1. Biodiversity Project Manager Warwickshire Habitat Biodiversity Audit
Developing Nature Improvement Areas in Warwickshire – bigger, better and connected Local Wildlife Sites and Connectivity Mapping
Chris Talbot
Biodiversity Project Manager
Warwickshire Habitat Biodiversity Audit

2. Local Wildlife Sites
Areas carefully identified and selected for their special wildlife habitats - ‘County importance’
The best natural places in everyone’s neighbourhood – ‘Local’
Form a network of our most valuable urban and rural areas for the natural environment
Complementary to statutory designations such as SSSIs and LNRs
Afforded protection through the planning system
(but non-statutory)
Perform a crucial role in protecting our natural environment

3. Statutory wildlife sites in Warwickshire
13 Local Nature Reserves (LNR’s)
57 SSSI’s
1 Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - Ensor’s Pool
Collectively cover 0.7% Warwickshire sub-region
National figure is 6.8%
Local Wildlife Sites cover 2.71% Warwickshire sub-region

4. Warwickshire Local Wildlife Sites project
Guidance for Non-Statutory Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs) in Warwickshire - May 1998
formalised into the Local Wildlife Sites Project (LWSP) as part of the HBA in 2000
range in size from less than 1 hectare to over 120 hectares
cover 13 wildlife habitat types from canals to woodland and scrub
include churchyards, road verges, ponds, meadows, disused railway lines, orchards, rivers, quarries etc..
occur on publicly and privately owned land, urban and rural
Incorporated into the LBAP habitat plans
PPS9 – clear duty on local planning authorities to ensure protected species and habitat in the uk – “material consideration” in planning applications
NI197 – Indicator of performance of Las for biodiversity and ensuring effective conservation management for local sites.
NPPF replaces PPS9 retains the distinction between hierachy recognises local sites for their importance to wider ecological networks, requires LA to set out stratgic approach to local plan and to plan positively for creation/enhancement and management of network biodiversity and green infrastructure

7. Proportion of Local Sites in positive conservation management – defra 2012

8. Tame Valley Local Wildlife Sites
Status
Count
Area in ha
deferred 2
10.13
destroyed
4.53
LWS 24
362.18
potential site 34
572.51
rejected 8
43.33
Total 70
992.68

9. Coombe Abbey Local Wildlife Site SP37Z2
Designated 21/09/2010
Area ha
Habitats:
Wet woodlands
Dry woodlands
Acid grasslands
Neutral grassland
Open water
Rare Flora
Sanicle
Large Bittercress
Hard shield-fern
Narrow Buckler-fern
Black Poplar
Rare Fauna
Spotted Flycatcher
Marsh Tit
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Beeflies
Nomad Bees

10. Grange Farm Moat Meadows LWS
Dordon Spoil Heap LWS
Wappenbury Wood LWS

11. Warwickshire’s habitat Connectivity mapping
Joint project WBRC, York University and HBA
Woodlands
Hedgerows
Grasslands
Wetlands
Habitat
Biodiversity
Audit

12. Connectivity modelling
Designed for highly fragmented habitats
Applied to different types of habitat e.g. woodlands, grasslands, wetlands.
Key components of the model are the quality, size, shape and type of patch (habitat)
Requires GIS mapping to extract habitat data and interpret results
LWS information and Phase 1 habitat mapping is ideally suited to applying the model because of the detail and quality of the data

13. Applying connectivity
Identifying strategic areas for wildlife – forward planning
Incorporating connectivity into local plans – Lawton report recommendations
Delivering Living Landscapes initiatives through habitat connectivity
Individual species connectivity e.g. bats, butterflies, dormice, water voles etc.

14. The Lawton Report Bigger Better Connected Put the Right Habitat in the
Right Place
Making Space for Nature: a review of England’s wildlife sites and ecological networks: defra 2010

15. Incorporating connectivity mapping into local plans
Stratford-on-Avon District Council- Ecological Study of Local Service Villages July 2012
Warwick District Council - Landscape Sensitivity and Ecological & Geological Study November 2013
Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council – Ecology and Geodiversity Assessment April 2014

16. Delivering living landscapes initiatives Princethorpe project
Conservation measures
hedgerow gap reduction and hedge row creation
tree plantation - infilling

17. Species connectivity: Barbastelle bat study Whichford Wood
Conservation measures
retention and management of key woodlands, flight-lines and foraging areas
hedgerow creation - connectivity
small linear woods
field margins
wet meadows

18. Conclusions
Local wildlife sites make a valuable contribution to wildlife conservation in Warwickshire
They do require protection where ever possible
Difficult to determine their condition and continuing management for wildlife
Good habitat data and connectivity mapping is the basis for delivering living landscapes
LWS are the building blocks for living landscapes
More research opportunities and applications in applying connectivity

19. Thank you