Hounslow Council last week launched the Biodiversity Action Plan, aimed at protecting, conserving and enhancing wildlife and habitats in the borough.

The launch, staged at Syon House, came after the council consulted for twelve weeks to produce a strategy as part of the Hounslow Biodiversity Action Plan Partnership

The group works towards the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable use of biological resources in the borough.

The plan explains how to protect, conserve and enhance the borough’s wildlife and habitats and reveals the best ways to monitor biodiversity by looking at the health of these habitats and the species within them.

Approximately 30 percent of Hounslow borough's surface land area is made up of public open space and urban green space. Hounslow is London’s greenest borough, with an estimated 954 hectares of land managed either wholly or partly for nature conservation. Many other additional areas across Hounslow have nature conservation value.

In 2003, the partnership launched the first of its species and habitat action plans. The latest plan reflects the ever-changing wildlife habitats in the Hounslow.

The plan aims to action a variety of biodiversity activates such as:

• Promoting, educating and encouraging members of the public to manage their gardens and allotments in a sustainable and wildlife friendly manner
• Conserving and enhancing allotment sites for horticultural use and biodiversity value.
• Identifying the wildlife habitats and species of the tidal Thames and improving water quality throughout Hounslow’s rivers and streams.
• Establishing the extent of the Veteran Tree population in Hounslow and increasing understanding of their ecological and cultural importance and appropriate management of the trees.
• Protecting and enhancing the wildlife and landscape value of existing hedgerows in the Borough, whilst creating and maintain new hedgerows, linking up with existing hedges both within the Hounslow and in adjacent Boroughs and promote public awareness of hedgerows

Cllr Corinna Smart, Hounslow’s cabinet member for the environment said:

“In the past, biodiversity has largely been the preserve of land owners and naturalists. However, we all need to play our part in conserving and enhancing local biodiversity. This is not just about the protection of rare or threatened habitats and species but also ensuring those things currently common and perhaps taken for granted are similarly catered for so that they do not themselves become threatened.

 “Since the 2003 plan, the numbers of habitats and species identified have increased which have resulted in a range of different conservation measures being introduced to protect and enhance them.  

 “We want to protect the beautiful green areas in Hounslow and their wildlife for many years to come.”

Residents can get involved with a range of activities and increase biodiversity at home, work and school.

At home – residents can:

• Put food and water out for wildlife ·
• Put up a nest box or build a pond ·Set aside an area solely for wildlife, even if it is just a window box ·
• Plant native trees and flowers in your garden ·
• Become involved in managing wildlife sites in Hounslow and encouraging others to do so as well ·
• Recycle as much of your rubbish as you can and build a compost heap for organic waste ·
• Try to use organic pesticides instead of chemicals

At work or school:

• Contact the Countryside Parks Service for details of corporate conservation work parties, environmental education and general wildlife advice ·
• Create wildlife areas in school/work grounds ·
• Pick up rubbish that will harm wildlife e.g. bottles, cans and fishing line ·
• Dispose of harmful chemicals safely