Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull
Local Biodiversity
Action Plan Report
2001 - 2007
Warwickshire, Coventry & Solihull’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) has just produced the first report of its conservation effort.
A major success has been the Parish Biodiversity Action Plan, a booklet of ideas to help people start wildlife projects on their doorsteps. Distributed to all parish clerks, Women’s Institutes and libraries a year ago, it is now being used as a guide to conservation in many of our local communities. Copies may be downloaded (see www.warwickshire.gov.uk/biodiversity ) or purchased from Ruth Moffatt, LBAP Co-ordinator, on 01926 412197 or email: ruthmoffatt@warwickshire.gov.uk
Barn owls are doing well, already exceeding our target for restoring the breeding population to 60 pairs by 2010. In good years for small mammals such as field voles, the bird is very productive, with nest box schemes helping their recovery. Another success has been the formation of the South Warwickshire Orchard Group to restore local fruit orchards and create and sustain interest in their products.
On the down side, we are concerned at the continuing decline in species and habitat loss in the region, with wildflower meadows are at an all-time low. Water voles could be extinct in a few years owing to the predations of mink and loss of habitat while the adder may already be extinct.
In our Focus 2008 programme, we will be concentrating our efforts on four habitats that are ‘behind schedule’ in our targets for them – Disused Industrial & Railway Land, Roadside Verges, Neutral Grassland and Ponds, Lakes & Reservoirs. We will also be identifying opportunities to enhance the biodiversity of three habitats of particular public interest in a new action plan, Gardens, Parks & Churchyards. Projects that protect the animals associated with all these habitats, such as the hedgehog, common toad, bumblebees and bats, will be part of the programme.
Click here to read the full report.
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Barn Owl
Steven Falk
Apples
Garden Organic
Water Vole
Arundel Wildfowl & Wetland Trust
Poppies
Warwickshire Museum
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