Local Sites System and
Engaging Landowners
Helen Woodman
Conservation Operations Manager
Worcestershire Wildlife Trust
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
What is the Local Sites System?
• County wide sites identified as important for
wildlife using site selection criteria
• Partnership approach involving local
authorities, NE, FC, EA, NFU, CLA, FWAG,
Wildlife Trusts
• Planning System: Identified in Local Plans
and future Development Framework
Documents
• Landowner liaison: Surveys and
management advice
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Local Sites System Example
Dorset
• Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI)
• Project started in 1991 with site selection
• P/T Liaison Officer 1993; F/T from 2004
• Free advisory visits offered to all owners
• 1250 sites and 850 owners; 82% of sites
privately owned
• Initial funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation
& English Nature
• Now mainly funded by Dorset WT: total
expenditure on liaison in 2006 approx £36k;
income £9k; cost to DWT £27k
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
2006 DEFRA guidance
“The positive engagement and co-operation
of land owners … can contribute
significantly to the success of Local Site
partnerships and their involvement should
be welcomed.”
“there are substantial benefits in establishing
a proactive programme of advice for land
managers”
“the most effective Local Site systems
actively provide advice and promote the
achievement of favourable condition of
sites by contacting and helping owners”
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Engaging Landowners
Engaging Landowners
Dorset
• Providing advice to owners on schemes and grants
and preparing applications
• Influencing targeting
• Around 100 applications drawn up from 1996-
2005; most successful
• Significant payments into the rural economy eg
£1.4m for agreements made in West Dorset from
1996-2000
• 2006 Dorset Grasslands Report - Identified future
priorities both for landowner advisory work and for
agri-environment schemes
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
On-farm Demonstration
Funding Opportunities
• Entry Level Scheme/Higher Level
Scheme (Natural England)
• County Biodiversity Grants
• Landfill Tax
• Focus on Landscape-scale
conservation
• Links to marketing of local produce
Food and drink, grazing animals projects
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Points for
Local Wildlife
Sites in HLS
targeting
(Produced by
Derbyshire Wildlife
Trust)
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Funding Opportunities
County Biodiversity Grants
• Positives
• Provide local variety orchard trees, grant
aid purchase of trees, fencing, installation
of water supplies, restoration projects large
e.g Hertfordshire CC 100k
and small £10 for a tree up to £1600
….sadly not all County Councils provide a
grant scheme
Protecting Wildlife for the Future
Funding Opportunities
Landfill Tax Species Biodiversity Scheme
• Directed from a landfill company to an environmental body
e.g. Biffaward, County Environmental Partnerships
• Approved organisations can apply to environmental body for
funds from new Species Biodiversity Scheme
Orchard restoration and creation is an example of a species
biodiversity project
New criteria; project does not need to be within 10miles of a
landfill site
Public access is not required but it helps to show the project
will be of benefit to the public and to show an approach of
sharing the benefits
Private landowners can apply to the approved organisation
for funds
Protecting Wildlife for the Future