The Ecological Emergency

The borough has a wide variety of habitats including ancient woodlands, grassland and chalk rivers that support a wealth of wildlife. This includes dormice, natterer's bats, Dartford warblers, white-letter hairstreak butterflies and large populations of great crested newts.

However wildlife and plant species such as these are under threat on both a local and global scale from the effects of habitat loss, climate change and poor management, among others. ‘The State of Nature 2019’ highlights the critical decline in biodiversity in the UK, with 15% of UK species classified as threatened with extinction and a further 2% already extinct.

The natural world is essential for the provision of food, with soil and pollinators having a vital role, as well as clean water, fresh air, medicines, raw materials and protection from extreme weather. People also derive a sense of wellbeing from a healthy natural environment.

Recognising the need to work alongside communities and others to take action and protect the natural environment, councillors unanimously supported a motion to declare an ecological emergency for the borough at a meeting of Council on 14 October 2021.

Steps under way to tackle the ecological emergency

The council is taking active steps to manage, protect, enhance and restore nature across the borough in a number of ways in line with its green infrastructure strategy. This includes policy setting in the local plan, agreeing ecological enhancements as part of planning permissions, looking after areas with green space management plans and working with partners and volunteers.

As part of this, the council’s Rangers work alongside community groups and volunteers to improve and enhance the diversity of plants and animals on over 300 hectares of natural green space.

And the Natural Environment team also plays a vital role, supporting the delivery of biodiversity enhancements and managing habitats across the borough including over 80,000 trees while ensuring ecology and biodiversity are taken into account in decision making in all council departments.

Growing the borough’s biodiversity

Work is under way to help grow the diversity of wildlife and plants in every ward across the borough.

This involves council teams working closely with volunteers through conservation groups such as Natural Basingstoke as well as partners including the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust through its Wilder Basingstoke and Deane scheme.

Volunteering offers the chance to make a real difference locally, as well as to meet new friends and get outdoor exercise. For more information, see our webpages on getting involved as a green space volunteer and setting up a new conservation group.

Steps to enhance nature in every ward

Steps are being taken in every ward to improve the diversity of wildlife and plants across the borough. For more information, see the list below.

Basing and Upton Grey

• Mill Field – managing 13 hectares of council-owned species-rich grassland and scrub adjacent to the River Loddon in line with a green space management plan.
• Basingstoke Common – 42 hectares of natural green space cared for by the council and the trustees of the common in accordance with a green space management plan.
• Black Dam Ponds and Crabtree Local Nature Reserve – a local nature reserve covering 37 hectares of chalk stream, ponds, species-rich chalk grassland and woodland that is all managed in accordance with a green space management plan.

Bramley

• Minchens Lane – managing 4.2 hectares of grassland, scrub, hedgerows, woodland, stream and ponds in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.
• The Street – looking after grassland and natural drainage area for stormwater in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Brighton Hill

• Gershwin Road – exploring opportunities for biodiversity enhancements on road verges.

Brookvale and Kings Furlong

• Former Smiths Industries site – managing native trees in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Chineham

• Chineham Woods – over 26 hectares of council-owned ancient woodland covered by a green space management plan.
• Razors Farm – 4.6 hectares of ancient woodland, grassland, wetland and natural drainage areas for stormwater managed in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.
• Chineham Moat – 0.74 hectares of council-owned woodland and species-rich grassland covered by a green space management plan.
• Larchwood – half a hectare of woodland edge and scrub managed in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Eastrop and Grove

• War Memorial Park – managing nine hectares of council-owned woodland, orchard and species-rich grassland in line with a green space management plan as well as exploring further opportunities to enhance biodiversity in the area between Winchester Hill roundabout and Hackwood Road.
• Glebe Gardens – 1.95 hectares of council-owned stream-side habitats and bordering species-rich grassland covered by a green space management plan.
• Eastrop Park – over six hectares of council-owned land including a chalk stream, thickets and hedgerows covered by a green space management plan.
• Cranbourne Lane and Radford Gardens – exploring opportunities to create biodiversity improvements in the area.

Evingar

• Little Penwood – managing over 12 and a half hectares of ancient woodland in line with a green space management plan.

Hatch Warren and Beggarwood

• Multiple roadside verges and open areas – creating and managing a pilot biodiversity improvement area.
• Beggarwood Woodland Park – just under 24 hectares of council-owned ancient woodland and species-rich chalk grassland covered by a green space management plan.

Kempshott and Buckskin

• Old Down Woodland Park – 15.6 hectares of council-owned ancient woodland and species-rich chalk grassland covered by a green space management plan.
• Down Grange Meadow – species-rich chalk grassland owned and looked after by the council in line with a green space management plan.
• Cambrian Way, Pennine Way, Cleveland Close, Cheviot Close and Edgehill Close – planting and managing a new tree, shrub and bulbs on council land as amenity landscape works offering benefits for local biodiversity.
• Worting Road development – seeded wildflower grassland and scrub managed in line with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.
• Wiltshire Crescent – grassland and scrub looked after in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Norden

• South View Cemetery – three hectares of council-owned land including mature trees and species-rich chalk grassland that is covered by a green space management plan.
• Lyford Road – mixed scrub and species-rich grassland owned and looked after by the council in line with a green space management plan.
• Lancaster Road – managing council-owned neutral grassland as a biodiversity improvement zone.

Oakley and The Candovers

• Oakley Woodlands – looking after 8 and a half hectares of ancient woodland under a green space management plan.
• Kennel Farm – two and a half hectares of grassland, hedgerows, scrub and woodland looked after in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Popley

• Marnel Park – 5.79 hectares of scrub and species-rich grassland supporting great crested newts managed in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application and a green space management plan.
• Chineham Park – taking care of the park as per its green space management plan.
• Popley Ponds – looking after ponds supporting a wide range of wildlife including great crested newts as part of the green space management plan for the area.
• Cayman Close, Lundy Close and Mauritius Close – planting and managing a new tree, shrub and grasses on council land as amenity landscape works offering benefits for local biodiversity.
• Popley poets area including Byron Close and Dryden Close – planting and managing a new tree, shrub and bulbs on council land as amenity landscape works offering benefits for local biodiversity.

Sherborne St John and Rooksdown

• Land to the north of Park Prewett – 2.5 hectares of grassland, pine woodland and areas of white helleborine orchids managed in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.
• Aldermaston Road – shrubs and chalk grassland managed in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

South Ham

• Saunders Field – looking after around 3.5 hectares of council-owned land as part of a green space management plan.
• Wavell Close, Kelvin Hill, Winchester Road, Pinkerton Road, Paddock Road, Russell Howard Park and St Michael's Road – planting shrubs, trees and bulbs as amenity landscape works offering benefits for local biodiversity.
• Western Way, St Pauls Road and Sandys Road – planting trees and bulbs as amenity landscape works offering benefits for local biodiversity.
• Stratton Park – looking into opportunities for biodiversity enhancements funded by Section 106 contributions.

Tadley and Pamber

• Pamber Forest – over 341 hectares of ancient woodland and heathland cared for by the council under a green space management plan.

Tadley North, Kingsclere and Baughurst

• Wigmore Heath – 6.5 hectares of lowland heath looked after as part of a green space management plan.
• Ashford Hill Road – hedgerows, grassland, wetland and natural drainage areas for stormwater managed in accordance with an ecological management plan associated with a major planning application.

Winklebury and Manydown

• Countryside park – working with Urban&Civic as it leads on managing and improving the natural habitat to create a 100-hectare countryside park including meadows, chalk grassland and ancient woodland.

Whitchurch, Overton and Laverstoke

• Daniel Park – just over five hectares of council-owned species-rich chalk grassland covered by a green space management plan.
• Barrhill Woods – 16.5 hectares of ancient woodland looked after in accordance with a green space management plan.
• Overton Hill – species-rich chalk grassland covered by a green space management plan.
• Whitchurch Skylark Rise – just under two and a half hectares of scrub and species-rich chalk grassland looked after in line with a green space management plan.