Addressing Biodiversity
how Lancaster City Council is tackling climate change
What the Council is doing about biodiversity net gain?
The UK has the least amount of biodiversity of G7 countries and in 2018 only had 18% the abundance of priority species that were there in 1970. We have to do better to protect the biodiversity that we have and to make sure that it is increasing. One of the areas where biodiversity is at risk is sites of new development. Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development, that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was before. This is done at development sites by creating or enhancing habitats. BNG can be done on-site, off-site or through a combination of both. The local plan requires that a site provide net gain in biodiversity for all new developments.
We have a Statutory Duty with regards to biodiversity and is required under the Environment Act 2021 to publish a Biodiversity Report, setting out what it has done and plans to do to conserve and enhance biodiversity across the District and how that will be monitored. The First Consideration Report (approved at Cabinet 4 June 2024) sets out our current position and steps we intend to take to fulfil this duty.
How the Council scrutinises planning reports for biodiversity net gain?
Part of making sure biodiversity net gain is delivered is to make sure planning applications include it right from the start. The Council does not have an in house ecologist, so we have an agreement with Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) to scrutinise planning application reports for Biodiversity Net Gain for all major projects.
How the Council is supporting the development of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy?
Whilst Lancashire County Council is responsible for the preparation of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy , Lancaster City Council is identified as a supporting authority, responsible for assisting the County Council in identifying local priorities and importantly in providing approval of the strategy for wider consultation at its draft stage and again prior to its publication. At the Cabinet meeting on 10 September 2024 , delegated power was granted to the Chief Officer of Planning and Climate Change to make decisions on the progress of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS), particularly in regard of approving the draft LNRS for consultation and to approve the publication of the final LNRS. Keep an eye on this page to view progress. Further tools and guidance can be found on the Planning Advisory Service (PAS) .
The Council declared an Ecological Emergency?
We are in the middle of not only a climate emergency but also an ecological emergency. In December 2022, Lancaster City Council declared an Ecological Emergency to acknowledge the need to act on the causes and impacts of the biodiversity crisis.
How the Council uses peat free compost?
You might have heard about peat-free gardening. Peat is a really important part of our environments providing, among other things, habitats and water management. It is also a critical carbon store. Much of the public landscaping that you see across the district from gardens at Williamson Park to the planters in the City Centre are all taken care of by the Council's Grounds Maintenance team. We are working hard to stop the use of the peat. We are 100% peat free for our purchased compost and soil amendments.
We endeavour to only purchase plants grown in peat-free soil and help to drive the market to being peat-free. As part of this we require the suppliers of our plants to declare their growing mediums so that we can purchase plants where ever possible that are grown in peat free medium. If you want to learn more about how to go peat-free at home, the Wildlife Trust has a handy guide .
In 2021 we launched our new grassland management strategy to increase biodiversity and provide more food for pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Since the 1930s, England has lost 97% of its grasslands, with more than 500 species having disappeared, and more could yet follow, including hedgehogs and house sparrows. The new strategy will help increase biodiversity, improve the workload planning of staff, and will help meet the council’s climate change commitments. Reduced grass cutting in some areas, along with the creation of wildflower corridors, is already starting to bear fruit with an abundance of colour and native species beginning to spring up.
Million Trees Project
The council has launched a new tree warden scheme to plant, promote and protect local trees and to support the millions tree project.
What happens to all of the pots that plants used in landscaping come in?
It is important to think about our waste streams. As part of our procurement process we don't buy plants that come in polystyrene and we get our plants in recyclable pots which are recycled through specialist recycling streams.
Does the Council use glyphosate (or other pesticides) as part of grounds maintenance?
Following the Council's Climate Emergency Declaration, Cabinet passed that glyphosate would no longer be used by the Grounds Maintenance team due to their potential effects on the environment and the health of humans and animals. This means we have changed the way that we do ground maintenance. An example is we used to "burn out" the lines for football pitches with herbicides. Now we paint the lines with a robot which has the GPS pitch locations programmed into it so it can easily repaint lines without the need for physical reminders. We also combined our change in grounds maintenance with our grassland management strategy so that we are making sure that our green areas are managed for people and planet.
While your Council has stopped spraying, weed spraying with pesticide based weed killers is still carried out by Lancashire County Council across the district. The County use these in a controlled way under guidelines and it does not advocate their use by the general public on pavements or roads.
How the council is managing its green spaces for wildlife?
Across the UK biodiversity is decreasing in species and abundance. We are working to support nature and provide spaces for plants, pollinators and wildlife with the implementeda Grassland Management Strategy . This included mapping all of our managed public green spaces from sports fields to lawns to cemeteries and developing a unique "cutting palette" for them to maximise their uses for people and biodiversity. The new strategy is aimed at increasing biodiversity (plants and animals) while also helping meet net zero targets (managing and reducing fuel consumption).
What the Council is doing about trees and increasing tree cover?
The UK is one of the least wooded areas in all of Europe! The North of England has significantly less woodland than the rest of the country with just 7.6% woodland cover compared to 13.2% for the UK.
Woodland cover does not include trees outside of woods, which are also really important. The exact tree coverage for the Lancaster District is currently unknown, with the latest figure being from 2010. The Council is exploring establishing a more up-to-date tree canopy cover figure to act as a baseline to monitor future tree planting progress. However, what is known is that there are currently 2,271 individual trees with a Tree Preservation Order, and 644 groups of trees. Lancaster District is also home to 193 Ancient and Semi-natural Woodlands.
We have delivered a Green and Blue Infrastructure Strategy which will help to steer how we look at Green and Blue environments across the District.
If you want to learn more about the state of trees in the UK, see the Woodland Trust's State of the UK's Woods and Trees Report .
I have heard a lot about ash dieback? What is it and what is the Council doing about it?
Ash trees are a vital part of our landscape growing in woodlands, fields, hedgerows, parks, and gardens. They are the third most common tree in Britain and provide important habitat for almost 1000 species, some of which are wholly dependent on ash for habitat.
Sadly, ash dieback, a fungal disease affecting ash trees of all ages, leading to leaf loss and canopy decline is spreading. It is caused by a fungus named Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. First recorded in the UK in 2012, it is now found in most areas. It is expected that we will lose the majority, but not all ash trees, with a small proportion showing some genetic tolerance to the disease. Often affected trees will need to be felled. However, it is important that they are replaced. The Council is currently working on an ash dieback strategy.
If you want to learn more about ash die back or would like to speak to tree protection, visit the Council website.
I want to help increase tree cover in the Lancaster District. What can I do?
Are you passionate about trees or want to learn more? Why not consider becoming a Tree Warden? Tree Wardens are part of a national movement from the Tree Council. Whether you want to get your hands in the earth and plant trees, raise awareness about trees in your local community, or simply be the eyes, ears and voice for the trees on your street, then you have what it takes to be a Tree Warden .
If you would like to plant some trees, the Woodland Trust has resources and grants that are worth checking out.
Have the Council's parks been awarded Green Flag status?
Yes the Council has been awarded the Green Flag status in July 2024 .
What the Council is doing about biodiversity net gain?
The UK has the least amount of biodiversity of G7 countries and in 2018 only had 18% the abundance of priority species that were there in 1970. We have to do better to protect the biodiversity that we have and to make sure that it is increasing. One of the areas where biodiversity is at risk is sites of new development. Biodiversity net gain (BNG) is an approach to development, that aims to leave the natural environment in a better state than it was before. This is done at development sites by creating or enhancing habitats. BNG can be done on-site, off-site or through a combination of both. The local plan requires that a site provide net gain in biodiversity for all new developments. As mentioned above we have a duty
How the Council scrutinises planning reports for biodiversity net gain? Part of making sure biodiversity net gain is delivered is to make sure planning applications include it right from the start. The Council does not have an in house ecologist, so we have an agreement with Greater Manchester Ecology Unit (GMEU) to scrutinise planning application reports for Biodiversity Net Gain for all major projects.
The Council declared an Ecological Emergency?
We are in the middle of not only a climate emergency but also an ecological emergency. In December 2022, Lancaster City Council declared an Ecological Emergency to acknowledge the need to act on the causes and impacts of the biodiversity crisis.