| Tayside Biodiversity - Tayside
Biodiversity Action Plan - Urban -
Built and Developed Environment |
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LITTER – direct
effects on small mammals (including hedgehogs and moles) becoming
trapped in discarded cartons
and bottles, or birds being hanged or choked by plastic beer
can carriers, or disabled owing to plastic fibres wrapping
around their legs.
| New
approach – link with awareness raising campaigns,
locally and nationally, by highlighting the impact of
litter on biodiversity. |
INVASION OF NON-NATIVE SPECIES – the
New Zealand Flatworm Artioposthia triangulata can cause the
eradication of native earthworms and therefore has a direct
impact on soil fertility and mammals such as moles. A
significant percentage of the wild flowers growing in semi-natural
places include invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam Impatiens
glandulifera, Monkey flower Mimulus guttatus, Giant Hogweed
Heracleum mantegazzianum and Japanese Knotweed Fallopia japonica.
All these impact on the native biodiversity and have a serious
detrimental effect.
| New
approach – link with awareness raising campaigns,
locally and nationally, by highlighting the impact of
litter on biodiversity. |
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Japanese
Knotweed
This plant, regarded as the most invasive plant in Britain,
was introduced to this country in 1825 as a garden and fodder
plant. It was first recorded growing wild in Wales in 1886
and has since become widely established throughout the UK.
It forms dense thickets of growth which suppress other plant
species, resulting in loss of wildlife habitat. It is often
spread by the movement of soil containing rhizome fragments
so is particularly prevalent in urban areas. In Tayside it
is also widely found on many rural riverbanks. Because the
plant dies back in winter, dense thickets along watercourses
can also increase the risk of bank erosion.
It is an offence under the Wildlife & Countryside Act
1981 (as amended) to plant or cause Japanese Knotweed to
grow in the wild. Eradication is impractical, but its removal
from sensitive sites is recommended.
However, non-chemical control is very labour intensive and
needs to be managed carefully and any herbicide usage near
water must be requested first from SEPA. |
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PESTICIDES – over-use
of chemicals to control insects and weeds seriously impacts
the diversity of wildlife throughout the urban area. Over-tidying
of gardens and public places, coupled with the increased use
of all kinds of chemicals is causing huge decreases in invertebrate
and bird numbers. Inappropriate woodworm treatment in attics
can destroy bat colonies.
| New approach – individual
householders can reduce the amount of chemicals used. Information
can be made available at point source, e.g. garden centres.
Landowners, including local authorities, golf courses and
retail/business units should also assess their need for
pesticides. Awareness can be raised to show that a more
natural approach to urban landscape is not a lack of management,
but a change in management. |
USE OF PEAT – mechanical peat extraction has caused serious deterioration
in bog habitats throughout Britain. The extensive use of the resulting product
for horticultural purposes is causing commercial companies to look beyond our
shores for cheaper peat.
| New approach – the
Tayside Raised Bogs Habitat Action Plan proposes that all
Tayside Biodiversity Partners adopt and implement a peat-free
policy by 2005. As there is now a wide choice of alternatives
to peat, individual householders, businesses, hospitals
and schools can significantly reduce their use of peat
(or choose to become peat-free) in both indoor and outdoor
plantings. |
WILDLIFE CRIME – although there are instances of birds, badgers and feral
cats being purposely killed, many people still collect eggs, uproot wildflowers
and kill insects. Species such as house martins and bats are often perceived
as ‘pests’ and illegally excluded from private houses and
public buildings.
| New approach – efficient
policing and the proposed change in legislation are required
to deter deliberate killings (raising awareness of Wildlife
Liaison Police Officers), but general education is necessary
to prevent ignorance. |
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Case Study
Making Friends with Your Environment
The Dundee Educational Development Service has run the ‘Making
Friends With Your Environment’ exhibition every year
since 1990. Between 1990 and 2001 more than 9,000 pupils
from 96 schools have taken part.
The exhibition raises awareness of the environment for upper
primary pupils and teaching staff in Dundee and some Angus
schools. The pupils take part in all kinds of activities
from planting seeds and looking at live mini-beasts from
a local burn, to finding out what happens to waste flushed
down the toilet or trying their hand at a traditional craft
such as felt-making.
A wide Partnership is involved and includes the Dundee City
Council and Angus Council Ranger Services, Scottish Natural
Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, RSPB,
Scottish Water, Tayside Police Wildlife Liaison, the Scottish
SPCA, Scottish Wildlife Trust, the Scottish Crop Research
Institute, and the Broughty Ferry Environmental Project. |
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MAIN
THREATS TO KEY SPECIES
Bat Species
(Pipistrelle, Brown Long-
Eared) |
Destruction of existing
wildlife corridors (especially hedges and treelines) which
impede feeding.
Inappropriate maintenance or renovation of buildings and
bridges.
Inappropriate use of woodworm treatment in roofs. |
| UK importance
of Tayside population: |
high |
| Common Frog |
Loss of habitat through
infilling or inappropriate management of ponds.
Introduction of fish to ponds and pools, sometimes for
angling purposes.
Increased mortality as a result of increased road traffic. |
| UK importance of Tayside population: |
unknown |
| Swift |
Loss of nest sites owing
to modern building practices
Loss of nest sites owing to exclusion from traditional
sites |
| UK importance of Tayside population: |
unknown |
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OPPORTUNITIES
AND CURRENT ACTION
A lot of activity is already under way particularly by small community groups
keen to take a lead in improving their own local area. For instance:
The
Broughty Ferry Environmental Project is running its own
Swift, Swallow and House Martin Survey, as well as making
and putting up bird boxes and arranging local library displays.
The Murroes Community Council is considering planting
a community orchard which will involve the local school
and residents alike. They also want to assist with a variety
of wildlife surveys.
Oakbank Primary School in Perth developed an unwanted
area of ground into an Infant Garden through the enthusiasm
of teachers, parents and pupils. The garden, which has
conservation, sensory, wildlife and recycling areas, is
of great benefit as a teaching resource. |
Many Council Services make decisions that directly affect biodiversity. There
are also increasing opportunities within the local authorities to link biodiversity
initiatives with LA21 projects, community planning and community learning plans.
To highlight the success stories within each Tayside local authority and to give
examples of what can be achieved within each department, a ‘Guide to Incorporating
Biodiversity into Local Services’ has been prepared and circulated. |
Case
Study
A Green Roof fit for a King
Arbroath in Angus holds a very special place in Scottish
history. Its abbey was founded in 1178 and in 1320 Scotland’s
nobles affirmed their allegiance to Robert the Bruce as their
King by signing the ‘Declaration of Arbroath’.
Today the abbey is a major tourist attraction run by
Historic Scotland.
The need for a new visitor centre to abut such an important
site led to the commissioning of a
company of Edinburgh-based architects. The design brief was
for the building to be as
sustainable as possible and its visual impact negligible
so as not to detract from the abbey.
The unusual sedum roof is not only a green choice, but when
flowering it will enhance the
biodiversity of the immediate area by attracting hoverflies
and a variety of butterflies. |
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OBJECTIVES & TARGETS
Objectives |
Targets |
1 |
Encourage the integration of
open space networks, including green access corridors,
in planning urban renewal or development projects within
the urban environment |
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2 |
Incorporate the conservation and enhancement
of wildlife into the design, management and maintenance
of urban greenspace |
Set up or encourage initiatives to enhance
the biodiversity of local school and university grounds,
allotments, community orchards and woodlands, public parks
and graveyards. |
3 |
Instigate an awareness-raising programme
and control programme for invasive species |
By 2006 |
4 |
Promote the Tayside Local Patch Project
(Wildlife on your Doorstep) to engage the public in urban
biodiversity surveying and recording |
Incorporate project findings in the Perth
Museum Biodiversity Exhibition in 2004. |
5 |
Promote gardening for wildlife initiatives,
including the
“
Garden for Life” scheme |
50% of all urban wildlife areas to be under
sympathetic management by 2005 |
Stakeholders
Architects, developers and builders;
Universities, colleges and schools;
Sheltered housing, nursing homes and hospitals;
Landscape architects, designers and contractors;
Enterprise companies;
Garden Centres;
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO’s);
Retail, businesses and industry;
Tourist Boards, visitors and local users;
Home owners;
Regulatory and statutory bodies;
Local Authorities;
Contractors;
Community groups and charitable organisations. |
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