people and nature working together

People and natureworking together

working today for nature tomorrow

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At English Nature we recognisethat the broad objectives ofnature conservation can only besecured through widespreadpublic support. By seeking toinspire a wider audience, and byarousing a sense of curiosity, weaim to encourage greater publicparticipation in natureconservation and to broaden itsappeal. We are contributing tothe Government’s socialinclusion agenda and to meetingthe provisons of the Countrysideand Rights of Way Act byincreasing participation,providing better access,ensuring a wider availability ofinformation and working with arange of partners in town andcountry. With this publication,we aim to inform you about our

activities in this field, provideuseful information, and inspireyou to take action.

Although our work is rooted inscience, we also appreciate thatthe diverse cultural and aestheticqualities of nature are a sourceof inspiration and celebration.Everyone should be able toenjoy England’s diverse wildlifeand geology, wherever they liveand work. For city dwellers, thechance to escape to a naturalgreenspace offers a welcomebreak from the hustle and bustleof daily life and is anopportunity to take part inhealthy outdoor pursuits.Wildlife provides a wealth ofcolour and sound that adds anextra something to even a short

People and nature - working together

Relaxing in the

park - Lincoln’s

Inn Fields,

London

Mathew Frith/English Nature

stroll through a local park orgarden. Time out to enjoy suchoases can reduce stress andcontribute to an overall sense ofcalm and well-being. Theseurban greenspaces improve thequality of life for people whofind it difficult to accessNational Nature Reserves andthe wider countryside.

English Nature is striving topromote the idea that economicbenefits are the result ofmaintaining a healthy, diversecountryside. Many of England’sfinest sites help to boost ruraleconomies by attracting visitorsto the countryside. A well-managed nature reserve willdraw visitors to a particulararea, and as a result will providevaluable income for localbusinesses. The natural world is

Local residents tour English

Nature’s own garden at its

headquarters in the centre

of Peterborough

▼ A family day out at

Lathkill Dale, Derbyshire

Dales NNR, Derbyshire

C Pugsley-Hill/English Nature

Paul Glendell/English Nature 24,402

an essential part of our broadheritage. It includes landscapeand history, and is increasinglyimportant in helping us to builda sustainable rural economy.

The future of England’s wildlifeand geology depends on thechoices that people make,whether as policy makers, landmanagers, or as individuals. Avaried, natural environmentprovides much-needed healthand recreational benefits foreveryone and English Nature isworking alongside our partnersto demonstrate how biodiversitycan benefit us all, regardless ofwhere we live and work.

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National Nature Reserves(NNRs) are the best examplesof wildlife, geology and thenatural experience in England.From over 200 sites, we havechosen 35 as Spotlight Reservesbecause they offer visitors thegreatest opportunity to interactwith and appreciate theirsurroundings. A continuingprogramme of work has beencarried out on many of the sitesto provide a rich experience forall visitors. With additionalfunding from the Government’sCapital Modernisation Fund(CMF), English Nature hassupported 23 new projects toimprove access for all, and inparticular for those people withdisabilities.

Most NNRs have interpretationboards to explain the plants,animals, insects and geologicalfeatures to be found on thereserves. On some, there arelarge print or Brailleinformation panels and guidedtours can be arranged forgroups. On our award-winningwebsite, we are making accessto information about all aspectsof our work easier too. Go towww.english-nature.org.uk formore details of our NNRs andwhere to find them.

National Nature Reserves

Additional signage

highlights the geological

features of Dersingham

Bog NNR, Norfolk

Improved access at

Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe

Dunes NNR, Lincolnshire


Peter Wakely/English Nature 20,141

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Local Nature Reserves (LNRs)are designated by localauthorities in consultation withEnglish Nature. LNRs make anessential contribution to ourquality of life, especially in andaround towns and cities.English Nature recommendsthat there should be at least onehectare of accessible LNR perthousand people. With inputfrom the New OpportunitiesFund, we are running a £5.2million grant scheme for LNRscalled Wildspace! Money fromthis scheme is used to supportprojects that involve localcommunities and volunteers and

that extend the opportunities forparticipation to new groups andcommunities. As well as LNRsthere is also an extensivenetwork of smaller sites, manyeasily accessible, where peoplecan experience local wildlifeand geology.

Local Nature Reserves

Local volunteers construct

a footpath at Queen’s

Wood LNR, Haringey,

London

▼ Feeding the ducks at

Barnwell Country Park,

Northamptonshire

Mandy Chasney/Photographing People and Places

BTCV

The conservation of England’swildlife and geology depends onthe huge contribution thatvolunteers make, both in townsand the countryside. Practicalconservation, education andinterpretation, managementcommittee work and fundraisingare all part of the broad range ofactivities that volunteersundertake. English Nature willcontinue to support this workdirectly through our own projectsand by working with others, suchas the Wildlife Trusts, the RoyalSociety for the Protection of Birds,the National Trust, the BTCV andlocal authorities, to facilitategreater public involvement. Wealready support a large number ofvolunteers and we aim, throughour National VolunteersProgramme, to increase our

volunteer numbers and improveour services to them. In placeslike Castle Eden Dene NNR,volunteering activities are vital infostering a sense of localownership of the reserve andsome people have used theirpractical conservation experienceto gain National VocationalQualifications.

Local Biodiversity Action Plans(LBAPs) are an essential part ofwider Community Strategies andvolunteers are vitally importantwhen implementing theseLBAPs.

English Nature will continue toprovide advice, support andguidance on how the conservationof England’s natural heritage canenhance people’s lives and howthe fulfilment of LBAPs cancontribute to the overall successof Community Strategies.

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Volunteering

A volunteer warden

talking to schoolchildren

at Studland and

Godlingston Heaths NNR,

Dorset

▼ Fence building at Lower

Derwent Valley NNR, East

Riding of Yorkshire



We want to encourage people tovisit the countryside and learnmore about nature. Our websiteprovides a wealth of informationon special sites, England’swildlife, our latest news,publications, careers andvolunteering opportunities.

For example, enter your postcodeinto Nature on the Map and youcan find your nearest NationalNature Reserves, and discovermore about nature near whereyou live. For those who may nothave easy access to thecountryside we have providedvirtual tours of two naturereserves - Lathkill Dale in thePeak District and Lundy Islandoff the north coast of Devon.

C Pugsley-Hill/English Nature

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Nature for Schools providesmore than 100 lesson planswhich meet the requirements ofthe National Curiculum. Onthese pages, you will findactivities and information tohelp children understand natureand people’s impact on thenatural environment.

Nature in the Garden offersways in which you canencourage wildlife into yourgarden. There are over 15million gardens in the UK,which provide a very importanthome for wildlife. Anyone canbe a wildlife gardener, fromexperts to those who simplyenjoy growing plants in a pot orwindow box.

English Nature’s website

Searching for fossils

at King’s Dyke,

Cambridgeshire

All this, and much more aboutour work, can be found atwww.english-nature.org.uk

Parks, gardens, cemeteries andother urban greenspaces arewhere most people come intocontact with the natural world.English Nature has developedstandards which, when applied,should ensure that no-one has tolive further than 300 metresfrom an accessible naturalgreenspace. We are preparing atoolkit to help local authoritiesadopt these standards, especiallywhen they provide newgreenspaces in areas of urbanregeneration.

We support the Green FlagAwards scheme, which isrecognised by the Government


as a benchmark for themanagement of publicgreenspaces including bothtraditional parks and naturereserves. With English Heritageand others we have developedmanagement guidelines forcemeteries. Many cemeteriesand churchyards are alreadymanaged with wildlife in mind,and we acknowledge the workof many ‘Friends of’ groupswho have transformed suchplaces into valuable communityassets.


Urban greenspaces

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Pond clearing to

improve the local

environment

▼ A valuable urban

greenspace - Broadway

Cemetery, Peterborough

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Appreciating the great

outdoors - Cat-Bells,

near Buttermere Fells

SSSI, Cumbria

The Countryside and Rights ofWay Act will mean increasedaccess to many parts of thecountryside. We want to ensurethat our National NatureReserves and the wildlife andgeological experiences that theyprovide, are more easilyaccessible to a wider range ofpeople. In addition, large areasof privately owned Sites ofSpecial Scientific Interest(SSSIs) and other areas withhigh wildlife and geologicalvalue will be opened up forvisitors. As a result, manylandowners and farmers willencourage tourism and will


benefit from increased visitorspending. We will supportinitiatives that promote wildlifeand geological tourism and aidrural regeneration. Thisincludes a sustainable publictransport system that willservice rural communities andwill strengthen the linksbetween town and country.

Access for all

School grounds are importantplaces where young people canhave safe contact with thenatural world. Thedevelopment of wildlifegardens and ponds provides awonderful opportunity forminibeast hunts and ponddipping and helps children tolearn about the wonders ofwildlife. Through curricularactivities and play, children canstart to develop an importantunderstanding of the role thatthe natural world will play intheir future lives. We endorsethe work of many organisations,such as Learning ThroughLandscapes and The WildlifeTrusts, in helping to improveschool grounds and othereducational facilities.

Gardens can also be importanthavens for wildlife, offeringsongbirds, hedgehogs and

frogs a home. In towns andcities, they act as vital ‘greencorridors’. Gardens are wherepeople meet wildlife face toface and everyone can make adirect contribution to localbiodiversity through adoptingmore wildlife-friendlygardening techniques. EnglishNature has produced a booklet,Wildlife-friendly gardening - ageneral guide which is full ofinformation and tips. This isavailable from our EnquiryService on 01733 455100.

In partnership with the PlantPress, we have produced a CD-ROM Gardening with wildlife inmind. The CD containsinformation on over 500wildlife-friendly plants andsimple suggestions for attactingand supporting wildlife. The CDis available from the Plant Press,Freepost, Lewes BN7 2ZZ.

Schoolchildren enjoying a

wild flower garden at

Cramlington, Tyne and Wear

▼ Undertaking a study

project in Wolverhampton



School grounds and gardens

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Many thousands of people arealready ‘doing it for themselves’by enhancing their localenvironment or activelysupporting organisationsworking to secure theconservation of biodiversity andgeology across England. Werecognise this excellent workand will continue to support itthrough our varied programmes.However, there are millionsmore people, of all ages andfrom all backgrounds, who wantto play an active part but formany reasons are unable to doso. We are examining these‘barriers to participation’ andare looking at how we can helpmore people to take part.



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Walkers on Hound Tor,

Dartmoor National Park,

Devon, pause to appreciate

their surroundings

▼ Enjoying a woodland stroll

- Ruislip Woods NNR,

Greater London

Our position statement onPeople and Nature is availableon our website : www.english-nature.org.uk.or from our Enquiry Service on01733 455100.

Help us to help you

English Nature is the Government agency that

champions the conservation of wildlife and geology

throughout England.

This is one of a range of publications published by:

External Relations Team

English Nature

Northminster House

Peterborough PE1 1UA

www.english-nature.org.uk

Our Enquiry Service is the first point of contact for all general

enquiries about English Nature and its work, and can provide

information on careers in conservation including volunteering.

The Enquiry Service can be contacted on:

Tel: +44 (0)1733 455100/101/102 Fax: +44 (0)1733 455103

© English Nature 2002/04

ISBN 1 85716 599 3

Catalogue code: CORP1.14

Printed by Belmont Press Ltd. on Evolution Satin, 75% recycled

post-consumer waste paper, elemental chlorine free.

Designed by Coral Design Management. 6M.,5M

Front cover photographs:

Right: Early morning walkers at Avon Gorge NNR, Somerset.


Top: Children on a bug hunt at Dawlish Warren NNR, Devon.


Bottom: Play area at King’s Cross housing estate, London.


people and nature working together

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