Strategy Objectives and Actions

Aim 1: To ensure the needs of pollinators are represented in local plans, policy and guidance.

	Objective	Specific Action	Update December 2022
1.1	Increase the protection afforded to pollinator habitats and the species they support by ensuring appropriate recognition in local plans and policies where relevant.	Ensure the needs of pollinators are incorporated within the City of York Local Plan Green Infrastructure Strategy and Supplementary Planning Document.	Update on Supplementary Planning Documents taken to be taken to Executive in January 2023.  SPD adoption is legally conditional upon the adoption of the Local Plan
		Update the ‘Land Use and Wildlife’ section of the CYC One Planet Better Decision Tool to include specific reference to pollinators.	The One Planet Better Decision Tool is being replaced with project management guidance in accordance with CYC’s ‘All About Projects’.
1.2	Recognise and capitalise on opportunities to create pollinator friendly habitats as part of new development.	Raise awareness of and promote the creation of pollinator friendly features with developers through the development management process, in particular pre-application advice, drawing on our own best practice as demonstration examples.	New Net Gain approach to biodiversity will become a planning requirement, we are using this to brief developers on the importance of pollinators now. Net Gain will mean that before any development begins applicants need to measure the existing and proposed biodiversity values of their sites and planning obligations for improvements to biodiversity either on site or off site.
		Ensure the value of Brownfield habitat for pollinators is taken account of in the development management process.

Aim 2: To protect, increase and enhance the amount of pollinator habitat on council owned or managed land, and help to improve the status of any locally threatened species.

	Objective	Specific Action	Update December 2022
2.1	Increase the value for pollinators of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and Local Nature Reserves (LNR)	Ensure the needs of pollinators are taken into account in the management of SINCs and LNRs.	We currently manage a number of Local Nature Reserves (LNR), Site of Interest for Nature Conservation (SINC. Of the five LNR within York, the council manage two directly, Hob Moor LNR and Acomb Wood & Meadow LNR. Clifton Backies LNR is managed by a board, with council members on the board. St Nicholas Fields LNR is run by the charity group Friends of St Nicholas Fields (aka ‘St Nicks’). Hassacarr LNR is owned by Dunnington Parish Council and managed by Dunnington Conservation Group. The council manage a number of SINCs both in council ownership (e.g. Acomb Wood meadow, Little Hob Moor & Hob Moor triangle, Bachelor Hill) and private ownership (e.g. Hessay Church Yard, Church Ings, Brecks Lane meadow). Our management involvement primarily includes meadow cutting and scrub control. These areas are managed with the aim of maintaining their SINC designation, which in the majority of cases is based on habitat type and floral composition. However, the maintenance of our most valuable meadows is of great value to pollinators, with our SINCs supporting significant invertebrate populations. · Acomb Wood Meadow LNR – meadow cut and removal of arisings · Clifton Backies – CYC form part of management board, providing advice on habitat management in-line with the on-going Management Plan provided by the Wildlife Trust. · Hob Moor LNR & SINC - meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Breckes Lane SINC – meadow cut. · Bachelor Hill SINC – meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Bishopthorpe crematorium SINC - meadow cut and removal of arisings · Bootham Stray – 2021-2022 supply and planting of 50no. trees on land adjacent to Bootham allotments. · Church Ings SINC - meadow cut and removal of arisings, scrub clearance and signage. · Queen Street, City Walls - meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Fulford Village Green SINC - meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Hessay Churchyard SINC - meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Oxcarr Lane SINC – 2021-2022 and previous years, meadow cut and removal of arisings. · Poppleton P+R - meadow cut and removal of arisings. The Pollinator Strategy is proving to be a useful tool when providing advice to Councillors, members of the public, etc. We have attended numerous meetings this year from interested parties, such as Cllr. Tony Fisher, Cllr. Andy D’Agorne, Cllr. Rosie Baker, Friend of City Walls, etc., who are extremely interested in providing ‘pollinator friendly’ areas. Using the Pollinator Strategy as a foundation we have then been able to provide more detailed advice regarding suitable plants / seed mixes and maintenance practices.
2.2	Increase the value of parks and other greenspace for pollinators.	Implement a proactive management regime including reduced cutting and meadow management in suitable locations.  The Council’s network of green spaces is used for a variety of roles e.g., picnics, football, running etc and are highly responsive to local resident’s needs. Therefore, any changes to the management regime needs to take theses numerous activities into account and be developed, considered and agreed at a local level.	Work on this Objective continues when and where opportunities arise. Millennium Bridge Field, Fishergate. The expansion of the grassland areas south of the bridge in support of a more proactive management funded by Fishergate Ward Committee. New Walk, Fishergate. Restoration of flood and foot traffic damaged grassland by the introduction of new flood tolerant species of plants. City Ramparts, Guildhall. Friends of the City Walls / Bug life plug and bulb planting day in October which saw the introduction of early flowering plants in the area adjacent to Fishergate Postern. Water End, Clifton – the creation of a more diverse woodland / meadow landscape– supported by the Environment Agency tree planting. Clarence Gardens, Guildhall – for 2023 the opportunity exits to repurpose land which was previously used for two bowling greens. Community consultation on this will commence in the New Year via the Ward Committee and Residents Association
		Work with local ‘Friends of’ groups to develop a balanced approach to park management to support a range of uses and wildlife benefits.	“Friends of” groups continue to play an active and supporting role in the management of the city’s green spaces.  Groups both drive landscape change e.g., The Friends of Rowntree Park and their care of the Long Borders and are consultees where the council takes the lead
		Only use bedding plants that provide forage for a wide variety of pollinating insects	The bedding contract is due for renewal in 2023 (possibly later than previously advised) so this will be a key factor in the new contract. The council will have the ability to monitor the effect of its bedding choices in 2023 – see item 3.1 below
2.3	Reduce the impact of pesticides on pollinators and other wildlife.	Review use of herbicides in grounds maintenance by trialling alternative methods of weed control.	This is an ongoing process and was consider at the Decision Session Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change 12th January 2022 Weed Management of Highways and Associated Areas, and, at the Customer and Corporate Services Scrutiny Management Committee (Calling In) 7th February 2022 – Weed Treatment Options. A report back on this year trials and discussion is due to be considered by the Decision Session Executive Member for Environment and Climate Change 14th December 2022
		Cease the use of all neonicotinoids including seed dressings, plants and turf from the supply by end of 2021.	The existing bedding contactor and main wildflower seed suppliers have confirmed that do not use such chemicals
2.4	Make council owned land and buildings more pollinator friendly.	Ensure the pollinator strategy we have developed links together wildflower-rich habitats and is informed by B-lines established across our region and work with other local authorities, landowners and wildlife organisations to enable delivery	To form part of the Green Infrastructure Strategy Supplementary Planning Document, individual projects will consider opportunities that are funded and coherent with the sites primary use.  Council has committed to purchase land for trees and pollinator planting as part of the York Outer Ring Road.
		Encourage Ward Teams to work with neighbouring wards and authorities, land owners and wildlife organisations to link and expand B Lines by creating new areas for pollinators.	See 2.1 above about working with community groups and using the pollinator strategy to work with organisations.
		Include pollinator friendly habitats as part of new Highways schemes where doing so will create a benefit.	Council has committed to purchase land for trees and pollinator planting as part of the York Outer Ring Road.
		Establish and maintain a network of ‘Bee Hotels, across the parks and open spaces.	Volunteers or funding to be sought.

Aim 3: To improve our knowledge and understanding of pollinators in our local area.

	Objective	Specific Action
3.1	Increase information on the status of pollinators.	Measure the abundance of pollinator friendly habitat on council-owned or council-managed land	No data is kept the abundance of pollinator friendly habitat on council-owned or council-managed land. To assist this objective the council has hired for three years 10 AgriSound pollinator monitors, see https://www.agrisound.io. In the New year these devices will be placed in 10 different locations across the city to minor pollinator visits. Suggested locations include the community managed highway verge in Wheldrake, a wildflower seeded roundabout, Glen Gardens shrub border, city walls grassland, and city centre hanging basket.  Suggestions for other locations can be forwarded to dave.meigh@york.gov.uk
		Encourage local people to support national pollinator monitoring schemes and to submit local records to: the North and East Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre (https://www.neyedc.org.uk/), Big Butterfly Count https://bigbutterflycount.butterfly-conservation.org Great Yorkshire Creature Count  https://www.ywt.org.uk/great-yorkshire-creature-count	See above on 2.1 Local Nature Reserves and SINC’s the advice provided includes monitoring the sites and contributing towards these data collection schemes.
		Make this document available on the council’s website with links to further advice and information available on the council’s website.

Other Possibilities Subject to Further Resource:

Aim to increase awareness of pollinators and their habitat needs across local residents, businesses and other landowners.

Objective	Specific Action
Increase awareness of pollinators in the local community and within local businesses.	Provide information on pollinator friendly gardening activities to local residents and local allotment holders.
	Create pollinator friendly flower beds in parks and link these to interpretation about pollinators.
	Promote pollinators to Ward Councils to encourage inclusion within their funding priorities.  CYC Templates on best practise provided in 2020.
	Encourage local schools to develop wildflower areas in school grounds.

Annex 1: Useful Sources of Information

Buglife – Get Britain Buzzing: A manifesto for pollinators  https://www.buglife.org.uk/pollinator-manifesto

National Pollinator Strategy for England 2014

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-pollinator-strategy-2014-to-2024implementation-plan

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ data/file/794668/pollinators-strategy-imp-plan.pdf

Buglife B-Lines Pollinator sheets -https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/b-linesguidance/pollinator-leaflets/ and local authority guidance https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/b-lines/

Buglife information on Neonicotinoid insecticides

https://www.buglife.org.uk/campaigns/pesticides/neonicotinoid-insecticides/

Buglife Urban Buzz information - https://www.buglife.org.uk/our-work/pollinator-projects/urbanbuzz/

‘Managing Transport Corridors for Pollinators’ and ‘Managing Urban Spaces for Pollinators’

(Buglife)

https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2020/04/Transport-Corridors.pdf https://cdn.buglife.org.uk/2019/07/managing-urban-areas-for-pollinators.pdf

‘Living with Environmental Change: Managing urban areas for insect pollinators. As town and cities continue to grow how can land managers help insect pollinators in urban areas?’ http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/partnerships/ride/lwec/ppn/ppn20/

‘Planning for a healthy environment: good practice guidance for green infrastructure and biodiversity’, TCPA and the Wildlife Trusts, 2012

www.tcpa.org.uk/data/files/TCPA_TWT_GI-Biodiversity-Guide.pdf

Wildlife Trusts https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/savingbees

Status and value of pollinators and pollination - A report to DEFRA http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/505259/1/N505259CR.pdf

Friends of the Earth - Local Authority Bee Guide https://friendsoftheearth.uk/nature/developing-pollinator-action-plan

Bumblebee Conservation – Local Authority Pack

https://bumblebeeconservation.org/images/uploads/Local_authorities_pack_full.pdf