Evaluating Habitat of Species

•		Thames & Tributaries – the Ravensbourne and Cray catchments forming part of the larger Thames Basin
•		Downland Landscape – the valleys and plateaus which run southwards and towards the North Downs
•		London Outer Orbital Path – green spaces and countryside where the built-up parts of the Borough meet the open countryside
•		Green Chain – a ring of green spaces within the inner part of the Borough

Designated Sites, Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (incorporating Sites of Special Scientific Interest), form a key focus of effort under the 2010-15 BBAP. They represent areas of habitat and species combinations of particularly high value for the Borough and at a regional level.

Evaluating Habitats

Criteria* considered for habitats include:

•		Is the habitat a priority in the UK?
•		Does the local area have a high proportion of the national or regional resource?
•		Are there opportunities available to enhance the local resource?
•		Is the habitat in decline locally?
•		Is it locally rare?
•		Is it threatened locally?
•		Is the habitat fragmented and are any of the fragments viable?
•		Is the habitat important for key species?
•		Could the habitat be used to raise the profile of Local Biodiversity Action Plan work within the plan area?

The habitats chosen for the 2010-2015 BBAP are:

•		Trees & Woodlands (incorporating ancient trees and street trees)
•		Hedgerows
•		Grassland & Heathland (incorporating chalk, neutral and acid grassland & lowland heath)
•		Wetland (incorporating rivers, ponds and mire)
•		Green Gardens (incorporating private gardens, allotments and school grounds)
•		Green Development
•		Parks & Open Spaces

The 2010-15 BBAP seeks to help and monitor a range of species, the common and the rare, through actions implemented as part of the Habitat Action Plans. When considering species conservation within habitats and at particular sites, the following criteria* for species are worth taking into account in relation to prioritising effort:

•		Is the species of priority in the UK? (eg. Focus of monitoring and research, legally protected, subject of national action, forms part of international responsibility, good ‘indicator’ species for a declining taxonomic group or threatened habitat type).
•		Is the species unique to the area or does the area have a high proportion of the national population of the species?
•		Are there local opportunities available to contribute towards national targets?
•		Is the species in decline?
•		Is the species locally rare?
•		Is the species threatened locally (e.g. lack of management, effect of recreation, pollution or development).
•		Is the species locally distinct (high profile or popular species particularly associated with an area).

Some species or groups of species that could be considered include:

Stag beetle
Woodland birds, including the song thrush
Farmland birds, including the skylark
Bats
Hedgehog
Common dormouse
Butterflies
Glow-worm

* Criteria suggested by the UK Local Issues Advisory Group (part of the UK Biodiversity Group) were taken into account.

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