BOROUGH OF POOLE

ENVIRONMENT OVERVIEW GROUP

7th DECEMBER 2006

REPORT OF THE HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

PROPOSAL TO DESIGNATE UPTON COUNTRY PARK AND CANFORD HEATH SSSI AS LOCAL NATURE RESERVES

1Purpose of Report

1.1To request the support of Members for the designation of these two sites as Local Nature Reserves.

2Decision Required

2.1 Members are recommended to approve formal consultation with Natural England and any other interested party over the suitability of these two sites as Local Nature reserves. Then taking into account any substantive comments made during this consultation, seek Cabinet approval that these two sites should be declared as Local Nature Reserves.

3Information

3.1In the past, within Poole, there has been a programme of designating sites of importance for nature conservation as Local Nature Reserves. Local Nature Reserves are sites that are managed for residents to use and to allow and encourage enjoyment and understanding of the countryside and its wildlife, plus may give protection to other adjoining sites. The majority of these areas have now been designated, with the main outstanding exceptions being Upton Country Park and Canford Heath SSSI.

3.2Borough of Poole may designate land as a Local Nature Reserve under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 and it is a statutory designation.

3.3Designation of sites as Local Nature Reserve provides the Council with an opportunity to secure byelaws that can help protect the wildlife and manage recreational activities on these sites.

3.4Local Nature Reserves can benefit from funding opportunities not available to other sites.

3.5Local Nature Reserve designation of sites can help with relationship with the public, promote awareness of the environment and show the council’s commitment to these sites.

3.6The designation of Upton Country Park as a Local Nature Reserve would not preclude current or future events such as BSO concerts, summer shows, wedding events or commercial use of the Upton House. The existing conservation designations and legislation that relates to the Park, such as the House being a listed building, bats being protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, parts of the park being designated as Site of Special Scientific Interest etc., already limit what may be done in this area.

4 Proposal

4.1To designate these two sites as Local Nature Reserves.

4.2Description of areas to be covered for these two sites:

Canford Heath; land owned by the Borough of Poole, majority being Site of Special Scientific Interest. Other privately owned land may be included at some stage.

Upton County Park; all the area open to the public (this excludes the farm), Upton House, Pergins Island, Holes Bay north of the railway line and Holes Bay Road verge.

(Note maps of areas will be provided at the meeting)

4.3Holes Bay north of the railway line is owned by Canford Estates and they have agreed in principle that they are willing to have this area designated as a Local Nature Reserve. This area being included may also help in the control of bait digging.

4.4This proposal has already been subject to informal consultation with Natural England (formerly English Nature) to see if they would agree to these sites being designated and that there would be no affect on activities at Upton County Park. They welcomed the proposal of these two sites and confirmed that events at Upton Country Park and in the foreseeable future would not be affected.

4.5The Friends of Upton Country Park have been informed of the proposal to designate the site as a Local Nature Reserve. They greeted this with great interest and have requested an article for their next newsletter.

4.6Property, Transportation and Planning and Design Control Services have been consulted over these proposals. Property and Transportation have agreed, while Strategic Planning and Planning Design & Control Services have some reservations at present which may be addressed in the period of formal consultation.

4.7As part of this designation public notices would have to be placed in the local press and a formal notification of areas covered would have to be sent to Natural England.

4.8After these two sites are designated, it would be the intention of Leisure Services to draft a set of byelaws for all of Poole’s Local Nature Reserves for Member’s consideration.

5Conclusion

5.1The designation of Local Nature Reserves offers the Council the following benefits:

  • It confirms the Council’s support for wildlife conservation in the Borough
  • It raises the profile of the sites in question and the opportunities that exist for increasing awareness of wildlife conservation amongst visitors
  • It offers opportunities for securing specific funding available for Local Nature Reserves
  • It does not prevent the normal day today activities and events that currently take place on these sites

.

CLIVE SMITH

HEAD OF LEISURE SERVICES

Contact Officers:

Jez Martin, Nature Conservation Officer (01202) 261338

Matti Raudsepp, Open Spaces Manager (01202) 261377

Background Papers:

NIL

Report Version: 29/11/06 Page 1