Biodiversity - Wildlife & Conservation

More than 100 species of plants and animals have disappeared from the UK since 1900 and many species that were once common, such as the Song Thrush, Skylark and Water Vole, are falling in numbers. At the 1992 Earth Summit, national governments committed to conserving biodiversity. Our own government subsequently produced a 20 year UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Locally, the Buckinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan was published in April 2000. It identifies actions to conserve habitats, wild plants and animals and aims to involve individuals, local communities and businesses in a range of important measures.

What is Biodiversity?

All around us, in our woodlands and hedgerows, our fields and rivers, even in our gardens, countless varieties of birds, plants, insects and other animals live out their lives. This is biodiversity - the richness and endless variety of life on earth.

Why the conservation of biodiversity matters

Biodiversity underlies our existence. No organism exists in isolation from other living things - individually each plant and animal has a role to play in the interconnections which make the world go round. A diverse landscape, rich in wildlife, in our towns as well as our countryside, plays an important role in ensuring that our quality of life stays high. It contributes to our physical and mental health and ensures that we remain in touch with the natural world. We have to take action today for tomorrow’s wildlife.

2010 has been declared the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations and its aim is to celebrate the diversity of life on Earth and highlight the loss of biodiversity habitats. IYB-UK is the partnership coordinating the International Year of Biodiversity in the UK. AVDC is a key member of Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Partnership which is a partner organisation in IYB.

What is the Biodiversity Action Plan?

In 2000 AVDC signed up to deliver the Bucks & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). This BAP identifies important habitats and species for which a wide range of local and national organisations, as well as individuals, take practical actions to conserve. It sets measurable targets to attempt to map out a brighter future for biodiversity.

AVDC’s Commitment to the Plan

The Bucks and Milton Keynes BAP was interpreted into a Plan for Aylesbury Vale and AVDC’s Biodiversity Team is a lead partner in this delivery and through the work supports the Council’s key aim on improving the local environment. The team is part of the Bucks & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Partnership, which brings together local authorities, statutory agencies and conservation charities to coordinate the delivery of the Action Plan across the county.

We work towards delivering the BAP locally by:

• Working with parishes, landowners and farmers to encourage wildlife-friendly land management.
• Working to minimise the impact of development on protected species and other wildlife.
• Promoting wildlife sensitive management of AVDC owned land.
• Identifying sites with special wildlife, Wildlife Sites, and giving advice to owners.
• Running projects to help conserve rare or endangered species, for example, Bats, Barn Owls, Swifts and Great Crested Newts.
• Encouraging people to take an interest in and care for their local wildlife through guided walks, talks and events.

Raising awareness of conservation is a critical part of the BAP. A wide variety of promotions have been organised which include the production of literature and displays, events and press coverage. The Wildlife Gardening Scheme was launched in 2000, environmental education activities held at Parklife, and leaflets including Wildlife in the Vale, Black Poplar Conservation Guide and the Ecology and Geology of Buckingham Sandpit.

Biodiversity Team

Our service is free of charge and we work with farmers, community groups, parish councils and other conservation groups to deliver the Biodiversity Action Plan through:

• Advice on nature conservation issues
• Help in habitat management and creation
• Advice on funding and grant aid
• Survey and management plans for Wildlife Sites
• Developing opportunities for people to get involved in wildlife conservation
• Support of community conservation groups

The team are very grateful for the invaluable contribution made to the wildlife of Aylesbury Vale by the many volunteers who have given up their time, by our partners who have assisted us and by those who have worked with us on their land.