The services now offered by NBIS will lead to more proactive use of records, helping to identify threats to and opportunities for the biodiversity of Norfolk. Here is a taste of some new projects that NBIS is involved with:
- In the areas north-east and south-west of Norwich, audits are underway of current land-use, to help identify new potential for habitat and ecological network creation. These are the NE Norwich and Greater Mousehold project and the South West Norwich Ecological Networks project.
- Wetland habitat inventory update for Fen, Reedbed and Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh BAP habitats. This is a East of England regional project to update Natural England's datasets.
- A Forestry Commission funded survey of existing datasets of the county’s wet woodland habitat in Norfolk.
PROJECT DETAILS
North East Norwich and Greater Mousehold project and South west Norwich Ecological Networks project:
The first phase of each project will cover the whole of the study area (as shown in the above map), identifying key features of interest; and identify, for more detailed assessment, a number of more tightly drawn core biodiversity areas. This should expose those areas of greatest potential for biodiversity enhancement against a wider background of the public rights of way and open access network. Appreciating the significance and permeability of the wider landscape and its interconnections and help locate potential secondary econet links from these core areas to other existing features of biodiversity interest.
Phase 2 of each project will identify, in more detail, specific key locations within the core biodiversity areas which ought to be included in the final Development Plan. Technical advice on the type and range of new habitats, guidance on the minimum viable scale of such provision and the key criteria for ensuring successful restoration and sustainable future management will also be provided. Where appropriate this exercise will also set targets for extending existing habitats, creating new habitats and buffer areas. This phase will also assess the scale, distribution and vulnerability of existing biodiversity sites and start to identify a number of potential practical works to be undertaken as future Green Infrastructure pilot projects.
The North East Norwich project will look at creating ecological networks/links from Norwich to the Norfolk Broads; with the specific aim of creating 100ha of heathland/wood pasture within the historic extent of Feyden's 1797 map. The South West Norwich project will look at a more general suite of potential habitats for ecological network habitat creation.
Further information on projects will appear on this page soon........
FROM SPRINGWATCH TO GLOW-WORM WATCH
JOIN IN NORFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST'S BIG BIODIVERSITY WATCH THIS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY
Norfolk Bats and Roadside Mammals Survey
NEWSLETTER:
NBIS Introductory Leaflet **New**
NBIS Factsheets **New**
EVENTS
5-6 June 2010 -Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Big Biodiversity Watch. @ NWT reserves across the county. For further information visit www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk
19 June 2010 - Wild about Wymondham, Town Green Centre, Wymondham. For further information contact a.vroberts@talktalk.net
17-18 July 2010 - Non-native Species: Action Weekend. Various locations across Norfolk. For further information contact michael.sutton-croft@norfolk.gov.uk
09 September 2010 - Planning and Biodiversity Seminar, South Norfolk Council Offices, Long Stratton (tbc). For further information contact scott.perkin@norfolk.gov.uk
06 October 2010 (tbc) - Annual Biodiversity Forum: 'Economics and Biodiversity'. Abbey Conference Centre, Norwich. For further information contact scott.perkin@norfolk.gov.uk
09 October 2010 - Wild about Norfolk. Neatherd High School, Dereham. For further information contact Tessa Needham: needham_t@sky.com