Creating Space for Nature: Camden Biodiversity Strategy

Creating space for nature: Camden Biodiversity Strategy

Consultation draft

Comments can be made at https://camdenbiodiversitystrategy.commonplace.is/ until the 14th May 2021.

Contents

Vision ...... 1 What is ‘biodiversity’? ...... 1 Why we need nature ...... 2 An Ecological Emergency ...... 7 The policy, strategy and legislative context ...... 10 What you can do for nature ...... 12 The Biodiversity Strategy ...... 14 A Nature Recovery Network for Camden ...... 15 The Action Plan ...... 16 The Camden Nature Partnership ...... 17 Evidence-based decision making ...... 17 Planning for a changing climate ...... 18 Communication, Engagement and Participation ...... 18 The Objectives ...... 19 Designated Sites ...... 19 Habitats ...... 21 Species ...... 22 Trees ...... 24 Parks and green spaces ...... 25 Access to Nature ...... 27 Greening the grey ...... 29 Camden’s natural future ...... 31

Vision

“The London Borough of Camden is a place where nature thrives, a place where wildlife can make a home in our green spaces, gardens, streets and on buildings, and moves freely along corridors and stepping- stones of habitats through the Borough and beyond. Camden is a borough where nature is part of the everyday lives of residents, visitors and workers, where development increases biodiversity, and where everybody is cooperating to nurture healthy ecosystems and increase the quality of life for all.”

What is ‘biodiversity’?

The word biodiversity refers to the variety and abundance of living things, from the smallest of soil organisms to the largest trees, from ocean plankton to whales. It encompasses everything from genetic differences within a species – the different colour forms of 2-spot ladybirds, for example – to communities of species interacting within and between habitats.

The biodiversity of Camden may only be a small fraction of worldwide biodiversity, but it is nevertheless diverse, vibrant and important. From Hampstead Heath in the north of the Borough to tree-lined squares in the south, the Regent’s Canal running through the centre, and street trees, railway embankments, nature reserves, parks, gardens and ponds – every part of Camden has its own character and associated wildlife. In this document, we use the words ‘biodiversity’ and ‘nature’ interchangeably, and intend it to mean those species that are or should be present in the Borough and that contribute positively to ecosystems and the environment.

Everyday experiences of biodiversity…

 sitting in the shade of a tree on cool grass on a hot summer day.  walking to the bus stop to the sound of birds singing.  watching the flowers in the window box nodding with the weight of a bumblebee gathering pollen.  smelling the scent of wildflowers in the meadow in the park  hearing the sound of swifts swooping down your street.  walking home at night out and hearing the snuffle of a hedgehog in the undergrowth.  watching seasons change through spring shoots, summer fruits and autumn leaves  cycling past swans nesting by the Canal.  seeing a wren, out of the corner of your eye, disappear into the hedgerow along your street.  enjoying bee-pollinated raspberries and tomatoes.

Why we need nature

Nature not only has an intrinsic value, but it also contributes positively to our lives in many essential and desirable ways. These benefits are sometime called ‘ecosystem services’ and include not just those things we need and take directly from the natural environment like food, building materials and medicines, but also many less tangible but important, complex and interconnected ‘services’.

Ecosystems: the interaction between living things (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria) and their environment (climate, water, soil)

Ecology: the study of ecosystems, the interactions among living things and their environment

Many of the spaces or features that support ecosystem services can be considered part of our ‘green infrastructure’ (or ‘green-blue infrastructure’ where it includes water). These are multi-functional green spaces or green features which can deliver quality of life and environmental benefits alongside, or because of, the biodiversity they support.

Ecosystem services

…are the benefits provided by ecosystems that contribute to making human life both possible and worth living.

Provisioning services: The products obtained from ecosystems.

For example: food; building materials like wood; medicines obtained from plants; and fresh water

Regulating services: The benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes.

For example: pollination; urban cooling and noise reduction by vegetation; and regulation of water, air and soil quality

Supporting services: Ecosystem services that are necessary for the production of all other ecosystem services.

For example: soil formation; nutrient cycling; water cycling; primary production (the production of nutrients from sunlight and carbon dioxide by plants and algae)

Cultural services: The non-material benefits people obtain from ecosystems.

For example: through spiritual or religious enrichment, cultural heritage, recreation and tourism, aesthetic experience1 - enjoying nature and natural spaces!

Pollination

Pollination of crops by insects is one natural process that we benefit from immensely. It is necessary for production in 84% of all crops in Europe and 75% of the crops that are used directly as human food worldwide1. Crops like apples, pears, strawberries, raspberries, tomatoes and beans benefit from pollination, with insect visits also leading to more and better-quality yields2. Many trees, garden plants and wildflowers also require pollination to produce seed.

One of the most important factors that influences pollination is a diversity of pollinators, and it is not surprising therefore that an area’s proximity to natural habitats, and therefore pollinators, has the greatest impact on pollination services3. Our natural spaces are vital for the food we eat, and in urban areas the most important habitats for pollinators are gardens and allotments4.

Insect pollination

When an insect visits a flower, to drink nectar or collect or eat pollen, some pollen gets stuck to its body. When it visits the next flower, that pollen gets transferred, fertilising the plant allowing it to produce fruits and seeds.

Making life more comfortable in a changing climate

The top ten warmest years for the UK, in the series from 1884, have occurred since 20025. Climate predictions for the UK show an increased chance of milder, wetter winters and hotter, drier summers along with an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather6. 2020 alone saw the wettest February recorded, the driest May on record, and the first and third wettest days recorded since 1891 (in February and October)7. Camden published its Climate Action Plan in 20208 in response to the Climate and Ecological Emergency declaration it made in 2019, to bring to life the vision of a zero carbon Camden.

While its impact on biodiversity (and therefore Ecosystem Services) is one of the biggest threats we face from climate change, nature and natural spaces can help make life more comfortable in a changing climate. Trees and vegetation can provide shade and cool the air on hot days, reducing the ‘Urban Heat Island’ effect.

1 https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=BB%2FI000275%2F1 2 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-pollinator-strategy-for-bees-and-other- pollinators-in-england 3 Garibaldi et al. (2013) Wild pollinators enhance fruit set of crops regardless of honey bee abundance. Science 339(6127):1608–1611 4 Baldock et al. A systems approach reveals urban pollinator hotspots and conservation opportunities. Nat Ecol Evol 3, 363–373 (2019). 5 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/about-us/press-office/news/weather-and-climate/2019/state-of-the-uk- climate-2018 6 https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/approach/collaboration/ukcp/index 7 https://blog.metoffice.gov.uk/2020/10/16/rainfall-on-uks-wettest-day-on-record-could-have-more- than-filled-loch-ness/ 8 https://www.camden.gov.uk/climate-crisis 3

Vegetated areas can also slow down the flow and increase absorption of water, reducing the severity and duration of flooding events. Helping biodiversity to manage in a changing climate is essential for our own sake.

Urban Heat Island: An area of higher temperatures caused by a concentration of artificial surfaces and human activity

Transpiration Cooling: Trees and other plant release excess water from their leaves. As this water evaporates, the surrounding air is cooled.

Health and wellbeing

There is an increasing wealth of knowledge and evidence of the health and wellbeing benefits of natural green space and wildlife, including positive effects on mood, healing, heart rate, blood pressure, stress and concentration. A review and analysis of the benefits revealed that exposure to green space reduces the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, premature death, preterm birth, stress, and high blood pressure9. Increased biodiversity has a positive impact on health and wellbeing, and exposure to diverse natural habitats, and therefore microbial diversity, is important for the regulation of immune responses to allergens10, and spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing11. People with access to green space are more likely to be active, and green spaces can provide opportunities for social cohesion and reducing social isolation.

Case Study: Parks for Health

Parks for Health is a major two-year joint initiative between Camden and Islington councils to transform the parks and green space for current and future generations. Its vision is for parks to be inclusive, attractive and accessible for all, and have a central role in increasing physical activity levels, improving mental health and wellbeing, increasing social cohesion and reducing social isolation and loneliness.

There are potential benefits to education, too. A four-year project to help children experience the benefits of the natural environment involving 125 schools in the South West of England found that 92% of teachers said that pupils were more engaged with learning when outdoors and 85 per cent saw a positive impact on their behaviour12. The majority of children also thought they learned better and achieved

9 Twohig-Bennett, C. & Jones, A. The health benefits of the great outdoors: A systematic review and meta-analysis of greenspace exposure and health outcomes Environmental Research 166: 628-637 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030 10 Rook G. A. (2013). Regulation of the immune system by biodiversity from the natural environment: an ecosystem service essential to health. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 110(46), 18360–18367. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1313731110 11 White, M.P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J. et al. Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Sci Rep 9, 7730 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598- 019-44097-3 12 England’s largest outdoor learning project reveals children more motivated to learn when outside. 4 more when learning outside. 92 per cent of pupils involved in the project said they enjoyed their lessons more when outdoors, with 90 per cent feeling happier and healthier as a result.

Natural England’s ongoing People and Nature Survey for England13, which gathered the views of 1,501 children aged between 8-15 years old in an online survey in August 2020, demonstrates the positive role of nature in supporting children’s wellbeing. Eight in ten (83%) of children interviewed agreeing that being in nature made them very happy. Case Study: Camden outdoor learning sites

Camden’s nature reserves and green spaces provide a rich environment for outdoor learning. A number of our nature reserves, open to the public at weekends, are available to schools and childcare settings for self-led activities during the week. https://www.camden.gov.uk/wildlife-areas#mfih

The importance of natural spaces during coronavirus

A survey conducted on behalf of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in May 202014 sought the views of adults in the UK on the role of nature in our communities during the Coronavirus crisis and its potential to help in our recovery. For London, the survey found that:  86% of respondents agreed that living close(r) to spaces that are rich in wildlife and nature is / would be an advantage during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.  89% agreed increasing the amount of accessible nature-rich green space will help to improve people's general health, well-being and happiness. Only 4% disagreed.

In July 2020 Natural England’s ongoing People and Nature Survey for England15 found that:  42% of adults reported that ‘nature and wildlife is more important than ever to my wellbeing’  45% reported visiting local green and natural spaces has been even more important to their wellbeing  The vast majority of adults (84%) agreed that ‘being in nature makes me happy’  73% of adults are taking more time to notice and engage with everyday nature, such as listening to birdsong or noticing butterflies  33% are visiting local green and natural spaces more  23% of adults visited green and natural spaces to watch wildlife (the second most popular activity)

13 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/people-and-nature-survey-for-england 14 https://www.rspb.org.uk/about-the-rspb/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/nature-and-a-green- recovery-from-covid-19/ 15 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/people-and-nature-survey-for-england 5

Case Study: Gardens for All

A response to the public health crisis caused by the pandemic and lockdown, the ‘Gardens for All’ project was a response to the pandemic, a partnership between Public Health, Camden’s Children's Integrated Commissioning, Events and Green Spaces, providing access to Nature Reserves to overcrowded families, and professionals for walk and talk therapy sessions.

Natural Capital

Ecosystem Services have an economic benefit (and their loss an economic cost) as well. In 2011, a study estimated the UK market value of insect-pollinated crops at £1057.8 million, and this was increasing16. In 2017 a study on Camden Council’s trees calculated they provided £234,202 of benefits through pollution removal, carbon storage, carbon sequestration and avoided run-off. Parks and green spaces are estimated to save the National Health Service around £111 million per year based on a reduction in visits to a GP – this excludes any additional savings from prescribing or referrals17. The environment and the economy are intertwined – environmental decisions are economic ones, and vice versa.

16 Breeze, T., A. Bailey, et al. 2011. "Pollination services in the UK: How important are honeybees?" Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 142: 137-143 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2011.03.020 17 http://www.fieldsintrust.org/revaluing 6

An Ecological Emergency

We are in the midst of an ecological emergency, and nature is in crisis. The abundance and diversity of nature experienced by previous generations are not shared by present generations, and our lives are poorer for it.

In 2019, a global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services18 estimated that a million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, concluding that “…we are eroding the very foundations of our economies, livelihoods, food security, health and quality of life.” The fact that so many species are declining at such a rate – 100 to 1000 times the natural background rate – has led to the situation being described as the planet’s “sixth mass extinction”19.

The UK’s own assessment of its biodiversity indicators20 shows that we are still failing in many areas, with priority species, farmland and woodland birds, and pollinating insects continuing to decline.

In 2019 the UK’s conservation and research organisations presented an overview of how the country’s wildlife is faring in the State of Nature report21, looking back over nearly 50 years of monitoring to see how nature has changed in the UK, with a focus on the trends in species. They found that, since the 1970s:  41% of species have decreased in abundance (the number of individuals in a species’ population)  15% of species are threatened with extinction

“We're facing a crisis, and one that has consequences for us all. It threatens our ability to feed ourselves, to control our climate. It even puts us at greater risk of pandemic diseases such as Covid-19. It's never been more important for us to understand the effects of biodiversity loss, of how it is that we ourselves are responsible for it. Only if we do that will we have any hope of averting disaster.” David Attenborough, Extinction: The Facts (BBC)

Causes of decline

Nationally, the primary causes of species decline are agricultural management, climate change, pollution, urbanisation, lack of woodland management, hydrological change, and invasive non-native species. Many of these are also global drivers of species loss, driven by international markets, including demand from the UK22. At a

18 https://ipbes.net/news/media-release-updated-biodiversity-nature%E2%80%99s-contributions- continue-dangerous-decline-scientists 19 Mass extinctions are defined as the loss of at least 75% of species within a geologically short period of time. The event that wiped out the dinosaurs was the fifth. Barnosky, A., Matzke, N., Tomiya, S. et al. Has the Earth’s sixth mass extinction already arrived?. Nature 471, 51–57 (2011) https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09678 20 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/england-biodiversity-indicators 21 https://jncc.gov.uk/news/uk-state-of-nature-2019-report/ 22 https://www.wwf.org.uk/updates/soy-story-uk-retailers-and-soy-driven-deforestation 7 more regional or local scale not all of these apply to the same extent, and many of the problems Camden’s wildlife faces – problems we need to face up to if we want to help wildlife – are those typical of an urbanised environment.

Climate change

Climate change is one of the greatest threats to biodiversity, and consequently one of the greatest problems we face, too. Britain’s climate zones are moving northwards by up to five kilometres a year, much faster than many wildlife populations can respond to23. This means areas may become increasingly unsuitable for the populations of animals and plants that currently live there, and we are likely to lose those species that are already on the edge of what they can tolerate. The changing climate is also causing things to happen at different times of the year to usual, such when plants flower or animals emerge from hibernation. These changes are not happening evenly, resulting in species becoming mistimed with the availability of their food24.

Habitat loss, fragmentation and urbanisation

While a few species have adapted well to living alongside humans beings in an urban environment – peregrine falcons, feeding on pigeons and parakeets, nest on ledges in the ‘cliff faces’ of our tall buildings – many are holding on in nature reserves, parks, gardens, green spaces, railway embankments and other patches where they can find food and shelter. Loss of these spaces is a real threat to Camden’s wildlife.

Significant habitat loss from development isn’t the issue it once was, and indeed still is in other parts of the country as remaining green and natural spaces are valued, and are protected through planning policies, legislation and grass-roots activism. There are exceptions to this of course: High Speed 2, driven by an Act of Parliament, has resulted in the destruction of a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, St James’s Gardens, and the partial destruction of another, as well as the loss of many trees along the construction route. The legacy of the loss of habitats and green spaces that has occurred over previous decades can be seen in our wildlife; it is not as diverse or abundant as it should or could be.

Like the rest of London and many other cities, most of Camden was not planned with nature in mind, and centuries of growth, development and redevelopment have resulted in polarisation – we have areas with nature surrounded by areas with little. The pattern and extent of this varies at the large and small scale, and from the north to the south of the Borough and this fragmentation means some areas of habitat are not accessible to wildlife, particularly those less mobile species. Hedgehogs are a case in point; their home ranges are large, and they roam on average 2km in a night in search of food, but fences, walls and roads get in the way even where habitat, like parks and gardens, is present. In Camden they are largely restricted to very large

23 https://www.rewildingbritain.org.uk/news-and-views/research-and-reports/adapting-to-climate- heating 24 Visser, M.E. and Both, C. (2005) Shifts in phenology due to global climate change: the need for a yardstick Proc. R. Soc. B. 272 2561–2569 http://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3356 8 areas of habitat or areas where they can move between gardens and parks, and are scarce or absent further away from these areas. This is one reason why large areas like Hampstead Heath are so rich in wildlife and why losing even small areas of habitat can have knock on impacts if they provide a corridor or stepping-stone for wildlife between other areas.

Urbanisation is not just about loss and fragmentation of habitat. Light25, air26, noise27 and water pollution, and disturbance from people and their pets28 can all negatively affect wildlife and habitats. Some of these, like air pollution, have been improving, and Camden’s Air Quality Action Plan29 aims to further improve air quality in the borough. However, the increasing cheapness and efficiency of lighting means that there are ever fewer dark areas for wildlife. This can disrupt the feeding and activity of nocturnal species like bats, and make other species more vulnerable to predation.

Biodiversity loss, and habitat fragmentation, can also result from lack of management by human beings. In very large areas of habitats natural processes maintain biodiversity as part of a functioning ecosystem. In smaller areas, particularly those more modified by people, the effects of these natural processes have to be replicated by human beings. An example of this would be the cut-and-collect management undertaken on grasslands to replace the actions of grazing animals.

Invasive non-native species

The modification of the environment has included the introduction, either deliberately or accidentally, of species from other ecosystems. In some cases, the absence of their natural predators can give these species a huge advantage, leading to their dominance in an area to the exclusion of other species. Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed, floating pennywort and New Zealand pigmyweed are examples of such species. Control of some of these species may be necessary to maintain biodiversity.

25 The Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (2009) Artificial Light in the Environment. TSO, London. 26 The ecological effects of air pollution from road transport: an updated review, Natural England Commissioned Research 199 27 Jerem, P. and Mathews, F. (2020), Trends and knowledge gaps in field research investigating effects of anthropogenic noise. Conservation Biology. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13510 28 Dogs, access and nature conservation, English Nature Research Report 649 29 https://www.camden.gov.uk/air-quality 9

The policy, strategy and legislative context

Camden policy

This Strategy sits alongside the Climate Action Plan as part of our response to the declaration of a Climate and Ecological Emergency. The Camden Citizens’ Assembly on the Climate Crisis30 made recommendations to create more green space on residential streets and plant more trees, and these have been reflected in this document. This Biodiversity Strategy complements other Council strategies, including the Clean Air Action Plan31, and Transport Strategy and its daughter documents32. It has also informed, and was informed by, the Tree Planting Strategy. These Strategies also recognise the positive role a natural environment can play in our lives, such as through encouraging walking and cycling rather than driving.

This Strategy will also contribute to Our Camden Plan33. By improving green spaces and greening neighbourhoods we will build infrastructure that encourages integration, cohesion and active lifestyles, and outdoor classrooms will form an element of preserving a culture of lifelong learning. More directly, we will make sure that green spaces, streets, housing estates and other public spaces are attractive, and that residents, visitors and businesses are actively involved in contributing to this.

London policy

The London Environment Strategy34, published in 2018, set aims for a range of environmental issues, policies for achieving those aims, and proposals for the London Plan. It includes consideration of biodiversity and access to nature. The London Environment Strategy’s aims are consistent with those in this strategy, including, for example, the protection of nature conservation sites, creating priority habitats and wildlife corridors, and achieving biodiversity net gain from development.

National policy

‘A Green Future: Our 25 Year Plan to Improve the Environment’35 sets out the government’s proposed actions to “…help the natural world regain and retain good health…” aiming to “…deliver cleaner air and water in our cities and rural landscapes, protect threatened species and provide richer wildlife habitats” for England. It includes a broad range of national issues, including actions to ‘recover nature’, reflecting calls from the environmental sector for the government to do more

30 https://www.camden.gov.uk/citizens-assembly-climate-crisis 31 https://www.camden.gov.uk/air-quality 32 https://www.camden.gov.uk/transport-strategies-and-plans 33 https://www3.camden.gov.uk/2025/our-camden-plan/ 34 https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/environment/london-environment-strategy 35 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/25-year-environment-plan 10 to proactively increase biodiversity. The actions needed can also be seen in this Strategy, at a smaller scale.

Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act the Council has a duty to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity as part of policy or decision making36. While this Strategy is a part of that duty, it is not exhaustive with regard to every policy and decision that the Council makes where biodiversity may be a consideration, though all officers and councillors should be aware of that duty and the objectives within this Strategy.

The Environment Bill proposes modifying the duty in the NERC Act to include enhancing biodiversity, alongside bringing in other requirements that have a potential to provide real gains for biodiversity. These include setting a minimum level for biodiversity net gain from developments and requiring these to be maintained for 30 years. Also within the Bill is the creation of a Nature Recovery Network across England via Local Nature Recovery Strategies. The legislation remains in Bill form, but it is the council’s intention that this Strategy, including the Camden Nature Recovery Network, Action Plan and reporting, will fulfil the relevant requirements of the Act as currently set out in the Bill.

36 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/biodiversity-duty-public-authority-duty-to-have-regard-to-conserving- biodiversity 11

What you can do for nature

Sharing your space with nature – gardening for wildlife

There are around 48,000 gardens in Camden, covering over 400 hectares, but even if you only have space for a window box or a plant pot or two you can do something for nature. One of the best things you can do is provide food for insects and other animals by growing wildlife-friendly plants, and putting up bird, bat or insect boxes can also help.

Wildlife Gardening Guides

Royal Horticultural Society’s ‘Perfect for Pollinators’ https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for- pollinators

London Wildlife Trusts’ Garden for a living London https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/campaigns/garden-living-london

The Wildlife Trusts’ Actions for Wildlife https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/actions

British Trust for Ornithology’s wildlife gardening advice https://www.bto.org/how- you-can-help/providing-birds/wildlife-gardening

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds’ information on helping nature at home https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your- garden/

Case Study: Camden in Bloom

Camden in Bloom is an annual competition that aims to encourage residents, businesses and community groups to take pride in their neighbourhood and create a more pleasant place to live and work through gardening, covering everything from window boxes to community gardens, and vegetables to wildflowers. https://www.camden.gov.uk/camden-in-bloom

Lending a Hand – Volunteering

If you don’t have your own space within which to help nature, there are opportunities to help look after other areas, like our nature reserves, community gardens and parks. One of the simplest ways to do this is to join the group that helps look after your nearest Park (information can usually be found on the Park noticeboard), but there are several opportunities across the Borough. You can search for volunteering opportunities via Volunteer Centre Camden, but we have provided some suggestions below.

Green Space Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteer with London Wildlife Trust https://www.wildlondon.org.uk/volunteer- with-us or Global Generation https://www.globalgeneration.org.uk/get-involved Help monitor wildlife and look after Hampstead Heath with Heath Hands https://www.heath-hands.org.uk/

Lending your eyes and ears – recording wildlife

Despite all we do know about Camden’s wildlife, we also know there are gaps in our knowledge. Having a good understanding of where wildlife is helps us to protect it and connect it, increasing its chances of surviving and thriving. Everyone can help contribute to our knowledge and fill these gaps by recording wildlife, whether it is by submitting an occasional bird sighting, taking part in national annual citizen science projects like the Big Garden Bird Count or the Big Butterfly Count, or undertaking a more detailed survey. Wildlife sightings are welcome from anywhere whether seen from your window or spotted in a nature reserve or park.

Wildlife Recording Links

Wildlife sightings can be submitted to Greenspace Information for Greater London https://www.gigl.org.uk/submit-records/ or via the iRecord website or app https://www.brc.ac.uk/irecord/. The Big Garden Bird Watch, which doesn’t have to be done in a garden, takes place in winter https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home- in-your-garden/ and the Big Butterfly Count takes place in summer https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org/

Being a ‘conscious consumer’

Much biodiversity loss around the world is a result of global demand, and so the food we eat and the things we buy may, directly or indirectly, be a part of this. Production of palm oil, used in almost 50% of the packaged products we find in supermarkets, is a major driver of deforestation in Indonesia and Malaysia, and the production of soy has led to huge areas of deforestation and habitat loss in south America. Forest loss and conversion of soils also releases greenhouse gases and thus contributes to climate change. In the UK, peatlands, vital for wildlife, storing water and carbon, are still being stripped despite a government pledge to end peat sales by 202037. By being a ‘conscious consumer’ and avoiding those products and ingredients links to biodiversity decline you can contribute to positive change. More information on products and their links to biodiversity loss and other issues can be found on Ethical Consumer.

37 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-calls-for-peat-to-be-phased-out 13

The Biodiversity Strategy

The Vision

On the 7th October 2019 Camden Council declared a Climate and Ecological Emergency. As part of that declaration, the council committed to “…produce a new ecological plan for Camden to sustain and improve biodiversity in Camden…” and to encourage “…all citizens, businesses, and organisations or groups in the borough of Camden to join with the Council to…protect and improve biodiversity, in order to avert impending catastrophe.”

This Strategy is the first part of that ecological plan. We are further committed to achieving the vision and objectives set out here, both via our own actions and by working with and supporting the activities of others. We recognise the value of biodiversity and the value of natural areas and green spaces for biodiversity, and we will continue to look for opportunities to increase these where we are able, and advocate for it where we are not.

The Council will ensure that all officers are aware of the need to consider biodiversity wherever it is consistent with the performance of their duties, and those officers for whom it is relevant will be provided with the relevant information and training. Owing to the potential links between the products and materials bought and used by the Council and our contractors and impacts on biodiversity we will also have regard to biodiversity conservation in our procurement processes.

We need to be honest and realistic. Owing to funding cuts from central government the council has been forced to reduce budget by £169 million since 2010, with a further estimated £35-40 million set to be cut from our annual budget by 2022. Meeting the needs of people – homes, jobs, and a safe environment – can also put pressure on nature. But people also need nature, and the council remains ambitious. By making informed decisions and directing our resources where they will be most effective we will continue to protect and enhance biodiversity to the best of our ability.

This is not an entirely new area of work; Camden’s previous Biodiversity Action Plan38, which ran from 2013 to 2018, was the Council’s third, and many of the actions within that plan have continued as part of an ongoing programme of work to benefit wildlife and people. Not all the tasks we set ourselves in the previous Action Plan were achieved; some of them are challenging, particularly finding ways to provide more natural spaces and reducing the inequality in access, and are going to take longer than we had hoped. These are being rolled over into the new Plan, and we will need to find new ways of working and new resources.

The threats to wildlife and habitats have not gone away. While some, like air pollution, have reduced, many are ever present, and helping nature cope with climate change and habitat fragmentation in particular is an ever more urgent duty. Doing so while making the most of the benefits that access to nature can bring, and doing so sustainably, is the challenge we are facing up to.

We will achieve the vision and objectives set out in this Strategy by establishing a Nature Recovery Network and a new Action Plan, which will be developed and delivered by working with organisations across the Borough in a Camden Nature Partnership. Our decisions will be evidence-based, plan for a changing climate, and involve communication and engagement with, and the participation of, the citizens and communities of Camden.

How this strategy was developed

The starting point for this strategy was the previous Biodiversity Action Plan. The key themes in that document were reviewed and expanded where necessary during the development of this new Strategy. Some of the ongoing actions from that plan will be rolled over into the new Action Plan. Current national and London policy and strategy was reviewed to ensure this strategy complements them. Internal workshops and conversations with partners were held to further develop some of the background information and objectives, and to ensure the Strategy complements other Council strategies and those of our partners.

A public consultation on Commonplace was started in August 202039, and the themes emerging from that have informed those reflected here. The more detailed responses to that consultation will feed into the Action Plan and Nature Recovery Network.

A Nature Recovery Network for Camden

It is not enough merely to protect pockets of wildlife habitats. Many of these are too small to maintain populations, and wildlife within them remains vulnerable to chance events and a changing climate. Wildlife needs to be able to move to respond to both local events and climate change, so that it can colonise new areas, find food, shelter

38https://www.camden.gov.uk/documents/20142/2205931/Camden+Biodiversity+action+plan.pdf/ab6c 69bc-3769-3719-5481-a7fbc22555ce 39 https://camdenbiodiversitymap.commonplace.is/ 15 and a mate. The 2010 Lawton Review, entitled Making Space for Nature40, reviewed England’s wildlife sites and ecological networks, making a number of recommendations, including for properly planned networks and improving the protection and management of existing wildlife sites. We need to give nature better and more places to go, and new ways to get there, if it is to recover from decades of decline.

This will mean creating and maintaining stepping stones and corridors of habitat through the Borough, and improving and expanding existing ones, as well as looking after what we’ve already got. It also means trying to make those areas that are the most hostile to nature – the most urban of areas with little food or shelter – more wildlife friendly by ‘greening the grey’.

That is why, alongside an Action Plan, we will develop a Nature Recovery Network for Camden. This will provide a spatial framework for achieving our vision and objectives. It will not just inform our priorities but also give a broader ecological context for the actions the Council, other organisations and individuals are taking. It will acknowledge existing nature sites as core elements and look for both existing and potential connections between these sites.

By recognising that nature needs a network, we can make the most informed decisions regarding what to do for nature, and importantly prioritise where it should be done to have the greatest benefit. That is not to say that it is only within this network that actions will benefit nature; we will also need to buffer the network and provide smaller scale connections to bring nature to all parts of the Borough.

Failure to create, maintain, improve and expand opportunities for wildlife will not only impact Camden’s wildlife but those of neighbouring boroughs, the whole of London, and potentially wider for those species that migrate through the area. This is also why we must advocate for wildlife outside of the Borough, and work with our neighbours to ensure connections are maintained across authority boundaries.

The council will publish a Nature Recovery Network Map, which will show the core of the network, and existing and potential stepping stones and corridors. This map will evolve as we review and expand our knowledge of Camden’s nature and progress the Action Plan. It will respond to and reflect any guidance or regulation provided at a London or national level. The thematic areas of activity and objectives that will provide the framework for the Action Plan will contribute to this network by making areas for nature better and more joined up.

The Action Plan

The core of this strategy and key to delivering a Nature Recovery Network and achieving our vision and objectives will be an Action Plan. As with the previous Biodiversity Action Plan, it will be developed and delivered alongside many other

40 Making Space for Nature: A Review of England’s Wildlife Sites and Ecological Network (Lawton et al., 2010) 16 organisations working in the Borough. Many of these organisations are already doing great things for nature.

The Council’s actions will be informed by the vision and objectives of the biodiversity strategy, as well as public consultation. Not only will the Action Plan set out what the Council will be doing to achieve the objectives and vision, it will also communicate actions being undertaken by other organisations in the Borough, and act as a resource for all.

Developing and delivering actions will be an ongoing process. The Action Plan will be a live document updated regularly to include any new projects that emerge and update ongoing actions, either annually for ongoing actions or at a frequency appropriate to a project’s timetable. We are aiming to launch the Action Plan in summer 2021.

While reporting on the achievements of the activities and projects in the Action Plan will be an ongoing process, progress made against the objectives will be assessed every five years. This will involve measuring the achievements of the Action Plan against losses from external factors or unforeseen events. This will identify any gaps in both the Action Plan and the overall strategy, seeking to identify new actions to fill those gaps or revise and expand the objectives as necessary.

The Camden Nature Partnership

No one person or organisation can solve the ecological crisis, and helping nature recover in Camden is going to take all of us doing what we can; a diversity of individuals, organisations and businesses bringing their knowledge, skills and resources together.

Camden’s previous Biodiversity Action Plan was developed and delivered by many such organisations working together, and the Council will continue to work with those partners, and new ones, to develop our Action Plan and Nature Recovery Network, in the Camden Nature Partnership.

The role of the Camden Nature Partnership will be to:  Inform the development of the Action Plan and Nature Recovery Network  Communicate actions, share information and best practice between partners  Provide support and identify potential joint working opportunities  Advise the Council  Advocate shared objectives to a wider audience

Camden Council will provide the secretariat for the Partnership and seek funding to expand its work.

Evidence-based decision making

In developing the Action Plan and Nature Recovery Network, and in making decisions that have the potential to impact upon biodiversity, we will use the best

17 information and evidence available to us. There are some gaps in our knowledge, particularly around the extent and quality of important habitats and the status of many of our species, so we will work with experts to improve the quality and extent of environmental information available to us. We will commission surveys, and work with partners to support wildlife recording and encourage, promote and develop citizen science projects.

Planning for a changing climate

Camden Council launched a Climate Action Plan in July 2020, the first of two five- year plans towards a net zero carbon Camden by 203041. These actions, by us and others, are vital if we are to reduce the scale of predicted potential climate change, but change is happening already, and will continue. Taking those changes into account, and resulting changes in biodiversity, will be essential when planning what we are doing. Future proofing our plans against climate change will give us the best chance of conserving current and future biodiversity.

Communication, Engagement and Participation

The development and delivery of this Biodiversity Strategy, including the Action Plan and Nature Recovery Network, will be accompanied by ongoing communication and engagement. We want every citizen of Camden to be an advocate for the natural world, to have opportunities to be involved in improving our habitats and species, and to have the confidence and knowledge to take action themselves.

41 https://www.camden.gov.uk/climate-crisis 18

The Objectives

Designated Sites

Proposed objective: Protect, maintain and enhance Camden’s designated sites, buffer them and make the network, more resilient through strengthened connectivity and an increase the proportion of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation managed for biodiversity.

Places designated for their wildlife value are at the core of nature’s recovery; refuges from where wildlife can expand out into surrounding areas, given the chance.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) are the country’s best wildlife and geological sites. Hampstead Heath Woods SSSI, part of the Kenwood Estate managed by English Heritage, is the only SSSI in Camden. SSSI is a statutory designation, and these sites receive a strong level of protection through legislation.

Site of Importance for Nature Conservation

A Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) is an area that is considered important for its biodiversity value at a London, borough or local level. Designations are declared by the local authority in conjunction with the London Wildlife Sites Board. It is a non-statutory designation, meaning such sites have no protection in law. However, in Camden they are afforded some protection from development through the planning process through policies in the Local Plan43.

42 There are a number of ‘grades’ of SINC grade Area (hectares) SINC designation, reflecting the scale Metropolitan 322.7 of importance of the area, from Borough I 40.4 Metropolitan for sites important for Borough II 32.8 London, including Hampstead Heath Local 17.9 and the Regent’s Canal, to those important at a Local level, with a couple of grades for sites important at a Borough level in between.

Camden has 38 areas designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation, covering almost 414 hectares. Some of these are managed by the Council, the rest owned by various organisations, most notably the City of London Corporation, the Royal Parks and Network Rail. These SINCs form the core of Camden’s wildlife network and their protection, enhancement and connectivity to surrounding habitat is a priority. In addition to SINCs within the Borough, Camden co-owns St Pancras &

42 Produced by Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC on behalf of LB Camden, November 2020 43 Policy A3 Biodiversity https://www.camden.gov.uk/local-plan-documents 19

Islington Cemetery, in the London Borough of Barnet. As part of the Action Plan the Council will update existing SINC designations and assess new sites for potential designation.

Case Study: Waterlow Park Waterlow Park is a Borough Grade I Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. Camden Council’s largest park, it has a good variety of habitats, including spring- fed ponds with overhanging trees and marginal plants, home to ducks and other waterfowl, areas of damp and meadow grassland that support many plant species and some fine specimen trees. Nuthatch, kestrel and goldcrest are a few of the many bird species that have been seen here.

Local Nature Reserves

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) are sites that are important for wildlife and provide local communities with opportunities to access and engage with nature. They are designated by local authorities, in consultation with Natural England, and as a statutory designation they are afforded some protection through legislation and planning policy. There are four LNRs in Camden: Adelaide, Belsize Wood, Westbere Copse, and Camley Street Natural Park. As part of the Action Plan the Council will investigate any additional sites that may be suitable for designation as a Local Nature Reserve.

Case Study: Westbere Copse Local Nature Reserve

Westbere Copse Local Nature Reserve, part of a larger Grade 1 SINC, includes an area of public open space and the Jenny Wood Nature Reserve, which is used as an outdoor classroom by local schools during the week and is open to the public at weekends. Though small, it is an important site for wildlife, having benefited from decades of regular conservation management by the Westbere Copse Association, West Hampstead Green Gym and numerous corporate and volunteer groups. It includes areas of woodland, Spring and Summer meadows, and a pond with newts, frogs and toads. The wildlife has been well-studied by the volunteers, with over 160 species of insects including numerous beetles, bees and hoverflies recorded, as well as over 30 bird species. Flora includes over 160 flowering plant species and over 70 tree and shrub species.

Habitats

Proposed objective: Maintain and improve priority habitats and increase the area of species-rich grassland, woodland and reedbed.

There are many different types of habitat across the Borough, from the neatly mown amenity grassland of our parks to the ancient Ken Wood, from the Regent’s Canal to the spring-fed wet grassland flushes at Waterlow Park, and from small private gardens to extensive green roofs on office blocks.

Amenity grassland is the most prevalent habitat and is widely distributed across Camden. While it has limited value for wildlife it does offer significant scope for improvement where this does not conflict with other needs – something the Council has been actively pursuing. Woodland is the second commonest habitat and supports a wide range of wildlife, mainly in the north of the borough or along railway embankments. Priority Habitat Area (ha) There are several habitats in Woodland (native broadleaved) 109.8ha Camden that have declined Meadows and pastures 69.7ha nationally and are of principal Standing water (including canals) 18.9ha importance44 for nature Acid grassland 14.2ha conservation. This includes Reedbed 3.6ha woodland, neutral grassland, acid Heathland 1.2ha grassland, reedbeds, heathland, Rivers and streams 0.02ha and ponds and canals. The Orchards Unknown information we have regarding the area of priority habitat in the borough is from 2014. One of our first actions tasks will be to find a way to update this and assess its quality. This will also allow us to find ways to buffer or increase these areas.

Case Study: Acid Grassland at Hampstead Heath

Acid grassland develops on free-draining, low-nutrient acidic soils and is a rare habitat, and in Camden is found on the sandy soils at Hampstead Heath. Here it is looked after by the City of London and Heath Hands as part of a mosaic of habitats important to wildlife.

44 Species and habitats of principal importance for nature conservation in England, as set out by Section 41 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act (2006). 21

Species

Proposed objective: Monitor and increase populations of key priority species through conservation action.

A diverse range of species have been recorded in Camden. This includes common and resident species, like blackbirds, recorded over 1,300 times since 1976, to species that have only been recorded once or a few times, which may be rare in the Borough, or hard to find, or both.

Some of these species have declined nationally to such an extent that they are considered of principal importance for nature conservation in England. Over 60 of these national priorities have been recorded in Camden, including house sparrows (60% decline in 40 years), toads (68% decline in 30 years), hedgehogs (46% population decline), and stag beetles. Additional species have been identified not as national priorities but of conservation concern for London, and over a dozen of such have been recorded in Camden. These include bats like common pipistrelles and Daubenton’s bats and birds including dunnocks, peregrines, black redstarts and song thrushes.

Case Study: Hedgehogs

Camden supports an important population of hedgehogs, a species that has declined by a third in urban areas, even more in rural areas, and is now classified as Vulnerable (to extinction). Gardens and parks – and the connections between them – are vital for this species, particularly Hampstead Heath and The Regent’s Park, which support the core of Camden’s population. A number of organisations and community groups are working to help hedgehogs, including: London Hogwatch (Zoological Society of London) with whom the Council has been working to survey some of our green spaces; University of London; The Conservation Volunteers; and the North West London Urban Hedgehog Reintroduction Programme.

While species are well monitored at a few sites, and a few species are surveyed at larger scales, our knowledge of how well many species are doing across Camden is lacking. Looking at the data we have shows a mixed picture, with some species records increasing and other decreasing. This just shows us how frequently a species is recorded, however, not how it is doing. Hedgehog records have increased hugely for example, but this is almost certainly due to increased survey effort in recent years. Some species have not been recorded at all in the last ten years, but it may be that no one has looked for them in the right place or with the right survey method. One of our first Actions will be to review the current state of our knowledge so we can try and fill these gaps, find out which additional species may need our help and how, and work out ways of monitoring them effectively.

Case Study: Mission:Invertebrate

Mission: Invertebrate is a project being run by the Royal Parks, carrying out invertebrate research, developing habitats across their parks, including The Regent’s Park and Primrose Hill, and providing opportunities for people to learn about invertebrates.

Trees

Proposed objective: Increase tree canopy cover and promote tree species diversity. Make planting decisions that are informed by their potential to support wildlife, and resist the loss of ancient and veteran trees.

Camden Council is responsible for the management of approximately 28,000 trees and a further 10-15,000 in woodland sites, made up of over 250 species. These trees together with those in other’s ownership comprise Camden’s urban forest, the canopy of which is estimated to cover 22.9% of the borough45.

As well as contributing directly to biodiversity trees can support many other species through the provision of food and shelter. In many of the Borough’s most urban areas trees are often the only visible natural feature and are therefore especially important to both wildlife and people. A diversity of tree species that support wildlife is vital to safeguarding biodiversity and Camden’s urban forest against climate change and the associated predicted increase in pests and pathogens46.

The vision for Camden Council’s Tree Planting Strategy is “…to create a resilient urban forest throughout the borough, seizing all opportunities available to maintain and expand canopy cover provided by a diverse population of trees”, reflected in its goals to: increase tree canopy cover; promote species diversity; and maximise the benefits of trees (to people and wildlife). The Council will not be able to achieve these objectives alone, which is why we will work with private landowners, businesses and developers – directly and through the planning process – and other organisations and members of the public.

Ancient and Veteran Trees

Ancient and veteran trees can be particularly important for nature: hollow trunks, rot holes, dead wood, sap runs, loose bark and other features, developed over a long life or from natural damage or management, can support wildlife from fungi to beetles to birds. The trees themselves can also be characterful or aesthetically pleasing to people. Hampstead Heath is a great are for veteran trees, though they can be found in parks across the Borough.

45 https://opendata.camden.gov.uk/stories/s/ad58-u6q7 46 Stevenson PC, Bidartondo M, Blackhall-Miles R, et al. The state of the world’s urban ecosystems: What can we learn from trees, fungi, and bees?. Plants, People, Planet. 2020;2:482– 498. https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10143 24

Parks and green spaces

Proposed objective: Manage Camden’s parks and green spaces to maximise opportunities for space for nature alongside space for people, and continue to provide an increase in inclusive and welcoming areas for people to enjoy wildlife and for wildlife to thrive.

Much of the character of the London Borough of Camden comes from its parks and green spaces, from the tree lined squares in the south, to the wide-open space of Hampstead Heath in the north. These areas are extremely important, not just for the wildlife they currently support, but as areas available to all where nature can be experienced.

Camden Council manages over 75 parks covering 47 hectares and over 300 housing estates covering over 40 hectares of green space, including a number of green roofs There are around 100 parks of various size in Camden, covering an area of approximately 400 hectares, though this is not evenly distributed – around two-thirds of this area is Hampstead Heath47 managed by the City of London Corporation. Other significant areas are managed by The Royal Parks and the Universities. Some of these areas, like the Heath, nature reserves and some of our parks, are rich in wildlife. Others less so.

Camden Council adopts conservation-led management across the green spaces it manages. The intention with conservation led maintenance is to decrease high intensity, high cost maintenance tasks, such as regular grass cutting and adopt a more sustainable, more cost effective biodiversity friendly maintenance approach. These changes enable our green spaces to become more naturalised and help to improve ecological processes, such as pollination.Changes to planting and management are assessed against a ‘nature rating’, and where practical, high intensity management of grass, hedges, bedding and rose beds is changed to other more sustainable planting and or management techniques that increase biodiversity, such as relaxed grass-mowing regimes, creation of meadow areas, and planting wildlife-friendly species. These decisions are weighed up against site location and suitability, resident input, budgets and other Council objectives, to ensure the best possible outcome for both biodiversity and Camden’s residents.

These changes have led to an increase in the area and numbers of features of value to wildlife, such as a greater diversity of grass sward heights and more pollinator friendly planting. This approach has also supported Camden residents and volunteers to get involved with gardening and improving their access to nature.

Since 2017, approximately 18% of frequently cut grass has been changed to relaxed mowing or meadow areas and 20% of Rose beds were changed to more sustainable planting. This approach is ongoing, and has helped to deliver more sustainable and biodiverse green spaces across Camden.

47 Atkins (2014) Camden Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study 25

As of Jan 2021, there are 6 hectares of relaxed mowing and meadow areas across Camden Council managed green spaces and 1.6km of conservation hedgerows. Parks were planned for people – gardens for the gardenless – recognising that green spaces were good for us, but wildlife has always needed them too, and needs them now more than ever. We must learn to share our spaces with wildlife, making our green spaces more natural and making our lives a bit wilder.

Herbicide Use

Camden Council’s contractors currently use herbicides on tarmac and paved areas where it is necessary for reasons of health and safety. The council minimises herbicide use as far as possible and has taken numerous steps towards its reduction. Camden do not use herbicide to manage amenity weeds in grass or other soft landscaping areas. Camden’s Green Spaces team are currently working on initiatives to design out the need for herbicide use on hard standing through selective choice of surface materials across our sites.

Access to Nature

Proposed objective: Increase opportunities for Camden’s residents to experience and learn about the natural environment through volunteering, engagement, access, communication and inclusive and welcoming natural spaces.

While other objectives in this Strategy are designed to bring nature to people, we also want to bring people to nature. Access to the natural environment is important not just because of the benefits it can bring to people’s health and wellbeing, but also because of the benefits to nature that come from communities and individuals who appreciate, understand, value and look after it.

Experiences of nature can be fleeting and incidental, like hearing birdsong on a walk to the bus stop, or extended and deliberately sought, such as by taking a long walk on Hampstead Heath or watching birds along the Regent’s Canal. Allotments, community gardens and private gardens can also provide areas for people to experience nature. Looking after the natural world also provides opportunities for exercise and socialising via volunteering and community gardening. There are also opportunities, and a role to play, for schools and other education settings, whether that be learning about nature in an outdoor classroom or providing space for nature in and around the school grounds. Alongside increasing biodiversity, a diversity of opportunities for people to experience it will help make nature part of everyone’s everyday lives.

Case Study: Camley Street Natural Park

Managed by London Wildlife Trust, Camley Street Natural Park is a Local Nature Reserve and Site of Importance for Nature Conservation, a unique urban wildlife oasis surrounded by significant new development in a bustling part of central London between King's Cross and St Pancras. The woodland, grassland and wetland habitats including ponds, reedbed and marshy areas, provide a rich habitat for birds, butterflies, amphibians and plant life. The new Visitor Centre opening in 2021 will cater for the thousands who visit annually.

Areas of Deficiency and Inequality in Access

There are areas within Camden where residents lack sufficient access to the natural environment – defined as more than 1km walking distance from a publicly accessible Borough or Metropolitan Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

We know also know that green space access is not just a matter of location, but of inequality. A Government diversity review in 2008 identified disabled people, black and minority ethnic groups and young people as having significantly lower levels of access to nature. These groups represent a significant proportion of Camden’s diverse population. More recent surveys, undertaken by Natural England, show a

27 similar pattern with respect to ethnicity48, and that COVID-19 exacerbated existing trends in inequality of access to natural space49. Limitations to the reasons for leaving your property disproportionately disadvantaged those without private outdoor space, and for those without local green space avoiding public transport became a further problem.

There is no easy solution to these issues. By making what natural spaces there are more accessible, inclusive and welcoming; making green spaces more natural and grey places more green; providing more opportunities for engagement with the natural world; and importantly trying to understand the reasons behind the inequalities in access, we can try to improve the quality of life through nature for as many people as possible. Targeting action where it will have the greatest benefit for areas of socioeconomic deprivation will be a key part of this.

Case Study: Community Gardens in Camden

Calthorpe Community Garden exists to improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of those who live, work or study in Camden and surrounding areas. They provide a horticultural volunteering and training programme for people with learning disabilities and mental health issues, sustainable food growing incorporating a closed loop food cycle, vegetarian cafe and waste recycling facility, and activities for young people and their families. It is also a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. http://calthorpecommunitygarden.org.uk/

Castlehaven Community Park sits at the heart of the community, dedicated to providing a natural and beautiful space for families to grow, play and learn, where people relax or exercise. They provide engaging and educational workshops through a Horticultural Hub and encourage the local community to get fit and active with our regular gardening sessions. https://www.castlehaven.org.uk/projects/castlehaven- community-park

The Phoenix Garden is a community garden and Site of Importance for Nature Conservation nestled in the heart of the West End. It provides a green retreat from the stresses of the city and a valuable habitat for wildlife. https://www.thephoenixgarden.org/

48 https://www.ethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.uk/culture-and-community/culture-and-heritage/visits- to-the-natural-environment/latest#by-ethnicity-and-socio-economic-group-last-7-days 49 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-adult-data- y1q1-april-june-2020-experimental-statistics/the-people-and-nature-survey-for-england-adult-data- y1q1-april-june-2020-experimental-statistics 28

Greening the grey

Proposed objective: Achieve net gain in biodiversity through planning decisions that are supported by policy and guidance, and identify and deliver opportunities to increase biodiversity in urban areas.

While city living has its benefits, the urban environment negatively effects mental health, with a higher incidence of mood and anxiety disorders in people living in these areas50. While not a panacea, spending time in nature has been found to reduce stress51,52, so protecting and enhancing nature in urban areas, alongside maintaining and improving access to nature, can be good for both wildlife and people.

Inner-city areas can be a challenge for wildlife. Finding food can be a challenge for insects that would then provide food for larger animals, and nesting sites for birds are few and far between. What wildlife habitat there is is often concentrated in small areas like our parks and green spaces, where competition for space, including with people, will be high. If we are to help wildlife we need to find ways to ‘green the grey’. Redevelopment, regeneration and retrofitting of our buildings and public spaces provide opportunities to do this.

Camden Council has comprehensive planning policies and guidance to protect and enhance nature: Policy A3 of the Local Plan states that ‘the Council will protect and enhance sites of nature conservation and Biodiversity…’ and ‘…will protect, and seek to secure additional, trees and vegetation…’53, and this is supported by Planning Guidance on biodiversity54. It is expected that developers leave areas in a better environmental condition and green spaces and features, such as green roofs, and other features for biodiversity are incorporated into plans. There are now many green roofs across Camden, but rooftop space remains one of the greatest

Case Study: Camley Street Sustainable Urban Drainage

The southern end of Camley Street has an increased risk of flooding. A Sustainable Drainage System, in the form of a 2m wide, 180m long rain garden, was designed, and installed in 2020. This provides reduced flood risk, reduced reliance on the sewer network, biodiversity enhancement and greater contact with nature for pedestrians.

50 Peen, J., Schoevers, R. A., Beekman, A. T. & Dekker, J. The current status of urban-rural differences in psychiatric disorders. Acta Psychiatr. Scand. 121, 84–93 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0447.2009.01438.x 51 Hedblom, M., Gunnarsson, B., Iravani, B. et al. Reduction of physiological stress by urban green space in a multisensory virtual experiment. Sci Rep 9, 10113 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598- 019-46099-7 52 Hunter M.R., Gillespie B.W., Chen S.Y.-P. (2019) Urban nature experiences reduce stress in the context of daily life based on salivary biomarkers Frontiers in Psychology, 10, art. no. 722 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00722 53 https://www.camden.gov.uk/local-plan-documents 54 https://www.camden.gov.uk/camden-planning-guidance 29 opportunities for nature in the south of the Borough so retrofitting to existing buildings also needs to be pursued.

Many of these features will provide additional benefits, and thus contribute to our Green Infrastructure. Green roofs absorb rainwater, reducing the risk of flooding, as well as reduce the energy costs of a building by providing insulation. Sustainable Drainage Systems are also designed to manage water, and where they are at ground level can also be designed to provide biodiversity benefits. Community gardening and food growing in planters in some of these spaces, including on roofs, can provide additional opportunities for people and nature.

Regeneration of public space also provides opportunities to include more features for biodiversity. Through street planting and pocket parks we can provide more space for wildlife and nicer places for people. Transport projects, such as Low Traffic Neighbourhoods and road and junction redesigns, also provide opportunities for incorporating planting for biodiversity. Achieving these things can have considerable technical challenges – underground services severely limit options for tree planting, for example. We also need to be mindful that design and choice of materials are consistent with achieving sustainable management and procurement, so we do not inadvertently increase our carbon footprint or contribute to biodiversity loss elsewhere. Being mindful of these challenges and working across Council departments with communities and partners to solve them gives us the best chance of sustainable streets for nature and people.

Case Study: Wild Bloomsbury

Led by University College London working with the University of London, Wild Bloomsbury is making nature-based interventions to improve wellbeing, increase climate-resilience and reduce pollution, to create healthy and liveable cities. Working with students, staff, local people, organisations and researchers, their goal is to create a vibrant and liveable Bloomsbury by reintroducing nature and make 10,000m2 more biodiverse space by 2024 and increase health and wellbeing.

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/sustainable/staff/wild-bloomsbury-resources

Camden’s natural future

We are in the midst of an Ecological Emergency, a ‘sixth extinction’ that has seen the decline and loss of many of our species and habitats. Taking action to stop and reverse these declines is more important, and more urgent, than it has ever been. This is not just about doing things that help nature, but also about reducing those things that harm it. Even if we did not recognise the intrinsic value of the natural world we must do if for our own sake, else we risk further damaging those ecosystem services that we are so reliant upon. There is hope. If we all did what we can, even if that was little, we can make a difference.

This Strategy sets out the process by which the Council will do what we can, and the objectives that we want to achieve, to help nature’s recovery in Camden. It will work alongside several Council policies and strategies, such as the Climate Action Plan, Tree Planting Strategy, Transport Strategy and planning policies, that both contribute to positive action for biodiversity and regulate those activities that harm the environment. We will also work in partnership with and support others – individuals, communities, organisations and businesses – to do what they can to help nature.

In five years, when we make the first review of progress towards the objectives in this Strategy, we will be living in a more biodiverse and natural area and be closer to our vision for the London Borough of Camden.