Biodiversity In Redditch

What Is Biodiversity?

Biodiversity is quite a new term, derived from the words ‘biological diversity’ by the entomologist Edward O Wilson .

It encompasses the whole variety of life, covering everything from small mosses to large oak trees and from tiny flies to badgers.

The word biodiversity equates with what is properly known as wildlife, but it also includes the different habitats in which wildlife exists, the woodlands, wildflower meadows, heathlands, marshlands, rivers and ponds on which wildlife depends.

Why Do We Need To Encourage Biodiversity?

Biodiversity and the natural  environment play a vital role in enhancing our well being and quality of life.

1. There are great health benefits, as areas of trees and green spaces play a vital role in absorbing pollution.  Green spaces have also been shown to have an important role in improving people’s physical and  mental health.
2. It is well known that nature is important for children’s well being and social development
3. Certain habitats such as marshland play an important role in absorbing water and thus preventing flooding.  By conserving biodiversity, Redditch Borough Council is following one of the measures for tackling climate change.
4. The protection of important green space and woodland makes the town a pleasant place to live, has a positive effect on tourism and thus economic benefits.

How Is Redditch Borough Council Protecting Biodiversity ?

1. The Landscape and Countryside Section has been managing the Council’s open spaces for a number of years in a way which supports , protects and enhances the biodiversity of each site
2. The section is managing several areas of Arrow Valley Country  Park under schemes known as Countryside Stewardship Schemes. These schemes are grant-aided by DEFRA (The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs).  The land is being managed to maintain a number of wildflower meadows, some important scrubland , rejuvenate old hedgerows and de-silt old ponds.  One of these meadows, Proctors Barn Meadows, has been declared as a Local Nature Reserve due to the large number of flowering species found on it.
3. The section has been carefully managing important areas of woodland within the town, under a woodland grant scheme from the Forestry Commission.  Grant aid is being brought in to help increase wildlife within the woods.
4. Over the past four years, work has gone on to greatly improve the biodiversity found at Arrow Valley Lake by planting reed beds and other marginal vegetation around the edge of the lake and the islands within the lake. This has given rise to a great increase in the bird populations found here, including the fourth largest heronry in Worcestershire
5. Redditch Borough Council has secured Local Nature Reserve Status for five of its woodland sites and one meadow site which it manages
6. Redditch  Borough  Council commissioned a Biodiversity  Action Plan for the town in 2001.  The plan highlights the fact that at least eight important habitats such as woodland, marshland, meadowland and hedgerows are found within the Redditch area.  There are six protected species which occur in Redditch including Great Crested Newts, bats and badgers.

Planning Policy and Biodiversity

Within Redditch  Borough Council ‘s Local Plan Number 3 are a number of policies relating to biodiversity.  These are:

Policy B (NE)1 Overarching Policy of Intent, concerned with the protection of biodiversity

Policy B (NE) 1a Trees, Woodlands and Hedgerows

Policy B (NE) 3 Wildlife Corridors

Policy B (NE) 10a Sites Of National  Wildlife Importance

Policy B (NE) 10b Sites of Regional or Local Wildlife Importance

Funding For Biodiversity

The Landscape and Countryside Section has successfully applied for grant aid assistance from DEFRA to help with the management of its open space sites for the benefit of wildlife.

In March 2010, Redditch managed to secure funding under a Higher Level Entry Scheme for three wildlife areas, two within the Arrow Valley Country Park and the one within Morton Stanley Park.  The main habitat being saved in these sites is wildflower meadows, a habitat which has disappeared by over 97per cent since the Second World War.

West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge

In the UN Year of International Biodiversity, Redditch Borough Council has agreed to sign up to the West Midlands Biodiversity Pledge.

Kevin Dicks, the Council’s Chief Executive and its Leader, Cllr Carole Gandy, signed the pledge in the presence of Colin Raven, Director of the Wildlife Trust and Chairman of the West Midlands Biodiversity Partnership. 

The signing of the pledge signals a firm commitment from Redditch Borough Council to protect and enhance wildlife and the range of habitats that occur within the borough. It joins 15 other local authorities in the region who have signed up to the pledge.

For more information on Biodiversity, please contact Peter Gondris Greenspace and Biodiversity Officer on 01527 64252 ext 3022