Councillors will discuss the report that demonstrates the County Council’s approach to embedding biodiversity considerations across its policies, land management, infrastructure, public health, planning, and community engagement.
It sets out a whole organisation approach and commitment to working collaboratively with a wide range of partners, recognising the significance of Hampshire’s natural environment to the county’s identity, economy, health and wellbeing, and ability to respond to the challenges of climate change.
Key achievements include major habitat creation and restoration, significant tree and hedgerow planting, integration of nature-based solutions in infrastructure, strengthened monitoring, and strong partnerships for nature recovery.
Across the county, some of these key achievements include:
- 123,000 trees planted
- 230 hectares of chalk grassland restored at Butser Hill
- 225 Road Verges of Ecological Importance (RVEIs) designated, managed with species-specific cutting regimes
- Five Long-leaved Helleborine sites restored through targeted management including coppicing, raking, re-grazing and protective fencing
- 42 new community orchards established across parishes, schools, community farms and youth groups, with 765 fruit and nut trees planted
- Species recovery of the field-cricket in Hampshire at Shortheath Common - now one of only six successful field-cricket populations in southern England
The Biodiversity Duty Report is being presented to the Committee to support informed discussion and to help shape any additional recommendations before consideration by the County Council’s Cabinet on 17 March.
The report is available here.