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State of the Natural Environment in London: Securing Our Future

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State of the natural environment in London: securing our future www.naturalengland.org.uk Contents Foreword 1 1 London’s natural environment 2 2 Natural London, Wild London 4 3 Natural London, Active London 12 4 Natural London, Future London 19 Annexes 25 © M a t h e w M a s s i n i Water vole Foreword The natural environment faces a number of This report on the state of the natural unique challenges in London that demand a environment in London shows there is much long term and sustainable response. work to do. It highlights Natural England’s position on some of the most crucial issues Perhaps the greatest challenge we face is to concerning the natural environment in ensure the benefits of the natural environment London. It describes how we will work with a are recognised and raised up the agenda at a range of people and organisations to deliver time when the global economy is centre our vision for Natural London, helping to stage. The natural environment underpins our ensure London is a world leader in improving health, wellbeing and prosperity. the environment. © We need to find ways of conserving and E l l e enhancing our green spaces and natural n S o assets in light of the knowledge that London f t l e is set to continue to grow for the foreseeable y future. We must take opportunities to connect more Londoners with their natural environment to encourage awareness of the benefits it can bring to health and quality of life. We need to quickly focus on how we are Alison Barnes going to adapt to the 50 years, at least, of Regional Director climate change that is now unavoidable. There is growing evidence that global temperatures are changing far faster than previously thought and that green spaces in towns and cities are an important way of dealing with this. State of the natural environment in London: securing our future 1 Chapter 1 London’s natural environment Although one of the largest urban areas in Natural London Europe, almost two thirds of the area of London is green space. This resource To secure these benefits for the natural includes extensive areas of green belt, many environment, Natural England launched municipal and historic parks, woodland, our vision for ‘Natural London’ in September chalk downland, heathland, commons, 2008, delivered through three integrated grazing marsh, gardens, reservoirs, and the programmes. corridors of the River Thames and its tributaries. Consequently, despite a very high proportion of developed land, our city has a Natural London Programmes wide ecological range and varied landscapes. These areas support a surprising variety of Natural London, Wild London: seeks to plant and animal species including ensure that London’s unique habitats peregrines, water voles and stag beetles. and the wildlife they support are robust and healthy, supporting partners to carry out good land management while Natural environment – benefits encouraging people to enjoy and for London appreciate the capital’s best wildlife and finest landscapes. London’s unique natural environment provides the foundations for our economic Natural London, Active London: seeks to and social wellbeing. It provides essential promote and secure accessible natural public services including: green space in the places where people ࡯ The basic necessities of life – clean air, live, work and play, encouraging people clean water and productive soils. to use and appreciate the natural environment for the benefits it offers to ࡯ Security against climate change – their health and wellbeing. moderating temperature extremes and helping to protect against the risk of Natural London, Future London: seeks flooding. to secure a Green Infrastructure ࡯ Our natural health service – contributing (comprising the green space network to the health and wellbeing of Londoners, and a greening of the built environment) free for everyone to use. that contributes to climate change ࡯ A sense of place – promoting and adaptation and enhances biodiversity, underpinning local identity and civic pride. landscape and access to the natural environment. The work of these programmes in practice is demonstrated through the case studies in this document. 2 State of the natural environment in London: securing our future The state of London’s natural London’s People and Governance environment The London region is complex and diverse in many ways. London has a This analysis describes where London is unique institutional framework – the meeting the challenge of harnessing the only region with a directly elected benefits of its natural environment and Mayor and regional assembly (see where more needs to be done. www.london.gov.uk). London has the most diverse set of communities Urgent and concerted action is required measured both in terms of socio- to ensure that a high quality natural economics and ethnicity and, of course, environment is available for the people of London is predominantly urban. London to enjoy. This is central to London’s aspiration to excel amongst global cities. The facts: Working with the unique demography and ࡯ 33 London boroughs governance that characterises London means that this challenge is complex and can only ࡯ 7.2 million residents (estimated to rise be met through collective action. to 8.5 million by 2026) © ࡯ 1.73 million children and young W people under the age of 18 W T ࡯ a population density of 60 per ha ࡯ almost 40% of the population living in inner boroughs ࡯ 25% black and minority ethnic population ࡯ over 300 languages spoken by pupils in London schools ࡯ 1 million daily commuters ࡯ 26 million tourists (including day-trippers) annually ࡯ the most affluent and the most deprived wards in England ࡯ the worst air quality in England. London’s Wetland Centre Our challenge to all Our overarching aim is to ensure that the natural environment is at the heart of our city today and in the future. As we endeavour to achieve this aim, we call on public and private bodies, decision makers and those representing the people of London to respond to the challenges identified for us all within this document. We must seize this opportunity and, in meeting the challenges outlined, secure the future of London’s natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people and the economic prosperity that it brings. State of the natural environment in London: securing our future 3 Chapter 2 Natural London, Wild London Wild London – current status of ancient semi-natural woodland in London Most of London’s most important habitats at 112 ha (and is also the 100th largest block and species are found within statutory sites of such woodland in England). Two of (Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)) and London’s existing World Heritage Sites non-statutory sites (Sites of Importance for (Kew Gardens and Greenwich Park) comprise Nature Conservation (SINCs)). The London extensive areas of natural green space and Biodiversity Action Plan and complementary the proposed World Heritage Site, ‘Darwin’s Borough Biodiversity Action Plans detail Landscape Laboratory’ in Bromley priority habitats and species and the actions encompasses two SSSIs. required to protect them. As London is predominantly urban, it does In London there are 36 SSSIs and over 1,300 not have extensive areas designated for SINCs. Five SSSIs in the capital are also sites natural landscape value. Only a small part of of European importance; three are Special the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Areas of Conservation protecting habitats Beauty falls within London. Nevertheless and species and two are Special Protection London has a unique character shaped by its Areas for birds. There are two National Nature many natural features – not least the River Reserves in London; Ruislip Woods and Thames – which provide places and spaces Richmond Park. Park Wood, a component of many regard as vital to their sense of place Ruislip Woods SSSI, supports the largest area and quality of life. © Ruislip Woods SSSI N a t u r a l E n g l a n d 4 State of the natural environment in London: securing our future © K a t e M i t c h e l l Brent Reservoir SSSI – designated for its breeding bird community, with views of Wembley Biodiversity grazing marsh, overreaching their target; others, such as the restoration of heathland, There are a number of nationally important woodland and lowland meadow, will be more Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) habitats in the difficult to achieve without concerted action city. Examples include woodland (5,000 ha), from a wide variety of people and organisations acid grassland (1,500 ha), chalk grassland (200 both public and private. A Regional Delivery ha), coastal and floodplain grazing marsh (800 Framework, mapping areas for habitat creation ha), heathland (50 ha), ponds (411 ha), rivers and enhancement is due in June allowing us to and streams (600 km) and reedbeds (130 ha). target activity. This, together with increased mobilisation of partners, use of the These habitats provide vital places to live for Biodiversity Action Reporting System to a wide variety of species. Some are very monitor results and improved access to common while others are nationally rare, funding will help us to achieve these targets, such as the tower mustard plant and the stag and to plan ahead for 2020. beetle (over 30% of whose national population is found in London). Some once common species are now becoming rarer in Biodiversity the capital, such as the house sparrow, while other species have special legal protection, Challenge to All such as bats and reptiles. ࡯ Statutory agencies, local authorities and business to deliver the agreed London’s rich and diverse wildlife is under London Biodiversity Targets for 2015. constant pressure from human activity. Climate change will further increase this pressure. The Success measure London Biodiversity Partnership seeks to address this by working to increase ࡯ London Plan biodiversity targets are understanding of London’s habitats by met or exceeded.
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