Urban Biodiversity: Successes and Challenges: Connecting habitats and communities workshop

2012·0.98 MB·English

by  Eilidh Spence

There are clearly a numberofissues which havebeen The groups held discussions in which each person gave
raised by discussion within the Workshop and suggestions from their point of view to provoke
oppoitunities forthese issues to be addressed by the discussion and develop ideas for the area. This
new LEAP and any related policies and strategies. included how they would improve the selected site for
wildlife, a proposed methodology for completing this
work, and suggestions on how to involve members of
the community.
Urban Biodiversity: Successes and There were many aspects to cover in the session, but
Challenges: Connecting habitats and each group was able to provide one suggestion from
their discussion to share with the rest ofthe audience.
communities workshop
Groups had also written down a number ofother ideas.
Some similar themes emerged, as well as new
Eilidh Spence initiatives forthis type ofurban site.
Froglifc, Room 211, Graham Kerr Building, University Examples provided from the group discussions are
ofGlasgow, Glasgow G12 SQQ shown below:
• Pond creation and management - connecting and
E-mail: [email protected] improving habitats including areas beyond the site
boundary.
• Conducting surveys of flora and fauna and
Urban environments are becoming increasingly mapping what is present to improve records.
valuable habitats for a wide variety ofspecies. As these • Encouraging more local people to assist and gain
areas are associated with large populations of people new skills.
there has to be a balance between protecting valuable • Training and sharing knowledge across different
habitats and providing suitable housing and related community groups on wildlife friendly gardening,
industiy. Local communities have a considerable vegetable growing, pond creation and surveying.
amount to offer and gain from being involved in • Working with local groups such as allotment users
improving their local area forwildlife. to save resources, forexample waterand tools.
• Improving amenity grassland with wildflower
Froglife’s Living Waters projects are working in meadows. Connecting habitats and encouraging
London and Glasgow to engage with local communities to get involved through planting and
communities and help complete habitat creation and enjoying the aesthetic value of wildflower
restoration work on standing open water habitats. This meadows. Creating more hedgerows to connect
work is being canned out in partnership with Glasgow habitats.
City Council and relevant London Boroughs, and is • Writing a wildlife column for a local newspaperto
supported by local volunteer and ‘friends of groups share news e.g. nature diaiy or update community
from different urban parks. To promote sustainability with recent work completed.
of habitat work, communities are involved where
possible on site and opportunities are provided to teach To conclude the workshop the site for which
survey and practical conservation techniques. participants had made theirsuggestions was revealed as
Foots Cray Meadows in South London. Work
Froglife designed the workshop ‘Connecting Habitats
completed by Froglife in the area was also discussed,
and Communities’ to promote the importance of
including enhancement ofone pond and the creation of
community involvement and raise awareness of
eight new ponds. Work is also taking place to improve
enhancing habitats and creating essential wildlife
the suiTOunding terrestrial habitats not only for
coiridors to increase connectivity between sites.
amphibians and reptiles but also wider biodiversity.
The workshop commenced with a short presentation Friends of Foots Cray Meadows have been involved
introducing Froglife’s work followed by an interactive with Froglife and support the habitat improvement
work.
discussion with the audience. Eighteen people attended
the workshop and were split into four groups. The
The workshop was presented by Eilidh Spence and
groups were provided with a map of an urban site Sam Taylor from Froglife. Eilidh is the Glasgow
featuring a park, a school, ponds, hedgerows, ditches
and allotments. A role-playing exercise was completed Living Water Project Officer and can be contacted by
email at [email protected], or 01413390737.
with each attendee being assigned a role as a different
cshtaarkaechtoelrdebrriewfisthincalnudeidnt:eraesHteaidn Ttehaechloecralofatrheea.locaTlhe CGEiorlmaimhduhanmiiscKabetaiisxoednBuaaintlddtidhneegp.uUtniySvaCemrEsOiitsyanFodrfoigslGiblfaaess’esgdoaHwteaindtohef
school, a Council Park Manager/Biodiversity Officer,
Froglife’s headquarters in Peterborough. Sam can be
and a representative from each ofthe following groups:
contacted by email at [email protected].
a Friends ofGroup, a Local Natural Histoiy Society, a
Wildlife Charity Officerand a Local Allotment foiiim.