CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP MEMBER DETAILS:
NATURAL ENGLAND
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Natural England was formed from a merger of English Nature with parts of the Countryside Agency and the Rural Development Service in October 2006.
Natural England has been charged with the responsibility to ensure that England’s unique natural environment including land flora and fauna, freshwater and marine environments, geology and soils are protected and improved. We also have the responsibility to help people to enjoy, understand and access the natural environment. We retain the duties of the three founding organisations to deliver the government’s agri environment schemes to farmers and land managers, increase opportunities for people to enjoy their natural environment, enhance landscapes and safeguard special sites and species.
Natural England will be working in many regional and local partnerships with land managers, the scientific community, business and community organisations in order to deliver these aims.
Regional targets have been set which relate to the strategic outcomes:
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A healthy natural environment
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Enjoyment of the natural environment
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Sustainable use of the natural environment
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A secure environmental future
The following targets refer to the maintenance and enhancement of the biodiversity in the North West Region. (based on targets for 2006/7).
- agri-environment schemes – increase total coverage to 221,000 ha of ELS/OELS and 8000ha HLS, including 860ha restoration or maintenance of BAP habitats, 2000ha targeted for priority BAP species and 2000 ha of land managed to benefit farmland birds.
- to restore or recreate 460ha of BAP habitat managed by farming and 400ha BAP wetland habitats.
- to continue to fund the regional biodiversity partnership and the County BAPs.
- monitor SSSI condition and complete conservation objectives as part of the rolling programmes and achieve a net increase in the area of SSSI in target condition.
- advise on the protection of bats, natterjack toads, marsh fritillary and great crested newt through advice contracts and the volunteer network, contribute to partnerships and initiatives for other protected species. Work with wildlife crime officers to encourage crime prevention.
- advise Local Authorities on the designation of Local Nature Reserves.
Some specific activities undertaken by Natural England in the past year include:
- continued support for the restoration and maintenance of open heathland habitats at Lindow Common, Bickerton Hill and Thurstaston Common SSSI’s.
- helping to develop a management plan with Waste Recycling Group at Danes Moss SSSI.
- supported Cheshire WildlifeTrust in the management of their SSSI reserves via the Reserves Enhancement Scheme.
- continued funding for the local biodiversity coordinators posts in conjunction with defra and the Environment Agency.
- working closely with Halton MBC and the engineering consultants Giffords over the possible environmental impacts of the 2 nd Mersey crossing.
- contributed to the development of the weaver Valley Regional Park project
- renewed a service level agreement with rECOrd
Contacts
| SSSI queries |
Agri environment schemes |
David Jeffreys
Cheshire to Lancashire Land and Sea Management Team
Pier House
Wallgate
Wigan
WN3 4AL
01942 614014
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Steve Lawlor
Cheshire to Lancashire Land and Sea Management team Leader
Natural England
Electra Way
Crewe
CW1 6GJ
01270 754369
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| Development Control and Local Development Framework |
LNRs and NNRs, community projects |
Cheshire to Lancashire Government Team
[email protected] |
Hannah Rigden
Natural England
Electra Way
Crewe
CW1 6GJ
01270 754362
[email protected]
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