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A Guide to the Berkshire Biodiversity Action Plan

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A Guide to the Berkshire Biodiversity Action Plan A Guide to the Berkshire Biodiversity Action Plan Berkshire is home to many areas rich in wildlife, including sites of international importance. Biodiversity underpins our wellbeing and livelihoods, yet it is under great pressure (e.g. through inappropriate management, habitat loss, and pollution). This pressure is further compounded by the impacts of climate change, especially as many habitats have now become fragmented. It is more crucial than ever that we work together to minimise the harm to our natural environment and, wherever possible, achieve gains for Berkshire’s wildlife. This includes reconnecting fragmented habitats through the Biodiversity Opportunity Area approach (see overleaf). 28 28 29 17 20 28 26 Slough 18 20 23 6 25 23 5 11 19 Reading 15 21 27 12 14 14 5 24 7 7 Newbury 10 Bracknell 3 9 16 2 8 13 22 KEY 4 1 7 Snelsmore Common & Woodlands 19 Waltham to Binfield Woodlands Biodiversity Nature in the county: Opportunity Areas 8 Greenham & Cookham Plateau & Parklands 9 Kennet Valley East 20 Maidenhead Thicket & Commons 2 Special Protection Areas (SPA) 21 Chawridge Valley Urban Areas 10 Bucklebury Plateau 4 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) 11 Yattendon & Basildon Woodlands 22 Thames Basin Heaths 70 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 1 Walbury & Inkpen Hill 12 Lower Pang Valley & Sulham Stream 23 Lambourn Downs 2 Hampstead Marshall to Inkpen: 13 Burghfield to Tadley Plateau 24 Windsor Great Park & Woodlands Over 750 Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) Park, Woods & Common 14 West Reading Woodlands & LNRs plus Silwood Park This map is reproduced from the OS map by BBOWT with the permission of 3 Kennet Valley West 15 Loddon Valley Gravel Pits 25 Bray to Eton Pits & Meadows Ordnance Survey on behalf of The Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 4 Blackwater Valley 16 Loddon Valley South 26 Haymill Valley © Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown Copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings.Berks, Bucks 5 Lambourn Valley 17 Chilterns Escarpment 27 Colne Valley Gravel Pits & Reservoirs & Oxon Wildlife Trust Licence Number: 100026443, (2004). eMapSite Licence 6 Farnborough to Leckhampstead 18 Ashley & Bowsey Hills 28 Berkshire Downs Escarpment Number: 0100031673, (2007). APs ©Bluesky International and ©Infoterra 2006. Contains Ordnance Survey data ©Crown copyright and database right 2011 Valley 29 Blewbury to Streatley Downs Biodiversity Action Plans UK Biodiversity Action Plans for Biodiversity Action in Berkshire’ was • Rivers The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK published in 1999 and revisions to the • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland BAP) is the national biodiversity Berkshire BAP targets have followed. • Lowland Beech and Yew Woodland strategy, prepared in response to the Rio There are currently targets to maintain, • Wet Woodland Convention on Biological Diversity (1992). restore and create the following BAP • Lowland Wood Pasture and Parkland It was updated in 2007 and there are now Priority Habitats: • Hedgerows 1150 UK BAP Priority Species and 65 UK • Traditional Orchards BAP Priority Habitats. Visit • Calcareous Grassland http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5155 for • Lowland Meadow The full Berkshire BAP targets are details. • Dry Acid Grassland available on the Biodiversity Action • Purple Moor Grass and Rush Pasture Reporting System website (www. Berkshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan • Lowland Heathland ukbars.defra.gov.uk) Berkshire Nature Conservation Forum • Ponds (BNCF) is a collection of organisations, • Eutrophic Standing Water There are presently no targets for BAP groups and individuals working together • Mesotrophic Lakes Priority Species as efforts are being to conserve, enhance and promote • Fen focused on habitats and landscape- biodiversity in the county. ‘A Framework • Reedbed scale projects (see overleaf). The following Local Authorities have their own BAPs, which contribute to the aims of the Berkshire BAP (see relevant websites for details): • www.bracknell-forest.gov.uk/leis-biodiversity-action-plan • www.wokingham.gov.uk/parks/countryside/biodiversity/biodiversity-action-plan • www.reading.gov.uk/environmentandplanning/naturalenvironment/biodiversity A new approach – Biodiversity Opportunity Areas Biodiversity facts Road verges and green lanes are refuges for many species that have declined in meadows and pastures. Around 60% of rural tourism and recreation activity is dependent A guided woodland walk with BNCF to encourage woodland management on landscapes and wildlife. BNCF seeks to both inspire those 2008. The BOAs include approximately England has 18% of the world’s individuals, groups and bodies with the 85% of Berkshire’s BAP Priority Habitats heathland. Since 1800, we have power and resources to make a difference and represent the areas in which habitat lost 98% of Lowland Heathland to our biodiversity assets, and to provide creation and restoration will have the most in Berkshire. guidance on where the best opportunities positive impact. exist for action that will make a significant difference. To enable efficient targeting of limited In a changing climate larger resources we are focusing our efforts to populations of species are more The challenge we face is to halt ongoing deliver the Berkshire BAP targets within likely to survive than small ones. losses and rebuild biodiversity, while these BOAs. The BAP targets have been taking account of climate change. This apportioned to each of the BOAs and will Sundew on an area of wet heath requires us to look beyond protecting be reviewed and updated on an ongoing sites and species and move towards an basis. integrated landscape scale approach. As highlighted in the recent ‘Making Space Most of the Berkshire BOAs are located for Nature’ (2010) report we need more, within the wider countryside, so in bigger, better, and joined up wildlife sites. urban areas BNCF will engage with and promote opportunities for biodiversity The map overleaf shows the 29 enhancements through Green Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs) Infrastructure. in Berkshire. These were identified following a detailed selection process For further information on BOAs visit: and were formally agreed by BNCF in www.berksbap.org/BOAs How you can help Every individual, group, and Surveys of Traditional Orchards have added to our knowledge of this valuable habitat organisation concerned with the conservation of Berkshire’s biodiversity has a role to play. Ways to help include: • Take part in a practical conservation task with your local wildlife group • Keep BNCF informed of any conservation work you are carrying out in the county • Submit your wildlife sightings to Thames Valley Environmental Contact details Records Centre (TVERC) • Input your knowledge of a Kelly Thomas local area to help inform our Biodiversity Co-ordinator BOA work [email protected] t 01628 829574 (ext 208) • Sign-up to receive email www.berksbap.org updates on biodiversity issues in Berkshire Photos: by Kelly Thomas MAY 2011.
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