TVERC plays a key role in the survey, selection and maintenance of information on Local Wildlife Sites. Until recently these were known as Wildlife Heritage Sites in Berkshire and County Wildlife Sites in Oxfordshire.
Local Wildlife Sites are selected due to the presence of important characteristic or threatened habitats or species included in local or national Biodiversity Action Plans.
- In Berkshire there are 764 Local Wildlife Sites representing 8% of the county land area (2009).
- In Oxfordshire there are 349 Local Wildlife Sites covering 2% of Oxfordshire (2009).
Local Geological Sites exhibit important geological and geomorphological features. Recent work on Local Geological Sites, previously known as Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS), has expanded the number of sites in Berkshire from one to thirteen. This work has relied on additional sources of funding and close co-operation with the Berkshire Geoconservation Group. The Oxfordshire Geological Trust has been responsible for the selection of the forty-four Local Geological Sites in Oxfordshire.
Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites are non statutory sites that may be privately or publicly owned and vary in size and shape from ponds, green lanes, small meadows and sarsen stones to much larger areas of ancient woodland, heathland, grasslands, active quarries, large geomorphological features and commons.
Government tasks Local Authorities with the designation and protection of such sites through the planning system. The work TVERC carries out on Local Wildlife Sites is one of the main services TVERC supplies to Local Authorities in Berkshire and Oxfordshire. TVERC also assists in reporting on the status of these sites in order that Local authorities fulfil their duties in the reporting under Annual Monitoring reports as well as the the new National Indicator 197: Improved Local Biodiversity – a measure of the proportion of Local Sites where positive conservation management has been or is being implemented.
Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites are much more than sites which need to taken into consideration in the planning system. Local Wildlife Sites and Local Geological Sites are a key component in the maintenance of the diversity of wildlife and geology in the UK.
Local Wildlife Sites are targets for positive management through advice and grants. In Oxfordshire, the Wildlife Sites Project has been working with landowners for many years to encourage positive management. The project officer is based with the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT). The Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) also play a key role in providing advice on management. Environmental stewardship schemes such as Countryside Stewardship, Environmentally Sensitive Areas and now the Higher Level stewardship Scheme can provide grant aid to help maintain and enhance the importance of these sites.
To read more on Wildlife Sites in Berkshire and Oxfordshire please download these leaflets:
Berkshire Local Wildlife Sites
Oxfordshire Local Wildlife Sites
Survey work is carried out by TVERC staff and experienced volunteers. The information collected is used to assess sites against a range of criteria. TVERC has been working with others, including Buckinghamshire County Council, to produce standard criteria, following guidelines produced by DEFRA. This will allow consistent site selection within the three counties.
You can read or download the criteria here:A site selection panel meets during the year to assess the results of the site surveys. The panel comprises representatives from TVERC, the local authorities, BBOWT, Natural England and local wildlife recorders. Panel decisions result in sites being designated, de-selected or deferred as LWS. Landowners are made aware of these panel decisions and have an opportunity to challenge them.
Once any remaining issues about the decisions have been resolved, maps of the location of these sites are then distributed to local authority planning and development control teams (as well as other TVERC partners) for use within the constraints checking process. LWS can then become material considerations within the planning process, including the Local Development Framework.
List of LWS in Oxford City area
List of LWS in South Oxfordshire area
List of LWS in Vale of White Horse area
List of LWS in West Oxfordshire area
Map of LWS in Oxford City area
Map of LWS in South Oxfordshire area
Map of LWS in Vale of White Horse area
Map of LWS in West Oxfordshire area