SALISBURY AREA GREENSPACE PARTNERSHIP SPREADING THE WORD Nicola Lipscombe Chair October 2015
The Vision for the Partnership Working together: To provide an overview and strong local voice for greenspace, and raise awareness of its value and the benefits of good quality green infrastructure To create a more resilient and sustainable environment for people and wildlife in Salisbury and the surrounding area To influence policy and provision, and the enhancement and management of the greenspace network for the longer term
Where has the Partnership come from? The idea Launch in 2012 keynote speaker Ian Phillips. Importance of green space/green infrastructure Workshops provided mandate Steering Group Urban woodlands
Current partners Local Authority Wiltshire Council officers concerned with public open space, public rights of way, green infrastructure strategy, spatial planning, landscape, ecology, countryside, public health Salisbury Vision Parish Councils Salisbury City Council Laverstock & Ford Parish Council Community/ Volunteers Friends of Harnham Watermeadows Dean & Chapter, Salisbury Cathedral Friends of Harnham Slope Friends of Churchill Gardens Sarum Academy Salisbury Wildlife Group Walking for Health Wessex Community Action Wilton Town Council Local Specialist Interest Groups South Wilts Biodiversity Group Salisbury & District Natural History Society River Bourne Community Farm CPRE South Wiltshire Group Salisbury Civic Society COGS (Cycling Opportunities Group Salisbury) Bemerton Activity Trails Salisbury Beekeepers Wiltshire Bat Group Five Rivers Association Bat Group Wiltshire Botanical Group Wilton Community Land Trust Environmental Agencies Natural England Link2Nature (Wiltshire & Swindon Local Nature Partnership) Forestry Commission Environment Agency RSPB Wiltshire Wildlife Trust English Heritage
Current target area for the Partnership Wilton Salisbury City Laverstock and Ford
The steering group Pam Rouquette Walking for Health Roger Dudin South Wiltshire Biodiversity Group Les Lipscombe Salisbury Wildlife Group Councillor Michael Pope Salisbury City Council Councillor Colin Froude Salisbury City Council David Bradley Parks Manager, Salisbury City Council Mary Noyce Technical Officer, Open Spaces, Wiltshire County Phil Sheldrake Conservation Officer, RSPB Russell Spencer Hampshire Avon Co-ordinator, Environment Agency Chris Cochrane Broken Bridges Jacob Dew Co-ordinator, Hampshire Avon Catchment Partnership David Law - Laverstock & Ford PC Nicola Lipscombe Salisbury Civic Society, Current Chair
What is greenspace/green infrastructure? Playing fields Urban Parks Downland Cemeteries/ Churchyards Street trees River corridors Allotments Woodlands/Forest Cycle ways & Footpaths Village greens Water Urban meadows woodlands Urban woodlands
Why is GI so important? It is multifunctional and plays a vital part in delivering the ecosystem services we need to survive: varied and biodiverse habitats clean air and water climate change mitigation flood protection maintenance of soil fertility food fuel
Why is GI so important? It enhances our quality of life: provides inspiring places places that are rich in wildlife places to play and exercise places to relax and enjoy places to experience and learn about the natural world
Why is GI so important? It helps create attractive and distinctive places in which to live: adds value to property attracts businesses to invest in an area stimulates job opportunities brings local communities together
Local issues Lack of knowledge about what and where green spaces are Poor connectivity between existing green spaces Lack of joined up thinking Lack of resources, skills and vision for the overall planning and management of current greenspace assets Management regimes that bring few benefits for wildlife eg. ubiquitous grass mowing Problems of overuse and misuse especially on the urban fringe
Local issue Fragmented Ownerships South Newton Woodford Durnford Country Park at Hampton Park 2 Avon Valley Nature Reserve Laverstock & Ford Wilton Quidhampton Salisbury River Bourne Community Farm Clarendon Park Netherhampton Britford Harnham Slope Woodland
Local issue Development Pressures South Newton Woodford Durnford Longhedge Old Sarum Airfield Fugglestone Red Laverstock & Ford Erskine Barracks Wilton Quidhampton Salisbury Hampton Park The Maltings Netherhampton Clarendon Park Southampton Road Gateway? Britford
Local issue Complicated administrative groupings Amesbury Area Board South West Area Board Salisbury Area Board Southern Area Board 1 Local Authority, 4 Community Areas
Local issue Complicated administrative groupings South Newton Woodford Durnford Laverstock & Ford Wilton Quidhampton Salisbury Clarendon Park Netherhampton Britford + 10 Parishes
Opportunities & priorities for action Fill the knowledge gaps by asset mapping & data gathering Influence the local planning process - development control decision making as well as policy Involve local people & businesses, & spread the message about the value of greenspace assets & green infrastructure Create a one-stop shop for greenspace matters & volunteers Improve habitat diversity and range; encourage reviews of existing management practices eg SAGP input into SCC review Provide one voice for greenspace and share responsibility, skills and resources
Greenspace audit & asset mapping Greenspace what and where it is, the existing links, the gaps and the potential for making improvements Typology: Sample Map 1. Readily accessible community greenspace 2. Restricted/controlled access greenspace 3. Natural/semi-natural greenspace 4. Productive greenspace 5. Strategic greenspace 6. Linear features
Detailed greenspace mapping typology
Phase 1 & 2 Habitat Mapping Improved grassland Small swamp area Neutral grassland Broadleaved, mixed & yew woodland River Bourne Community Farm South Wiltshire Biodiversity Group are co-ordinating the habitat mapping of area & working with Salisbury & District Natural History Society & other local specialists to survey the Cathedral Close & other priority areas. Data will be shared with WSBRC
Gathering additional baseline data Public Open Space Surveys Parish Surveys Trained SAGP volunteers have supported Wiltshire Council with their Public Open Space Survey. The data is being used to develop county wide standards & is also available for SAGP to use locally WC consultation on Part 1 Draft as part of Core Strategy Review ends on 26 May Local residents training for their hedgerow surveys in Laverstock & Ford
Evaluating the potential for improvement Opportunities for groups & volunteers to get actively involved in more greenspace surveys to find out How greenspace is currently used How people value their local green spaces what they like & don t like about them Historic & cultural value of spaces & features eg. Market Place Landscape/townscape value contribution of setting & local features such as key trees, tree groups, views, landmarks etc to local distinctiveness eg. Lombardy Poplars Linear features informal routeways, hedgerows & lines of trees often associated with footpaths, cycle routes & other transport corridors Ecosystem service delivery contribution to biodiversity, water retention, air quality, carbon capture, climate change mitigation, jobs, food, fuel etc Urban woodlands
The digital mapping set up FlexViewer ESRI ArcGIS Volunteer version Controlled access for editing etc Wiltshire Council Server ESRI ArcGIS OS Licence Data storage SAGP Viewer Access for partners to view MAGIC Natural England Forestry Commission English Heritage Environment Agency Email attachment Wiltshire Council SAGP Quantum GIS Database & workspace SAGP WFS Link Google Drive SAGP data storage Ordnance Survey Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Record Centre QGIS Cloud Access for partners to view Data sources 20 September 2015
Resources for Partners The greenspace asset mapping will provide a tool for managing & enhancing local greenspace, improving connectivity & developing a longer term strategy It will be possible to see the bigger picture across wards & parishes, & allow for joined up thinking & action It will support the neighbourhood planning process It will be possible to better defend our green spaces against loss from development Website: http://salisburyareagreenspacepartnership.co.uk
Resources for Partners In the longer term SAGP would like to see: A regular greenspace forum with a co-ordinating role and to ensure local aspirations are represented to the local authority, business and developers All green space managed to maximise the ecosystem services it provides, and in particular for wildlife, amenity value and landscape setting Other community resources including a community greenspace project officer and dedicated fund to secure the future of local green infrastructure Website: http://salisburyareagreenspacepartnership.co.uk