To create biodiversity management plans for groups of similar smaller parks

To identify areas and actions where parks and open spaces can be enhanced through habitat creation, enhancement and management and the creation of wildlife corridors and steppingstones

To undertake management / maintenance work during the correct times of the year and with the least disturbance to habitat and wildlife

To ensure that there is a net gain of habitat in the Borough

To work with other organisations and groups to develop a large-scale regional approach to conservation including joint resources and collaborative working on larger cross border projects, for example through the Lancashire Nature Partnership

Medium

To deliver our Biodiversity Duty as per the NERC Act 2006 and Environment Act 2021 and report on compliance

Annually

To link with neighbouring Boroughs and Lancashire County Council to increase connectivity, allowing wildlife to expand their ranges

Medium

To comply with our role as a Supporting Authority and support the development of the Lancashire Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Short

To comply with Biodiversity Net Gain in the planning system to enhance biodiversity through developments in the Borough

Short

To aim to achieve a biodiversity net gain for internal projects that do not require planning consent

Long

To embed biodiversity and climate in other relevant Council Strategies and Policies

To continue to update baseline data maps to keep accurate records of biodiversity in the Borough.

To undertake a green corridors mapping exercise to identify opportunities to create and enhance habitats across the Borough

To support biodiversity surveying by volunteers and wildlife groups to maintain up to date information

To continue with and expand biodiversity data sharing with LERN and other partners

To investigate registering appropriate pieces of SRBC land for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), and potentially creating a habitat bank, as a way of funding creation, enhancement and management of biodiversity improvement works.

To secure internal and/or external funding to expand on the successful tree giveaways to residents and landowners

To source resources to develop, support and expand opportunities for volunteering and community groups in the Borough

To continue to apply for and support community groups to apply for external funding for conservation and climate projects

To manage our actions to have the most impact with the resources available.

To continuously improving knowledge of the environment and stay up to date with international, national and regional climate and conservation policy and development

To develop staff training opportunities to embed conservation practices into our everyday work

To develop a volunteer training programme around conservation and climate

To develop opportunities for staff to take part in practical climate and conservation action by volunteering

To monitor and review the Action Plan every 4 years in line with international, national, regional and local developments 

To report on the key actions and achievements as part of the annual report to full Council

To set local targets for biodiversity improvements linking in to regional, national and international projects and opportunities

To adjust, adapt and support the new opportunities that will arise form national developments and schemes such as Biodiversity Net Gain, Environmental Land Management and Local Nature Recovery Strategies

To monitor habitat improvement projects and use the findings to adapt and amend our management plans and maintenance schedules as necessary

To create specific habitat plans to restore, maintain and enhance habitat types on our estate

To create a work programme for specific habitat types on a 5- to 10-year management cycle

To ensure our work enables the conservation and expansion of key species populations

To undertake a series of surveys and audits of our sites to identify species and habitats that would benefit from improved or amended management practices in conjunction with plans

To ensure the correct management of our land to maintain and enhance its biodiversity value - right plant, right place

To encourage species rich, structurally diverse woodlands on our estate and to encourage others to do the same by

Underplanting existing woodlands where required

Attention is given to field and shrub layers of woodlands

Introducing management techniques such as coppicing where appropriate

Retaining brash and logs from tree works as habitat piles or dead hedges

Retaining standing and fallen deadwood where it is safe to do so

To use planting and natural regeneration schemes and strategic Biodiversity Net Gain to link up existing woodland habitats, creating corridors and steppingstones for wildlife

To link in with existing and developing woodland creation opportunities across the Borough

To continue to monitor Ash Dieback on our estate and manage in line with national policy

To encourage the creation of orchards and wet woodland

To encourage species rich hedgerows on our estate and to encourage others to do the same by

allowing hedge bases to thicken to increases the biodiversity value

changing management practices to bring hedgerows into favourable condition, including the use of hedge laying over mechanical cutting

reducing the frequency of cuts on some hedgerows

cutting hedgerows as late as possible to allow birds access to fruits and berries through autumn and winter

gapping up our existing hedgerows

Planting new hedges to create wildlife corridors to link areas of habitat in line with plans (eg BNG)

Encouraging time sensitive management of hedgerows to avoid breeding seasons

To encourage a mosaic of species rich ponds on our estate and encourage others to do the same by ensuring all ponds have

a diversity of marginal and aquatic plants, with submergent, emergent and floating vegetation

areas of open water

air flow and light to the water surface to maintain oxygen levels

reduced shading, especially on the south side

variations in depth

egg laying plants for newts

To establish and enhance 3-meter-wide buffer areas around priority wildlife ponds

To continue to work in partnership to create, enhance and restore ponds across the Borough

Short

To create a 5- to 10-year pond survey and maintenance programme with associated budget to improve the condition of our ponds

To increase the area of reed beds in the borough e.g. through Biodiversity Net Gain

To manage selective ponds as an educational resource

To continue to educate and engage park users around the issues of feeding the ducks

To continue to undertake Great Crested Newt surveys on an annual basis

To develop bog gardens in areas adjacent to existing ponds, in failed or failing ponds or in areas where it is not safe to have areas of open water

To work at a river catchment level with appropriate partners and landowners on conservation projects including the protection of riverbanks and floodplains, coastal floodplains and grazing marsh, intertidal mudflats and coastal saltmarsh habitats

To maintain and improve water quality of streams and rivers by having regard for management practices in their vicinity

To develop schemes for wetland creation and river restoration

To establish and enhance 3 - 5m wide buffers along rivers and streams where possible.

To ensure we have structurally diverse, species rich grasslands supporting pollinators and other invertebrates by

Annually

ensuring mowing and grazing regimes are in synch with the seasons

controlling competitive grasses and other species - spot treatment of some species that threaten grassland habitats may be required

ensuring that there is a diverse sward structures and successional areas

cutting areas on rotation to provide structure and variety for species, prolonging the availability of pollen and nectar and aesthetic value for park users

ensuring appropriate seed mixes are used for repair of damage or areas in poor condition, including yellow rattle

collecting arisings on all our wildflower meadows

ensuring areas of tussocky grass are retained for overwintering invertebrates

To instigate differential mowing regimes around some of our amenity grasslands

To attempt to create new native wildflower meadows on amenity grassland where appropriate

To ensure that Urban Flower Meadows are not planted where they could cause detriment to native species and habitats

To work with Lancashire County Council on reducing and amending cutting regimes for roadside verges where it is safe to do so, to encourage a network of wildlife corridors and enhance habitat connectivity

To work in partnership with other bodies and landowners to ensure the protection and restoration of peat bogs in the borough and investigate income opportunities from paludiculture (wetter farming)

To ensure South Ribble and its suppliers only use peat free alternatives for compost

To work with landowners and partners to increase the biodiversity value and connectivity of the arable field margins in the borough

To work with residents, businesses and landowners to encourage a mosaic of different habitat types across the borough, that provide important food and nectar sources to support our wildlife

To encourage the ethos of leaving space for nature

To encourage the inclusion of wildlife refuges in buildings and structures

To encourage the installation of artificial wildlife refuges where appropriate to enhance what is naturally available to our wildlife, including

Hibernaculum

Hedgehog highways

Bird and bat boxes

Bee / insect boxes

Log / stone piles

Deadwood

Wildlife bridges and tunnels

Green walls and green roofs

To encourage biological diversity in our parks and open spaces by altering management schedules to introduce

Annually

unmanaged strips of grass - where reduced frequency mowing can help protect flowering plants and longer swards provide structure / shelter for invertebrates and small mammals

a mosaic of habitats to provide a wide range of species with a wide range of habitats to enable them to complete their lifecycles  

wilder areas

nettle beds and bramble patches

areas of bare earth

To encourage a mindset of reducing access to identified areas of land at certain times of the year to protect species and habitats

To install information signs to explain these changes

To encourage the use of locally abundant, native species in planting schemes

To ensure the protection of existing habitats by following a right plant, right place ethos

To consider food and nectar sources and shelter in planting scheme development

To ensure sensitive time management of planting for plants and wildlife

To replace annual planting with more sustainable perennial schemes

To seek to increase populations of protected species by

positive habitat management to create viable habitat for target species

sensitive maintenance regimes and timings

creation of refuges where appropriate

improving ecological connectivity via the creation of corridors and stepping-stones to allow populations to expand naturally

managing public access to protect sensitive habitat and species

enhancement of existing habitats

creation of new habitat where the opportunity exists or becomes available

use of wildlife sensitive lighting schemes to remove barriers to the movement of nocturnal species

To promote awareness and understanding of the park's wildlife and associated management

To create a pollinator pledge to increase the diversity and numbers of pollinating insects in the Borough

promoting Citizen Science opportunities to residents, schools, volunteers and community groups such as RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch and Butterfly Conservation's Big Butterfly Count

Short

continuing to promote "What can I Do?" activities on our website

Medium

providing natural history themed walks and talks for volunteers and residents

Short

installing signs and information regarding to biodiversity improvements on our sites

continuing to support and grow our Friends Groups by expanding our programme of conservation volunteering opportunities

continuing to support the activities School Eco Councils

continuing to support environmental enhancements in communities

continuing to work with businesses and landowners to add biodiversity value to their land