This document provides ideas to promote biodiversity within Local Authorities and in Community Planning through Community Planning Partnerships. It is not prescriptive and should not be seen as a ‘must do’ list of work; rather it highlights what is possible and provides a springboard for future initiatives and good ideas.

Many Local Service providers/agencies have projects planned or already under way that protect and enhance biodiversity. We are in a fortunate position within Tayside to be able to share good practice between the three local authorities of Angus Council, Dundee City Council and Perth and Kinross Council, as well as the Community Planning Partnerships. A wide range of Services is highlighted, together with suggestions on how working practices may be altered to encourage enhancement for biodiversity.

Local Services and the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan
The key to delivering real improvements in biodiversity lies in the step between being merely aware of it and beginning to actively champion it. This can be achieved by treating biodiversity as an integral part of the service delivery.

Why are Local Service providers/agencies so important to the biodiversity process? The target audience of the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan has been identified as comprising three broad groups:

land managers and landowners;
- policy makers and policy implementers;
- the wider community e.g. schools, businesses and consumers.

Clearly, Local Service providers/agencies represent or have contact with a significant element of each target audience.

As key partners, Local Authorities have the potential to be providers, advisors, enablers and regulators for biodiversity. Through participation and consensus building Local Authorities can ensure biodiversity action is supported by the wider community - and importantly - fully involves them. Biodiversity does not recognise boundaries and can best be conserved and enhanced by co-ordination and cross-boundary liaison. As Local Service providers/agencies go about delivering services to local people they will find many opportunities to deliver action for wildlife in a host of innovative ways.

Participation by Local Service providers/agencies in the biodiversity process may also help obtain funds from a variety of sources, including HLF and Fresh Futures, by illustrating how they are directly contributing towards national biodiversity targets.

The maintenance and enhancement of biodiversity is vital if we are to achieve the overall aim of sustainable development ensuring that present and future generations benefit from environmental quality and economic benefits. The co-ordination of activity at the regional level is essential to achieve this. It is important not to just protect the best or rarest of what we have, but we should also enhance its general status – a step strongly endorsed in the proposed Strategy for Scotland’s Biodiversity.

Every Action Counts
With implementation of the 1st Tranche of the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan now underway, it will be important to report on progress, not just to local level, but to fully integrate our findings into the UK Biodiversity Action Plan reporting mechanism. The Tayside Biodiversity Partnership will co-ordinate reports on an annual basis to monitor achievements and to identify any constraints.

How to Use this Guide
The actions detailed in the following pages have been grouped under headings suitable for most Local Service providers/agencies in the Tayside area. There may be occasions when different local authority departments do not match the listings and cross-referencing of other sections is advised. Each action is assigned a tick box so that departments can quickly check that they are contributing to the biodiversity process.

The Tayside Biodiversity Co-ordinator will be in touch with all three Local Authorities every twelve months to gather information about their involvement in biodiversity. In the meantime, however, please let the Co-ordinator know of your successes - or use the contacts at the end of this document for further information.

INCORPORATING BIODIVERSITY INTO LOCAL SERVICE DELIVERY

Architectural Services and Building Design
Incorporate into building designs specific wildlife-friendly features such as barn owl windows and ledges, swift nest boxes in roof spaces or outbuildings, and bat bricks.

Be aware of the possible presence of bats in all buildings (new or old) to be refurbished or re-developed. Bats, their maternity or hibernation roosts, whether or not they are present at the time, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Current advice is that bats should not be handled and where bats are present the local SNH Area Office contacted before commencing any works.

Specify materials whenever possible that do not impact negatively on biodiversity. Try to use timber that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved and consider the re-use of materials if appropriate.

Conserve existing features of the site and landscaping that are important for wildlife during the redevelopment of buildings. If conservation is not possible replace with other designed features nearby.

Consider the use of a ‘green roof’ or a roof garden – as well as benefiting a variety of wildlife (especially birds and invertebrates) these features can also improve the appearance of roofs.

Community Education
Bring biodiversity into community education on both a formal and informal basis; highlight its importance through community centres and offer community groups opportunities to access wildlife and the countryside through lectures, talks, events and day-trips.

Promote evening and recreational classes with strong biodiversity elements by linking with the wide range of expertise available within local specialist groups such as the Dundee Naturalists, and the Perthshire Natural Science Society.

Link into existing schemes and run well-supported, broad-based countryside volunteers' schemes such as provided by the National Trust for Scotland, the Countryside Ranger Services, and the British Trust for Nature Conservation. These can act as a conduit by which information about biodiversity can enter local communities.

Encourage participation in the Tayside Local Patch Project and other surveys for squirrels, swifts, barn owls, or slow worms, etc. The Local Patch Project is a general survey to help people of all ages discover the wildlife on their doorstep and to informally adopt a ‘local patch’ be it their own garden, a local park, roadside verge, a cycle path or golf course.

Community Safety
Contribute to property security on both residential and business premises by planting `barrier hedges' featuring spiky plants such as hawthorn, berberis and blackthorn. They can be of substantial benefit to the local wildlife.

Ensure appropriate staff are aware of relevant legislation pertaining to biodiversity by facilitating liaison between the Local Authorities and the local police on Wildlife and Countryside Law – contact the Tayside Wildlife and Environment Officer – tel. 01738 892650 or 07808 899113. This should allow for more effective protection of vulnerable or protected species such as badgers, otters, bats or birds of prey.

Countryside Management
Undertake accurate biological recording and the regular monitoring of species and habitats.

Participate in records exchange of fauna and flora so that a wider understanding of biodiversity can be obtained.

Incorporate the relevant TLBAP Habitat Action Plan and Species Action Plan objectives and targets into site management plans where appropriate.

Provide advice on the creation, enhancement and restoration of wildlife habitats throughout all areas of operation.

Publicise the importance of biodiversity through interpretation and environmental education, including guided walks and countryside events.

Assist in the designation of more Local Nature Reserves.

Liaise with the appropriate Departments, including the Countryside Ranger Service, Urban Rangers and Access Officers, to ensure that the Public Rights of Way network is managed in a way that helps to raise awareness of, and protects biodiversity - for example footpath mowing regimes, hedge maintenance, and (where safe to do so) retention of standing dead wood.

Advise appropriately on pest control issues where they relate to wildlife, e.g. Grey Squirrel control as part of the Red Squirrel Conservation Programme.

Ensure when assisting in the development of further local, coastal and glens path networks biodiversity issues are taken into account.

Ensure that biodiversity issues are given due consideration during implementation of the Access to the Countryside elements of the Land Reform Act.

Crematoria and Cemeteries
Develop specific wildlife areas within crematorium grounds and cemeteries as 'contemplative zones' for visitors. Consider erecting a variety of nestboxes to encourage wildlife to use these areas. A mosaic of less frequently cut grass will encourage butterflies and moths, including some of the rarer species.

Explore the opportunity to plant 'commemorative' native trees and shrubs in Gardens of Remembrance, etc. Develop cemeteries with appropriate natural areas to create a peaceful space for both people and wildlife. Include berry-bearing trees such as holly, rowan and crab apple; use native hedge plants and yew in plantings. Underplant appropriate plant species in new woodland areas and encourage the original ground flora in more established woodland.

Use nectar-rich flowers and scented herbs in window boxes, hanging baskets and pots where appropriate to encourage invertebrates and birds.

Leave untouched boundary walls, buildings and older gravestones as far as possible as they can all be important for lichens and mosses.

Raise awareness of any changes in management practice by ensuring appropriate interpretation is made available and, where feasible, involve the local community in simple surveys and plans for habitat enhancement.

Consider setting up a Green Graveyard Initiative and work in partnership with the local community. Liaise, where appropriate, with the national organisation ‘Eco-congregation’ (www.encams.org/ecocongregation).

Explore the feasibility of woodland burial schemes.

Education
Incorporate awareness and conservation of biodiversity into lesson plans and the National Curriculum across as many subject areas as possible, using appropriate published guidance for support.

Encourage schools and colleges to enhance their grounds to promote a wide variety of wildlife, together with facilities for outdoor classrooms through SNH’s school grounds grants and Grounds for Learning.

Encourage careers teachers and the careers advice service to promote placements for students within conservation and environmental organisations.

Consider linking with ‘healthy eating’ and ‘local food’ initiatives where appropriate – or encourage simple ‘Square Foot Gardening’ projects – details on www.schoolsorganic.net.

Promote the participations of all age groups in the Tayside Local Patch Project (“Discover the Wildlife on Your Doorstep”) and other appropriate surveys by encouraging the adoption of a ‘local patch’ such as the school grounds, nearby park, footpath or community woodland.

Promote the creation/management of wildlife areas in the local community through partnerships between schools, businesses and local agencies, with particular emphasis on business parks and industrial estates.

Encourage educational links with the Tayside Police Wildlife Liaison Officers (PWLOs); a variety of interactive wildlife crime projects are available for primary school pupils.

Encourage participation in National Backyard Biodiversity Day (especially involving pupils aged 9-14, their teachers, families and club leaders). Details on www.biodiversityday.org.

Utilise good quality countryside facilities as learning resources/locations for days out and study visits.

Environmental Health
Run regular environmental awareness raising campaigns for schools and community groups regarding litter and animal welfare in relation to biodiversity.

Protect honey and masonry bees from pest control and advise the public accordingly. Honey bees should be destroyed only where there is a direct public safety risk. Masonry bees, which constitute no risk to the public, should not be destroyed.

Do not destroy ‘garden’ ants outside buildings.

Guard against the use of control methods for house mice or brown rats which might affect birds of prey or other non-target species (such as domestic pets). Suitable assessment methods should be in place and properly applied prior to the implementation of any treatments.

Remove all loose bait and rodent bodies at the end of the treatment period where poisoned baits are utilised (with all appropriate safeguards in place).

Avoid control measures wherever possible against rodents in gardens and outbuildings that may involve Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus as these are not pests.

Use biodegradable non-persistent treatments to minimise transmission effects to wildlife when controlling public health pests (fleas, bedbugs, cockroaches etc).

Housing
Use sustainably sourced materials wherever possible in maintenance and construction - such as timber that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved and solvent-free or low-solvent paints. Consider the re-use of materials if appropriate.

Incorporate a specific housing policy for swallows, swifts and house martins to ensure contractors working on buildings do not disturb or remove current nests – and if possible encourage property managers to install artificial nest-boxes as appropriate. Such a cost-effective initiative will raise awareness, especially where well-known buildings are targeted.

Legal Services
Ensure appropriate staff are aware of legislation relevant to the biodiversity of the area and the Local Authority, especially the basic elements of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and all updates, as this relates to species protection in the area.

Facilitate the drawing up of appropriate, enforceable countryside bylaws in order to protect and promote the importance of biodiversity on the land.

Ensure that appropriate comments regarding the effectiveness of any new legislation relating to biodiversity are relayed to Government during the consultation phase for such legislation.

Leisure
Promote a healthy lifestyle by encouraging the use of cyclepaths, bridlepaths and footpaths. Walks suitable for the family, together with pastimes such as watching wildlife and photography, can improve health, enjoyment of the local environment and engender a greater understanding of wildlife. Check the Paths to Health website: www.pathsforall.org.uk

Consider opportunities for biodiversity enhancement in the maintenance of paths, tracks and the perimeters of sports or playing fields as they act as valuable wildlife corridors.

Promote the enhancement of golf courses to benefit wildlife by involving both greenkeepers and golf club members in understanding the environmental value of their course.

Create, protect and manage cyclepaths and footpaths with biodiversity in mind – retaining an appropriate area of short verge sward will encourage walkers and runners to alternate between the hard and soft surfaces. An adjoining area of taller grasses and attractive wild flowers will also encourage butterflies, bumble bees and hoverflies. 98 per cent of all natural flower-rich meadows have been lost in the past 50 years and a major contribution can be made by encouraging such ‘grassland strips’.

Manage the boundaries adjoining paths to improve the surrounding environment for walker and cyclist alike, i.e. where appropriate, under-hedge planting of primroses, ramsons and ragged robin will also greatly assist wildlife, as will the planting of berry-bearing native trees - for example rowan, holly and crab apple. Scented climbing plants such as honeysuckle rambling over fences and walls will enhance the walkers’ and cyclists’ experience.

Promote volunteering for practical wildlife conservation work to aid social inclusion and to improve both physical and mental health. The BTCV's `Green Gym' initiative offers the opportunity to improve physical fitness by involvement in practical conservation activities.

Encourage participation – individually or in groups - in appropriate environmental award schemes to focus attention on the exploration and care of a wild place – be it a local pond, sand dune or glen. One such non-competitive scheme open to everyone is the John Muir Award: www.johnmuiraward.org

Contribute to a healthy lifestyle by encouraging the development and retention of allotments to provide an opportunity to grow local food.

Encourage gardening with wildlife in mind – at home, in the community, on allotments and in school grounds. Further information from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds:
www.RSPB.org.uk; Scottish Wildlife Trust: www.swt.org.uk; National Trust for Scotland: www.nts.org.uk; Henry Doubleday Research Association: www.hdra.co.uk

Raise awareness of the damage that can be created by planting non-native plants outwith gardens and public parks, and the increasing illegal sale of wild plants. Commercial gatherers dig up flowers such as bluebells and snowdrops and collect mosses on a large scale for the garden trade. Further information is available from Plantlife: www.plantlife.org.uk

Promote local people’s involvement in setting up and maintaining community gardens and community orchards featuring the local heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables. Promote local distinctiveness and a pride of place by encouraging the wider community to get involved in environmental projects and surveys to discover ‘the wildlife on their doorstep’.

Raise awareness of the impact of litter and fly-tipping on biodiversity by encouraging personal responsibility for disposal of litter.

Libraries and Museums
Ensure that general biodiversity information is accessible to as wide a range of client groups as possible, including those without direct access to the written word e.g. through 'talking newspapers'.

Act as information centres/contact points for details about biodiversity within the region. Each library could have a section of the public notice board set aside for biodiversity contacts and wildlife groups.

Ensure copies of the Tayside Local Biodiversity Action Plan are readily available in both ringbinder and CD format for people to consult, and make information available through council media and the Internet. Hold a selection of appropriate leaflets together with the TLBAP introductory booklets and Local Patch Project leaflets.

Support the collation and reporting of flora and fauna records.