How do you feel about the core activities and principles we have set out here?

Positive

What do you like or dislike about our core activities and principles? How do think they could be improved? If you have nothing to add, just type 'none'.

None

The draft strategy contains a lot of background information. How would you like to see the core elements of the Biodiversity Strategy - the vision, core activities and principles, and objectives - presented?

A document with background information online

Of the areas we have set objectives for, which is the most important to you?

1. Designated sites

2. Trees

3. Habitats

4. Species

5. Parks and green spaces

6. Access to nature

7. Greening the grey (planning and urban greening)

How do you feel about the core activities and principles we have set out here?

Negative

What do you like or dislike about our core activities and principles? How do think they could be improved? If you have nothing to add, just type 'none'.

See below.

We have provided the draft document, which includes a lot of background information. If you have any comments on this that do not fit in elsewhere please provide them below.

This was a really hard document to read and respond to. The Commonplace framework works well for transport consultations but is not well suited to a document of this kind. In particular, the size of the boxes in the response section never get larger than one line, so you can't see your whole response at once. This is a known method of survey design to encourage short/one line responses rather than the lengthly, in-depth consideration which these important topics deserve. I also don't like the layout of the main strategy document. You have to plough through pages of definitions - which no-one is reasonably going to comment on - to get to anything about intentions or actions. You should move the definitons to annexes and lead with a list of actions, with dates/timelines on each. There is also nothing in the strategy document about difficult prioritisation and dealing with pushback. It is noted that the Council is facing budget cuts, and clearly in a document of this length not everything that's suggested here will be popular with everyone. What are the funding priorities, and what could be moved onto volunteer groups? How will you deal with backlash from anti-environment groups claiming to act in the name of business, or residents? The proposed reporting periods in the action plan are also much too long. It suggests that Camden will report on progress every five years - this is much too long a period in between reporting. Pick some key indicators (e.g. total number of trees, total bird species reported in RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch) and report on less, but more often - yearly would be much better. Camden Council should also commit now to press releasing the results of these key indiciators to the Camden New Journal. On top of that, I don't agree with some of the definitions used in the definitons section. It is not correct or useful to use the words biodiversity and nature interchangeably. Biodiversity is a technical term for breadth of species or genetics. It is easily possible for nature to be present without being biodiverse (e.g. crop monoculture, a golf course, a mowed lawn). I notice however that through the rest of the strategy document you correctly refer to nature rather than biodiversity (e.g. "Access to nature", "experiences of nature"). Finally, you need to be more specific around the definition of access. For instance, the super-local (within a 5 minute walk, the park at the end of the road) versus the semi-local Hampstead Heath (special nature, accessible within an hour for basically everyone in Camden, but only superlocal for the wealthiest communities). The pandemic has emphasised the value of superlocal nature above semi-local nature, particularly for poorer communities, and Camden's future planning should reflect this richly patterned approach rather than over-targetting sites that are already treasured.

The draft strategy contains a lot of background information. How would you like to see the core elements of the Biodiversity Strategy - the vision, core activities and principles, and objectives - presented?

A document with background information online

Of the areas we have set objectives for, which is the most important to you?

1. Access to nature

2. Habitats

3. Greening the grey (planning and urban greening)

4. Parks and green spaces

5. Trees

6. Species

7. Designated sites

How do you feel about the core activities and principles we have set out here?

Positive

What do you like or dislike about our core activities and principles? How do think they could be improved? If you have nothing to add, just type 'none'.

The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) greatly value Camden Council’s concerted effort to improve local green spaces for the benefit of its human and non-human residents. We appreciate the proposed Biodiversity Vision and Strategy, and encourage holistic nature conservation management and ongoing comprehensive nature education (public and schools) in the borough of Camden. TCV also support Camden Council’s considerable effort to continue developing partnerships with environmental organisations, greenspace community groups, residents associations and friends of parks groups. “TCV charity would be keen to continue the successful long-term partnership with Camden Council in supporting people & places within the borough”. Thank you for the opportunity to have our say on the Camden Biodiversity Strategy

We have provided the draft document, which includes a lot of background information. If you have any comments on this that do not fit in elsewhere please provide them below.

The following are TCV’s key recommendations: * calculate amenity, ecosystem service and community value of our green spaces, and apply these in cost-benefit calculations when giving building permits or when considering creation/removal of green spaces/street trees etc. * promote green building strategies and increase the greenspace requirements for building developments in the borough * plan and budget for effective and comprehensive green compliance implementation * no building on existing green spaces, including ecologically valuable 'brown field' sites (see for example Railways Fields in Harringay) * increase creative green flagship projects such as changing disused/underused public structures and spaces into green spaces that offer real public value (eg the Camden Highline and Mile End Park green bridge over Mile End Road in E3) * more pocket parks, especially in deprived areas, planted up with ecologically valuable shrubs/flowers, moving away from monoculture amenity grass and shrubs (eg no more laurel) * promote greener policies generally, taking into account ecosystem service/community values of natural spaces in Camden, such as greater protection for all trees against casual insurance claims * plan for and ensure the sustainable management of existing green spaces and nature * educate borough residents, and especially the younger generation, about the value of green spaces and biologically diverse urban nature (with particular emphasis on the less iconic non-pictorial existing species and microbiota), as well as the importance of environmental safeguarding * encourage ongoing specialist nature surveys and Citizen Science throughout the borough * create more local nature reserves and plan to maintain them – consider a mosaic approach mixing publicly accessible relaxation areas with restricted access for people and dogs (for example, demarcated by attractive natural fencing such as at Meanwhile Gardens in Kensal Green/Maida Hill, W10). * create more nature interpretation signage for public information * protect street trees (especially veteran trees) from felling and excessive pruning and increase the borough’s stock of trees * leave sufficient green space around the trees where possible and reconsider the ecological appropriateness of tarmacking right up to tree stems. * continue and expand relaxed mowing regimes to promote diverse vegetation and habitats in parks and on road verges * create and promote green/wildlife corridors, using verges, street trees, public and private gardens, green walls and roofs, public green spaces, cemeteries, sports fields, waterways * support and develop community food growing projects and orchards * improve waterways for biodiversity * add man-made wildlife habitats such as bird/bat boxes or insect hotels, where appropriate * create additional designated outdoor natural classrooms and play areas, for example on social housing estates, rather than using nature reserves as classrooms (see the upcoming City of London review of forest school impacts on Hampstead Heath; see also the Kew Gardens children’s play area) * improved strategies to discourage litter and fly tipping, as well as budgeted enforcement management (the Camden Council litter reporting mechanism could be more straightforward and responsive) * charging residents for green waste disposal appears to have led to increased green waste dumping on public land, which presumably costs more to remove, therefore reconsider this charge. * reinstate security services in public green spaces to discourage damaging and anti-social behaviour * a general ban on pesticides, educate about alternatives & holistic gardening & and only use them targeted to real emergencies for council work (see https://www.pan-uk.org/) * stipulate and source sustainable, non-polluting, management resources (reduce excess fertilisers that in fact promote a proliferation of ‘pests’; no plastic backing/netting on wildflower turf that may be labelled ‘degradable’ but is likely not ‘biodegradable’ as well as a nuisance to manage, likely ingested by soil fauna and a entanglement hazard for wildlife generally) * discourage/ban the use of leaf blowers – noise and air polluting, they disturb flora and fauna on the ground, and increase air pollution with allergens and microbes * promote a policy of reducing noise and air pollution created by horticultural tools (mufflers, insulation, alternative fuel sources) * discourage unnecessary light pollution with ecologically appropriate street & business lighting * promote nature conservation exhibitions, public information projects (cooperate with local museums/galleries) * incentivise business to fund these and local nature projects for residents – public image enhancement, 'free' advertising/promotion, green improvement business rate reductions

The draft strategy contains a lot of background information. How would you like to see the core elements of the Biodiversity Strategy - the vision, core activities and principles, and objectives - presented?

A document with background information online

Of the areas we have set objectives for, which is the most important to you?

1. Designated sites

2. Habitats

3. Species

4. Trees

5. Parks and green spaces

6. Greening the grey (planning and urban greening)

7. Access to nature

How do you feel about the core activities and principles we have set out here?

Positive

What do you like or dislike about our core activities and principles? How do think they could be improved? If you have nothing to add, just type 'none'.

None

The draft strategy contains a lot of background information. How would you like to see the core elements of the Biodiversity Strategy - the vision, core activities and principles, and objectives - presented?

A document with background information online

Of the areas we have set objectives for, which is the most important to you?

1. Species

2. Habitats

3. Access to nature

4. Trees

5. Parks and green spaces

6. Greening the grey (planning and urban greening)

7. Designated sites

How do you feel about the core activities and principles we have set out here?

Positive

What do you like or dislike about our core activities and principles? How do think they could be improved? If you have nothing to add, just type 'none'.

Strategies to engage individual residents at the grassroots level, perhaps in or led by small area groups.

The draft strategy contains a lot of background information. How would you like to see the core elements of the Biodiversity Strategy - the vision, core activities and principles, and objectives - presented?

A document with background information online

Of the areas we have set objectives for, which is the most important to you?

1. Trees

2. Greening the grey (planning and urban greening)

3. Habitats

4. Access to nature

5. Parks and green spaces

6. Species

7. Designated sites