Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a metric and an approach to development that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was before, where the state is determined by ecological metrics defined by Natural England, and where the gain is assessed by a Local Planning Authority (LPA). [1] [2]

What is the Biodiversity Net Gain Metric?

As the law on BNG currently stands, the metric is defined by identifying habitat types, e.g. river, hedge, meadow, etc., which then are used to calculate parts of the metric itself. These are indicators of current and projected Biodiversity in certain areas. Below, see an example of the metric BNG version 3.1, which comes as an excel spreadsheet.

The current version at the time of writing, BNG version 3.1 accounts for changes between  Pre-development and Post-development, also Post-intervention habitats, e.g. future biodiversity offset estimates. With temporal, spatial, and difficulty multipliers acting on ecological facts, the final outcome of the metric value, the BNG percentage is, at best, an informed expert interpretation of the ecological facts given the development work carried out both on and off-site.

Aside from filling out the BNG spreadsheet to get a final percentage metric, Gantt charts can be used to illustrate the process in detail, to help others involved in project management and planning.

You can download information about the metric here and see the spreadsheet referenced in the above images here. [3]

The Biodiversity Net Gain Guide.

We recommend consulting an expert ecologist, and optionally a landscape architect to advise you during the project’s design process. Consulting an expert is necessary to mitigate costs that can be incurred due to the destruction of ecological features on-site. If such features are destroyed, significant extra cost and effort are required to then increase the BNG. Baseline units and gains are determined by the use of the spreadsheet which gives a result based on the final design and net change in biodiversity units.

Mitigation hierarchy.

The Mitigation hierarchy is an important concept, and protects the environment in order of precedence. The hierarchy should be applied to every development.

1. Avoid harm.
2. Minimise harm
3. Rehabilitate and enhance onsite
4. If the development cannot do 1-3 use offsite offsetting.

In terms of costs, 1. avoiding harm, e.g. protecting trees and topsoil in situ, incurs minimal cost.

You get in touch with expert ecologists from Landvision to discuss your project’s needs. To do so, visit our contact us page.

What’s next for Biodiversity Net Gain Metric?

Natural England is set to this policy for the foreseeable future, however, they will continue to finetune the metric over the coming years, in order to increase the certainty that the measures of this policy indeed work, according to the view of experts, as stated on the Natural England blog.

It is vitally important that habitats are managed and maintained for the duration of the BNG agreement (30 years) and that, if necessary, corrective measures are implemented if the BNG outcomes forecast through the metric are not forthcoming. None of us wants to see an outcome that looks good in the metrics calculation but then fails to materialise on the ground. [2]

Additionally, understanding the end impact of a project can take a long time, which is why Natural England aims to extend the monitoring of sites for longer.

Currently many habitat plans only consider what is needed over a 5-10-year period. BNG requires habitats be secured for at least 30 years, which means they must be managed and monitored. [2]

Note, that this includes funding of both site management and monitoring of the natural areas by ecological consultants.

To conclude, and reiterate Natural England, the outcome of biodiversity net gain is not just about the metric, it is also up to the ecologist to liaise with the LPA to determine whether the metric works. As to whether the metric really works in practice, a registry of data will be maintained of sites that deliver BNG, which will help work as a means of iterating and finetuning the policy.

Summary of Biodiversity Net Gain Guide.

In summary, developers need to take into account the natural environment when they are planning a project by hiring an ecologist at an early stage. The Biodiversity Net Gain metric is the tool ecologists will use to account for the environmental impact of the project.

If you need to consult an expert ecologist for your project. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.

References

[1] – https://www.local.gov.uk/pas/topics/environment/biodiversity-net-gain

[2] – https://naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2021/09/21/biodiversity-net-gain-more-than-just-a-number/

[3] – http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/6049804846366720

The post Biodiversity Net Gain, a Developer’s Guide appeared first on Landscape Architects.

The post Ecology appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Ecological Networks. Habitat creation. Adding Biodiversity. Biodiversity Net Gain. Biodiversity Offsetting.

Following the Lawton report (2010) which underlined the importance of ecological networks; baseline studies into LVIAs for LPAs for landscape planning in Sussex, Kent and Surrey, include investigation of ways to conserve, strengthen and enhance site ecology and ecological networks by biodiversity offsetting. This information can include PEARs (or Preliminary Ecological Appraisal Reports.) See Landvision Ecology page for further details on PEARs and why they are required.

This information is increasingly important because the government is committed to tackling climate change and thus to including ways of adding biodiversity (biodiversity net gain) in the planning process. See the latest NPPF for details on landscape and biodiversity commitments.

Similarly, habitat creation and improving ecological linking to habitats on site to those beyond site are therefore equally important goals.

The Natural Environment White Paper (2011) identified the government commitment to implementing the principles of the Lawton Report’s findings. It identifies the UK government’s commitment from 2011, on the need to collectively act together, “bigger and better” to build resilience against climate change. Action required to stem Climate change will be further debated in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2020.

Int he meantime, current Government guidance for biodiversity offsetting, shows that nature conservation needs a “step change”, to safeguard ecological networks. Natural networks of green spaces matter hugely. This is beacuse they supply ecosytem services, (clean air, water, food supply, fuel, health and well being linked to views of green space and bird song). Perhaps most importantly they have a priceless intrinsic value as habitats for flora and fauna.  Ecology in LVIA is intrinsic too in the planning process as a tool used by landscape architects in trying to prevent fragmentation caused by intensive agriculture or other development. For instance, some sites have special qualities such as historic hedge banks. Equally, a site may have a woodland Shaw. Alternatively, it may contain a rough meadow pasture with pond habitats for protected species. The ecology of lfora and fauna in their habitats, plus intrinsic value of these special areas in terms of landscape ecology, jointly act by acting as a form of resilience in ecological networks. Landscape effects of a proposed development on ecological resilience and networks will be appraised. According to the Government White Paper (2011), there will be a commitment to “conserve and enhance” protected landscape and to add biodiversity, to combat climate change and other pressures, by adding and offsetting possible biodiversity loss, which will be assessed as part of the LVIA process by our landscape architects.

By using Landvision you will have a dedicated team of experts, 35+ years experience, who will be able to survey the site. Using a Phase 1 Extended Ecology Scoping survey to determine likely Protected Species, of rare or protected plants and animals. The Wildife & Countryside Act, 1981 protects wild species of fauna and flora. The NERC Act, 2006 protects natural habitats used by protected species, for instance, wild flower meadows, historic hedgerows and veteran trees; these are all habitats which can be used by protected species such as Bats. If there are protected species of fauna and flora, mitigation in the LVIA can take the form of tree planting, hedge planting or land management or habitat creation and mitigation for BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) species, for instance, of invertebrates or reptiles, in Sussex or Hampshire.

The mitigation may take the form of a specialist Landvision landscape plan or a Landvision management plan. Similarly, these may include mitigation for BAP (Biodiversity Action Plan) protected species, on site in Kent or Surrey. These pragmatic areas of expertise within the ecology of LVIAs are covered under the Landvision roof; a one stop shop for landscape, trees, ecology and horticulture, for both design and management.

Following the findings of the Lawton report (2010) and the Government White Paper in 2011, “The Natural Choice. Securing the value of nature” now new developments and associated landscape works need to conserve and enhance. Therfore, they will need to be more frequently linked in with Fauna and flora ecological networks, this is to build ecological resilience. LVIAs will therefore now need to include more Green infrastructure links and to follow nature conservation guiding principles. Adding biodiversity and ecological networks, will enable Offsetting as well as sound ecology principles on habitat creation and species protection in Surrey, Sussex and Kent.

However, we must remember the detailed findings of Landvision and other PEAR Ecology reports whcih may be required as part of the LVIA process. Where protected species occur they may well need mitigation during the construction process. This may include specific alternative habitat creation to compensate for habitat loss or due to the fragmentation of habitat of protected species, due to the proposed development(see government guidance for developers here.) Similarly, there could also be a need for additional new enhancements, for instance, to maintain ecological networks and because we may need to offset biodiversity loss and to build resilience through more “joined up” habitat management after the project has been installed in Kent or Surrey. This may take the form of specialist suitable management of habitats after the development has been constructed.

Importance of unusual fauna and flora which may occur within, for example an Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW) setting near the site in Sussex, will be identified. The ASNWs are protected habitats due to their rarity, as well as for the Historical and Cultural Heritage value attached to them. They have special qualities and a high landscape value. The residents of Hampshire and Kent aswell as visitors to these counties and Surrey and Sussex regard them as heritage assets. As such they are irreplaceable habitats and the species of flora and fauna within them are highly prized.

Species rich wild flower meadows are another habitat of Kent, Surrey and Sussex; these may be historic landscapes with cultural heritage value highly likely to be safeguarded in an LVIA report due to rarity of habitats. Frequently, such meadows contain unusual protected plant and animal species and are deemed SSSIs. (Sites of Special Scientific Interest.) LVIAs will seek to safeguard these habitats and their rare species as they can be increasingly fragmented due to agricultural intensification, changes in farming practices and pressure to develop agricultural land, in The Green Belt in Surrey and Kent, as well as in other protected landscapes such as National Parks in The New Forest in Hampshire and The South Downs National Park in Hampshire and Sussex. 

Other ecology and surveys;

Protected species of amphibians such as GCN (Great Crested Newt) in kent and Sussex have a short window of opportunity for breeding surveys to be carried out in early Spring. By inserting green infrastructure links, and recreating ponds and hedgerows, linking to established habitats of protected species such as Bats and GCN, can be strengthened.

Reptiles such as Slow Worms have occurred on sites in Kent and Surrey as well as sites in Sussex. Slow Worm are legless lizards and as they are reptiles have other specific requirements regarding warmth and daily habits to maintain their preferred temperature. Timings of surveys, depend on these daily habits; as Slow Worm are diurnal, they are out in early morning and then early evening. So, timing ecology surveys depends on type of Protected Species, as well as other variables, such as whether the weather is fine and warm early in the season.

If it is unseasonably wet and cold when surveys are scheduled, your survey dates may need to be re arranged for best time of survey. For advice to avoid delays to your planning application, and so avoid delays to construction programmes on your project, ring 01892 782200 to discuss your LVIA and ecology survey work with our team of experts.

For more information on the role of landscape architects in LVIAs go to our ecology page and green infrastructure within LVIAs. For any advice on timing of surveys required, go to the contacts page or ring 01892 782200.

Save

The post Fauna & Flora in LVIA Reports in Sussex, Kent and Surrey appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Biodiversity offsetting can be a very useful way of mitigating for new development. At Landvision, we feel that there are some cases where offsetting can be used to great effect to mitigate and to enhance landscape and ecology. Despite what the UK government say, we feel there are also some instances, however, when biodiversity offsetting cannot be used. One such instance is ancient woodland. The Woodland Trust have mounted a petition to save ancient woodlands.

Biodiversity Strategy 2011 – 2020 and UK BAP.

The Biodiversity Strategy of 2011 and UK Biodiversity Action Plan and associated Habitat Plans, enable us to protect the unique habitats of ancient woodlands. The Biodiversity Strategy of 2011 and UK BAP recognize that broad leaved, mixed woodlands support almost twice as many species of conservation concern than any other habitat, such as chalk grassland or even heath land. What in particular makes ancient woodlands special and why preserve them? Biodiversity offsetting simply cannot replace ancient woodland. Only 2% of our UK ancient woodland remains intact.

Ancient woodlands and Biodiversity Offsetting.

Frequently, ancient woodlands were located on the farthest edges of Parishes and towns, left over pieces of land, from previous activities because they were too wet or too steep to be cultivated. This has resulted in the irregular outlines and wavy edges of many ancient woodlands. In the High Weald of Kent and Sussex, they are often called ghylls or gills after the steep sided valleys that they are located in. The plants that these woods contain are characteristic of ancient woods and they also often contain bryophytes or lichens. This is due to their undisturbed nature, their management may not have changed much in hundreds of years. One of the reasons why they are irreplaceable, is because they contain a unique set of plants, soils and fauna that are characteristic of ancient woodlands. The loss of these ancient woodlands cannot be offset by planting of new woodland. It is simply impossible to offset or recreate an ancient woodland- just as it is impossible to repaint a master piece. Despite their scarcity though, some ancient woodlands are under threat. Perhaps one of the biggest threats to ancient woodlands, is through poor  management and neglect. 

Management for ancient woodlands; as an offsetting tool.

At Landvision, we understand how to manage your sites to enhance biodiversity. This management can also help to increase the CO2 take up of the woodland We can help and advise you on how to offset biodiversity loss from some habitats. These habitats may be scrub or secondary woodlands; these woods differ from ancient woodlands, which must be protected. We will also be able to come to site to advise you on how to maximise the biodiversity of an ancient woodland, by sensitive management, saving you both time and money.

Knowing when to undertake biodiversity offsetting and when to do certain woodland operations can help to keep you on the right side of Wildlife & Countryside Law by taking care of protected species. It will also mean that you can program works in to an appropriate time of year, avoiding costly delays. For advice on how to make the most of your woodland and natural habitats on your site, contact Landvision.

A rare and rich resource under threat.

Protecting and managing ancient woodland is a vital part of our role. Keeping woods safe as a resource, by restoring and maintaining levels of biodiversity means that we can’t afford to lose these woods. Ancient woodland is under threat on a daily basis from man’s activities; fly tipping, dumping and neglect, plus lack of sustainable woodland management. So why can’t ancient woodland loss be offset? Ancient woodland  has unique plant and animal assemblages. These communities cannot be recreated by the mitigation schemes of planting of new trees or the creation of new habitats from scratch. Ancient woodlands are timeless places of great antiquity and are not commonly found or widespread as habitats. Instead, they are becoming more fragmented and more vulnerable to pressures from man’s activities. What other characteristics do these woods have?

Bluebells, Wood Anemone and Ransoms; ancient woodland indicators.

Ancient woodland is home to more threatened species than any other habitat. One of the things that is so special about ancient woodlands is their plant communities. These are unique, as the plants which are characteristic of these ancient woods are slow colonisers. Often the woods have a highly distinctive character, with unusual distributions of wild flowers, which can be traced back to woodlands on these sites hundreds of years ago. These plants might include wood anemone, yellow archangel and wild garlic or ransoms. Bluebells are an ancient woodland indicator. These species are protected and should not be dug up or removed from ancient woodlands.

Other signs of ancient woodlands, include Bronze and Iron Age earthworks, ancient park boundaries, ridge and furrow, park pales and wood banks. Often, mossy old coppice stools, large mature Oak standards are found in ancient woodlands. Archaeological remains of ancient activities, such as smelting and charcoal burning, have left hollows and lime kilns as round pits in these unique woodlands. The communities of plants, trees and bryophyes/lichens growing within ancient woodland are unique to each wood. They vary according to the different soils and conditions such as the micro climates within and between ancient woodlands. This is why each ancient woodland is impossible to offset as each individual woodland is irreplaceable. Biodiversity levels are extremely high and the species composition of these woods is unique; for this reason and for their archaeological and historical value as links to the past management of the woods, they cannot be offset and need to be preserved.

For advice on how to make the most of your woodland or the natural habitats on your site, contact Landvision.

If you need to discuss a project, give us a call on 01892 782200 or visit our Contact page

The post Ancient woodlands and Biodiversity Offsetting. appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Increased frequency of storm events, higher rainfall due to jet stream, effects of climate change, increased development and recreation pressures, all require habitat design that is sensitive to the demands placed on the landscape. These “eco system services” are what the landscape offers us in return for our use of it.

In order to be able to use ecosystem services effectively, habitat design and landscape management, will help to replenish landscapes which have become fragmented due to the pressures placed on them. Spaces will become more coherent and resilient to change. Landscapes which have been designed and managed to compensate for development effects, cannot be overestimated. Landvision specialise in this type of habitat design. We design and manage landscapes which are robust enough for future generations to enjoy.

The value of habitat design is considerable. Good design with a sound ecological basis lies at the heart of mitigation design, in environmental statements and in landscape planning. It allows development to take place without any net loss of biodiversity. The most desirable outcome is a positive increase in biodiversity, where space allows for the creation of interlinking of wild areas and appropriate management to enhance ecology in the long term.

BS;42020; Mitigation and habitat design.

Developments placed in inappropriate locations can be mitigated for, but this does require considerable amounts of landscape design input and investment. Without habitat design, to renew and to manage landscapes in a long term sustainable way.

To be effective, an understanding of the ecology of sites which are to be developed, is used in habitat design. The scale of the impact of each development is examined. The mitigation is drawn up to mitigate this impact on the ecology and landscape. Sound ecology knowledge is used by Landvision, to determine levels of impact and the appropriate levels of mitigation on a site by site basis.

If there is no investment then, eco system crash- for instance, landslides, soil erosion, flooding and water pollution are consequences which will have a  negative effect on lives and landscapes. So, this BS 42020; Biodiversity – Code of Practice planning and development and allied work, is vital to the ecology of landscapes and to saving time and money for the communities which depend on and live in them.

Building more resilient landscapes for communities.

Landvision use habitat design to move towards sustainability. To set aside areas, to produce less fragmented landscapes, which will thus be ecologically more stable in the long term. This is because, in order to be more resilient to change, our landscapes require sensitive design based on a site’s ecology, suited to the landscape and to the communities who live there.

Habitats require sound landscape management, to sustain the resilience of the landscape ecology and its protected species. For instance, pond creation is invaluable in enhancing site ecology. Ponds attract a wide variety of wildlife and have landscape and health benefits- introducing water, tranquillity and an enhanced feeling of well being for residents, providing recreational opportunities.

Maintenance and management of landscapes.

Habitats, such as ponds, also require regular maintenance in order to maintain their ecology and to keep them healthy. For more information on how Landvision can help you to offset your biodiversity losses, by habitat and landscape design and specific landscape management, call; 01892 782200 now, or go to the Landvision Contact page

The post BS 42020 Biodiversity; Code of Practice for planning and development; designing and managing robust ecosystem services. appeared first on Landscape Architects.

This new BS:42020 on Biodiversity will provide guidance to support landscape and planning applications and give planning authorities greater confidence in information included in a planning application. Now that the PPS9 Biodiversity and geological Conservation has been superseded by the new National Planning Policy Framework, the BS 42020 on Biodiversity will be required to direct and consolidate decision-making on biodiversity and landscape management.

The ecology reports, habitat design work and landscape management projects in East Sussex by Landvision will adhere to the new BS:42020 on Biodiversity, which stipulates a Code of Practice for landscape planning and development projects.

The ecological survey and assessment  work Landvision undertakes always tries to minimise the effects on the ecology of a site. Along with this minimisation of the effects of a development, the BS42020 seeks to explore opportunities for new developments to provide benefits for wildlife. Something Landvision has always done. Habitat design has been one of our specialisms for many years.

Incorporating biodiversity  management into the separate stages of the planning process saves species as well as saving time and money.

Landvision will advise you on timings for ecological surveys; including Phase 1 ecological surveys and Phase 2 surveys.

Habitat design and landscape management produce sustainable Landscapes in East Sussex. An important part of the new BS will be in its use as a framework BS, to demonstrate how biodiversity has been managed. Once this has been shown, that is, how landscape management for biodiversity will be undertaken, this will be part of the development process, any impact will be then be identified and minimised.

If you need to discuss a project which requires a planning submission which is compliant with BS:42020 them give us a call on 01892 782200 or visit our Contact page.

The post BS:42020 on Biodiversity-Code of Practice for planning and development appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Working within the confines of a specific development scheme, landscape architects can be limited in their scope of operation. However, Landvision landscape architects know that through a strong understanding of ecology, the prognosis of their final schemes will be better. They will be working together to produce pragmatic solutions for improving the environment and biodiversity.

Habitat design, Ecological landscape design and landscape management mitigation for South East England in East Sussex.

Landvision habitat design and landscape management in East Sussex aims to redress species loss and biodiversity and habitat loss. Designing habitats to offset the effects of development, Landvision landscape architects, draw on their strong ecological background. They undertake habitat designs which are often specific to a protected species or special habitat. Landvision’s landscape management on each site seeks to offset any biodiversity loss, whether of habitat or of a particular species due to development.

What is Biodiversity Offsetting?

Biodiversity Offsetting can be partly achieved through landscape design with a strong ecological bias, which seeks to deliver biodiversity benefits on one site, to compensate for any loss of biodiversity on another site.

Case studies.

For example, Landvision have recently designed ecological habitats through landscape plans, habitat creation and landscape management work. Landscape management and landscape design plans with a strong ecological bias, have been recently created for new residential and commercial developments, including mining. So, for example, landscapes have been restored after mining activity; the habitats created will include heathland, woodland and grassland adjoining wetland. The species present on site are safeguarded and encouraged using specific landscape management drawn up for their protection in the landscape management plan.

Habitat plans by Landvision are also frequently drawn up as part of the ecology recommendations and landscape design remit.

Woodland management is specified in Woodland Management Plans; in order to maximize biodiversity gains.

If these plans are carried out then biodiversity gains will be made and the developments will have been truly sustainable. Landscape conditions and section 106 agreements will have been discharged successfully.

Breeam ecology, plus habitat designs and landscape design of mitigation schemes.

Breeam ecology reports by Landvision and management plans are a vital part of biodiversity offsetting by developers. Mitigation design; habitats specific to certain protected species. Their management is an ecological and landscape specialism which Landvision offers to clients such as builders, developers, local authorities and private estates managers in the south east. Landscape plans and garden design by Landvision can also incorporate habitat creation through tree and wildflower grassland creation and landscape management for ecology.

Conservation credits.

Credits for conservation can be bought by the developer, improving other sites in a way that achieves a biodiversity gain elsewhere. These conservation credits are useful where it is recognized that a site may have only limited chances for biodiversity offsetting due perhaps to its size, or the density of a proposed development on a restricted site this is  where ecological landscape design can help .

Climate change and Biodiversity offsetting.

It is important to use landscape architects like Landvision, who have a deep ecological understanding. Habitat design and landscape management work can help to combat the side effects of agricultural intensification and development. The latter have led to some of the most dramatic loss of habitats since the 1960s. As population distribution patterns change, with economic migration; movement of the jet stream and other global factors such as changing wind patterns and changing ocean currents, habitat landscape design and ecology are vital fields.

Recent research shows that the geographic ranges of plants and animals could be reduced by climate change. A study, in Nature on Climatic Change, has found that more than half of plants and more than a third of animals could lose half of their climatic range by 2080 if the current greenhouse emissions are not reduced. The role of Landvision and its landscape architects, with a strong ecological design ethos has never been more important than it is now; to stem the loss of our common species.

Effective ecological design, biodiversity offsetting and habitat mitigation projects in East Sussex, are now even more important. In Making Space for Nature, John Lawton indicates that we need to place design of landscapes within the wider ecology that they are connected to and thus, within a wider landscape context. Landvision landscape design and landscape management, link green space and ecology, so that habitats are less isolated and species are less threatened. This is done through creating a network of ecologically stable areas.

Retaining biodiversity.

The economic value of biodiversity services has recently been placed on the political agenda too. This work does require continuing commitment to environment and investment in the creation and management of natural habitats in East Sussex. Nature has a cost, but ignoring nature has a greater price. Flooding and other climate change effects such as landslides, soil erosion, pollution of water courses, low agricultural yields, and increasing storm events’ frequencies are all prices which we may have to pay if we ignore the needs to safeguard our landscapes, our biodiversity and to slow down climate change. For more details on Landvision landscape ecology, landscape design and landscape management, with specialist habitat design and landscape management in East Sussex, go to contact page and ring our landscape architects now on 01892 782200.

Save

The post Ecological landscape design for South East England appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Green infrastructure is a term used to bring all the green assets of  village, town and city together and use this data as a planning tool.  Green infrastructure includes trees,  parks, hedges, grassland, woodland and  road verges. There is more about green infrastructure here on the Landvision Blog

Green infrastructure is defined as interconnecting nature areas, parks and open spaces, recreation grounds, Specimen urban trees, tree lined sitting areas, green squares; also rivers and lakes.

These are the basic components of landscape planning policy using GI as a tool;

• Overall Vision; strategy based on a landscape scale, locality, community.
• Landscape character – understanding, creating and protecting, Sense of Place.
• Site assessment of soils, hydrology, species, habitats.
• Recording and GIS; SWOT analysis.
• Long term management, building Sustainability, resilient landscapes.
• Design & Implementation.
• Management and after care maintenance of scheme.

• Delivering, managing and maintaining GI assets. Also, develop a joint approach towards GI for Councils preparing Local Development Framework (LDF) documents.

Advantages of Landscape planning Green Infrastructure (GI)

• Reconnection with nature.
• Encouraging wildlife – safeguarding habitat (See our native hedges blog) and creating new habitats.
• Micro climate benefits – improves living conditions in cities.
• Carbon capture slows climate change.
•  Flood prevention and slowing water run off flow rates increases safety.

• Health and well being – (see link to research showing positive benefits of GI in cities.)

• Food production- orchards and allotments, community gardens,
• Recreation – formal and informal uses of green space and countryside.
• Green Space and Biodiversity – protecting vulnerable species (see our Butterfly ecology and wildlife ponds)
  

  Green Infrastructure – Integration of resilient landscape planning

• Combating climate change through Green Infrastructure (GI.)
• Each green space created or managed effectively will help to contribute to GI and combating Climate change. Carbon capture schemes; lowering temperatures through GI.
• Shared vision in landscape planning across boundaries.

Best use of landscape – Character and beauty, multi functional spaces that are resilient.

Landscape planning of Green Spaces; brings positive health benefits

• Research shows that Green Space is positively linked to increased health and well being.”Development of green space should be allocated a more central position in spatial planning policy.”
• “The percentage of green space inside a one kilometer and a three kilometer radius had a significant relation to perceived general health.
• The relation was generally present at all degrees of urbanity.
• The overall relation is somewhat stronger for lower socio economic groups.
• Elderly, youth, and secondary educated people in large cities seem to benefit more from presence of green areas in their living environment than other groups in large cities.
• Research shows that the percentage of green space in people’s living environment has a positive association with the perceived general health of residents.
• Green space seems to be more than just a luxury.
• Development of green space should be allocated a more central position in GI is an integrated way of bringing development of green space into landscape planning and into more peoples’ lives. Long lasting benefits of GI will be evident for generations. To find out more about how we can help you by landscape planning in GI, landvision.co.uk or click on Contact Us page; spatial planning policy.”

Save

Save

Save

The post Green Infrastructure appeared first on Landscape Architects.

Practical School Wildlife Ponds – building your wildlife pond.

Landscape design tips for your new pond.

Before you start digging, have a landscape design plan for the wildlife pond. Think about ecology. If you need help, ask for it; from local experts, or from parents or governors. If you have already completed a pond or have an old pond to restore;  to improve the pond ecology, or for more information and planting tips go to; landvision blog. We always like your feedback so leave a comment.

Planting school wildlife ponds

This is the one in a  series about creating a school wildlife pond. Others are:

• School Wildlife ponds
• School Wildlife pond -Wildlife. Part 2.
• Planting school wildlife ponds

So you’re going to dig a new hole for a pond?

• Where is the spoil going to go?
• Wildlife pond: digging a pond
• How is it going to get there?
• How much spoil will there be?
• What shape are you going to dig out?

Are you interested in using the pond for educational purposes? See the blog for more details on why and how Creating a pond and an adjacent wildlife area will have a beneficial effect on species and habitat. We have a blog on planting that is  here

For school wildlife ponds think about access and pond dipping. This means that access must be safe and preferably an all weather path with a small decked or paved area for dipping will at least be required. For safety on school grounds, a lockable gate and a fence will also need to be installed.

 School Wildlife Pond – services and protection of features.

• Do you need to protect existing features? These might be existing plants or an area of important or rare, native wetland plants or reeds; these should be kept for wildlife habitat.
• Are there likely to be underground services?
• These services must be clearly marked on the ground before excavation starts and be several metres beyond the pond excavation area.ervices? (Gas, water pipes or electricity.)
• If you are taking the spoil off site, is there space nearby for the temporary storage of spoil?
• Can a lorry get to the pond site or do you have to move the spoil to load it into the lorry?
• Can you re use the topsoil? If so, do try to keep it. Topsoil is expensive to buy and to transport. It will probably be required for landscaping the margins of pond areas or on other adjacent planting areas later anyway.

Volonteers in wildlife pond creation.

A small pond can be dug by hand, but remember that the best time to dig a pond is in summer, when the ground is dry, but that also means that ground can be very hard. It is worth asking for help as the pond project will at least get completed sooner.  If you are using volunteers, don’t expect them to turn up the next day if you ware them out. They may not be able to undertake a whole day digging and may require regular tea breaks due to heat. The vagaries of the UK weather may also mean that progress may be interrupted by rain or there could be a heatwave.

They need to come prepared for the expected weather.

 Next phases to School Wildlife pond creation.

So you now have a design and a plan of action.

If you are using a mini digger ask for first drop off in the morning. Otherwise the digger may not be delivered until half way through the morning- with a lot of wasted time, standing around waiting for it. If there is a team of people this can be dispiriting and irritating.

If you have to hire a digger, make sure it comes with a experienced driver they are worth their weight in gold.

Do not be afraid to ask for a discount if you are undertaking a school or community wildlife pond project. Firms will often be keen to help community projects such as this to help wildlife and schools.

 Starting your new wildlife pond.

• Mark the site out, measure off from the design.
• Strip off all the topsoil first from the area; preferably have the area sprayed off if it is grass, a week or two beforehand. Usually topsoil can be used elsewhere, if so, you can store it away; keeping it separate from the subsoil.
• Next, dig out the subsoil. If money is limited and there is space, you can use the subsoil on site.
• You can do so as long there is no soil contamination (previous soils contaminated by garage use or dumping of waste materials or sites with Japanese knot weed will all require special care and removal of spoil to a special licensed tip off site.)

Top tips, Remember that the pond should have:

• Gently sloping side on one side.
• Perhaps shelving around th eother sides.
• Be of an irregular shape.
• For a wildlife pond, the depth should be between 0.5m to 1m, with a shallow area.
• If using a deck for pond dipping activities, think about where the uprights to support this decking are going to be.
• Size – a small pond could be 1.8m x 1.5m x 0.6m deep
• Once the hole is dug, the next job is removing stone and lining the pond. Perhaps, some hand shaping may be required as well.

There is a good video here on creating a wildlife pond or the Forestry Commission has a pdf here

A soft builder’s sand should be used for lining the pond. On the video link above, pondguru uses sand and polyfelt. Some landscapers use either one or the other. Using both is really good practice and hopefully the pond will be around for many more years that way, without a puncture to the liner. So, we strongly recommend that you use both.

For more advice on your pond or landscape design or to discuss your site, go to Contact us; or you can leave a message on the blog at landvision.co.uk. blog

The post Landscape design plan and building your wildlife pond. appeared first on Landscape Architects.

This is the second article on Butterflies Ecology, the first can be found here

Ecology and Landscape design for creating habitat for Butterflies.

Butterflies ecology and what to do to help stem the trend of decline in butterflies, such as Small Tortoiseshells?There are a number of general habitat needs of butterflies.

 By providing for these, butterflies can be conserved and encouraged.

 The caterpillar stages require the correct food plants.

 The adults require suitable plants for nectar.

 Provide warm, sunny sheltered spots, preferably with a south facing aspect. Butterflies need this habitat to raise their body temperatures.

 Trees, hedgerows and shrubs are needed for shelter too, as well as for food plants, but must be managed to still maintain open areas of ground for butterflies nearby.

Butterflies need a variety of different habitats depending on species;

 Your landscape design for butterflies should include some of the following habitats.

 Woodland edge habitat – perhaps you could get a grant for creating the right ecology

 Wild flower meadow and tall grassland habitat.

 Marshy, marginal habitats.

 Scrub areas.

Habitat diversity and structural diversity.

 Management should allow different vegetation heights will give insects different habitats to shelter and feed in. This will encourage plant species to mature, such as Hedge Garlic for the Orange Tip butterfly to lay its eggs on.

 Diverse native hedgerows and copses will encourage a variety of different butterflies.

 South facing slopes, valley bottoms and lowland areas are favoured. If the site is quite exposed, adding planting and a shelter belt/hedge will help.

 Management of habitats needs to be carefully controlled; ideally, a maintenance plan or programme will help to coordinate activities.

 If an area has a good colony of butterflies or has a rare species, be careful how you change any management of the site or the character of the site.

 A single mature Oak tree can support a colony of the Purple Hairstreak; most occur in woods.

Different habitats of butterflies.

 Woodland butterflies;

•  Purple Hairstreak – feed on oak and spend most of their time on the mature 0ak tree canopy.
•  Black Hairstreak – feed on old blackthorn thickets.
•  White Admiral – need mature growth of old coppice woodland and Honeysuckle. Decline of coppicing helps this species of butterfly, so management for these butterflies needs to be carefully monitored.

 Caterpillars of the Fritillaries depend on herbs, in particular Common Dog Violet, which grow after coppicing in woods, so restoring woods to coppice helps the following species;

•  Pearl bordered Fritillary.
•  Small pearl bordered Fritillary.
•  Silver washed Fritillary.

 Whilst grassland butterflies include;

•  Brown butterflies which feed on grasses in woodland rides and other grassy places.
•  Damp grassland rides – favour the Ringlet.
•  Sunny open rides – favour the Meadow Brown.
•  Wood white – feeds on legumes and needs 30% shade.
•  Some Skippers also use woodland rides as habitat.
• The Blues favour more open grassland habitats with their food plants (see Butterflies 3.)

 Other Habitat

Hedgerows support Gatekeeper and Orange Tip.

Hedgerows near woods support Brown Hairstreak.

Management – this depends on the type of flora, but generally, it is best to cut each ride in alternate years, this will allow plants to grow up and mature as different butterfly food plants.

 So, all butterflies have specific niches and creating a variety of habitats is ideal for attracting butterflies. To discuss creating habitats for butterflies, go to Contact page

 or leave a comment.

For a landscape design to encourage butterflies ring 01892 782200

The post Butterflies Ecology Landscape Design, Creating Habitat appeared first on Landscape Architects.