November 2013 Event Report


The Berkshire Local Nature Partnership (BLNP) and Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) joined forces to bring you the event 'what is the value of the natural environment?' Summaries of the talks are given below:


The Natural Environment in Berkshire

by Camilla Burrow, Director of Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) and BLNP Executive Board vice Chair. Talk given by Annie English as Camilla unable to attend.

The natural environment includes wildlife, lakes, rivers, urban green space, open countryside, gardens, street trees, forests and farmed land, anything which isn't man-made. Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety and abundance of all life on earth.


The Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) ensures that good quality environmental data is available to those who need it to make decisions. They collect wildlife sightings from the general public as well as from a dedicated group of volunteers who get out and about in the spare time to record wildlife in a more structured way. They also collect data from professionals such as those working as ecological consultants, from local authorities in their parks or planning departments and professionals working for conservation organisations like the RSPB and the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust. They collect records of any species, but particularly those species which are rare and protected by the law. They also hold data about the most important habitats for wildlife.


The data they hold is used regularly by a range of people and organisations. It's really important that this data is available so that people can make sound decisions. Without this data, it's very difficult to properly assess the impacts or benefits of a decision.


Around the venue there were Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), a nationally significant Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), and a Biodiversity Opportunity Area (BOA). There were also areas of priority habitat and many species records.


Traditionally, nature conservation has focused on protecting important sites. This approach cannot sustain biodiversity in the long-term because wildlife needs to be able to move around, not be trapped in a small area. Also, these small sites depend on other things like having unpolluted water and air around them. So we need to change the scale of work towards a landscape focus, we created BOAs to expand, link and buffer wildlife sites. These are the areas where there are substantial opportunities to make positive changes for biodiversity.


So what's that got to do with us? When there's a decline in the amount or the quality of the natural environment, it has a negative impact on us.


For example...

  • We need bees to pollinate our crops; we could do it by hand with paintbrushes like they do in parts of China, but can you imagine how hard that would be to organise and how much it would cost? Pavan Sukhdev, who was an economist at Deutsche Bank, estimated that it would cost $190 billion dollars worldwide. That would certainly push food prices up. So if we destroy bees' habitats or poison them with pesticides, we'll end up spending much more on our weekly food shop.
  • Flood meadows are essential in preventing our houses getting flooded. Woodland also helps with this and all trees help clean the air we breathe. And did you know that house values are higher in areas with a good quality natural environment?
  • The natural environment also makes you happier and healthier, by getting us out doing physical exercise and reducing stress.

So, worst case scenario, we could all end up being poor, overweight, stressed out, and choking on polluted air, with soggy feet from our houses being flooded!


Wildlife needs protecting and habitats need managing all over Berkshire so get involved!


Communities can provide vital help by appreciating, protecting and enhancing biodiversity in their local area. The rest of today's speakers will be giving you more detail on the benefits of a better natural environment, and hopefully you will leave today inspired to get involved in your local patch.

Natural Environment Contributions to our Health and Wellbeing

by Darrell Gale, Consultant in Public Health, Wokingham Borough Council


Public health covers a number of domains; Improving the wider determinants of Public Health, Health Improvement, Health Protection and Health Care Public Health and Reducing Premature Mortality.


There are many factors which affect our health, from our inherited traits to our work- life balance and our environment.


In Berkshire, there is a shared core team of Public Health professionals and local teams in each LA.


In Wokingham, this covers community engagement, green spaces for recreation and well-being, and facilitating opportunities for healthy living throughout life.
The facts:

  •  Walking 6-12 miles a week can reduce risk of premature death by 20-30%
  •  Children able to play in natural environment gained 2.5 kilo less per year than those who don't have this opportunity.
  • Physical activity is effective in the treatment of clinical depression
  • NICE recommendation:- Up to 3 structured and supervised exercise programme, including health walks, for those with mild depression
  • Across England, those living closer to green space have lower death rates and less heart disease.
  •  In lower income groups, 1,300 extra deaths each year occurred in areas with poor provision of green spaces.
  • Those living closer to green spaces have higher levels of physical activity and are less likely to be overweight or obese.
  • Those residing furthest from public parks increased the likely-hood of being overweight or obese by 27% (Bell et al., 2008)

Trees are particularly important, and we have lost many from our landscapes. They protect us from flooding, provide shade and clean the air, and people like to see them. People in hospital who look out onto a 'green' landscape recover quicker than those looking onto man made things.

References
Grahn P and Stigsdotter UA (2003) Landscape planning and stress. Urban Forestry and Urban Greening. 2: 1-18
Hairon (2006) PCTs poles apart over depression services. Pulse 9 March
Janice F. Bell, PhD, MPH, Jeffrey S. Wilson, PhD, Gilbert C. Liu, MD, MS Neighborhood Greenness and 2-Year Changes in BodyMass Index of Children and Youth:. Am J Prev Med 2008;35(6):547–553
Mitchell R, Popham F. Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational
population study. Lancet 2008; 372: 1655-1660
Brent Teaching primary Care Trust, Local Delivery Plan, 2005/2006 – 2007/2008
The London Plan:Sub-Regional Development Framework, West London, GLA, 2006
Department of Health (2004) At Least Five a Week. Evidence on the Impact of Physical Activity and Its Relationship to Health. A report from the Chief Medical Officer. Department of Health, London.
NICE Guidance 16, October 2008

Using the Natural Environment to Inspire Learning

by Matthew Randle, Upper Lodge Farming Project


A Wonderful Opportunity – two disillusioned social workers decided to take their work to the farm. We gave up our day jobs to start Upper Lodge Farming Project in November 2012.


Who did we want to work with and why?
Children and young adults with disabilities, with mental health difficulties, young people excluded from school or struggling with education, and support for children who are looked after. Working with small groups of no more than four or five people per session.


There is compelling evidence that contact with nature can:
• Maintain good health
• Offer new experiences
• Help build confidence
• Help recovery from illness
• Alleviate stress and mental health problems
• Improve physical health
• Improve quality of life for people who are socially isolated
• Enhance social interaction and improve community cohesion
• Reduce aggression, violence and crime
• Improve children's wellbeing into adulthood


Nature is tangible – you can see, touch and sometimes taste nature. It is constant but always surprising.


"The outdoors has great potential to help society tackle the problem of mental ill health. It is very important that everyone be able to easily access and enjoy quality natural spaces" Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind


"The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings". Masanobu Fukuoka


What do we have?
The 45 acre farm is home to a wide range of animals: Dexter cows, flock of sheep, ducks, chickens, turkeys, pygmy goats, 2 pigs, horses and donkeys.
The picturesque woodland area has a barn with wood burning stove, stables converted into a kitchen with cooking facilities and a stream running through the woods.
A 90ft polytunnel, raised beds and vegetable growing areas.
What do our students do at the project?
Real tasks are tangible, have a purpose and are of value. There is always an end product – something to show for all the hard work put in.


What are the benefits of working at the project?
People who come to our farm:
• Can gain satisfaction from producing an end product which can lead to an increase in self-esteem.
• Are motivated to learn new skills and are able to practice and develop them
• Exercise/fitness/hand-eye coordination
• Are encouraged to develop problem solving skills
• Lean to work as part of the farm community
• Enjoy learning and new experiences in wonderful natural surroundings


For more information see www.upperlodgefarmingproject.org.uk

Environmental Policy

by Rachel Francis, Senior Conservation Officer, BBOWT


Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) recognises that we cannot solely rely on our nature reserves to deliver improvements to the natural environment.


This presentation will focus on policies:

  •  dealing with nature conservation, where BBOWT has expertise; and
  • that are more relevant to communities, local groups and parish/town councils.

 

THE BIODIVERSITY DUTY: Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006
Not a strictly policy, this is a statutory legal requirement.
The NERC Act places a duty on all public bodies (including parish and town councils) to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity when exercising their functions (section 40). The NERC Act also lists the priority habitats and species which it is most important to conserve in England (section 41).
Guidance available on the internet on practical implications. BBOWT prepared guidance for local authority members which may provide a useful starting point.


White Paper: The Natural Choice: Securing the Value of Nature, June 2011
This White Paper was the first on the natural environment for over 20 years.
Government's policy on the natural environment.
It seeks to:
• Protect and improve the natural environment, especially looking at ecological networks – origins of Nature Improvement Areas
• Encourage greater local action to protect and improve nature – origins of LNPs;
• Value the economic and social benefits of a healthy natural environment


Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England's Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Defra, August 2011

Builds on the Natural Environment White Paper and sets out how Defra is implementing international and EU commitments.

 

Berkshire Strategy:
Berkshire has a Biodiversity Strategy which has identified where the best places in the county are for focusing our efforts on protecting wildlife and improving habitats. These places are called Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (BOAs).
This targeted approach helps to concentrate the limited resources of the local authorities, government agencies and conservation organisations in Berkshire who have all agreed to help implement the Strategy. More information, including a map of the BOAs is available on this website.
This will be updated over the coming months to reflect the national objectives and to pull in other priorities from the LNP in terms of ecosystem services.


Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES):
There is a growing trend at an international and national level to put an economic value on the natural environment and the services it provides. This has not yet filtered down to a workable model at the local level but there are many people looking into it and it appears to be the way we are moving.
Defra has published a best practice guide if you are interested in investigating it further.


Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Again changes are taking place in Europe which will have knock on implications for national agri-environment schemes.
Defra are undertaking a consultation on implementing the CAP reform, deadline is 28 Nov 2013, the LNP response will be available to view online after this date.


What are Neighbourhood Plans (NP) and why are they important?
The Localism Act moves power from central government towards local people and encourages communities to get more involved in decisions about planning in their local area.
The Act allows local 'neighbourhoods' to draw up their own neighbourhood plan. Neighbourhood planning will allow communities to come together through a local parish council or neighbourhood forum and say where they think new houses, businesses and shops should go – and what they should look like.


Why is biodiversity an important component of Neighbourhood Plans

  1. Biodiversity is an important component of neighbourhood planning. People are often passionate about their local environment, the places close to home where we go walking, riding, have some quiet time, watch wildlife, and mark the changing weather and seasons. Yet we sometimes forget how important it is when it comes to NP.
  2. A NP sets out a vision of how your community wants to develop and identifies the actions needed for you to achieve it. A NP gives everyone the chance to say what they think about the issues affecting their community and how they would like it to develop. It celebrates the good things, highlights local needs and contains a detailed action plan to help the community meet those needs.
  3. Enhancing biodiversity can improve local ecosystem services, health and education.
    • Intrinsic value
    • Improved health and wellbeing
    • Higher property prices
    • Flood prevention
    • Communities can provide vital help by appreciating, protecting and enhancing biodiversity in their local area.

Statutory plan

Neighbourhood plans are subject to a local referendum and if passed they have legal status forming part of the local authority's development plan. That means that planners have to consider your plan when making recommendations or decisions on planning applications in your area.
S38 PCPA: the statutory development plan is the RSS and development plan documents that have been approved or adopted. Determination under the planning acts must be in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Proposed neighbourhood development plans or orders need to gain the approval of a majority of voters of the neighbourhood to come into force. If proposals pass the referendum, the local planning authority is under a legal duty to bring them into force.


How to incorporate Biodiversity into your NP:
1. Discover what's in your area
2. Protect the most valuable areas
3. Manage areas to maintain and enhance biodiversity
4. Create new habitats


Guide prepared by BBOWT, Oxfordshire County Council and TVERC in 2012.  Not specifically targeted at the development of NP but good pointers to how you can include biodiversity into NP or Parish plans. Some Oxon-specific information but most of it is very transferable to Berks.


The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Natural Environment
• At the heart of the NPPF is a presumption in favour of (environmentaly) sustainable development
• Includes national planning policy on biodiversity (para. 109-119)
• Main focus for biodiversity:
– Conserving
– Enhancing
– Halting the decline


NPPF: How the Planning System can Conserve and Enhance the Natural Environment
1. Minimising impacts on biodiversity
2. Providing net gains in biodiversity
3. Establishing coherent ecological networks:

  • Plan at the landscape scale
  • Strategic planning for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks
  • Identify and map components

Biodiversity Offsetting
• Government Green Paper consultation: growth and protection
• Principle: A measurable way to make good the residual damage to nature caused by development
• Potential Benefits:

– Positive impacts e.g. greenfield, pilots
– New source of funding conservation
– Pool resources
– Connectivity

Some of the Complications:

  • Like for like replacement
  • Location of offset
  •  How long should offsets be maintained?
  •  A mandatory scheme?
  •  Mitigation Hierarchy
  • How do you monitor and regulate?
  • Resources to apply at local level

Conclusions:

  • – Much change in recent years and more expected
  • – More opportunities to influence natural environment at local level
  • – A move towards placing an economic value on nature
  • – End result?

Engaging people with the Natural Environment

by Oliver Cripps, Assistant Director North Wessex Downs AONB and BLNP Steering Group Chair


Oliver spoke to us about the need to engage people with biodiversity, so that they know what they can do to help, and believe that they can make a difference.
This led to a great discussion on the different ways that we, as local people, can engage more of us in nature conservation.


It was highlighted that about 80% of people do not know what the term 'biodiversity' means. We should therefore be careful that our language is understood be as many as possible.
Some of the audience had experience engaging children, and found that often if the children were keen, the parents would follow. This however requires more leaders, to engage and inspire more people.


It was also noted that it is easier to engage young children, and we must be careful to not then alienate them as teenagers. The ways in which teenagers interact with nature (spending evenings in parks or community spaces etc) can be seen as negative by other members of the community. It is hard for those working on the ground to welcome this age group, and encourage use of natural spaces, whilst maintaining a clear line between this and anti-social behaviour.


We should continue to work on the 'hooks' that get people to value the natural environment. For example, someone taking up chainsaw carving as a hobby will spend a lot of time in woodlands, and therefore may develop a sense of value for the environment. Similarly someone who takes up mountain biking, may not do it because of the link to nature, but may well start to value the natural environment as a result.

For copies of any of the presentations please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

In 2011 the Government released the first Natural Environment White Paper in 20 years. It aims to be the first government ever to produce a net gain for biodiversity. Along side this there is a increase in effort to properly value our natural capital, including accounting for 'ecosystem services'. 

This is a list of all organisation and websites which either share, or can help us achieve our aims. Click on them to go to the organisations website. If you would like to add you organisation or website to this list please contact us.


Our key indicates which organisations offer; V = Volunteering, P = Places to visit, E = Events, L = Learning opportunity, W = Nature Walks

A
Action for the River Kennet (ARK) [E]
One of the UKs Rivers Trusts, and is a charity set up to protect this valuable chalkstream.
Ancient Tree Forum[E, L]
B
BBCs Breathing Places [P, L]
Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) [V, P, E, L]
The foremost organisation protecting wildlife and enhancing iconic landscapes across our three counties. We look after 80 nature reserves, run events, speak up for wildlife and inspire thousands of children to discover the joys of the natural world.
Berkshire Amphibian & Reptile Group [V, E, L]
Berkshire and South Buckinghamshire Bat Group [V, E, L]
Aiming to increase awareness of bats across Berks and South Bucks by public events, surveys etc. Improve the conservation of bats and their habitats (roosting, feeding and hibernation).
Berkshire Birdwatching Directory [E, L]
Berkshire College of Agriculture [L]
Berkshire Community Foundation [V, P, E, L]
Berkshire Conservation Volunteers
Berkshire Geoconservation Group [V, E, L]
Berkshire Greenpeace [V]
Berkshire Invertebrate Group (BENHS)
Entomology and natural history society based at Dinton Pastures Country Park.
Berkshire Mammal Group [E, L]
Local interest group, hosting talks, training and surveys.
Berkshire Moth Group [E]
Berkshire Ornithological Club [E, L]
The BOC promotes the education and study of wild birds, their habitats and conservation in the county of Berkshire. Click here to see their new facebook group.
Berkshire Records Office
Binfield Badger Group [E]
Birds of Berkshire [L]
Blackwater Valley Countryside Trust [V, E, W]
Blackwater Valley Countryside Partnership [V, E, L]
Bracknell Forest Friends of the Earth [E]
Bracknell Forest Friends of the Earth is one of over 200 local groups that work in partnership with Friends of the Earth nationally, and as part of the global network of over 70 groups that make up the Friends of the Earth International network. We raise public awareness through the media, days of action, and we lobby our various elected representatives.
Bracknell Forest Natural History Society [E]
British Dragonfly Society
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers (BTCV) [E, L]
British Waterways – South West division
BTO [V, E, L]
Bucklebury Heathland Conservation Group [V]
Buglife [V, E]
Butterfly Conservation
C
Cannals and Rivers Trust [E, P]
Camberley Natural History Society [E]
A society founded in 1946 that promotes involvement in all aspects of natural history.
Circle Hill & Walte Recreation Ground
Community Council for Berkshire (CCB) [L]
Country, Land and business Association (CLA)
Climate Berkshire
Common Ground [E]
Council for British Archaeology
Campaign to Protect the Rural England (CPR)
D
E
E. M. Chambers
Independent Ecologist & Woodland Advisor working with community groups & private woodland owners, primary focus on ancient woodlands.
Earley Environmental Group
The group encourages an interest in all matters concerned with the environment - wildlife, conservation and environmental issues of modern society. It also aims to develop peoples skills and knowledge and to carry out practical tasks. The Group is open to all and the only requirements are enthusiasm and the desire to help Earleys environment.
East Berkshire Ramblers Group [W]
Easthampstead Living Churchyard
Maintaing wildlife in the church yard.
Econet [V]
Energy Savings Trust
English Heritage
Environment Agency
Evergreen 2000 Trust [V]
Based in Britwell, Slough, the Evergreen 2000 Trust is a fully-volunteer group that helps to preserve the landscape by litterpicking, tree planting, laying paths.
F
Farm And Countryside Education (FACE) [L]
Field Studies Council [L]
Flora locale
Flower Farms
Food4Families
Forestry Commission
Friends of the Emm Brook [E, V]
Friends of Lavells Lake [E, V, W]
Friends of Linear Park
Friends group for Linear park Holybrook calcot reading! We hold activity days manage a community garden. Members monitor local wildlife. Working partnership with West Berkshire council.
Froglife [V]
G
Goring and Streatley Sustainability Group
Greater Reading Environmental Network
Greenlink Berkshire [V, P, E, L]
Greenspace South East
Groundwork South East
H
Herpetological Conservation Trust [V, E, L]
Historic Environment Local Management (HELM)
I
J
K
Kennet and Avon Canal Trust [V, E, L]
L
Linking Environment And Farming (LEAF)
Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP)
Loddon Fisheries and Conservation Consultative
M
Mikes Musings (Inkpen Village Blog)
Moor Green Lakes Group [V]
Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Countryside (MAGIC)
N
National Trust [V, P, E, L]
Natural England [V, P]
Nature Nurture [E, L]
Nature Nurture design and deliver workshops, training and learning resources, with a focus on the creative arts, nature, heritage and sustainable living. Our aim is to nurture children who respect themselves, each other and the world around them. Our current focus is engaging people, especially children, with the wild spaces in and around Reading. We are currently working in partnership with Childrens Centres to deliver family friendly workshops and Wild Days in parks and woodlands in West Reading. We welcome invitations to partner with conservation organisations, local authorities, schools and we have a great track record for gaining grants.
Nature on the Map
Newbury District Ornithological Club.(NDOC)
Newbury Friends of the Earth
National Farmers Union
North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty [P, E]
O
Oaken Grove Park Wildlife Initiative, Maidenhead [V]
Odonata Habitat Management Service (OHMS) [V]
P
Padworth Environmental Group
Pang, Kennet & Lambourn Valleys Countryside Projects [V, E]
Plantlife [V, P]
Project Wild Thing
Q
R
Ramblers – West Berkshire [P]
Reading & District Natural History Society
Reading Climate Change Partnership
Reading College
Reading Friends of the Earth Group

Reading Sustainability Centre

Working to establish an eco-education centre, combined with a hydro scheme on Caversham Weir, Reading. Close to the heart of Reading, the sustainability centre will inform and encourage people to live a sustainable lifestyle, exploring our resource use (food, energy, water) and the pressure it puts on our environment.
Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS)
River Thames Society
Rivers & Environmental Spaces Clean-Up Event (RESCUE) [V, E]
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB)
S
Sheepdrove Organic Farm
Large organic farm on Lambourn Downs. Sheepdrove Trust supports conservation projects on the farm.
T
Thames River Restoration Trust (TRRT) [E]
Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (TVERC) [V, E]

Thames Valley Fungus Group [V, E]
The Mammal Society [V, E, L]
The Museum of English Rural Life – Reading University
The Tree Council
The University of Reading [L]
The Woodland Trust
Theale Area Bird Conservation Group
Conserves habitat for birds and other groups in Theale area.
Thrive [V]
Tree Council
TV Energy
U
UK Biodiversity Action Plan
Upper Thames Butterfly Group [E]
V
W
West Berkshire Council (WBC)
West Berkshire Council archaeology service
West Berkshire Countryside Society (WBCS)
The Berkshire Countryside Society exists to promote the understanding, appreciation and conservation of the West Berkshire coutryside by its residents and visitors and all other groups and businesses involved in its care and management. The organisation will also promote practical work to further these aims.
West Berkshire Green Exchange
A forum for communication on green issues.
West Berkshire Farming and Countryside Project
Our remit is to continue to work in partnership with farmers, landowners and communities in conserving and enhancing biodiversity in West Berkshire. West Berkshire Council is funding the project as part of its ongoing commitment to biodiversity.
Contact Sally Wallington by email or on 07932322163.
West Berkshire Historic Environment Record (HER)
West Berkshire Living Landscape Project [V, P]
West Berkshire Ramblers [W]
Wild About Britain
Wildberks
Wildfile
Wildlife in Ascot
Record and monitor the wildlife of Ascot, Sunninghill and Sunningdale, monitor development and promote biodiversity and wildlife corridors in the neighbourhood plan, put on events to inform and excite residents in the local area about wildlife.
Windsor and Maidenhead Conservation Volunteers [V]
Wokingham Borough Council Parks Volunteer Groups and Walking Groups [V, W]
Wokingham Biodiversity Forum [E]
Wokingham District Veteran Tree Association
Survey of veteran trees across Wokingham and surrounds, plus programme of activities.
Wokingham Without Parish Council
Improve biodiversity in the parish.
Woodland Trust
X
Y
Z