Biodiversity Policy

BOOTLE PARISH COUNCIL

Biodiversity Policy

Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 there is a duty on public authorities in England, including Parish Councils to have regard to conserving biodiversity as part of their policy or decision making. This was further strengthened by the Environment Act 2021 so public authorities must now consider what they can do conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. This means a public authority must:

• Consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity.
• Agree policies and specific objectives based on their consideration.
• Act to deliver policies and achieve objectives.

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on earth.

Biodiversity is everywhere: in gardens, fields, hedgerows, mountains, rivers and the sea.

The local area

Bootle Parish Council comprises of the villages of Bootle, Bootle Station and Hycemoor and the hamlets of Annanside, Stubb Place Monk Moors and Eskmeals with a considerable number of natural areas, including hedges, ditches, farmland along with becks and other streams. In addition, it is located within the environs of the Lake District National Park.

Annanside and Gutterby Banks are SSSI sites located either within or on the edge of the Parish boundary.

Parish Council Responsibilities

The Parish Council owns the Community Woodland field, a grazing field rented out located on the moors. Hycemoor Green and leases out the Football field to the BDSSA.

The Parish council is also responsible for the grass cutting of the following areas, the grass verges at either side to the entrance of the village to the south, verges on Chapel Lane Hycemoor Green and the cutting of a number of hedges within the village (if appropriate).

The Parish Council is also responsible for the provision and update of the Community Plan.

What the Parish Council will do:

Consider the impact on biodiversity in the decisions made through the Parish Council, especially when commenting on planning applications.

It will reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides use on Parish Council owned land.

It will review how it manages the land at the Community Woodland field, the grazing field, Hycemoor Green and the Football Field, this may include, but is not limited to

• Leaving standing and fallen dead wood as a invertebrates
• Leaving leaf litter and dead vegetation wherever possible as a habitat for invertebrates
• Removing invasive and non-invasive species that are detrimental to native flora or fauna as required
• The Parish Council will consider reducing the number of cuts at the entrance to the village and verges on Chapel Lane and allowing grasses to grow and be swathed in September.
• When the Community Plan is being reviewed, the working group will ensure that biodiversity is discussed and added to the plan as necessary.
• As the owner of the football field the Parish council will encourage the BDSSA to
  • Ensure that there is a margin of uncut grass around the hedges to allow longer grasses to grow
  • Allow fallen tree branches to remain, if safe, to allow invertebrates to habitat
  • To preserve (any trees) and encourage biodiversity, the area under the tree will be wilded, either to grow as long grass and flowers or to be formally managed as a wildflower area
• Hedge cutting takes place once a year, and is very much a balancing act as the Parish Council hedges run alongside narrow, well used footpaths so require cutting. All hedges are cut outside the bird nesting season.
• The Parish Council will look to purchase and install bird boxes in the Parish Council owned trees
• The Parish Council will look to promote biodiversity via the Parish Council website.

–

Reviewed 12 February 2025 – no changes