Natural England funded exemplary Green Infrastructure projects 2012/13

You will need to submit project reporting with this template to release natural England project funding.

Reporting on progress of work

Name of Agreement: Hereford Green Infrastructure ProjectN.B. Hereford Urban Tree Forum has since changed its name to the Herefordshire Tree Forum.Funding contribution from Natural England: £15,000This report supports the invoice to Natural England for: £15,000NE purchase order: Already paid

Date:04/04/13 Final report

1. ) Progress towards Milestones:

[Please copy milestones from Memorandum of Agreement (MoA)]

Milestone Completed activity Fully achieved (Y/N)

Formalise Herefordshire Tree Forum /

Herefordshire Tree Forum formalised (please note change of name from Hereford Urban Tree Forum)

Y

Choose Formal Title for GI project

Dec 2011: GI project title agreed: Hereford Green Infrastructure Project

Y

Submit formal bid to NE & confirm financial and in-kind support from partners

Dec 2011: 1 bid submitted to NE and money / in-kind support secured

Y

Arrange first project steering group / inception meeting with NE

Meeting held with Hayley Pankhurst on 09.01.2012 Y

Confirm Project Steering Group, appoint project co-ordinator and chairperson; identify wider stakeholder group; identify project mentor

Nicky Davies identified as project Co-ordinator, (with Leonie Richardson taking over in August 2012).Steering group identified – members include Mo Burns, (Hereford Civic Society) Cllr Chave, Cllr Hubbard, Jeremy Evans & Mike Townsend (Woodland Trust), Kate Gathercole (New Leaf), Hayley Pankhurst (Natural England). Chair: Juliet Wheatley, Herefordshire CouncilWider stakeholder Group – Herefordshire Tree ForumMentor: Tracy Ricketts, Delegated Grants & Programme manager (Herefordshire Council)

Y

Review relevant strategies, studies, plans and projects

A review of parish plans was undertaken identifying environmental actions. This is available upon request. Meeting was held with Forward planning officers to identify potential sites in proposed development areas in relation to the Local Development Framework (LDF) and to tie in with existing plans such as the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).The project was developed from the Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy. Particular areas of Hereford city are highlighted in the GI strategy as either Hereford City Strategic corridors, Local enhancement zones, or Hereford Fringe zones.

Y

Review HC Parks & Highways grounds maintenance budgets to assess constraints/opportunities for on-going maintenance of new planting/other environmental works

First meeting held with Parks & Countryside team and representation from Amey Services. Outcome of this discussion is an agreement to tie in with existing management plans. There are ongoing discussions with the Parks manager in Herefordshire Council who has proposed sites for amended management regimes to be compatible with projects themes.

Y

Consider other mechanisms for paying for maintenance costs

This has been considered in discussions with the Parks & Countryside section of Herefordshire Council and voluntary

Y

support has been offered from a variety of different sections within Herefordshire Council as part of their annual voluntary work entitlement.Groups in receipt of the GIP grant had to demonstrate considerations for ongoing maintenance in their application forms.Advice was provided to applicants on the need for a sustainability and maintenance plan prior to application submission.

Contact Hereford City Council, parish councils/schools/voluntary groups/ businesses/communities/ individuals who may be interested in assisting with GI project

A brief was circulated to the Cabinet member for the Environment and the Environment Cabinet support member. All ward councillors (within the project area) were also briefed including Herefordshire Council members and Hereford City Council members. Schools in the remit area were identified and contacted with an introduction to the project and how they could get involved. The Officer who undertook this work is a member of the sustainability team in Herefordshire Council and was previously the Eco-schools co-ordinator.Other groups / individuals contacted and briefed on the project include – National Trust, Amey, voluntary personal travel planners, parish council co-ordinator, Ministry of Defence & Carillion, Broomy Hill Waterworks Museum Chairperson, Hereford Society of Model Engineers, Greening the Village, Hereford Skate Park, Hereford Cider Museum, Hereford Civic Society, Hereford in Bloom, Woodland Trust, Herefordshire Nature Trust, Friends of Castle Green, Hereford Lions, NFU, Burghill Valley Golf Course, Burghill Parish Council, Wyevale Nurseries, Hereford City Council, Network Rail, Holme Lacy College, Heineken and the Bulmer Foundation. Briefs were prepared for third sector, health & well-being, business and land managers.

Y

Organise publicity for project A meeting was held with the Herefordshire Council media officer who gave expert advice on appropriate communication and publicity options to maximise publicity of the project. Project briefs were prepared for schools, media, third sector, businesses, and health and well-being sectors.Individual challenge fund projects also carried out their own publicity as projects were delivered on the ground.

Y

GI audit – using maps in the GI Strategy as the baseline, undertake community mapping, utilising GPS and the HC IRIS systemIdentify constraints, deficiencies in existing GI (amount & type) and opportunities

31/03/12: 100 hectares of land with GI potential identified.One pilot community mapping sub-project utilising GPS secured. HC IRIS system capabilities assessed and found to be unsuitable for community mapping work.

Y

GI audit – refine & develop maps in the GI Strategy

31/03/12: Maps in the GI Strategy refined and developed / Completed project being fed in to GI Strategy

Y

Engage with landowners – HC Property Services, Highways & Parks, NHS & private landowners

Meeting held with HC officers including reps from Parks & Countryside, sustainability unit, ecology, media team, property services, project development team, forward planning, sustainable communities, Highways department. In addition meetings have been held with: NHS property services manager Broomy Hill Waterworks Museum Trust National Trust MOD & Carillion (Contractors) Bulmers Private Landowners Wheeled Sports for Hereford Ltd.

Y

Herefordshire Nature Trust Network Rail Burghill Valley Golf Course

Assess opportunities for local people to engage with practical conservation work on selected sites

Projects requiring volunteer support were widely publicised and a large number of potential volunteer groups identified and contacted including: Herefordshire Council HVOSS – Herefordshire Voluntary Organisations Support

Services Woodland Trust Herefordshire Nature Trust Transition Town groups Credenhill Wood Volunteers Local Nature Groups Cargills Herefordshire Tree Forum PTA groups Beaver Group Leaders / Ewyas Harold Beavers Bulmer Foundation Heineken Hereford Society of Model Engineers Holmer Allotments Youth Offenders Holme Lacy College Hereford Lions

Y

Identify if there are delivery mechanisms/funding opportunities for the proposed works & on-going maintenance

Project criteria included project / works maintenance requirements and sustainability plan.Funding opportunities were identified through discussions with the Project Development team in Herefordshire Council and the Woodland Trust. External funding for future maintenance on the Roman Road Avenue (GIP/12/18) was secured from Hereford Lions. Additional funding for schools was raised from e.g. PTA groups. Several projects are applying for additional grants to continue the work started with the GI projects e.g. Hereford Skate Park, Hereford Cider Museum, Herefordshire Nature Trust & Hereford Society of Model Engineers.

Y

Discuss opportunities with landowners

Hereford City Council & 7 Parish Council presentations were completed in the early stages. Meeting held with HC officers including reps from Parks & Countryside, sustainability unit, ecology, media team, property services, project development team, forward planning, sustainable communities, Highways department. Meetings have also been held with: NHS property services manager Broomy Hill Waterworks Museum Trust National Trust MOD & Carillion (Contractors) Bulmers Private Landowners Wheeled Sports for Hereford Ltd. Herefordshire Nature Trust Network Rail Burghill Valley Golf Course

Y

Consult GI stakeholders The Herefordshire Tree Forum meets quarterly and each meeting covers the GI project as a set agenda item. Update and Final PowerPoint presentations delivered to Herefordshire Tree Forum and Hereford City Council.

Y

Organise & run community meetings to discuss potential use of spaces

Community Meeting with appropriate groups were on-going throughout the project. In excess of 37 community / project meetings were held. CABE ‘Spaceshaper’ workshops were found to be unsuitable in respect of project ideas proposed by community groups. Advice was sought from the Community

Y

Support team (including parish liaison officer) within Herefordshire Council and a brief was prepared and circulated for the third sector groups.

Modify proposals if needed & reconsult landowners/stakeholders

This was carried out as necessary on a project by project basis.

Y

Select projects which can be implemented

31/03/12 – 31/03/13: 16 projects approved for funding. A further 5 projects were identified / developed, but failed to reach completion.

Y

Agree long-term funded management plans for sites

Management plans consulted upon and tailored to individual projects as well as being integrated into the project funding criteria

Y

Produce interim report for Natural England to enable release of payment

31/03/13: Interim report submitted to NE Y

Feedback to local communities/stakeholders - to publicise the practical works undertaken

This was largely undertaken via the Herefordshire Tree Forum and through successful applicants of the Challenge Fund (who publicised their own projects – press releases / articles supplied). Project update reports and PowerPoint presentations were delivered to appropriate stakeholders (Hereford City Council / Herefordshire Tree Forum / Woodland Trust and through the Hereford Civic Society newsletter)

Y

Produce case study for 1 site 05/04/13: Written material/photographs gathered & case study produced

Y

Arrange & implement practical works through contractors and volunteers

31/03/13: On the ground implementation / securement of 95.8 ha GI enhancement and habitat creation / restoration completed

Y

Monitor – collect and input data into Herefordshire Biological Records Centre and for Natural England

HBRC updated with relevant information Y

Develop supporting policy options – Forward Planning Team, Herefordshire Council

Completed GI Project being reported internally to feed into Herefordshire GI Strategy.

Y

Produce final report about GI mapping/delivery secured for Natural England including case story & images.

05/04/13: 1 project report written & submitted for project Y

Please provide photography separately in jpeg format (i.e. not embedded in word document) on CD if larger than 10 MB - Done

Please provide paper and/or electronic copies of any publicity material (if you haven’t already done so) Done

Please provide a map of the site location/ boundary (if you haven’t already done so Done

2.) Cost/ expenditure to date must match the resource allocation table in MoA within small variance for final claim.

Activity Cost NE element Claim with this report

Project Management / Officer Support costs

Herefordshire Council (20 days / month @£300/day for 16 months = £96,000)

Woodland Trust (3 days / month @£300/day for 16

n/a n/a

months = £14,400

Total: £110,400Capital cost of biodiversity / other enhancement work including tree planting and access improvements

Cash Contributions from:Herefordshire Council (£7,500); Natural England (£15,000); Hereford City council (£5,000); Woodland Trust (£5,000); Heineken (£250); Bulmer Foundation (£250); English Heritage (£1000).

Total: £34,000

£15,000 £15,000 (already received)

Revenue Cost of biodiversity and other enhancement work, including tree planting (mainly volunteer time)

Wyevale Nurseries Tree Donation (£1000); Woodland Trust Volunteer (2 days/20 volunteers @£70 / day = £2,800); Heineken (8 days @ £300/day + 4 people for 3 days @trained rate of £150 per day = £4,200); Bulmer Foundation (16 days @£300/day = £4,800); Hereford Civic Society (Volunteer time @£150/day =£2,475); Cllr. Hubbard (2.5 days/month @£300/day x 16 months = £12,000); Cllr. Chave (2.5 days per month @£300 / day x 16 months = £12,000)Project Volunteer Time (1700 hours @£9 / hour = £15,300)

Total: £54,575

n/a

Project Total £198,975

The costs were largely as expected although an additional £1000 match funding was secured from English Heritage towards the community mapping project, whilst in-kind volunteer time on individual projects was not included in the original MOA and amounted to approximately 1700 hours at £9 / hour (£54,575)

Section for case story development

Box 1 – Study Details

Please note this case story template is more about a place than just about the partnership project. In some cases you may wish to state additional areas or benefits or activities that were not formally part of the MoA.

Case story Name: Herefordshire Tree Forum Green Infrastructure ProjectLocation: Hereford County: Herefordshire Grid ref (8-digit): Individual project grid

references provided in associated Excel Spreadsheet

Date of Report:31/03/13 Author: Leonie RichardsonSize of Project Area: 16 individual GI projects totalling 95.8 ha within a project area of 5672.2 ha

Shape File: On DVD provided to Hayley Pankhurst 02/04/13

Details of Project Partners:Herefordshire Council (Departments including: Conservation / Planning - Environment Planning and Waste, Highways Transport and Community Services, Rangers / Parks & Countryside, Delegated Grants / Economy and Culture, Sustainable Transport and Herefordshire Biological Records Centre.Main Contact: Juliet Wheatley, Team Leader, Conservation: jwheatley@herefordshire.gov.uk; 01432260157)

Herefordshire Tree Forum Woodland Trust Natural England Herefordshire Nature Trust Hereford Civic Society Wyevale Nurseries Hereford in Bloom Hereford City Council Bulmer Foundation Heineken New Leaf Network Rail Herefordshire Amphibian and Reptile Trust Hereford Society of Model Engineers Holme Lacy College Holmer C of E Academy St. Mary’s Primary School Burghill Community Primary School Trinity Primary School Lord Scudamore Academy Friends of Castle Green National Farmers’ Union Hereford Lions Hereford Cider Museum Greening the Village Wheeled Sports for Hereford Ltd. Kemble Housing Association Burghill Valley Golf Course Amey

The entire Hereford Green Infrastructure project was characterised by the large number of partners involved and the consequent development of relationships and communication channels between them. An innovative approach to project delivery was adopted through setting up a ‘Challenge Fund’ allowing community groups and local organisations to bid for

grants up to a total of £3000 to carry out small-scale GI projects of their choice, facilitating a grass-roots, ‘multi-micro’ approach to GI. The use of this methodology and the inclusion of multiple stakeholders fostered a sense of ownership and community spirit that supported delivery of the projects and is key to safeguarding their future success.

Brief Project Description

16 individual GI projects were approved for funding under 5 categories:

School Sites: Holmer Primary (GIP/12/04) Lord Scudamore Primary (GIP/12/13) St. Mary’s Primary, Credenhill (GIP/12/05) Burghill Primary (GIP/12/06) Trinity Primary (GIP/12/12)

Amenity / Cultural Sites: Hereford Skatepark (GIP/12/08) Burghill Valley Golf Course (GIP/12/20) Hereford Society of Model Engineers, Broomy Hill (GIP/12/02) Hereford Cider Museum (GIP/12/09) Cantilupe Gardens (GIP/12/16)

Transport Corridors / Streetscapes: Roman Road – Hereford Lions (GIP/12/18) Greening the Village (GIP/12/07) Kings Acre / Whitecross Tree Avenue Extension (GIP/12/10) Hereford Railway Station (GIP/12/17)

Business Sites: Hereford Livestock Market (GIP/12/20)

Traditional Nature Conservation Sites: Wyevale Wood

Project Descriptions:

School Sites covering 5.5 ha GI Enhancement / 1.9 ha BAP Habitat (Hedgerow / Standing Open Water) Creation:The 5 schools (totalling approximately 1600 pupils) all had existing green space, but much of the proposed GI project areas consisted of: frequently mowed sports-fields & play grounds; disused / derelict play areas unsuitable for child access due to broken / dangerous equipment; over-used play-areas to the point of having bare mud (i.e. no vegetation remaining); invasive species (e.g. the school pond at St. Mary’s was completely overtaken with New Zealand Stone Crop (Crassula helmsii); and bare, imposing, un-aesthetically pleasing school fences due to a ‘blanket-ban’ on planting near or against boundaries for maintenance purposes.

The main issues and challenges were: planting / ground-work set-backs due to inclement weather; obtaining permission on a case-by-case basis for planting along school boundaries / fences; and the presence of great-crested newts requiring appropriately licensed ecologists to carry out all pond re-profiling and appropriate guidance for disposal of invasive species.

The school projects included: Planting of native hedgerow species along school boundaries and fences creating

wildlife corridors along perimeters and adjoining / enhancing neighbouring grounds Planting numerous trees, shrubs, bulbs and climbers to improve biodiversity &

aesthetics of schools Creating outdoor classrooms and forest school areas for educational purposes Crafting willow sculptures for green play areas and defining access / entrance points Constructing vegetable patches / raised beds for grow your own schemes Forming sensory gardens / wildflower areas / wildlife areas / shaded seating areas /

‘quiet-gardens’ Re-instating a school pond including: obtaining professional licensed expertise to deal

with great crested newts; removal and disposal of dominant invasive species; re-profiling pond to maximise species richness; re-planting with appropriate species; creating a wetland / marsh area; creating hibernacula for existing newts; re-land-scaping and planting adjacent ground to benefit pond wildlife

Forming log-piles; putting up bird-boxes Recycling materials for use in e.g. seating areas / shelters Creating pathways to enhance access to outdoor spaces Re-visiting maintenance regimes e.g. with regards to mowing / leaving wild areas Facilitating disabled access to the outdoors / nurture spaces for disadvantaged pupils Incorporating the projects into lesson plans / curriculum and school reward schemes

In addition, some of the schools have set-up schemes to open the grounds to the wider community through a ‘share-garden’ principle enabling external groups such as Scout Groups / Holiday Clubs / Sheltered Housing Residents / Pensioners etc. out-of-hours access. In one example, 1 in 6 pupils at the school do not have a garden and there is also a lack of green space in the local community, enhancing the value of the project to those involved.

An additional offshoot to the GI project in response to the discovery of great-crested newts at one school was to organise a training day for appropriate school teachers and other interested parties covering: Great Crested Newt protection status and licensing requirements, surveying techniques, identification of UK newts, sexing, egg and larval identification, pond and terrestrial habitat requirements, and management.

All school projects have been completed except for some small areas of planting (as a result of delays due to poor weather conditions), which are due to be complete by end of March 2013 or shortly afterwards.

Amenity / Cultural Sites covering 49.6 ha GI Enhancement / 0.7 ha BAP Habitat (Hedgerow and Standing Open Water) Creation:Five projects fall into this category: Hereford Skate Park, Hereford Society of Model Engineers (HSME) Broomy Hill site, Burghill Valley Golf Course, Cantilupe Gardens and Hereford Cider Museum.

Hereford Skate Park (0.5 ha GI Enhancement) was previously a car park that has been transformed into an out-door skate park sports facility. Final phase of the construction was completed in December 2012 with the GI grant subsequently utilised to landscape the whole park. The Skate Park is a very popular site with over 250 visitors a week and incorporated over 1000 hours of inter-generational volunteer input from e.g. youth offenders, neighbouring allotmenteers, skate-boarders etc. The challenges faced included: inclement weather; brick / rubble ground surface requiring substantial effort and care to plant trees (including mini-digger hire, additional top-soil / manure costs etc.). Over 300 m2 turf was laid with additional trees / fruit-trees / grasses / shrubs transforming the previous rubble landscape and thus aesthetics of the site.

The HSME Broomy Hill site (1.9 ha GI Enhancement / 0.2 ha Hedgerow Habitat Creation) is categorised as species-rich Floodplain Grazing Marsh BAP Habitat. Care and professional advice was taken to ensure the enhancement of the existing habitat and species prior to project commencement. In the region of 1500 native trees were planted incorporating over 90 m of Hedgerow habitat creation running north-south down the site to the county strategic River Wye, completing a wildlife corridor around the perimeter and linking existing ponds /

hedgerow to the River Wye. The Hedgerow will also act as a wind-break and increase site security. The issues faced were largely weather related with unprecedented, persistent flooding on site, but work was completed within deadlines.

Burghill Valley Golf Club (46.9 ha GI enhancement / 0.3 ha Standing Open Water / Wetland Habitat Creation) has over 700 members and is open every day to the public, averaging around 45,000 rounds of golf a year. The existing habitat is characterised as Managed Green Space, which is prone to flooding in certain areas restricting leisure access. The GI project aims to create a wetland and wildlife area to assist with flood water storage linking to existing water collection infrastructure and subsequent whole-site irrigation, whilst enhancing wildlife and aesthetics. Wetland creation plans incorporate a combination of gentle gradients and deeper pool areas to maximise species richness as well as water storage, and incorporates planting of native marginal species, wildflower and grasses as well as creating additional areas of shrub / coppice / willow / dogwood planting. Improvement works will be carried out to the existing copse habitat through 20% thinning (with some transplanting where possible), hazel coppicing, log-piles, bird-boxes and prevention of vehicular access. 3 additional areas of the golf course have been identified including 2 areas of ‘rough’ and a large woodland area, to promote wildlife through a change in current management regimes (specifically with regards to mowing / vehicular access) and additional wildflower / native tree planting. The engineering works required for the wetland creation require planning permission and will therefore not be completed before March 2013.

Cantilupe Gardens (0.2 ha BAP Habitat Creation) is a historically valuable green park within Central Ward, in the City of Hereford. Several fruit trees were replaced having died from age/disease and additional fruit trees planted, extending the line of the Mill Street arboretum. Cantilupe Street is also part of the city wide cycle network helping to calm car speeds.

Hereford Cider Museum (0.3 ha GI Enhancement) is creating a small espalier heritage variety apple tree orchard on the former site of the original historic orchard as part of the museum exhibit as well as providing a welcoming green boundary between the car-park and flat-roof cellars.

Transport Corridors / Streetscapes covering 10 ha GI Enhancement / 1.2 ha BAP Habitat Creation: Four projects fall into this category: Roman Road – Hereford Lions; Greening the Village; Kings Acre / Whitecross Tree Avenue Extension; and Hereford Railway Station:

The Roman Road – Hereford Lions project (1.6 ha GI Enhancement / 1.0 ha Woodland BAP Habitat Creation) was carried out on the wide verges of the recent Roman Road widening scheme. Over 60 Oak, Field Maple and Silver Birch trees were planted forming an irregular avenue / corridor of native Woodland habitat, in character with the rural landscape and incorporating footpaths and a cycle path. The planting provides ecological links to the wider landscape as well as enhancing the overall street-scape of a major entrance to the city. Challenges included inclement weather and the discovery of un-marked underground services which hindered staking of trees at the time of planting. Future maintenance costs were also an important issue with substantial external funds being provided by the Hereford Lions and subsequently held by Herefordshire Council Highways department, alongside a detailed Future Maintenance plan being drawn up and supported by volunteer input.

Greening the Village (6.7 ha GI Enhancement) encouraged and facilitated tree planting in private gardens in the St. James’ area of Hereford. The project involved leafleting households, landlords and housing associations and providing a menu of advice and options for improving green infrastructure as well as promoting community cohesion through a biannual eat-out-front event. Planting took place in 36 house-holds over 7 streets with a team of volunteers going from house to house. The project aimed to enhance streetscape aesthetics, improve surface water-drainage, increase biodiversity and raise community / resident awareness of the importance of green infrastructure. Minor issues included removal

of concrete / paving to plant trees and residents from outside of the project area wanting to get involved.

Kings Acre / Whitecross Tree Avenue Extension (1.2 ha GI Enhancement) hopes to extend the historic Kings Acre lime tree avenue at both eastern and western ends along the busy and strategically important A438 entrance into the city. A number of common obstacles to street tree planting have had to be addressed, largely concerning the identification of suitable planting locations on account of: underground services, highway visibility splays, footpath / cycle paths and resident support. Future maintenance and associated costs remains a long-term issue that is currently being resolved on a case-by-case basis. Following close working with the Herefordshire Council Highway’s and Conservation Departments and residential questionnaires, these issues have been largely resolved bar confirmation from service companies to initiate planting. This project will not be completed by March 2013 and due to planting seasons, will now hopefully be completed in September 2013.

Hereford Railway Station (0.5 ha GI Enhacement, 0.2 ha Woodland BAP Habitat Creation) is a mainline station and focal entrance point to the city. The highly visible plot of land between the Railway station tracks and Barrs Court Road was only partially landscaped with a large section being scrubland on rock / rubble debris left-over from the construction phase years previously. The site was surveyed by an ecologist prior to planting and records derived from the Herefordshire Biological Records Centre revealed the presence of the only record in England for Russian Knapweed, thus due care was taken to avoid planting close by (as the species dislikes shading). Over 90 trees were planted on site, contributing to woodland habitat creation – using species specified by Network Rail for being suitable close to tracks (Wild Pear, Crab Apple, Wild Cherry, Field Maple, Whitebeam, Wayfaring Tree, Service Tree, Rowan and Guelder Rose). The main issues were access to the site (across live train tracks) and consequent Health & Safety issues (Health Forms; Individual volunteer Track Permits; Personal Protective Equipment, temporary fencing etc.), but this process was facilitated by Network Rail staff. A CAT Scan was also required prior to digging for each individual tree and for every foot down. The project engaged multiple partners including Network Rail, Herefordshire Council, Hereford Civic Society, Hereford in Bloom, a local residential group and students from Holme Lacy college carrying out Urban Ecology studies (and volunteering with the planting). Network Rail have agreed to provide gated access to the site for the residential group to carry out future maintenance works, litter picking and additional planting.

Business Sites covering 19.7 ha GI Enhancement / 2.6 ha Woodland Habitat Creation:The recently relocated Hereford Livestock Market built on previously ploughed agricultural land is a focal trading point of the city. In addition to a diamond shape of trees to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee Year, the National Farmers’ Union in conjunction with multiple partners and 47 volunteers, carried out additional native woodland and orchard planting / habitat creation, extending existing planting / wildlife corridors around the perimeters of the site and linking wetland areas and two Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC’s). Over 1125 woodland trees were planted including: Oak, Hawthorn, Hazel, Field Maple, Holly, Hornbeam, and a further 12 apple, pear, cherry and plum trees were planted enhancing the existing green infrastructure of the site and helping to define any potential future development.

Traditional Nature Conservation Sites covering 4.6 ha Woodland Habitat Restoration:Herefordshire Nature Trust (HNT) upgraded their existing and well utilised 10-acre ancient oak Wyevale Wood nature reserve in Breinton. Continuous grazing over the years has prevented re-establishment of a shrub layer by natural regeneration so a woodland understorey (tree/shrub planting) was successfully undertaken with 170 trees planted by volunteers during national tree week and an additional 50 shrubs planted in March 2013. Additional trees outside the grant were also secured by HNT. Access improvements were also achieved through the installation of 2 field gates and one metal kissing gate. Several owl and bird boxes were constructed and additional bird tables and feeders installed. Drainage

and surface works have been carried out around the main entrance. Issues included inclement weather (second wettest year on record), but all work has been successfully completed.Key Words or Themes Community; volunteers; partners; woodland, wetland, managed green space, hedgerows

Box 2 ANGSt Catchment and potential beneficiaries

ANGSt 95.8 ha within a project area of 5672.2 ha

Households 0-300m GIP/12/02: 290GIP/12/04: 234GIP/12/05: 260GIP/12/06: 19GIP/12/07: 1511GIP/12/08: 25GIP/12/09: 763GIP/12/10: 127GIP/12/11: 34GIP/12/12: 671GIP/12/13: 893GIP/12/16: 748GIP/12/17: 671GIP/12/18: 47

Total Residential Houses = 6293

Households 0- 2km GIP/12/20: 4431GIP/12/21: 998

Total Residential: 5429Households 0-5 km n/aHouseholds 0-10 km n/aNumber of businesses 0-300m GIP/12/02: 6

GIP/12/04: 93GIP/12/05: 6 GIP/12/06: 11GIP/12/07: 138GIP/12/08: 31GIP/12/09: 35GIP/12/10: 8GIP/12/11: 0GIP/12/12: 24GIP/12/13: 243GIP/12/16: 182GIP/12/17: 115GIP/12/18: 5GIP/12/20: 137GIP/12/21: 48

Total Commercial: 1082

Number of employees 0-300mOther (potential) beneficiaries)

Box 3 – Existing Assets & situation prior to project startDescribe existing assets of all types at the start of the project and insert relevant data from local GIS.

Where appropriate state information for ANGSt-relevant catchment (see box 2)

lines 1 to 4 should be compiled by the Natural England project lead in liaison with partners and/or Local GIS staff.

1. Site Status

GIP/12/02: HSME Broomy Hill site is designated a Conservation Area (BAP Habitat Floodplain Grazing Marsh) GIP/12/11 Wyevale Wood: is a Special Wildlife Site GIP/12/16 Cantilupe Gardens is part of a Conservation Area GIP/12/20 Hereford Livestock Market: Two sites of importance for Nature Conservation designated There were 10 records of protected species across the sites – please contact HBRC for further details.

2. Environmental Assets

GIP/12/02: 2.1 ha Floodplain Grazing Marsh in Conservation AreaGIP/12/04: 1.0 ha Managed Green SpaceGIP/12/05: 1.7 ha Managed Green SpaceGIP/12/06: 1.2 ha Managed Green SpaceGIP/12/07: 6.7 ha Residential Area / Conservation AreaGIP/12/08: 0.5 ha derelict car park / skate park leisure facilityGIP/12/09: 0.3 ha built up areaGIP/12/10: 1.2 ha pavement / road vergeGIP/12/11: 4.6 ha Ancient Oak Woodland / Special Wildlife SiteGIP/12/12: 2.4 ha Managed Green SpaceGIP/12/13: 1.1 ha Managed Green SpaceGIP/12/16: 0.2 ha Managed Green Space in Conservation AreaGIP/12/17: 0.7 ha wastelandGIP/12/18: 2.6 ha roadside vergeGIP/12/20: 22.3 ha ploughed agricultural landGIP/12/21: 47.2 ha Managed Green Space

3. Access GIP/12/02: 1 x gated accessGIP/12/04: 1 x gated / road accessGIP/12/05: 1 x gated / road accessGIP/12/06: 1 x gated / road accessGIP/12/07: private residential areaGIP/12/08: 1 x gated / road accessGIP/12/09: 1 x road accessGIP/12/10: Street-scape / open accessGIP/12/11: 3 x gated accessGIP/12/12: 1 x gated / road accessGIP/12/13: 1 x gated road access + 1 x gated path (pedestrian / cycle access)GIP/12/16: Open AccessGIP/12/17: No access (heavily restricted)GIP/12/18: Open access street-scapeGIP/12/20: 1 x road accessGIP/12/21: 1 x road access to main site; can be accessed via numerous points from surrounding roads

4. Other key assets

Lines 5 to 10 can be completed by working with local GIS staff.##

Provide in line with Box 4.a for relevant ANGSt catchment(s)

IMD Score Please see Excel Spreadsheet: GI_projects_partner_outcome_reporting_template_HerefordshireCouncil

5. IMD Rank Please see Excel Spreadsheet: GI_projects_partner_outcome_reporting_template_HerefordshireCouncil

6. Health Score Provide Health score from Green Space & Health data set7. Heath Rank Provide Health Rank (decile)8. Environmental

QualityProvide EQI index with IMD set at zero

9. Flood Risk Is site in a flood risk area (as identified by Flood Zone 2 data)?10. Other socio-

economic data1

Neighbourhood Summary Statistics:GIP/12/02: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364158398477&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR40LJ&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/04:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364158398477&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR49RX&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/05: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364158398477&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR4+7DW&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/06: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364158398477&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR4+7DZ

GIP/12/07 / GIP/12/16: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364159981536&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR12QN&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/08:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364159981536&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR49RX&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/09: http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364153997711&enc=1&profileSear

1 http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadHome.do;jessionid=ac1f930c30d5efe33f2215c14b18b7078eaf42ff9fbd?m=0&s=1288789652193&enc=1&nsjs=true&nsck=true&nssvg=true&nswid=1003 (link checked April 2012)

chText=HR4+0LW&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/10:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364160679505&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR40SD&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/12:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364159981536&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR40NU&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/13:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364158398477&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR4+0AS&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/17:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364160679505&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR11BB&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/18 / GIP/12/20:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364160679505&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR47AN&searchProfiles=

GIP/12/21:http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/NeighbourhoodSummary.do?width=1364&a=7&i=1001&m=0&s=1364160679505&enc=1&profileSearchText=HR47RW&searchProfiles=

Box 4 – Functions, features and benefits (summary)Please highlight in green all relevant boxes of features and benefits that will be achieved by March 2013 – use blank boxes for additional information. Detailed figures will be captured in boxes 5, 6, 7 & 9

Features Delivery Mechanisms Functions and associated Benefits

Brownfield site

Large development and/or regeneration

Agri-environment funding

Increased and improved access (to nature)

Increased recreational activities leading to health improvements

Sites – LNRs, LWS, Country Parks etc2

Wetland Features – wetlands, rivers, canals, SUDs

Developer cooperation – eg S106

Sustainable Energy production and energy conservation

Greater provision of valuable habitats

Community/urban woodland

BAP habitatsOther funding streams

Developments delivered with Landscape setting considered

Local food production

Local food production/ Allotments

Walking / cycling routes

Partnership working

Flood attenuationand water resourcemanagement

Cooling effect of water, trees etc

Green streets Green roof / wall / Bridge

Volunteering / community involvement

Other Climate Change benefits

Improvements in air quality

Heritage & Cultural features

Natural Playground

Innovation – new models of delivery

Economic benefits attributable to green space improvements

Community Cohesion

Box 5 – Funding PackagePlease give details of overall funding package and a breakdown of capital/revenue allocations (and years).

Total Funding £198,975

NE Contribution £15,000Capital allocations Cash Contributions from: Herefordshire Council (£7,500);

Natural England (£15,000); Hereford City council (£5,000); Woodland Trust (£5,000); Heineken (£250); Bulmer Foundation (£250); English Heritage (£1000).

Total: £34,000Revenue Funding Project Management / Officer Support (£110,400)

In-kind Professional / volunteer support (£54,575)

2 Any local site. Include reference to Country Park accreditation, Green Flag accreditation and details of Visitor Centres.

Total: £164,975Other financial information

Box 6 –Environmental BenefitsDescribe the new environmental benefits being delivered on the ground or being “secured in principle” (i.e. funding secured, political buy-in, statutory requirement through planning condition or planning obligation, political buy in secured etc).

Refer to the summary provided in Box 4 (features and functions) and provide more detail.

Total GI 95.8 hectaresGI enhanced Please see associated GIS Shape File / Excel Spreadsheet for

relevant hectaresFeatures:

Over 300 m of Hedgerow planted in 6 sites creating wildlife corridors around perimeters of sites and linking habitats e.g. Floodplain Grazing Marsh BAP HABITAT / Pond & wetland areas to the county strategic River Wye corridor

Linking habitats and e.g. 2 x wetland Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation through creating / securing wildlife corridors

Wetland / Standing Open Water creation / enhancement (see sections below)

Crafting of green playgrounds e.g. willow planting; shaded quiet areas, pathways through wildflower meadows as well as Creation of outdoor classrooms and forest school areas etc.

Enhancement of heritage / cultural features e.g. small orchard creation at Hereford Cider Museum on site of former historic orchard; improvement of historic areas of the city e.g. Cantilupe Gardens, defining a sense of place and history

Green Streets through additional planting of trees along urban corridors and in wide verges linking city to countryside; and through encouraging and aiding planting in front gardens (often with the removal of hard substrata to enable planting)

Enhancement of walking / cycling routes through streetscape planting

Delivery Mechanisms: Innovation and New Models of Delivery: The entire project was

characterised by community involvement through setting up a challenge fund for community groups and organisations to define their own GI projects and bid for grant money up to £3000 to deliver them on the ground within a specified project area. This ensured a bottom-up approach and encouraged community ownership of the projects thereby increasing the likelihood of their future maintenance and thus future success, as well as acting as a GI catalyst throughout the project area. This was also seen as a fair way to distribute the money as far as possible and reach a wider audience through the associated ‘ripple effects’ of each project.

Partnership working: Over 30 organisations and groups were involved in the delivery of the projects (see Box 1) opening up discussion and channels of communication between multiple partners and facilitating collaborative working

Volunteering / community involvement – all projects included a large amount of volunteering and community involvement. In

the region of 1700 volunteer hours were put in across the projects to deliver GI.

Volunteers included: school pupils, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups, youth offenders, allotment members, inter-generational volunteers, college students, college lecturers, resident associations, community organisation members, wildlife enthusiasts, woodland trust volunteers, nature trust volunteers, Beaver Groups, transition town volunteers, local residents, councillors, golf club members etc.

Other funding streams were secured through match-funding the initial £15 k grant money from Natural England.

Schools and groups put in additional funds of their own to enhance or initiate phase 2 of the GI projects in several cases.

Functions and Associated Benefits Flood attenuation through development of wetland area to

assist with flood water storage, linking to existing drainage / water storage infrastructure and ultimately used in irrigation of a 47.2 hectare site; also improving access by reducing flooding across paths / fairways as well as enhancing wildlife & aesthetics

Flood attenuation through planting of trees / shrubs in streetscapes & (e.g. through pavements) and private front gardens, many of which were paved / concrete / gravel / tarmac

Review of management / maintenance regimes e.g. creation of un-managed wild spaces in previously mowed / managed land; restriction of mowing; prohibition of vehicular access in specified areas

Defining access points through planting e.g. willow sculptures and natural pathways.

Enhancing access to outdoor spaces for disabled / disadvantaged children and nurture groups

Enhancing access to public leisure spaces through flood water drainage and storage systems

Increasing community access to green spaces through e.g. creating share gardens on school grounds

Local food production and education through installation of vegetable and herb beds at 3 x schools to be incorporated into school dinners and curriculum.

Greater provision of valuable habitats e.g. through planting of numerous trees / shrubs / bulbs / turf / climbers / wild flowers to increase habitat, biodiversity and aesthetics of sites; improvement works to existing habitats e.g. coppicing / thinning / transplanting; replacement of dead / diseased trees;Addition of bird boxes / bird tables / feeders; addition of log-piles; and creation of hibernacula for pond species

Increased recreational activities through enhancing school grounds, golf course, skate park and Wyevale Wood – a popular reserve close to the city for walkers.

Planting numerous trees throughout the projects, particularly within built up areas of the city as well as restoring / creating wetland areas contributes to urban cooling and improvements in air quality, and potentially enhances property values thus providing economic benefits attributable to green space improvements.

Due to the innovative nature of the project delivery, all 16 of the projects undertaken contributed extensively to community cohesion.

GI created GIP/12/08: 0.5 ha of landscaping at Hereford Skate Park, formerly a car park.

GIP/12/20: 2.6 ha of woodland planting over ploughed former agricultural land

BAP habitat restored GIP/12/05: Standing Open Water. Pond re-instated: Original pond had very steep sides and was completely overgrown with the highly invasive Crassula helmsii; the pond was: carefully cleared to minimise disruption to wildlife, and the invasive species disposed of appropriately; re-profiled with gentle gradients / shallow areas / deeper pools / wetland / marsh area to maximise species richness; and populated with appropriate native species including marginal species. The land around the pond was also landscaped and improved with appropriate planting and e.g.a hibernacula to support pond wildlife and protection outside of the pond.

GIP/12/11: Restoration of ancient oak woodland under-storey layer at Wyevale Wood Nature Reserve with 220 trees / shrubs planted alongside additional trees from a separate grant.

BAP habitat created Over 300 m native hedgerow created using approximately the following specification: 40% Hawthorn; 30% Hazel; 10% Blackthorn; 10% Field Maple; 10% Holly with additional climbers and shrubs (Honeysuckle, Guelder Rose & Dog Rose) to increase wildlife / attractiveness at approximate 1 plant per 10 m (GIP/12/02, GIP/12/04, GIP/12/06; GIP/12/11; GIP/12/12; GIP/12/13)

3.8 ha Woodland creation in 3 sites, planting a combination of native trees over ploughed land, wide road verges and railway track-side wasteland (GIP/12/17, GIP/12/18, GIP/12/20)

0.3 ha Wetland creation incorporating a combination of gentle gradients and deeper pool areas to maximise species richness as well as water storage and planting of native marginal species, wildflower and grasses as well as creating additional areas of shrub / coppice with willow / dogwood planting.

Access created Network Rail have agreed gated access to local residents on to Network Rail owned land at the back of Hereford Railway Station which will also enable maintenance of the GI planting scheme, further planting and litter picking etc. Previously, there was no public access to the site.

Access enhanced Water drainage and surface improvements to main entrance at Wyevale Wood (GIP/12/11); and installation of 2 x new gates and 1 x new metal kissing gate at other entrance points.

Connectivity The approach of carrying out numerous small projects over the larger project area and focusing on existing, albeit chiefly man-made corridors such as road and rail transport corridors and streetscapes maximised connectivity throughout the site. Where possible, connections were made with neighbouring plots of land in an attempt to transcend landownership boundaries e.g. Burghill Primary School creating a wildlife corridor and hedgerow down to

the entrance of the neighbouring Whitmoorpool Common and further on to Burghill Valley Golf Course; The Woodland Planting along the wide verges of the A4103 Roman Road leading to the entrance of the new 22.3 hectare Hereford Livestock Market; improvements made to both the local park and private gardens within a neighbouring Conservation Zone and residential area of the Central Ward of Hereford; and a wildlife corridor linking floodplain grazing marsh BAP Habitat and existing pond / wetland areas to the county strategic River Wye Corridor.

Box 7 – Socio-Economic BenefitsPlease describe any real or perceived socio-economic benefits. Both Quantitative and Qualitative evidence. Describe the level of community involvement and quantify issues such as skills, jobs, health activities, crime reduction, events etc.

Refer to the summary provided in Box 4 (features and functions) and provide more detail.

Try to focus and provide most detail for those benefits that actually matter most for this project and leave those that do not matter empty (“N/A”) or with very basic detail.

Climate Change

Each project involved a substantial amount of planting. Approximately 5,500 trees and shrubs were planted in total, many of which were in built-up urban areas and will thus substantially contribute to urban cooling, shading, air quality improvements (especially along busy main roads) and flood attenuation where associated with hard substrate (e.g. streetscape projects).

In addition, flood attenuation will be realised through: the development of a wetland area to assist with flood water storage, linking to existing drainage / water storage infrastructure and ultimately used in irrigation of a 47.2 hectare site; as well as through planting of trees / shrubs in streetscapes & (e.g. through pavements) and private front gardens, many of which were paved / concrete / gravel / tarmac.

Health Enhancing outdoor leisure areas and facilities through access improvements, flood water drainage, aesthetic planting and increased proximity to wildlife at sites such as the Hereford Skate Park, Burghill Valley Golf Course and Wyevale Wood greatly encourages physical activity and enjoyment year round. Substantial outdoor improvements at 5 schools within close proximity to Hereford, including green play areas, forest school sites, and outdoor classrooms linked to educational activities, can have numerous health benefits for the ~1670 school pupils and further afield. The enormous number of volunteers involved in delivering the 16 projects has already initiated direct physical activity and associated benefits.

Skills In the region of 1700 volunteer hours were accumulated over the projects

Volunteers included: school pupils, Parent Teacher Associations, youth groups, youth offenders, allotment members, inter-generational volunteers, college students, college lecturers, resident associations, community organisation members, wildlife enthusiasts, woodland trust volunteers, nature trust volunteers, Beaver Groups, transition town volunteers, local residents, councillors, golf club members etc.

5 schools were involved in the GI projects benefiting approximately 1670 school children

11 Holme Lacy college students were involved in the Railway Project (GIP/12/17) carrying out surveys for their Urban Ecology course and

learning through practical real-life experience. A formal training day for appropriate school teachers and other

interested parties has been organised as an off-shoot to the discovery of Great Crested Newts in a school pond (a relatively common occurrence in Herefordshire) covering: Great Crested Newt protection status and licensing requirements, surveying techniques, identification of UK newts, sexing, egg and larval identification, pond and terrestrial habitat requirements and management.

Employment No jobs were created although a number of contractors and specialists were employed to carry out short-term work on several projects and the local Wyevale Nurseries, supplied all the trees / plants for the projects, all of which contributed to sustaining local businesses.11 college students were involved completing urban ecology courses for their studies.

Crime reduction

No official figures have been obtained although there is empirical evidence to suggest that crime is reduced through tree planting and proximity to green spaces etc. so it is hoped the projects may have a positive effect in this area.

A youth offenders team were involved in working on the Skate Park project (GIP/12/08)

House Prices Unknown

Businesses n/a

Visitor numbers/ tourism

Unknown – although anecdotal evidence suggests that increasing numbers of visitors are using the skate park (GIP/12/08) and Wyevale Wood Nature Reserve (GIP/12/11)

Other socio-economic information

Box 8 – Future of the site without this project (the ‘counterfactual’)

Please give a short description of the predicted future for the site/location if this project had not gone ahead. With increasing pressure on schools, particularly within cities, to provide additional spaces, there is greater emphasis on improving outdoor facilities and making better use of smaller green spaces. This was achieved in 5 of the projects where substantial improvements were made to school grounds and outdoor education facilities and opportunities, benefiting ~1670 children. The impact of these projects is especially important where pupils have no gardens at home and little green space in their neighbourhood. Many improvements were also made with disabled / disadvantaged pupils in mind, enhancing accessibility and proximity to nature.Improvements to transport corridors and streetscapes greatly improve the overall impression of the city to residents and visitors alike as well as contributing positively to climate change and health. Enhancement of outdoor leisure facilities encourages physical activity and facilitates a greater opportunity to experience and get close to wildlife. The skate park provides a much needed focus and meeting area for young people and likewise, Hereford Livestock Market provides an important social function to (young) farmers. Improvements to cultural and heritage areas e.g. Cantilupe Gardens and Hereford Cider Museum promote tourism and define a sense of place and history. The City of Hereford and surrounding hinterlands has multiple GI assets, but many of these are fragmented. The ‘multi-micro’ approach to GI adopted in this project attempted to maximise connectivity, build resilience to change and enhance wildlife corridors throughout the site. Over 6293 residential homes and 1082 commercial properties are within 300 m of GI improvements

made in this project with a further 5429 residential homes within 1 km of the 2 largest sites (i.e. over 20 ha) – Hereford Livestock Market and Burghill Valley Golf Course. The involvement of over 30 organisations in the delivery of this GI project will act as a catalyst for future GI in Herefordshire and has already triggered further funding and match-funding for another phase of GI improvements and will hopefully serve to generate additional external funding for individual projects in the future.

Box 9 – Other aspects of exemplary green space creation/further context

Development n/a

Liaison with owners, developer & local authority.

Each project required substantial liaison with land owners (farmers, local authority, Nature Trusts, private householders, Network Rail, Ltd. companies, societies, golf courses etc.) as well as numerous departments within Herefordshire Council including: Conservation / Planning - Environment Planning and Waste, Highways Transport and Community Services, Sustainable Transport, Rangers / Parks & Countryside, Delegated Grants / Economy and Culture, Herefordshire Biological Records Centre. A large focus of the project was developing links and communication channels between both internal and external parties / stakeholders and agreeing best practice approaches, especially where there were discrepancies in perceived outcomes.

Developer n/aConcept statement or master-plan

No, but the project did deliver many aspects of Parish Plans / Local Sustainability Action Plans and Neighbourhood plans. For example:

Breinton Parish Plan (currently being updated into a Community-led Plan (CLP)) hope to designate parish as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with plans for tree planting and establishing wildflowers in verges, alongside: improved access to the river Wye; welcome signs; encouraging litter picking; highways maintenance; ditch maintenance; and raising public awareness of the need to retain the area’s environmental quality.

Burghill Parish Plan includes a requirement for: initiating tree planting schemes; surveying / assessing trees for Tree Protection Orders, and routine and regular maintenance of road, verges and paths.

New Leaf project and Transition Hereford inputted to the Heredford City Plan (2011). They recommended that: ‘the City Council encourages and supports individuals, organisations and communities in their endeavours to devise and implement practical changes which encourage sustainability’.

Relationship with any GI strategy

The primary aims of the Herefordshire GI Strategy and the current GI project are fully aligned towards developing a multi-functional network of green spaces, links and assets that help conserve the biodiversity, culture and heritage of the county and will be protected and enhanced, catering for and stimulating the economic, social and environmental needs of all communities.

In particular, the current GI project supports the GI strategy for Herefordshire through the following guiding principles:

To recognise natural assets and culturally important features within Herefordshire

To Identify specific projects and opportunities for enhancing / creating GI and for them to act as examples for future benefit

To create new high quality GI and enhance existing GI To maximise the contribution of GI to mitigating the effects

of, and adapting to implications of, climate change including flood risk management

To support the Biodiversity Action Plan and invest in the restoration, creation and protection of priority habitats

To protect and enhance key ecological habitats, species and systems

To safeguard, create and enhance ecological connectivity between green spaces and wider countryside

To Protect, restore and enhance landscapes that are most valued by residents and visitors

To promote physical and mental health and well-being through enhancement of sites for both formal and informal leisure, recreation, sport and exercise

To enhance wildlife corridors to aid species migration and dispersal

To encourage community and key stakeholder engagement with, and ownership of, green space

To ensure accessibility to green space for all sectors To promote and deliver educational opportunities within

urban green space

Furthermore, specific GI projects aligned themselves with enhancement zones identified within the Herefordshire GI Strategy, for example:

GIP/12/18 with HerLEZ2 which recommends establishing a linear buffer area of grassland, woodland and hedgerow alongside the Roman Road and other transport routes to preserve the rural character of the area, to minimise any negative visual impact, and to soften the transition between the settlement and open countryside.

GIP/12/02 with HerLEZ1 by maintaining and enhancing a network of hedgerows, some of which define historically significant field patterns and restore network and condition of field boundaries.

GIP/12/07, GIP/12/10 and GIP/12/18 all aim to “incorporate tree and shrub planting along streetscapes”

GIP/12/17 “maintained and enhanced existing wildlife corridors along the railway corridor”

Maintenance - future requirements for

In general, the responsibility and cost for future maintenance of individual projects was taken on by the groups who applied for and carried out the GI work on the ground, e.g. individual schools (GIP/12/04, GIP/12/05, GIP/12/06, GIP/12/12, GIP/12/13), Hereford Society of Model Engineers (GIP/12/02), Wheeled Sports 4 Hereford Ltd. (GIP/12/02), Hereford Cider Museum (GiP/12/09), Herefordshire Nature Trust (GIP/12/11) and Burghill Valley Golf Course (GIP/12/21). Issues surrounding future maintenance did arise for several projects, however, particularly street-trees / streetscapes where

current council maintenance budgets are already over-stretched. As there is currently no set policy / guidance to follow, the cost and responsibility for future maintenance had to be resolved on a case-by-case basis:GIP/12/16 Cantilupe Gardens – absorbed into existing Council maintenance scheme (Amey)GIP/12/18 Lions – Roman Road – substantial additional future maintenance funds were donated from the Hereford Lions and are being kept by Herefordshire Council Highways Department to be paid out as appropriate. A 3 year maintenance plan was drawn up with additional volunteer support from the Hereford Lions, Wyevale Nurseries and Woodland Trust.GIP/12/20 Livestock Market costs were absorbed into the on-going maintenance of the site.

The responsibility for future maintenance for GIP/12/07 Greening the Village was taken on by individual private households; Future maintenance for GIP/12/17 was absorbed into the general maintenance scheme of Network Rail (with potential additional input from the local residents group).

It is hoped that a specific tree policy for Herefordshire will be produced in the future which will address future maintenance issues on e.g. Street trees.

Population and ethnicity Herefordshire has a relatively small, but growing Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) population: at least 10,600 residents in 2009 were from an ethnic group other than ‘white British’. This represented 6 % of the total population, which is very low compared to both England and the West Midlands region overall (17% and 18% respectively). In 2001, the proportion was 3% meaning the county’s BAME population has more than doubled over the decade. The largest single group is ‘white other than British or Irish (at least 4,300 people) – it is likely many are Polish.

Herefordshire remains one of the least densely populated areas of the country with residents scattered across its 842 square miles. Two-fifths of residents live in the most rural areas of the county. There are differences in age structure around the county, most notably Hereford City has relatively high proportions of young adults (aged 20-34).

Population growth during the decade between the 2001 and 2011 censuses has been more rapid in urban parts of Herefordshire; with Hereford city undergoing the largest growth (7%) since 2001.

The project was very inter-generationally inclusive.

Multifunctionality Many of the projects upheld a multi-functional approach to GI. GIP/12/21 aims to create a wetland and wildlife area which also tackled local flooding and associated access issues and further addressed water storage and whole-site irrigation. The school projects incorporated strong educational aspects including growing their own food, whilst GIP/12/02 and GIP/12/09 incorporated aspects of visitor education, tourism and cultural heritage.

Innovative solutions The plan to create a wetland and wildlife area in GIP/12/21, which

will also tackle local flooding and associated access issues, and further address water storage and whole-site irrigation, whilst improving the aesthetics of the site and enabling golf course members and users to get closer to nature, provides a very neat and innovative solution to localised flooding.

Lessons Learnt Reduce / simplify paperwork for individual challenge fund projects to minimum requirements

Set project completion deadlines for individual challenge fund projects in advance of overall project deadlines to allow for final visits, completion of overall final report and delays etc.

It is important to assign a dedicated project officer for day to day management of the project

Get written confirmation of all match-funding agreements Target higher hectare sites from the start (i.e. don’t rely on the

challenge fund applicants to reach set targets, but find a balance between bottom-up / pro-active approach)

Specify in writing at the start of the project what can and can’t be purchased from secondary suppliers

Clarify issues surrounding future maintenance from the outset Specify electronic copies of photographs for challenge fund

final reports from individual projects Both community and political buy-in were important factors to

achieving project success Having more idea of the number of hectares for GI

enhancement / BAP habitat creation that are feasible within time-scales / project areas and balancing the hectare target with the Challenge Fund Approach

Having a safety-net of over-supply in terms of hectares in case some projects do not come forward / complete

Good practice The Challenge Fund approach enabled a bottom-up, community driven approach to GI

A dedicated project officer was critical to ensure project delivery and enable satisfactory liaison / communication / project feedback / report completion etc. this worked best with a leading officer with contacts / knowledge of the internal system / politics of the delivery organisation

It proved very advantageous to have a delegated grants team working on the project with a full financial overview of proceedings, and particularly with regards to helping set up the Challenge Fund

Way forward GIP/12/10 Kings Acre Tree Avenue Extension and GIP/12/21 Burghill Valley Golf Course are on-going projects due for completion in 2013.

A further £10,000 from Natural England has been secured by the newly formed Local Nature Partnership to extend the existing GI project to another project area in South Hereford for 2013/2014. We are in the process of obtaining match funding for this project.

An additional GI funding bid to Natural England has recently been submitted for 2013/2014 in Leominster.

It is hoped the current GI projects will progress with some having already secured / seeking additional funding for further GI

improvements.

Records have been saved (in Herefordshire Council) for GI projects that were suggested / partially completed but did not come to fruition, but may well be successfully secured in the future:

Improvements to locally important Breinton Springs (contact: Iain Carter, National Trust). This project was not realised due to timing / workload issues.

Credenhill Roman Footpath Hedgerow and Access improvements (contact: Paul Johnson, Carillion). This project failed to complete due to land ownership refusal on account of timing

Bulmers / Heineken land (at entrance to Yazor Brook) (contact Gabe Cook, Heineken). This project failed to develop on account of timing issues with regards to securing internal support

Trees into Hereford Carparks (Contact: Herefordshire Council). This project failed to progress due to queries over qualification for true GI and timing.

[Box 10 for Natural England’s internal purposes only]