Biodiversity Policy

Biodiversity Policy

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WHICHAM PARISH COUNCIL
BIODIVERSITY POLICY

In accordance with the duty imposed on town and parish councils by Section
40 of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, updated by
Section 102 of the Environment Act 2021, Whicham Parish Council will in
exercising all its functions have regard to the purpose of conserving
biodiversity.

This duty also means that town and parish councils can spend funds in
conserving biodiversity.

Definition

According to Defra (Biodiversity 2020), biodiversity is the variety of all life on
Earth. It includes all species of animals and plants -everything that is alive on
our planet.

Biodiversity is important for its own sake and has its own intrinsic value. A
number of studies have shown this value also goes further. It is the building
block of our “ecosystems”. These provide us with a wide range of goods and
services that support our economic and social wellbeing. These include
essentials such as food, fresh water and clean air, but also less obvious services
such as protection from natural disasters, regulation of our climate, and
purification of our water or pollination of our crops. Biodiversity also provides
important cultural cervices, enriching our lives.

Aims and Objectives

The object of this policy is to work towards enhancing and protecting the
biodiversity of Whicham Parish.

All committees of Whicham Parish Council will consider sustainability,
environmental impact and biodiversity when making decisions and will develop
and implement policies and strategies as required.

In particular, Whicham Parish Council will aim to improve the biodiversity of
the area in the following ways:

• Consider the potential impact on biodiversity represented by planning
  applications
• Manage its land and property using environmentally friendly practices
  that will promote biodiversity.

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• Support local businesses & council operations in the adoption of low
  impact practices.
• Support residents and local organisation activities to enhance and
  promote biodiversity.

Actions

Planning applications

• The council, when commenting on planning applications, will support
  site and building design that benefits biodiversity through the
  conservation and integration of existing habitats or provision of new
  habitats.
• It will support protection of sensitive habitats from development and
  will consider whether the development would mean the loss of
  important habitats for wildlife in respect of all applications.
• It will consider what each proposed development might make in terms
  of biodiversity net gain.
• It will include policies in support of biodiversity within the
  neighbourhood and community plan.

Land and Property management

• The council will carry out a biodiversity audit of its landholdings.
• The Councils will consider the conservation and promotion of local
  biodiversity with regard to the management of its open spaces. This will
  include adopting beneficial practices with regarding to cutting and
  removal of vegetation, application of chemicals and timing of
  maintenance work.
• Special care will be taken in the specification of grounds maintenance
  contracts to ensure that the work, whilst reaching acceptable standards,
  does not harm the natural environment.
• The council will consider biodiversity issues and the implementation of
  changes when managing its buildings.

Local Community

• The council will raise public awareness of biodiversity issues, including
  through its website and newsletters.

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• The council will engage with local businesses and residents regarding
  biodiversity in the community and how members of the community can
  assist and make a difference.
• It will, where feasible, involve the community in biodiversity projects on
  its land including for example, tree planting, wildflower meadows,
  birdbox making.

Partners

• Whicham Parish Council will work in partnership with other
  organisations to protect, promote and enhance biodiversity within areas
  of Whicham Parish.
• It will review any local nature recovery strategies, or protected site
  strategies in respect of local sites of special scientific interest (SSSI’s) and
  consider how it may become more involved in implementing the
  strategies recommendations.

This policy will be reviewed each year at the Annual Meeting, together with a
summary of how the policy has been implemented in the previous twelve
months.

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Action Plan

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