Macclesfield Borough Council aims to conserve and enhance the natural resources of its area through the policies of the Borough Local Plan. The Nature conservation policies of the plan seek to protect sites of nature conservation value from inappropriate or harmful development, and also to use such opportunities as may arise to secure the means to maintain or improve their worth. This can include securing management agreements, access where appropriate or the provision of interpretive information, or the funding of such operations where carried out by the Borough Councilor or its partners. The Council's Local Agenda 21 strategy includes participation in a wildlife audit of the Borough to increase awareness of biodiversity within its area, as a contribution to knowledge and understanding in the County. The Council has recently established a new Nature Conservation post to increase its capacity to respond adequately to the needs of biodiversity.

The Council is continuing its practical work towards the enhancement of the Borough's biodiversity by:

- continuing to offer grant aid to landowners through its Landscape Conservation Programme for the laying and planting of hedges, woodland planting and management, and the restoration of ponds and dry-stone walls, now in its fourteenth year.

- continuing to give away over 2,000 native free trees each year as a contribution to LA21 and National Tree Week, now also in its fourteenth year.

- Playing a leading role in the establishment of a pilot project to study parkland and the development of the Cheshire Lowland Wood Pasture BAP.

- MBC aims to designate one Local Nature Reserve per annum.

- MBC plays an active part in the following BAPs and HAPs: Bluebell, Water Vole, Barn Owl and Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodlands.

- MBC has produced a Biodiversity Audit for their area. To read it click here.

Contact:
James Baggaley
Nature Conservation Officer, Planning Department
Macclesfield Borough Council
Tel: 01625 504652 Fax: 01625 504675