Annual Report 1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006 working today HC 1410 for nature tomorrow English Nature Annual Report and Accounts 2005/2006 Presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State and Comptroller and Auditor General, in pursuance of Schedule 6, Sections 20 (1) and 21 (3) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 17 July 2005 HC 1410 LONDON: The Stationery Office Contents Foreword from the Chair 2 Introduction and Chief Executive’s Statement 4 Protecting the very best 7 From species to landscapes 25 People and nature 35 Policy advice for sustainability 43 Science, information and knowledge 57 Managing English Nature 65 Summary of achievement 68 Council Members 77 Financial Summary 80 Companies Act Disclosures 82 Remuneration report 85 Statement of Council's and Chief Executive's responsibilities 89 Statement on Internal Control 90 The Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 94 Statement 1 Income and Expenditure Account 96 2 Statement of total recognised gains and losses 97 3 Balance sheet 98 4 Cash flow statement 99 Notes to financial statements 100 More information about our work, including statistics on subjects in this report can be found on our website. www.english-nature.org.uk 1 Foreword As Acting Chair since November Department and others has been 2005, I am privileged to present measured and based on sound the last full Annual Report of judgement. English Nature owes English Nature, before we him a huge debt of gratitude. formally join Natural England in October 2006. Together with colleagues from the Countryside Agency and Rural My predecessor, Sir Martin Development Service, our Council Doughty, made an immense has also played a crucial and very contribution to English Nature. active role in shaping Natural During his period at the helm, the England, both through the organisation enjoyed consistently legislation and the development of strong development and excellent the organisation’s strategy and first external relations. Sir Martin corporate plan. worked tirelessly to ensure that Natural England will be a fitting Our solid progress towards the successor for English Nature and we Government’s Public Service warmly congratulate him on his Agreement target of having 95 per appointment as the Chair of the new cent of the SSSI area in favourable organisation – it is in good hands. or recovering condition by 2010 is evidence of a very successful year. This is also my formal chance to On 31 March our progress was on thank all our staff for another track at 72.3 per cent. This successful year and for their outstanding achievement was only outstanding contributions that have possible with the support of our made English Nature the partners – all those organisations, organisation of which we are so landowners and individuals with proud. I would particularly like to whom we enjoy such productive acknowledge Andy Brown, our co-operation. I particularly thank Chief Executive, for his our increasing band of volunteers enthusiastic and determined (now numbering 1,865) for their leadership. His guidance to me hard work, goodwill and and my Council has always been enthusiasm. They will be a great wise, and his advice to the asset to Natural England. 2 English Nature has continued to with our media partners, we have advise Government on helped to spread the word through environmental policy – on subjects initiatives such as Breathing Places ranging from avian influenza to and SpringWatch. Since Natural climate change, wind power to England’s brief includes promoting badgers (and bovine TB) and countryside access and recreation, sustainable housing, to the future projects such as these will of the CEH research stations. We undoubtedly increase. helped draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 9: biodiversity So, what does the future hold? In and geological conservation, which 1959, the Nature Conservancy represents a significant policy asked: “Will wild nature be once advance for conservation, more a partner, understood and reinforcing the need to integrate valued by all, or become a mere biodiversity and geodiversity in all doormat worn down to planning considerations. shabbiness?” As we prepare to pass the baton to Natural England, To support our advisory role we I believe nature conservation in lead a wide range of research England is moving firmly in the projects such as the multi-partner right direction. Wildlife is valued Monarch project that models how by millions of people, but wildlife might respond to climate increasingly we are realising the change in Britain and Ireland over additional social and economic the next 50 years. One of this benefits that a healthy environment year’s research reports, Long-term can provide. Whilst our terrestrial change in woodland vegetation protected areas are being brought 1971–2001 (ENRR 653) back to favourable condition, there documents changes in British remains a huge task to rebuild woodlands and highlights how nature across our towns, factors such as diffuse pollution countryside, coasts and seas! This and climate change have affected is an urgent task if nature is to our habitats and wildlife. adapt to climate change – which is Maintaining such long-term studies why the creation of a strong remains crucially important. Natural England is so important. English Nature has given increasing focus to enthusing people about wildlife and helping them to engage with the natural world. A greater appreciation of nature through healthy activity will benefit everybody and, together Mike Moser Chair 3 Annual Report 1 April 2005 – 31 March 2006 Introduction and Chief Executive’s Statement Welcome to this, the last Annual recovering condition by 2010, we Report and Accounts of English set ourselves a year-end target of Nature before the transition to 72%. The fact that we have Natural England in October 2006. exceeded this figure is a testament The first part of the report outlines to the hard work of our staff and our aims and achievements in the that of many landowners and past year, while the remainder managers. We offer them our details English Nature’s income profuse thanks. and expenditure, together with related information. Each element As well as SSSIs, the work to of the Report and Accounts has improve our National Nature been signed off by me, in my role Reserves also continues to deliver as Chief Executive and Accounting results, with 86.4% of reserve area Officer for English Nature. now in favourable or recovering condition. Our voluntary staff A great deal has happened in the have played a vital part in this past year, and the achievements of achievement and their efforts in English Nature’s staff are all the this, and in many other areas of more noteworthy for being English Nature’s work, are much accomplished against the appreciated. background of preparation for Natural England. The fact that we Positive results have also been have managed to meet, and in achieved for the BAP priority many cases exceed, the vast species and habitats that English majority of our corporate targets Nature leads on. Of these, 8 of the while undertaking these extra 15 habitats and 43 of the 88 duties is a cause for celebration. species are now stable or increasing, these numbers One of our most important long- representing a very significant term objectives is to assist the improvement on those of the last Government in achieving its PSA reporting round in 2002. Species target for SSSIs. In meeting the showing an improvement in their overall target of having 95% of population trend include the SSSI area in favourable or greater horseshoe bat, Cornish 4 path moss, the ladybird spider and We have had a busy year providing the pool frog; the latter having advice to help align policies so been reintroduced to Norfolk this they contribute to achieving year after its UK extinction in the sustainability. We responded to 1990s. As well as our terrestrial well over 100 national and regional and freshwater habitats, our consultations and provided knowledge of our maritime BAP evidence to many Parliamentary habitats continues to grow, with Committees. Of particular note trends now known for 5 out of 6 of during the year was the the maritime habitats we lead on, a announcement of the Catchment reverse of the situation last year. Sensitive Farming programme, to be delivered jointly with the Our work to promote conservation Environment Agency. in the wider countryside has also seen significant developments. As this is my last year as Chief One of these was the start of the Executive of English Nature I Countdown 2010 Biodiversity would like to record my thanks to Action Fund, a grant-scheme that I all those volunteers and partners had the honour of launching at the who have contributed so much to World Conservation Union’s UK nature conservation over many committee meeting in December. years. Without their support and The Defra-funded scheme is being efforts, England’s natural heritage administered by English Nature would be much the poorer. My job and it will help support many as Chief Executive has been voluntary conservation enormously stimulating and organisations in their efforts to enjoyable because of the conserve species and habitats friendships and partnerships with around the country. so many people and organisations, and the expertise and dedication of This year also saw the publication Council Members and staff. It has of Geological conservation: a been a privilege to have served as guide to good practice. Illustrated Chief Executive of such a with numerous case-studies, this wonderful organisation. publication shares good practise developed by English Nature and its partners over the last 15 years. The guide is certain to become required reading for those with an interest in geological conservation and it has already attracted fulsome praise from many quarters.