We’re seeking views from our residents on what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in our area.
What is biodiversity and why is it important?
Biodiversity or ‘biological diversity’ is the term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth, including animals, plants, fungi and bacteria.
It’s important because all the Earth’s species work together to survive and maintain their ecosystems. However many species are under threat due to human consumption, pollution, climate change and population growth.
What can parish councils do to help biodiversity?
Parish councils, like all public authorities in the UK, have a legal duty to consider conservation of biodiversity when carrying out their functions. This includes:
- Ensuring public access to high quality open spaces including the ability to designate land as Local Green Space.
- Protecting green belt land and safeguarding the countryside from encroachment.
- Maintaining green corridors, to prevent neighbouring areas from merging.
- Conserving and enhancing the natural environment through the protection of valued landscapes.
How can you help us improve biodiversity in Colehill?
Colehill has a wide range of biodiverse habitats, including trees, hedges, grassland, woodland and wetlands which gives it a very special appeal. We know many residents are concerned about the potential impact from future housing developments on these habitats.
We look forward to hearing your ideas for how biodiversity in Colehill can be safeguarded and improved. This could include for example, improvements to existing wildlife sites, creating new sites, providing additional habitats (such as bird & bat boxes), improving wildlife corridors between sites, or seeking to protect specific areas from development.
Please let us know what your think using our online Feedback Form.