The five original members of its core group - Martin angel, Peter Gillespie, Steve Langham, Noel Moss and Libby Ralph - were already active in local conservation groups but knew that more needed to be done. "It was born of frustration" explains Libby. " There is so much development activity in Farnham, and we were concerned about its impact on biodiversity. The national planning system currently doesn't protect 'everyday' species or non-designated sites, so we joined forces to try to make a difference".
Planning and networking
The group formed a community interest company with two main aims. First, to write a formal biodiversity plan for Farnham that will inform local council policy and become an exemplar for conservation best practice in an urban environment. Second, to encourage more informal networking and activity among local wildlife and community groups.
They invited other organisations to join the Partnership, which now includes 27 partners and associates – conservation groups, other local organisations, and expert advisors including Surrey Wildlife Trust. It has just published for discussion the second draft of the action plan and has written a biodiversity policy statement that should be adopted by Farnham town council this summer.
Based on science
While FBP is aware of local concerns and priorities, it believes biodiversity decisions should always be based on scientific evidence. As Libby says, “We are developing a knowledge base, collating data from multiple sources to create a ‘heat map’ of species records. Only by knowing what wildlife we already have can we take the right steps to preserve and increase biodiversity.”
Practical projects
While the group is focused on developing the plan and setting direction, it is also active on the ground, working with local partners on a range of practical projects everywhere from a quarry to private gardens. “Protecting nature reserves isn’t enough to protect nature,” Libby says. “Habitats and species that we take for granted are under threat everywhere, so we all have to think
about what we can do to help.”
For more information visit the Partnerships Facebook page