for more Key players information. Protected species in Essex

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

PROTECT – Protecting biodiversity on and around the site

Developers and applicants PROTECT Pre application:

Assessing the site should identify: • If impacts cannot be avoided refer • Statutory issues eg. Designated Sites to ‘mitigation’ and ‘compensation’ Developers and (SSSI, Special Protection Areas, Ramsar for other methods. applicants sites etc) and protected species – see • Seek input from local ecological Pre-application stage Protected species in Essex. specialists where appropriate (eg. for • Other biodiversity issues their detailed knowledge of a locality • Priority species and habitats (UK and/or species). See table Key players Biodiversity Action Plan). for further details. • Identify biodiversity • Non statutory sites (eg. Wildlife • Reconcile or integrate those issues Sites). biodiversity elements that need to be • Evaluate biodiversity • Landscape features that are of protected within the development site. resource major importance for wildlife due to For example an existing bat roost may • Identify options for the role they fulfil as links or need to be incorporated into the protection stepping stones (eg. hedges, design for the conversion of a • Seeking advice copses, streams and ditches). traditional rural barn. Please see the • Identifying ‘win, wins’ • The survey should make use of this Case studies for more examples. information to evaluate the relative • Consider opportunities for the biodiversity importance of the integration of biodiversity elements on identified plants, animals or features site for the contribution they will make and to assess impacts (both positive to the completed development eg. UK BAP habitats and species and negative) that the development native trees, hedgerows and grassland East of England BAP habitats may involve. in terms of landscaping and/or for the and species • Consider the options available to part they can play as a setting for Essex BAP habitats and species protect biodiversity – these may informal recreation or a rest area on Local authority BAP forums involve preventative measures the site of a workplace. Retain and Protected species in Essex (avoiding impacts arising) together manage such features where they Basic principals of enhancing with positive measures to integrate already exist (and see below for advice and creating biodiversity (incorporation into a on creating these features) – See Key players landscape scheme, management section on Enhance and create. Case studies measures etc) see Basic principals of enhancing and creating. • Avoiding impacts – Consider how design aspects of the development might be amended to protect biodiversity eg. layout options INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT and/or timing of works. INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 5 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

PROTECT – Protecting biodiversity on and around the site

Planners PROTECT Pre application: Application stage:

• See the Developers and Applicants • Where you think a survey is needed steps above for checklist of what needs (see Assess above), but none has been Planners to happen to protect biodiversity. submitted, make the applicant aware Pre-application and • Seek submission of a suitable survey as of their responsibility to address such application stages soon as possible. Note that surveys for issues and refer them to this guidance. protected species should be submitted • Where you have received a survey and consulted upon prior to check its findings. Do they concur with determining the application. your impression at the site visit ? – see • Adequate • Consider the survey conclusions in the Where is the wildlife. information light of your site visit. • Have steps been taken to protect • Drawing conclusions • Where you need advice request the biodiversity eg. through avoiding • Seeking advice views of ecologist colleagues in house impacts and/or positive management and/or consult relevant organisations. measures? See Key players for further details. • Where you need further advice, request • Encourage developers, applicants and the views of ecologist colleagues in their consultants to seek input from house and/or consult relevant local ecological specialists where organisations. See Key players for appropriate (eg. for their detailed further details. knowledge of a locality or species). See • Planners themselves may also need to Key players for further details. employ ecological consultants. Key players

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 6 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

ENHANCE and CREATE – Enhancing biodiversity on site and creating new biodiversity resources

Developers and applicants ENHANCE and CREATE Pre-application stage: NB: enhancing the biodiversity resource • For example: native trees, hedgerows on a site goes hand in hand with the and grassland may contribute to Developers and assessment and protection elements of landscaping and/or as a setting for applicants the process. informal recreation or a rest area on Pre-application stage the site of a workplace. Retain and Having successfully assessed a site and manage such features where they identified what needs to be protected already exist. possible measures should be discussed • Basic principles of creating and • Seeking advice with an ecological consultant and/or the enhancing (and its links) give more • Key points planning authority. guidance on how to enhance your • Opportunities site’s biodiversity resource. Opportunities will often exist to combine protection of existing key habitats and • Bear in mind the wide range of oppor- species with enhancement of the site.The tunities for biodiversity enhancement, following are some key points to consider: ranging from; • Creating new biodiversity resources • Each site is unique – your consultant – For example where a site is will need to weigh up options with you devoid of existing biodiversity and to identify the optimum solution for the a ‘clean sheet’ approach is situation. appropriate, to • Biodiversity offers an opportunity to • Enhancing existing resources, for link together various aspects of your example by creating a grassland/ development proposal. These include scrub margin as a buffer between open space, recreation, sustainable new development and a mature transport links such as footpaths and hedgerow known as a foraging Basic principles of creating and cycle ways, sustainable design and route for the local bat population. enhancing construction, sustainable drainage and landscape. Identify Local Plan policies that represent useful supporting links.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 7 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

ENHANCE and CREATE – Enhancing biodiversity on site and creating new biodiversity resources

Planners ENHANCE and CREATE Pre-application stage: • Refer to Developers and Applicants section. • Encourage applicants to recognise the Developers and opportunities to amalgamate biodiver- applicants sity enhancements with: Pre-application stage • Open space • Recreation • Access (eg. footpaths and cycleways) • Recognising ‘win, • Sustainable design and win’ opportunities construction • Identifying planning • Sustainable drainage systems policy links • Landscaping • Floodplain management • Balancing ponds

Application stage:

• As above

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 8 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

MITIGATE – Mitigating (or reducing) the impacts of development upon biodiversity

Developers and applicants MITIGATE Pre-application stage

A key result of your assessment of the the following question: Remember that while preparation of a The above sections on Assess, Protect and proposed development site should be to • If I were to carry out the detailed mitigation strategy may be dealt Enhance and Create and Mitigate explain Developers and identify what adverse impact(s) your development proposal would it with as a planning condition you need to what to do (but see below too). applicants proposal may have upon biodiversity. It result in harm to the species or its have identified and quantified any impacts Pre-application and should also have identified and evaluated habitat? (See PPG9 Nature and to have prepared a case that shows Bear in mind that you may not be able to application stages the various biodiversity resources affected, Conservation – Paragraph 47) how mitigation can in principle safeguard assess your site’s biodiversity adequately taking account of relevant legislation (eg. • If the answer is ‘Yes’ then the species or population concerned prior at certain times of year (see Appropriate that covering Designated Sites and mitigation is required and the issue to the application being decided. survey times). The statutory period for protected species – see Protected Species assumes the status of a ‘material deciding planning applications (normally • Seeking advice in Essex) and planning guidance (eg. planning consideration’ (ie. an issue Mitigation may involve additional eight weeks) imposes further constraints • Timescales Planning Policy Guidance Notes and that the planning authority will take processes such as acquiring a licence for emphasising the advantages of • What the planners Planning Policy Statements – see into account as part of the planning work affecting some species or their addressing biodiversity issues before need Legislation). Where measures to protect process). habitats (see Protected Species in Essex). submitting your planning application. • Planning conditions and enhance biodiversity on site are not • Before your planning application can Almost invariably the grant of a licence is Where you face a last minute discovery and legal agreements enough to safeguard the biodiversity be decided you should submit dependent upon planning consent having situation you will need to discuss next • Licences resource on site or to meet the legislation, information to the planning authority, been granted. steps with your consultant and the • Compensation mitigation measures are required. as follows: planning authority. They in turn may seek measures • Identification and evaluation of Mitigation measures may not be sufficient advice from any in house ecologist and/or • Last minute The following are key points to remember biodiversity on site/affected by the on their own to safeguard a species or relevant consultees. discoveries when considering mitigation proposals: proposal. population. The section on Compensate • Seasonal constraints • Description of any impacts (both provides information on what steps to • Seeking advice • Mitigation measures for impacts on positive and negative) consider in this situation. biodiversity are a specialist subject. • Description of whether,in principle, Measures need to be tailored to the adverse impacts may be mitigated, Application stage: circumstances of the site, the develop- and how. ment and the species concerned. You • The planning authority will use this in- In order to integrate biodiversity into your will need to discuss options with a suit- formation to decide your application development proposal effectively you ably qualified consultant. and may consult other bodies for their should aim to address the steps set out • Bear in mind the timescales that views on your proposals. above before submitting your planning mitigation can entail – discuss these • Drawing up detailed mitigation application.This approach will also help to with your consultant and consider measures and implementing them may minimise the chance of delays due to them in relation to your development be dealt with by means of a planning unforeseen issues relating to biodiversity. schedule. condition and/or a legal agreement (for • Where protected species may be an example see Format for Mitigation ‘Last minute discoveries’ of biodiversity eg. Protected species in Essex involved the need for mitigation Plan – example involves a European protected species, can happen after your Format for Mitigation Plan INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT generally hinges upon the answer to Protected Species). planning application has been submitted. Appropriate survey times INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 9 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

MITIGATE – Mitigating (or reducing) the impacts of development upon biodiversity

Planners MITIGATE Pre-application stage: Application stage:

• Refer to Developers and Applicants As for pre-application stage plus: • Establish whether a planning Planners section. condition or legal agreement is Pre-application and • Refer also to previous sections on • Scenario 1: Biodiversity information appropriate in order to deliver application stages Assess, Protect, Enhance & Create as submitted with application: mitigation. appropriate. • Establish whether submitted • Mitigation measures may not be • Make the applicant aware of their survey/evaluation and mitigation sufficient on their own to safeguard responsibility to address such issues proposals are satisfactory. a species or population.The section • Awareness raising (Local Plan policies where relevant, • Mitigation measures may not be on Compensate provides infor- • Sources of PPG9 Nature Conservation), refer them sufficient on their own to safeguard mation on what steps to consider in information to this guidance and the ‘signposts’ a species or population.The section this situation. • Mitigation plans that it offers to other sources of on Compensate provides infor- • Where biodiversity information (eg. • Common scenarios information too. mation on what steps to consider in protected species) cannot be • Planning conditions • Refer to Format for Mitigation Plan this situation. gathered and submitted within the and legal agreements (example involves a European • Where you need advice request the normal eight week determination • Compensation Protected Species). views of ecologist colleagues in period discuss next steps with the measures house and/or consult relevant applicant and their consultant. • Seasonal constraints organisations. See Key players for • Where you need advice request the • Seeking advice further details. views of ecologist colleagues in • Establish whether a planning house and/or consult relevant condition or legal agreement is organisations. See Key players for appropriate in order to deliver further details. mitigation.

• Scenario 2: Application submitted without biodiversity information. • Refer to section on Assess for info on whether biodiversity is likely to be an issue. • Where adequate biodiversity information can be gathered in the time available request a suitable report and seek the views of Format for Mitigation Plan consultees on its content. Key players

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 10 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

COMPENSATE – Compensating for unavoidable losses of biodiversity

Note: mitigation and compensation are precautionary principle is applied so COMPENSATE often taken as meaning the same thing – that compensation measures seek the term ‘mitigation’ tends to be used as to provide a new or enhanced habi- shorthand for both concepts. Although tat resource that is of greater size, closely interrelated they are different. number etc. This approach recog- Developers and Mitigation aims to reduce adverse nises that new habitat takes time to applicants impacts. Compensation is action to offset establish and allows reasonable Pre application and or compensate for loss where that loss is flexibility for losses of the species application stages unavoidable. involved to occur without a signifi- cant adverse impact upon the Developers and applicants species’ population. • No net loss – Reflects the • Seeking advice Pre-application and Application stage: precautionary principle approach. • The precautionary The term sums up the need to principle • Site survey and evaluation will have provide compensatory habitat of a • Timescales demonstrated that biodiversity on site size/area greater than the affected • Key elements of cannot be satisfactorily safeguarded area so as to allow for a degree of compensation and that conventional mitigation uncertainty (and some loss) during • Legal agreements measures are insufficient on their own the habitat’s rehabilitation. to avoid loss of key biodiversity • Where compensation measures are resources (eg. protected species and required they may involve considerable ‘priority’ – UK BAP species and timescales to put into effect. Discuss habitats). Measures to compensate for with your consultant what options may loss are therefore required. exist in order to allow for this in terms • Compensation measures for impacts of your development schedule. on biodiversity are a specialist subject. • Your plans to address compensation Measures need to be tailored to the cir- will need to deal with the following: cumstances of the site, the develop- • A management plan (where ment and the species concerned. You appropriate). will need to discuss options with a suit- • Monitoring of the mitigation/ ably qualified consultant. compensation measures should be • Compensation measures are founded factored in. on two key principles: • Funding – of the compensation • The precautionary principle – Loss measures for a period to be agreed of habitat represents a level of with the planning authority. change so great that the effects on • Discuss with the planning authority the species affected are invariably what arrangements may be made to negative and the outcome of meas- deliver the compensation measures eg. ures to compensate for this is un- Legal agreement. INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT predictable. As a result the UK BAP species and habitats INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 11 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

COMPENSATE – Compensating for unavoidable losses of biodiversity

Planners COMPENSATE Pre-application stage:

• Refer applicants to the above section of this guidance. Planners Pre application and Application stage: application stages • Refer to Developers and Applicants section (above). • Where you need advice request the • Seeking advice views of ecologist colleagues in house • Key elements of and/or consult relevant organisations. compensation See Key players for further details. • Negotiate/encourage (as appropriate) arrangements for delivery of compen- sation for example by means of a Legal Agreement. • Check that contents of any arrange- ments include: • A management plan (where appro- priate). • Monitoring of the mitigation/ compensation measures. • Funding – of the compensation measures for a period to be agreed. Key players

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 12 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

MONITOR and ENFORCE – Monitoring and enforcing the delivery of mitigation/compensation measures

Overview:

Achieving measures that deliver the required mitigation and compensation should focus on suitable mechanisms that feature as part of the planning application stage of the development (eg. planning conditions and legal agreements). This represents the most practical and efficient use of resources. The EBP recognises that the planning system makes provision for measures to enforce planning law but such operational decisions are for each planning authority to make.

Developers and Applicants

Application stage:

• Your plans to address compensation should address monitoring of the mitigation/compensation measures and provide the means for any resulting information to inform the management of the site or feature. • Funding – of the compensation measures for a period to be agreed with the planning authority. • Refer to Reading and references for sources of information.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 13 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

MONITOR and ENFORCE – Monitoring and enforcing the delivery of mitigation/compensation measures

Planners

Application stage:

• Negotiate an appropriate agreement (eg. legal agreement) to secure monitoring of the site/feature (as appropriate) as part of the agreed management and to be funded by the developer. • Refer to Reading and references for sources of information. • Where you need advice request the views of ecologist colleagues in house and/or consult relevant organisations. See Key players for further details. • Planners can also employ ecological consultants Key players

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 14 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

CHECKLIST – The ideal response Yes No

Has historic data been gathered?

Has an appropriate field survey taken place?

Have impacts been avoided at design stage?

Have links been considered to the area outside the development?

Has appropriate consultation taken place?

Is the information sufficient?

Have adequate mitigation measures been identified?

Have arrangements or provisions been made for appropriate planning conditions to be monitored during the life of the construction period?

Have any impacts been identified that can not be adequately mitigated

Is there a compensation proposal?

Has the compensation proposal had sufficient consultation?

Is there adequate aftercare management detailed as part of the planning approval?

Use this checklist to ensure biodiversity has been integrated into future development. Realising the benefits whenever possible will lead to a greening of development, and help ensure Essex remains an exceptional county for both people and wildlife.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY 15 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Case studies

The case studies have been selected to show a range of development types and the wildlife issues that can arise from them, with examples of solutions that have been devised to protect, enhance, mitigate or compensate. It is encouraging that so many examples can already been found within Essex, and there are doubtless many more that could have been used.

This should provide encouragement to do more.A large variety of techniques are available to make space for biodiversity, and there are many printed references to these. Some recommendations are made in the Bibliography section of this guide.

Garden design

Urban infill – development on garden land

Junction improvements – a new access to a science park

Commercial expansion – additional development in an existing office site

Greenspace – in residential development

Edge of town residential expansion

Old building conversion – a traditional barn

Riverside development – before and after

Mineral development – restoration and aftercare

Greenfield site – urban fringe

Brownfield site – Thames Gateway flagship site

Essex Biodiversity Project will continue to add case studies thought pertinent to Essex. Visit our website http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk for news on the latest updates.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDIES Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Garden design Integrating development and biodiversity

With large-scale changes in the New housing layouts should use these principles, and should provide indigenous agricultural landscape, the landscape planting that will mature into structured habitat. Development should also land in and around our urban promote creation of wildlife ponds, wild areas, log piles, bird and bat boxes, etc. All areas is becoming an increas- such initiatives will achieve important gains for biodiversity while providing a quality ingly important refuge for environment for wildlife and residents alike. wildlife. Much wildlife can be Bat bricks Nesting found in gardens, particularly The Wildlife Trusts' Gateway Garden and boxes boxes those that are well established (illustrated opposite) won a Silver Compost Grass roofed lych gate heap and sizable, with a range of medal at Chelsea Flower Show in Bird trees, shrubs, grass and ponds. 2004 and demonstrates ideas that feeders could be used when creating a garden,

particularly where there is new build Wildlife Hybernaculum housing. pool

more about The Wildlife Trusts’

Key issues Gateway Garden Bumblebee Stones for pots Stag beetle thrushes stump Brown or green roofs, planted with Modern housing at densities of 30 to 50 dwellings per hectare can leave little room for Benefits/problems sedum or wildflowers are an at- wildlife. Retention of significant corridors outside of the residential plots along tractive addition to building design hedgerows, ditches, streams etc, is one way of providing With many of these principles of layout there are practical problems in retaining these some habitat for wildlife. features. Planning conditions and restricted covenants could be used to secure these, but the reality is that many householders will seek to modify or replace/remove such Areas like this offer the most potential for wildlife, with the features, and enforcement can be difficult. back sections of gardens providing undisturbed space for trees, shrubs and dense plant cover. (fig 1) Where hedges are provided as boundary features around the edge of housing, they should be physically separated from the residential plots, say by ditches, to ensure their It also adds value for wildlife if these areas are linked long-term survival. Otherwise they may be ‘lost’ through absorption into surrounding together in continuous strips between gardens, and link to gardens. larger open spaces outside the development. (fig 2) fig 1 Further information

Wildlife in buildings http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-wabman.pdf Gateway Garden Wildlife in gardens Designer: Stephen Hall http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Wildlifegardening2.pdf Contractors: Giles Landscapes Urban habitats of Welney http://www.essexwt.org.uk/habitats/urban.htm fig 2

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Urban infill Integrating development and biodiversity development on garden land The mitigation plan includes details of the construction of a newt hibernaculum between Located in a small hamlet in the pond and garden, which was a condition of the approved application. (fig 1) west Essex, a new house was planned on a large plot of land This design mimics artificial and natural conditions in which great crested newts have between existing houses and a frequently been found overwintering. Dimensions should not be below 2m long x 1m parish-owned pond with wide x 1m high.The illustrated design 200cm would be suitable for locating on an resident Great Crested Newts. Cap: topsoil, ideally with turf covering impermeable substrate. On free- This European protected species Inert, clean fill: hardcore, brick rubble, logs, sleepers etc, plus margins to have fill exposed, loose topsoil allowing access draining substrates, the design is 100cm is a material consideration but minimum Surrounds: the planning application was rough vegitation largely similar but the bulk of the fill is otherwise acceptable. sited in an excavated depression in the ground. Hibernacula should ideally be positioned across a site, both close to and distant from breeding ponds, always in suitable terrestrial habitat and above the flood-line. Translocation of newts into terrestrial habitats should be delayed where time is required for maturation from the Key issues point of creation or restoration. This may be a year or more depending on the soils, vegetation type and weather conditions. Newts should not be moved into areas before The developer was required to carry out a full, targeted ecological survey with a significant habitat modification takes place. mitigation plan to be submitted with the application.The pond is not in the applicant’s ownership/control, but newts spend most of the year out of the pond and may be using Benefits/problems surrounding gardens as foraging habitat. These are quiet lanes so the newts probably forage throughout the area in the neighbouring gardens. It is difficult to ensure consistent habitat management in gardens of new properties, and given the vagaries of home ownership and potential for extensions, etc, it is generally not acceptable to rely on gardens as compensation for terrestrial habitat lost to development.The same applies to garden ponds. Only in limited circumstances where there is legal provision (eg. through restrictive covenants) for the retention and management of great crested newt habitat would gardens be considered suitable in mitigation.

The developer could make a contribution to the cost of restoring the very overgrown pond too, although this option was not made a planning condition. New house

Pond Further information

Newt hibernaculum Ditch English Nature (Aug 2001) Great crested newt mitigation guidelines ISBN 1 85716 568 3.

http://www.pondstrust.org.uk fig 1 INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT http://www.brookes.ac.uk/pondaction/pondsforplanners.pdf CASE STUDY 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Junction improvements Integrating development and biodiversity a new access to a science park The initial submission included a full ecological survey of the site and suggested A science park on the Essex- mitigation/compensation measures. The application was approved subject to planning Cambridgeshire border is to be conditions, one of which required a landscape and habitat management/maintenance expanded. An existing simple scheme to be submitted and approved. The detailed habitat creation scheme included crossroad junction was deemed translocation of plants from the old verge, creation of a new area of chalk grassland on to be unsatisfactory by the High- the old roadbed (using chalky topsoil from the old verge) and allowance for natural way Authority as it needed to regeneration from the seedbank in the soil. The works were overseen by an ecological cater for a greatly increased specialist consultant. traffic load to development expansion close by. It was Benefits/problems decided that a new round- about (part of the development Although the programme of works was carried out as approved in 2002, it became proposals) was the most apparent that the new chalk grassland had initially failed to establish, despite following satisfactory option. the detailed specification.The area became dominated by arable ‘weed’ species, such as docks, thistles, coarse grasses and oilseed rape. Reasons for this failure include the Key issues likelihood that chalk grassland topsoil became mixed with adjoining arable soils, containing unwanted species. Plants of ancient and species-rich grasslands thrive in low The realignment of the road and construction of a new roundabout involved the removal nutrient conditions, so improved/fertilised topsoils should never be introduced. In this of a significant proportion of Protected Roadside Verge (designated as a Wildlife Site), case it would have been better to use only the chalk topsoil and chalk subsoil mixed with important for its rare chalk flora. fresh cuttings from the existing grassland (known as ‘green hay’). Regular monitoring and maintenance is essential so that the process can be adapted as required.

Despite an apparently well-founded and specified scheme, the outcome was initially very far from the desired state, but by 2006 the desired species were beginning to appear, though the undesirable species were still dominant. Additional management has been carried out to remove the docks by hand, but this level of time-consuming management should be allowed for in the aftercare of such schemes.

The overall result has been the loss of protected roadside verge with ineffective New roundabout compensation. In retrospect it would have been better if the protected status had been robustly defended, and the road scheme refused consent. The recreation/translocation erge Lost v of established and fragile grassland communities is fraught with difficulties. Grassland Retained verge creation should only be accepted as a substitute for the in situ conservation of semi- natural grassland as a last resort. Old roadbed for new chalk grassland creation

Further information

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT http://www.essexwt.org.uk/tables/wildflower_meadows.htm CASE STUDY 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Commercial expansion Integrating development and biodiversity additional development in As well as identifying sites for new buildings and a large car park, the Masterplan an existing office site designated the eastern end of the site, outside the business park campus, for public access.The grassland and woodland trees were assessed by an ecological survey and a Set on the western edge of management plan was produced that divides the site into units, each with a detailed Harlow New Town, a 1960s annual programme of management works. office development required expansion to develop into a Benefits/problems modern business park. The original headquarters office is The grassland is cut at times of the year to benefit wildflower pollination and seeding. situated at one end of a large Tree management is undertaken to keep the oak woodland in good health, which parkland site and has been benefits the numerous birds, small mammals and insects that use the habitat. used informally by local residents for many years. This is a good example of a ‘win-win’ case study that has benefits for the owners - the company is proud of the green setting for their site and the new permissive parkland supports a good variety of wildlife, while local residents benefit from easy access to Key issues quality greenspace on their doorstep.

The eastern end of the parkland has good quality neutral wildflower grassland and some Harlow has an excellent network of interconnected green wedges, comprising both new woodland planting.As part of its expansion objectives, the company was asked to formal and informal open spaces (mainly woodland, scrub and grassland).This permissive incorporate some open space for the benefit of wildlife and local people in its Masterplan parkland is an important part of the biodiversity resource in the District. Outline Planning application. Many schemes fall down on the fact that that the new park areas cannot be managed effectively and efficiently.The cost of ongoing management kills it.Therefore, the design must be tested and adjusted according to what is manageable.There must be sufficient resources to enable this management to be carried out on a long-term basis.

New building Original office building Further information

For general background on Harlow’s protected Wildlife Sites: Harlow District Council (Nov 2002) Wildlife Sites, Supporting document for the New building New permissive park with a wildlife-friendly management plan Replacement Harlow Local Plan.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Greenspace Integrating development and biodiversity in residential development Planning permission was given for a substantial new residential neighbourhood to be A large brownfield industrial built on areas of least or no ecological significance.The layout was informed through a site became vacant close to general ecological survey. A ‘green’ area to the north (around 1ha) was dedicated, by Chelmsford town centre, iden- the developer, to the local authority for the purpose of it being managed as a tified for new housing pro- wildlife/nature area, together with £80k towards its management (under a Section 106 vision. This site lies adjacent to agreement). a railway line with an area of wildlife interest lying next to The site itself does not support any rare or protected species, although kingfishers are the railway embankment. The probably nesting alongside a large pond at the edge of the railway embankment. challenge was to develop the However, it provides a good range of habitats including scrub, ponds and open areas, site while retaining/enhancing extending the amount of land being managed to benefit biodiversity. the biodiversity interest. Benefits/problems

This is a good local example of a forward-thinking developer’s commitment to the Key issues protection and enhancement of biodiversity, with benefits of improved quality of life for the residents.A pathway through the site allows public access to nearby greenspace. The northern area contains ponds as well as areas of grass, trees and scrub. Although This meets Natural England and local authority performance indicator (BVPI – Best Value no rare or protected species are present, the assemblage of commoner species is Performance Indicators) targets for providing accessible greenspace within a close important in the local context of this urban setting.A range of birds, small mammals and distance of residential areas.The site is well within walking/cycling distance of the town insects use the mosaic of habitats. centre – another benefit of sustainable development.

A large, deep pond has been fenced off for health and safety reasons. It is hoped that local people can be encouraged to use and look after the whole site.The local authority’s Parks Service is discussing possibilities of working with BTCV (British Trust for Conservation Volunteers) to achieve this. Wildlife area with access from cycle track Local provenance hedging rather than fencing, flower-rich (instead of amenity) grassland managed with wildlife in mind and less uniform planting of native trees could increase

Footpath and the biodiversity value of the southern side of such a development. cycle track link to town centre Many schemes fall down on the fact that that the new park areas cannot be managed effectively and efficiently.The cost of ongoing management kills it.Therefore, the design must be tested and adjusted according to what is manageable.There must be sufficient resources to enable this management to be carried out on a long-term basis.

Further information New residential development For Natural England targets for local access to greenspace (ANGSt), see INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 5 http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/spacefornature.pdf Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Edge of town probably using parts of the site itself. The large areas of undisturbed grassland provide residential expansion excellent habitat for significant common lizard and slowworm populations. Grass snakes are also present in moderate numbers. Breeding birds are also an issue. Bats may roost This large site lies on the edge in trees on the site – further surveys are planned. of Stansted Mountfitchet in the M11-Stansted growth area. It Integrating development and biodiversity combines both brownfield and greenfield characteristics. It is a The development layout provides an area of replacement great crested newt terrestrial former nursery site with large and aquatic habitats comprising new water bodies suitable for breeding, structures tracts of species–poor grassland provided for shelter (hibernacula) and other high quality habitats (foraging).The scheme interspersed with patches of retains an existing linear woodland strip which links the newt area to other areas such bramble and tree belts close to as a landscaped drainage course. Culverts will be provided to act as a safe wildlife the eastern boundary. corridor under new roads (dispersal/movement).

A largely residential develop- The habitat creation/enhancement scheme on site would not be large enough to ment received outline planning accommodate the common lizard and slowworm populations, although grass snakes permission in February 2004, will be retained in situ.The mitigation scheme would involve the transfer (translocation) with reserved matters to be Key issues of these species to a specially prepared off-site receptor area. Effects on breeding birds agreed with the local planning would be prevented by clearing potential nesting habitats outside the breeding season authority related to the treat- A comprehensive ecological appraisal was carried out to identify key biodiversity issues or by undertaking surveys to ensure that no nests/young were present prior to clearance. ment of ecological issues. No and to agree mitigation proposals.The species that will require mitigation and protection development has begun on site during development are great crested newts, reptiles (common lizard, slowworm and Benefits/problems (as at February 2005). grass snake) and breeding birds.The site lies close to a grassland Wildlife Site (The Mount, Stanstead), but no adverse impacts are anticipated for this non-statutory designated The retained/created wildlife areas act as valuable habitat for great crested newts, reptiles area, which is given protection through local plan policy. and birds. Wildlife corridors are important to ensure that plants thrive and animals can remain mobile. The housing layout also provides an attractive area of open space for Culvert and underpasses will need The ex-nursery site contains a mosaic of demolished buildings and open areas, which residents and adds value to the houses overlooking it. barriers to ensure that animals are support a number of wildlife habitats. There is a known great crested newt population funnelled into appropriate crossing (European protected species) in ponds across the road on the south side of the site and Further information points. Great Crested Newts (mitigation guidelines) Existing housing New linear drainage landscape corridor and open space http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/gcn0801w.pdf Reptiles (developer guidelines) Retained http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Reptileslft.pdf New residential woodland strip development with links new Reptiles in gardens Stansted Mountfitchet – houses fronting onto open spaces new open spaces Rochford Nursery site http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Reptilesingarden.pdf Future Penny Anderson Associates development Bats (mitigation guidelines) area Ltd (ecologists). http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Batmitigationguide2.pdf New area of replacement Birds (law) Ponds with Great Crested Newt habitat Great Crested Newt and open space on undeveloped land http://www.rspb.org.uk/policy/wildbirdslaw/birdsandlaw/index.asp

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 6 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Old building conversion Integrating development and biodiversity a traditional barn The licence application to Defra will need to include a Method Statement with the results A thatched barn in rural of an appropriate bat survey, mitigation measures proposed and a detailed timetable Uttlesford is proposed for par- of the planned works. tial non-residential conversion (storage). Listed Building Since no evidence for a nursery roost was identified, any works should avoid the winter Consent is sought for internal hibernation period (1 December to 28 February). During the refurbishment works there and external restoration. will be a temporary loss of the internal roosting spaces, but this is estimated to have a low impact on the bat population. To ensure that no harm comes to the bats it may be necessary to physically exclude the bats before commencing works. In order to ensure continuity of roosting provision during the works, it is recommended that a minimum of four ‘Schwegler’ type woodcrete bat boxes are installed on mature trees close to the barn.

Since part of the conversion includes a study area it is proposed to incorporate a suitable bat loft area along the underside of the main roof ridge.A separate roof void for brown long-eared bats would be provided exceeding the minimum recommended dimensions Key issues for the species.Access to the new roof space would be facilitated through gaps (20mm x 75mm) in the gable ends/apexes.A monitoring strategy will need to be carried out to An ecological survey found that the barn supports a colony of brown long-eared bats ensure effectiveness of the mitigation. augmented by a smaller number of pipistrelle bats. All species of bats are protected by the Habitat and Species Directive in the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations Benefits/problems 1994. Pipistrelle bats could be using the barn occasionally as a roosting site. The barn is used on a regular basis as a summer roosting site by brown long-eared bats. It is not Bats and development can be satisfactorily integrated provided that good survey data thought that the barn is used as a nursery roost. is available and any adverse effects of works can be adequately mitigated. The refurbishment of old buildings should not be detrimental to any roosting/breeding bats Any consented works will need and ensure that the population of bats is maintained at a favourable conservation status to include mitigation measures in their natural range. and be subject to a Defra licence. The habitats surrounding the Although not a problem in this case study, barn owls are barn are considered suitable for often present in suitable outbuildings.They have protected foraging bats. status and would need up-to-date survey information and a mitigation strategy to ensure long-term survival.

TYPICAL BAT HABITAT Further information

9m uncut Lightly grazed acces strip wet meadows alongside er river Riv

Grazing meadows Bats will Bats (mitigation guidelines) Manuden – Barn Conversion use network of tracks and hedges for navigation Donald Purkiss Associates and hunting http://www.english-nature.org.uk/pubs/publication/PDF/Batmitigationguide2.pdf Arable fields Arable (architects) fields Barn owls (general information) http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/guide/b/barnowl/index.asp Farm track with tussocky grass on each side Arable fields with network of hedges. Margins left around field under A CD on mitigation in barn conversions is available from Hertfordshire Biological agri-environment scheme, and blocks of set-aside all provide good small mammal habitat INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Records Centre ([email protected]) CASE STUDY 7 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Riverside development Integrating development and biodiversity

This case study is generic – we With a potential increase in non-porous surfaces close to the floodplain, every welcome suggestions for a good opportunity should be taken to use good water management techniques. The ditch practice Essex-specific example. should be left open (not culverted), cleaned up and reprofiled to benefit water vole and otters. Porous car park surfacing would reduce flash run-off and water-borne pollutants. An existing riverside com- Road bridges across the river and ditch should include an underlying bank or ledge to mercial development site is due enable otters to move freely up/down river. This will reduce road kill/injuries, as otters to expand. A neighbouring will pass over roads if ledges are not provided at bridge crossings. rural greenfield site has become available which will fulfil the Habitat improvements should include retention and repollarding of riverside willows, growth aspirations of the planting of alder woodland as landscaping/buffering, thickening the boundary hedges applicants, while utilising the and introducing positive bankside management (‘soft’ engineering solutions with existing good road commu- biodiversity spin-offs). nications. The site is typical low-lying tussocky grassland Benefits/problems bordered by riverside trees (willows and scrub), poor Key issues This example is typical of what can be achieved through protection of locally important hedges and a neglected, wildlife and enhancement of neglected habitat.Although there has been landtake, this rubbish-choked ditch. Although the site is not of designated wildlife significance (not SSSI or Wildlife Site) it has been implemented with minimal or no damage to ecologically sensitive areas. does merit further investigation.The river and connecting ditches should be surveyed for Through long-term management and monitoring the marginal areas will continue to water vole, kingfisher and otter,while the old neglected willow pollards on the riverbank thrive with overall net gains for biodiversity. The local workforce will also see benefits could be home to bats (wet/marginal vegetation supports good prey insect populations). with pleasant natural surroundings and recreational advantages. A small marshy area is an important habitat and should be surveyed for BAP species, particularly Desmoulin’s whorl snail. Building on a floodplain has its problems. Not building on the floodplain, pulling the

Marshy area development back to put the green space near the river may be a better solution. Survey for BAP species, particularly snails River bank and ditch Old neglected Surveyed for water vole willow pollards

Ditch Overgrown, stagnant and full of rubbish River

Tussocky fallow grassland 100 year flood risk Further information Gappy, intensively-cut Culvert crossing hedge No bank under road. Otters and other wildlife forced up onto road to cross – at risk from traffic Thames biodiversity issues Retain bankside marshy vegetation as a buffer between development http://www.lbp.org.uk/02audit_pages/au11_thames.html and river Retain and Bank reinforced using repollard willows wooden faggots and Ditch left open – not cultivated. “soft engineering” Rubbish removed. Reprofiled leaving a shallow ledge

Bank reinforced using coir rolls pre-planted with native bankside plants New alder wood as landscaping Gap-up hedge

New plantings stepped back from road to maintain visibility Car park laid with porous surface and Culvert replaced with New native tree silt traps to reduce widespan bridge leaving planting such as ash, speed of surface 1m natural bank through alder and willow run-off and decrease the centre to allow wildlife INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT pollutants to river to move freely CASE STUDY 8 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Mineral development Integrating development and biodiversity restoration and aftercare The final restoration scheme for the site includes creation of shallow-edged lakes, islands, This mineral extraction site in flower-rich grassland, heathland, reedbeds, ponds and restored woodland. Before mineral Tendring is still under active extraction the site was under orchard and arable cultivation. working, but contains areas of restored and developing The site includes a tract of ancient woodland that overlies rich sand/gravel deposits. habitat. The mineral extraction permission gave consent to remove a large portion of this Wildlife Site in order to win raw materials, but this consent predates current more stringent environmental assessment.

Benefits/problems

Although the ancient woodland was partially destroyed due to sand/gravel extraction, the restoration programme has included tree planting and formation of wildlife-friendly lakes.The restored wetland part of the site won the prestigious Cooper-Heyman Cup in the Quality Products Association Awards 2002. Key issues The large southern lake is bordered by meadows and heathland. Islands were created The site borders existing woodland to the west and north. The extraction of sands and with gently sloping, sinuous edges, and shingle areas raised for nesting terns.A long and gravels brings potential problems of soil instability, changes to the water table, soil irregular shoreline was created around the lake to suit the feeding needs of water-fowl, compaction, wind-blown deposits and potential pollution from vehicles and plant. The and shallower areas planted away from the edges to provide shelter. requirement for environmental assessment of the likely adverse effects should provide effective mitigation measures to negate or minimise many impacts.There are also issues A Biodiversity Action Plan was prepared to ensure maintenance of the correct natural of noise/light disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation to consider,although the final balance. Some 65 bird species were recorded and special provision has been made for restored habitat mosaic may ultimately offer a greater biodiversity resource. barn owls with two nesting boxes. Anglers now use the lake on a controlled basis.

The extraction is phased over many years with restoration of the worked-out areas The winning of materials under an ancient woodland (Wildlife Site) is an unfortunate continuing as progress allows. outcome in exchange for the eventual restored wetland habitats.While there is provision for replanting the lost woodland, the loss of seedbank (through soil stripping) means that the diversity and complex structure of the original woodland can never be recreated in practice.

Woodland Invertebrates would benefit from some areas of sands/gravel to be left bare and kept (Country Wildlife Site) open, rather than the extensive habitat recreation of grassland, woodland and heath.

Restored woodland Grassland Arlesford – Villa Quarry Ponds Ponds Heath Farm Mineral Services Ltd Existing Lake Lake Village woodland (restoration). Lake Further information Reeds Heath Lake White, G and Gilbert, J (eds) (2003) Habitat creation handbook for the minerals industry INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Railway CASE STUDY 9 RSPB. ISBN 1 901930 37 8. Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Greenfield site hedgerows, scattered trees, streams, ponds and water treatment beds (reeds). These urban fringe features are of greater ecological significance. There are two non-statutory woodland Wildlife Sites close to the application site and several sites of local importance for nature This large greenfield develop- conservation identified by Harlow District Council. ment on the eastern fringes of Harlow has the potential Two protected species, badgers and great crested newts, have been found within the to provide a sustainable site and are well established. The population of great crested newts has colonised the community for about 6000 res- recently constructed reedbeds (part of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems). idents. Phase 1 of the develop- ment, including 440 dwellings Integrating development and biodiversity and a local centre, was grant- ed outline planning permission The layout of the proposed development retains all the key landscape features of in 1998 and is now under con- ecological value and so the habitat of the protected species. Landscape proposals also struction. include reinforcement and enhancement of these areas.

A comprehensive Environ- Some of the area that is proposed for development does, however, serve as foraging mental Statement for Phase 11 habitat. Areas have been identified to compensate for this loss and the layout includes was submitted to the local Key issues provision for wildlife corridors that will enable access to those identified areas and for Council in mid-September movement between individual populations. The inclusion of further water features for 2004. This current outline The majority of the site is currently arable land which is of low ecological value. Other the sustainable drainage system will provide further habitat for the great crested newts. application has not been deter- habitats found within the site are improved and semi-improved grassland, woodland, mined (as at February 2005), due to the complexity of the case.

Town Town Planted woodland Arable GW Pond GW Pond Hedge Meadow Meadow Local Arable WS Local WS GW Sports/recreation area

POS POS Uncultivated Planted Grassland woodland Uncultivated Pond GW Pond Arable GW

Reed Hedge beds Arable

Hedge Local WS POS Local Local Pond WS WS POS Phase 1 Building Harlow – New Hall Phase II works Arable Reed POS GW Roger Evans Associates Laboratories beds Laboratories (architects). Ponds GW Woodland GW Woodland WS WS

Local Local INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT WS WS CASE STUDY 10 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Benefits/problems

In addition to the mitigation and compensation measures for predicted ecological The concept of green infrastructure planning is based on a strategic approach to ensuring impacts, there are proposals to carry out a variety of enhancement works to improve the that environmental assets of natural and cultural value are integrated with land remaining areas of habitat for wildlife. These measures include new roosting development, growth management and built infrastructure planning at the earliest stage. opportunities for bats (eg. bat boxes and barn usage), planting of native trees and shrubs, This approach enables land management to be more proactive, less reactive, and better maintaining/enhancing existing hedgerows, managing the woodlands as conservation integrated with efforts to manage growth and development at all spatial planning levels. areas, and managing the undeveloped northern part of the site as an informal recreation Green infrastructure planning is therefore a key mechanism for delivering sustainable and conservation area, including fencing the woodland areas from adjacent pastures communities and quality of life benefits within growth areas. to encourage the development of the understorey and ground flora. The Harlow, Epping Forest, the River Stort and the Lea Valley Green Spaces Project (the Tree shelter belts act as wind protection and buffer zones between the housing and Harlow Green Spaces Project), which is part-funded by the ODPM, aims to enhance the nearby habitats. These features provide an attractive setting for the built development intrinsic character and nature of green spaces within the Harlow Area, acquire new green and will mature into useful habitat for nesting birds and insects.The inclusion of corridors spaces for public access and to create links between these green spaces. between different features such as ponds and greens ensures a real connection between the different types of habitat required by the various species. The Harlow Green Spaces Project partners commissioned Chris Blandford Associates to prepare a Green Infrastructure Plan for the Harlow Area to provide a strategic framework An ecological management plan will be prepared and implemented for the site.The plan and guidelines for the implementation of a connected and multi-functional green will ensure that these habitats continue to be managed positively for nature conservation infrastructure network of wildlife sites, public open spaces and green links within the and that the potential to enhance biodiversity interest of the site is fully realised. countryside in and around Harlow.The documents can be found using the following link:

Guidance for Harlow http://www.harlow.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=7973

Harlow District Council has published more specific guidance for their area, to set out Further information a green framework for new development with design guidance on habitats. Cobham Resource Consultants (1992) New Hall Farm, Harlow – Ecological The Green Infrastructure Plan in the Harlow Area is an independent study by Chris Assessment Working Paper CRC Abingdon. Blandford Associates, working under the close supervision of a Steering Group consisting English Nature (2001) Great crested newt mitigation guidelines Natural England, of representatives from national, regional and local organisations. Peterborough. Harlow District Council Planning Services (2002) Replacement Harlow Local The Green Infrastructure Plan provides guidance on how the green areas should be Plan Supporting Document: Wildlife Sites Harlow District Council, Harlow. protected, enhanced and where appropriate extended. Green spaces can include areas such as parks, gardens, woods and nature reserves with or without public access; linkages include linear features such as off-road paths, highways, rivers, streams or hedgerows, which can provide corridors for wildlife and connect people to open spaces.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 10 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Brownfield site – will become a wildlife area with interpretation facilities. The rest of the site will be Thames Gateway developed into offices, using sustainable design and construction techniques that will provide a further habitat for invertebrates (eg. brown/green roofs and other nectar flagship site sources), and in total create up to 900 new jobs in an area that has the highest proportion of long-term unemployed in the Eastern region. Located on the edge of a dense urban area in the Thames Benefits/problems Gateway growth area, a new mixed development was pro- This case study benefits from its large scale – there was sufficient space to avoid damage posed on a key brownfield site to the most valuable parts of the site and to accommodate extensive mitigation and that supports a nationally enhancement works.The site also connects to coastal grazing marsh under the ownership significant invertebrate pop- and management of RSPB, which acts as an important ecological buffer and species ulation and a wide range of reservoir. Not all wildlife-rich brownfield sites are likely to be so fortunate, particularly protected species including in the Thames Gateway. In any sustainable development scenario the objective should great crested newts. always be: “no net loss of biodiversity”. Through sympathetic design and extensive dialogue with Key Issues key stakeholders (notably Natural England and Buglife), The site is an ex-proposed oil refinery bordering the River Thames that was never fully N orth the built development was wic built. The area is characterised by abandoned concrete roads, dredged silt and circular k Ro located on the least ecologically ad sand-filled oil tank foundations that have been reclaimed by nature over four decades. sensitive part of the site while The resulting habitat mosaic of grassland, scrub, bare ground, coastal fringe, wetland the remaining habitats were and man-made artefacts has developed into one of the richest and most diverse insect protected and enhanced in assemblages in the country (more wildlife species per square metre than any national y a perpetuity. W Employment area n nature reserve).The site is also home to a wide range of protected species including great o Supermarket m

m crested newts, water voles, badgers and reptiles. o c s The views of the local people o R were canvassed as they will be Pressure on brownfield sites for development is intense, particularly in the Thames the main beneficiaries of the Gateway, where Government targets aim to redevelop 60 per cent of such sites. new nature reserve created. Retained/enhanced Integrating development and biodiversity wildlife area

The East of England Development Agency originally planned to redevelop 50ha of this 68ha brownfield site. Had this proposal gone ahead uncontested there would have been catastrophic loss of biodiversity.The challenge and opportunity presented by this unique site was to realise a flagship exemplar of sustainable development, successfully

integrating the nationally important biodiversity resource into the development. Jetty Sea wall Natural England worked successfully with the East of England Development Agency and Holehaven others to ensure that employment and community needs were addressed alongside Creek

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT protecting and enhancing the natural environment. On completion, two thirds of the site CASE STUDY 11 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

An ecological management plan has been prepared and implemented for the site. The plan will ensure that the habitat mosaic continues to be managed positively for wildlife and people, and that the potential to enhance biodiversity interest is fully realised. The value of the site for wildlife has been recognised by Natural England – is it now a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), notified in February 2005.

Further information

All of a Buzz in the Thames Gateway project (Natural England, Buglife and Wildlife Trusts) Inventory of brownfield sites in the Thames that are important for invertebrates. Contact Pete Massini at Natural England, London offices or Jamie Roberts at Buglife.

www.buglife.org.uk (Canvey Island Rain Forest article) www.livingroofs.org (green and brown roofs)

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT CASE STUDY 11 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Legislation

The legislation concerned with planning UK Policy and Guidance Development Control polices will be either development plan status and will and wildlife is very complex and achieved a separate development plan document or automatically become ‘saved’ policies for by a combination of the provisions of the The planning system has a critical role in included in the core strategy.Astrategy. A a period of three years. During the three supporting the Government’s wider en- proposals map illustrating the spatial year period local planning authorities will • Habitat Regulations 1994 vironmental objectives, including bio- extent of policies will accompany all bring forward the local development • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 diversity goals set out in Biodiversity: The development plan documents. documents to replace saved policies. • Countryside and Rights of Way Act UK Action Plan (DoE, 1994) and Working 2000, and with the grain of nature – the biodiversity Supplementary Planning Documents Regional Spatial Strategies • Legislation specific to particular strategy for England (Defra, 2002). The species. statutory development plan provides the Supplementary Planning Documents will The existing regional strategy for Essex is • Natural Environment and Rural basis for all planning decisions and plays form part of the local development frame- ‘saved’ RPG9 – South East. This will be Communities Act 2006 s.(40) a key role in protecting species and habi- work. They are not part of the statutory superseded by RSS14 – Regional Spatial tats as well as enhancing and creating development plan and therefore are not Strategy for the East of England. RSS14 The last of these requires that: Every public habitats. The Planning and Compulsory subject to independent examination. will set out a strategy to guide devel- authority must, in exercising its functions, Act 2004 has introduced a new develop- However, they should are subject to opment in the East of England for the next have regard, so far as is consistent with ment planning system. rigorous procedures of community 20 years. A number of the policies in the proper exercise of those functions, to involvement and Sustainability Appraisal RSS14 will address the aims set out in The the purpose of conserving biodiversity. The Development Plan and Strategic Environmental Assessment Regional Environment Strategy, Our This requirement applies to all Local (if appropriate) Environment, Our Future(July, 2003). Authorites. The development plan consists of the re- gional Spatial Strategyies prepared by the Transitional Arrangements National Planning Guidance Guidance on how to operate the East of England Regional planning body; legislation is now provided in Planning and development plan documents pre- Adopted structure and local plans and National planning guidance for biodiver- Policy Statement 9 Biodiversity and pared by district council, unitary authori- unitary development plan will retain sity is currently set out in Planning Policy Geological conservation, and a Guide to ties and, in the case of minerals and waste Guidance Note 9, Nature Conservation. Good Practice March 2006, which can development plan documents, by the This along with other PPGs is currently both be found at County Council. under revision. The revised PPGs are http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp known as Planning Policy Statements ?id=1143832 Local Development Frameworks (PPS). PPS 9 Biodiversity and Geological Conservation will be accompanied with a An accompanying circular ODPM circular Local Development Frameworks is the Circular setting out statutory provision and 06/2005 provides administrative guidance term used for the portfolio of local a Best Practice Guide.The aim of PPS 9 is on the application of the law relating to development documents which together to ensure that policies in regional spatial planning and nature conservation, which deliver the spatial planning strategy for strategies and local development docu- can be found at the local planning authority’s area. Local ments are in line with the Government’s http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp Development Frameworks should include broader policy objectives for biodiversity. ?id=1144318 the following development plan documents – the core strategy; site specific allocations of land; and area INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT action plans (where needed). Generic Biodiversity conservation – LEGISLATION 1 statutory obligations Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Biodiversity and the Planning system

Planning Tier Old New The draft Government Circular: Bio- diversity and Geological Conservation – National Planning Policy Guidance (PPGs) Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) Statutory Obligations and their impact Planning Policy Guidance Note 9 1994 (PPG9) – Planning Policy Statement 9 – Biodiversity and within the Planning System released for detailed guidance on the treatment of nature Geological Conservation consultation in September 2004 provides conservation in planning Circular 06/2005 a comprehensive summary of all such Other PPGs have indirect impacts on wildlife legislation. biodiversity interests such as PPG2 (Green Belt), Planning for Biodiversity & Geological Conservation. PPG3 (Housing), PPG17 (Sport), PPG16 (Archaeology A Guide to Good Practice March 2006 and Planning), PPG21 (Tourism) http://www.odpm.gov.uk/stellent/groups/ odpm_planning/documents/page/odpm_ Regional Regional Planning Guidance (RPGs) Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) plan_030967.pdf RPG14 – Ch9 Environmental Resources (Policies RSS’s should incorporate regional and sub-regional ENV1, ENV2, ENV3) biodiversity objectives (see PPS 9) This circular is to be issued jointly by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister County Structure Plan/ UDP Minerals and waste development frameworks (Essex & Southend on Sea replacement structure (ODPM) and the Department for plan) Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra). It will support PPS9 – Biodiversity Part 1 Minerals Local Plan and Geological Conservation which is Waste Local Plan being issued for public consultation at the same time. The final version of these District/Unitary Local plan/UDP Local Development Framework (LDF) documents, together with good practice Part 2 guidance yet to be published, will even- Local Development Documents (LDDs) should include tually replace Planning Policy Guidance biodiversity objectives reflecting both national and local priorities (see PPS 9) note 9 on Nature Conservation, published in 1994. Local Action Plans

Area action plans set out the framework for areas The new planning system will be where significant change or conservation is needed implemented on a rolling programme by LPAs, with Local Development Documents Area Action Plans should incorporate policies and proposals for action which ensure the potential agreed and adopted before May 2007. impacts of planning decisions on biodiversity are The draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the fully considered East of England (RSS14) is already in progress, with publication expected in late 2006, after further public consultation.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT LEGISLATION 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Designing for biodiversity

There is often a requirement as part of a development to provide areas of public open space or recreation. Combining the needs of local people with the desire to enhance 2 Site features biodiversity can result in attractive areas full of wildlife. The plan should cover the whole Purpose Wherever landscaping or amenity planting takes place, think of enhancing the development site (including land in other biodiversity as well as the visual value.The two need not be discrete. Places for wildlife ownerships, or for later phases) and Indicates whether surrounding landscape need not be wild and unkempt. Neither do the species need be native. Use non-native immediately adjoining sites. features may influence the layout of new plants to increase flowering time so providing nectar for insects over a long period of buildings. time – see Chelsea Garden. Show: Indicates natural and built features within the Erect artificial structures such as bird and bat boxes on extensions or in new buildings. • Topography site and ecological interest that may affect the Make gardens beneficial to wildlife. • Open spaces choice of layout of new development and offer • Woodland opportunity for enhancement or creation. • Water features • Existing buildings Indicates the nature of adjoining private sites • Trees and public spaces which may sway the choice 1 Connections • Hedges and shrubs of layout of the proposed development. • Wildlife/Ecology The diagram should cover an area Purpose • Microclimate approximately 500m radius around the site. • Adjoining property boundaries Indicates the ecological linkages into the • Adjoining buildings/uses Show: surrounding area, and features which need to be protected, or used as the base for an • Wildlife designations of surrounding land enhancement scheme. Plants and animals • Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats – use buildings as their habitat, as well as 3 Potential UK/Essex/authority open landscape. • Water features • Protect – what currently exists Purpose • Woodland and trees These factors will influence the form and • Mitigate – lessen the impact • Hedges and shrubs layout of the new development. • Compensate – make good unavoidable Even where there is no significant habitat or • Grassland losses protected species present on a site biodiversity • Buildings • Enhance and create – habitat in is still an important consideration. All new • Location of protected species developments development will be expected to enhance • Green corridors • After planning permission is granted – biodiversity and create habitat where possible. • Footpaths and cycleways monitor and manage

The 10 Case Studies within this Guidance explore how biodiversity can be designed into 10 different types of development thought pertinent to Essex, Southend and Thurrock. Chelsea Garden East of England BAP species and habitats Case studies Essex BAP species and habitats INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT UK BAP species and habitats Local authority BAP forums DESIGNING FOR BIODIVERSITY Why do we need regional biodiversity targets?

A great deal of work has taken place across the country since 1994 to meet both national and local targets. However, until recently the UK targets were not sub-divided and Local Plan targets inevitably reflect local priorities. We need to join the national to the local. This leaflet details the Regional Habitat Biodiversity Targets for the East of England. It is aimed at Biodiversity Action Plans and has decision-makers in regional and local government, at environmental organisations, and at land owners How have the regional Who has published this leaflet? As 2010 looms, organisations need targets been assembled? compiled all the various targets. The regional targets have been agreed by and managers and provides information for all those with an interest in delivering biodiversity in the region. more information on how to meet Each county has tended to create its the East of England Biodiversity Forum, a The targets will influence policy and delivery, focussing the priorities and funding for the region. Biodiversity Targets and where to English Nature have identified the own unique set of Plans and Targets, group of organisations “working together to concentrate effort. Local BAPs remain contribution of each “Natural Area” to which do not always relate to the promote the conservation and enhance- the primary mechanism for achieving the national targets. Natural Areas are same features or units, so some ment of the wealth of wildlife within the East the UK BAP Targets, and the regional sub-divisions of England, each with a judgement has been employed. of England.” targets are not intended to replace characteristic association of wildlife What is biodiversity? What are biodiversity local targets, but they do form a and natural features. They provide a Reviewing the “top down” national The East of England Biodiversity Forum has targets? four central aims: transparent and comparable link to the way of interpreting the ecological targets and the “bottom up” local Biodiversity is the variety of life forms we UK targets. variations of the country in terms of targets, the East of England see around us. It encompasses the In June 1992 the Convention of 1 To provide a regional forum of expertise natural features, illustrating the Biodiversity Forum has agreed a set on biodiversity issues. whole range of mammals, birds, Biological Diversity was signed by 159 Regional Biodiversity Targets form an distinctions between one area and of priority Regional Habitat Biodiversity reptiles, amphibians, fish, insects and governments at the Rio de Janeiro important component of the another. However, Natural Areas do Targets. This has required the input of 2 To ensure that biodiversity issues are other invertebrates, plants, fungi, and “Earth Summit”. It was the first treaty to Sustainable Development Framework Regional Economic Strategy, the framework to ensure biodiversity is not correspond to regional or county a number of experts and has integrated within regional structures and micro-organisms which together form provide a legal framework for and the Regional Environment Strategy Regional Environmental Strategy embedded into all activities. boundaries. The boundaries on the needed to take on board local initiatives. their natural habitats. Biodiversity is a key biodiversity conservation. It called for key action to “Implement Biodiversity and the Regional Woodland maps in the centre pages are the understanding as well as high level indicator of sustainable development. the creation and enforcement of 3 To provide a regional network for Action Plans to enhance the region’s Strategy. These strategies all sit within • Environmental organisations and Natural Areas for the region. aspirations. Because of the number biodiversity issues and initiatives. national strategies and action plans to biodiversity.” the East of England Sustainable land owners and managers, to and variety of local plans, it has conserve, protect and enhance Development Framework and will assess their contribution to The East of England Biodiversity Forum been necessary to group habitats 4 To act as a regional focus for national biological diversity. Action Plans, usually at a county level, increasingly be brought together biodiversity to help make the East of has carried out an audit of Local into broad descriptions. and local biodiversity issues. In response, the UK government also exist. Local BAPs are a proven How will the regional targets within the Regional Assembly’s England a place in which wildlife launched Biodiversity: the UK Action mechanism for focusing resources by be used? Integrated Regional Strategy. can thrive, thus helping to improve East of England Biodiversity Forum Plan in 1994. The UK Biodiversity Steering means of local partnerships to the quality of life for those who live The East of England Biodiversity Forum is Group has published 436 Biodiversity conserve and enhance national and comprised of the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire Regional habitat biodiversity targets • Local Authorities, who have a duty in, work in or visit the region. Action Plans: 391 Species Action Plans local biodiversity. These too have & Peterborough, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk should be used by: under the Local Government Act and 45 Habitat Action Plans. targets associated with them. and Suffolk Local Biodiversity Partnerships; 2000 to promote the environ- The targets will be subjected to review Anglian Water; Countryside Agency; • Regional decision makers by mental, social and economic by the Regional Biodiversity Forum, in Department for Environment, Farming and The Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) contain Many organisations now have these influencing policy delivered via well-being of their areas. Local association with the East of England Rural Affairs; East of England Biological Record measurable UK targets to maintain, targets at the heart of their activity regional strategies, such as the authority planning for biodiversity Environment Forum, to ensure Centre Forum; East of England Environment restore or create habitat, usually by and the status of the targets has Regional Spatial Strategy (Regional should be firmly linked into continued contribution to the overall Forum, East of England Regional Assembly; 2010. A series of Local Biodiversity grown in importance. Planning Guidance 14), the Community Strategies to provide a UK targets. English Nature; Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group; Forestry Commission; Government Office for the East of England; National Farmers Union; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; and the Wildlife Trusts.

Photographic credits: Environment Agency, Forest Life Picture Library, Hertfordshire Biological Records Centre, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Steve Scott. Funding for this leaflet contributed by English Nature & the Environment Agency. Text © East of England Biodiversity Forum, May 2004. This leaflet has been printed on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests.

For further information please contact East of England Biodiversity Forum Secretariat at: Government Office for the East of England, SDAT, Eastbrook, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge, CB2 2DF email: [email protected] www.eastspace.net/biodiversity The East of England priority habitat biodiversity targets

Semi-natural woodland

UK HAPs included: lowland wood-pasture and parkland, lowland mixed deciduous woodland (most ancient woodland) and wet woodland1.

Maintain: 100% of existing resource Restore: 1700 ha by 2010 Create: 1400ha by 2010 Lowland grass and Heath Reed beds and Fens 1 Note that this target does not include lowland beech and yew woodland. Climate change evidence for the East of UK HAPs included: lowland calcareous England indicates that beech will be ‘unsuitable’ across grassland, lowland dry acid grassland, lowland much of the region. UK HAPs included: fens, reedbeds and meadows, coastal and floodplain grazing lowland raised bogs marsh, and lowland heath

Maintain: 100% of existing resource Maintain: 100% of existing resource but allowing dynamic natural Restore: 100% in sympathetic Coastal processes management by 2010 Restore: Identify key potential sites, UK HAPs included: coastal saltmarsh, coastal from LBAPS Create: 2385 ha by 2010 sand dunes, coastal vegetated shingle, maritime cliffs and slopes, mudflats, saline Create: 20,000 ha by 2010 lagoons, and sublittoral sands and gravels Hedges

UK HAPs included: ancient and/or Maintain: 100% of existing resource species rich hedgerows but allowing dynamic natural Freshwater processes Arable, Cereal Margins

UK HAPs included: aquifer-fed naturally Restore: 100% in sympathetic fluctuating water bodies, chalk rivers, eutrophic Maintain: No loss of existing management UK HAPs included: cereal field margins standing waters (generally high in nutrients), mesotrophic lakes (usually low in nutrients) overall resource Create: 2300 ha by 2010 Restore: 100% in sympathetic management by Maintain: 100% of existing resource 2010 Maintain: No loss of overall Restore: Initiate restoration of water Create: 200km by 2010 resource quality, flow and level by Note on priority habitats and Natural Areas Target definitions Restore: - 2010 The habitats detailed on these pages are those Maintain habitat. Create: 3500ha by 2010 Create: N/A Ensure that is no further loss in current habitat resource and quality, and that the physical considered to be priorities for the region to help processes required to maintain the habitat are operating. achieve UK BAP targets. The Natural Areas highlighted are representative of the resource, Restore habitat. but do not indicate where all of the resource is. Restore those areas of habitat which are degraded in quality to good condition, through This does not devalue local biodiversity priorities; positive management or the cessation of damaging practices.

we need to improve biodiversity everywhere. Create habitat. Many of the Natural Areas extend beyond the Increase the area of the habitat beyond its current extent. This includes the creation of lost region and the majority of a particular habitat habitat in areas where it formerly occurred. Wherever possible, habitat expansion should aim may be contained within other regions. to link or extend existing areas of that particular habitat type.

www.eastspace.net/biodiversity Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

East of England Biodiversity Audit

An East of England Biodiversity Audit was Regional Habitat Targets commissioned by the East of England Biodiversity Forum with the aim to better The East of England Biodiversity Forum is understand and illustrate the extent and distributing a leaflet highlighting the East distribution of UK Biodiversity Action Plan of England Biodiversity Habitat Targets. priority habitats and species within the East of England. It is aimed at decision makers in regional and local government, at environmental This was produced in October 2002 and organisations, land owners and land gives a snapshot assessment of our managers and provides information to all biodiversity resource and their common those with an interest in delivering threats. It will form the basis of further biodiversity in the region. work by the Forum on the appropriateness of regional BAP targets and the The targets will influence policy and prioritisation for BAP implementation. delivery, focussing the priorities and funding for the region. There is no plan to publish the audit, but it can be viewed on-line at the regional observatory: http://www.eastofenglandobservatory.org.uk regional habitat targets

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT BIODIVERSITY AUDIT Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Ecological consultants

Who should I commission for Ecological Surveys? Consultancy Telephone Address

East Anglia This section of the Biodiversity Guidance is unable to make individual recommendations on the choice of ecological consultants. The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Atkins Consultants Ltd 01223 276002 Wellbrook Court, Girton Road, Cambridge CB3 0NA Management (IEEM, http://www.ieem.org.uk/) is one of the main bodies in the UK to ([email protected]) promote good practice and professionalism in ecology – membership of this organisation Carpenter Planning 01603 229400 1 Ferry House, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1SW is a good indication that the person is suitably qualified to carry out ecological surveys Consultants ([email protected]) to a high standard of competence. Carter Jonas 01223 368771 6-8 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1NH ([email protected]) One of the most efficient ways of searching for an ecologist is through the Internet. The following two websites give searchable directories of ecological consultants in the Essex Ecology Services Ltd 01621 862986 Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, (EECOS) Essex CO5 7RZ ([email protected]) UK: Landscape Partnership 01394 380509 Ancient Mews House, Church Street, Woodbridge, Environment Business Directory Environmental Consultants Directory Suffolk IP12 1DH ([email protected]) e-mail: ebd@ifi.co.uk e-mail: [email protected] Liz Lake Associates 01279 647044 William Robinson Buildings, Woodfield Terrace, Stansted tel: 0207 654 7100 tel: 0207 814 5300 Mountfitchet, Essex CM24 8AJ (offi[email protected]) http://www.ifi.co.uk http://www.endsdirectory.com/search M and G Ecology 01621 742669 The Forge, Mundon, Maldon, Essex CM9 6PB

The following listing is an example of the environmental consultancies offering ecological London survey work and mitigation/management advice in southern England. It is not an Arup 0207 636 1531 13 Fitzroy Street, London W1T 4BQ ([email protected]) exhaustive list, nor is it endorsed by Essex Biodiversity Project. Atkins Consultants Ltd 0207 121 2363 Euston Tower, 26th Floor, Euston Road, London NW1 3AT ([email protected])

BDP Planning 0207 812 8000 16 Brewhouse Yard, London EC1V 4LJ (t-o'[email protected])

Ecology Consultancy 0207 326 0007 PO Box 13313, London SW2 2ZR ([email protected])

Entec UK Ltd 0207 843 1400 17 Angel Gate, London EC1V 2SH ([email protected])

Enviros 0207 421 6340 22-23 Greville Street, London EC1N 8SS ([email protected])

Halcrow Group 0207 348 3096 Vineyard House, 44 Brook Green, Hammersmith, London W6 7BY

Hyder Consulting (UK) Ltd 0207 316 6000 29 Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DZ ([email protected])

Land Use Consultants 0207 383 5784 43 Charlton Street, London NW1 1JD ([email protected])

Landscape Partnership 0207 515 4188 149 Cannon Workshops, Cannon Drive, West India Docks, London E14 4AS ([email protected]) INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Philip Cave Associates 0207 829 8340 5 Dryden Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9NB Mott MacDonald 0208 774 2723 St Anne House, Wellesley Road, Croydon, Surrey CR9 2UL ([email protected]) ([email protected])

Scott Wilson 0207 798 5000 8 Greencoat Place, London SW19 1PL Reading Agricultural 01235 851515 Races Farm, Aston Tirrold, Oxfordshire OX11 9DJ ([email protected]) Consultants ([email protected])

Tellus 42 0208 691 4128 8 Ashburnham Grove, Greenwich, London SE10 8UH Robert Shaw Planning: 01483 572915 Robert Shaw House, 81 Portsmouth Road, Guildford, ([email protected]) Vail Williams Surrey GU2 5BB ([email protected])

URS Corporation Ltd 0208 944 3527 St George's House, 5 St George's Road, Wimbledon, London Robert Stebbings 01733 340318 91 Thorpe Road, Peterborough PE3 6JQ SW19 4DR ([email protected]) Consultancy Ltd

South East RPS 0800 587 9939 Mallens Court, 18 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RP Applied Environmental 01376 572582 Tey Grove, Elm Lane, Feering, Colchester, Essex CO5 9ES Research Centre Ltd ([email protected]) Scott Wilson 01235 849710 3 Foxcombe Court, Wyndyke Furlong, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 1DZ ([email protected]) Atkins Consultants Ltd 01372 756846 Woodcote Grove, Ashley Road, Epsom, Surrey KT18 5BW ([email protected]) Stats Ltd 01727 833261 Porterswood House, Porters Wood, St Albans, Herts AL3 6PQ ([email protected]) Bishop Consultancy Ltd 01622 820775 Grove Barn, Grove Lane, Hunton, Maidstone, Kent ME15 0SE ([email protected]) Temple Environmental 0118 971 4339 Unit F,Fronds Park, Fronds Lane, Aldermaston, reading, Consultants Ltd Berks RG7 4LH ([email protected]) Carpenter Planning 01245 250998 Mansard House, 107-109 New London Road, Chelmsford, Consultants Essex CM2 0PP ([email protected]) Tony Thorpe Associates 0118 942 1855 The Studio, Durant Way, Tilehurst, Reading, Berks RG31 6TR ([email protected]) Chris Blandford Associates 01825 891071 The Old Crown, High Street, Blackboys, Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 5JR ([email protected])

David Huskisson Associates 01892 527828 17 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2DU ([email protected])

David Lane Associates Ltd 01727 850907 3 College Street, St Albans, Herts AL3 4PW ([email protected])

Entec UK Ltd 0118 903 6619 Atlantic House, Imperial Way, Reading, Berks RG2 0TD ([email protected])

Hankinson Duckett 01491 872185 Landscape Studio, Reading Road, Lower Basildon, Associates Berks RG8 3NE ([email protected])

Henry Smith 01403 282510 50 Carfax, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 1BP ([email protected])

Judith Norris Ltd 01580 753672 Well Ho Farm Office, Potters Lane, Hawkhurst, Kent TW13 5BB ([email protected])

Landscape Planning 01206 752539 Unit 9, The Courtyards, Phoenix Square, Wyncolls Road, (South) Ltd Colchester, Essex CO4 9PE

LDA Design 01865 887050 Worton Rectory Park, Worton, Cassington, Witney, Oxfordshire OX29 4SX

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ECOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Essex BAP species and habitats

By 1995 The UK Biodiversity Steering Visit the Essex Biodiversity Project’s website Group had published action plans for http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk to many species and habitats detailing how Plants: Birds: view the action plan and find out more. they were to be protected, sustained and Black poplar Bittern Open the download window to save an increased. Hog’s fennel Grey Partridge off-line copy of the Action Plan. Oxlip Skylark It is, however, as a result of local action Song Thrush Alternatively, the Essex BAP can be that species and habitats are ultimately Stone Curlew obtained from public libraries, or a ring conserved or lost.Therefore if many of the Habitats: binder document containing all the plans national action plans are to be Hedgerows can be purchased from Essex County implemented successfully much work has Ancient woodland Council. to take place at a local level and Essex is Cereal field margin no exception. Coastal grazing marsh Seagrass beds Other vertebrates: There was therefore a real need for Essex Heathland Great Crested Newt to produce its own Biodiversity Action Old orchards Allis and Twaite shad Plan. The Essex BAP, as it is now referred Reedbeds to, was published in 1999 and currently Saline lagoons contains action plans for 25 species and Urban areas Invertebrates: 10 habitats. Bright wave moth Desmoulin’s whorl snail Each action plan in the Essex BAP is much Mammals: Fisher’s estuarine moth more detailed than the national plans with Brown hare Heath fritillary specific and focused objectives concen- Dormouse Hornet robberfly trating on those species and habitats that Harbour Porpoise Shining ramshorn snail are confined to, or are characteristic of Otter Shrill carder bee Essex, as well as those that have declined Pipistrelle bat Stag beetle regionally, nationally or globally. It is only Water vole White clawed crayfish the successful implementation of the EBAP that will ensure that we maintain our rich variety of life in the county.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ESSEX BAP SPECIES AND HABITATS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Essex district BAP forums

Much biodiversity information is available, and hard work taking place at the local level. Many local authorities have their own biodiversity forums or discuss biodiversity action at their wildlife or nature conservation forums. A number of these also have their own Biodiversity Action Plans.

Local authority Contact details BAP status Flagship species

Basildon Marcus Hotten Basildon Wildlife & Countryside Forum meets Devil’s-bit scabious, Green-winged orchid, Basildon District Council regularly and deals with biodiversity issues. BAP Dormouse, Scarce emerald damselfly, Barn owl. Countryside Officer to be published in 2005. Wat Tyler Country Park, Pitsea

Braintree Melvyne Crow Braintree Wildlife Advisory Group meets Black poplar, Skylark, Speckled wood butterfly, Braintree District Council regularly. Sulphur clover, Otter.

Brentwood Dave Bigden Hornbeam, Kingfisher,Water vole, Heather, Brentwood Borough Council Orange fox-tail, Wood ants. Countryside Manager Brentwood Borough Council Town Hall, Ingrave Road, Brentwood CM15 8AY

Castle Point Castle Point BC Biodiversity criteria incorporated into Wild service tree, Dormouse, Hartwort, Bearded Kiln Road, Thundersley County Wildlife Sites review in 2003. tit, Great crested newt, Marbled white butterfly, Benfleet, Essex SS7 1TF Heath fritillary butterfly

Chelmsford Luke Bennett Chelmsford Biodiversity Forum meets regularly. Song thrush, Water vole, Great crested newt, Chelmsford Borough Council Published BAP available on Chelmsford White Admiral butterfly, Common spotted orchid. Corporate Strategy Officer Borough Council website. Chelmsford BC, Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1JE

Colchester Jerry Bowdrey Colchester Biodiversity Steering Group Beautiful demoiselle, Great crested newt, Sea Colchester Borough Council meets regularly. Colchester BAP available. holly, Stag beetle, Lesser Calamint. Curator of Natural history Colchester Museum 14 Ryegate Road, Colchester CO1 1YG

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ESSEX BAP FORUMS 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Local authority Contact details BAP status Flagship species

Epping Forest Paul Hewitt Tree pipit, Stag beetle, Cowslip, Ancient trees, Epping Forest Countrycare Wild service tree, Skylark, Yellowhammer, Great Civic Offices, High Street, Epping CM16 4BZ crested newt.

Essex County Council Emma Simmonds A number of PSA targets relating Countryside & Ecology Officer to biodiversity. Support of county BAP through Essex County Council, County Hall the Essex Biodiversity Project. Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1LF

Harlow Darren Fazackerley Harlow Biodiversity partnership meets regularly. Harlow District Council Mead Park Depot, Riverway, Harlow CM20 2SE Andrew Tomlins Harlow Biodiversity partnership

London Borough of Havering London Borough of Havering Havering Wildlife Partnership meets regularly. Mercury House, Mercury Gardens Havering BAP available. Romford RM1 3RX

Maldon Peter Garrett Maldon Wildlife Liaison Group meets regularly. Shrubby sea-blight, Reed bunting, Common seal, Maldom district council Maldon BAP published. Elm, Ground lackey moth, Grey partridge. Countryside & Coasts Manager Maldon DC Princes Road, Maldon, Essex CM9 5DL

Rochford Rochford District Council Heath fritillary, common cow wheat, Hornbeam, Council Offices, South Street, Rochford SS4 1BW Wild service tree.

Southend Paul Terry Biodiversity and Environmental Awareness Dark-bellied brent goose, Deptford pink, Marbled Southend Borough Council Working Party meet regularly. Published BAP white butterfly, Water vole. Environmental Officer available from Southend BC’s website. Southend on Sea BC Civic Centre, Victoria Avenue Southend on Sea SS2 6ER

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ESSEX BAP FORUMS 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Local authority Contact details BAP status Flagship species

Tendring Tendring District Council Corn bunting, Sand martin, Ringed plover,White Council Offices, Weeley, Essex CO16 9AJ admiral butterfly, Marsh mallow.

Thurrock Thurrock Council Thurrock Biodiversity Advisory Group meet Civic Offices, New Road, Grays RM17 6SL regularly. Draft BAP written.

Uttlesford Sarah Nicholas Uttlesford Nature Conservation Working Uttlesford District Council Group meets regularly. Annual action plans Council Offices, London Road for biodiversity produced. Saffron Walden CB11 4ER

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

The Essex Landscape

In Essex the traditional landscape The regions are: Landscape features such as roads, lanes 2 The Chalk character is of arable fields interspersed and field boundaries relate to topography The Boulder Clay Plateau with small woods, hedgerows, ditches and 1 The Boulder Clay Plateau and soil type, and fit the landscape in a The chalk which underlies the geology of lanes. There are variations of landscape way that planned landscapes often may Essex emerges in the extreme north-west The Chalk character with soil type which is mainly a This region comprises at least one third of not. The pattern suggests change and to form an escarpment close to the matter of landscape history and land use Essex and consists of a thick till of chalky evolution over a very long period of time. Cambridgeshire border. This was The Bagshot Hills and Former rather than plant species. In many places clay soils left behind by the Anglian phase The wide range of trees and shrubs traditionally open field country, largely Heathlands agricultural intensification and the loss of of the Ice Age (c.250,000 BC).The plateau occurring on these soils assist hedgerow enclosed late and still showing strip elms has resulted in a deterioration of is dissected by numerous rivers and rills, dating along the lines developed at Monks farming in some parishes as late as the The London Clay traditional landscape quality. Road verges and sprinkled with spring lines all of which Wood. In studies of Bovingdon Hall, Tithe Maps of the 1840s. Nevertheless, its provide an opportunity to add a further formed the basis for scattered settlement Bocking, 43.5 kilometres of hedgerow farming history and pre-history is similar The Tendring Loams network of vegetation and it is important of villages, greens, hamlets and farms.The were carefully dated and showed that to that of the boulder clays, and there is that planting fits the existing landscape soils are a rich, crop producing resource 12.8 kilometres appeared of Saxon or a legacy of winding lanes and scattered The South East Essex Hills character in terms of both species and appreciated as far back as the Iron Age early medieval date (pre-1350) and 17.7 ancient woods. The topography is rolling form. when Cunobelin, King of the Trinovantes, kilometres were late medieval or Tudor. It particularly in the Cam valley and its open The Thames Terraces depicted an ear of bearded wheat on his may be that hedges dated as Saxon are character above flood plains should be Field boundaries contain hedgerow trees, coinage. older still, but that the limitation of maintained.The juncture of the chalk with The Marshes standards and pollards. In more fertile number of species available would not the boulder clays is shown well in the areas field sizes have been enlarged this Villa estates abounded in the Roman show an earlier origin. Observations of large parish of Saffron Walden where the century and new hedges need to be period and with the revival in trade and other areas on the boulder clay where intimate landscape of the Cam valley floor established to recreate traditional the growth of London in the Middle Ages hedges are plentiful also suggest a similar gives way to open chalkland fields until landscape character. Woodland generally it long remained a prosperous farming age pattern. This dictates that great care reaching the clay plateau where it small scale and traditionally managed as area until the agricultural depressions set is needed in conservation work and in changes to ancient enclosed field patterns coppice with standard trees grown for in towards the end of the last century.The particular the creation of new features to with species rich hedges and moated sites. larger timber. The local tradition is for farming changes following the Agriculture ensure harmony with a landscape of hedgerows to be coppiced rather than Acts of the early 1950s brought a return considerable antiquity. Typical species remain Ash, Oak and Hazel laid. of prosperity, but the haste and rather than those species more typical of reductionist aims of agricultural A traditional feature of this dissected other base rich soils in southern England. Regional landscape character within improvement wrought extensive damage plateau landscape is the apparent Essex to the fabric of the landscape. Factors coalescence of trees and woods to create 3 The Bagshot Hills and Former other than “improvement” were not then the illusion of continuous wooded skyline, Heathlands Eight regions have been identified of a a part of national thinking or policy. As a with the farmed land of the foreground general geomorphological, historical and result there is considerable variety in the and middle distance appearing as the A transition zone separates the boulder landscape character. Generalisations are landscape quality even within a parish. A fertile land won from the primary wooded clay plateau from the lower levels of the inevitable and exceptions within regions farm where changes were handled with cover. This character has been much London clay to the south-east, effectively are equally inevitable and must be borne sensitivity may adjoin one reduced to a eroded and its restoration might be a long bisecting the county roughly below the in mind. It is considered however that a prairie with every hedge and tree term aim. line of the Roman road from London to degree of simplification is necessary in eliminated, though perhaps retaining a Colchester, now the A12. It stretches coming to terms with the marked woodland protected by a Tree Preservation through several ridges – Epping Forest, INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT differences that occur regionally in Essex. Order. Hainault,Thorndon, Galleywood, Danbury THE ESSEX LANDSCAPE 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

to Tiptree, mostly crowned with wooded traditionally made arable farming difficult hedgerow dating on this basis is not Benfleet many woods are virtually hidden areas, some ancient and some secondary leading to sparse settlement and an applicable.The recent strain of Dutch Elm in the urban fabric. on former common land. Much of this emphasis on pasture, and the general disease has virtually destroyed the once topography has been described by Jermyn arable use today is recent in historical considerable population of standing trees 7 The Thames Terraces The Boulder Clay Plateau as the “Bagshot Hills”, the furthest limits terms. A rich but relatively small area of in the farmed landscape. Life often of the glaciers and the southern boundary brickearths occurs in Rochford but the continues in the suckering root structures A series of gravel terraces abut the Thames The Chalk of the pre-glacial Thames. Northwards of landscape character remains similar. The of the hedgerows, but new growth tends estuary in the Grays Thurrock area. The Tiptree the wooded hills give way to the proximity of the coast gave a ready access to be re-infected once the growth landscape has suffered from a long history The Bagshot Hills and Former former heathlands shown by Chapman for sea-borne goods to markets as London becomes woody.This brings a dilemma for of mineral extraction, urban sprawl and Heathlands and Andre: A map of the County of Essex grew, bringing a symbiosis; the coastal the landscape planner; on the one hand, Elm Disease and there is relatively little from an Actual Survey (1777) embracing vessels evolving into the Thames and should a regular coppice regime be remaining of the historic landscape. The The London Clay the land east and north of Colchester as Blackwater barges brought produce to maintained to preserve the elm hedges Thames Chase Community Forest Project far as Dedham, on soils derived from London and returned with “muck” to and await a mutation that will allow these promotes the establishment of new The Tendring Loams glacial outwash and loams. spread fertility on the clay fields and interesting trees with extraordinary local woodland particularly within this area. “inned” marshes. variation to grow again into standard The South East Essex Hills The wooded hills comprise some of the trees as appears to have happened in the 8 The Marshes best landscapes in Essex and are high in The field patterns and boundaries of this past or, on the other hand, should the The Thames Terraces wildlife carrying capacity and abundant in region display the characteristics of early landscape be re-structured to provide Extensive areas on the coast are former Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), planned landscapes in marked contrast to amenity, interest and game cover on a marshlands, now productive arable land, The Marshes nature reserves and country parks. The the evolved landscape of the boulder shorter time scale? Over much of the area but still known as the Essex Marshes. As former heathlands, by contrast, are clays. Arrangements of the fields follow a a balance is recommended; to maintain the coast has slowly sunk (and continues uninteresting in landscape terms with the roughly rectilinear pattern except where elm survival, particularly on the major to do so), sea walls have been built and straight lines and planned characteristics crossed by main water courses; some abut boundary hedges, but also to plant in a raised, the land has been won and also of late enclosure, although rich in boundaries stretching for several miles. way which respects the basic rectilinear lost to incursions. In the Middle Ages the archaeology. Superficially they resemble the patterns of character of the landscape pattern. marshlands teemed with sheep, there late enclosure (mid 18th to 19th century) were few roads and transport tended to On the former heathlands consideration as seen in the counties of the English 5 The Tendring Loams be by boat or barge. A quality of could be given to the recreation of areas Midlands or the North Essex heaths. But it remoteness still persists in these flat, open of heathland. is clear that they are ancient, probably The Tendring plateau is bounded by the landscapes with saltings, mud flats, sands Roman or even earlier. In time, an magnificent drowned estuary of the Stour and shingle beaches beyond the sea wall. 4 The London Clay accumulation of archaeological evidence to the north, the Colne to the south, and will enable them to be dated with more the North Sea to the east. It has some Hedgerows are absent and would be alien South and east of the Mid-Essex region confidence as sites are studied and delicate and beautiful creeks and small in this landscape; trees begin at the point lies the London clay, rising from the South evaluated. valleys, and some clusters of woodland where the marsh ceases and the land Essex plain, stretching from Thurrock to (many ancient), but much of the plateau begins to rise. Trees were planted around Rochford, to the gently rising topography A characteristic of this region is the has an open, almost treeless character. the decoy ponds of which one, the of the Dengie peninsula and the land to dominance of elm. For historical, pre- Marshhouse is clearly viewed from St. the north east of Maldon. It is the largest historical and biological reasons, elm is the 6 The South East Essex Hills Peters at Bradwell 4 kilometres away and Essex region after the boulder clays but dominant tree of the area providing both stands like an oasis. At one time there very different in character and history. It the shrub and tree content of hedgerows. The Langdon and Hockley hills rise from were many more and perhaps some could is inherently less fertile, lacking the chalk The variety of species apparent on the the South Essex plain. Both are well be restored or re-created. It was only on

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT content, and its heavy nature has calcareous soils does not occur and the wooded although much urbanised; at these sites and around farmsteads that THE ESSEX LANDSCAPE 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

tree planting occurred. This character restrictions on development in the Coastal should be maintained and there should be Protection Belt (NR18) are concerned with no woodland, spinney or hedgerow the effect on the open and rural character planting. and wildlife. The Boulder Clay Plateau Planning and landscape policy With regard to nature conservation, any The Chalk proposals which would adversely and Landscape is now enshrined as a primary materially affect National Nature Reserves The Bagshot Hills and Former design concern and a legitimate area of and Sites of Special Scientific Interest will Heathlands planning authority intervention. PPG1 in be refused (NR6). Any development Annex A: para 5 – Design Considerations prejudicial to the retention and The London Clay – states that the aim of design control management of important wildlife should be that development results in a habitats and their inter-relationship will The Tendring Loams “benefit in environmental and landscape also normally be refused (NR8). terms”. The South East Essex Hills There are some sections of the Essex In terms of general planning policy the landscape where proposals will be The Thames Terraces principal of protecting the “natural beauty, unacceptable in landscape terms. Mostly amenity and traditional quality of the proposals will be such that by careful The Marshes Essex Landscape” is fundamental design they can be incorporated into the (Structure Plan Policy NR 10). In addition, landscape in such a way as they make a in the Dedham Vale ANOB “no positive contribution to the landscape development shall take place.. which character of an area. conflicts with conservation of the area and measures for its management and A CD of the ‘Essex Character Assessment enhancement (NR11). (County Scale)’ can be obtained from the Electronic Information Service, Essex In Special Landscape Areas the location, County Council, PO Box 11, County Hall, siting, design, materials and landscape Chelmsford CM11 LX. treatment must be in keeping with the area in which the development is proposed (NR12). In Landscape Improvement Areas proposals will be expected to show that measures have The Essex and Southend Replace- been taken to help restore and enhance ment structure Plan is to be super- damaged landscapes (NR 13). The ceded by the Regional Spacial restoration of derelict land (NR13A), the Strategy RSS14 The East of england use of native trees and shrubs (NR14), the Plan. Please refer to RSS14 for the protection of existing vegetation (NR15 latest guidance or policy information and NR16) and the conservation of relating to landscape and associated Protected Lanes are also important issues, eg. renewable energy.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT considerations. In landscape terms the THE ESSEX LANDSCAPE 3
Durham Wildlife Trust Climbing plants Columbine Aquilegia vulgaris ‘Nivea’ The Wildlife Trusts ask all gardeners: Rainton Meadows, Chilton Moor, Houghton-le-Spring, DH4 6PU Comfrey Symphytum ‘Goldsmith’ These will give height and interest as well as shelter for • to protect wild plants and habitats in the countryside
Essex Wildlife Trust Common daisy Bellis perennis Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough, Colchester, CO5 7RZ birds and nectar and sunspots for insects. Coral fl ower Heuchara ‘Raspberry Regal’ • to use timber products from sustainable sources
South & West Wales Wildlife Trust e.g. certifi ed FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) Fountain Road, Tondu, Bridgend, CF32 0EH Honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum ‘Serotina’ Cornfl ower Centaurea cyanus • to use alternatives to peat based compost
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust Ivy Hedera helix Crane’s bill Geranium sanguineum Robinswood Hill Country Park, Reservoir Road, Gloucester, GL4 6SX Persian Ivy Hedera colchica ‘Dentata Crane’s-bill Geranium ‘Ann Folkard’ • to use alternatives to metaldehyde slug pellets and insecticides
Gwent Wildlife Trust Dame’s-violet Hesperis matronalis • not to use wild dug plants such as bluebells and primroses 16 White Swan Court, Church Street, Monmouth, Gwent NP25 3NY Trees and Shrubs Early purple orchid Orchis mascula • not to use surface stripped limestone pavement rocks
The Wildlife Trusts Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Woodside House, Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos ‘Sunburst’ Fleabane Erigeron karvinskianus Woodside Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 4ET • not to use invasive non-native plants such as Japanese Guelder Rose Viburnum opulus ‘Nanum’ Foam fl ower Tiarella wherryi
Herefordshire Nature Trust knotweed, Azolla waterfern, Swamp stonecrop. Lower House Farm, Ledbury Road, Tupsley, Hereford, HR1 1UT Roses Rosa ‘Roserie de la Hay’, Foxglove Digitalis purpurea ‘Mixed’ Heart’s-ease
Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Rosa ‘Cecile Brunner’, Viola tricolor Grebe House, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SN Rosa ‘Madame Gregoire Staechalin’, Hepatica Hepatica nobilis Going to Chelsea Flower Show
The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust Rosa ‘White Cloud’ Iris Iris ‘Jane Phillips’ RHS Chelsea Flower Show is sited in the grounds of Carn Thomas, Strand, St Marys, Isles of Scilly TR21 0PT Azalea Azalea narcissifl orum Italian lords and ladies Arum italicum ssp. The Royal Hospital Chelsea, London. Gatewaay
Kent Wildlife Trust,Tyland Barn, Sandling, Maidstone, ME14 3BD Lavender Lavendula stoechas ‘James C’ italicum marmoratum It is a very busy event. Tickets must be booked in advance by
Lancs, Manchester & North Merseyside Wildlife Trust Red berried Elder Sambucus racemosa Lesser periwinkle Vinca minor ‘La Grave’ The Barn, Darkeley Drive, Bamber Bridge, Preston, PR5 6BY phoning 0870 906 3781. The Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden ‘Plumosa Aurea’ Masterwort Astrantia major
will be on Serpentine Walk at Chelsea or you can see it on Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Mind-your-own-business Soleirolia soleirolii Washbrook Lane, Oadby, Leics, LE2 5JJ BBC Television during Chelsea Flower Show and if you think Other good trees for a small garden: Mint Mentha sp
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust ours is one of the best gardens then vote for us in the People’s birch, bird cherry, crab apple, holly, Musk mallow Malva moschata Garden Manor House Street, Horncastle, Lincs LN9 5HF rowan, hazel. Choice Award either on interactive TV or the BBC website
Orchid primrose Primula vialii London Wildlife Trust, 47-51 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0BS Other shrubs: alder buckthorn (food www.bbc.co.uk/gardening
Ox-eye chamomile Anthemis tinctoria ‘E.C. Buxton’ Chelsea Flower Show 2004 Manx Wildlife Trust, The Courtyard, Tynwald Mills, St Johns, plant of brimstone butterfl y), broom, Isle of Man IM4 3AE Ox-eye daisy Leucanthemum vulgare buddleia, dogwood, spindle).
Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust Persicaria Persicaria affi nis a garden designer with Giles Landscapes 20 Severn Street, Welshpool, Powys SY21 7AD Pineapple mint Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’
Norfolk Wildlife Trust, 22 Thorpe Road, Norwich NR1 1RY Grasses, sedges and ferns of Welney. 2004 will be his third entry
Northumberland Wildlife Trust, St Nicholas Park, Jubilee Road, Non aggressive plants in herbaceous at Chelsea Flower Show having won a Newcastle upon Tyne, NE3 3XT plantings: Hazel catkins Bronze in 2002 and Silver in 2003.
North Wales Wildlife Trust, 376 High St, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 1YE Quaking grass Briza media produce early pollen Stephen trained as a garden designer
and have extra fl oral through Writtle College and University Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust Wood meadow grass Poa nemoralis nectarines The Old Ragged School, Brook Street, Nottingham, NG1 1EA Wood sedge Carex sylvatica photo - Robin Sutton of Greenwich. He gains inspiration
Radnorshire Wildlife Trust from Gertrude Jekyll and Christopher Warwick House, High Street, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 6AG Ferns at base of walls in shade: Lloyd. His passion for wildlife has resulted
Stephen Hall Scottish Wildlife Trust Harts-tongue fern Phylitis scolopendrium in his working with Essex Wildlife Trust. photo -Daniel Bridge Cramond House, Kirk Cramond, Cramond Glebe Rd, Edinburgh, EH4 6NS Male fern Dryopteris fi lix-mas
Sheffi eld Wildlife Trust, 37 Stafford Road, Sheffi eld, S2 2SF Soft shield fern Polystichum setiferum
Shropshire Wildlife Trust UK Offi ce Maidenhair Wildfl ower plantings in a wildlife garden in Billericay Essex 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY2 6AH The Kiln, Waterside, Mather Road, NEWARK, spleenwort Asplenium trichomanes photo - John Hall
Somerset Wildlife Trust Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT Fyne Court, Broomfi eld, Bridgwater, TA5 2EQ Plantain lily Hosta ‘Halcyon’ Telephone 01636 677711
Herbaceous plants … bringing wildlife Staffordshire Wildlife Trust Polypody Polypodium interjectum Facsimile 01636 670001 Wolseley Bridge, Nr Rugeley, Stafford, ST17 0WT The following are used in this garden and are designed to ‘Cornubiense’ Email [email protected]
Suffolk Wildlife Trust give a variety of height and colour (mainly blues, pinks and Quamash Camassia cusickii Website www.wildlifetrusts.org to your garden The Green, Ashbocking, Nr Ipswich IP6 9JY whites) throughout the year as well as nectar bearing
Ragged Robin Lychnis fl os-cuculi Surrey Wildlife, Trust School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, GU24 0JN qualities for insects.
Sussex Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Shoreham Rd, Henfi eld, BN5 9SD Red campion Silene dioica The Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden
Alkanet Anchusa azurea ‘Dromore’ Rosebay willowherb Epilobium angustifolium Garden design Stephen Hall Tees Valley Wildlife Trust Sponsored by Kirkleatham Old Hall, Kirkleatham, Redcar, Cleveland, TS10 5NW Allium Allium cristophii Scabious Knautia macedonica Plants supplied Tomlins Nursery of Brentwood
Ulster Wildlife Trust, 3 New Line, Crossgar, Co. Down, BT30 9EP Arum lily Zantedeschia aethiopica Selfheal Prunella vulgaris Contractors Giles Landscapes of Welney
Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Lane, Coventry, CV3 3GW Bistort Polygonum bistorta Spreading bellfl ower Campanula patula Sponsors Cory Environmental Trust in Thurrock Produced by Essex Wildlife Trust for the
The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales Brunnera Brunnera macrophylla Stinging nettle Urtica dioica Welsh Wildlife Centre, Cilgerran, Cardigan, SA43 2TB Royal Horticultural Society ‘Dawson’s White’ Thistle Cirsium rivulare ‘Atropurpureum’ Chelsea Flower Show 2004
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Bugle Ajuga reptans Viper’s-bugloss Echium vulgare www.essexwt.org.uk Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes, SN10 1NJ Wallfl ower Erysimum ‘Bowles’ Mauve’ www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea
Cardoon Cynara cardunculus Worcestershire Wildlife Trust White bellfl ower Campanula carpatica Graphic design First Floor Design Lower Smite Farm, Smite Hill, Hindlip, Worcester, WR3 8SZ Chinese rhubarb Rheum palmatum ‘Atrosanguineum’ [email protected] ‘Bressingham White’
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, 10 Toft Green, York, YO1 6JT Clustered bellfl ower Campanula glomerata Print 80% recycled paper Yellow fl ag Iris pseudacorus (for large ponds only) Jenner Print, Tiptree

Protecting Wildlife for the Future Grass roofed lych gate Hedgehog. Uses compost heap and feeds on slugs and snails The Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden Here we have used grass turfs which provide an interesting feature and photo - Essex Wildlife Trust Reply Slip habitat for insects. Alternatively, use stonecrop turf - either way you may Yes I want to support the work of The Wildlife Trusts need to water it in mid summer but probably won’t need to mow it! drawing - I would like the following type of membership Chelsea Flower Show 2004 Stephen Hall Compost heap and nettles Insect box Individual Member £24* We get great pleasure from the wildlife which visits our gardens. Many The two usually go together. You can compost The drilled wooden block is used Joint Members, at same address £30* of us try to do what we can on our own patch to support the environment. all garden waste together with any uncooked by solitary bees. Lacewings and Family Members, i.e. joint members + All this effort is worth it. There are 15 million gardens in the UK adding up to kitchen vegetable waste. It is likely that hedgehog, ladybirds, which eat greenfl y and up to four children under 16yrs £36* two million acres. That is a massive and varied wildlife resource, particularly grass snake or slow worm will set up home, feeding blackfl y, use the pack of canes. *These are annual national promotion rates on the slugs, snails, etc in the compost. The Nettles Name at a time when wild plants and animals are declining in the countryside. are the food plant for the caterpillars of the large The Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden demonstrates ideas garden butterfl ies, such as small tortoiseshell, Ragged Robin. Address which homeowners could use when creating a garden, Waxwing - Plant of pond edges comma, red admiral and peacock. photo - Essex Wildlife Trust particularly where there is new build housing. more unusual winter visitor which feeds on berries Hibernaculum Here you may begin with boundary walls and photo - Alan Williams By the shelving edge of the pool is a pile of fl ags Postcode perhaps poor soils and unwelcome builder’s rubble. and moss - covered logs partially covered by poor Signature Attractive and useful features such as the lych gate, trellis soil and with planting around. This is the ideal Date P eacock butterfl y. Adults feed on work, the pool and slab work path give the structure hibernating spot - a hibernaculum for newts and nectar and caterpillars on nettles, and, together with climbers and herbaceous planting, The stronghold for the frogs from the pool, or lizards and grass snakes photo - David Corke Common Frog is now in gardens which will come out to sun themselves. Please select your local Wildlife Trust below and there will be interest and relaxation for you throughout the year. photo - John Court send this form to their address, Balanced with this are the strong environmental credentials with materials from sustainable sources, homemade compost and a wide range of wildlife Stag beetle stump £ gardening tips. We have used many native plants as well as cultivated varieties Half cover an old tree stump in the ground together with your cheque made payable to which are known to be attractive and good for wildlife. It is also important that for wood beetle larvae like the stag beetle.* Greater Water boatman. that Trust for the correct amount. Many pond animals children can learn in the garden to care for wildlife, hence many of the design like this are insects Tick box if you are a UK tax payer and would like tax Wildlife pool which can fl y in and to be reclaimed by the Trust on your subscription features. With large numbers of new homes proposed across the country there colonise quickly Choose a sunny location. Dig at least 80cm under the Gift Aid Scheme. are many ideas to take away and personalise for new homeowners. photo - Heather Angel at the deepest point shelving out to a shallow Your local Wildlife Trust will send your membership The Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden will be at Chelsea in May 2004 and will then edge. Line with old carpet to protect the butyl liner literature to you direct. be dismantled. In winter 2004 it will be transplanted to a new visitor centre for which needs extending back behind the retaining walls under the edge paviours. Essex Wildlife Trust at Grays Thurrock in the Thames Gateway. Line the base of the pond with inverted turfs or make planting pockets for water plants Please tick one of the Wildlife Trusts below before fi lling with water. (If you can, then intercept one of your down spouts into a water butt so you can top up with rainwater rather than using tap water.) Leave to settle for a week Bat bricks and boxes before introducing water plants. (Please do not introduce any pond animals - they will arrive Alderney Wildlife Trust, Victoria Street, St Anne, Alderney, GY9 3AA These slotted bricks can be built into walls own accord if the pond is right for them, e.g. dragonfl y, damselfl y, water boatman, Avon Wildlife Trust, 32 Jacob’s Wells Road, Bristol, BS8 1DR Beds/Cambs/Northants Wildlife Trust to provide summer roosts or alternatively a g beetle, common frog, great crested newt*.) The stepping stones are on supports 3b Langford Arch, London Road, Sawston, Cambridge, CB2 4EE wooden bat box can be attached to the wall, nd give added interest and access for pond dipping to investigate the pond animals. Berks, Bucks, Oxon Wildlife Trust e.g. for pipistrelle bats.* (If you have small children then the pond would need to be fenced.) Good examples 1 Armstrong Road, Littlemore, Oxford, OX4 4XT of water plants - on the marshy edge: water mint, Birmingham & Black Country Wildlife Trust 28 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3AA Bumblebee pots yellow fl ag, ragged robin, brooklime, purple Brecknock Wildlife Trust, Bethel Square, Brecon, Powys, LD3 7AY Tit box, Robin box, House martin eave box photo - Daniel Bridge Sink a few clay fl ow er pots upside loosestrife, marsh marigold. In the water: fringed Cheshire Wildlife Trust water lily, Potamageton pond weed. Oxygenators: Grebe House, Reaseheath, Nantwich, CW5 6DG Bird nesting down in the ground and bumblebees hornwort, spiked water milfoil. Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9DJ Song thrush, the epitome of an English garden, will use the drainage hole to build Blue tits and nuthatches will use boxes with a 28mm hole, makes use of a garden pond and eats lots of Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Plumgarths, Crook Road, Kendal, LA8 8LX Wren pocket their nest within. house sparrows and great tits 32mm. Robins will use half slugs and snails. Stones provide a thrush anvil Chrysalis of brimstone Derbyshire Wildlife Trust photo - Daniel Bridge front boxes, wrens the woven pocket and house martins the photo - Bob Glover butterfl y whose caterpillars East Mill, Bridgefoot, Belper, Derbyshire DE56 1XH Bird feeding feed on alder buckthorn Devon Wildlife Trust, 35-37 St David’s Hill Exeter, Devon EX4 4DA eave boxes. All boxes need to be in the shade and out of photo - David Corke Bat box Provide a range of foods such as nuts in hanging feeders, seed and food scraps on bird table (here we Dorset Wildlife Trust, Brooklands Farm, Forston, Dorchester, DT2 7AA photo - Daniel Bridge reach of cats. Other birds like song thrush* need dense * These are Biodiversity Action Plan species have used an upturned tree stump) and fat mix in a half coconut shell. Clean up and move the feeding shrubs or climbers on trellises. in need of special help. point regularly to prevent disease and predators. Cover photo - Great spotted woodpecker on garden feeder - Alan Williams continued overleaf Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Habitat creation, restoration and enhancement

Background • Introduction and spread of diseases introduction of native species beyond their the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). More affecting native species. current or recent historic range. recent examples include the birdsfoot Introductions Only a small proportion of Essex’s wildlife • Expansion of the introduced species trefoil (Lotus spp.) and kidney vetch resource is protected by statutory beyond any practical method of The rate of success with re-introduction of (Anthyllis vulneraria) stock used in Grasslands designations (SAC, SPA, SSSI, NNR, LNR). control. rare species is currently very low and in wildflower mixes which are physically While these may cover the most important reality considerable thought, planning and clearly very different from native plants. It Ponds wildlife habitats in the county, they are Despite this a considerable number of resources are required to achieve success. is important to ensure that the source insufficient to maintain the overall species establish themselves as members Scientifically based re-introduction population is genetically and ecologically Shrubs and trees biodiversity of Essex. of the native habitats without any programmes are invariably lengthy, appropriate, without being unduly apparent deleterious effect.Those species complex and expensive. Re-introduction prescriptive as to its exact location of Hedgerows As agricultural damage to wildlife habitats that establish themselves to the detriment and re-stocking should therefore only be origin. declines through increased under- of native species or habitats, particularly considered where it will be used as a Gardens standing, shifting financial incentives and those that threaten UK Biodiversity Action conservation tool, and when habitat Invasive species the fact that there are fewer sites left to Plan priority species or habitats, should management and natural colonisation Woodlands damage, the impact of development takes not be considered. See ‘Invasive species’ cannot achieve the desired result. Reasonable precautions should be taken on a proportionately greater significance. below for more information. to avoid accidental translocations of In the past 50 years 20 per cent of the Provenance organisms (eg. on materials or equipment woodland lost in Essex was due to some Translocation as ‘compensation’ being transferred between sites). This is sort of development. Until now re-introductions and re-stocking especially important to prevent the Developers increasingly propose trans- have been carried out on a huge scale movement of aggressive invasive plants Introductions, re-introductions location as a viable solution to the eco- without any real concern, as new woods such as New Zealand pigmyweed and re-stocking logical damage that will be caused by are planted and wildflower meadows (Crassula helmsii), floating pennywort development. However the translocation created. Recently, questions have been (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides), Japanese Application sites in areas otherwise of habitats or communities is a ‘last resort’ raised about the genetic provenance of Knotweed, Sycamore, Goats Rue and deficient in wildlife offer us the and is not an acceptable alternative to ‘in the material used. Rhododendron, as well as diseases such opportunity to alleviate declines in situ’ conservation.As a result translocation as crayfish plague Aphanomyces astaci. biodiversity elsewhere. Choice of species should only be adopted where the bio- The IUCN Guidelines state that the source is important as inappropriate species diversity value of the site is clearly out- population (for reintroductions or re- Grasslands introductions have a range of adverse weighed by other planning considerations stocking) should be closely related impacts on existing habitats and species: and no other feasible mitigation or com- genetically to the original native stock and It has been estimated that altogether 99 pensation options exist. show similar ecological characteristics to per cent of the county’s flower rich hay • Direct competition with native species the original population ie. in terms of meadows have been lost since 1900, as within the habitat, Translocation of native species strictly morphology, physiology, behaviour and a result of changing farming methods, and • Spreading of the non-native species refers to the reintroduction and re- habitat preference. However, in many also as industry, housing, new roads, into different habitats, stocking of native species within their cases translocation has been so gravel digging, rubbish disposal and • Genetic contamination of native current or recent historic range, either for widespread over the centuries that for leisure activities all expanded to take up species, species that still occur in the UK, or those many common species there is no longer precious space. Today, practically all • Interbreeding with closely related that have now become extinct. such a thing as ‘local stock’. Examples flower-rich grassland remaining in the native species, Translocation also relates to the include the oak tree (Quercus spp.) and county is confined to old road verges,

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT HABITAT CREATION, RESTORATION & ENHANCEMENT 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

village greens and commons, railway grow where, as different species have site should have about half the area of the However sites should be able to support a embankments, woodland rides and widely varying limits of tolerance to receiver site so that it is spread quite thin- good range of growth forms and stages of glades, churchyards, nature reserves and differing soils. Low nutrient status is ly. To eliminate any worries of depleting all plant species such as plants flowering other similar areas.These will only remain important in promoting plant diversity. the seed bank at the source site limit the and setting seed, with seed heads Introductions flower-rich for as long as they are properly extraction to once every five years. remaining throughout the winter, and managed. The main function of grassland Alternatively bale only a fifth of the field. plants forming dense tussocks. Grasslands management is to remove cut material to Native flowers are the backbone to many avoid the development of a thick ‘thatch’ One of the disadvantages of using freshly Cutting is an effective way of maintaining Ponds aspects of biodiversity in Essex. Their that effectively smothers weaker, smaller cut ‘green’ hay is that it must be grasslands. Since cutting tends to produce quality and quantity are important in plants and to create colonising gaps.A key transported and spread on the same day. a uniform sward and invertebrate Shrubs and trees providing an important home and feeding challenge is getting the balance right. It will rapidly heat up if left overnight in conservation requires variety any cutting place for many species of birds, mammals From a biodiversity viewpoint, grassland heaps and bales and the high temperature regime must ensure that variation in Hedgerows and invertebrates which depend on the management should maximise the will reduce seed viability. Some species vegetation structure is introduced and mix of grasses, rushes, sedges and flowers. opportunities for plants to flower,set seed, may take several years to appear. maintained. There are several ways of Gardens Species of insects, especially butterflies and for as wide range of invertebrates as However,common knapweed (Centaurea ensuring this variety is produced in and moths, depend on one particular possible to establish viable populations on nigra), oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum grassland: variation in the timing and Woodlands species of plant as a food source in the the site.At the same time it should prevent vulgare), lesser trefoil (Trifolium dubium), frequency of cutting; cutting selected larval stage, and an abundance of nectar the grassland from changing into scrub or common birds foot trefoil (Lotus areas in any one year; varying the height producing flowers in the adult stage. woodland. corniculatus) and ribwort plantain of the cut. Therefore, cutting part of the (Plantago lanceolata) have been shown to grassland annually and the remainder ad To maintain or improve grassland habitats Rotational cutting retains standing stems, have a high success of becoming hoc several times a year during the for insects depends to a great extent on increases sward height and structural established. growing season would give the sward a soil type and structure and on the type of diversity, and can ensure a range of varied structure. grasses and herbs present. The variety of flowering stages.Traditional cutting would Strewing green hay requires the seed to invertebrate communities in grasslands take place after mid-July, although in be sown at the end of July when the hay The suitability of an area for any one insect equals or exceeds the variety shown by some cases an early cut in April can reduce is made.The result of this unusual sowing species may depend not only on the grassland plant communities. vigorous, coarse grass species. date is that many plants have developed presence or absence of its food plants, but beyond their seedling stage into quite also on the height of the sward. Some Large areas of grassland can be created, Small amounts of scrub can be of interest large plants before winter. Later sowing butterflies lay their eggs on grasses or alongside new roads, railways, around depending on the objectives for the site. is less likely to work however. other low growing plants and are thus housing and industrial estates. By achieving this, a structural mosaic of vulnerable to close cropping by animals or this type, the greatest range of wild Grassland’s value for invertebrates by mowing. These two factors are often Grassland management flowers, invertebrates and other animals interrelated, since sward height can will find the specific conditions they need The structure of the soil beneath grassland determine whether or not a particular Grasslands tend either to be over- to survive. Leaving some grassland uncut, can play a major part in the invertebrate insect food plant will grow. managed with a low diversity sward or perhaps around the edge of a fauna and is also critical in determining its under-managed and left to become scrub development site, benefits wildlife. drainage properties. In order to support The cutting regime for the area of rough or are planted up with non-native species the greatest possible range of grassland should be once in early spring of shrub and tree. Such grassland holds Creating grassland invertebrates grassland must have a good (late March to early April) and once in little value for wildlife.The nutrient status range of successional stages and autumn (late August to September). and moisture content of the soil are other Hay-meadow creation could be achieved vegetation structures. Only a large site can Cutting should be irregular to allow a

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT important factors influencing which plants by using freshly cut ‘green’ hay.The source hold all of these features in any quantity. good structural diversity to exist in the HABITAT CREATION, RESTORATION & ENHANCEMENT 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

grassland sward as this will benefit the species that they support. In short, a hedgerow management that can be in the United Kingdom have a limited invertebrate community. Any cuttings hedgerow offers a variety of micro-habi- employed to ensure that the hedgerow range of food plants. The egg-laying habits should be removed to prevent thistles, tats distributed both vertically and hor - supports a variety of insects. Once of butterflies and moths vary considerably docks, brambles and scrub from taking izontally. A hedge comprising a variety of established, hedgerows should be among different species, some laying their Introductions over. Furthermore some dead plants native shrubs will produce blossom for trimmed every two to three years; only a eggs singly on twigs, others in variously should be left standing to allow certain pollen and nectar feeding insects, leaves proportion of total hedgerow length in any sized batches on the upper or underside Grasslands species to survive the winter. and shoots for a wide variety of other given area should be cut in any single of leaves, whilst others just drop them on plant feeding insects, as well as berries for year; to ensure that species over-wintering the ground during flight. Ponds Ponds birds and small mammals. on the branches are not completely eliminated and to ensure adequate The easiest group of butterflies to attract Shrubs and trees Ponds are a valuable focus for wildlife. The shrubs and bushes most usually provision of nesting sites for birds; the is the nettle feeders. Nettles can be grown They are very different from other habitats planted for the body of the hedge include time of the cutting should be outside times in a sunny location. To prevent them from Hedgerows because water is a magnet for a variety hawthorn, blackthorn, and field maple when the hedge is in foliage, flower or spreading they can be planted in tubs of wildlife and provides a place for birds depending on soils. Other species can when large quantities of fruit still remain. which can be sunk into the ground. The Gardens to drink, bathe and collect mud. At least be used occasionally in small numbers nettles need to be cut down in late June 3,000 species live in ponds with around to add interest. The following species Wildlife gardens or early July to allow the next generation Woodlands 200 rare, endangered or vulnerable are commonly used: of butterflies to use the re-growth. The species. It has been estimated that there Insects, song birds, reptiles, amphibians, stems of the nettles should then be placed has been a 75 per cent loss of ponds • Dog and field rose hedgehogs and small mammals can be in a large tub and allowed to decompose, during the 20th century, and we are still • Holly encouraged into gardens at little cost. either in water or water could be added losing 1 per cent per year due to drainage, • Hornbeam Case Study 1 has information on the later on, and then this could be sprayed on infilling or incorrect management, • Dogwood Wildlife Trusts’ Gateway Garden, contain- the tree nursery at a later date. inappropriate management, pollution and • Crab apple ing wildlife features and planting lists. invasive species. • Elder Woodlands • Spindle One of the keys to attracting insects to an Shrubs and trees • Guelder rose area, as with most other wildlife, is to Native woodland, especially if it is ancient, • Alder and purging Buckthorn provide food. Butterflies are only one very is still one of the richest and most Shrubs and small trees contribute greatly • Wild privet small part of our insect fauna.The easiest treasured habitats as they are able to to habitat diversity. As well as being way to achieve diversity is to divide the support an abundance and varied flora aesthetically pleasing, they have a vital In addition to the woody plants making up plot into a ‘formal’ section and a ‘wild’ and fauna. The term ancient is applied to function in providing shelter for wildlife. the main body of the hedgerow, there are section. By planting a range of flowering presently wooded sites that have Many shrubs and trees are the food plants many smaller ones, including grasses, and plants, a source of nectar will be available maintained their woodland cover for a huge number of insects. In addition other herbaceous species which provide throughout the spring, summer and continuously since around 1600. However they provide song posts, protection from habitats for a wide variety of insects. Also, autumn for a range of different insects and these areas have become increasingly predators, nesting, feeding and roosting insects from a wide variety of larval invertebrates. scarce. Woodland that is more recently sites for many birds. habitats depend on pollen and nectar in established, either through planting or their adult stages and these food sources Attracting butterflies to breed is more through natural succession,is referred to Hedgerows are provided virtually all year round by the complicated. This is because the female as secondary in its origin. Although usually wide variety of hedgerow plants with their butterfly is choosy about the types of inferior in ecological terms to ancient The value of a hedgerow for insects lies different flowering seasons. plants on which she will lay her eggs as woodland, secondary woodlands are still partly in their varied structural com- different caterpillars eat different types of of considerable value to a wide range of

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ponents and also in the diversity of plant There are several different methods of plants. The larvae of most butterflies found plants, birds, mammals and invertebrates. HABITAT CREATION, RESTORATION & ENHANCEMENT 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

The invertebrates The main aims of conservation in Like deadwood, flat stones or bricks lying of dead wood should be retained in woodland are to retain as many possible on the soil surface provide sites for reasonable quantity. The simplest rule Woodlands provide an excellent habitat. niches. Trees and shrubs are the most hibernation of insects or act as a refuge. about dead wood is that it should be left Each layer has a special community of conspicuous element of the woodland This is especially important for ground where it is to undergo natural decay Introductions plants and animals associated with it. flora and the most important structural beetles, which are very useful as natural processes. However if it becomes unsafe There is a wide range of micro-habitats components of woodland. pest agents. and dangerous then in should be Grasslands and types of food suitable for insects removed. available in the woodland. Consequently In a well structured woodland, different The deliberate removal of ivy from trees on Ponds many kinds of insects are present. trees will be of different heights and have any conservation site should not be Log piles can provide a useful habitat and However the abundance and diversity can different densities of foliage. Plants considered. It is extremely rare for ivy to will eventually gather an interesting Shrubs and trees be enhanced if the structural diversity of growing in different circumstances damage a tree on which it grows and the invertebrate community. The size and the woodland is increased. The type of support quite different assemblages of wildlife value of the ivy far outweighs any proportions of log piles will clearly depend Hedgerows woodland, succession stage and human invertebrates. Some invertebrates prefer damage done.The only possible excuse for on its location and on the size, nature and impact upon a woodland provides many plants growing in shade. A far greater ivy removal is to protect a valuable and quantity of material to be incorporated. It Gardens opportunities for wildlife. Woodlands number are confined to plants in warm fragile specimen tree. is best to create several piles of different support possibly the richest invertebrate sunny conditions. Young trees or re- aspect scattered through the site rather Woodlands fauna of any habitat in Britain.This stems growth after cutting can support a quite The dead wood resource than to make a single very large one. In in part from the continuous history both of different assemblage of invertebrates to successive years when management the habitat and of many individual mature trees. Standing dead timber is an important operations create more log piles new piles woodlands, and also from the former resource. Dead wood provides a habitat are best made adjoining or within easy abundance of the habitat together with The commonest tree and shrub species are for many insects and may also be used as reach of the old ones. In addition some the complexity of its structure. the most important for invertebrates. Oak a hibernation site by small mammals, such logs should be left scattered throughout and willows support the greatest number as hedgehogs. The retention of the woodland. Herbivorous species feeding on the foliage of invertebrate species. Other important deadwood, especially sizable stems, helps of trees, shrubs and low plants, and the trees and bushes of lowland broad-leaved protect local populations of vulnerable Piles of brashing and other fine material predators and parasites that attack them, woodlands are aspen, ash, birch, insect species that are often deprived of will support a wide range of invertebrates. are usually the most obvious of blackthorn, bramble, elms, field maple, this habitat by extensive tidying-up or If piles of brashing and finer branches are invertebrates in woodlands. However,they hazel, hawthorn and rose. Hornbeam and firewood gathering. Some deadwood to be created a few piles are better than may form only a minority of the total beech support rather few foliage feeding should be located in shaded areas. many smaller ones. A loose pile of assemblage. Some invertebrates live on invertebrates but the dead wood of these brashing will contain fewer niches for the trunks and branches of trees. Others trees can support a rich fauna. The invertebrates associated with the invertebrates than one which is closely are associated with sap runs that form decay of timber are very diverse and of packed. The close packing will provide when a tree is damaged. A large number Scalloping involves the creation of small exceptional value for conservation. Dead relatively moist conditions in the centres develop in dead wood: some remain there clearings along the woodland margin. wood occurs in a wide range of forms. It of the bundles and the narrow spaces for the whole of their lives: others live Scallops of 30 metres by 20 metres have can vary in size from massive trunks to fine between the twigs and branches will there only as larvae and as adults are free- been employed for butterfly conservation twigs. However dead wood in each provide safe shelters. This approach can living and may fly to another micro- but areas a fraction of this size may be circumstance will support its own also be used to create and maintain ‘dead habitat. Some spend the whole of their valuable for many invertebrates. The area distinctive assemblage of invertebrates. hedges’ – often used as part of coppice lives high in the tree canopy. A large within the scallop may be coppiced or Most woodland contains dead wood in management in woodland. number live amongst leaf litter and soil on mown. For the creation of a circular walk the form of fallen branches, fallen and the woodland floor. a curved or irregular pathway is better standing trunks, dead branches and fallen

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT than a straight one. twigs. It is important that all these types HABITAT CREATION, RESTORATION & ENHANCEMENT 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Key Players – their roles and responsibilities

Local planning authorities • Provide general advice to local author- Biological Records relation to a wide range of issues including ities regarding planning applications proposed development sites. • Take biodiversity issues into account and forward planning matters such as Draft PPS9 states “Plan policies and when determining planning applica- local development frameworks. planning decisions should be based upon Look on EFC website or the link to the tions as set out in PPS9. up-to-date information about the Essex Biodiversity Project website where • Ensure biodiversity issues are taken English Nature national team environmental characteristics of their they are listed: into account in preparation of Local areas.These characteristics should include http://www.essexfieldclub.org.uk/ Development Frameworks and supple- • Give advice to Defra over licence the relevant biodiversity and geological recorderlist.htm mentary Documents, etc. applications for European Protected resource of the area.” http://www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk/ • Monitor planning conditions and species and biodiversity. Also over record-holders.htm obligations. licence development activities affecting Many biological resources exist for Essex. badger setts. However, they are located in many Natural History Museums Developers different places, held by numerous people English Nature’s interactive map site: and organisations and may or may not be The museums at Colchester, Chelmsford, • If the presence of a protected species http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/ easy to obtain. This is currently being Saffron Walden and Southend-on-Sea or Biodiversity Action Plan species or addressed and it is hoped that biological hold local records, knowledge and habitats is known or suspected, English Nature’s main website –licensing/ and geological records will eventually be expertise. provide the local planning authority protected species section: available from a central location and will with survey results, an assessment of http://www.english-nature.org.uk/science/ be more easily accessible to all. Chelmsford Museum the development’s impact and a licensing Old Cemetery Lodge mitigation strategy if necessary. Contact 01245 437660/437655 or 1 Writtle Road • If required, apply for a licence from Department for Environment, Food [email protected]/ Chelmsford, Essex CM1 3BL Defra. and Rural Affairs – European Wildlife or [email protected] 01245 615120 • Comply with the legislation, planning Division to keep up to date with the Biological conditions and licensing conditions as Records Initiative for Essex (BRIE). Colchester Natural History Museum necessary. • Determine licence applications for c/o 14 Ryegate Road • Integrate biodiversity into development European Protected species. The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Colchester CO1 1YG proposal designs. is a project to build the UK’s first network 01206 282936 Defra – Area Team of biodiversity information. Look at: English Nature – Essex, Herts and http://www.nbn.org.uk/ or Saffron Walden Museum London Area team • Determine license application, for http://www.searchnbn.net/ Museum Street example, damage to property and to Saffron Walden • Provide generic advice to developers plot for species such as badgers. Link Essex Field Club County Recorders Essex CB10 1JL and consultants regarding surveys and to Defra website 01799 510333 mitigation. The County Recorders gather and hold • Give advice to local planning author- Multi-Agency Geographic Information for data on Essex wildlife species and hold the Southend Museums Service ities on generic protected species the Countryside (MAGIC): most comprehensive county datasets.They Central Museum, Victoria Avenue issues and designated sites. http://www.magic.gov.uk/website/magic/ provide this data to planners, statutory Southend-on-Sea SS2 6EW agencies, developers and consultants in 01702 434449

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT KEY PLAYERS 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Local Interest Groups and Badgers Natural History Societies Natural History Societies North East Essex Badger Group Colchester Natural History Society There are a number of local groups of Renee Hockley-Byam, (Chairman) C/o Colchester Museums expertise that hold records and have much Bridge Cottage 14 Ryegate Road local knowledge and expertise. They are Bradwell Colchester CO1 1YG generally run by volunteers. Extra time Braintree CM77 8ED 01206 282936 would therefore need to be allowed in 01376 563210 retrieving data. These include: Badger Hotline 07751 572 175 (24 hr)

Essex Wildlife Trust NEEBG covers all of Tendring, Braintree, The Joan Elliot Visitor Centre Colchester and Maldon, plus eastern part Abbotts Hall Farm of Uttlesford and northern part of Great Wigborough Chelmsford Borough. Colchester CO5 7RZ [email protected] Epping Forest District Badger Group (covers Harlow area) Bats http://www.eppingforestbg.org.uk Paul Cook Essex Bat Group 160 Borders Lane Roger and Silvia Jiggins (secretaries) Loughton [email protected] Essex IG10 3SB 01376 324311 020 8508 1593 (24hr) John Dobson 07881 815992 (Mob) 148 Main Road [email protected] or Danbury [email protected] Essex CM3 4DT [email protected] Birds

Amphibians and Reptiles The Essex Bird Watching Society See contacts page at Essex ARG http://www.essexbirdwatchsoc.co.uk [email protected]

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT KEY PLAYERS 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Suggested Format for Mitigation Plan

A Contents

B Introduction

B1 Background to development [location, ownership, general landuse, type of B2 Consideration of alternative solutions [eg consideration of other sites, or site and need for the proposed development, planning history, land allocation in layouts, and why they have been discounted] Local Plan (or equivalent), etc]

C Survey and site assessment

C1 Pre-existing information on species and habitats at survey site C7 Results [to include raw data, any processed or aggregated data, and negative results as appropriate; record other species and habitats observed] C2 Status of species and habitats in the local/regional area C8 Interpretation and evaluation C3 Objective(s) of survey C8.1 Presence/absence C8.2 Population size class assessment C4 Survey area C8.3 Site status assessment [combining quantitative, qualitative, functional and contextual factors] C5 Habitat description [based on daytime visit(s); C8.4 Constraints [factors influencing survey results]

C6 Field survey C9 Map(s) of survey area [with habitat description, and any other features C6.1 Methods sampled; summary of survey results marked on map if appropriate. Map C6.2 Timing should show area beyond site as appropriate to movement of species on an C6.3 Weather conditions Ordnance Survey (or similar) base-map] C6.4 Personnel C10 Cross-referenced photographs of key habitat features [if appropriate]

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION PLAN FORMAT 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

D Impact assessment

D1 Pre- and mid-development impacts D5 Summary of impacts at the site level

D2 Long-term impacts [habitat loss, modification, fragmentation, etc] D6 Summary of impacts in a wider context

D3 Post-development interference impacts [disturbance, etc] D7 Map(s) to show impacts [clear indication of which areas would be affected and how] D4 Other impacts

E Mitigation and compensation E5 Post-development site safeguard E5.1 Habitat management and maintenance [either set out details here, E1 Mitigation strategy [overview of how the impacts will be addressed in order or if complex give outline here and give details as an annexed stand- to ensure no detriment to the maintenance of species and habitats at a alone plan] favourable conservation status] E5.2 Monitoring E5.3 Mechanism for ensuring delivery [eg section 106 agreement; include E2 Receptor site selection who will undertake the work, and reporting details] E2.1 Existing species status [give survey data] E2.2 Location, ownership and status E6 Work schedule [phasing diagram to include all works associated within section E2.3 Existing habitat status Habitat description, size, boundaries E, and to indicate construction works timing]

E3 Habitat creation, restoration and/or enhancement [as appropriate] E7 Map to show location of receptor site in relation to development site E3.1 Aquatic habitats E3.2 Terrestrial habitats E8 Map to show capture and exclusion works E3.3 Integration with roads and other hard landscapes E3.4 Integration with other species/ habitat requirements E9 Map to show habitat creation, restoration and/or enhancement

E4 Capture, exclusion and translocation of species and habitats E10 Map to show post development management [if appropriate] E4.1 Timing, effort, methods, layout of capture/exclusion methods, translocation E11 Diagram to show capture/ exclusion apparatus [only required if non-standard techniques are proposed]

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION PLAN FORMAT 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

F Summary

F1 Summary of development and mitigation [NB to include overall consideration of any licensing criteria: effect on conservation status, purpose, and alternativesm

G References

H Annexes

H1 Management and maintenance plan H3 Pre-existing survey report(s).

H2 Section 106 agreement/planning permission/other planning documents as appropriate

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT MITIGATION PLAN FORMAT 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Planting design

Planting should be designed in such a way as to reflect the typical or traditional, Species choice indigenous landscape character of the adjoining area.All else being equal a well designed scheme should represent a net gain in visual and habitat terms. In general, tree and shrub cover together with crops, are the basic materials of a landscape that lacks rocks and dramatic topography. Trees make contrasts with open Planting should be structured to reflect and complement the landform and any variation land, form spaces, and give variety of texture, and colour, and express seasonal change. in soil types. A clear structure should be created using woodland blocks, hedges, more Without them, the inland Essex landscape becomes bleak and uninteresting.Traditional open scrubland, grassland areas and other landscape and habitat types. Indigenous trees express historical continuity. species of plant material should be used in mixtures and proportions which are likely to simulate natural models.A degree of ecological diversity is also to be encouraged both The following tables, developed by Essex County Council, are given as a guide to current to create a good range of habitat and provide a range of seed sources for subsequent practice developed over many years and based on considerable knowledge of the Essex natural regeneration.This diversity should be reflected in a variety of planting mix types landscape and experience of establishing and managing semi-natural planting. which relate to habitat types. The following indigenous species are common in Essex and should to a greater or lesser The selection of species mixtures can be critical and the following guidelines, based on degree form the main content of planting schemes. experience of management problems in semi-natural plantings, should be noted. Indigenous species distribution notes • Limit the dominants for each area to one or two species. • Avoid selecting tree species as a nurse. Use additional shrub species such as Acer Acer campestre Field Maple wide small tree, woodland component campestre or Crataegus monogyna. Carpinus betulus Hornbeam localised clay soils • If a tree nurse species is required to create ‘high forest’ use Betula or Alnus to a maximum of 20 per cent. Pinus or Larix should be avoided. Cornus sanguinea Dogwood wide hedge • Avoid mixing Salix or Populus directly with other tree species.Their vigour will create Corylus avellana Hazel wide woodland, hedges problems of competition. • The major part of any mixture should comprise a limited number of species, but Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn wide smaller amounts of numerous other species may be added to provide a seed source Fraxinus excelsior Ash wide wetter sites from which they can find their own population balance. • Have a clear view of how any mixture is likely to develop over time and how it might Hedera helix Ivy wide be managed in the future to achieve a desired result. Ilex aquifolium Holly wide

Where feasible consideration should be given to the establishment of advance structural Populus tremula Aspen localised invasive planting, and provision made for planting within the period of the main contract. Prunus avium Wild Cherry localised more acid soils Prunus spinosa Blackthorn wide sometimes difficult to establish but can become invasive Quercus petraea Sessile Oak localised lighter soils Quercus robur Pendunculate Oak wide woodland Planting design must take into account ease of future management and Rosa arvensis Field rose resources for future management – otherwise it will not be sustained. Rosa canina Dog Rose wide clay soils INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANTING DESIGN 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

The following species because of certain characteristics should be used only with caution. The following species are indigenous to Essex but are relatively rare and their over extensive use might influence natural distribution.

Indigenous species distribution notes Indigenous species distribution notes Acer pseudoplatanus Sycamore very invasive Euonymus europaeus Spindle Tree Aesculus hippocastanum Horse Chestnut tends to drop limbs Frangula alnus Alder Buckthorn Alnus glutinosa Alder wet areas woodland nurse Ligustrum vulgare Wild Privet localised chalk soils Betula pendula Silver Birch localised short lived, woodland nurse Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Betula pubescens Downy birch localised short lived, woodland nurse Rhamnus catharticus Buckthorn Castanea sativa Sweet Chestnut localised chestnut woodland areas Sorbus torminalis Wild Service Tree uncommon Cytisus scoparius Broom localised short lived, fire hazard Viburnum lantana Wayfaring Tree localised chalk soils Fagus sylvatica Beech localised tends to drop limbs Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose Populus alba White Poplar localised not in mixtures Tilia cordata Small-leaved Lime Populus canescens Grey Poplar localised over competitive Populus nigra Black Poplar localised over competitive Rosa rubiginosa Sweet Briar Salix alba White Willow short lived, over competitive Salix alba var. caerulea Cricket-bat willow short lived, over competitive Sambucus nigra Elder short lived, over competitive Ulex europaeus Gorse localised short lived, fire hazard Ulmus procera English elm subject to disease Taxus baccata Yew poisonous

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT PLANTING DESIGN 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

The following species are examples of species not indigenous to Essex but and are When considering the mix of plants to be used in any area of planting it is important therefore to be used only with caution. for reasons of nature conservation and visual appropriateness to base the choice and proportions of species on indigenous habitat types.The type of habitat most suitable will be dependant on what natural models are found in the adjacent landscape, site and Indigenous species distribution notes soil conditions and the function the planting has to perform. The most important are, Acer platanoides Norway Maple Woodlands Prunus padus Bird Cherry planted Prunus laurocerasus Laurel planted evergreen content in screen plots Natural models can take many physical forms and fall into several woodland classes. High forest, open woodland belts, coppice with standards all have different Robinia pseudoacacia False Acacia characteristics. On the road verge a coppice structure, with a high proportion of shrub Sorbus aria Whitebeam uncommon species, has relevance.

Sorbus aucuparia Rowan uncommon acid soils Hedges Pinus sylvestris Scots Pine planted Hedges or hedge like linear planting areas can be used to create continuity with the Quercus ilex Holm Oak adjacent landscape, ecological corridors and efficient visual screens.The traditional tree Larix decidua Larch planted cover of Essex outside woodlands lies largely in hedgerows, thus new hedges should generally include a proportion of tree species.

Open scrubland/ Wood Pasture

Good forage plants for invertebrates can also be incorporated into the planting design: Wood pasture is a traditional form of vegetation management on grazing land where the establishment of standard trees is encouraged and protected with enclosing shrubby Ballota nigra Black Horsehound species. It’s current equivalent is often the result of natural regeneration on wasteland and on established road verges. It is preferable to the planting of widely spaced individual Daucus carota Carrot trees, the shrubby species giving shelter to the developing tree. Lotus corniculatus Bird’s-foot Trefoil Grassland Medicago sativa Lucerne Odontites verna Red Bartsia Unimproved, species rich grassland is a diminishing habitat and where soils are suitable it is possible to encourage diverse swards. English Nature prefer to see this achieved by Trifolium pratense Red Clover natural regeneration and a grass mix comprising non vigorous grass species sown at a low density will allow other species to colonise, if there is a seed source available. Bee and pyramidal orchids have colonised motorway embankments in Essex. However, If no seed sources are available it may be desirable to use commercial or specially collected seed.

Wetlands

Washland particularly presents opportunities to create natural habitats where

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT engineering constraints allow. PLANTING DESIGN 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Principles of enhancing and creating biodiversity

This section outlines some basic principles Basic principles: involved in creating and enhancing bio- diversity.You can also refer to Habitat cre- Retain existing semi natural habitats: • Aim to create blocks of habitat that are • Need additional information? See ation, restoration and enhancement for connected. The larger they are, the Designing for biodiversity. a habitat by habitat description of points • Making the most of what occurs on better. Large blocks of habitat suffer to be aware of. site is ecologically sound, more likely to less from the effects of disturbance Check how the application site’s flourish with management than (artificial light, noise, etc) as a smaller biodiversity resource ‘fits’ in the However please bear in mind this is a ‘imposed’ habitats and tends to be proportion of their area is vulnerable. wider landscape: complex subject area and you should refer more cost effective as a result. They provide shelter to a greater to existing publications for more detailed wealth of wildlife as a result. • Consider the site’s biodiversity resource information relevant to the site in question • Replacement/new habitat takes many in terms of habitat elements: eg. (see Reading and references). years to stabilise and gain the value of Look for the local area’s ecological grassland, scrub, woodland, hedge, an established habitat. clues: ditch, reedbed, open water.

• Use ecological survey to assess and • Essex’s geology and soils largely • Assess how these elements relate to evaluate what biodiversity resource determine what plants and trees grow similar resources in the local area and exists on and around the site. Some where. Consult appropriate soil and identify where elements on site can habitats tend to be more valuable in geology maps. Create habitats that are offer a link or ‘stepping stone’ between ecological terms than others eg. appropriate for the area. similar semi-natural habitats in the unimproved grassland has greater wider area. ecological value than that which has • Check the geology and soils for your been more intensively managed.Avoid site. Look up English Nature’s Natural • Look up English Nature’s Natural Area creating a new habitat at the expense Area maps for information at a land- maps for more information about of an existing valuable one. scape scale. For detailed information broad habitat characteristics at a on semi-natural habitats refer to the landscape scale. • Introduce management to existing National Vegetation Classification semi-natural habitats where ecological publications. survey shows they have deteriorated: • Clear out a proportion of a silted up • Choose plant species native to lowland pond as a first step to positive England and suitable for the soil type management. on your site. Use local sources for plant • Mow an area of semi-natural material – see Planting Design. grassland as a hay meadow. Designing for Biodiversity • See Reading and references for • Avoid: UK BAP habitats and species more ideas. • Importing topsoil or Essex BAP habitats and species • Using fertilisers or peat. Habitat creation, restoration • Identify UK and Essex BAP habitats • Using non native species and enhancement and species for retention and More about the Essex Landscape enhancement and/or management. Planting design

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES OF ENHANCING AND CREATING Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Biodiversity conservation – statutory obligations

Since the production of the Guide, the new Government Planning Guidance has been published. This comprises:

Planning Policy Statement 9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1143832

Circular 06/05: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation http://www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1144318

The Good Practice Guide http://www.communities.gov.uk/pub/843/PlanningforBiodiversity andGeologicalConservationAGuidetoGoodPractice_id1164843.pdf

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT STATUTORY OBLIGATIONS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Appropriate survey seasons

Survey Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Scoping walkover Phase 1 habitat Botanical Badgers Wintering birds Breeding birds Reptiles Amphibians Invertebrates Water voles Otters Bats – summer roosts*

unsuitable time of year for surveying sub-optimal time of year for surveying optimal time of year for surveying (best practice)

*Hibernating bats can be found November to February

Based on chart courtesy of English Nature

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATE SURVEY SEASONS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

What is Sustainable Development?

At its heart is the simple idea of ensuring Effective protection of the environment a “better quality of life for everyone, now not only requires protection of species and and for generations to come”. habitats, but also management and aftercare of areas that are to be retained, The widely accepted Brundtland definition enhanced or created. is “development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the We should hand on to the next ability of future generations to meet their generation an environment no less rich own needs”. than the one we ourselves inherited.

The UK Government’s four key objectives to be achieved simultaneously are:

1 social progress which recognises the needs of everyone; 2 effective protection of the environ- ment; 3 prudent use of natural resources; and 4 maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment.

(A better quality of life: A strategy for sustainable development in the UK. DETR 1999)

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT MORE ABOUT SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

UK BAP species and habitats

All the information you need on UK BAP Management and implementation of the species and habitats can be found on the UK BAP is the responsibility of several UKBAP website http://www.ukbap.org.uk groups. Visit the website to find out how the UK BAP is managed, who these This is designed to support the groups are and what work they do here. implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) on behalf of the UK On this website you can also: Biodiversity Partnership and the UK Government. • Access the species, habitat and local action plans that comprise the UK BAP The UK BAP • Identify and contact Lead Partners and LBAP officers • is the UK Government’s response to • Download reports, data, guidance the Convention on Biological Diversity notes and documents (CBD) signed in 1992 • Explore the factors affecting the • describes the UK’s biological resources decline of species or habitats • commits a detailed plan for the • Find out about current UK BAP protection of these resources research programmes • has 391 Species Action Plans, 45 • Read the summary of the 2002 Habitat Action Plans and 162 Local Reporting round, view the results and Biodiversity Action Plans with targeted drill down into the underlying data UK actions Biodiversity Action Plan tracking progress.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT SPECIES AND HABITATS Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Reading and references

General Department for Environment, Food and English Nature (2003) Development Kirkby, P (1992) Habitat Management Rural Affairs (DEFRA) (2002) Working control, local authorities and protected for Invertebrates – A Practical Andrews, J and Rebane, M (1994) with the grain of nature: A biodiversity species surveys. EN Research Report No handbook. RSPB and JNCC. Farming and wildlife – A practical strategy for England. DEFRA 479. management handbook. RSPB. publications, London (PB7718). Nature Conservancy Council (1988) Site English Nature (2003) The scrub Management Plans for Nature Benstead, P,Drake, M, José, P, English Nature, John Handley (Ed) management handbook. EN and FACT. Conservation: a working guide. NCC. Mountford, O, Newbold, C and Treweek, (2003) Accessible green space – A J (1997) The wet grassland guide: review and toolkit for their English Nature (2004) Nature’s place. Oxford, MJ (2000) Developing Naturally: managing floodplain and coastal wet implementation. English Nature. EN. A handbook for incorporating the grasslands for wildlife. RSPB, Sandy. natural environment into planning and English Nature (1995) Habitat creation – English Nature, Helen Read (Ed) (2000) development. ALGE & English Nature. Benstead, PJ, José, PV,Joyce, CB and a critical guide. English Nature, Veteran trees.EN. ISBN 0 9540717 0 0. Wade PM (1999) European wet Peterborough. grassland: guidelines for management The Wildlife Trusts, English Nature, Rodwell, J and Patterson, G (date?) and restoration. RSPB, Sandy. English Nature (1999) Biodiversity: Countryside Council for Wales and Creating new native woodlands. Making the links. EN, Peterborough. Scottish National Heritage (1999) Forestry Authority and Forestry Brooke, CE (1996) Natural conditions – Lowland grassland management Commission Bulletin, The Stationery A review of planning conditions and English Nature (1999) Grassland handbook.EN. Office. nature conservation. The RSPB, Sandy. management handbook. EN and WT. Gilbert OL and Anderson P (1998) RSPB (1996) Sustainable development: Byron, H (2000) Biodiversity and envi- English Nature (2000) A species Habitat creation and repair. OUP. The importance of biodiversity. RSPB, ronmental impact assessment: A good handbook for local authorities: Guide Sandy. practice guide for road schemes. RSPB, notes for consideration of protected Helliwell DR (1996) Case studies in WWF-UK, English Nature and the Wild- species within local planning. English vegetation change: Habitat transfer and RSPB (2004) Habitat creation handbook life Trusts, Sandy. ISBN 1 901930 24 6. Nature, Peterborough. habitat creation. Reading Agricultural for the minerals industry. RSPB. Consultants. Coleshaw, T (Ed) (1999) Practical English Nature (2001) The upland RSPB (2004) Habitat management solutions handbook – 2nd edition. management handbook.EN. Institute of Terrestrial Ecology (ITE) publications. RSPB. English Nature, FACT and GAP. (1997) Ecology and Twyford Down.ITE, English Nature (2002) A handbook of Furzebrook Research Station, Wareham. RSPB, NRA and RSNC (1995) The New Construction Industry Research and earth science conservation techniques. Rivers and Wildlife Handbook. RSPB. Information Association (CIRIA) (1999) EN, Earth Sciences in Great Britain. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Environmental good practice on site. Entwistle, AC (2001) Habitat Sutherland WJ (2000) Conservation CIRIA 502 London. English Nature (2002) Revealing the management for bats. JNCC. Handbook. Blackwell Science. value of nature.EN. Department of the Environment (1995) Jordan, WRJ, Gilpin, ME and Aber JD Sutherland WJ and Hill DA (Eds) (1995) Preparation of environmental statements English Nature (2003) The herbicide (1987) Restoration ecology. Cambridge Managing habitats for conservation. for planning projects that require envi- handbook. EN and FACT. University Press. CUP. INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT ronmental statements. HMSO, London. READING AND REFERENCES 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Tait J, Lane A and Carr S (1988) Practical IUCN (1987) Position Statement on attracts wildlife. Space needn’t be a limit- Gilbert, OL and Anderson, PA (1998) Conservation: Site Assessment and Translocation of Living Organisms. ing factor.The author devotes a chapter to Habitat creation and repair. Oxford Management Planning. Open University paved yards, patios and balconies. University Press. ISBN 0-19-854966-0 and Nature Conservancy Council. Anderson, PA (2003) Habitat Translocation – a Best Practice Guide Buckley, GP (ed) (1995) Biological The book covers the ethics and principles The Wildlife Trusts (1999) The RIGS C600. Construction Industry Research Habitat Reconstruction. Bellhaven Press of habitat creation and repair to the prac- handbook. and Information Association (CIRIA). ISBN (unknown) tical detail of designing habitats for ISBN: 0-86017-600-2 wildlife. The chapters span all the major Treweek, J (1999) Ecological Covers the concepts strategies and eco- habitat types found in the British Isles, giv- assessment. Blackwell Science, Oxford. This best practice guide sets out minimum logical principles used in the restoration of ing advice on whether habitat creation is standards for habitat translocations.While habitats together with the techniques of the course to follow then covering all steps Habitat Enhancement and Creation researched originally for the Highways transplantation and enhancement of ex- from site survey through to final design Agency, this guide has been broadened to isting habitat types. Essential for develop- and scheme realisation. Adams CE and Maitland PS (1998) apply to any construction project. This ers, public authorities, industrialists, The Ruffe population in Loch Lomond, guide does not promote translocations, as farmers and others who are aware of their Helliwell, DR (1996) Case studies in Scotland: its introduction, population translocation should be regarded as a last responsibilities in restoring and conserv- vegetation change. Habitat transfer and expansion and interaction with native resort for all sites of high nature conserva- ing species-rich environments. habitat creation Reading Agricultural species, International Association for tion value. Instead, it seeks to set high Consultants. ISBN 0-9597931-2-4 Great Lakes Research, v24, pp 247-262. standards to help avoid some of the fail- Carr and Bell (1991) Practical ures found in past translocation projects. conservation: Boundary habitats. These case studies are based on the au- Gault C (1997) The guide should raise standards and re- Hodder & Staunton. ISBN 0340533676 thor’s experiences concerning habitat A Moving Story – species and duce the risks that emanate from poor translocation and creation.These include: community translocation in the UK: practice. Well-managed boundaries can be rich in changes to an undisturbed permanent a review of policy, principle, planning wildlife as they often combine a variety of pasture over six years, moving woodland, and practice. WWF-UK. Baines, C and Smart, J (1991) A guide to habitat types such as woodland scrub grassland and marshland soils in an at- habitat creation. Packard Publishing Ltd. grassland aquatic and cultivated areas. tempt to recreate the original habitats, Pollard S (2000) ISBN: 1-85341-031-4 This book is a well informed and practical and seeding 20 ha of chalk marl spoil from Advice note on species re-introduced guide to their conservation. the Channel Tunnel. Written by a practi- with ballast water, Marine Conservation Habitats covered include woodlands tioner in the hope that it will be of use to Society. hedgerows grassland wetland and waste- Entwhistle et al (2001) Habitat others working in the same field. land with sections on interpretation and management for bats. JNCC. Taylor LR (1986) education. Pocket size guide. ISBN 1 86107 528 6 Kirby, P (2001) Habitat management for Synoptic dynamics, migration and the invertebrates. National Power/JNCC/ Rothamsted Insect Survey, Journal of Briggs, J (2001) Creating small habitats In the UK, bat numbers have declined RSPB. ISBN 0 901930 30 0 Animal Ecology, v55, pp 1-38. for wildlife in your garden. Guild of rapidly in recent years. This publication Master Craftsman Publications. provides clear advise on how to manage It is vitally important that a site is man- The Wildlife Trusts (1998) ISBN 1 86108 188 X areas to benefit foraging bats and help aged in the interests of all its inhabitants, Guidelines on Killing Wild Animals stem the decline of these intriguing ani- both plant and animal but rarely is suffi- Everyone can play a part in conservation mals. cient attention paid to the needs of the in- IUCN (1995) Guidelines for and enjoy the delights of a garden which vertebrates.This book provides guidelines Re-introductions.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT READING AND REFERENCES 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

for reserve managers to assist them in tak- heritage and nature. This textbook is the English Nature (1994) Nature Mitchell-Jones, AJ (2004) Bat mitigation ing account of the particular habitat re- first book written in recent years to cover conservation in environmental guidelines. English Nature, quirements without actually knowing conservation from a physical environmen- assessment. English Nature, Peterborough. which species are present. tal viewpoint. Peterborough. Treweek, J and Thompson, S (1997) A Parker, DM (1995) Habitat creation: A White, GJ and Gilbert, JC (eds) (2003) English Nature (1995) Badgers – review of ecological mitigation measures critical guide. English Nature. Habitat creation handbook for the guidelines for developers. English in UK environmental statements with ISBN: 1-85716-150-5 minerals industry. The RSPB, Sandy. Nature, Peterborough. respect to sustainable development. ISBN 1 901930 37 8 International Journal of Sustainable This critical guide has been produced to in- English Nature (1996) Great crested Development and World Ecology, 4:40- form a wide audience about the current The Habitat creation handbook for the newts – guidelines for developers. 50. position of habitat creation in Britain. minerals industry is a practical guide to the English Nature, Peterborough. It has been written to examine both the creation of priority Biodiversity Action Plan Native Planting/Landscaping potential and actual problems of habitat habitats on redundant mineral workings. English Nature (1999) Water vole – creation and to present good practice in guidance for planners and developers. Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 1: An the planning, construction and manage- Mitigation English Nature, Peterborough. overview concerning the sourcing and ment of habitat creation projects. use of native plants. Bat Conservation Trust (1997) Bats and English Nature (2002) Badgers and Sutherland, WJ and Hill, DA (eds) (1995) trees. development. EN, Peterborough. Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 2: Managing habitats for conservation. Designing and planning a project. Cambridge University Press. Canters et al (Eds) (1995) Proceedings English Nature on behalf of the Barn ISBN 0 521 44776 3 of the international conference on Owl Trust (2002) Barn Owls on site: A Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 3: habitat fragmentation, infrastructure guide for developers and planners.EN, Planting strategies for ecological This comprehensive work outlines the and the role of ecological engineering, Peterborough. restoration. problems and solutions of sound manage- 17-21 Sept 1995, Maastrict and the ment habitat by habitat based on scientif- Hague. English Nature (2002) Bats in roofs: A Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 4: ic principles and practical experience. Each guide for surveyors. Sourcing strategies for native plant contributor is an acknowledged expert for English Nature (1993) Otters and river schemes. the habitat concerned and the team of habitat management. English Nature (2003) Focus on bats. consultants is made up of highly qualified Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 5: individuals, some of which are household English Nature (1993) Facts about English Nature (2003) Great crested Types of native plant material currently names in the world of conservation and reptiles. newt mitigation guidelines. English available. ecology. Nature, Peterborough. English Nature (1994) Roads and nature Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 6: Warren, A and French JR (2001) Habitat conservation: Guidance on impacts, Hawk and Owl Trust Barn owls and Who can supply native plants? conservation: Managing the physical mitigation and enhancement. English major roads. environment. Wiley. Nature, Peterborough. Flora Locale (1999) Technical Note 7: ISBN 047198499X Langton, T, Beckett, C and Foster, J Specifications for native plants. (2001) Great crested newt conservation The four main areas studied by conserva- handbook. Froglife, Halesworth. Flora Locale (2000) Technical Note 8: tionists are resources, pollution, aesthetic ISBN 0952110644. Buying native plants.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT READING AND REFERENCES 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Frances J and Dixie G (1996) Planting Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) British Dragonfly Society (1996) Dig a Doyle, S. (2002) The Wildlife Trusts mixes based on the National Vegetation (1999) Planning for biodiversity: Good Pond for Dragonflies. British Dragonfly Guide to Garden Wildlife. New Holland Classification. High Value Horticulture practice guide. RTPI, London. Society Publishers (UK) Ltd Ltd, The Street, Sutton Waldron, ISBN 1 9023311 12 4. Blandford, Dorset. British Dragonfly Society (1993) Du Feu, C. (2nd ed. 1993) Nestboxes. Wildlife Gardening Managing Habitats for Dragonflies. BTO Guide No. 23. British Trust for Other Biodiversity Guidance British Dragonfly Society Ornithology Andrews, J. (1995) The Country Diary Town and Country Planning Association Book of Creating a Wild Flower Garden. Brookes, J. (1994) Planting the Country Ernst, R. S., & Simpson, N.B. (3rd ed (TCPA) (2004) Biodiversity by design: A Claremont Books Way. BBC Books 1996) The Naturalist’s Garden: how to guide for sustainable communities. garden with plants that attract birds, Downloadable at: Baines, C. (2000) How to Make a Brookes, J. (1998) The New Garden. butterflies and other wildlife. Globe http://www.tcpa.org.uk/content_files/TC Wildlife Garden. Frances Lincoln Ltd Dorling Kindersley Ltd Pequot Press PA biodiversity guide_lowres.pdf Baines, C. (1986) The Wild Side of Town. Buchner, G. & Hoogvelt, F.(1978) Nature Flowerdew, B. (2000) Bob Flowerdew’s Cambridgeshire County Council (2001) Book Club Associates on Your Side: how to keep pests out of Complete Book of Companion Biodiversity Checklist for Land Use the garden and home. Pan Books Ltd Gardening: how nature can help your Planners in Cambridgeshire and Baines, C. & Smart, J. (1991) A Guide to plants. Kyle Cathie Ltd Peterborough. Habitat Creation. Packard Publishing Ltd Burton, R. (1998) Birdfeeder garden. Downloadable at: Dorling Kindersley Ltd Genders, R. (1976) Wildlife in the http://www.camcnty.gov.uk/sub/cntryside/ Bardsley, L. (2003) The Wildlife Pond Garden. Faber & Faber Ltd biodiv/ccc/bioplan/bplanchecklist.pdf Handbook. New Holland Publishers (UK) Cameron, R.A.D., Jackson, N. & Ltd Eversham, B. (1986) A Field Guide to the Gibbons, B. & L. (1992) Creating a Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Slugs of the British Isles. Field Studies Wildlife Garden. Hamlyn Guidance for Norfolk. Beckett, K. & G. (1979) Planting Native Council Downloadable at: Trees and Shrubs. Jarrold Gibbons, B. (2002) Green Guide: garden http://www.norfolkbiodiversity.org/pdf/ Cawdell, P.(1987) Starting a Butterfly wildlife of Britain and Europe. New Guidelines.pdf Bell, G. (1994) The Permaculture Garden. SGC (School Garden Company Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd Garden. HarperCollins Publishers Books) Mayor of London (2002) Connecting Glue, D. ed (1982) The Garden Bird with London’s nature: The Mayor’s Bennett, J. (1997) The Wildlife Garden: Chambers, J. (1987) Wildflower Garden. Book. Macmillan biodiversity strategy. GLA. Month-by-month. David & Charles Elmtree Books / Hamish Hamilton Ltd ISBN 1 85261 385 8. Golley, M., Moss, S. & Daly, D. (1996) Bennett, J. (1998) Wild About the Chinery, M. (1978) The Natural History The Complete Garden Bird Book. New Design for Biodiversity: A guidance Garden. Boxtree of the Garden. Fontana Books Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd document for development in London. Downloadable at: Berrisford, J. (1973) The Wild Garden. Chinery, M. (1986) Garden Creepy- Greenoak, F.(2001) The Natural Garden. http://www.lda.gov.uk/upload/pdf/ Faber & Faber Crawlies. Whittet Books Mitchell Beazley Design_for_Biodiversity.pdf Briggs, J. (2002) Creating Small Habitats Chinery, M. (1999) Garden Wildlife of Hamilton, G. & Owen, J. (1992) The for Wildlife in Your Garden. Guild of Britain and Europe. Collins Nature Living Garden. BBC Books

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Master Craftsmen Publications Ltd Guides. HarperCollins READING AND REFERENCES 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Hammond, N. ed (1982) Gardening with Mackenzie, D. (1997) Bird Boxes and Rees, Y.(1994) Practical Wildflower Stevens, J. (1994) The National Trust Wildlife. Royal Society for the Protection Feeders for the Garden. Guild of Master Gardening. The Crowood Press Book of Wild Flower Gardening. Dorling of Birds Craftsmen Publications Ltd. Kindersley Ltd Reilly, A. (1993) Gardening Naturally. Harper, P.,Light, J. & Madsen M. (1994) Matthews, N. (1992) Garden for Birds. Prion Stevenson, V.(1985) The Wild Garden. The Natural Garden Book: gardening in SGC (School Grounds Company Books) Frances Lincoln Ltd harmony with nature. Gaia Books Ltd Robinson, W. (5th ed 1994) The Wild Moore, N. (2002) Oaks, Dragonflies and Garden. Sagapress/Timber Press Stickland, S. (1996) The Small Ecological Hessayon, D.G., Dr. (1990) The Bio People: creating a small nature reserve Garden. Search Press Friendly Gardening Guide. pbi Home & and relating its story to wider Rothschild, M. & Farrell, C. (1983) The Garden Ltd conservation issues. Harley Books Butterfly Gardener. Michael Joseph Stocker, L. (1995) The Complete Garden Bird. Leopard Books Hill, F.(1998) Wildlife Gardening: a Moss, S. & Cottridge, D. (1998) Shepherd, A. & Galant, S. eds (2002) The practical handbook. Derbyshire Wildlife Attracting Birds to Your Garden. New Little Book of Slugs. Centre for Thompson, P.(1991) Country Gardening Trust Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd Alternative Technology Publications Country Style. David & Charles

Huntington, L. (2000) The Wild Garden. O’Toole, C. (2002) Bumblebees: their Sibley, P.(1989) Starting a Wildlife Pond. Thompson, S. (2nd ed 1996) Bats in the Cassell’s Garden Directories. Cassell natural history and how to attract them SGC (School Garden Company Books) garden. SGC (School Garden Company to the garden. Osmia Publications, Books) Jackman, L. (1992) The Wild Bird Banbury Soper,T. (1968) The Bird Table Book.Pan Garden. Souvenir Press Books Ltd Thurman, P.(1994) Plants for the Owen, J. (1991) The Ecology of a Wildlife Garden. Pavilion Books Ltd Jefferson-Brown, M. (1994) Wild Flower Garden: the first fifteen years. Spedding, S. and G. (2003) The Natural Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society Cambridge University Press History of a Garden. Timber Press Vegan Organic Trust (2001) Gardening for Wildlife: how we can make our Johnson, H. & P.(1999) The Palmer, J. (1985) The Garden as a Nature Starling, A. & Loosley, P.(1991) gardens and allotments more attractive Birdwatcher’s Garden. Guild of Master Reserve. Dryad Press Wildflowers in the Garden. SGC (School to wildlife. Information Sheet No. 6. Craftsmen Publications Ltd Garden Company Books) Available from 58 High Lane, Chorlton, Pears, P.M.& Stickland, S. (1995) Manchester M21 9DZ. 0161 860 4869 Kitto, D. (1988) Composting, the Organic Organic Gardening. Royal Horticultural Steel, J. (2001) Plants for Wildlife – [email protected]. Natural Way. Thorsons Society Wildflowers: a descriptive list of over 140 wildflowers to attract wildlife to Vegan Organic Trust (2002) The Vegan Lewis, P.(2003) Making Wildflower Phillips, R. (1983) Wild Food. Pan Books your garden Osmia Publications. Organic Grower’s Guide to Beetles. Meadows. Frances Lincoln Ltd Ltd Available from http://www.wildlife- Information Sheet No.7. Other details as gardening.co.uk above. Loomes, B. (1993) Bird Gardening. Pilkington, G. (1999) Gardening for Dalesman Publishing Company Ltd Wildlife. Alfresco Books Steel, J. (2001) Wildflowers for Wildlife: Verner,Y.(1998) Creating a Flower plants to make your garden wildlife Meadow. Green Books Ltd McHarg, I.L. (1992) Design with Nature. Porter,V.(1996) RSPCA Guide to Garden friendly. Osmia Publications. Available Wiley Wildlife. HarperCollins from http://www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk Walters, M. (1993) Wild and Garden Plants. The New Naturalist Library.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT Mabey, R. (1989) Food for Free. Collins HarperCollins READING AND REFERENCES 5 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Whitefield, P.(1993) Permaculture in a Bat Conservation Trust Be Nice to Nettles Project Veggieglobal and Looking-Glass site Nutshell. Permanent Publications http://www.bats.org.uk http://www.nettles.org.uk http://www.veggieglobal.com

Wilson, R. (1981) The Back Garden British Trust for Ornithology – The Postcodes Plants Database Jenny Steel’s wildlife gardening site Wildlife Sanctuary Book. Penguin Books garden bird watch project http://www.nhm.ac.uk/science/ http://www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk http://www.bto.org/gbw projects/fff Additional publications The UK Wildflower Directory Butterfly Conservation Landlife – wildflowers and wildlife http://www.wildflowerlinks.co.uk/ The following free leaflets are available http://www.butterfly-conservation.org charity from The Enquiry Service, English Nature http://www.landlife.org.uk The national body of the county wildlife 01733 455101 or enquiries@english- Centre for Alternative Technology trust movement nature.org.uk http://www.cat.org.uk The Mammal Society http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk http://www.mammal.org.uk Amphibians in Your Garden: your British Dragonfly Society CONE: an innovative local authority questions answered. http://www.dragonflysoc.org.uk National Wildflower Centre organisation in NE England http://www.nwc.org.uk http://www.workingwithwildlife.co.uk/ Reptiles in Your Garden: your questions Centre for Alternative Technology answered. Publications Peatering Out: a list of nurseries and Essex http://www.ecobooks.co.uk garden centres by county that operate Help Save the Bumblebee… get more peat-free Corke, D (1984) The nature of Essex. buzz from your garden. English Nature http://www.peateringout.com Barracuda Books or Corke, D. (1986) http://www.english-nature.org.uk The nature of Essex: the wildlife and Plants for Wildlife-friendly Gardens. Permaculture Magazine, solutions for ecology of the county (2nd Ed) Flora locale – promotes the use of sustainable living Buckingham. Wildlife-friendly Gardening: a general native plants in large-scale projects http://www.permaculture.co.uk guide. http://www.floralocale.org Essex Planning Officers’ Association Plantlife – Britain’s principal wild plant (2005) The Essex Guide to Websites Froglife – an environmental charity charity Environmental Impact Assessment. for the conservation of amphibians http://www.plantlife.org.uk http://www.phplanning.mysite.wanadoo The Association of Local Government and reptiles in Britain and Ireland -members.co.uk Officers (ALGE) website offers a range http://www.froglife.org The Ponds Conservation Trust of guidance publications to Local http://www.pondstrust.org.uk Hunter, J (1999) The Essex landscape: Government on Biodiversity Henry Doubleday Research Association; a study of its form and history. www.alge.org.uk the organic association The Royal Horticultural Society Essex Record Office Publications. http://www.hdra.org.uk http://www.rhs.org.uk ISBN 1-898529-15-9 Baker Shepherd Gillespie has material on recent changes in planning law Herpetological Conservation Trust, The Royal Society for the Protection Lucy, G (1999) Essex rock. Essex Rock relating to biodiversity dedicated to the conservation of reptiles of Birds and Minerals Society. www.bsg-ecology.com and amphibians http://www.rspb.org.uk ISBN 0 9534832 0 7 http://www.herpconstrust.org.uk

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT READING AND REFERENCES 6 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Glossary

This Glossary is based largely Ancient Woodland existing residential properties. Many small- woodlands and rivers and streams, (using techniques such as soil or turf upon Byron (2000) Bio- scale planning applications are now of this through to urban settings. In addition to a transfer), or the creation of new habitats. diversity and Environmental Land identified by English Nature that has type. general description of the habitat type Impact Assessment: A Good been continuously wooded since 1600 these Statements identify the current Conditions Practice Guide for Road supporting rare plants and animals. Since Baseline Conditions issues affecting the habitat and the broad Schemes RSPB, WWF-UK, almost all such woodlands have been policies that can be put in place to address Stipulations attached to a planning English Nature and the managed by humans, they are more The conditions that would pertain in the these. permission to limit or direct the manner in Wildlife Trusts, as well as correctly referred to as semi-natural absence of the proposed action. which a development is carried out. Biodiversity Supplementary ancient woodlands. Sometimes referred to as a ‘do nothing’ Brownfield Site Planning Guidance for scenario. Convention on Biological Diversity Norfolk. Appropriate Assessment Previously developed land that is, or was, Biodiversity occupied by a permanent structure and This Convention was signed by the Prime Under the Habitats Directive an associated fixed-surface infrastructure. Minister and 150 other Heads of State or appropriate assessment needs to be Biological Diversity.The total range of the Governments at the Earth Summit in Rio undertaken in respect of any plan or variety of life on Earth, or any given part Buffer Zone de Janeiro in June 1992. Under Article 6A project which either alone, or in of it.This includes diversity within species, of the Convention signatories must combination with other plans or projects, between species and of ecosystems. An area or zone that helps to protect a develop national strategies, plans or would have a significant effect on a habitat from damage, disturbance or programmes for the conservation and A-C European designated site, and which is Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) pollution. It is an area (human-made or sustainable use of biological diversity. not directly connected with the natural) that is managed to protect the D-F management of the site for nature A framework for achieving the conserva- ‘integrity’ of that area. Corridor conservation. tion of biodiversity, based on the targeting G-I of resources towards priority habitats and Community Forests A strip of a particular type that differs from Avoidance species.A cross-sectoral partnership iden- the adjacent land on both sides. Corridors J-L tifies priorities and establishes an action A joint initiative between the Countryside have several important functions, Measures taken to avoid adverse impacts, plan for the conservation and sustainable Agency and the Forestry Commission to including conduit, barrier and habitat. M-O such as locating the main development use of locally and nationally important promote the creation, regeneration of and its working areas and access routes biodiversity. BAPs can be prepared at a well-wooded landscapes around major Countryside Agency P-S away from areas of high ecological national level such as the UK BAP or at a towns and cities. interest, fencing off sensitive areas during county level such as the Essex BAP,where Organisation responsible for advising HM T-V the construction period, or timing works the latter is known as a Local Biodiversity Compensation Government and taking action on issues to avoid sensitive periods. Also includes Action Plan (LBAP). affecting the social, economic and W-Z alternative and ‘do nothing’ options. Measures taken to offset/compensate for environmental well-being of the English Broad Habitat residual adverse effects which cannot be countryside. Backland entirely mitigated. These usually take the Broad Habitat Statements provide form of replacing (or at least trying to) DEFRA Land that is behind existing development summary descriptions of all habitats found what will be lost. For example, the with no, or very limited, road frontage. within the UK and are identified in the relocation of important grassland or Department for Environment, Food and Usually applied to describe land previously Broad Habitat Classification. For example, heathland habitats from the development Rural Affairs – formerly the Ministry of INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT or currently in use as rear gardens to natural habitat types such as broadleaved site to another area identified as suitable Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF). GLOSSARY 1 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Development Plan Document (DPD) Environmental Impact Assessment schools, community groups and local Greenfield Site (EIA) authorities working together for the Spatial planning documents covering a biodiversity of Essex. An area of previously undeveloped land, range of policy areas that will undergo a A process of predicting and evaluating the ie. not used for built development. process of consultation and are subject to effects of an action or series of actions on Essex Coastal Protection Belt alteration following independent the environment, then using the Habitat examination. (see LDD) conclusions as a tool in planning and Prepared by Essex County Council in decision-making. 1984, comprising coastal land identified A place in which a particular plant or Direct Impact as having national ecological importance animal lives, feeds or breeds. Often used Environmental Statement (ES) that should be protected against in a wider sense, referring to major An outcome that is directly attributable to unfavourable development. assemblages of plants and animals found a defined action. The written output of an Environmental together, such as grasslands or Impact Assessment (EIA) with the primary Essex Design Guide woodlands. Disturbance purpose of informing decision makers of the likely significant environmental Prepared by Essex County Council, the Habitat Action Plan (HAP) Disruption of normal process or behaviour. impacts of a project. The Environmental Design Guide forms the basis for the Statement must contain a non-technical design of housing development in the A conservation plan for a habitat based Ecosystem summary to enable non-experts to county. upon the knowledge of its ecological and understand the findings. other requirements, which identifies the A community of interdependent Essex Wildlife Trust actions needed to stabilise and improve its A-C organisms and the environment they Essex Biodiversity Action Plan (Essex status. inhabit, such as ponds and pond life. BAP) Non-Government organisation (NGO), the D-F principal nature conservation charity in Habitats and Birds Directives English Nature (EN) Published in 1999, this document lists all Essex. G-I 25 priority species and 10 priority habitats The European Union requires Member A national body funded by the in Essex. It includes details of current Fauna States to designate and protect some of J-L Government to promote and give advice status of habitats/species and the principal the most important areas for wildlife on England’s wildlife and natural features. factors causing loss or decline.Actions are A collective term for all kinds of animals. under these two Directives.They are or will M-O Under Government reforms, English listed with a view to halt and/or reverse be classified as Special Protection Areas Nature will soon merge with parts of decline. Specific organisations are Flora (SPAs) and/or Special Areas of P-S DEFRA and the Countryside Agency under identified to take a lead role in Conservation (SACs). These sites are also the new name of Natural England. implementing these action plans. The A collective term for all kinds of plants. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) T-V Essex BAP comes up for review in 2006. but meet specific criteria for international Environment Agency (EA) Green Belt importance. In the case of marine SACs, W-Z Essex Biodiversity Project (EBp) the SSSI designation only applies down to Government agency with responsibility for Specially designated area of countryside the low water mark. environmental protection and The Essex Biodiversity Project is an protected from most forms of improvement, its main functions cover informal partnership of more than 40 development in order to stop urban sprawl Habitat Creation pollution prevention and control, water individuals, nature conservation and the coalescence of settlements, resources, flood defence, conservation, organisations, statutory agencies, preserve the character of existing The construction of communities of native fisheries, navigation and recreation. voluntary interest groups, businesses, settlements and encourage development species of wildlife conservation value on

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT to locate within existing built-up areas. areas of land with no significant ecological GLOSSARY 2 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

interest, carried out on areas which are Indigenous Species Local Development Document (LDD) also be used as a supplementary term to bare or support a simple community, such describe planting material of native origin as an arable field, an area of rye grass or A species that is native to a particular Planning documents with development that is destined for use in the same local a site where extensive earth moving has region. plan status, know as Development Plan area as it was collected. taken place; all such sites have low Documents (DPDs), and Supplementary conservation value. Indirect Impact Planning Documents (SPDs). M11-Stansted Corridor

Habitat Enhancement An impact that is attributable to a defined Local Development Framework (LDF) A corridor of land running either side of action or stressor, but that affects an the M11 from London to Cambridge A similar approach to that of habitat environmental or ecological component The Local Development Framework is part encompassing Stansted Airport. It is zoned creation but with due regard to the via effects on other components. Indirect of the new Development Plan System, as an area for development growth, which existing ecological value of the area. effects are often, but not necessarily, time- introduced by the Planning and includes housing, industry, airport Generally applied to poorer habitats delayed or expressed at some distance Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The LDF expansion, infrastructure and economic lacking management that would benefit from their source. consists of a number of documents called regeneration. Strategic frameworks are from improvement. For example, a gappy Local Development Documents, which set being progressed to deliver sustainable hedge could be infilled with new plants, Integrity out the planning policy for local authority communities (eg. Stansted/M11 Corridor a partly-coniferised woodland could be areas. There are two types of Local Development Options Study). replaced with indigenous broad-leaved The coherence of a site’s ecological/ Development Documents (LDD), some are tree species or an over-grown, neglected geological structure and function across statutory, and some are non-statutory. Material Consideration pond could be de-silted and re-profiled. its whole area that enables it to sustain A-C the habitat, complex of habitats and/or Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) In principle, any consideration that relates Habitat Fragmentation the levels of populations of the species for to the use and development of land that D-F which it is designated. A place that is of special nature is capable of being a planning The process of isolation whereby areas of conservation interest locally. LNRs are consideration. Such matters should be G-I habitat become broken into smaller parts Introduced Species declared and managed by local authorities taken into account in deciding a planning as a result of external factors such as road (in consultation with English Nature) application or on an appeal against a J-L building, housing development and A species introduced from one region to under the National Parks & Access to the planning decision (refusal). agriculture. another geographical region. This Countryside Act 1949. Generally such M-O definition may be broadened to include LNRs are well suited to public access and Mitigation Habitat Restoration non-UK exotic or alien species (eg. mink, interpretation. P-S Japanese Knotweed). Introduction may be Measures taken to reduce adverse The re-establishment of a damaged or deliberate (eg. a biological control Local Provenance impacts, eg. modifications or additions to T-V degraded system or habitat to a close mechanism) or unintentional (eg. the design of development, such as the approximation of its pre-degraded accidentally or unknowingly released). Seeds or plants that can be tracked back creation of reed bed silt traps to prevent W-Z condition. to a wild site, but the parents are of polluted water running directly into Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) unknown origin, such as an oak tree that ecologically important watercourses. The Hedgerow Regulations 1997 may have been planted in native preservation of ‘wildlife corridors’ between National term use to describe county or woodland. However, the parent plants habitats that would be separated by a Regulations administered by local author- district/borough/unitary biodiversity action appear native and well adapted to the site proposed development may reduce the ities brought in to that protect important plans. in which they grow. Local provenance can possible effects on some fauna. hedgerows that are administered by local

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT authorities. GLOSSARY 3 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Mosaics Net Gain Precautionary Principle Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS)

An irregular pattern of habitats and The point at which the quality and Where there are threats of serious or Identification and definition of policies linking corridors, which form an overall quantity of habitats or species improves irreversible environmental damage, lack of relating to the development and use of mosaic of habitats. compared to their original condition, ie. full scientific certainty should not be used land in the region prepared by the regional improvements over and above those as a reason for postponing measures to planning body (EERA) and approved by National Nature Reserve (NNR) required for mitigation/compensation. prevent environmental degradation. This the First Secretary of State. general environmental definition applies A site of national importance for its nature No Net Loss to biodiversity and its protection. Saved Policies conservation value declared under the National Parks & Access to the The point at which habitat or biodiversity Priority Habitat Under the transitional arrangements, Countryside Act 1949, and managed to losses equal their gains, both adopted structure and local plans will be protect wildlife and natural features. NNRs quantitatively and qualitatively. Priority Habitat Action Plans provide more saved, ie. retain their development plan provide opportunities for scientific detailed descriptions for 45 specific types status, for three years from their adoption. research and most have some public Planning Gain of habitats such as native pine woodlands, access. upland oakwoods and lowland wood Scope The principle of a developer agreeing to pasture and parkland. They set out Native Origin Plant provide additional benefits or safeguards, detailed actions that can be taken by a Determination of the scope of an often for the benefit of the community, number of agencies in order to safeguard Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Planting material collected from parents usually in the form of related development and enhance these habitats.These Action ie. the range of issues that need to be A-C whose wild origin has been documented supplied at the developer’s expense. For Plans are national; several apply to Essex. covered. and is known by the supplier.An example example, an offer of a nature conservation D-F might be Ox-eye Daisy grown as a area adjacent to housing. Protected Species Screening wildflower crop from parent plants that G-I have been grown from seed collected Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) and Plant and animal species protected under Determination of whether or not an from an ancient wildflower meadow. Planning Policy Statements (PPS) the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is J-L Regulations 1994 (the “Habitats necessary. Native Species A series of documents issued by the Office Regulations”), the Wildlife & Countryside M-O of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) Act 1981 (as amended), or other species Section 106 Agreement (S106) Species that occur naturally in an area, setting out Government policy and advice protected under legislation specific to P-S and therefore have not been introduced on planning issues such as nature them (eg. badgers). Covers species such Also referred to as planning obligations, by humans either accidentally or conservation (PPG9). A separate series of as Great Crested Newts, reptiles, bats, these are legal agreements between a T-V intentionally. notes is issued dealing with minerals badgers, certain plants and birds. local planning authority and a developer, planning. Under new planning reforms or offered unilaterally by a developer, W-Z Nature Conservation PPGs will be gradually phased out, with RAMSAR Site ensuring that certain works related to the updated and streamlined Planning Policy development are undertaken, usually The preservation, management and Statements (PPSs) taking their place. A wetland site of international under Section 106 of the Town & Country enhancement of natural plant and animal importance, designated under the Ramsar Planning Act 1990. communities, and occasionally modified PPS9 on Biodiversity and Geological Convention of Wetlands of International vegetation, as representative samples of Conservation is at the draft stage and Importance, especially as a waterfowl their kind. subject to ongoing public consultation. habitat.

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT GLOSSARY 4 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

Semi-Natural Species Action Plan (SAP) Supplementary Planning Document throughout the preparation and adoption (SPD) of new local planning policies. Relating to vegetation that has been A conservation plan for a species based modified by humans but is still of upon the knowledge of its ecological and Supplementary Planning Documents are Sustainable Construction Techniques significant nature conservation interest other requirements, which identifies the used to provide further detail to policies because it is composed of native plant actions needed to stabilise and improve its and proposals contained in a The use of design and construction species, is similar in structure to natural status. Development Plan Document. The SPD is methods and materials that are resource types and supports native animal not part of the statutory Development efficient (eg. energy and water) and that communities. Stepping Stone Plan, unlike the Development Plan will not compromise the health of the Document. However, the SPD will form environment or the associated health of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) An ecologically suitable area where an part of the Local Development Framework the building occupants, builders, the animal temporarily stops while moving (LDF), and will be an important general public or future generations.These An area of land or water notified under along a heterogeneous (varied) route. consideration in determining planning include designing ‘green’ or eco-friendly the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (as applications. SPD may cover a range of buildings, using locally sourced, non-toxic amended) as being of national importance Strategic Environmental Assessment issues and can be thematic or site specific. materials, re-using or recycling materials, for nature or geological conservation.The (SEA) For example, an SPD can be a design employing local builders, managing the statutory designation applies throughout guide (such as this one), development construction site to minimise construction Great Britain. A similar technique to Environmental brief or a topic or issue based document. waste, installing high-efficiency appliances Impact Assessment (EIA) but normally SPD must be consistent with national and and landscaping the finished Special Area of Conservation (SAC) applied to policies, plans, programmes and regional planning policies as well as the development. A-C groups of projects. Strategic Environ- Development Plan Documents in the Local A site of international importance mental Assessment (SEA) provides the Development Framework (LDF). Sustainable Use D-F designated by UK Government under the potential opportunity to avoid the EU Habitats Directive 92/43 on the preparation and implementation of Supplementary Planning Guidance A use that can be continued through time G-I conservation of natural habitats and of inappropriate plants, programmes and (SPG) without significantly changing the wild fauna and flora. projects and assists in the identification populations, species and habitats being J-L and evaluation of project alternatives and Additional advice issued by a local used. Special Protection Area (SPA) identification of cumulative effects. SEA planning authority expanding on its M-O comprises two main types: sectoral SEA statutory policies (to be superseded by Sustainable Development A site of international importance for birds (applied when many new projects fall SPD above). P-S designated under the EU Directive on the within one sector) and regional SEA A widely used international definition is Conservation of Wild Birds, which requires (applied when broad economic Sustainability Appraisal (SA) ‘development which meets the needs of T-V special measures to be taken to conserve development is planned within one the present without compromising the the habitats of particular species. region). Sustainability Appraisal is a process used ability of future generations to acieve their W-Z to audit how sustainable development is own needs and aspirations’. This Species Succession being incorporated into strategies Brundtland definition (1987) has been prepared by organisations.The purpose of adapted by UK Government into 4 key A group of organisms of the same kind The natural process by which a series of the Sustainability Appraisal, as part of the objectives: that reproduce among themselves but are plants colonise a substrate over time, such new planning system, is to encourage usually reproductively isolated from other as a change from grassland/heathland to sustainable development by improved • Social progress which recognises the groups of organisms. scrub to woodland. integration of sustainability considerations needs of everyone;

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT GLOSSARY 5 Contents Introduction What is biodiversity Where is the wildlife Integrating biodiversity into development Case studies Legislation Reading & references Glossary

• Effective protection of the environ- The reform aims to speed up plan (SINCs). Future naming of these sites as ment; preparation, enhance community ‘Local Sites’ is proposed by DEFRA. • Prudent use of natural resources; and involvement in planning, strengthen policy • Maintenance of high and stable levels content, and achieve a better focus on This Glossary is based largely upon Byron of economic growth and employment. implementation. (2000) Biodiversity and Environmental Impact Assessment: A Good Practice The challenge of sustainable development Translocation Guide for Road Schemes RSPB,WWF-UK, is to meet all four objectives at the same English Nature and the Wildlife Trusts, as time. The removal and relocation of an well as Biodiversity Supplementary individual, a population, a community or Planning Guidance for Norfolk. Sustainable Drainage Systems (SDS) a habitat form one location to another.

These water management systems are Tree Preservation Order (TPO) designed to control the quantity and improve the quality of run-off water from A legal order made by a local planning developments through the use of rills, authority that makes it an offence to cut, swales, porous membranes/surfaces, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage or gravel filters, water bodies, balancing destroy a tree without the authority’s ponds and reedbeds. Positive benefits consent. include improved flood control and A-C enhancements for wildlife, landscape and Wildlife Corridor amenity value of developments. D-F A linear habitat (or habitats) that links two Thames Gateway or more areas of wildlife significance, G-I which facilitate the movement or dispersal A corridor of land running either side of of targeted species through rural or urban J-L the Thames from London to the estuary environments. Multifunctional corridors mouth at Southend-on-Sea. It is zoned as are now being promoted that are not only M-O an area for redevelopment and economic of benefit to wildlife, but also designed for regeneration. Strategic frameworks are recreation, access, healthy pursuits, P-S being promoted to deliver sustainable walkers, horse riders, cyclists, etc. communities in South Essex (eg. Greening T-V the Gateway). Wildlife Site

W-Z The Planning and Compulsory Sites identified in Essex (including Thurrock Purchase Act 2004 and Southend) that are complementary to statutory sites (eg. SSSIs), but are Came into force at end of September protected, maintained and enhanced for 2004. It has fundamentally reformed the their existing wildlife resource which is of planning system, by introducing LDFs to local or county importance. These sites replace the current system of local, were previously known as Sites of

INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT structure and unitary development plans. Importance for Nature Conservation GLOSSARY Acknowledgements

This guide was produced by the Planning Thanks to those who have given us their Roger Jiggins Essex Bat Group, Paul Group of the Essex Biodiversity Project and permissions to use their material in our Sztumpf, Catherine Bailey, Martin has involved the following people: case studies: Stephen Hall of Giles Wakelin and Peter Unthank Essex County Landscapes, Penny Anderson Associates Council, Peter Harvey Essex Field Club, Chairs – Antony Muller (Natural England) Ltd, Donald Purkiss Associates, Mineral John Hall Essex Wildlife Trust, Lorna Tony Morton (Uttlesford DC). Services Ltd. and Roger Evans Associates. Maclean Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Keith Wharmby Lafarge Members – Liz Beighton and Carol Brown We are also grateful to the helpful Aggregates, Liz Lake Liz Lake Associates, (Chelmsford BC), Gen Broad (Essex comments we received on draft guidance Renee Hockley-Byam North East Essex Biodiversity Project), Emma Simmonds from: Geoff Boyton Brentwood Borough Badger Group, Yasmine Hamid RSPB (Essex County Council), Phil Sturges and Council, Richard Bird and Peter Huxtable South East Essex Local Group, Martin Andrew May (Essex Wildlife Trust), Charlie British Aggregates Association, Theo Scott Southend Borough Council, Cllr Williams and Chris Keeling (Natural Labuda CPREssex, Will Akast and Sarah Judy McMahon Southend Borough England), Lorna McLean (Rochford DC), Boyd Environment Agency, Ian White Council, Paul Wilkinson The Wildlife Trusts Sarah Nicholas (Uttlesford District Epping Forest District Council, Helen and Clare Lambert Thurrock Council. Council). Crabtree Essex & Suffolk Water, Silvia and

Essex Biodiversity Project Essex Biodiversity Project, a group of more than 40 nature conservation organisations, statutory agencies, voluntary interest groups, businesses, community groups and local authorities working together for the biodiversity of Essex.

Funding members:

The D J H Currie Memorial Trust

Supporting members: Braintree District Council • British Trust for Conservation Volunteers • Butterfly Conservation • Castle Point Borough Designed by Hickory Hollow. Council • Colchester Borough Council • Conservators of Epping Forest • Dedham Vale & Stour Valley Project • Essex Amphibian and Reptile Group • Essex Bat Group • Essex Birdwatching Society • Essex Estuaries Initiative • Essex Field Club • Essex Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group • Game Conservancy Trust • Havering Borough Council • Lee Valley Regional Park • Peoples Trust for Endangered Species • Royal Design funded by Essex County Council Horticultural Society • Royal Society for the Protection of Birds • Southend Borough Council • Thames Chase Community Forest • Thames Estuary Partnership • The National Trust • The Suffolk Coasts & Heaths Unit • Writtle College. and Essex Biodiversity Project.

Essex Biodiversity Project, c/o Joan Elliot Visitor Centre Gen Broad Mark Iley Abbotts Hall Farm, Great Wigborough Biodiversity Coordinator Biodiversity Project Officer 2007 website update funded by Uttlesford Colchester, Essex CO5 7RZ 01621 862981 01621 862975 INTEGRATING BIODIVERSITY INTO DEVELOPMENT www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk [email protected] [email protected] District Council. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS