Biodiversity Action Plan An update of the 1992 Nature Conservation Strategy Contents Overview 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Contents of the Nature Conservation Strategy 1992 3 1.2 Major achievements in implementing the Nature Conservation Strategy 3 1.3 Why the Nature Conservation Strategy needed updating 3 1.4 Contents of this updated strategy 3 2. Changes since the Nature Conservation Strategy 1992 4 2.1 Changes in legislation and policy 4 2.2 Changes in land use, priorities and pressures 6 3 The resource 7 3.1 Important places - global, national and local sites 7 3.2 Priority habitats and species 9 Authors: Dr Lin Hand C.Env MIEEM, 3.3 Other open spaces 10 Natural Environment Manager 023 8067 1921 3.4 Accessibility 11 [email protected] Ian Barker C.Env MIEEM, Planning Ecologist 4. Policies, targets and performance indicators 14 023 8083 2727 4.1 Protection of Southampton’s biodiversity 14 [email protected] 4.2 Enhancement of the environment: habitat management & creation 18 With significant contributions from Andy Welch, 4.3 Information and education 22 Bill Clark, Ann Greaves, Sarita Riley, Debbie Mobbs, Zoe James from English Nature, John Poland and Phil 4.4 Involvement, access and health 25 Budd from Southampton Natural History Society and the Hawthorns Wildlife Association, plus the many groups 4.5 Monitoring and links with other strategies 29 who responded to the various consultations involved. Assistance with proof reading and publication from Appendix 1: Nature Conservation policies 31 Lindsay McCulloch and Hilary Bradley. Appendix 2: Living Space questionnaire 33 Photos supplied by Southampton City Council’s Natural Environment Team unless acknowledged. Appendix 3: Environmental Education Policy for Southampton Schools 35 Cover: Sparrowhawk, Bee Orchid © Southampton City Council © Southampton City Council Southampton City Centre Weston Shore Southampton Common - Historic Map 1846 An overview However, such responsibilities and ownership also lead to great opportunities, enhanced by in house expertise and developing systems. The council can ‘Biodiversity’ refers to the variety of life. This is not only all the plants and animals but also the habitats ensure that other priorities are fulfilled and budget that support them and the complicated interactions between these and the wider environment. constraints are programmed and also that the biodiversity work is linked to other strategies and Southampton in the future - A vision of nature Southampton’s biodiversity - Something community needs. A city that supports a variety of sustainable natural to treasure Improving biodiversity in the city open spaces, with associated wildlife that gives Southampton’s climate, geology and the variety - Established beginnings pleasure and enjoyment, and provides opportunities of open spaces that have been retained amongst for health, relaxation, recreation and involvement, the city development, support a wealth of wildlife The council has achieved much in the past two The Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre for residents and visitors. that adds greatly to public enjoyment. Coast, decades since the importance of biodiversity and mudflats, rivers, streams, ponds, wet and dry nature conservation became a high priority: the Southampton - A city with natural advantages meadows, heathland, scrub, hedgerows, woodland series of streams and associated land that are found This combined Nature Conservation Strategy Southampton’s location on Britain’s southern coast and parkland are all present, some so important throughout the city were designated and protected Biodiversity Action Plan contains up-to-date gives a climate long appreciated by its residents. that they have national and international status. as Greenways - an award winning scheme; The information about the requirements for, and status Its geology on the clay and gravel of the Hampshire Likewise the wildlife they support, with such notable Hawthorns Urban Wildlife Centre was built to of, nature conservation in Southampton based on basin with surrounding chalk hills, plus the two creatures as great crested newts, sparrowhawks, provide public information, schools education, legislation, other City Strategies, policies and plans important rivers that traverse it - The Test and The barn owls, water shrews, dormice and otters. As events and a base for natural environment work together with local community requirements and Itchen, complete an enviable natural heritage. well as these resident animals, there are also - another award winning initiative; Management aspirations. It establishes the policy direction for important passers-through on migration such as Plans were drawn up for Southampton Common Site Southampton City Council’s approach to Natural Southampton’s past and present salmon, sea trout, clouded yellow and painted lady of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the adjoining Environment issues. - A worthy heritage butterflies, and birds such as divers, flycatchers and Old Cemetery - both now covered by Countryside & Roman Clausentum on the Itchen’s east bank, Saxon a whole range of coastal waders. Rights of Way legislation; SSSI sites in the city have Hamwic on its west and Medieval Southampton on been classed as in favourable condition by English the higher land above the Test were the heritage Southampton City Council -Important Nature; successful working partnerships with on which the modern city was built. During the responsibilities and opportunities statutory agencies, open space amenity groups and 18th and 19th centuries the city expanded to cover With such a special heritage to protect, and local branches of national wildlife groups have been the whole peninsula between the rivers, and the needs and desires of a large population to developed; Greening the City Grants are provided early dock development helped shape the modern please, Southampton City Council has important to support local environmental action and the first city. Continued expansion of the docks and city responsibilities to discharge, as well as legislation Nature Conservation Strategy was produced with boundaries plus the development of a variety to implement. It owns and manages the majority its nature conservation policies included in the City of transport networks have led to the present of open space with special biodiversity interests; Local Plan. vibrant and enterprising city with its status as the this, combined with its regulatory functions and its commercial and industrial capital of the south. area of service delivery, mean that it has the largest Throughout its development the leaders and people potential impact on biodiversity in the city. The main of Southampton have retained many open spaces reason for maintaining sites supporting biodiversity and about 20% of today’s 50 square kilometres in urban areas is for public benefit with the are open spaces. In survey after survey these open enjoyment and the health benefits being enhanced spaces are what Southampton people say they like by the presence of nature. The quality of the open best about their city. spaces requires that these be managed to protect and enhance the wildlife they support. 1 2 Godwits Nature Conservation Strategy Stag Beetle Nesting Bluetits 1. Introduction 2. Changes since the Nature Conservation Strategy 1992 1.1 Contents of the Nature Conservation Strategy 1992 the council’s Natural Environment Team. The major 2.1 Changes in the legislation and policy The Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Southampton City Council’s Nature Conservation successes in these three areas and others are listed Since the publication of the city’s Nature Assessment) Regulations 1999 Strategy was produced in 1992 and adopted under the appropriate policy sections. Conservation Strategy in 1992, a number of new Transposes the requirements of the EU Directive following wide consultation. Its main contents 85/337/EEC into UK law. The regulations integrate 1.3 Why the Nature Conservation Strategy statutory duties have been imposed on the city are an audit of city open spaces and wildlife. The the EIA procedures into the existing framework of needed updating council’s functions by the introduction of new most important sites for Nature Conservation were legislation. Central and Regional Government have local authority planning control. designated ‘Site Alert Sites’ and a summary of these There have been significant advances in legislation issued policy guidance that specifically addresses sites was produced on a ward-by-ward basis. and policy since the publication of the Nature biodiversity and that is highly relevant to the The Local Government Act 2000 Conservation Strategy in 1992, reinforcing the Establishes powers for local authorities to do Policies provided guidelines for the protection, functions of Local Authorities. There have also increasing expectation, from both citizens and been revisions to other wider environmental policy anything which they consider is likely to achieve promotion, improvement and creation of areas central government, for Local Authority action to the objective of promoting or improving the of nature conservation value within Southampton guidance that more robustly address biodiversity protect and enhance the natural environment. issues. Changes in legislation and policy include: environmental well-being of their area. Requires and for increased public access and involvement. that community strategies should promote or These policies were incorporated into the City Plan Against this expectation