Minutes of the Meeting of the QED Biodiversity Group, 6 July 1999

Present: Julia Marshall (Chair), Tony Morris (Kent Wildlife Trust), Simon Leakie (Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group), Phil Kessel (Dartford Borough Council), Ian Hammerton (Woodlands Trust), David Meade (Woodland Trust), Kate Harmer (Dartford and Gravesend Buildings Preservation Trust) and Richard Wiltshire (QED Allotments Group).

1) Apologies for Absence: Eric Tomlinson

2) Dartford Festival (July 24-25): Phil summarised the contributions expected from other QED Groups and from Dartford Borough Council. The QED Biodiversity Group will not have a stand in its own name, but Groundwork Kent Thames-side have booked space for a display including information on the Managing the Marshes Project, Simon may be able to provide a display on behalf of the Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group, and Ian has a display available on the work of the Woodlands Trust. There will also be a board for visitors to the Festival to post their questions about environmental issues in the Borough: these will be processed by the QED Steering Group and passed on to individual groups to deal with as appropriate.

3) Dartford Central Park: There was a prolonged discussion of the criteria that should be recommended in respect of the construction and management of the proposed wildlife garden. It was agreed that Mr Rob Hardy would be invited to attend the next meeting of the QED Biodiversity Group to give an update on plans for the wildlife garden, and that this would be an opportunity to discuss the criteria governing the project. The criteria agreed for recommendation by the QED Biodiversity Group were: (i) that the garden should reflect the ecology of the site as it would have existed prior to the original development of the park; (ii) that no species should be introduced which are foreign to the past and present ecology of the site; (iii) that as far as possible, plants should be sourced locally within the Borough; (iv) that there should be full consultation on the plans for the garden with the Environment Agency and other bodies with an interest in the site; (v) that there should be a properly costed and funded long term management plan for the site; (vi) that the site should be developed to a design robust enough to enable the garden to serve as a public amenity; and (vii) that the primary functions of the garden should be (a) to introduce the general public to the ecology of riverbank habitats, and (b) to promote the creation of, and sustain interest in, a Biodiversity Action Plan for the Borough of Dartford.

4) Biodiversity Action Plan: The Group agreed that there was an urgent need for a Biodiversity Action Plan for Dartford, and that facilitating the development and implementation of the Plan would be an important task for the Group. Tony and Julia advocated the use of surveys (including surveys of key species) to encourage school children, dog walkers and others to take an active interest in recording the Borough's wildlife, and thus helping to fill some of the gaps in the existing records. These could dovetail with guided walks and other activities which are already going on. The document "Biodiversity Action Plans: Getting Involved at the Local Level" produced by the London Wildlife Trust contains useful pointers.

5) Open Session:

i) Planning Applications: The Group agreed that it would explore the development and introduction of a system for monitoring planning applications and commenting where necessary on the biodiversity implications where there were sound a priori grounds to suppose a detrimental impact. Tony cautioned that the workload involved was likely to be considerable. Richard and Phil will undertake an internet search for examples of best practice in planning monitoring used by other Local Agenda 21s.

ii) Review of the Local Plan: Kate pointed out that the plan is to be published shortly, and it was agreed that this would be another opportunity for the Group to comment.

iii) Kent Thames-side: Richard raised the possibility of QED hosting a seminar for all LA21s within the Kent Thames-side area to discuss biodiversity issues which cut across local authority boundaries within the area, and to foster cooperation between LA21s in the interests of promoting sustainable development at the regional level.

iv) Kent Design: Phil agreed to circulate the section on landscape and the sustainability checklist from the document "Kent Design: Towards a Sustainable Future".

6) Any Other Business:

Julia will prepare a memorandum on increasing public involvement for the next meeting.

Richard provided information on Going for Green's "Forming Bonds Conference" (October 28). Phil pointed out that money was available to enable QED members to attend conferences and events where these were relevant to Local Agenda 21 in the Borough. Reports on events attended are normally supplied to the QED Steering Group. Phil circulated a list of forthcoming events published in "Biodiversity News".

7) Date of Next Meeting: Tuesday September 7 from 7.00 at the Civic Centre.

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