blue tit © Matt Doggett

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

Going for green

The protection of local wildlife sites from neglect or inappropriate development has always been a key objective for the Trust.

In recent months we've been working to place biodiversity at the heart of the Regional Spatial Strategy. This will set a regional framework about what the scale of development should be in the next 20 years, and how this links into the broad issues of healthcare, education and crime, as well as basic infrastructure such as transport. It states that it will aim to protect what is highly valued about the region, at the same time making provision for sufficient new homes, jobs and retail and leisure facilities.

This can, of course, conflict with providing space for nature. We've become concerned as there are plans for 92,500 new homes over this twenty year period. Current thinking suggests the new housing allocation will be shared as follows:

Bristol 27,300
South Gloucestershire 24,150
North Somerset 25,900
Bath & NE Somerset 15,150

What does this mean for wildlife?
This new housing will be built on both brownfield and greenfield sites, and the Green Belt is also being reviewed. Inevitably this increases the squeeze on wildlife. The Trust is determined to ensure that valuable wildlife sites are not lost and will continue to campaign to protect key wildlife sites we regard as under threat. We also want to ensure that the housing developments will take account of sustainability and have features built in for wildlife. This can be achieved in two ways - through the principle of Biodiversity by Design and by providing Green Infrastructure.

What is Biodiversity by Design?
We're leading the way pro-actively in this initiative to actively challenge thinking about existing structures and new-build. Biodiversity by Design is the process of thinking about how the built environment can be used as a habitat for wildlife.

Many features for wildlife can literally be built into existing and new housing, for example, by providing homes for bats in roof voids and increasing eaves to allow for nesting birds. We're also aiming to influence housing developers to provide show houses with wildlife gardens complete with feeding stations and nest boxes. An example of working on existing structures is the way we work with School Grounds - building ponds and wildlife areas, or recent work with the Highways Department encouraging them to incorporate bird and bat boxes in bridge maintenance work.

What is Green Infrastructure?
Green Infrastructure is the network of all the accessible green spaces in the Regional Spatial Strategy including parks, woodland, informal open spaces, nature reserves and historic sites as well as linkages such as river corridors and floodplains, wildlife corridors and greenways. These contribute to people's well-being, and together comprise a coherent managed resource responsive to evolving conditions We've been mapping these green spaces and the map opposite shows the extent of Green Infrastructure in Avon. We're working on this in partnership with the Forest of Avon, Countryside Agency and the Bristol Regional Environmental Records Centre and we aim to 'link up' these mapped spaces through the creation of further planned Green Infrastructure. This will not only provide more space for wildlife but give the community green corridors which could act as routes to work and link with healthier living campaigns, working in partnership with health providers. By mapping Green Infrastructure we're developing a tool which can be used to protect these spaces in future development proposals.

"The natural world around us is a precious resource,
which can help prevent illness and encourage recovery.
Physical and mental health and general well being thrive in
a biodiverse environment where we each treasure and enjoy our natural heritage."

Angela Mawle, Chief Executive UK Public Health Association