The Cookham Plan

Findings and Recommendations

Environment and Land Group

4. BIO-DIVERSITY SURVEY

The richness of local fauna and flora is but one strand of the whole countryside experience which has been so well described by poets and artists, and where walking brings a feeling of physical well-being and mental harmony.

Cookham should therefore contain a wildlife population of a diverse nature which should be nurtured in the years ahead and, to establish the state of health of this diversity, the remit was to conduct a survey of the wildlife and flora and fauna in the

Village.

This process was commenced with a preliminary survey to classify the habitats and vegetation available in the three Cookhams, known as a Phase 1 Survey. This standardised system of mapping wildlife habitats is employed nationwide as the first step in providing a rapid record of semi-natural vegetation in a given area.

A professional ecologist was employed to conduct the survey during the month of March 2007, and his report directed ongoing work to describe our surroundings in greater detail. This subsequent work will highlight plants and creatures for which particular management may be required and which will be incorporated in a future Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), and the general Planning Process.

It will also form the groundwork to facilitate the creation of a Wildlife Dossier of the Cookhams to the benefit of current and future generations.

50 areas worthy of further investigation were identified. Most of these were in Wetland habitat, such as Widbrook Common and North of Marsh Meadow, including the Schools Conservation Area Site. Whitebrook and Strand Water were also noted.

Extensive areas owned by the National Trust include some of the best wildlife habitats, in particular Cockmarsh SSSI.

A particular grass verge with Dark Mullion was located, which is the food plant of the Striped Lychnis Moth, a Nationally Notable UK BAP Priority Species.

Much of the grassland is of low conservation value, being improved and heavily grazed mostly by horses, and also cattle or sheep, or is under arable crop production.

There are several substantial blocks of semi-natural woodland, some of which have been recognised in the Wildlife Heritage Sites of Pigeonhouse Wood and Beeching Grove Wood.

There are many large houses with extensive gardens especially in Cookham Dean, which were not surveyed, but are of considerable wildlife interest due to their maturity.

Recommendations for further work were made on:

• Flowering Plants in particular Dark Mullion

• Invertebrates

• Bats

• Reptiles & Amphibians

• Mammals

• Birds

• Local Biodiversity Action Plan Habitats.

Our tree-scape has suffered through storm damage, poor maintenance and lack of integrated re-planting

Conduct a survey of all major trees (over 1m girth) in the Cookhams. (Smaller trees to follow in subsequent surveys).

Requirements – training of volunteers to measure and map these trees on public highways and footpaths, field edges and open spaces.

Some of our scarcer or declining species of birds require special attention to habitat management and public access.

Barn Owls breed within the village boundary and require specific hunting habitat. An Action Plan is required to ensure the sustainability of their range.

House Martins, Swifts and House Sparrows are declining, in part due to lack of nesting facilities in new and upgraded housing stock. An Action Plan is required to incorporate features for these species in new developments. Survey work on these species will commence within the village to measure the current situation.

There are many beautiful and historic walks through the surrounding landscape with important scenic value. The interaction of people with nature has been recognised as important for many years. However, little is known about the wildlife inhabiting these more rural aspects of our local village life. Knowing the best way to nurture these pathways therefore is inadequately understood.

It is proposed to gradually document as much as possible about the use made of our green corridors by plants, insects, birds and mammals, leading to a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) for the Cookhams.

BAPs have been identified by central government (Agenda 21) as important for every region and each Local Authority is bound to create and maintain local BAPs to translate national targets into effective action for local communities.

The Cookham BAP would therefore be designed to align with the Berkshire Habitat Action Plan for Towns, Villages and People, as recently completed by Berkshire’sstatutory and non-statutory organisations.

It would form a basis for the development of a strategy for:-

• Preservation of what we have

• Restoration of what has been lost

• Creation of new features for the future

The RBWM commenced a Borough-wide BAP in recent years. The species identified as important for specific action in that plan will firstly be assessed in the Cookhams, and any existing Action Plan adopted.

Should local wildlife surveying identify additional species in need of special action, a specific Action Plan will be compiled and offered as an addition to the Borough BAP.

These could be in the form of ‘Village Design Statements’.

Survey work will be a combination of voluntary effort, guided by local expertise where available or paid consultancy where necessary.

Planning Guidance (particularly PPS 9 and PPG.017) strengthens the attention nature conservation is given as a ‘material factor’ when planning applications are considered.

The BAP would be constructed with this framework in mind.

Several ‘Wildlife Heritage Sites’ have been identified within the boundaries of Cookham. It will be important to ensure these areas are managed for nature conservation and that other sites might be similarly designated. The BAP would emphasise this need.

To ensure the BAP is seen as a ‘working project’, emphasis would be given to environmental education to ensure future generations remain enthusiastic about nature conservation.

The Parish Council would be encouraged to act upon its responsibilities under the Natural England and Rural Communities Act.

The full report is available separately.

PREVIOUS PAGE

NEXT PAGE