What is the Parish BAP?
Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull’s ‘Parish BAP is the first of its kind to be produced in the country - a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for local communities.
Biodiversity Action Plans, which were first developed following the Rio Summit in 1992, provide ways to coordinate nature conservation across a country, region or county. Now, thanks to this pioneering development, Warwickshire’s Biodiversity Action Plan can also work at the community level within a parish.
The Parish BAP has been developed by BAP co-ordinator, Ruth Moffatt, who has worked hard to translate conservation priorities into practical action for nature on the ground. The booklet is a guide to conservation in any one of our parishes, with action plans to encourage people to initiate conservation on their doorstep. It also contains case studies, information and contacts to help people get started on projects that could be eligible for funding through the BBC 'Breathing Places'.
Speaking at the launch on March 9th 2007, Ruth said: “Local action, however small, is vital to the protection and enhancement of our wildlife and wild spaces. I hope the Parish BAP project will inspire people to take action to improve their local environment and explore the nature living in their patch”.
The Parish BAP has been trialled with several parishes to ensure it will provide useful help and information. A Parish Plan Group leader said: “We found the plan to be extremely good; full of ideas. It is a comprehensively written and well constructed document which, as I read it, posed questions related to our village which thankfully were then answered.. “
The Parish BAP has been sent to all 231 parishes in Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull, as well as to all Women’s Institutes, libraries and local authorities in Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull, accompanied by a full-coloured poster. Parish Plan Groups can obtain their free copy from Ruth Moffatt on tel. 01926 412197 or ruthmoffatt@warwickshire.gov.uk by sending an A4 envelope stamped 83p. Additional copies may be purchased for £4.25 (cheques to be made payable to the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust) also on receipt of an A4 SAE for 83p.
The Parish BAP has been funded and supported by a consortium including all Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull local authorities, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Natural England, Roger Cadbury Charitable Trust, Warwickshire Amphibian & Reptile Team, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership.
Amendment to Section 5.3
For advice on all wetland projects contact Louise Sutherland, Wetland Officer for the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV4 4GW. Telephone 02476 308995 or email: louise.sutherland@wkwt.org.uk
For advice on all school grounds projects contact Jen Jones, Senior Education Officer for the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust, Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Brandon Lane, Coventry CV4 4GW. Telephone 02476 308994 or email: jennifer.jones@wkwt.org.uk
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