South Somerset is a large, rural area
that enjoys a high quality natural environment representing a wide
range of landscapes and habitats from flower rich calcareous
grassland to acid heathland; wet fen and grazing marshes, rich in
invertebrate and bird life, to hay meadows, bluebell woods to
orchards and parklands with veteran trees, supporting rare insects
and lichens. These reflect the varied landscape and topography in
the district, which in turn is underlain by an extensive and varied
range of geological formations of limestones, clays and
greensands.
The Council is committed to protect the character and diversity
of landscapes of local and national importance, their
distinctiveness, wildlife and biodiversity.
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth and includes all
species of plants and animals and the natural systems that support
them. It is a key component of sustainable development and has an
important role to play in developing locally distinctive and
sustainable communities in South Somerset.
The variety and biodiversity interest in South Somerset is
demonstrated by a significant number of sites designated for
nature conservation; 4 National Nature Reserves, part of the
Somerset Levels and Moors European Special Protection Area, along
with 39 nationally designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest
and nearly 600 Local Wildlife Sites.
The Council seeks to maintain and enhance the extent, quality
and diversity of the area's heritage of wild flora and fauna and,
in its role as local planning authority, to safeguard this wildlife
and its habitats from harm where new development is proposed. All
Planning applications are screened and assessed for wildlife
impact. Where there is a reasonable likelihood of any
impact, developers are required to employ ecological
consultants to survey sites and to propose mitigation to ensure
that protected species are not harmed. Protected species are
animals and plants that receive protection under The
Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010 as
European protected species.
European Protected
Species
The following European Protected Species occur in various
locations across South Somerset.
These species and their places
of shelter are fully protected and a licence is required to disturb
the animal or its place of shelter. This is not a complete
list - others have a limited distribution or are rare in South
Somerset.
UK Protected
species
The following species are protected under the Wildlife and
Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Countryside and Rights of
Way Act 2000
- Water voles
- Birds and their nests eg barn owls, swallows and
kingfishers
- Reptiles eg adders, grass snakes and slow worms
- Badgers
Badgers and their setts are also fully protected under the
Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
A licence is required to disturb a badger.
The presence of wildlife will very rarely completely prevent
development taking place.
The
Biodiversity Action Plans for Somerset set out
particular local objectives for the conservation of habitats and
species that have been agreed to.
Landscapes
Protecting the character and diversity of the local
landscape and the features that make different areas distinctive
from each other is an important objective and is guided by Natural
England Advice and Local Development Framework policies.
These policies encourage change arising from development to
be carefully considered and sympathetic to the varied characters of
the district's landscapes.
The Landscape
of South Somerset describes the seven character areas of
the district.
A Species Guide to Tree and
Shrub planting in South Somerset
provides advice on planting projects in
association with development and in the countryside related to the
different character areas.
The protection of landscapes of national importance is also an
objective. Parts of two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs)
lie within the district; The Blackdown Hills
AONB and the
Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs
AONB.
The Conservation Team, in partnership with other organisations,
helps to protect wildlife and important habitats in the district.
It assists the Council as a whole to carry out its legal duty under
the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 (NERC Act),
to comply with Planning Policy and, on development sites, to
fully consider the presence of and potential impact
upon wildlife.
Trees
Trees are an important part of our environment especially in and
around our towns and villages. Local planning authorities have
specific powers to protect trees by making Tree Preservation Orders
(TPOs), although the Forestry Commission is responsible for the
control of felling generally. Trees in conservation areas are also
protected. More on tree protection