Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Urban Wildlife Informal Working Group

Meeting of Bio Diversity Task Group, Monday, 5th February, 2024 4.00 pm (Item 5.)

Minutes:

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The Task Group was presented with a report which set out the recommendations of the Urban Wildlife Group:

Recommendations and associated comments from the Urban Wildlife Informal Working Group (UWIWG)

1. Encourage the use of bird boxes, bat boxes and hedgehog highways in new and existing Borough Council properties

To investigate the possibility of adopting a policy of giving the option of installing swift and bat boxes, bee bricks and hedgehog highways in new developments. The group acknowledge that it would be difficult to insist that this was included in new developments, but feel that people should be given the option of having them provided. The group also encourage installation of items to promote urban wildlife in existing council facilities where appropriate.

2. The Council to investigate providing wildflower seeds for redundant allotments and community orchards/gardens and encourage the planting of wildlife seeds in the community

The Group would like the Council to give consideration to planting wildflower seeds in redundant areas such as unused allotments and community areas. They ask that the Council use pollinators and flowers that benefit wildlife where possible. Parishes could also be encouraged to plant redundant areas.

3. The Council to encourage bird feeding stations and nest boxes in schools

This could involve the Men’s Shed who have indicated that they would be interested in assisting with the provision of nest boxes for schools.

4. Support of a Nest Box Trail in King’s Lynn

This is an initiative by Julian Moulton and his idea is to locate a variety of nest boxes throughout King’s Lynn with a map and guide. Boxes could be located at playgrounds, public spaces and various buildings. This could be publicised by having a stand at town centre events.

5. Produce literature advising how residents can help support their urban wildlife and promoting the nest box trail in King’s Lynn.

This could include links to local organisations who are interested in promoting Urban Wildlife along with links to useful websites, details of the best types of plants to encourage urban wildlife and helpful hints and tips to support urban wildlife in their own gardens.

6. Engage with local groups to participate in urban wildlife

Organisations such as Men’s Shed, In Bloom and schools could be engaged to promote urban wildlife. Stands at events could promote the nest box trail and provide literature as mentioned in recommendation 5 above. Linking with recommendation 3 above, schools could be encouraged to become involved by promoting what they have done for urban wildlife, with the possibility of a competition. The Informal Working Group have also been approached by NVN (Nature Volunteer Network) who have offered to collect wild bird seed for bee highways in the Borough. They are careful only to collect 10-20% of the seed on any given wild plant. This is an example of a local organisation who wants to contribute and also a demonstration of the cooperation the Borough can encourage and develop between outside bodies interested in local wildlife.

7.Encourage Councillors to promote Urban Wildlife in their Wards and Parishes where appropriate.

This could include promoting the benefits of Urban Wildlife and signposting to relevant organisations. Councillors could suggest ideas to their Parishes such as bulk buying wild flower seed, which would bring the cost down to residents, and then could be sold at cost by Parish Councils. Councillors could also provide detail of good work in their Wards which could be circulated to other Councillors via the Members Bulletin and then cascaded down to Parish Councils as appropriate.

Councillor Bullen spoke to the recommendations made by the Group as it’s former Chair. In doing so he commented that recommendation 7 which referred to wild bird seed, should be wild flower seed. He encouraged the council to support the recommendations and actively work to achieve them and encourage residents to deliver them.

Councillor Dark spoke in support of the recommendations and made reference to funding required to allow the recommendations to be actioned. He proposed that a recommendation also be included to request the Cabinet to include a budget to facilitate this. Councillor Bullen seconded the proposal which was agreed.

In discussing the swift bricks, G Hall, Executive Director commented that on the Council’s developments it went above what was expected or required of private developers on an environmental front. He advised that the property and grounds teams would need to look at how it could be achieved for Council properties and land. He suggested that there would be an action plan on how to move forward.

Councillor Dark commented that the Council was one of the largest developers in the borough at the moment so it was simpler to include the solutions whilst they were being built to lay down the marker for developers.

G Hall confirmed the Council’s properties were a relatively easy win, and many were already being planned on the Parkway development. However at this stage until the Design Guidance for Bio Diversity was in place with the Local Plan, the Council could only encourage, provide guidance and make clear it was not costly to introduce things such as swift ricks and bat boxes.

Councillor Bullen considered the progress being made a good news story for developers as purchasers wanted to see an environmental element. He hoped the borough would get a reputation for promoting and delivering on the issue.

Councillor de Whalley thanked the Urban Wildlife Group for their work and officers for the ambition to make the recommendations work.

RECOMMENDED: That Cabinet be recommended to approve the following :