Page 1 of 70 Reading Biodiversity Action Plan Draft for consultation 27 February 2020 1. Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................................ 4 2. Biodiversity ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5 What is biodiversity? .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Why is biodiversity important? .................................................................................................................................................. 5 What is a Biodiversity Action Plan? ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Why does Reading need a Biodiversity Action Plan? ......................................................................................................................... 5 The 2006 Reading BAP ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 What is the vision for Reading’s biodiversity? ................................................................................................................................ 6 How is the BAP structured, what are its aims, and who will it be used by? .............................................................................................. 6 3. Policy and legislation .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 4. The state of biodiversity ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 International context ............................................................................................................................................................. 8 National context .................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Local context ...................................................................................................................................................................... 8 5. Habitats ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Habitat classifications ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 An overview of habitats in Reading ........................................................................................................................................... 10 Woodland, trees and hedgerows ............................................................................................................................................... 11 Grasslands ......................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Watercourses ..................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Page 2 of 70 6. Designations .................................................................................................................................................................... 18 National Character Areas ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 Biodiversity Opportunity Areas................................................................................................................................................. 18 Statutory Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation .................................................................................................................... 18 Local Wildlife Sites .............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Green Links ....................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Green Infrastructure............................................................................................................................................................. 19 Species ............................................................................................................................................................................ 20 7. Stakeholders ................................................................................................................................................................... 21 Who owns and manages land in Reading? .................................................................................................................................... 21 Other stakeholders .............................................................................................................................................................. 21 Berkshire’s Local Nature Partnership ......................................................................................................................................... 22 Neighbouring authorities ........................................................................................................................................................ 22 8. Themes for action ............................................................................................................................................................. 23 A) Legislation ..................................................................................................................................................................... 23 B) Designated Sites .............................................................................................................................................................. 23 C) Planning and building control ............................................................................................................................................... 24 D) Woodlands, trees & hedgerows ............................................................................................................................................. 25 E) Grasslands and road verges ................................................................................................................................................. 27 F) The two rivers, their floodplains and other watercourses .............................................................................................................. 28 G) Management of council projects and the sale of land .................................................................................................................. 33 H) Education, access to nature, public engagement & volunteering ..................................................................................................... 34 I) Ecological records ............................................................................................................................................................. 36 J) Species and habitat specific actions ....................................................................................................................................... 36 K) Connectivity ................................................................................................................................................................... 37 L) Coordinated approach across council departments and within policy documents .................................................................................. 37 Page 3 of 70 M) Global biodiversity – what can the council do? .......................................................................................................................... 37 N) Ongoing review ............................................................................................................................................................... 38 Appendix 1 – Figures ............................................................................................................................................................... 39 Figure 1 – Phase 1 habitat types in Reading .................................................................................................................................. 40 Figure 2 – Designated sites, priority habitats and ancient woodland ..................................................................................................... 41 Figure 3 – Rivers .................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Figure 4 – woodland ownership in Reading ..................................................................................................................................