Where are we now?
The Park is a natural resource of local, regional, national and international importance.
It offers a rich variety of habitats and species and, provides great recreational
and leisure interest.
There are eight Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Regional Park,
all of which are defined as in ‘favourable condition’ by Natural England (2007).
Amwell, Rye Meads, Turnford and Cheshunt Pits, as well as Walthamstow Reservoirs,
form the Lea Valley Special Protection Area (SPA) and Ramsar sites. These are of
international importance. The Authority has a legal requirement to maintain features
of interest (e.g. the SSSIs and the internationally recognised RAMSAR and SPA sites);
continued enhancement of these sites is essential if its status is to be maintained.
A range of other non-statutory sites occur within the Park. They include 31 County
Wildlife Sites, 11 Areas of Metropolitan Importance and 26 areas of Borough Importance.
Conservation of the Park’s wildlife and habitats is directed by the Biodiversity
Action Plan (BAP). This sets out the targets, aims and aspirations of all partners
and stakeholders with the purpose of enhancing biodiversity within the Park boundaries.
Habitat Action Plans (HAP) have been prepared for rivers and streams, open water,
floodplain grassland and fen, wet woodland and the built environment. For wildlife,
Species Action Plans (SAP) have been prepared for the Park’s Otter, Water Vole,
Bittern, Early Marsh Orchid
What do we want to achieve?
To continue to enhance the existing ecological resource; to recover and restore
habitats and ensure they are resilient to climate change.
Wherever possible to expand the range of ecological values throughout the Park,
in order to enhance the habitats and ecosystems beyond the Park boundary.
We believe there are four main areas that will help us to achieve this:-
1. Lee Valley Ramsar Site and Special Protection Area and Sites of Special Scientific
Interest
- The Lee Valley Ramsar site and SPA (together with the eight SSSI’s in the Park)
are high priority features, and are of significance on a regional, national and
international scale.
- We want to ensure that any future development and management of the Park protects
and enhances the biodiversity that these sites provide, and that any impact of future
development beyond the Park boundary is also mitigated.
2. Locally designated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation
- The range of designated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation throughout the
Park, are of immense local value.
- We want to ensure that any future development and management of these sites will
protect and enhance biodiversity, in line with the needs and aspirations of the
Park
- We also want to ensure that future development and management of the wider Park,
and surrounding land, will not impact detrimentally on the biodiversity of these
sites.
3. The rest of the Park
- We believe that all areas can offer value and can contribute to the development
of the Park as a regional scale biodiversity resource.
- We want to ensure that any future development and management of the wider Park will
appropriately balance the protection and enhancement of biodiversity with other
uses, needs and aspirations.
- We also want to ensure that the future development and management of land around
the Park will not have any detrimental impact, and wherever possible will make a
positive contribution to the biodiversity of the Park.
4. Beyond the Park boundaries
- The Park is an important part of a larger biodiverse resource in the region, and
therefore effective ecological connections beyond the Park boundary are essential.
- We want to make sure that existing ecological connections are protected, enhanced,
and where possible, new connections are created.
- We will use our role as a statutory planning consultee to protect buffer areas from
unacceptable developments which could adversely impact on the Park’s biodiversity
values.
How will we deliver?
On our estate
We will:
- Ensure that we meet all statutory requirements to protect and enhance designated
sites, particularly those sites that lie within the Lee Valley Special Protection
Area and Sites of Special Scientific Importance.
- Undertake a long-term investment programme of habitat protection, enhancement and
management that will maximise biodiversity values throughout the Park.
- Prioritise our resources on activities that will deliver the greatest biodiversity
value for the resources available.
- Continue to refine the Lee Valley Biodiversity Action Plan, and Site Management
Plans, in order to provide detailed guidance for ongoing development and management
of the Park.
Working with others
- We will continue to work in partnership with other landowners and managers within
the Park to ensure development and land management practices give appropriate consideration
to biodiversity values, and contribute positively to the wider ecological network
of the Park.
- We will continue to work in partnership and assist with the delivery of other complementary
BAP targets to enhance the biodiversity of the Park and help create large scale
resilient ecosystems.
Beyond the Park boundaries
- We will continue to work in partnership with other landowners and managers outside
the Park boundary to enhance existing ecological connectivity, create new ecological
links, and increase biodiversity values across the region.