Foreword from the Chairman of the Natural Environment Focus Group
It is a great pleasure to be able to contribute a personal word of
appreciation to this first tranche of Bexley's Biodiversity Action
Plan.
The current document represents a triumph of co-operation over many
long hours between Council Officers and members of the Natural
Environment Focus Group. It has been vastly improved by the informed
comment of many individuals and organisations who have given careful
consideration to its format and its many drafts. Its progress
has been smoothed by the encouragement and unanimous support of
London Borough of Bexleylors, residents and many outside bodies.
This
document is essentially a working one and a first step towards
uniting the best efforts and informed opinion behind the conservation
of biodiversity in Bexley, set in the broader context of the Borough's
commitment to sustainability. It is presented in loose-leaf form
because it is the transition point between a vision and commitment
and its practical implementation. The success of that transfer
from theory to practice requires:
- A
flexibility which will respond to ongoing monitoring and experience
and be prepared to alter working practice where better prescriptions
become available and/or add other key species and habitats to
those set out in the first tranche;
- a
working out of principles and practice in the development and
review of site management plans across the Borough;
- that
actions to protect key habitats and species and develop proper
management prescriptions must reflect their national, regional
and local status and the new emphasis on responsibilities for
supporting biodiversity conservation being devolved to local
authorities;
- that
revised Bexley UDP will fully take into account the priorities
of Bexley's BAP and those at regional and UK level;
- the
full understanding and involvement of existing and future partners
vital to the success of implementing the plan - at every stage
we have sought to include in this process ownership by the widest
possible range of interested parties including the general public
whose influence over others and directly on how gardens and
open spaces are used will be crucial.
My
personal thanks go to all with whom I have had the pleasure of
working on this plan, to Bexley for their active support and encouragement
and to the RSPB for the education I received during my five years
on their Council which has made possible any contribution which
I have been able to make to this project.
Michael
J. Winship
Chairman
Natural Environment Focus Group
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