DORSET LNP ANNUAL REPORT 2018 - 2019 LNP ANNUAL REPORT FOREWORD Foreword P2 We are currently in a period of not just unprecedented Governance, Communication and Resources political change but also, as a result, unparalleled Governance, Communication and Resources P2 environmental change. In central government the LNP Board Meetings production of a 25 year plan for the natural environment, The LNP Board met four times during 2018- Natural Capital P3 promises of environment, fisheries and agriculture acts, 19 on 6 June, 12 September, 12 December 2018 and and changes expected in land stewardship payments all 13 March 2019. The June Board meeting was held on have huge implication for our natural environment. In Brownsea Island and Local Pollinators Case Studies Dorset the formation of two unitary local authorities, the included a guided production of a Local Industrial Strategy by the Dorset walk around the TPAL Conference LEP similarly impacts our environment. A much greater understanding of the value of environment for our health reserve followed by Natural Value P3 and wellbeing draws us closer to the work of the Health delicious cakes from & Wellbeing Boards, Local Authority teams and health and the National Trust. Working with Dorset LEP social care providers. Support for environmental net gain in development planning and for building natural capital For more information: www.dorsetlnp.org.uk/Dorset-LNP-Board Natural Health P4 gives huge opportunities for partnerships, such as with NE, EA, several NGOs and the Catchment Partnerships. (or contact the LNP Manager)

Wessex Public Health Community Fellowship There has then never been a busier time for Dorset’s Funding and Natural Choices LNP – its Board, officers and wider Forum. I am proud During 2018-19 the Dorset LNP was supported by: that despite no central support we are one of the most • Borough of Greenspace Accessibility Mapping successful LNPs in the country and am immensely • Bournemouth Borough Council grateful to those organisations that have contributed • Dorset AONB (Sustainable Development Grant) • Dorset County Council Natural Resilience P4 financial support for our work on behalf of Dorset’s environment – Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole, • Dorset Wildlife Trust • Public Health Dorset Low Carbon Dorset Panel Bournemouth Council, Public Health Dorset and Dorset Wildlife Trust. You can see below a summary of the large • South West Environment Network workplan and list of achievements last year. Natural Understanding P5 Improving Communication Next year looks to be at least as The Dorset LNP twitter account was set up in LNP Annual Forum busy, and the work needed at least November 2015 @dorset_lnp. At the of end March 2019, as important, so we will continue the account had 435 followers. Natural Influence P5 to be ambassadors and facilitators for the natural environment in E-news bulletins were published in April, September and Dorset for some time to come. December. At end March 2019 there were 181 Forum Engaging with Defra Members.

Dr Simon Cripps Above: Meeting on Brownsea Island © Maria Clarke Submissions to consultations and inquiries LNP Chair Left: Simon Cripps © Debbie Dye Common blue on Portland © Mark Heighes Common blue on Portland

2 NATURAL NATURAL CAPITAL VALUE Strategic objective ii: Strategic objective i: TPAL Conference Invest in Dorset’s natural assets Adding natural value to the local economy Dorset LNP has been supporting Bournemouth Local Pollinators Case Studies University Centre for Working with Dorset LEP Following the Local Pollinators project which was funded Ecology, Environment Dorset LNP has worked by a Defra Local Pollinators grant available to LNPs which and Sustainability closely with Dorset Local was awarded in March 2017 a series of case studies about on a NERC Valuing Enterprise Partnership the projects have been published: Nature programme during 2018-19. A joint on ‘Mechanisms and evidence report was • Ansty Wildflower Patch Consequences of Tipping drafted and submitted • East Stour Wildflower Meadow Points in Lowland to a Lords Select • Engaging tenant farmers for the benefit of pollinators Agricultural Landscapes’ Committee on Rural • Engaging communities in Burton Bradstock (TPAL). The research Economy in September. looked at identifying Thank you to Luke Rake, The case studies are available at: which ecosystems LEP Board Member www.dorsetlnp.org.uk/growing-for-pollinators in Dorset are at risk representative on of rapid transitions occurring, to enable appropriate the LNP and Martina management and policy responses to be identified, as well Hanulova, Dorset LEP as looking at the potential impacts of such ecosystem Programme Manager “tipping points” on humans, through changes in the for coordinating the provision of ecosystem benefits. response.

The LNP helped share a questionnaire in Summer 2017 Dorset LNP drafted text for a number of sections within and supported a workshop session in October 2018. the Dorset LEPs Dorset Horizon 2038 – A Vision for Growth The final study workshop was held in April 2019. which will feed into the development of a Local Industrial Strategy for Dorset. Dorset LNP looks forward to The final report was published in summer 2019: working with Dorset LEP in the development of the Local www.dorsetlnp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ Industrial Strategy and link in Natural Capital. TPAL-Dorset-Natural-Capital-Trends-Report-2019.pdf The written response to the Lord Select Committee is available at: https://bit.ly/2EvXf3K

Dorset Horizon 2038 is available at: https://bit.ly/2TstoTh

Above: Pollinator case studies Above: TPAL front cover Above: Dorset Horizon 2038

3 NATURAL NATURAL HEALTH RESILIENCE Strategic objective iii: Strategic objective iv: Developing Dorset’s Natural Health Service Improving Dorset’s resilience

Wessex Public Health Community Fellowship Low Carbon Dorset Panel and Natural Choices Low Carbon Dorset is a three-year programme of The Natural Choices programme of nature-based activities to help stimulate growth in Dorset’s low carbon activities supporting health and wellbeing continues to economy, through technical support and grant funding grow with 27 providers offering around 70 activities for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. across the county. The programme is funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) supporting projects across The Wessex Public Health Community Fellowship is a Bournemouth Dorset and Poole. Dorset LNP was invited programme to raise the profile of public health and the to become a Panel to assess large scale applications community sector with FY2 doctors (year two of the Greenspace Accessibility Mapping (applications for projects over £200,000) and applications general postgraduate medical training programme forming from Dorset County Council / Dorset Council to ensure the bridge between medical school and specialist/general Public Health Dorset commissioned the European Centre transparency in the assessment process. The LNP Panel practice training). The Natural Choices programme for Environment and Human Health at the University met for the first time in January 2019. was put forward and three FY2 doctors undertook of Exeter’s Medical School to undertake a Greenspace an evaluation of Natural Choices across Dorset with Accessibility Mapping research. A Workshop was held More information is available at: targeted interviews with the Dorchester Strollers and for LNP Board members, officers and invited guests in www.lowcarbondorset.org.uk Hardy Hands at Thorncombe Woods. They looked at December 2018. the mental, physical and social benefits in terms of the Natural Choices activities. A GP Trainee also looked at More information is available at: the benefits of Natural Choices activities on loneliness www.publichealthdorset.org.uk/greenspaces and isolation focusing on Livability Holton Lee as well as finding out if GP Trainees knew about the programme.

A presentation event was held in January 2019 to report on findings across all the fellowship projects. Thank you to Doctors Sarah Osafo, Helen Adams, Katherine Conway and Arun Mukkavilli.

The evaluation reports are available at: www.dorsetlnp.org.uk/Natural-Choices

Right (top): PHCF presentation event © Maria Clarke Right (bottom): Greenspace workshop © Maria Clarke Above: Low Carbon Dorset webpage

4 NATURAL NATURAL UNDERSTANDING INFLUENCE Strategic objective v: Strategic objective vi: Understanding natural value Integrating natural value in policy and decision-making

LNP Annual Forum Engaging with Defra Over 60 people attended the LNP Annual Forum held Closer links with Defra have been developed with the on 27 February 2019. The theme for the event was Dorset LNP over the year. The Defra Local Delivery developing a 25 Year Environment Plan for Dorset Team, which oversee links with LNPs, and the 25 Year to demonstrate how the county is delivering the Environment Plan set up a ‘Sounding Board’ and invited Government’s 25 Year Environment Plan. LNP Chairs and Managers to join.

Presentations were given on initial views of Dorset’s Dorset LNP Manager approach and a workshop was held to engage the wider Maria Clarke joined Forum members in the discussion. the group and attended conference calls over the Submissions to consultations and inquiries The presentations are available at: year to discuss improved Local influence: www.dorsetlnp.org.uk/annual-forum-2019-presentations ways of working between • Christchurch Local Plan Issues and Option (May 2018) LNPs and Defra; the • East Dorset Local Plan Issues and Option (May 2018) agenda and planning for a • Poole Local Plan Pre-Submission (Sept 2018) national LNP conference; • West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland Local Plan planning a series of Preferred Options (Oct 2018) webinars for the network • Purbeck Local Plan Pre-Submission (Nov 2018) including one on the Defra • Dorset AONB Management Plan (Oct 2018) 25 Year Environment Plan • Cranbourne Chase Management Plan (Nov 2018) metrics. National influence: Simon Cripps and Maria • Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and Clarke attended the LNP Networking Conference in June the environment in a Green Brexit (May 2018) 2018 to share experiences with other LNPs. • National Planning Policy Framework Review (May 2018) • Marine Conservation Zones: Third Tranche (Jul 2018) • Environmental Principles and Governance after the leaves the European Union (Jul 2018) • Lords Select Committee on Rural Economy - Joint Dorset LEP/LNP submission (Sept 2018) • Glover Review Call for Evidence (Dec 2018) • Defra Net Gain Consultation - Joint LNP Network

Above: LNP Forum 2019 © Maria Clarke Above: 25 Year Environment Plan front cover submission (Feb 2019) Above: Consultation documents

5 Maria Clarke Dorset LNP Manager

Dorset LNP: Brooklands Farm, Forston, Dorset, DT2 7AA [email protected] 01305 264620

During 2018-19 the Dorset LNP was supported by:

DORSET WILDLIFE TRUST

Front Cover Photos © Phil Sterling, Wessex Water, Bournemouth Borough Council, Tim Stephens, CLS Dorset, Steve Kinnersley Back Cover Photos © Emma Rance, Borough of Poole, Alastair Cook, Stewart Canham, CLS Dorset, Tony Bates MBE

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