Wildlife > Wildlife Sites
Wildlife Sites
Wildlife Sites are the most important places for wildlife outside legally protected land such as Nature Reserves or Sites of Special Scientific Interest. There are almost 2,000 Wildlife Sites in Hertfordshire, totalling over 16,000 hectares.
The Wildlife Sites Partnership was set up in 1997 to identify and protect these sites, which were considered to be of significance for wildlife, in a local context. The include meadows, ponds, woodland and urban green spaces. This county-based system is now acknowledged and promoted nationally by DEFRA and applied across England.The Wildlife Sites Partnership in Hertfordshire includes HMWT, Herts Biological Records Centre, Natural England, the Countryside Management Service, Chilterns AONB, FWAG and the Environment Agency, and is led and coordinated by HMWT.
Working with partners through the Wildlife Sites system, HMWT assess Sites against agreed Selection Criteria by organising volunteer botanical surveyors, selecting Wildlife Sites, informing and advising landowners, protecting sites and monitoring both the sites and the effectiveness of the system. We provide advice and assistance for Wildlife Site owners and managers to promote appropriate management of the wildlife resource, ensuring its ongoing protection. We ensure Wildlife Sites are recognised through the relevant strategic and Local Development Framework planning processes. We maintain and develop the Wildlife Sites surveying and recording system, and contribute to developing, implementing and monitoring Wildlife Site targets in the Hertfordshire BAP.
If you would like to contact us about a Wildlife Site, please email Carol Lodge.
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