Environmental Forum –Monday 31October 2011

Biodiversity Projects Officer’s Report

Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF) Biodiversity Partnership Group (BPG)

  • As a result of the Natural Environment White Paper published earlier this year the Biodiversity Partnership Group (BPG) submitted a bid, in July, to establish a Local Nature Partnership (LNP) which will operate at county level.
  • The funding bid focussed on securing costs for co-ordinating a LNP, for example running workshops or to help establish the LNP in the county.
  • The main role of the LNP would be to provide overall co-ordination of biodiversity delivery in Hertfordshire, to support any Nature Improvement Areas (NIA) and to work with neighbouring LNPs, businesses and the like.
  • The LNP would sit within the Hertfordshire Sustainability Forum but the BPG would lead in developing the partnership.
  • A conditional offer of funding was received from Defra in September.
  • Two further projects have been supported by the Biodiversity Projects Fund –the Water Vole and Purple Emperor Species Action Plans.
  • The lichen survey of traditional orchards, which was part funded by the Biodiversity Projects Fund, has uncovered a species new to the UK.
  • The Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has been leading on a bid for funding for a Nature Improvement Area (NIA) which is a grant scheme administered by Natural England, on behalf of a consortium of partners.
  • The Stage One application was submitted at the end of September and the NIA Panel is meeting in October to decide which applicants progress to Stage Two Business Plan.
  • The NIA partnership has been called ‘Hornbeams and Heaths’ which, it was felt, communicates both the key habitats and unique ecological characteristic of the area.
  • The NIA partnership will plan and deliver landscape-scale restoration and linkage of woodland, heathland and acid grassland in southern Hertfordshire and northern London boroughs to bring key benefits to wildlife and people. This is an ecologically and historically distinct area, containing a large proportion of the UK’s ancient oak-hornbeam woodland and commonplace acid soils with associated habitats.
  • If any grant were to be awarded it would contribute towards:
  • A programme of works to deliver enhancements of existing sites, restoration of deteriorated sites and creation of new strategic habitat linkages. A locally-administered grants programme will maximise efficiency and flexibility to respond to opportunities.
  • A dedicated co-ordination role.
  • Survey and advisory work relating to privately owned land.
  • Development of a field-by-field map of opportunities and delivery priorities.
  • Volunteer recruitment and task co-ordination.
  • Events to promote and share best practice.

Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF)

  • The HEF agreed to extend the funding of the Biodiversity Action Plan Officer until the end of March 2012.
  • At the June meeting of HEF it was also agreed that the Biodiversity Partnership Group would review its existing activities and put together a strategy for the work it will be doing during the additional six months of having the BAP Officer.

Biodiversity Strategy for England

  • The new biodiversity strategy for England, Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem services, was launched at the end of August.
  • The strategy builds on the Natural Environment White Paper and provides a comprehensive picture of how we are implementing our international and EU commitments. It sets out the strategic direction for direction for biodiversity policy for the next decade on land (including rivers and lakes) and at sea.
  • You can download the strategy at:

Traditional Orchards Project

  • Since 1950 Natural England estimates that England’s orchard area has declined by 63%.
  • In 2007, traditional orchards were designated as a priority habitat for conservation in the UK. In response the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species, in collaboration with Natural England and with further support form the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, has created an inventory of traditional orchards.
  • The inventory provides an overview of the remaining orchard habitat and its condition from which to focus on future conservation action.
  • After five years aerial photographs, covering 3.5 million hectares, have been analysed in the search for traditional orchards as part of this project.
  • 35,378 individual orchards, covering 16,990 hectares, have been identified.
  • Just under 7000 orchards were surveyed.
  • Survey results reveal that 45% of England’s traditional orchards are in poor condition, 46% are in good condition and 9% are in excellent condition.
  • The inventory lists 477 traditional orchards in Hertfordshire covering 178 hectares. 18% of these are in excellent condition, 26% in good condition and 56% in poor condition. Seven (6.59 hectares) of these orchards were in Environmental Stewardship.
  • Around 2831 hectares of England’s traditional orchards are included within Environmental Stewardship Schemes.
  • A full report of the project can be downloaded from the Natural England website at:

Rickmansworth Festival

The Rickmansworth Festival will take place over the third weekend in May, – 19th and 20th.

As usual if anyone would like a stand in the Environment Marquee then ask me for a booking form.

Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)

  • Various projects have taken place at the LNRs:
  • The Aquadrome (Rickmansworth), Chorleywood House Estate (Chorleywood) and LeavesdenCountryPark (Abbots Langley) will be re-applying for their Green Flag Awards.
  • On-site assessments will be carried out in May and June with the results expected in July/August.
  • There are eight categories upon which the parks and open spaces are assessed. The site must, amongst other things, be welcoming, safe and secure, clean and well maintained, sustainably managed, have community involvement, and be well managed.
  • For more information go to:
  • The cattle have been grazing Croxley Common Moorsince June and they will be leaving very soon. They have been helping to stop the scrub from competing with the wildflowers, for which the Moor has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
  • Renewable Energy Systems, RES, who are based at Kings Langley undertook a volunteer day a Croxley Common Moor in September. They spent the day clearing a large amount of scrub as well as pulling a little ragwort.
  • In August we recruited a new Park Ranger as the previous Ranger left earlier this year. The Park Ranger is, as was previously the case, be principally based at the Aquadrome and LeavesdenCountryPark. The Ranger, amongst other things, has been working with the Youth Offenders Team to undertake work such as cutting back vegetation. He is also working on enhancing the Inofrmation Point at the Aquadrome café.
  • Greyhound Walks continue to take place at the Aquadrome at 10am on the third Sunday of alternate months. Greyhound Walks are a group of greyhound and lurcher owners who regularly meet for a stroll and chat. Anyone with a greyhound or lurcher is welcome to join the walks, in fact if you just like dogs but don’t have one you are still able to join the walk. The walks are free with any donations going towards needy greyhounds in Essex, Suffolk and Hertfordshire. For more information go to:
  • The Council is about to go out to tender on two capital projects at the Aquadrome. One is to look at sorting the erosion problem on BatchworkLake and the other is to enhance the over-flow car park.
  • During the summer the Countryside Management Service and TRDC ran variety of family based activities were held at the Local Nature Reserves. Many of the events, including river dipping at Croxley Common Moor and a bird walk at the Aquadrome, were fully booked.
  • There was a GET SET event at the Aquadrome on 7 August. The activity was an all inclusive event which was principally aimed at individuals with disabilities and their families. The day involved a walk around BatchworthLake with the opportunity to get involved with fishing, learn more about the opportunities to waterski and have a taster session of sailing on BuryLake.
  • Chorleywood Community Orchard held their annual Apple Day on 1 October in the ground of Chorleywood House Estate.
  • The day was a great success with over 400 people attending. There were opportunities to have mystery apple varieties identified, have a go at creating the longest apple peel and the like.
  • For more information about the orchard and Apple Day go to:
  • The Countryside Management Service has helped the Council secure funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
  • The funds will principally, be used to improve access and interpretation in Oxhey Woods Local Nature Reserve but it is also hoped to install a sculpture trail.
  • Volunteer Days: The Friends of Croxley Common Moor meet on the second Sunday of each month. The group has now started its winter programme of removing scrub.
  • For more information visit the Friends of Croxley Common Moor website at:
  • Regular volunteer days are held in Oxhey Woods by Watford Rural Conservation Volunteers.

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