URBAN AREAS

LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

SUMMARY



Most North East Scotland residents live or work in an urban setting. Bringing nature closer to home or the working environment is therefore vital in the process of social, economic and environmental regeneration, and in achieving the vision from the Rio Earth Summit, of integrating conservation and sustainable development. Urban wildlife habitats are defined for the purposes of the North East Scotland Biodiversity Action Plan as greenspaces and wildlife habitats found within built up areas. They include managed greenspaces, naturally seeded urban areas or industrial sites, and remnants of ancient natural systems, such as semi-natural woodlands, burns and wetlands within built-up areas.

Past policies for "greening the cities" have tended to concentrate on the physical environment (i.e. the provision of natural spaces), often ignoring people’s needs, interests and the possibility of their greater involvement in decision-making. This Action Plan advocates more participatory forms of local community development, beginning with the social needs and understandings of communities. This is the starting point for a wider understanding of environmental issues, including biodiversity, and sustainable development. There is tremendous scope for strengthening collaboration between public agencies, and private and voluntary organisations, business, local communities and community leaders. Urban areas are relevant to all of us, so it is in our own best interests to get involved in the biodiversity process in such areas.

1. CURRENT STATUS

Around 1.5% of North East Scotland is classified as urban and the City of Aberdeen alone accounts for around 40% of the total. There are many settlements in the region, ranging in size from the City of Aberdeen, with its population of over 200,000, to small rural villages. Five North East towns, Elgin, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Inverurie and Stonehaven, have populations of over 10,000 and nearly forty settlements have populations between 1,000 and 10,000. Even in the predominantly rural areas, a large proportion of the population live in small towns, such as Forres, Keith, Inverurie, Stonehaven and Banchory, or travel to urban areas to work.

The urban area of North East Scotland comprises:

2. ECOLOGICAL DATA

Managed greenspaces such as parks, municipal open spaces, amenity grasslands, private gardens, planted shrubberies, golf courses, cemeteries and designed landscapes can support a surprising range of wild invertebrate, plant and bird species. For example, fruit trees in gardens and cemeteries support the exotic-looking waxwings that visit Aberdeen each year. Rougher areas of golf courses support linnets, meadow pipits, skylarks and stonechats.

Naturally seeded urban areas or industrial sites, demolition sites, disused railway land and unused industrial land, are also often rich in species, especially invertebrates and lichens. Railway sidings support grassland and woodland species. A ditch, a line of trees, and even a grass verge alongside a road mimics a burn, wood or meadow, and can support a variety of mammals, insects, birds and plants. Such areas support red squirrels and birds such as redwing, fieldfare, chiffchaff, blackcap, robin and dunnock, whilst urban remnants of natural grassland are an important refuge for butterflies such as the small tortoiseshell, green veined white and orange tip. Generally, more species will be found in longer, wider wildlife corridors than short, narrow ones. Also, older corridors tend to have more species than more recent wildlife features.

The dominant habitats in any town are the built surfaces, including walls, roofs and roads. Many species are able to survive in this environment. Bridges and the external fabric of buildings and walls can provide roosting and nesting places for peregrine falcons, kestrels, house martins and pipistrelle bats, without affecting the human occupants. Oystercatchers nest on flat roofs, and whether occupied by human residents or not, Barn owls and swallows are known to nest in steadings in Aberdeen. Buildings also offer over-wintering protection to beneficial garden insects such as lacewings and ladybirds. The plants growing naturally in town centres tend to be small and favour rocky environments. Mosses, lichens, ferns, ivy and toadflax are found on walls and rooftops, some of which may be quite rare.

Remnants of ancient natural systems, such as semi-natural woodlands, burns and wetlands (freshwater and estuarine) in urban areas also provide a refuge for rare and uncommon species. For example, the Wards wetland in Elgin is an important site for the northern marsh orchid, and supports numerous snipe. Kingfishers are seen along watercourses in Aberdeen at the most northern extent of their range, and salmon pass up the Dee right through Aberdeen Harbour. Dolphin, porpoise and seals are regularly sighted in the harbour and from many of Aberdeenshire’s coastal towns.   

Therefore, alongside human communities, urban areas are often of considerable importance to wildlife communities. Local people must be closely involved in planning and management for neighbouring wildlife populations.

3. CURRENT FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE

The main factors impacting on the biodiversity in urban habitats are:

3.1 Habitat Loss

Areas of urban wild space are often under pressure from development, primarily from urban expansion, but also from forestry and agriculture. Development land is limited and without rigorous planning controls, natural habitats may be lost or degraded. Trees may be felled to accommodate housing, and scrubland cleared in favour of more ornamental landscapes. Ponds or wetlands may be drained for amenity or fragmented to make way for new roads, houses or offices, burns culverted, and hedges severed - all resulting in a loss of wild species.

3.2 Unsympathetic Landscaping

Intensive management of urban green spaces, employing strict and regular grass-cutting regimes and inappropriate use of herbicides and fertilisers, creates uniform landscapes with low habitat and species diversity. Roadside verges have to be mown to maintain sight-lines for traffic and away from sight lines they may be managed to maintain a neat appearance. Management of public open space has in the past been based on ease of maintenance, safety and budgets, without considering opportunities to integrate nature conservation objectives.

Landscaping in industrial areas is often designed for security or to screen buildings. The cost of land in industrial areas is high. Therefore, designing for the greatest visual impact may result in several isolated areas of landscaping, with little value for wildlife, rather than one larger, or connected area.

Many new houses are designed with small gardens that are easy to maintain. This increases the housing density, and there may not be a larger area of open space to compensate. Consequently, there is less space available for wildlife and fewer opportunities for gardeners who wish to incorporate a wildlife area. Other gardens may be converted to slabs or brickwork to provide a parking space or low-maintenance areas.

3.3 Development of Vacant Land

Due to land costs and development pressure, most derelict or vacant land will have a high potential commercial value. According to the Scottish Office Statistical Bulletin, in the 1996 survey of Scotland, 2% of this land was used for nature conservation, 2% for community use, and 10% for forestry. Development pressure will inevitably increase the transient nature of the biodiversity value of vacant and derelict land.

3.4 Pollution

Pollution has a major impact on wildlife along watercourses. Runoff from roads and car parks is particularly serious, with oil, metals, rubber compounds, salt and silt all affecting water and river bed quality. Discharges to watercourses are regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, but accidental discharges and run-off may result in a variety of pollutants, including oil, metals, sediment and organic matter entering watercourses. These pollutants poison aquatic life or remove oxygen from the water.

3.5 Invasive species

Encroachment of invasive, non-native species, such as rhododendron, bracken and Japanese knotweed, is a common problem in urban areas. Species such as Japanese knotweed, giant hogweed and Himalayan balsam can spread rapidly along rivers and burns if not treated. Areas adjacent to gardens or landscaped estates are particularly at risk from becoming dominated by horticultural varieties of plants, pushing out the native plant species which have more value for native invertebrates, birds and mammals.

4. CURRENT ACTION

4.1 Designated Areas

A number of Local Nature Reserves have been established in the region including four in Aberdeen, two in Aberdeenshire and one in Moray (Table 1). Local Nature Reserves are managed by a committee of local residents together with local rangers and other council officers.

Table 1: Local Nature Reserves

Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeenshire Council

The Moray Council

Kincorth Hill

Arnhall Moss

Findhorn Bay

Donmouth

Waters of Philorth

 

Den of Maidencraig

   

Scotstown Moor

    


Four of Aberdeen City’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are in urban areas – Scotstown Moor, Nigg Bay, Corby and Lily Lochs, and Cove Coastal Grassland. The City Council has also designated a number of District Wildlife Sites, many of which form part of, or are adjacent to, urban areas (e.g. Tullos Hill, Hazelhead Park, Den of Maidencraig, Rubislaw Den). Moray has one urban District Wildlife Site, The Wards in Elgin, for which there is a Biodiversity Action Plan. In Aberdeenshire, Sites of Importance for Natural Science (SINS) are designated at Sandhaven, Fraserburgh for bird life, and Tuach Hill adjacent to Kintore for plant life.

 

4.2 Community Management and Involvement

Local wildlife groups, such as Buchan Countryside Group, Bucksburn Environmental Task Force, Ythan Amenity Trust and Friends of the Denburn, have grown up in response to the established interest in wildlife. Groups such as these campaign against habitat loss or actively manage particular reserves (e.g. Local Nature Reserve committees, Ythan Amenity Trust), and interested local residents already hold a great deal of useful information on bird and plant species in their area.

Recently, national government policies have been developed to promote wildlife conservation at a local level and by local people. The Scottish Executive has published National Planning Policy Guidance on Natural Heritage (NPPG 14). This advises local authorities on using the planning process to achieve conservation objectives, and recognises the value and strategic importance of wildlife corridors at a local, national and international level. Environmental policies contained in local government Structure Plans and Local Plans also strongly support the integration of biodiversity targets within the planning process. In Aberdeen, the Community Plan proposes that Neighbourhood Actions Plans should be developed for each local community. In Aberdeenshire, the Towns Programme" is promoting and working to conserve biodiversity in each of the towns involved.

4.3 Raising Awareness

A number of leaflets have been produced to encourage gardening for wildlife, e.g. by Scottish Natural Heritage, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the Royal Horticultural Society and the North East Scotland Biodiversity Awareness Sub-group. The Rural Environmental Action Project (REAP) has given practical training on wildlife gardening techniques, and local garden centres are also able to provide appropriate seed mixes and advice. The Aberdeen Countryside Project provided training on wildlife gardening, and Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum continue to run a wildflower scheme.

5. BENEFITS

All urban areas have a certain ecological value and despite appearances, some may have significant benefits for local wildlife. In recent times, urban habitats such as gardens, wildlife corridors and remnant woodlands have become important refuges for species that have been pushed out of more natural habitats through changes in the countryside, such as intensive farming practices (e.g. song thrush, kestrels, roe deer, badgers). Enhancing and restoring the following habitats within urban areas will bring particular benefits.

5.1 Wildlife Corridors

Long connecting strips of habitat, including hedgerows, drystane dykes, rivers and burns, are important for nature conservation because they allow migration between otherwise isolated areas, or encourage the movement of wildlife further into towns. Railway lines running through urban areas provide habitats linking with wildlife sites beyond the urban boundary, support a variety of plants, and in turn, a range of birds and insect life. Roads can form barriers to wildlife, but the potential value of roadside verges as wildlife corridors is now recognised and trunk roads especially can form major links between countryside and town. Local footpath networks also provide opportunities for wildlife corridors linking key sites and give public access to the resource.

5.2 Managed Areas

Provided they incorporate native plant species and are under appropriate and sensitive management, landscaped residential, industrial or business estates and cemeteries can provide suitable habitats, attracting a range of birds, mammals and insects. Gardens, whatever their size, can provide food, water or shelter for wildlife. Horticultural varieties of plants do have some wildlife value - some uncommon insect species have adapted well to garden juniper for instance - but they do not support the range of insects or birds that native species do. Native trees, such as rowan or gean, or native flowers generally attract more birds and butterflies. Garden ponds, no matter how large or small will be of benefit to wildlife, even as a drinking or bathing place for birds. Ponds attract a huge variety of invertebrates and amphibians. The day to day management regime adopted will exert a strong influence on the range and number of species attracted.

5.3 Vacant land

Over 75% of derelict and vacant land in Scotland has been so for over seven years, and in the meantime has often attracted a rich array of wild species. Vacant land can be an important refuge in a built environment that changes relatively little over time. Some plants only grow where land is disturbed, but if vacant land is left undisturbed the conditions may change over time, allowing different species to get a foothold. These sites can provide the main strongholds for some uncommon invertebrates, birds and lichens. Although it is unlikely that these sites will remain vacant for long periods their temporary contribution should be recognised. The value of brownfield sites and contaminated land should not be underestimated. Industrial sites have been found to support many rare species whose natural habitat has largely gone. Former landfill sites such as Tullos Hill provide opportunities for habitat creation and enhancement. Most settlements have old tips which could benefit from some form of management.

5.4 Urban greenspace

During the development of a Local Plan, the role and value of Protected or Other Open Areas is considered for all settlements with more than 1,000 people. This designation includes large parks, playing fields and neighbourhood green spaces. These are mostly maintained as a short turf, but where the grass is allowed to grow tall additional plant species can survive such as speedwells, golden saxifrage, yellow rattle, oxeye daisy, meadow cranesbill, and some smaller rushes and sedges. A greater variety of insect species is also attracted to areas of grassland with a mixture of different grass heights.

Areas of open, mown grass are, however, beneficial for feeding birds such as oystercatchers, jackdaws and starlings. Plant species that can survive in mown grass include speedwells, self-heal, clover, bird’s-foot trefoil and dandelions and daisies. These species can provide a nectar source while retaining short grass for some birds and amenity.

5.5 Wild space

Areas of semi-natural wild space may include small remnants of formerly widespread habitats such as woodland, heathland or wetland, and traditional landscape features, such as hedges, tree lines or drystane dykes. These areas include Sites of Special Scientific Interest, District Wildlife Sites, Sites of Interest to Natural Science, National and Local Nature Reserves. Many areas of natural wild space are recognised as important sites for biodiversity within the urban environment, adding value to the landscape and providing communities with easy access to pockets of countryside.

6. UK BIODIVERSITY CONTEXT

The UK Biodiversity Steering Group report (1995) recommends the following broad objective for urban areas:

Maintain the existing diversity and extent of wildlife in all urban areas, expanding the range and distribution of rare and common species and enabling this resource to be utilised as an educational tool.

Some of the measures recommended to meet this objective include:

7. OBJECTIVES AND PROPOSED TARGETS

The objective and measures provided by the UK Biodiversity Steering Group for urban areas are a useful guide for the preparation of objectives for the North East Scotland Urban Action Plan.

Principal Objective

To maintain and, where possible, enhance the quality, diversity and extent of urban wildlife habitats in North East Scotland.

Target: No net loss of wildlife habitats in urban areas of North East Scotland.

 

7.1 Dissemination of Information

Objective 1: Disseminate the best available information on biodiversity in urban areas in North East Scotland to all stakeholders involved in taking management decisions that affect biodiversity.

Target:

Information made available and easily accessible for planners and other land managers, and available for use in increasing general awareness of biodiversity issues in urban areas.

Time:

 

 

By 2002

 

7.2 Data Collection

Objective 2: Establish a register of important wildlife habitats, including buildings, and species in North East urban areas.

Target:

Existing knowledge about habitats and species in urban areas, based on biodiversity importance and immediate threats, recorded, gaps in knowledge identified, and action planned to fill the gaps.

Time:

 

 

By 2004

 

7.3 Promotion and Awareness

Objective 3: Generate a deeper awareness and understanding amongst all stakeholders about biodiversity issues, as a foundation for the adoption of appropriate management practices on publicly and privately owned land.

Target:

A program to raise issues and ideas related to biodiversity in urban areas established, building on existing knowledge, through a variety of innovative media and community-to-community sharing of ideas.

Time:

 

2002 ongoing

 

 

7.4 Protection and Enhancement of Urban Wildlife Sites

Objective 4: Protect important wildlife sites in urban areas from detrimental changes in land use and encourage the integration of wildlife networks in planning developments.

Target:

At least four North East community-based urban wildlife projects in urban areas supported, and relevant local authority departments, businesses and local community groups aware of the value of these areas for biodiversity.

 

Time:

 

2002 ongoing

 

 

7.5 Habitat Creation

Objective 5: Increase biodiversity and wildlife habitats in urban areas.

Target:

At least two new managed wildlife gardens/wildlife sites in the North East created per year.

Time:

2002 ongoing

 

 

7.6 Policy and Integration

Objective 6: Increase the opportunities for collaborative working between all sectors of the wider community through integrated working between different local authority departments, between private and voluntary organisations, and individuals, and through joint discussion and decision-making, to achieve commonly agreed biodiversity targets.

Target:

Urban working group, of local authority, statutory, business and community representatives established to promote biodiversity issues, and direct action from the Urban Areas Action Plan through area-based workshops.

Time:

 

2002

 

This action plan was drafted by the Urban Areas Working Group and edited by Maria Hardy and Carina Oliver.

Operational Objective

Outline Prescription

Objective

Personnel

Lead Partner

Cost

Fund Source

Year

Priority

1. Disseminate information to all stakeholders on best practice for biodiversity in urban areas.

Produce a reader-friendly Urban Areas Biodiversity leaflet incorporating the main objectives from the urban areas action plan and promoting biodiversity management practices.

1, 3

LBAPAG, LA,

 

LBAP

£2,500

LA, SNH

2002

H

2. Identify and record the existing biodiversity resources of urban areas.

Identify, survey and record areas of particular biodiversity interest in urban areas to be protected by the planning process.

2, 4

LA, ACP,

SNH, SWT, NESBReC

LA

£2,000

LA, SNH

2002

H

 

Identify potential ecological threats to existing wildlife areas.

2, 4

LA, ACP, SNH, SWT

LA

*

LA

2002

H

 

Identify areas of potential and appropriate wildlife enhancement, including areas for HEI funded demonstration sites and areas for re-establishment of continuous wildlife corridors, and establish priorities for action.

2, 4, 6

LA, ACP, SEPA, SNH, SWT

LA

£1,000

LA, SEPA (HEI)

2002

ongoing

H

 

Carry out a desk study to collate and interpret the information, with records kept at NESBReC.

2, 4

LA, ACP, SNH, SWT, NESBReC

LA

£1,000

LA

2002

H

3. Increase the action of local people in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.

Develop an agreed framework for implementing and funding urban biodiversity action plans, involving community groups in action for their local area.

1, 3, 4, 5, 6

LBAP, LA, ACP, SNH

LBAP

LBAP, LA, ACP, SNH

2002

H

 

Develop and implement area-based Urban BAPs (at least 2 communities per year) linking social needs to a wider understanding of environmental sustainability and biodiversity, using participatory methods and equipping people with the skills to plan and make decisions for their own development.

1, 3, 4, 5, 6

LBAP, LA, ACP, SNH

LBAP

£ 3000 per BAP

LBAP, LA, ACP, SNH, ATP

2003 ongoing

H

 

Promote wildlife gardening in private gardens, through co-ordinated publicity, events and workshops across the North East.

 

3, 4, 5, 6

LBAP, LA, ACP, SNH

LBAP

£2,500 p.a.

LA, SNH, ACP, ATP

2002 ongoing

H

Operational Objective

Outline Prescription

Objective

Personnel

Lead Partner

Cost

Fund Source

Year

Priority

 

Support schools and community centres in developing and maintaining wildlife areas, at a scale appropriate to each location (i.e. from simple bird tables and window boxes/planters to complete wildlife gardens).

3, 5, 6

LA, LBAP, ACP, SNH, AEF

LA

£5,000 p.a.

LA, LBAP, SNH, ACP

2002 ongoing

M

 

Encourage local communities to be more involved in management and monitoring of Local Nature Reserves, District Wildlife Sites and Community Woodlands.

3, 4, 6

LA, ACP, LNR

LA

*

LA, ACP

ongoing

M

4. Increase the use of landscape design and management techniques that enhance biodiversity.

Hold a series of seminars and practical workshops for local government officers on management of urban greenspaces, road verges, industrial estates and vacant land for biodiversity, including use of native species.

3, 4, 6

LBAP, LA

LBAP

£500 per workshop

SNH

2002 ongoing

H

 

Collate and promote examples of good design in the inclusion of wildlife areas in building design, housing and industrial developments (e.g. retaining natural features, incorporating wildlife gardens, roof gardens, and window boxes) to planners and landscape architects.

1, 3, 4

LBAP, LA, SNH, SWT

LBAP

 

LBAP, LA, SNH, SEPA

(HEI & SUDS)

2003

M

 

Ensure Landscape Design Guidance for developers incorporates measures for protection, enhancement and creation of habitats and that any new planting uses appropriate native species.

1, 3, 4

LA

LA

*

LA

2004

M

 

Ensure that tunnels and paths under roads at known otter and badger crossing places are incorporated into new road developments, to protect these species from traffic.

4

LA

LA

*

LA

ongoing

H

5. Increase action by the business community in maintaining and enhancing biodiversity.

Promote the importance of management for biodiversity to local businesses, through the NE Business and Biodiversity booklet, publicity, visits and practical workshops (e.g. through Grampian Environmental Forum).

1, 3, 4, 5

SEG, LBAP

LBAP

£2,500

per year

SEG

2002 ongoing

H

 

Provide advice and training to businesses on carrying out practical biodiversity projects on industrial estates, and on incorporating biodiversity into building design.

1, 3, 5

SEG, LBAP

LBAP

£2,500

p.a.

SEG

2000 ongoing

H

 

Encourage companies to promote biodiversity among workforces.

3

SEG, LBAP

LBAP

£500

LBAP, SEG

2000 ongoing

M

6. Improve urban water quality.

Encourage best practice in reducing industrial and domestic waste water discharges and run-off, through Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS).

4

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

SEPA

*

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

2002 ongoing

H

 

Promote appropriate water course management practices (e.g. burn-banks, appropriate planting and mowing regimes, reduced pesticide use).

3, 4

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

SEPA

*

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

2002 ongoing

H

 

Use opportunities provided by SUDS to incorporate wetland areas into new developments.

 

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

SEPA

*

LA, Developers

   

7. Maintain and enhance urban burns and rivers for biodiversity.

Where possible, remove culverts to develop floodplain and wetland habitat and reduce flood risk.

4, 5

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

LA

 

SEPA, NoSWA, LA

2002 ongoing

M

 

Promote planting of native trees and riparian woodland management that benefits biodiversity, as outlined in the NE Wet and Riparian Woodland HAP, taking into consideration other management needs, e.g. red/grey squirrel and water vole management.

4, 5

FC, NENW, NERP, SEPA, SNH, LA

FC

*

FC, NENW, SEPA, SNH, LA

2002 ongoing

M

 

Reject all inappropriate development proposals that threaten the integrity of riparian habitat due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

4

LA, SNH, SEPA

LA

*

LA, SNH, SEPA as consultees

2002 ongoing

H

 

Control invasive species (e.g. giant hogweed, Japanese knotweed) along urban burns and riversides on land owned by public agencies, and raise awareness of problems of invasive species with private landowners.

3, 4

LA, SEPA, SNH

LA

£3000 p.a.

LA, SNH, landowner

ongoing

H

8. Develop an innovative awareness-raising programme.

Distribute Urban Areas Biodiversity leaflet (see 2 above), together with wildlife gardening leaflet to all on LBAP contact list and all other interested individuals.

3

LBAP

LBAP

£100

LBAP

2002

H

 

Arrange at least 2 urban biodiversity Ranger-led walks per year, per local authority area.

3

LA

LA

*

LA

Annual

H

 

Arrange at least 1 urban biodiversity slide-show, talk or workshop per year, per local authority area.

3

LA, LBAPAG

LA

*

LA, LBAP-AG

Annual

H

 

Publicise urban biodiversity issues and projects through at least 2 press releases per year to local media, including radio and television.

3

LBAPAG

LBAP-AG

*

LBAP-AG

2002 ongoing

H

 

Facilitate community-to-community sharing of ideas to promote biodiversity in urban areas.

1, 3

LBAP, LA, ACP

LA

*

LBAP, LA, ACP

2003 ongoing

M

 

Research and implement innovative awareness raising projects/visitor attractions, e.g. television cameras relaying live pictures of nesting peregrine falcons in Aberdeen City; roof garden demonstration site.

3

LBAPAG, LA, ACP

LBAP-AG

 

LBAP-AG, LA, ACP

2003

M

9. Direct the actions of the Urban Areas HAP and monitor progress.

Hold one area-based workshop per year for all interested parties in each LA area, employing participatory methods and facilitated discussion to direct the most appropriate actions for each area.

1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

All, including

business & community reps

LBAP

£500 per workshop

LBAP, LA, SNH, SEPA, FC, ACP

2002 ongoing

H

 

Hold quarterly meetings of the NE Urban Areas Working Group to arrange implementation of the actions decided in the area workshops, and to monitor progress.

1, 6

All, including

business & community reps

LBAP

*

LBAP, LA, SNH, SEPA, FC, ACP

2002 ongoing

H

* Indicates actions that can be achieved at relatively low cost as part of existing activities.

ACP-Aberdeen Countryside Project, AEF – Aberdeenshire Environmental Forum, ATP – Aberdeenshire Towns Project, FC-Forestry Commission, HEI- SEPA’s Habitat Enhancement Initiative, LA-Local Authorities, LBAP-Local Biodiversity Action Plan, LBAPAG - Local Biodiversity Action Plan Awareness Sub-group, LNR-Local Nature Reserve Management Groups, NENW-North East Native Woodlands, NERP-North East Rivers Project, NESBReC-North East Scotland Biological Records Centre, NoSWA-North of Scotland Water Authority, SEPA-Scottish Environment Protection Agency, SNH-Scottish Natural Heritage, SUDS – Sustainable Urban Drainage System, SWT-Scottish Wildlife Trust.