Wildlife Features (New Dev)
Key Benefits
- Biodiversity: Creates new habitats; Supports diverse native species; Increases species abundance & richness; Improves habitat connectivity & resilience; Essential for delivering Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
- Ecosystem Services: Pollination; Pest control; Soil formation; Water purification (if linked with SuDS); Climate regulation (microclimate).
- Social & Amenity: Enhances aesthetic appeal & sense of place; Provides opportunities for nature connection & education; Improves mental health & well-being.
- Economic: Can increase property desirability & value.
Technical Guidance
Strategic Planning (C753 Ch 7; GI Guide)
Integrate biodiversity from earliest masterplanning stages (RIBA Stage 0/1). Conduct ecological surveys (Phase 1 Habitat / protected species) to identify existing features for retention/enhancement (veteran trees, hedges, ponds). Map connections to off-site GI/habitats. Define BNG strategy using Defra metric. Consult local planning policies (Local Plans, SPDs, LNRS).
Habitat Creation & Enhancement (C753 Ch 6, Ch 29; GI Guide)
Planting: Prioritise UK native species of local provenance for trees, hedges, shrubs, wildflowers (C753 S29.6). Select species beneficial to target wildlife (food, shelter, nesting sites). Create structural diversity (layers, varied densities).
Water Features (C753 Ch 23): Incorporate wildlife ponds/wetlands where feasible. Design with shallow margins (<1:5 slope), varied depths, avoid steep sides. Use native aquatic/marginal plants. Consider temporary water bodies (scrapes/ephemeral pools). Avoid introducing fish or non-native invasive species.
Grassland Management (C753 Ch 29.7): Implement varied mowing: short amenity grass, taller tussocky areas, annual-cut wildflower meadows. Use low-nutrient substrates for meadows.
Deadwood & Shelter (C753 S6.3): Create log piles, rockeries, brash piles using site-won materials where possible for invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals. Retain standing deadwood where safe.
SuDS Integration (C753 Ch 6.3): Design SuDS (swales, basins, bioretention, green roofs) explicitly for biodiversity value (native planting, habitat features, varied topography).
Species-Specific Features (GI Guide; C753 Ch 6.3)
Bird/Bat Boxes & Bricks: Integrate various designs into buildings (new builds - consider swift bricks, bat tubes) and mature trees. Position appropriately (aspect, height) for target species.
Hedgehog Highways: Ensure ground-level permeability between gardens/plots via gaps (approx. 13x13cm) in fences/walls/gravel boards.
Insect Habitats: Include bug hotels, bee banks (south-facing sandy banks), log piles, areas of bare ground.
Connectivity (C753 Ch 6.2.3; GI Guide)
Design green spaces (hedges, swales, verges) as corridors linking habitats internally and connecting to off-site GI network. Avoid fragmentation by roads/hard surfacing.
Lighting (GI Guide)
Minimise light pollution impact on wildlife (esp. bats, moths). Use directional, low-intensity, warm-spectrum lighting. Employ shields, timers, motion sensors. Avoid lighting sensitive areas (water bodies, bat routes, hedgerows).
Long-Term Management (C753 Ch 32; GI Guide - Maintenance)
Crucial for success. Develop detailed Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) specifying sensitive maintenance regimes (e.g., hedge cutting timings, meadow cuts, pond management) to sustain habitats long-term. Secure funding & responsibility.