Tackling a 'biodiversity crisis' by creating open spaces

Work is being done to increase the number of open spaces so the amount of people living within 15 minutes of a decent green space should also rise within the next decade.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) has put forward its  first draft of the Local Nature Recovery Strategy,which has now been released for public consultation

GMCA hopes to increase the amount of tree canopy cover, restore and create 1,800 hectares of wildlife-rich land and bring half of Local Wildlife Sites into active management for nature conservation.

The draft strategy praised Bolton’s Elizabeth Park as a shining example of putting green space at the heart of new development and infrastructure.

Jane Wilcock, a founder of the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park, said: “I think it’s a step in the right direction, there’s a real will to create more green spaces in North Manchester.

“There’s the pressure of population growth, so those green areas are under a lot of pressure, and Greater Manchester is trying to balance that with the creation of green spaces.

“I think green spaces and people need to work in symbiosis, side by side.

“We hope to have a very active consultation.”

There will be an open green meeting hosted by the Friends of Harwood and Longsight Park to discuss the strategy on December 17.

It will be held in the Harwood Methodist Hall at 6.30pm.

A key goal of the strategy is to address biodiversity loss in Greater Manchester.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham declared a “biodiversity emergency” in 2022 because of the significant loss of wildlife.

Since 1995, the North West has lost 64 per cent of rabbits, 44 per cent of red foxes, 24 per cent of hedgehogs and eight per cent of brown hares.

Nearly two thirds of rabbits in the North West have been lost over the last 30 years (Image: Pixabay) One in six UK species are now threatened with extinction – and one in four species of mammal, according to the strategy.

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The strategy seeks to address this by creating more nature-friendly multi-use spaces that are connected so wildlife can move safely between them.

GMCA plans to create green spaces along existing and new streets, highways and cycleways as part of the Bee Network.

Nearly a quarter of hedgehogs in the North West have been lost over the last 30 years (Image: Dorset Wildlife Trust) Cllr Tom Ross, leader of the Green City Region Partnership, said: “Nature is fundamental to the success of Greater Manchester, but it is abundantly clear that it needs our help.

“We can all do more to improve the state of nature across the city-region and protect green spaces for everyone to enjoy.

“Our new plan for nature will sit at the heart of our drive for nature recovery, providing a roadmap for how we can all work together to help nature recover and where we need to focus our efforts to have the biggest impact.

“I would urge all residents to have their say here so we can help nature recover together.”

Following the launch of the consultation for the development of the Greater Manchester Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) Natural England Chair Tony Juniper and Chief Executive Marian Spain visited two regional sites with Mayor Andy Burnham, to learn more about the work being done to drive nature recovery and development in the combined authority area.

The visit included a showcase of both Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and impacts of the LNRS. 

(Image: Agency)

The LNRS will be the foundation for nature’s recovery in Greater Manchester, outlining how space can be made for nature where it’s needed most.

It sets out a vision for everyone working together to deliver a resilient network for nature across the city-region, connecting and enhancing wild spaces so that people and nature can thrive.

Mr Burnham said: “Our natural spaces are so important for our residents’ physical and mental wellbeing, so it is key that we involve everyone in the development of our Local Nature Recovery Strategy.
“I am proud of the progress we have made in Greater Manchester since we declared a biodiversity emergency in 2022, and it is particularly positive to see the contribution new developments across the city-region can make to biodiversity.
“There is still a long way to go however, so it is great to see the government taking this seriously and seeing first-hand the work that is going on in Greater Manchester to lead the way in nature recovery.”

(Image: Agency) The Northstone site in Bolton is showcasing how biodiversity can be increased as part of a residential development of 102 homes, combatting both nature and housing crises simultaneously. At its core, Northstone highlights how a planning application should achieve the minimum 10 per cent biodiversity uplift onsite.  

 As part of the development, 1.5 hectares of woodland and 1.2 hectares of lowland meadow have been created in the nearby fields as well as 710m of hedgerow. From post-development to pre-development the site has achieved an uplift of 15.4 per cent in area habitats and 423 per cent in hedgerow units, therefore going above the 10 per cent government requirement and allowing the surplus to be used to offset planning applications that cannot meet the 10% requirements in the area. 

The site itself is multifunctional, providing nature and greenspace to residents, including a large pond, while also contributing to accessible provision outlined in Natural England’s Green Infrastructure Framework. This includes the incorporation of Sustainable Drainage Systems.

Jonathan England, Development Director at Northstone, said: “This was no mean feat and despite our best efforts including woodland belts being retained and improved, new hedgerows included within both the landscape design and onsite boundaries and the creation of marshy and wet ephemeral habitats we were falling short.

"There was a significant deficit of woodland, grassland and low distinctiveness habitat so we had to think differently and work even harder to achieve what we needed and it was thanks to an investment in an off-site area that helped us achieve our goals.  It’s this dedication to finding solutions that I am particularly proud of and it was my pleasure to highlight our collective achievements and to showcase this on the tour.”

Greater Manchester Combined Authority will be holding drop-in sessions where people can give their say on how nature recovery should be prioritised.

The drop-in sessions will be held at the following venues:

Moss Bank Café, Bolton: 7 Jan 2025, 10am-1pm

Mill Gate Shopping Centre, Bury: 8 Jan 2025, 1pm-4pm

You can also view the draft plan for nature and give feedback online at: www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/lnrs