The Biodiversity Action Plan for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames was written by the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership. Contact Richmond Biodiversity Partnership South West London Environment Network ETNA Community Centre 13 Rosslyn Road Twickenham TW1 2AR © Cover photos by Charlotte Williams, Nigel Reeve, Mike Waite, Robert Jones, Eniko Blitzer, Mark Freeman, Julie Hill, Lucy Cuttler, Andrew Wilson, Theo Llewellyn. Executive Summary This Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames (LBRuT) sets out the framework for the protection, conservation and enhancement of wildlife within the borough. Through its implementation, the plan protects and manages habitats and species of national, regional or local significance, or those that are in the Red Data Books and on the Red Lists. It is also used by Richmond Council’s Planning Department to ensure the impact of new developments and changes to existing developments are minimised to the species and habitats featured in the LBAP. This strategy document is a comprehensive revision building on the successes of the previous plan which was launched in June 2005 and updated in 2011. It is a collaborative effort by the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership (RBP), which also oversees its implementation and works on achieving the targets and actions set out in the plan. The main aims of this Richmond upon Thames Biodiversity Action Plan are: 1. To conserve and enhance the variety of habitats and species in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in particular those which are of international or national importance, are in decline locally, are characteristic to the borough and/or have particular public appeal, which can raise the profile of biodiversity. 2. To ensure that Richmond upon Thames’ residents become aware of, and are given the opportunity to become involved in, conserving and enhancing the biodiversity around them. 3. To raise awareness and increase stakeholder involvement in maintaining and, where possible, enhancing species and habitats of importance. Over the past 13 years, much has been achieved in terms of understanding, conserving and enhancing local biodiversity. However, species and habitats highlighted in this BAP remain threatened, mainly by factors related to human activities. In addition to individual habitat action plans (HAP) and species action plans (SAP) the LBAP identifies a set of generic actions needed. These focus on public engagement, promotion of the plan to a wider audience as well as monitoring and data sharing. Actions also aim at ensuring the LBAP is taken into account in planning decisions, scrutinising any reports prepared for these decisions, and requiring mitigation for increased urban surfaces in any development to offset further urbanization. Preparing a connectivity strategy and map of LBRuT identifying key habitats, known features (e.g. bat roosts), good/poor connectivity, light pollution etc. is another overarching target for the plan. Each habitat and species action plan sets out specific aims, assesses the current status and specific factors affecting the habitat/species, and identifies actions needed to ensure habitats are maintained and, where necessary, enhanced, and for species to survive and thrive in the borough. The priority habitats in LBRuT are ancient and veteran trees, broadleaved woodland, hedgerows, lowland acid grassland, neutral grassland, private gardens, reedbeds, rivers and streams, and the tidal Thames. These habitats are also of regional and national importance. The priority species in LBRuT are bats, native black poplar, hedgehogs, house sparrows, song thrushes, stag beetles, swifts, tower mustard, water voles and white-letter hairstreak and elm. These species are also of regional and national, and, in some cases, international importance. The plan also includes a pollinator action plan that specifies the actions needed to help reverse the decline in pollinator populations in the borough. The continued success of this plan lies in its implementation. In a collaborative effort, we can ensure Richmond upon Thames remains rich in wildlife and a green and pleasant urban borough not only for our benefit but also for generations to come. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Richmond 1 Acknowledgements I would like to thank all members of the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership who have contributed and helped to compile this Biodiversity Action Plan for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. I am grateful for everyone’s knowledge, enthusiasm, efforts, time, help and support in updating and putting this document together. This is testament to the strong working relationship built through the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership over the past 13 years. Having the support and dedication of all partners will ensure that the actions set out in each of the Species and Habitat Action Plans will be implemented, making this LBAP a successful one. I would particularly like to thank Daija Angeli, Paula Cole and Ana Meyer at SWLEN who have coordinated and authored the BAP as well as Alice Theibault and Vicky Philips for their proofreading. The species and action plan leads: Philip Briggs, Rob Gray, Ian McKinnon, Mike Hildesley, Richard Bullock, Jamie Simpson, Rebecca Law, Gareth Ryman, Laura Brackenbury, Stephen James, Paul Losse, Julia Balfour, Bill Downey, John Hatto, Simon Richards, and Adam Curtis. Thank you to the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership Members, particularly Tasha Hunter, Charlotte Williams, Janet Quested, Nicholas Garbutt, Sharon Morgan, Will Dartnell, Frances Bennett, Peter Burrows-Smith, Alison Fure, Adrian Podmore, Mary-Clare Sheehan, Roger Joiner and Jason Debney. I would also like to thank the London Borough Richmond upon Thames Council for its financial contribution covering the printing and publication of this Biodiversity Action Plan and associated leaflets, via the Civic Pride Fund. Colin Cooper Chair of Richmond Biodiversity Partnership South West London Environment Network To get involved in Richmond’s Biodiversity Action Plan and for further information please contact: Colin Cooper South West London Environment Network ETNA Community Centre 13 Rosslyn Road Twickenham TW1 2AR E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 8892 0590 Website: https://swlen.org.uk/our-work/biodiversity/ The Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Richmond 2 Members of the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership The Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Richmond 3 Table of contents Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................... 1 Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... 2 Members of the Richmond Biodiversity Partnership .......................................................................... 3 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5 Ancient and Veteran Trees ............................................................................................................. 21 Broadleaved Woodland ................................................................................................................... 29 Hedgerows ..................................................................................................................................... 45 Lowland Acid Grassland ................................................................................................................. 54 Neutral Grassland ........................................................................................................................... 67 Private Gardens .............................................................................................................................. 75 Reedbeds ....................................................................................................................................... 85 Rivers and Streams ........................................................................................................................ 96 Tidal Thames ................................................................................................................................ 104 Bats .............................................................................................................................................. 123 Native Black Poplar ...................................................................................................................... 130 Hedgehogs ................................................................................................................................... 136 House Sparrow ............................................................................................................................. 144 Song Thrush ................................................................................................................................. 152 Stag Beetle ................................................................................................................................... 162 Swift .............................................................................................................................................. 168 Tower Mustard .............................................................................................................................. 175 Water Vole ...................................................................................................................................