Living Landscapes

This month, I attended an excellent presentation given by a Senior Conservation Adviser of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.  Alison Cross explained that much of their important work is on the theme of what they call Living Landscapes which is about empowering local landowners, workers, volunteers and youth to embrace sustainable methods to improve the natural environment and benefit wildlife but at the same time as viable economic activities, especially farming. This includes education, involving youth and promoting healthier lifestyles that are more in touch with nature. I see it as more of a movement than charitable handouts, recognising there is no point in creating isolated reserved which become islands, and species leave them, they cannot come back. Nor no point in investing in habitat improvement if there is no community behind it to provide ongoing support for the future. If there can be no sustainable economic activity, or community support and understanding of the importance of these wild spaces much land of interest will end up as motorway, shops or houses. It is important to realise that environmentalists are not against economic development, but aim to influence how and where it takes place to minimise negative impacts, and ensure that it is sustainable.

Initiatives include grazing cattle to preserve the (man made) environment of heathland and selling the beef in local Co-Op shops, running Willow hurdle (traditional fence) making courses to promoting use of this material, the traditional coppicing methods help to retain diversity of woodland. And providing access to European funding streams to buy equipment needed to improve the efficiency of local foresters engaged in sustainable firewood production. Working in partnership with armed forces to improve and maintain MoD sites which contain some important ecological niches.

The trust has published a Parish Wildlife Map Toolkit, which draws heavily on the magnificent work of the Overton Biodiversity Society in coming up with a Parish Biodiversity Action Plan.

I hope that the wildlife trusts continue to receive a steady source of funding as local council budgets are squeezed as they are performing very valuable activities which provide a variety of benefits to the local communities beyond nature conservation alone. If this isn't a tremendous example of the "Big Society" in action then I don't know what is.

The trust are working with government as they wish to contribute towards a new DEFRA Natural Environment White Paper to really make an impact in enhancing the natural environment based upon the approace they are taking. It is seen as being extremely important that the government commit to their side of the bargain in making this into a genuinely green piece of legislation.

Parish Biodiversity Action Plan links:
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/parish-toolkit.html
http://www.overton-biodiversity.org/resources/catalogue/

Living Landscapes Campaign links:
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/what-well-be-saying-.html
http://www.hwt.org.uk/data/files/campaigns/a_living_landscape_2010_web_pdf_15558.pdf
http://www.hwt.org.uk/pages/living-landscapes-appeal.html