Protecting and restoring land for the benefit of people and wildlife
Where do we need to be?
Everyone (residents, landowners, businesses, institutions) understands their role in protecting and restoring land.
We have a good geographical understanding of the various habitats and differing land-uses across our parish, together with an understanding of how different areas need to evolve, for food production, space for nature, public amenity, carbon sequestration.
Where are we now?
There is a lot going on, including:
- There are many examples of good farming practice.
- Landowners further up the Brue catchment and locally working to re-wild and ensure space for nature.
- BrueCREW has been established to improve the river for both people and wildlife.
- One Planet Bruton is encouraging gardening for wildlife and is actively planting for pollinators at several locations in the town.
- The Town Council has for several years now banned the use of pesticides and peat-based products on land within its control.
- The evidence from the workshop and nationally is that protecting and restoring land for nature has widespread support.
However, what has been happening is piecemeal:
- Within the town there is a tension between those who like to see neat and tidy ‘park-land’ public spaces and those who favour allowing nature to take its course.
- Outside the town there are instances of variable farming practices.
- Land on the town’s periphery is at risk of being lost to housing development.
What do we need to do?
[In addition to what’s already happening]
Consider using the Natural Capital inventory or a similar model to map and understand the land use of the parish and its various habitats, perhaps using volunteer surveyors and/or seeking external funding to do so.
Identify and create opportunities for wildlife corridors, and work to restore, enhance and create habitats.
Work to encourage nature-friendly approaches in all settings, including allotments and gardeners, spaces owned or leased by the Town Council, and farms and businesses.
Seek to protect existing accessible open spaces and ensure that future development takes place on brownfield sites rather than fields.
Seek local ownership and/or control of property where this will be of benefit and look for opportunities to create publicly accessible and managed woodland habitats along the lines of Wilf’s Wood (Evercreech) / Haddon Wood (Alhampton).
‘Rebrand scrub’: as part of the mosaic of habitats in the parish and seek to protect and promote scrubland as one of the most valuable habitats for wildlife.
There is appetite for a local ‘Save Our Swifts’ project, promoting and distributing swift boxes to householders and businesses.
Ensure that the future development of a Bruton Planning policy takes space for nature into account.
Lobby for street lighting being turned down or switched off at night (hugely popular at the workshop).
