BOROUGH OF POOLE
ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW GROUP
7 OCTOBER 2004
POOLE NATURE CONSERVATION STRATEGY
1
Matter for Consideration
1.1 The contents and publication of the Poole Nature Conservation Strategy.
2.
Recommendation
2.1 That Members consider the Poole Nature Conservation Strategy and that a
Cabinet Decision for endorsement be made by the Environment Portfolio Holder.
3.
Background
3.1 The Strategy has been prepared by a Forum comprising representatives from a
number of organisations with a direct interest in nature conservation in Poole;
Including: The Borough of Poole, Poole Agenda 21, English Nature, Dorset
Wildlife Trust, RSPB, Environment Agency, Herpetological Conservation Trust.
3.2 The aim of the Strategy is to protect, conserve and enhance the diversity and
distribution of Poole’s Nature Conservation resource on a sustainable basis.
The Strategy begins by looking at Poole’s wildlife today and goes on to
emphasise the role of both the organisations within the Forum and the role of the
wider community in conserving and nurturing nature.
3.3 Eleven key objectives are identified for the organisations within the Forum, as
follows:
1) To ensure that Nature Conservation is given proper consideration in the
operation of the planning system and in the course of development.
2) To protect the wildlife resource in the Borough.
3) To protect species in accordance with their status in law.
4) To identify existing wildlife corridors and ensure their protection and to seek
the establishment of links which will extend the current network of Green spaces.
5) To promote land and habitat management practices which maintain, and,
where relevant enhance, the wildlife value of all land in the Borough.
6) To seek opportunities to create new wildlife habitats in the Borough;
7) To provide accessible wildlife areas within the easy reach of all residents in
the Borough;
8) To increase community understanding of and involvement in nature
conservation;
9) To identify and maintain an inventory of important sites of wildlife interest
within the Borough;
10) To investigate effective ways of co-operative working between the different
bodies involved in Nature Conservation in and around Poole;
11)To produce habitat and species action plans for important habitats and
species in Poole.
3.4 For ease of reference, the attached Table (A) summarises how the Forum
propose to meet these objectives. This is explained more fully in the Strategy
document.
3.5 In accordance with advice from the Portfolio Holder, Officers passed the lead
role in the production of the Strategy to representatives from other partner
organisations earlier this year, but have continued to offer advice and maintain a
watching brief. The Strategy has had a relatively long gestation period, but is
now at a stage where it can be formally published together with a publicity leaflet
entitled ‘Caring for Wildlife in Poole’. Following publication, it is intended that
any comments and / or responses be used to inform any later review of the
Strategy.
3.6 The Countryside and Rights of Way Act places a statutory duty on government
departments in carrying out its functions, to have regard, so far as is consistent
with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving
biological diversity in accordance with the Convention. The Office of the Deputy
Prime Minister has recently published a consultation draft of Planning Policy
Statement 9 on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. The objectives set
out within the Poole Nature Conservation Strategy fit comfortably with the
themes within PPS9 in so far as they relate to planning.
3.7 The Strategy is particularly pertinent and indeed supports a number of areas of
work being undertaken by the Borough, including:
o
o
o
The review of the Open Spaces Strategy and correlating review of
Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled Planning Obligations:
Recreational Facilities;
The policies on nature conservation set out in the Local Plan;
Supplementary Planning Guidance entitled Landscape and Natural
Environment Design Code.
3.8 The Poole Nature Conservation Strategy contributes to the Council’s stated
priority of ‘Clean, Green and Safe – making a difference to our environment’ and
may link to work being undertaken by the Poole Partnership under the objective
of ‘Healthy people, healthy places’ which involves some of the organisations in
the Forum.
DAVID RALPH
Head of Strategic Planning Services
CLIVE SMITH
Head of Leisure Services
PETER WATSON
Head of Planning Design and Control Services
If you have any queries on this report, please contact
Brett Spiller, Strategic Planning Services on 01202 633375
Matti Raudsepp, Leisure Services on 01202 631377
Summary of key objectives
Poole Nature Conservation Strategy
Table A) Summary of Key Objectives
Objective 1) To ensure that Nature Conservation is given proper
consideration in the operation of the planning system and in the course of
development.
I. Through the planning process, the partners will seek to ensure
that the impacts on wildlife are minimised and opportunities for
positive nature conservation gain maximised. Where features of
wildlife value are lost to development the Forum will seek the
creation of compensatory habitats either within the development
itself, or in a nearby area.
II. The Borough of Poole will review its procedures in relation to
nature conservation and development, including a code of
practice for dealing with herpetological matters and consideration
of an Environmental code of practice.
III. Opportunities for the protection of ponds, hedgerows and trees in
development situations will be considered, both as features in
their own right, and as part of wildlife / green corridors.
Objective 2) To protect the wildlife resource in the Borough.
I. The Forum will establish criteria for identifying locally important
sites and opportunities for their protection will be considered.
II. Poole Local Plan policies dealing with nature conservation in
relation to development will be monitored for effectiveness.
III. The Borough of Poole will with the Forum and where appropriate,
protect the strategic network of green spaces identified on the
Strategy Map. In particular it will aim to safeguard the network
and its habitats against any development, which would sever
corridors or harm their integrity.
Objective 3) To protect species in accordance with their status in law.
I. The Borough of Poole with the Forum will review its procedures
and policies on protected species with a view to making
necessary changes.
II. The Forum will work with the Borough to make information
available to the Borough about the location and status of
protected species.
Objective 4) To identify existing wildlife corridors and ensure their
protection and to seek the establishment of links which will extend the
current network of Green spaces.
I. The Borough of Poole will include recognition of the established
Green Network, and opportunities for extension where
appropriate, in Development Briefs.
II. The Forum will identify gaps, weak links and opportunities for
extension of the Green Network. Data on particular species for
which the network is important will be gathered.
III. Opportunities will be taken to safeguard land or natural features
(including watercourses) which form part of a green corridor of
environmental value, in terms of nature conservation (with
associated access and amenity).
IV. Measures to maintain green network links with open spaces
beyond the Borough boundary will be pursued with neighbouring
authorities.
Objective 5) To promote land and habitat management practices which
maintain, and, where relevant enhance, the wildlife value of all land in the
Borough.
I. A study of land managed for amenity purposes by the Borough of
Poole to see if any area can be beneficially transferred to a less
intensive form of management will be carried out.
II. Measures will be pursued to bring all designated or other wildlife
sites into suitable positive conservation management.
III. Opportunities for the restoration or creation of new habitats will be
kept under review by the Forum.
IV. Preparation of management plans for all sites of significant nature
conservation importance will be pursued by the Forum as and
when appropriate.
V. The Borough of Poole will review its arrangements for maintaining
Highway Land in the light of wildlife conservation considerations.
VI. A programme of measures to identify and control invasive
vegetation will be drawn up by the Forum.
VII. The Forum will promote wildlife friendly management of gardens,
allotments and other areas of green space.
VIII. A register of land ownership, particularly of land with conservation
value, will be established and maintained by the Forum.
Objective 6) To seek opportunities to create new wildlife habitats in the
Borough.
Objective 7) To provide accessible wildlife areas within the easy reach of
all residents in the Borough.
I. The Borough of Poole will continue its ongoing programme of
Local Nature Reserve designation.
II. The Forum will advise the Borough on the provision of accessible
‘natural’ open space using English Natures ANGST standards.
III. Action Plans will, in the first instance, be drawn up for the Open
Space Action Areas
IV. The Forum will advise on the impacts of proposed access
improvements on wildlife.
Objective 8) To increase community understanding of and involvement in
nature conservation.
I. Promoting awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the
borough’s wildlife resource, through improved information and
dissemination. The latter including the use of various media, such
as the web, special events, exhibitions etc.
II. Explaining to local people the reasons for management work.
III. Involving individuals and community groups in practical wildlife
conservation.
IV. Measures aimed at ensuring the effective involvement of schools
in appreciating and conserving the natural environment.
Objective 9) To identify and maintain an inventory of important sites of
wildlife interest within the Borough.
I. Arrangements will be made for updating and completing a survey
of wildlife in Poole, in particular to identify locally important sites
and features.
II. Local communities and landowners will be encouraged to carry
out surveys of their local areas.
III. Arrangements for regular local specialised surveys will be
pursued.
IV. The involvement of, and support for, the Dorset Environmental
Records Centre will be pursued.
Objective 10) To investigate effective ways of co-operative working
between the different bodies involved in Nature Conservation in and
around Poole.
I. The establishment of the Poole Nature Conservation Forum for
the bodies involved in nature conservation in Poole to carry
forward the work of this strategy.
II. Effective working relationships with neighbouring Local Authorities
on nature conservation.
III. Continued involvement with established groups including Dorset
Biodiversity Partnership, the Poole Harbour Steering Group and
Study Group, Poole Partnership and the Dorset Heathland Forum.
Objective 11) To produce habitat and species action plans for important
habitats and species in Poole.
I. Working arrangements will be set up for the preparation of habitat
and species Action Plans for the borough. These will be
integrated with the aims and priorities set out in the Dorset
Biodiversity Strategy.
II. Historical records for BAP habitats and species in the borough will
be reviewed.