Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership

Biodiversity guidance for planning applicants

Please find local information on biodiversity requirements for planning applications in Lewisham’s Biodiversity Planning Guidance.

UK Biodiversity

This page sets out the history behind the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership and what they are doing towards Local and National Biodiversity targets. You will also find regular updates of interesting projects that our partners have carried out in the Borough along with quarterly achievements, along with ways in which you can get involved. 

In 1992 the UK Government signed the Rio Convention and committed themselves to halting biodiversity loss.  In response to this the UK Government published the  UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1994.   This led to the production of 436 action plans between 1995 and 1999 to help many of the UK’s most threatened species recover.   A review of the UK priority species list in 2007 identified 1,150 species and 65 habitats that met the BAP criteria at UK level. For information up to March 2012 on the progress of local and national plans please visit the Biodiversity Action Recording System (BARS) website. This is an old website, but still has a lot of useful information on it.  

Local Biodiversity Action Plans

There are 119 local biodiversity action partnerships and nine regional biodiversity that have been established across England.  This  has helped bring about a groundswell of activity and innovation to meet the challenges faced by our biodiversity.

The role of local biodiversity action plans

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAP) identify priorities for biodiversity conservation at a local level.  They work to deliver agreed actions and targets for priority habitats and species and can focus on locally important wildlife and sites.  They aim to reflect the values of local people and provide a focus for local initiatives hope to further the wellbeing of their local areas.  LBAPs, including the one in Lewisham are delivered through wide local partnerships that involve wildlife organisations, local authorities, businesses and other interested parties.  More information about the achievements of LBAPs can be found at Natural England’s report, ‘The Achievements of local biodiversity partnerships in England.’ The functions of LBAPs are:

• To translate national targets for species and habitats into effective action at the local level,
• To identify targets for species and habitats important to the local area, reflecting the values of local people,
• To stimulate effective local partnerships to ensure programmes for biodiversity conservation are developed and maintained in the long term,
• To raise awareness of the need for biodiversity conservation and enhancement in the local context,
• To ensure opportunities for conservation and enhancement of biodiversity are promoted, understood and rooted in policies and decisions at the local level,
• To provide a basis for monitoring and evaluating local action for biodiversity priorities, at both national and local levels

The Environment Act 2021

The Environment Act 2021 requires that Public authorities who operate in England to consider what they can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity in England. As a public authority, we must:

1. consider what you can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity
2. agree policies and specific objectives based on your consideration
3. act to deliver your policies and achieve your objectives

The London Borough of Lewisham fulfils this duty through A Natural Renaissance for Lewisham.

 The new Lewisham Biodiversity Action Plan was endorsed by Mayor and Cabinet on 3rd November 2021. 

Lewisham Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)

Lewisham’s first Biodiversity Action Plan was written in a document called ‘A Natural Renaissance for Lewisham’ in 2007. The  document set out the Partnership’s aspirations for the immediate future regarding the conservation of nature across the Borough.  Progress between 2007-2011 can be found on the new BARS website or you can have a look at the summary spreadsheet produced by the Partnership. The BAP was then updated on 2015 and covered 2015-2020.

The latest update of ‘A Natural Renaissance for Lewisham‘ was ratified by Mayor and Cabinet in November 2021. The partnership’s past achievements can be viewed in the BAP and below in the quarterly reports.

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership

The Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership was established in 1999 to develop an action plan for the Borough’s wildlife and natural environment. Presently, the Partnership consists of Lewisham Council, Glendale Managed Services, the Environment Agency, the Qwaggy Waterways Action Group, the Creekside Education Trust, London Wildlife Trust, Horniman Museum and Gardens and,  most importantly a range of local groups and individuals.  All these groups have an interest in conserving and enhancing Lewisham’s Biodiversity. The work of the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership has operated in tandem with that of the London Biodiversity Partnership and has taken a considered approach in order that Lewisham’s Biodiversity Action Plan be visionary, pragmatic, achievable and inclusive. The group meets 4 times a year to discuss their achievements and issues that may have arisen.  A copy of the minutes of these meetings can be found below.

Lewisham Biodiversity partnership – minutes & meetings

The next Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership will be held on 17th July 2024 at 5pm via MS Teams.  Please contact Jess Kyle if you would like to get involved.

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 24th April 2024

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 24th January 2024

For previous meeting minutes not listed here, please email Jess Kyle who would be happy to send them to you.

January – March 2024 Achievements

Outputs

Lewisham Biodiversity partners carried out 144 events (3 environmental education, 134 volunteering events and 7 walks and presentations). 1436 adults and 74 children were engaged in activities in this quarter. 4502 hours of volunteering work was carried out.

Highlights

Three projects in Lewisham were successful in securing funding from the 2023 round of the GLA’s Rewild London Fund:

Northbrook Park Wetlands (LBL, Baring Trust
Deptford Creek SINC Link (Creekside Education Trust)
Lewisham Orchards for Wildlife and People (The Orchard Project, LBL)

Red Kites were seen over Hilly Fields and River Pool Linear Park.

Events

• 7-12 May, Sydenham Wells Park, Teatro Vivo event – Common
• 11 May, Forster Memorial Park and Waterlink Way, Warbler Watch led by James Newton
• 11 May 11-3, Sydenham Garden Wynell Road site, Plant sale and community event
• 16 May, Chinbrook Meadows, Litter Pick
• 1 June, Sue Godfrey Nature Park 40^th anniversary fete
• 9 June, Sydenham Wells Park, Dog show
• 16 June, Sydenham Wells Park, plant sale
• 22 June – 13 July, 3 Rivers Cleanup events, booking essential. Starting with a walk from Lower Sydenham to Brookmill Park on 22 June – all welcome!
• 14 July, Ladywell and Brockley Cemeteries, Annual Open Day
• 15 August, Sydenham Wells Park, bat walk with London Wildlife Trust

2023 – A summary of the year and previous years can be found below.
An excel spreadsheet of all the outputs for the year is also available.

The partnership’s achievements between October 2010 – December 2023

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