OLD COLWYN EAST RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
Open meeting 8th December 2004 .
Minute of an address by Becky Groves,
Biodiversity Project Officer for Conwy County Borough Council
Minute of an address by Becky Groves,
Biodiversity Project Officer for Conwy County Borough Council
Becky introduced herself and spoke about her job with Conwy County Borough Council.
Conwy County Borough exhibits an exceptionally rich variety of habitats ranging from coastal cliffs and beaches to sheltered valleys and open moorland. The nature conservation interest of the area is considerable and contains many important features such as areas of limestone pavement, woodlands, hedgerows, meadows and pasture, reed-bed, heath land, ponds and estuary habitats. Conwy also supports rare and vulnerable species including some that are found nowhere else in Wales , such as the Bealted Beauty Moth, and others that are found nowhere else in the UK , such as Wild Cotoneaster, which exists only on the Great Orme.
Over the years many of our local habitats have been fragmented, reduced in size or damaged and many species populations have seriously declined or even disappeared altogether. It is now necessary to take positive action to restore them. It is vital that these habitats and species are maintained and enhanced so that future generations can continue to enjoy the rich biodiversity of Conwy County Borough and all the benefits it brings.
The term ‘biodiversity' simply means the variety of life. It encompasses all the living species on Earth,
Becky explained the structure of her department with a principal countryside officer an Head Warden, ecologist, Biodiversity Officer, four site wardens, an access warden and student wardens.
8 permanent staff (of which 4 part-time)
3 fixed-term contract staff (project-related)
1 seasonal staff
2 long-term (10 month) student placements
The 22 sites in Conway we were told mainly on the coastal area
Managed for wild life
23 sites managed, of which:
6 are Local Nature Reserves
1 further site (Fairy Glen, Old Colwyn) is agreed to be a local nature reserve.
Each LNR is overseen by a Management Advisory Group and management is financially supported by the Countryside Council for Wales .
6 are Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and one is a candidate for Special Area of Conservation (of European importance)
10 are woodlands (at least in part), and 5 of these receive funding from the Forestry Commission for woodland management
95% of sites have an up-to-date Management Plan or Management Statement
Great Orme Country Park Visitor Centre received 2,000 visitors per day during
August
Management agreement with CCW has been secured on the Great Orme to ensure long term funding for conservation works
£40,000 CydCoed funding secured for conservation and access improvements to
Pwllycrochan Woods, a Local Nature Reserve.
Pwllycrochan Woods, a Local Nature Reserve.
Other areas of note are Nant y coed, Morfa Conwy, Bryn Euryn, the Great Orme is difficult to manage as there are many types of habitat and species on the site.
1992 the Rio Conference
The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development was held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992(commonly referred to as the Rio Earth Summit), gathered together nearly 200 world leaders to address global concerns about the environment and loss of biodiversity. Over 150 states including the UK signed up to the Convention on Biological Diversity. They did so to express a shared belief that action must be taken to halt the ever increasing world-wide loss of species, habitats and genetic diversity that is occurring as a result of human activities. Signatories recognised that each country has the primary responsibility to conserve and enhance biodiversity within its own jurisdiction.
The United Kingdom Bio-diversity Action Plan l ed to local action plans. Conwy has an Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) covering habitats and species.
Biodiversity is ultimately lost or conserved at the local level; biodiversity is in decline many species are extinct. The Conwy Local Biodiversity Action Plan is a means of implementing the UK Biodiversity Action Plan in Conwy County Borough. It addresses species and habitats of UK and Welsh importance as well as those of local importance.
The Conwy Biodiversity Local Action Plan and other related information can be found on the website http://www.conwy.gov.uk . Computers are available at local libraries to view the website.
Functions of Local Biodiversity Action Plans
• To ensure that national targets for species and habitats, as specified in the UK action plans, are translated into effective action at the local level.
• To identify targets for species and habitats appropriate to the local area, reflecting the values of people locally.
• To develop effective local partnerships to ensure that programmes for biodiversity conservation are maintained in the long-term.
• To raise awareness for the need for biodiversity conservation in the local context.
• To ensure that opportunities for conservation and enhancement of the whole biodiversity resource are fully considered.
• To provide a basis for monitoring progress in biodiversity conservation, at both a local and national level.
Delivering the objectives by means of
Habitat Action Plans
Species Action Plans
Topic Action Plans
The Importance of biodiversity
The Web of Life
Reservoir of Culture
Genes
Biodiversity
Moral Health
Considerations
Economy
The web of life
Reservoir of genes
Wild species are an important source of genes that can confer useful properties on to our domesticated species, such as resistance from disease.
Health
Many of our most useful and effective medicines are derived from the nature. Drugs derived from wild foxgloves are widely used in the treatment of certain heart complaints and aspirin was developed from a naturally occurring substance found in willow bark. Penicillin and most other antibiotics were developed from chemicals found in species of fungi
The economy - tourism/ forestry/ agriculture
Many of our industries such as farming, commercial fishing and forestry rely directly on the preservation of biodiversity. Many of our crops are still heavily dependent on the natural mechanisms that control pest species, such as predatory insects and birds. Natural systems are also responsible for crop pollination, nutrient uptake, soil aeration and many other' environmental services'
The moral standpoint
We have a moral and ethical obligation to hand on to our children an environment at least as rich as the one we inherited.
Culture
Biodiversity provides us with important spiritual nourishment, through our contact with the natural world. People like to walk in the countryside or in a local park and the abundance of houseplants, bird feeders are indicative of our desire to have contact with nature
Examples of action plans for species
Water vole project
Brit ai n 's fastest declining mammal as its habitat is split and the American mink is a new predator
The Environment Agency manages ditches which the vole uses and often eats vegetation along the bank. There is commitment to Water Vole survey training. and volunteers help to carry out the surveying.
Black poplar
Is Britain 's rarest native timber tree. The wood used to be used for wheels and clogs. There are 49 male trees left and no females. The County is ensuring planting to ensure survival of the species.
Morfa Conwy – Bealted Beauty Moth The only place in Wales where the moth lives, a very small area. Necessary to its survival is the egg and bacon plant, ( Birds Foot Trefoil) the caterpillar feeds on the plant and then changes into the chrysalis in which state it can stay for up to five years burrowed into the sand. The female has no wings .
A translocation has been managed by the Council to Kinmel Bay and the habitat in Morfa Conwy is being extended with more sand. In that way the Council is managing habitat to ensure that the species is protected.
Conwy County Borough Council has revised its cutting regime of selected areas to maximize biodiversity and will continue to develop this initiative.
Hay meadow Factors causing loss or decline
• Reclamation or re-development of disused land to a uniform land use reduces
biodiversity.
• Encroachment of development on to parks, old cemeteries, long abandoned sites and
large established suburban gardens.
• The specific targeting of brown field land, which is often important wild space habitat,
for new development in accordance with Government policy.
• Over-management of green spaces such as very regular mowing, clearing of shrubs and
tall vegetation, filling in ponds or leveling of land as part of development.
• Successional processes, which can result in the loss of rare species.
• Alien species, which can dominate an area and reduce biodiversity.
The subject of the Council land in front of Police Headquarters land arose . Becky agreed that it looked a mess this year and they intend to bring forward the cut to July / August in 2005 whereas in 2004 the cut was done in September / October.
She told us that it is a very important part of the improvement of the local ecology development. She said there are 22 sites where this project is being run, one being Min y Don Park. This year 73 species were found in the grass and butterflies were found to be breeding.
W hen asked about whether flower seeds could be added to the grass she replied that there is a natural seed bank in the ground of local plants which have possibly not been fertilised for years. It is important to give them a chance see how things progress.
A resident asked why the rubbish was not cleared up around the Headquarters site
Becky replied that the Cleansing Department of the council is responsible and acts in a response mode. When a resident reports rubbish they have to pick it up, she suggested that we ring them.
A resident asked if the council are looking for new sites, Becky responded by saying yes and she proceeded to talk about Wildlife Gardening referring specifically to Bryn Euryn Mountain , which is limestone grassland habitat. She showed an aerial picture of the site and said that people can assist in making wild-life ‘friendly' corridors between different areas of habitat.
Gardens makeup three percent of the land in the county it is helpful to make them an island of food and drink for species. W ith butterflies it can make the difference between making it to another area of habitat or not.
Becky spoke of the Snowdonia Wildlife Garden Partnership in Conwy and Gwynedd. She gave many examples of flowers and species.
Gardens plants ~ Verbena – Single flowers give flowers and nectar all year
Butterfly borders ~ wild flowers sewn ~ cut in August to September.
Bumble bees nest in grass / seven species in decline over 50 years , Hover flies and solitary bees pollinate 5 times more flowers than other species.
Good ideas
Bird boxes / Hedgehog boxes / Bat boxes/Bird feeding stations
Black birds like short grass
Seed producing plants include Teasel, sunflower heads, knapweed and Honesty.
Berry producing plants include: Berberis, Holly, Hawthorn, Ivey, Honeysuckle, and Pyracantha
Wildlife Gardening Competition
For the second year running residents in Conwy can enter the Best Wildlife Garden in Snowdonia competition. The Snowdonia Wildlife Gardening Partnership, which runs the competition, is already asking for entries for the 2005 competition. The competition has categories for private, school, community and business gardens. The community gardens may include churchyards and gardens managed by scout or brownie groups. The business gardens may include those around office complexes, pub gardens or gardens with guest houses and tearooms. The competition judges look for gardens which have created food sources and habitats for a range of wildlife, such as wildlife friendly ponds, areas of wildflower meadow, bird feeders, butterfly boarders, as well as gardens which have wildlife friendly practices, such as compost making and not using pesticides.
There are free wildlife gardening packs available for anybody who is interested.
Becky suggested that the St Johns ' Church Garden project, if successful, could well be suitable for inclusion in the competition next year.
She left us with a message
Get to know about local wildlife issues.
Possibly help with wildlife surveys
Reserve management
Countryside events program
Volunteer newsletter – ask Becky
Get involved in recording wildlife; there are poor historical wildlife records.
There is a Wales Biodiversity Week – June 11 th – 19 th 2005
The Chair thanked Becky for an enlightening and interesting talk and there was a round of applause.
