Natural Areas in the East of England Region helping to set the regional agenda for nature Introduction egional strategies and policy The conservation of nature is a key local and national priorities for nature documents are being drawn test of policy in all three facets of into the Regional decision-making R up by the newly-created sustainable development, the social, framework. It contains information of Regional organisations. These are the economic and the environmental. direct relevance to the development required to encompass the protection While its role in the environment is of Regional Planning Guidance and and management of the environment self evident, it also has social Single Programming Documents to by applying the principles of implications through the spiritual, support the delivery of European sustainable development. cultural and recreational value of Union Structural Funding, people’s experience of the natural regeneration funding and other This document has been produced world; and economic implications economic and social programmes. by English Nature, the Government through the provision of exploitable body that promotes the conservation resources and the attractiveness to The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries of wildlife and natural features investors of high quality and Food, the Environment Agency, throughout England. It is for use by environments. the country forestry organisations, the Regional Development Agency, local authorities and statutory and the Government Regional Office If we are serious about achieving other agencies involved in land use and the Regional Chambers, when sustainable development, then and land management issues will also making Regional policy. We hope understanding the priorities for the find it relevant and, we hope, of value. that it will provide a starting point conservation of the biodiversity and for discussion with our network of Earth heritage resource of the Region We envisage that this document can Regional Lead Teams, who can is therefore essential. This report is a therefore be used at a number of key provide valuable support, and links first step towards that understanding, points within the Regional strategy- into wider partnerships. and provides the basis for integrating making and planning process. Shrubby sea-blite carpet at Blakeney, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature East of England Region Introduction 3 Natural Areas as a Regional framework for nature English Nature has divided England into a series of Natural Areas. Their boundaries are based on the distribution of wildlife and natural features and the land use patterns and human history of each area. They do not follow administrative boundaries but relate instead to variations in the character of the landscape. They reflect our cultural heritage and are central to English Nature’s organisational strategy Beyond 2000. We worked with the Countryside Commission (soon to become the Countryside Agency) to identify a joint approach to the characterisation of the countryside into locally distinctive units called character areas. Where the wildlife and natural features are similar between adjacent character areas we have merged them into one Natural Area - so, a Natural Area may contain several character areas that are considered to be different landscape types. Natural Areas offer a more effective framework for the planning and achievement of nature conservation objectives than do administrative boundaries. Although they are not formal Wormley Hoddesdonpark Woods, Hertfordshire. Peter Wakely/English Nature designations they are now recognised in Government Planning Policy Guidance Relevant Government Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) (PPG) and other statutory advice. PPG 7: The Countryside: environmental quality and economic and Within this framework, we have defined a social development comprehensive set of issues, each with PPG 9: Nature Conservation associated objectives that can provide the PPG 11: Regional Planning Guidance basis for regional policies and associated PPG 12: Development Plans and Regional Planning Guidance actions, and these are set out in the (presently under review) sections which follow. We believe that PPG 13: Transport these can begin to provide a platform for progress and a means to establish Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Policy Guidance: Policy partnerships to plan for the protection appraisal and the environment (DETR, 1998). and management of our biodiversity and geological assets. East of England Region Introduction 4 such as trees, hedges, grass strips, development that impacts on ditches, that may be destroyed, or natural processes; etc.) fragmented be fully ● Is there scope for the enhancement compensated/mitigated for? of geological interest? (e.g. ● Do any plant and tree planting Through the improvement of programmes use an appropriate geological exposures or features; mix of species native to the the creation of additional geological Natural Area in question? exposures or features, etc.) ● Will any habitat be in danger of abandonment, under management, change or intensification of Environmental good management? (e.g. Overgrazing, practice for nature loss of crop rotations and arable- ● Has an environmental impact pasture mosaics; shift from spring assessment been carried out? sown to autumn sown cereals, loss ● Will post implementation impacts of winter stubbles, application of be assessed and managed by artificial fertiliser, etc. - leading to regular review and monitoring impacts on associated farmland programmes? species) ● Will any habitat be in danger of a secondary or indirect damage? (e.g. Community Wetland or aquatic habitats and ecosystems in danger of drying out, involvement for nature loss or degradation as a result of ● Will all sections of the community over-abstraction of surface and be consulted as part of the Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire. groundwaters, pollution and decision making process? Peter Wakely/English Nature eutrophication of surface and ● Have the needs of local to gain access to nature and groundwaters; development in a communities for access to, and wildspace? flood plain which may require experience of, nature been taken ● Will there be a contribution to canalisation of watercourses into account? improving the quality of life by impacting on river valley wetlands ● Does the project help vulnerable, local inhabitants, for example: and aquatic ecosystems; coastal disadvantaged or excluded groups through improved general access to nature, but in particular on foot or by public transport? Designated areas ● Will local distinctiveness for National/International Nature Conservation Designations: nature be valued, and community Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and cultural identity be National Nature Reserves (NNR) strengthened? Special Protection Areas (SPA) ● Will community enterprises for Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) nature be encouraged? Ramsar Sites Local Nature Conservation Designations (often non-statutory but recognised in local plans, PPG and other similar documents): Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC - locally other terms may be used) Local Nature Reserves (LNR) Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) (Modified and adapted from a document Non-statutory nature reserves produced by the Environment & Energy Management Team, Government Office for the South West). East of England Region Annex 1 33 Annex 1: Benchmarks for nature he conservation of nature is plan, nature conservation strategy Biodiversity and Earth a key test of sustainable or priority setting document for heritage T development. The list nature; any Government Planning below provides a set of questions to Policy Guidance or Regional ● Will any areas with be applied as positive indicators for Planning Guidance; Local local/national/international biodiversity and Earth heritage, Development Plans/Unitary designation for nature where relevant strategies, policies, Development Plans/Structure conservation be affected or projects and programmes are under Plans/etc? directly damaged? consideration. These may include ● Is there active contribution to the ● Is there scope for the developments such as agricultural resolution of Natural Area issues enhancement of biodiversity improvement or intensification, and the delivery of UK, Regional through the provision of: coastal and flood defence works and and Local Biodiversity Action Plan opportunities for achieving the water abstraction, as well as built targets and Natural Area objectives? targets for priority habitats and development or infrastructure such ● Has there been an appraisal of the species in the context of UK, as roads, rail and energy. environmental impact of policies, Regional and Local Biodiversity plans and programmes within Action Plans; improved habitat Regional strategic documents? and/or the creation of additional Policy links (See: the eight step approach in habitat for plants and animals, ● Is there compatibility with Department of the Environment, appropriate to the local character? relevant policies within: any Transport and the Regions Policy ● Will any non-designated habitat local/regional Biodiversity Action Guidance: ‘Policy Appraisal and such as woodland, grassland and Plan, sustainable development the Environment’, DETR 1998) other vegetation, linking habitats Hunstanton Cliffs, Norfolk. Peter Wakely/English Nature East of England Region Annex 1 32 Objectives for sustainable development and sh a 103 Old Hunstanton nature conservation in e