Biodiversity Strategy

Aquatic invertebrates - animals without a backbone (e.g. insects) that spend the majority of their lifecycle in freshwater, marine of estuarine environments

Aquatic vegetation - a plant that grows partly or wholly in water

Arisings - grass cuttings left after mowing

Biodiversity - the variety of plant and animal life across the world

Biodiversity net gain - an approach to development that leaves biodiversity in a better condition than before

Biosecurity - measures aimed at preventing the introduction or spread of harmful organisms

Deadwood - parts of a tree or branch that are dead

Differential mowing- cutting grass to different heights and at different times

Ecosystems - a community of interacting organisms and their physical environment

Invasive non-native species- those species that have been introduced to a country by humans, whether accidentally or on purpose.

Local distinctiveness- the unique character of a place

Marginal vegetation- aquatic plants found around the edges of a pond or stream

Perennial - living for several years

Principle Importance- those species and habitats that are most threatened, in steepest decline or where the UK has a significant proportion of the world total.

Priority habitats and species- a range of habitats and species that were identified as the most threatened and requiring conservation action

Riparian - the edge of a river, or relating to this area

River catchment area- the area from which water flows into or is drained by a river

Saproxylic species- those species that are dependent on dead or dying wood

Sward height - the height of the grass before it is cut

Symbiotic relationship - a close ecological relationship between two or more different species

Wildlife Corridors - a strip of natural habitat connecting areas of habitat or species otherwise separated by cultivated land, roads or buildings