SALISBURY AREA GREENSPACE PARTNERSHIP
SPREADING THE WORD
October 2015Nicola Lipscombe Chair
The Vision for the Partnership
Working together:
To create a more resilient and sustainable environment for people and wildlife in Salisbury and the surrounding area
To influence policy and provision, and the enhancement and management of the greenspace network for the longer term
To provide an overview and strong local voice for greenspace, and raise awareness of its value and the benefits of good quality green infrastructure
Where has the Partnership come from?
Urban woodlands
• The idea
• Launch in 2012 – keynote speaker Ian Phillips…….
• Importance of green space/green infrastructure
• Workshops provided mandate
• Steering Group
Community/VolunteersFriends of Harnham WatermeadowsDean & Chapter, Salisbury CathedralFriends of Harnham SlopeFriends of Churchill GardensSarum AcademySalisbury Wildlife GroupWalking for HealthWessex Community Action
Current partners
Local Authority Wiltshire Council – officers concerned with public open space, public rights of way, green infrastructure strategy, spatial planning, landscape, ecology, countryside, public healthSalisbury Vision
Parish CouncilsSalisbury City CouncilLaverstock & Ford Parish CouncilWilton Town Council
Local Specialist InterestGroupsSouth Wilts Biodiversity GroupSalisbury & District Natural History SocietyRiver Bourne Community FarmCPRE South Wiltshire Group Salisbury Civic SocietyCOGS (Cycling Opportunities Group Salisbury) Bemerton Activity TrailsSalisbury Beekeepers Wiltshire Bat GroupFive Rivers Association Bat GroupWiltshire Botanical GroupWilton Community Land Trust
EnvironmentalAgenciesNatural EnglandLink2Nature (Wiltshire & Swindon Local Nature Partnership)Forestry CommissionEnvironment AgencyRSPB Wiltshire Wildlife TrustEnglish Heritage
Current target area for the Partnership
Wilton
Salisbury City
Laverstockand Ford
• Pam Rouquette – Walking for Health
• Roger Dudin – South Wiltshire Biodiversity Group
• Les Lipscombe – Salisbury Wildlife Group
• Councillor Michael Pope – Salisbury City Council
• Councillor Colin Froude – Salisbury City Council
• David Bradley – Parks Manager, Salisbury City Council
• Mary Noyce – Technical Officer, Open Spaces, Wiltshire County
• Phil Sheldrake – Conservation Officer, RSPB
• Russell Spencer – Hampshire Avon Co-ordinator, Environment Agency
• Chris Cochrane – Broken Bridges
• Jacob Dew – Co-ordinator, Hampshire Avon Catchment Partnership
• David Law - Laverstock & Ford PC
• Nicola Lipscombe – Salisbury Civic Society, Current Chair
The steering group
What is greenspace/green infrastructure?
Urban Parks
Urban woodlands
Allo
tmen
ts
Playing fields
Village greens
Cycle ways & Footpaths
Street trees
Water meadows
River corridors
Street trees
Cemeteries/ Churchyards
Urban woodlands
Allo
tmen
ts
Street trees
Downland
Woodlands/Forest
Why is GI so important?
It is multifunctional and plays a vital part in delivering the ecosystem services we need to survive:
varied and biodiverse habitatsclean air and waterclimate change mitigationflood protectionmaintenance of soil fertilityfood fuel
Why is GI so important?
It enhances our quality of life:
provides inspiring places
places that are rich in wildlife
places to play and exercise
places to relax and enjoy
places to experience and learn about the natural world
Why is GI so important?
It helps create attractive and distinctive places in which to live:
adds value to property
attracts businesses to invest in an area
stimulates job opportunities
brings local communities together
Lack of knowledge about what and where green spaces are
Poor connectivity between existing green spaces
Lack of joined up thinking
Lack of resources, skills and vision for the overall planning and management of current greenspace assets
Management regimes that bring few benefits for wildlife eg. ubiquitous grass mowing
Problems of overuse and misuse especially on the urban fringe
Local issues
South Newton
Quidhampton
Britford
Netherhampton
Durnford
Clarendon Park
WiltonSalisbury
Woodford
Avon Valley Nature Reserve
Harnham Slope Woodland
Laverstock& Ford
Country Park at Hampton Park 2
River Bourne Community Farm
Local issue – Fragmented Ownerships
South Newton
Quidhampton
Britford
Netherhampton
Durnford
Clarendon Park
Wilton
Woodford
LonghedgeOld Sarum
Airfield
Hampton Park
FugglestoneRed
Erskine Barracks
Southampton Road Gateway?
Laverstock& Ford
Local issue – Development Pressures
The Maltings
Salisbury
Salisbury AreaBoard
Amesbury Area Board
South West Area Board
Southern Area Board
1 Local Authority, 4 Community Areas
Local issue – Complicated administrative groupings
South Newton
Quidhampton
Britford
Netherhampton
Durnford
Clarendon Park
WiltonSalisbury
Woodford
Laverstock& Ford
+ 10 Parishes
Local issue – Complicated administrative groupings
Opportunities & priorities for action
Fill the knowledge gaps by asset mapping & data gathering
Influence the local planning process - development control decision making as well as policy
Involve local people & businesses, & spread the message about the value of greenspace assets & green infrastructure
Create a one-stop shop for greenspace matters & volunteers
Improve habitat diversity and range; encourage reviews of existing management practices eg SAGP input into SCC review
Provide one voice for greenspace and share responsibility, skills and resources
Greenspace audit & asset mapping
Sample Map
Greenspace – what and where it is, the existing links, the gaps and thepotential for making improvements
Typology:
1. Readily accessible community greenspace
2. Restricted/controlled access greenspace
3. Natural/semi-natural greenspace
4. Productive greenspace5. Strategic greenspace6. Linear features
Detailed greenspace mapping typology
Improved
grassland
Broadleaved,
mixed & yew
woodland
Neutral
grassland
Small swamp
area
River Bourne Community Farm
Phase 1 & 2 Habitat Mapping
South Wiltshire Biodiversity Group are co-ordinating the habitat mapping of area & working with Salisbury & District Natural History Society & other local specialists to survey the Cathedral Close & other priority areas. Data will be shared with WSBRC
Public Open Space Surveys
• Trained SAGP volunteers have supported Wiltshire Council with their Public Open Space Survey. The data is being used to develop county wide standards & is also available for SAGP to use locally
• WC consultation on Part 1 Draft as part of Core Strategy Review ends on 26 May
Local residents training for their hedgerow surveys in Laverstock & Ford
Parish Surveys
Gathering additional baseline data
Evaluating the potential for improvement
Urban woodlands
Opportunities for groups & volunteers to get actively involved in more greenspace surveys to find out………
• How greenspace is currently used• How people value their local green spaces – what they like & don’t
like about them
• Historic & cultural value – of spaces & features eg. Market Place
• Landscape/townscape value – contribution of setting & local features
such as key trees, tree groups, views, landmarks etc to local distinctiveness eg. Lombardy Poplars
• Linear features – informal routeways, hedgerows & lines of trees often
associated with footpaths, cycle routes & other transport corridors
• Ecosystem service delivery – contribution to biodiversity, water retention,
air quality, carbon capture, climate change mitigation, jobs, food, fuel etc
The digital mapping set up
Wiltshire Council Server ESRI ArcGIS
OS Licence Data storage
FlexViewerESRI ArcGIS
Volunteer version Controlled access
for editing etc
SAGP ViewerAccess for
partners to view
SAGP Quantum GIS Database &
workspaceMAGIC
Natural England
Forestry Commission
English Heritage
Environment
Agency
SAGP
Wiltshire Council Wiltshire & Swindon
Biological Record Centre
Google DriveSAGP data
storage
Ordnance Survey
Data sources
WFS LinkEmail attachment
QGIS CloudAccess for partners
to view
20 September 2015
Resources for Partners
The greenspace asset mapping will provide a tool for managing & enhancing local greenspace, improving connectivity & developing a longer term strategy
It will be possible to see the bigger picture across wards & parishes, & allow for joined up thinking & action
It will support the neighbourhood planning process
It will be possible to better defend our green spaces against loss from development
Website: http://salisburyareagreenspacepartnership.co.uk
Resources for Partners
A regular greenspace forum with a co-ordinating role and to ensure local aspirations are represented to the local authority, business and developers
All green space managed to maximise the ecosystem services it provides, and in particular for wildlife, amenity value and landscape setting
Other community resources including a community greenspaceproject officer and dedicated fund to secure the future of local green infrastructure
Website: http://salisburyareagreenspacepartnership.co.uk
In the longer term SAGP would like to see: