Bristol City Council have announced an ecological plan to ‘protect Bristol’s natural life’. The Council’s One City Strategy aims to manage one third of Bristol’s land for wildlife, reducing pesticides and improving water quality.
The Council commissioned Taunton-based Geckoella Ltd to conduct an ecology survey of sites that have potential to contribute to wildlife connectivity across the city. Their survey includes the Floating Harbour and Bathurst Basin. They have been focusing on sites identified as natural or informal green (or blue) space, which also fall into the West of England Nature Recovery Network.
Becky Belfin (Bristol City Council’s Nature Conservation Officer) informs us that:
“most of the sites being surveyed are parks sites, and for these Geckoella will be using the survey data to inform and prioritise actions and investment to enhance biodiversity. The surveys of the Floating Harbour will be used to inform future strategy for the harbour area, and may also be used to inform future wildlife or green infrastructure enhancements if/when opportunities arise.”
We look forward to seeing the results of the survey, probably some time in December.