Declaration of Beggarwood Park as a Local Nature Reserve Cllr Ruffell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure

Report to Portfolio Holder report for decision Ward(s): Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Key Decision: No Appendix 1: and Deane criteria for LNR Designation Appendix 2 Beggarwood Local Nature Reserve Boundary Map Appendix 3:Natural Confirmation Letter of Support for Beggarwood LNR

Appendix 4: Declaration of Beggarwood Park Local Nature Reserve Papers relied on: Portfolio Holder Report – Local Nature Reserves –Request for Designation DN37/2013 Report to Cabinet- Response to petition received seeking to declare Old Down and Beggarwood Park as Local Nature Reserves DN37/2015 Portfolio Holder Report – Local Nature Reserves – Priority List for Declaration DN 62/2015 Portfolio Holder Report – Proposed Local Nature Reserves – Beggarwood Consultation

Foreword - Cllr Mark Ruffell, Cabinet Member for Planning and Infrastructure . The declaration of Beggarwood Local Nature Reserve fulfils the councils commitment to “maintain and enhance our built and natural environment”, through increasing biodiversity on council managed land and increasing volunteer involvement in the site. The declaration is part of an ongoing council strategy to create a number of Local Nature Reserves through the borough furthering the protection and enhancement of the natural environment. It will protect and enhance the diversity and quality of the wildlife which is already present, including ancient woodlands and newly formed chalk grasslands. It will reflect the effort invested by the local volunteer wildlife group into the management of the park and the new LNR management plan will encourage greater involvement and participation by volunteers, and users in learning about and managing the sites special habitats and species, which will further the local communities ownership of Beggarwood LNR.

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Recommendation to Cabinet / Council:

. That Beggarwood Park is formally declared as a Local Nature Reserve and that it will be managed in accordance with the Green Space Management Plan for the site.

2 of 13 1 Background, corporate objectives and priorities

1.1 The declaration of Beggarwood Park as a Local Nature Reserve (LNR), follows Decision Notice 62/2015 which set out a priority list of sites for the council to declare LNRs and identified Beggarwood Park as the highest priority site to commence the declaration process.

1.2 Following public consultation the decision, (Proposed Local Nature Reserve- Beggarwood Consultation, 7th October 2016) was approved to declare the whole of Beggarwood Park as a LNR subject to the outcome of stakeholder consultation, accommodating planned activities/facilities and the satisfactory completion of the statutory consultation process with Natural England.

1.3 Between November 2016 to April 2017, consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders (local ward members and local interest groups associated with Beggarwood Park) to define the boundary of the area to be declared. This excludes parts of the park which are to be used for a community facility, play areas and allotments. Following the agreement of the boundary, the management plan was sent to Natural England (NE) for inspection and consultation. Support for the declaration of Beggarwood Park as an LNR was received from NE on the 12th June 2017.

1.4 The declaration of the LNR at Beggarwood Park will recognise the sites importance for Nature Conservation and establish management regimes which will improve the sites importance for wildlife and increase the public enjoyment and involvement of that wildlife in line with the Council Plan policy to ‘maintain and enhance our built and natural environment’.

Glossary of terms

Term Definition An LNR is a statutory declaration that can be made by the borough council after liaising with Natural England and consulting the local community and interest groups. An LNR is Local Nature defined as ‘land managed as a nature reserve or for a Reserve conservation purpose’. This means that LNRs need to be actively managed to care for the natural features which make the site special. SINCs form part of a wider national network of non-statutory locally valued wildlife sites. A site may qualify as a SINC due to Sites of the presence of a notable species or an important habitat. Importance for SINCs are generally administered by local authorities in Nature partnership with conservation organisations. All sites are Conservation assessed against detailed criteria developed by HCC, Natural (SINCs) England and the & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.

3 of 13 Main considerations

2 Executive Summary

2.1 This purpose of this report is to set out the proposal for declaring Beggarwood Park as a LNR arising from an action contained within Decision Notice 62/2015. This sought to create a priority list for declaration of LNRs.

2.2 Beggarwood Park was identified as the highest priority site to be declared as an LNR following assessment against criteria (See Appendix A) as laid out in Decision Notice 37/2015.

3 The Proposal

3.1 The proposal is to declare the area identified on the plan contained at Appendix 2 at Beggarwood Park as a LNR under the wording derived from the National Park Act 1949 contained in Appendix 4. Once declared it will be subject to Section 21 of the National Parks and Access Act 1949 which states that the main aim of management of the site must be for the natural features which make the site special.

3.2 Beggarwood Park is a large neighbourhood park located between Hatch Warren and Beggarwood, to the south of Basingstoke, originally laid out in the late 1990’s as an open space for the use of local residents. There are a number of facilities within the park including allotments, children’s play, a kickabout area, a BMX cycle track, a maze and gym equipment. A new community facility is in the process of being constructed and the site also provides pedestrian and cycle links to adjacent areas. Whilst the LNR declaration will give more focus to nature conservation interests, it will also consider the needs of these other uses.

3.3 The site’s nature interest is intrinsically high with the following important habitats and species present:

 An Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland borders the site to the north and is already a designated Site of Importance for Nature Conservation  Dormice – A UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species (BAP) utilise the Ancient Semi-Natural woodland  Small Blue – A UK rare butterfly using the open grassland  Skylark – A UK and Hampshire BAP Species using the open grassland  Linnet – A UK and Hampshire BAP Species using the woodland edge and scrub  House Sparrow – A UK BAP Species

3.4 The management of the site is currently guided by a management plan, which has been reviewed and amended to reflect the proposed declaration. Increased emphasis on management for nature and the public enjoyment, education and involvement with nature have been written into the sites policies, objectives and actions. The plan will be reviewed every 10 years to

4 of 13 make sure they are in line with council policies and requirements for an LNR under the National Park and Access Act.

3.5 Management of the site is currently undertaken by the council’s Operations and Natural Environment teams with significant input from the Old Down and Beggarwood Wildlife Group. The latter have contributed volunteer time to both the development of the management plan and on-site work groups. It is intended to continue with this arrangement following the declaration.

4 Key issues for consideration

 The declaration of Beggarwood Park as a LNR will enable a long term, stable, management regime (25 years minimum) which will improve natural habitats and the species which live within them. It will lead to greater volunteer involvement in nature conservation on the site and put this on a more recognised footing and encourage local schools and other children’s groups to use the site for learning about the natural environment.  The declaration will fulfil the original request for a LNR on this site requested by The Old Down and Beggarwood Wildlife Group under report DN37/2013 and supported by the priority List for Declaration of LNRs exercise undertaken in report DN 62/2015.  The site already has a rich natural resource with ancient woodland which holds populations of nationally protected dormice. It also has a rapidly developing chalk grassland which is starting to develop a diverse insect community including a major population of rare small blue butterflies.  The LNR covers all areas of Beggarwood Park except those that have primary uses which do not focus on nature conservation. These include the community facility and car park, a play area, BMX track and the allotments (indicated in blue on appendix 2) .The boundary also omits the woodland corridor which runs north from the park maze to Long Cross Lane.  The LNR will be subject to the bylaws already enacted on Beggarwood Park and will be declared as an LNR for a minimum of 25 years.

5 Options Analysis

5.1 There are two options that could be taken, as follows:

a) To not declare an LNR at Beggarwood Park. This approach has been rejected as it would not reflect the outcomes of previous decisions as well as the desire locally for an LNR declaration.

b) To declare Beggarwood Park as an LNR.

The preferred option as indicated by public consultation and following consultation with key stakeholders is to declare Beggarwood Park as an LNR

5 of 13 with the omission of the community centre and car park, the play area and the allotments. This offers the best way to manage the intrinsic high biodiversity value of the site whilst recognising the other uses that occur on the site.

Corporate implications

6 Legal Implications

6.1 The Council has power to declare a Local Nature Reserve on its land under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

6.2 The protection of the Nature Reserve is by way of prosecution under Byelaws relating to the Reserve which can be made under the 1949 Act which relates specifically to Nature Reserves

7 Financial implications

7.1 The declaration of the Local Nature Reserve at Beggarwood Park will not have any financial implications as the site will continue to be managed within the council’s existing resources.

8 Risk management

8.1 A risk assessment has been completed in accordance with the council’s risk management process and has identified no significant (Red or Amber) residual risks that cannot be fully minimised by existing or planned controls or additional procedures.

9 Equalities implications

9.1 The proposals set out in this report have been considered in relation to the Public Sector Equality Duty (Equality Act 2010). It can be concluded that, as the LNR will involve people in their local natural history and improvements, and enhance the enjoyment of the area, it is positive for a range of communities and protected characteristics groups.

10 Consultation and communication

10.1 The process for declaring a site as a Local Nature Reserve, requires consultation and communication with relevant parties. Throughout the process, the local wildlife group and local ward members have been kept informed about the project. In order to assess the local desire for declaration, a public consultation exercise covering residents in Hatch Warren and Beggarwood was carried out on line and via a letter drop.

11 HR implications

11.1 There are no HR implications arising from this report.

Conclusion

6 of 13 12 Summary and reason for the decision

12.1 The consultation with ward councillors and stakeholders resulted in support for the whole of the park being included within the LNR excluding those areas which have an alternative recreational or community use. A re-alignment of the site management plan was undertaken to recognise the site as an LNR and factors in actions related to nature conservation and public involvement. This was submitted to Natural England who have supplied a written letter of support for the declaration.

12.2 Previous council reports show Beggarwood Park scored highest in the accepted LNR declaration list (DN62/2015) due to its nature conservation value and public accessibility and received public support following consultation for the whole park to be declared an LNR. This was then accepted in the Portfolio Holder decision dated 17th October 2016.

13 The options considered and rejected

The option to not declare Beggarwood Park as a Local Nature Reserve was rejected as it would not reflect the previous approval of the LNR declaration list (DN62/2015)

Date: Decision taken by: Portfolio Holder for Planning and Infrastructure

Lead officer Colin Rowland, Head of Environmental Services Christopher Slack, Biodiversity Officer Report author E.mail: [email protected] Tel: 01256 845261 Version Draft for comment Dated 17/7/2016 Status Open It is considered that information contained within this report (and appendices) do not contain exempt information under the meaning Confidentiality of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and therefore can be made public.

7 of 13 Appendix 1 Criteria for LNR Declaration

LNRs can be declared under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949. To establish a LNR, the declaring authority must:  Have a legal interest in the land i.e. own the freehold, have a leasehold or have a formal management agreement with the landowner.  Ensure that the land is within its administrative area or where it overlaps with an adjacent local authority, have the full agreement of that authority.

In order that the council can approach declaration in a structured and co-ordinated manner, a set of criteria has been developed in order to assess sites that are potentially worthy of consideration. These have been developed following the guidance published by Natural England (NE301: Local Nature Reserves in England: A guide to their selection and declaration).

The criteria follow a two stage process and can be applied to all of a site, or part of a site if there are areas that cannot be included due to particular characteristics or other provisions that prevent nature conservation management.

Stage A The first stage seeks to ensure that any site has the potential to provide access to nature and to establish that the site can be safeguarded as an LNR for a period of time. In order to establish nature conservation interest, sites worthy of further consideration will need to fulfil any one of three criteria:-  Is the site of high value locally for environmental education and/or research?  Is the site of natural interest locally?  Is the site of reasonable natural interest and of high value locally for enjoyment of nature by the public?

In addition, the short, medium and long term plans for a site must be taken into account. Natural England guidance recommends that the availability of a site as an LNR is safeguarded for a period of time in order that significant investment in management for this purpose is not wasted.

Stage B This part of the process involves a more detailed assessment of the nature conservation and community/public value of sites so that a priority list for declaration can be produced with those sites most worthy being considered first. This assessment includes scoring of a number of criteria using, where possible, thresholds that are considered to be best practice for habitat surveying.

In general, any site must be at least two hectares in size, as Natural England considers that this is the smallest size that a site can be to provide reasonable nature conservation interest to the public. Smaller sites can be considered but justification for this would need to be provided.

A more detailed assessment of the nature conservation interests then needs to be made in relation to the presence and extent of priority habitats, notable species or national/local nature declaration status. A site would also need to be a viable unit that

8 of 13 can be managed appropriately, including having sufficient space for specialist machinery to access the site.

Sites would also be assessed for their potential nature conservation contribution to local communities and users. The presence of local groups interested in being involved in site management, the provision of public access and the potential of sites to provide benefits in areas currently without an LNR, would all be evaluated.

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Appendix 2: Beggarwood Local Nature Reserve Boundary Map

10 of 13 Appendix 3: Natural England confirmation Letter of Support for Beggarwood LNR declaration

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12 of 13 Appendix 4: Declaration of Beggarwood Park Local Nature Reserve

Declaration

National Park and Access to the Countryside Act 1949

The Beggarwood Park Nature Reserve Declaration No.9 2017

In pursuance of Sections 19 and 21 of the above-mentioned Act, and all other powers enabling them in that behalf, the Borough Council hereby declares that the land containing 22ha or thereabouts situated in the ward of Hatch Warren and Beggarwood in the County of Hampshire and shown edged red on the attached plan has been acquired by the Council AND in pursuance of Section 19 (2) of the above-mentioned Act and all other powers aforesaid the Council hereby further declare that the said land is being managed as a Nature Reserve. This declaration is referred to as the Beggarwood Park Nature Reserve No 9.

Declaration 2017

Given under the Common Seal of the Council this day of Two thousand and seventeen

(Signed)………………………………………. (Signed)……………………………………….

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