Part 1 – the main document which includes the reasons why we need a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), some facts and figures on how biodiversity is faring, the key aims of the Plan; how it fits with other plans and work; and how the plan will be delivered.

Part 2 – fact sheets on 22 key species and four key habitats which are included in the BAP and are the main focus for our work.  The sheets include a photo of the species or habitat, a map showing its known locations and some ideas as to what you can do to help support biodiversity.

Part 3 – a summary action plan detailing the key actions the Council will be doing in 2021 to help protect, enhance and recreate biodiversity on its own land holdings and through its work programmes.  

If you would like a hard copy of the document please contact naturalenvironment@winchester.gov.uk

Biodiversity is the variety of life: birds, wild flowers, butterflies, trees, fungi, pond-life…even humans and bacteria are part of biodiversity. Biodiversity is under threat from many human activities locally and globally and the government has pledged to slow-down the loss of natural habitats and the species which live in them.

A BAP identifies particular priorities for conservation - species and habitats which are particularly threatened or declining in the UK. A Biodiversity Action Plan will provide a strategic direction to managing our planned enhancements for our district’s biodiversity, as well as setting out our approach to building partnerships with local and national organisations to allow us to achieve our goals.

Ensuring our biodiversity is protected and developed is a keystone pledge which forms our response to the Climate Emergency. Our Biodiversity Action Plan will allow us to secure a greener district and a positive future for our wildlife.

The Winchester District covers a large and varied area, with wildlife habitats ranging from chalk streams to chalk downs and water meadows to woodlands. A selection of our diverse havens for wildlife include the Rivers Itchen and Meon, the Forest of Bere, a portion of the South Downs National Park and the estuary of the River Hamble.

As we work behind the scenes towards delivering our new Biodiversity Action Plan (2020), the Natural Environment and Recreation team continue to safeguard wildlife and its habitats across our district. Just some examples of the work that we are doing include:

• Establishing the creation of a new Nature Reserve in Winchester at Barton Meadows, in partnership with CALA Homes and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
• Undertaking deep-dive surveys of key sites to fully understand the local populations of key species and habitats.
• Securing a dedicated resource based within the City Council, whose primary focus is on ecology and biodiversity.
• Installing new bird boxes and bat tiles in areas of particular biological interest, sometimes in the roofs of our own council homes!
• Creating new wildlife meadows to support Butterfly Conservation land on sites such as Magdalen Hill Cemetery.
• Review the management of sites owned by the City Council to benefit biodiversity at sites including Whiteshute Ridge, West Hill Cemetery, Greenacres in Otterbourne and Hillier's Haven.
• Launching an annual tree planting programme to improve our district's native tree population. Between 2019-2020 alone, we planted 590 trees which included 20 different species including apple, oak, liquid amber, hawthorn, blackthron and sweet chestnut.