Biodiversity Action Plan
Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs) are documents written in partnership with local communities, which aim to manage and conserve wildlife and the natural environment. The word ‘biodiversity’ means the variety of living organisms, such as plants, insects, birds and mammals. Providing a structured approach to preserving these things and giving suggestions for future actions are the main aims of the Biodiversity Action Plan.
Horndean Parish Council manages large areas of land that is valuable to wildlife. For Example, Catherington Down is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), due to its ecological status and this is just one of 6 reserves managed by the council. The Biodiversity Action Plan is being written by a partnership of organisations, including the parish council and the Horndean Biodiversity Group, which includes members of the public who are passionate about wildlife.
Nature reserves within Horndean contain a variety of wildlife and habitats which are nationally scarce or in decline. Unimproved chalk grassland and lowland heath are two of the rarest habitats in Britain, in terms of the total area they cover. Most people realise how lucky we are to have access to these areas, but planning the future of these sites and ensuring their welfare can be challenging and it ultimately requires community interest and cooperation.
Ultimately, the biodiversity action plan will help to raise environmental awareness and provide information to people who are interested to find out about the nature that they have on their doorstep.