The Parks Trust Biodiversity Action Plan 2017-2022 1 Contents INTRODUCTION ...............................................................................................................................................3 WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? ........................................................................................................................... 3 ECOSYSTEM SERVICES .............................................................................................................................. 3 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT............................................................................................................................4 EVENTS.................................................................................................................................................. 4 VOLUNTEERS .......................................................................................................................................... 4 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ................................................................................................................... 5 SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................. 5 ADULT EDUCATION .................................................................................................................................. 6 ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY CENTRES ............................................................................................................. 6 LANDSCAPE SCALE CONSERVATION ............................................................................................................ 7 CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES ................................................................................................................ 7 CLIMATE CHANGE ................................................................................................................................... 7 URBAN DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................................ 7 POLLUTION ............................................................................................................................................ 8 INVASIVE SPECIES .................................................................................................................................... 8 DISEASES ............................................................................................................................................... 8 PARTNERSHIP WORK ............................................................................................................................... 8 REPORTING & REVIEWING ........................................................................................................................ 9 GENERIC ACTIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 10 GENERIC ACTION THEME 1: PROPOSED ACTIVITIES AND PROCEDURES .......................................................... 10 SUMMARY OF PRIORITIES FOR DATA ON HABITATS AND SPECIES (AND PRIMARY METHOD) ............................... 10 GENERIC ACTIONS THEME 2: WAYS OF WORKING ................................................................................... 11 WORKING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES ................................................................................................... 11 SITE MANAGEMENT STATEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT PLANS ...................................................................... 11 AGRI-ENVIRONMENT SCHEMES ............................................................................................................... 12 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ........................................................................................................................... 14 CONSERVATION GRAZING ....................................................................................................................... 15 ECOLOGICAL MONITORING ..................................................................................................................... 15 LANDSCAPE SCALE CONSERVATION IN MILTON KEYNES ................................................................................. 16 ACTION PLANS – AN INTRODUCTORY NOTE ................................................................................................. 18 HABITAT ACTION PLAN .................................................................................................................................. 19 HAP01 – ANCIENT SEMI-NATURAL WOODLANDS ......................................................................................... 19 HAP02 – PLANTATION & PLANTED WOODLANDS......................................................................................... 23 HAP03 – SCRUB .................................................................................................................................... 26 HAP04 – PARKLAND AND AGRICULTURAL HEDGEROWS ................................................................................ 29 HAP05 – VETERAN AND NOTABLE TREES .................................................................................................... 32 HAP06 – PONDS.................................................................................................................................... 35 HAP07 – DITCHES AND SMALL WATERCOURSES .......................................................................................... 39 HAP08 – RIVERS AND STREAMS ................................................................................................................ 41 HAP09 – REEDBEDS ............................................................................................................................... 44 HAP10 – MEADOWS .............................................................................................................................. 47 HAP11 – EUTROPHIC STANDING WATER .................................................................................................... 50 HAP12 – TRADITIONAL ORCHARDS ........................................................................................................... 55 SAP01 – BLACK POPLAR (POPULAS NIGRA SSP. BETULIFOLIA) ......................................................................... 57 SAP02 – NARROW-LEAVED EVERLASTING PEA LATHYRUS SYLVESTRIS .............................................................. 59 SAP03 – BUMBLEBEES BOMBUS SPECIES .................................................................................................... 61 1 SAP04 – BLACK HAIRSTREAK SATRIUM PRUNI ............................................................................................. 64 SAP05 – SILVER WASHED FRITILLARY ARGYNNIS PAPHIA ............................................................................... 66 SAP06 – SMALL BLUE CAPIDO MINIMUS .................................................................................................... 69 SAP07 – AMPHIBIANS ............................................................................................................................ 71 SAP08 – REPTILES .................................................................................................................................. 74 SAP09 – DECLINING BIRDS IN THE URBAN LANDSCAPE .................................................................................. 77 SAP10 – WETLAND BIRDS ....................................................................................................................... 79 SAP11 – BIRDS OF PREY (INCLUDING OWLS) ............................................................................................... 82 SAP12 – EUROPEAN BADGER MELES MELES ................................................................................................ 84 SAP13 – EUROPEAN OTTER LUTRA LUTRA .................................................................................................. 86 SAP14 – BATS (PREVIOUSLY NOCTULE BAT) ................................................................................................ 88 SAP15 – WATER VOLE ARVICOLA AMPHIBIUS .............................................................................................. 91 2 Introduction WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY? Biodiversity is the diversity of all life on earth. It refers to all individual species but also to the complex natural systems which develop between species. Biodiversity also refers to genetic variety within species. At the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, 178 nations signed up to Agenda 21. In recognition of the huge losses in biodiversity in the past 100 years Agenda 21 set out a comprehensive programme of action in all areas of sustainable development. The United Kingdom produced its first Biodiversity Action Plan in 1994 and since then county and regional action plans have been produced. The latest version of the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan was produced in 2015. The Parks Trust produced its first Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in 2010, covering the years 2011 to 2016. The BAP has guided The Trust’s work, ensuring that the natural environment and biodiversity are always considered in our operations. This document is our second edition and covers the period 2016 to 2021. The conservation of biodiversity is one of The Trust’s core values. It is integral to and engrained in the way we work. Whilst The Parks Trust