LIVERPOOL’S LIVERPOOL’S ECOLOGICAL ECOLOGICAL FRAMEWORKFRAMEWORK

Jane Hayward – Liverpool City CouncilJane Hayward – Liverpool City Council

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

Liverpool’s open space study and green Liverpool’s open space study and green infrastructureinfrastructure

Scope of the Space for Nature StudyScope of the Space for Nature Study Findings of the Phase 1 and 2 Habitat Findings of the Phase 1 and 2 Habitat

surveyssurveys Objectives of the Ecological Framework Objectives of the Ecological Framework

and key findingsand key findings Achievements and long term benefitsAchievements and long term benefits Next StepsNext Steps

Context – Liverpool Open Context – Liverpool Open Space StudySpace Study

Completed 2005Completed 2005 Identified a number of different Identified a number of different

open space typologiesopen space typologies Classified land into natural and Classified land into natural and

semi-natural open spacesemi-natural open space Informed Space for Nature StudyInformed Space for Nature Study

Context - Liverpool’s Green Context - Liverpool’s Green InfrastructureInfrastructure

Over 3000ha of Over 3000ha of open spaceopen space

20% protected 20% protected through through designation as designation as local wildlife siteslocal wildlife sites

4 Local Nature 4 Local Nature ReservesReserves

Mersey Estuary Mersey Estuary SPA/Ramsar siteSPA/Ramsar site

Liverpool Space for Nature Liverpool Space for Nature StudyStudy

Why?Why? – Up to date evidence base for – Up to date evidence base for LDF as required by national and LDF as required by national and regional policyregional policy

Who?Who? Consultants ( Consultants (White Young GreenWhite Young Green)) Managed by EASManaged by EAS Input from LCC Nature Input from LCC Nature Conservation Officer and LWTConservation Officer and LWT

Liverpool Space for Nature Liverpool Space for Nature StudyStudy

Study divided into 3 stages:Study divided into 3 stages:1.1. Preliminary surveyPreliminary survey of all Liverpool’s of all Liverpool’s

green space to Phase 1 level and green space to Phase 1 level and identify sites for further surveyidentify sites for further survey

2.2. Detailed botanical surveysDetailed botanical surveys on sites on sites selected in Phase 1 and recommend selected in Phase 1 and recommend sites for designation as Local Wildlife sites for designation as Local Wildlife SitesSites

3.3. Ecological FrameworkEcological Framework – – recommendations for biodiversity recommendations for biodiversity enhancement within the Cityenhancement within the City

Phase 1Phase 1

31 habitat types – 31 habitat types – grassland dominant grassland dominant followed by woodlandfollowed by woodland

Connectivity between Connectivity between habitat patches habitat patches across City reducing across City reducing effects of effects of fragmentation and fragmentation and providing providing opportunities for opportunities for species migrationspecies migration

Phase 2Phase 2

Detailed botanical Detailed botanical surveys on selected surveys on selected sitessites

Applied Merseyside Applied Merseyside guidelines for guidelines for selection of Local selection of Local Wildlife SitesWildlife Sites

Recommend sites Recommend sites qualifying as a Local qualifying as a Local Wildlife SiteWildlife Site

Ecological FrameworkEcological Framework

Local representation of Local representation of the Biodiversity Resource the Biodiversity Resource and Opportunity Diagram and Opportunity Diagram in RSS in RSS

To identify:To identify: Core Biodiversity AreasCore Biodiversity Areas Core Biodiversity Areas Core Biodiversity Areas

with potential to with potential to connect to one anotherconnect to one another

Deficiency areasDeficiency areas

Liverpool’s Core Liverpool’s Core Biodiversity AreasBiodiversity Areas

Identify Core Identify Core Biodiversity AreasBiodiversity Areas

Areas outside Core Areas outside Core Biodiversity AreasBiodiversity Areas

Identify Areas outside CBAs that have Identify Areas outside CBAs that have the potential to improve the integrity the potential to improve the integrity of the CBAs and recommend actions of the CBAs and recommend actions for their enhancementfor their enhancement

• Identification of ecological buffer zones Identification of ecological buffer zones •Restricted to natural or semi-natural Restricted to natural or semi-natural

green space within 50m of CBAsgreen space within 50m of CBAs•Enhancements focussed on NMBAP Enhancements focussed on NMBAP

prioritiespriorities

Example: Potentially Example: Potentially suitable areas for buffers to suitable areas for buffers to

aquatic CBAsaquatic CBAs

Core Biodiversity Areas with Core Biodiversity Areas with potential to connect to one potential to connect to one

anotheranother Identify existing natural and semi-natural green Identify existing natural and semi-natural green

space that connects Core Biodiversity Areas space that connects Core Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) to one another(CBAs) to one another

• Identification of direct links between CBAs separated Identification of direct links between CBAs separated by no more than 500m, ORby no more than 500m, OR

• Identification of ‘stepping stones’ separated by no Identification of ‘stepping stones’ separated by no more than 100mmore than 100m

• Identification of existing corridors or linkages across a Identification of existing corridors or linkages across a wider area, e.g. transport infrastructurewider area, e.g. transport infrastructure

Recommend how green space connection among Recommend how green space connection among CBAs could be managed to support Biodiversity CBAs could be managed to support Biodiversity Action Plan targetsAction Plan targets

Example: Potential linkages Example: Potential linkages between CBAs - North East between CBAs - North East

LiverpoolLiverpool

Potential Linkages between Potential Linkages between Grassland CBAsGrassland CBAs

Deficiency AreasDeficiency Areas

Identify areas of the City that are deficient in Identify areas of the City that are deficient in Core Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) by application Core Biodiversity Areas (CBAs) by application of English Nature guidelinesof English Nature guidelines

Identify areas of green space within the Identify areas of green space within the deficiency areas that should be prioritised for deficiency areas that should be prioritised for habitat creation and enhancementhabitat creation and enhancement

Identify areas deficient in both CBAs and Identify areas deficient in both CBAs and natural and semi-natural green space, i.e. natural and semi-natural green space, i.e. areas lacking the potential for enhancementareas lacking the potential for enhancement

Make broad recommendations for habitat Make broad recommendations for habitat creation in these areascreation in these areas

Core Biodiversity and Semi-Core Biodiversity and Semi-natural green space deficiency natural green space deficiency

areasareas

Areas potentially suitable for Areas potentially suitable for enhancement within CBA enhancement within CBA

deficiency areasdeficiency areas Most appropriate habitats Most appropriate habitats

will usually be determined will usually be determined by site-specific factors. by site-specific factors.

Broad habitats which Broad habitats which could contribute towards could contribute towards NMBAP priority habitats NMBAP priority habitats and species include:and species include:

GrasslandGrassland Woodland and TreesWoodland and Trees Aquatic HabitatsAquatic Habitats HeathlandHeathland ScrubScrub RoundaboutsRoundabouts Green Roofs and FacadesGreen Roofs and Facades

Key Recommendations/ Key Recommendations/ FindingsFindings

Up to 700ha of green space has the potential to Up to 700ha of green space has the potential to be enhanced to form a buffer for CBAsbe enhanced to form a buffer for CBAs

Potential to create buffers benefiting woodland, Potential to create buffers benefiting woodland, aquatic, grassland and parkland habitatsaquatic, grassland and parkland habitats

Significant amount of green space in the City Significant amount of green space in the City (over 2000ha) meets criteria for creating linkages (over 2000ha) meets criteria for creating linkages between CBAsbetween CBAs

Woodland CBAs not easily linked but Woodland CBAs not easily linked but consideration should be given to role of urban consideration should be given to role of urban trees, small woodlands, hedgerows and railway trees, small woodlands, hedgerows and railway lines connecting these siteslines connecting these sites

Key recommendations/ Key recommendations/ findingsfindings ((continued)continued)

Targeted management of railway lines could Targeted management of railway lines could provide significant benefitsprovide significant benefits

Lack of CBAs and natural and semi-natural green Lack of CBAs and natural and semi-natural green space in and around the City Centrespace in and around the City Centre

726ha of semi-natural green space exists within 726ha of semi-natural green space exists within deficiency areas which is suitable for ecological deficiency areas which is suitable for ecological enhancementenhancement

The most appropriate habitats to create in The most appropriate habitats to create in deficiency areas are those targeted by or which deficiency areas are those targeted by or which contribute to NMBAP including ponds, reedbeds, contribute to NMBAP including ponds, reedbeds, urban trees and woodland, urban grassland and urban trees and woodland, urban grassland and heathlandheathland

Novel urban landscape features such as Novel urban landscape features such as roundabouts or green roofs may provide additional roundabouts or green roofs may provide additional opportunities for habitat creationopportunities for habitat creation

Benefits of the StudyBenefits of the Study

The most thorough appraisal of Liverpool’s The most thorough appraisal of Liverpool’s biodiversity to datebiodiversity to date

Up to date evidence base for the LDF Up to date evidence base for the LDF Fulfils RSS requirementsFulfils RSS requirements Recommendations will enable City Council to Recommendations will enable City Council to

contribute to NMBAP targets contribute to NMBAP targets Recognises the ecological function of Liverpool’s Recognises the ecological function of Liverpool’s

green infrastructure and therefore contributes to green infrastructure and therefore contributes to wider green infrastructure objectiveswider green infrastructure objectives

Benefits of the StudyBenefits of the Study Created a set of guidelines to enable consideration of Created a set of guidelines to enable consideration of

biodiversity issues when drafting development plan biodiversity issues when drafting development plan documents which will in turn allow for :documents which will in turn allow for :

Biodiversity to be integrated with wider social and economic Biodiversity to be integrated with wider social and economic priorities for the Citypriorities for the City

The protection of the most important biodiversity areas in the The protection of the most important biodiversity areas in the CityCity

Green spaces outside the CBAs to be recognised for their Green spaces outside the CBAs to be recognised for their contribution/ potential contribution to connecting and buffering contribution/ potential contribution to connecting and buffering sites and thus assist in preventing fragmentation and isolation of sites and thus assist in preventing fragmentation and isolation of wildlife habitatswildlife habitats

Inform the decision making process for development Inform the decision making process for development proposalsproposals

Assist in determining priorities for developer Assist in determining priorities for developer contributions for open spacecontributions for open space

Next StepsNext Steps

How will the framework be taken How will the framework be taken forward ?forward ?

Area Action PlansArea Action Plans Developer Contributions SPDDeveloper Contributions SPD Technical Policies DPDTechnical Policies DPD Land Allocations DPDLand Allocations DPD

Link findings with those within Link findings with those within open space studyopen space study

Key QuestionsKey Questions

How to balance and integrate How to balance and integrate biodiversity with regeneration priorities?biodiversity with regeneration priorities?

The level of protection to be afforded to The level of protection to be afforded to the Local Wildlife Sitesthe Local Wildlife Sites

What level of protection should be What level of protection should be afforded to buffers and green corridors?afforded to buffers and green corridors?

What should the focus of biodiversity What should the focus of biodiversity improvements be in the City? improvements be in the City?

Open space priorities for LiverpoolOpen space priorities for Liverpool

ConclusionConclusion

Biodiversity enhancements must Biodiversity enhancements must contribute to the regeneration of contribute to the regeneration of the City as well as contributing to the City as well as contributing to the creation of a multifunctional the creation of a multifunctional green network within Liverpoolgreen network within Liverpool

Further InformationFurther Information

Jane Hayward – Jane Hayward – 0151 233 56540151 233 5654 jane.hayward@liverpool.gov.ukjane.hayward@liverpool.gov.uk

Phase One Report available on our web Phase One Report available on our web site: site: www.liverpool.gov.uk/ldfwww.liverpool.gov.uk/ldf (Evidence, Information and (Evidence, Information and MonitoringMonitoring

NVC surveys and Ecological Framework NVC surveys and Ecological Framework will be available once finalised.will be available once finalised.