Natural England

Wildlife experts from all over the United Kingdom are gathering in Exeter next week (18-20 September) to review progress on protecting rare and endangered wildlife and the places where they live, to share good practice and to plan new approaches to managing land and sea in the light of climate change.

The Biodiversity Action Planners will meet at Exeter University to hear from a host of speakers from the across the country as well as local wildlife champions in an event organised by Natural England in partnership with DEFRA and the Wildlife Trusts.

Janette Ward, Natural England’s SW Regional Director, who is chairing one of the days said: “Bringing so many people together from all over the UK will enable us to build a co-ordinated approach to the big environmental issues such as how to protect important wildlife in the face of climate change. It will also enable us to learn from each other and involve more local people in working together to protect wildlife.”

The conference will hear from Alex Bolton from the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust on their new project to improve the links between the food people eat and farming and wildlife.

Alex said: “The project at Occombe Farm, Paignton, shows how, by working with wildlife, we can produce top quality local food in ways that protect and provide a boost to rare or endangered wildlife such as the cirl bunting and the greater horseshoe bat.”

Elsewhere, in Tor Bay, Dominic Flint, also from the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust, will talk about surveying seagrass.

Dominic said: “By finding out where the seagrass is in the bay we can work with fishermen and other users to make sure these rare habitats are protected.

“Sea grass is a crucial link in the food chain and when we explain to local people that it provides food and shelter to exciting species like seahorses people really begin to understand the wealth of marine life on our doorstep. Hopefully, this will enthuse more people to protect our natural heritage.”

In Bristol, Matt Hamilton from the Avon Biodiversity Partnership will also be attending the conference and explaining how the partnership has identified the threat to ponds and employs a Pondways project officer, Lydia Robbins, to co-ordinate Avon’s largest ever pond survey.

Matt said: “We’ve worked with 30 volunteers from all walks of life on this project which has been great in itself. The results provide us with a fascinating insight in to the vast amount of wildlife that ponds support and the condition they are in. We have discovered that many ponds listed on maps have simply disappeared due to lack of management. We found some really rare animals in some ponds such as great crested newts.

“We now hope to work with people across Avon to improve their ponds for wildlife and, hopefully, enthuse them to dig more ponds. I want Avon to become the pond capital of the UK.”

The conference delegates will also be visiting some of the environmental jewels in the south west over the three days, including a river trip up the Exe to view special species such as curlews and little egrets.

Notes for Editors:

1. The Local Biodiversity Action Planning conference will be held at the University of Exeter between 18 and 20 September. For the conference programme please visit www.keystone-group.co.uk/lbap . Please note the conference is now full.

2. Natural England works for people, places and nature to conserve and enhance biodiversity, landscapes and wildlife in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas. We conserve and enhance the natural environment for its intrinsic value, the wellbeing and enjoyment of people, and the economic prosperity it brings.

3. Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust is a local conservation charity, caring for 1800 acres of coastline, woodland, farmland, National and Local Nature Reserves and Country Park and is the first independent charity of its kind in the country to take over the management of important green sites from a local council. Innovative and forward thinking, the Trust is committed to developing conservation practices for the benefit of the natural landscape and the Bay’s wildlife, and has won a number of prestigious awards in recognition of this work.

4. Avon Biodiversity Partnership was formed to develop and implement the Avon Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), an over-arching conservation strategy for the former county of Avon. It encompasses a wide range of statutory and non-statutory bodies. The list of partnership members is not exclusive and new partners are both welcomed and needed, especially from the business, academic and private sectors.

For more information contact:

Naomi Brookes (SW Biodiversity co-ordinator): 01392 457401 or naomi.brookes@swwt.org.uk Paul Wynne (Natural England SW press office): 07900 608049 or paul.wynne@naturalengland.org.uk

For photo opportunities and more information in Bristol contact:

Matt Hamilton/Lydia Robbins (Avon Biodiversity Partnership): 0117 917 7270 or matthamilton@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk or lydiarobbins@avonwildlifetrust.org.uk

For photo opportunities and more information in Torbay contact:

Alex Bolton (Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust): 01803 528841 or biodiversity@countryside-trust.org.uk