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State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 Contents

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State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 Contents State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WILTSHIRE AND SWINDON 2013 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WILTSHIRE AND SWINDON 2013 Contents The report was produced by Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of Link2Nature and forms the SETTING THE SCENE environmental section of the Wiltshire Joint Strategic Assessments. Link2Nature acts as the Foreword by Dame Fiona Reynolds–4 Thematic Delivery Partnership for environmental issues in the Wiltshire Family of Partnerships. Introduction by Dr Gary Mantle–5 Link2Nature is the Local Nature Partnership (LNP) for Wiltshire and Swindon, officially recognised by government as one of 48 LNPs across England. Link2Nature works strategically to The environment at a glance–6 bring together partners from a wide range of sectors to protect and restore our local environment. Ecosystems and nature's services–8 This is a new approach, based on recognising the value of the natural world in social, economic and environmental terms. More than 40 organisations, businesses and charities are working together through Link2Nature, including the following: DRIVERS OF CHANGE Population growth and consumption–11 Action for River Kennet Natural England Environmental awareness–12 Aspire Defence National Trust Bumblebee Conservation Trust North Wessex Downs AONB Planning and development–12 Butterfly Conservation RSPB Invasive species, pests and diseases–13 Campaign for Better Transport RWE npower Climate change–14 Center Parcs Salisbury GreenSpace Partnership Politics, science and technology–15 Community First Sustrans Cotswolds AONB Swindon Borough Council Cotswolds Water Park Trust Swindon & Wiltshire HABITATS AND WILDLIFE Countryside Access Forum Local Enterprise Partnership CPRE Thames Water Land uses and habitat types–17 Cranborne Chase and Wessex Chalk Forum Wildlife species–19 West Wiltshire Downs AONB Wessex Water Landscape Biodiversity Areas–20 English Heritage Wiltshire Assembly of Youth Wildlife sites–22 Environment Agency Wiltshire Council The Environment Bank Wiltshire Public Health Forestry Commission Wiltshire Wildlife Trust NATURE'S SERVICES GreenSquare Group Wiltshire & Swindon Johns Associates Biological Records Centre Regulating our environment–25 | | | | Landmarc Support Services Ltd Woodland Trust climate air, soil and water quality pollination flood risk waste National Farmers Union – Wiltshire Providing goods–29 food | wood | building materials | water For more information please visit www.link2nature.org.uk email [email protected] or telephone (01380) 736095 Benefiting culture and society–31 historic environment | green space | military activity | landscape State of the Environment Wiltshire and Swindon 2013 GAPS IN OUR KNOWLEDGE–35 The report has been based on evidence from a range of existing sources, most of which are publicly ( available. It has not aimed to be comprehensive and many gaps in the evidence are highlighted. FRONT FRONT In some cases, data does exist but not in a format that could be accessed and interpreted within the time available. Further information is available in the Environment section of the Wiltshire For the purposes of this report, Wiltshire and Swindon C Intelligence Network: www.intelligencenetwork.org.uk are used to refer to those areas within the boundaries OVER The report was prepared by Jenny Hawley, Environmental Intelligence Officer at Wiltshire of Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, Wildlife Trust, with thanks to all those who contributed funding, data, analysis and comments; ) unless stated otherwise. EXPLORING AT AVEBURY: AVEBURY: AT EXPLORING with special thanks to Dame Fiona Reynolds. The report and associated work was funded by Natural England, Wiltshire Council and Public Health Wiltshire. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust works to create living landscapes across Wiltshire and Swindon and to lead and support the transition of society towards more sustainable living. We are committed to ensuring that our work is based on sound knowledge and evidence, and that we use this to inform and influence decisions by others. We own or manage 37 nature reserves (967 hectares of land) that provide havens for wild plants and animals, and places for people to experience nature. C AROLINE ROBSON ROBSON AROLINE We have 18,000 members and supporters, and more than 1,000 volunteers. WILTSHIRE COUN WILTSHIRE ww C IL T 2 STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT WILTSHIRE AND SWINDON 2013 WWW.INTELLIGENCENETWORK.ORG.UK FOR MORE INFORMATION AND SOURCES 3 SETTING THE SCENE SETTING THE SCENE Setting the scene FOREWORD INTRODUCTION D C A AROLINE ROBSON ROBSON AROLINE This second report for Wiltshire and Swindon Finally, this report brings to light the limits It’s too easy to put these issues in a box VI D labelled ‘the environment’ and simply hope takes us another important step forward in of our knowledge and the worrying gaps that L EVINSON they go away. But that isn’t going to happen. understanding our local natural environment. exist in the data. Important decisions are being If we diminish our natural resources we The 2012 report gave a fascinating overview made about the future of our environment on diminish our capability and richness in every across a range of issues. This new report the basis of incomplete knowledge, which could sense, including that of our society and our connects those issues together, presenting lead to mistakes being made with irreversible economy. That’s why it’s so useful to think new data and new analysis. It shows how our consequences. More research is needed into ww in terms of ecosystems and the services they environment works as a system, or ‘ecosystem’, certain issues and a full ecosystems assessment provide to us all. T with each element dependent on the others. of our local area would help ensure that decisions This new approach is also exciting as It shows how many aspects of our lives are are based on the best possible understanding it provides us with solutions. It helps us to dependent on the services that our environment of their impact. We must also take advantage work across sectors – with business, charities, provides. From the basics such as food, water of progress elsewhere to put a quantifiable value government, local communities – to find and clean air, to the wonders of our landscapes on our environment and its services. This will ways forward that are genuinely sustainable and wildlife, we are all fundamentally help ensure that the environment is considered economically, socially and environmentally. connected to nature. on equal terms with social and economic issues It’s good to know that Link2Nature is working Yet our local environment is not something that are more easily given a financial value. to do just that. And these solutions are already that we can examine in a detached way; we are happening: as this report shows, we’re reducing all partly responsible for its current state, good Dr Gary Mantle mbe the amount of CO2 and waste produced per and bad. The drivers of change identified here person, increasing recycling and composting are almost all human-induced, whether in the Chair of Link2Nature and at a phenomenal rate, farmers are making a spread of invasive plants from our gardens into Director of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust For seven years, Swindon was at the heart That’s why this new State of the Environment difference through agri-environment schemes, our rivers, or the unsustainable consumption of my working life. In 2005, I was among report is so important. Valuing our environment the Water Framework Directive is bringing of food, energy, water and consumer goods hundreds of staff moving into the National isn’t just about enjoying landscapes and wildlife. new investment to restore our rivers, and rare that has become the norm in our modern lives. Trust’s new office in Swindon’s Brunel Railway It’s about recognising and valuing the whole habitats are protected by Wiltshire Wildlife Taking note of the evidence is not enough; we Yards. For many of us it was a culture shock, range of services that our environment provides Trust and others. This is good news, yet there must also use it to switch to more sustainable but it was great to see how quickly everyone – including the essentials of food, drinking is so much more to do. ways of living, working and travelling. adapted to our new urban habitat and we soon water and fresh air. This report gives us the information and discovered many ways to connect with nature. In order to fully appreciate our environment, a compelling platform for action. Let’s go. A view of trees out of the window, local parks we need to have facts and figures about the and paths for a lunchtime walk and bigger spaces condition of our rivers, woods and farmland, such as Lydiard Park for a team-building day. whether they’re getting worse or better and We all need to have easy access to nature, where best to focus our efforts to improve whoever and wherever we are. However busy them. We need to have up-to-date evidence and difficult things get for me, I know I at our fingertips and this report gives us just Dame Fiona Reynolds only have to go out for a walk to become that. It is an invaluable resource, highlighting re-energised and find the resilience to tackle issues we cannot ignore. Master of Emmanuel College, Cambridge the challenges that lie ahead. The drivers of change in particular grabbed University; former Director-General of the Walking really matters to me and I cover my attention. The rate of population growth National Trust (2001–2012); Non-Executive many miles a week. On three occasions I’ve in Wiltshire and Swindon is significant: the Board member of Wessex Water and chair completed the the 26 mile Sarsen Trail, implications – for housing, water, energy, food, of Wessex Water Sustainability Panel; organised each year by Wiltshire Wildlife transport and waste – potentially staggering. Senior Non-Executive Director of the Trust.
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