6 - Nature and biodiversity
We are experiencing an ecological crisis, alongside climate change. Our wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystems are at risk if action is not taken. Planting more trees to provide shade; protecting and extending wild spaces for nature; increasing biodiversity; restoring our land to isolate carbon; and building our resilience to flooding, will all contribute to reduce climate change impacts. Improving the quality of our natural spaces across the borough will also lead to better health and wellbeing.
Delivery update and future areas of focus
Increasing treecover
- 1000 trees were planted during 2023, and support has been secured from Gloucestershire County Council to plant a further 600. These were a mix of native and non-native species, large and small, short- and long-lived, with both insect and wind pollinated species. Increasing the diversity of tree species grown in Cheltenham is a key adaptation strategy for building resilience to climate change-related threats.
- Looking ahead: we will evaluate the contribution our tree-planting makes to offsetting our carbon emissions in a robust and rigorous way
Managing council owned land to increase biodiversity
- Our green spaces team provide a comprehensive annual summary to pick out the wide range of activities carried out to improve biodiversity across the borough. This has included the implementation of no-mow May policy across a range of sites, alongside perennial and wildflower planting and work to reduce invasive Himalayan Balsam
- A seedbank of local wildflower species has been collected from north-facing grassland on Leckhampton Hill, to support wider replanting schemes across the borough
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership (GLNP)
- The council worked with GLNP on their natural capital mapping project and we are developing our approach to BNG
- Looking ahead: We have appointed an ecologist to support the development of our approach to BNG, alongside its inclusion within the Strategic Local Plan and work being carried out to develop habitat banks
Natural flood management (NFM)
- Cheltenham Borough Council worked with the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) to implement a swale (drainage ditch) for natural flood management at Naunton Park. GWT have recently completed a scheme at Warden Hill to create roof and roadside rain gardens. These measures will slow the flow of surface water runoff and help to prevent drainage networks and rivers downstream becomeing overloaded. The rain gardens will improve biodiversity and improve water quality by allowing contaminants to breakdown naturally before they enter watercourses
- Looking ahead: Cheltenham Borough Council are also working with Gloucestershire County Council on their scheme to install roadside rain gardens in Oakley. We are part of the new Gloucestershire NFM delivery group, which aims to increase rural NFM schemes upstream of the urban area
Allotments and community green spaces
- Existing allotments are being actively managed to ensure they're being used. Additional sites have been identified in new developments such as Elms Park and in the west of Cheltenham
- Looking ahead: The team will actively identify new sites and ensure that green space commitments are honoured through the planning process
Urban greening
- The EU funding secured in 2019 was spent on a range of urban greening projects. The green space team have built on these projects across the borough to improve the quality of urban spaces
- Looking ahead: The development of Strategic Local Plan policies will provide further opportunity to encourage urban greening
Ongoing and completed actions
Priority in 2021-23
- Update local planning strategies and work closely with other authorities, including Gloucestershire County Council, to significantly increase tree cover across the borough and ensure existing trees are properly protected, to store carbon, support nature, aid flood protection and deliver health and wellbeing benefits. Increased canopy cover can also provide shade for people and buildings, cooling the air and ground temperatures in extreme heat
- Manage council-owned land to increase biodiversity and reduce carbon pollution, for example through reduced pesticide use and mowing and increased planting of wildflowers and perennials
Priority in 2024-26
- Focus on nature-based solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation. For example, work with a range of partners to develop opportunities for Natural Flood Management (NFM) schemes across the borough to help mitigate flooding and adapt to climate change, using nature to hold and slow water run-off
- Seek to actively restore and expand ecosystems in line with the Environment Act 2021, with a focus on enhancing biodiversity and natural carbon sinks. This could be through market based mechanisms that improve and safeguard our natural environment, for example the development of a habitat bank for biodiversity net gain credits
- Work with the Gloucestershire Local Nature Partnership and their Natural Capital mapping project to help identify nature and ecosystem restoration opportunities across Cheltenham, to reverse and restore habitats, support species and promote ecosystem quality and function
Priority in 2027-28
- Encourage and influence the uptake of green roofs on roof tops with green roof potential to help support urban greening in the community
- Identify demand for allotments with a view to increasing allotment use and developing land for community spaces and provide opportunities for those that may not have access to their own garden