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.   

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.

Annual Reports

The members of the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership submits data on activities and outputs every quarter. This includes conservation actions, engagement initiatives, and planning-related biodiversity enhancements. Quarterly data is collated into an annual report, providing a comprehensive overview of achievements and trends. This annual review supports strategic planning and demonstrates compliance with statutory biodiversity duties under the Environment Act 2021 (see above). Details of the outputs from the last 4 years can be found by clicking on the relevant links below. For further details, please see the annual summary pages below.

Annual BARS summary January – December 2021
Annual BARS summary January – December 2022
Annual BARS summary January – December 2023
Annual BARS summary January – December 2024

Data Captured

The reporting process records a range of indicators that reflect the Partnership’s impact:

• Volunteer Engagement:
  Number of volunteers participating in biodiversity-related activities, including Nature’s Gym sessions and Friends group projects.
• Educational Outreach:
  Delivery of environmental education sessions for schools, community groups, and the public, fostering awareness and engagement.
• Biodiversity Enhancements:
  Habitat improvements such as installation of bird boxes, bat boxes, stag beetle loggeries, bug hotels, hedgerows, and living roofs.
• Planning Contributions:
  Ecological advice and biodiversity gains secured through planning applications, ensuring developments deliver measurable net gains for nature

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership

The Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership (LBP) plays a pivotal role in delivering biodiversity improvements across the borough. Established in 1999, the Partnership brings together Lewisham Council, conservation organisations, community groups, and volunteers to implement the objectives of the Borough’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) and contribute to wider environmental strategies, including the Climate Emergency Action Plan and Local Nature Recovery Strategy. Presently, the Partnership consists of Lewisham Council, Glendale Managed Services, the Environment Agency, the Qwaggy Waterways Action Group, the Creekside Discovery Centre, 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 21st January 2026 at 5pm via MS Teams.  Please contact Jess Kyle if you would like to get involved.

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 15th October 2025

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 9th July 2025

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 30th April 2025

Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership minutes from 22nd January 2025

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

October – December 2025 Achievements (To follow)

July – September 2025 Achievements

Thank you to all who attended the quarterly Partnership meeting on Wednesday. We had good discussions especially about hedge laying and reed cutting, and as always, about all the great activities that are happening in Lewisham thanks to you all. Please find attached the slides and minutes from the meeting, and the quarterly BARS update.

Important reminder that the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) public consultation is open until 29 October, so this is your chance to have your say here: London LNRS – Commonplace.

The two parts of the LNRS to take a look before submitting your feedback:

1. locations identified for nature recovery: London’s LNRS Local Habitat Map
2. the strategy (referred to as the Statement of Biodiversity Priorities): London Local Nature Recovery Strategy – Statement of Biodiversity Priorities

Events

• 5 October, 5:30pm, Riverdale Sculpture Park, Bat Walk with Citizen Zoo
• 31 October, 11am-1pm, Chinbrook Meadows, Volunteer session focusing on boardwalks by tennis courts
• 31 October, 12pm-3pm, Northbrook Park Wetlands, Family-friendly event with Thames21
• 2 November, 10:30am, Tree and River Walk with Paul Wood
• 22 November, 11am-1pm, Chinbrook Meadows, Volunteer session focusing on the new wetlands on the Bromley side
• 4 December, 11am-3pm, Chinbrook Meadows, Volunteer session with Froglife and Glendale focusing on the pond near Chinbrook Road entrance

Outputs

Lewisham Biodiversity partners carried out 398 events (78 environmental education, 173 volunteering events and 147 walks and presentations). 3961 adults and  1824 children were engaged in activities in this quarter.  2949 hours of volunteering work was carried out.

Highlights

A Brown long-eared bat was found in one of the new bat boxes in Beckenham Place Park. These larger boxes were installed last year from the Environmental levy from events in the Park.

Northbrook Park Wetlands were officially opened on 14^th October with an event featuring a volunteer session and pond dipping with local schoolchildren, volunteers and councillors discovering a wide range of species already living in the ponds, including newts, dragonfly and damselfly larvae, pond snails and diving beetles. The project was delivered through a broad partnership including Lewisham Council, Glendale, Baring Trust, Thames21, Network Rail and many enthusiastic local volunteers.

Many kingfishers were spotted this quarter, including some adults seen flying with their young during volunteer sessions and bird surveys (photo by Dusty Gedge).  

Harebells were in bloom this year on Blackheath in an area highlighted by local residents, which was left unmown to allow these wildflowers to flourish.

April – June 2025 Achievements

We recently held the quarterly Partnership meeting last week which started and agreed on the 2025 projects that will receive funding from the Kenneth White Legacy Award. Thank you for everyone who applied and who voted on the applications. We received a record number of applications (for total £12,224.69) and record number of votes (17).

Thanks to the remaining additional funds from the ex-Friends of Beckenham Place Park and increased Council contributions we are able to fund 12 applications this year for a total £6,417.69. For more information please visit the Kenneth White page.

The successful projects this year will help monitor and enhance Lewisham’s biodiversity by restoring and improving habitats, including two ponds, creating new habitats such as a bee bank and bog garden, enriching habitats and supporting pollinators by planting wildlife-friendly plants. Several projects will support bat conservation through monitoring and roosting provision, while others will deliver hands-on training, and seasonal activities to strengthen environmental education and community engagement. Please find a summary of the projects in the meeting minutes and slides attached (BARs sheet also attached).

We are excited to share the fantastic news that the Council’s bid was successful and secured funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Nature Towns and Cities grant. The project aims to help local people enjoy more of the borough’s green and blue spaces, boost health and wellbeing, and increase wildlife and biodiversity. Thank you all who responded to the survey and provided support for the bid. We are looking forward to working with you all on this project.

More hedgehog sightings than usual across the borough including a hedgehog family in a resident’s garden in Grove Park (photo by Lewisham Housing team).  

There were some exciting butterfly sightings as well. Green hairstreak was recorded in Beckenham Place Park (photo by Steven Lofting) and on Blackheath, Dusty Gedge spotted a Wall butterfly, on a wall

January – March 2025 Achievements

Thanks to all who joined the quarterly meeting last week which started with a presentation by Dr. Louise Rondell and Dr. Emma Jackson from Goldsmiths. Louise and Emma summarised achievements from the Placemaking and the Rivers of Lewisham project (e.g. report, podcast, policy briefing) and shared the good news that the British Academy selected their project to showcase their work. There will be workshops and other events (e.g. in Petts Wood see above), and they would like to highlight the Lewisham Biodiversity Partnership and the 3 Rivers Cleanup as best practice.

Outputs

Lewisham Biodiversity partners carried out 337 events (105 environmental education, 195 volunteering events and 33 walks and presentations). 2039 adults and 3095 children were engaged in activities in this quarter.  8039 hours(!) of volunteering work was carried out.

Highlights

There is an update on the Chinbrook Meadows Wetlands project which helps to reduce pollution washing into the River Quaggy, improves water quality, reduces flooding, boosts biodiversity and provides an excellent space for recreation. Thames21 also created a short video about the project.

Brown hairstreak eggs were found in new locations in Lewisham extending the species’ distribution in London: Blythe Hill Fields, Hilly Fields, Northbrook Park, Forster Memorial Park.

Sparrowhawk was spotted in Dacres Wood and we received multiple sightings of pheasants, an unusual visitor (and sight) in Lewisham.

Carpets of wood anemone in Grove Park Local Nature Reserve and Forster Memorial Park

Events

The following events are coming up in the next few days, weeks and months:

• 3 May 11-1:30pm, Albion Millennium Green, World Labyrinth Day
• 10 May 11-1pm, Brookmill Park and Brookmill Nature Reserve, Guided Railway Walk
• 22 May 11am, Hillcrest Wood Pond, planting day with Froglife
• 22 May 9-10pm, bat walk on Blythe Hill Fields, meet by tiny forest
• 31 May 1-4pm, Chinbrook Meadows Wetlands, London Rivers Week event
• 31 May 11-4pm, Beckenham Place Park,Love BPP Community Day
• 31 May 2-4pm, Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries, Guided tour, part of Brockley Max
• 31 May 11-3pm, Sue Godfrey Nature Park, Sue Godfrey Nature Park Fete
• 1 June, Gilmore Road Park, public meeting to establish Friends group
• 1 June, Verdant Lane Community Garden, vegetable growing session
• 2 June, Petts Wood, Tales from the Kyd Brook – A story-sharing workshop, London Rivers Week event
• 7-8 June, Forest Hill Walking Festival, including a Nature Reserve challenge walk visiting the reserves along the railway
• 13 July, Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries, Open day with nature walk(s)
• 21 June – 12 July, 3 Rivers Cleanup, various sessions, dates and locations on the 3RCU website, please remember to book!

Please continue to send us your records so we can include them in the output reports!

The partnership’s achievements between October 2010 – December 2024

To read the report, click on the image and then the ‘i’ this will open a PDF document.

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