Land management
Managing land for environmental benefits (such as achieving favourable condition on SSSIs or creating new BAP habitat) requires a different approach in an urban rather than rural context.
London differs from other regions in that there are few large commercial farm holdings but numerous smaller holdings which have diversified their business. A significant proportion of land which is not currently farmed but has potential to be managed more sensitively for the natural environment is owned by the London Boroughs.
Much of this land requires active management to maintain its conservation value, for example hay cutting and grazing. The key problems here are principally economic and logistical. Many sites in London are small and fragmented and the de-coupling of land management in urban areas from the agricultural sector means there are considerable challenges in achieving positive management of such sites. The main issue is ensuring the appropriate infrastructure for land management is in place such as local grazing stock, machinery and access.
Funding available through agri-environment schemes is one of the mechanisms by which we can deliver environmental benefits in the city. There are currently 79 agri-environment agreements in London covering a total of 5,086 ha. This is composed of:
34 Classic Scheme agreements (Countryside Stewardship Scheme) which cover an area of 684 ha
13 Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements covering 1112 ha
32 Entry Level Scheme (ELS) and 2 Organic Entry Level Scheme (OELS) agreements together covering 3,290 ha.
HLS Delivery
HLS is delivered in a targeted way by Natural England to maximise the benefits it can offer, through both target areas and themes.
Target areas
These represent the areas where Natural England wishes to focus delivery of HLS to maximise environmental outcomes and value for money. Within these target areas, Natural England will be seeking agreements that can make the greatest total contribution to the identified environmental priorities for the resources available.
London’s key target area is the 3,000ha site of ‘Darwin at Downe’
in the London Borough of Bromley, selected because it encapsulates all theme objectives.
In addition, one of the East of England’s target areas: ‘Essex Coast and Growth Areas’, is also shared with London at 2 points: Epping Forest (600ha) and 1,963ha of the grazing marsh landscape of Rainham and Crayford.
Themes
There are important features and opportunities outside target areas, where HLS will also be important. As well as the target areas, which cover multiple objectives, we have identified themes which look at priorities for HLS outside the target areas. These themes have been agreed on a regional basis. The theme approach allows those farmers and land managers outside the target areas to focus classic scheme renewals and new HLS applications to meet theme priorities.
The majority of HLS work in the capital is targeted by developing agreements which both demonstrate the themes of Biodiversity, Historic Environment and Access and which compliment the network of high quality greenspaces which run through the heart of our city, enabling ecosystems to function.
Current Projects and Initiatives
| Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and Integrated Biodiversity Delivery Areas (IBDA’s) | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | HLS will be one of a number of important mechanisms for maximising the delivery of biodiversity gain within the proposed Thames and Tributaries IBDA. |
| Latest update/progress | Natural England is currently examining how best to support the proposed suite of IBDAs across England using HLS. The outcome of this discussion will inform how we can best utilise HLS within London to support the objectives of the Thames and Tributaries IBDA. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Grazing Animals Project | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | The London Grazing Animals Project (LGAP) aims to improve the management of Sites Important for Nature Conservation and SSSIs supporting grassland Biodiversity Action Plan Priority habitats (principally acid grassland, chalk grassland and lowland meadow) through the use of grazing animals and thereby contribute to the delivery of London’s SSSI and BAP targets. |
| Latest update/progress | A contract has been let to establish the potential for introducing grazing as conservation management tool to a range of grassland sites in the London Region. At this stage the aim is not to consider the feasibility of grazing individual sites, rather to establish zones in London within which it would be practicable to introduce grazing given appropriate levels of funding.
Key results from the study:
|
| Supporting documents from NE | Grazing feasibility study: (64kb) |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Educational Access | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | Educational access is an option available under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme (HLS) whereby the farmer/landowner is grant aided to run guided visits (predominantly to school children)to sites which promote agri-environment and an understanding of London’s biodiversity. |
| Latest update/progress | We are encouraging HLS applicants to consider educational access. Local Authorities are now eligible for educational access options. If you are intersted please email wildlondon@naturalengland.org.uk |
| Supporting documents from NE | HLS Handbook |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Green Infrastructure and Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | HLS can be applied to green infrastructure provided that the site(s) can demonstrate from traditional agricultural land management practices e.g. hay cutting. |
| Latest update/progress | We are currently exploring ways in which HLS might be applicable for green infrastructure projects within London. |
| Supporting documents from NE | |
| Further information/web-links | |
| Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) and the London Boroughs - BAP delivery and NI 197 | |
|---|---|
| Summary description | National Indicator 197 is the indicator by which Local Authorities can score Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation against positive conservation management. Natural England are responsible for administering, and facilitating, the process of verifying the indicator score for eventual submission to the Data Hub.
All London Boroughs need to demonstrate that local wildlife sites are under positive management for the purpose of reporting under National Indicator 197. One way for Local Authorities to report that sites are scoring positively against NI 197 is to provide evidence that a Management Scheme, appropriate to the special interest features of the SINC, is in place. An HLS agreement qualifies as an appropriate Management Scheme and can contribute to the delivery of Agri-Environment and BAP creation targets. |
| Latest update/progress | The Wild London team has been working closely with the London Boroughs and the London Boroughs Biodiversity Forum to encourage the uptake of HLS in order to meet National Indicator 197. Not only will this help ensure Borough sites are managed in a way that maximises their biodiversity value but it can also help provide much needed additional financial resource to London’s Boroughs, both revenue and capital monies.
The indicator scores for 2009-2010 were collated and verified at the Local Wildlife Sites Board (LWSB), chaired by the Greater London Authority on Wednesday 26 May 2010. The LWSB comprises representatives from Natural England, London Biodiversity Partnership, Greater London Authority, London Boroughs Biodiversity Forum, Government Office for London, London Wildlife Trust, Greenspace Information for Greater London (GiGL) and the London Geodiversity Partnership. As a direct result of the Indicator, some boroughs have expressed an interest in applying for HLS with several boroughs currently commissioning assessments of land to be introduced into HLS. |
| Supporting documents from NE | Guidance: (79kb) |
| Further information/web-links | Official DEFRA guidance on National Indicator 197 |
