Decision details

The report proposes that the County Council adopts a Pollinator Action Plan to support biodiversity, local food production, natural capital including flower-rich habitats and sustainable pollinator populations, as well as increasing the attractiveness of West Sussex as a place for people to live, work and visit.

The plan is a local response to the Government’s National Pollinator Strategy for England; a shared plan of action to meet the needs of pollinators through integrated land and habitat management.

The Plan links in with our existing sustainability strategy, our Breathing Better (air quality) Plan, as well as our management plans for our own estate. It builds on the work we are already doing and helps meet our statutory duty to conserve biodiversity.

The plan is built around 5 central aims:

1. To ensure the needs of pollinators are represented in local plans, policy and guidance where relevant
2. To protect, increase and enhance the amount of pollinator habitat in West Sussex and prevent any extinction and improve the status of any locally threatened species
3. To increase awareness of pollinators and their habitat needs across local residents, businesses and other landowners
4. To increase the contribution to pollinator conservation of land under the ownership of, or managed by the County Council
5. 5. To improve knowledge and understanding of pollinators in the local area.

A number of specific actions are identified under each aim and the County Council will work with its partners, contractors, schools, residents and businesses to deliver this plan.Progress on actions will be reported through the Sustainability Team’s business planning process.

The Cabinet Member for Environment has committed to helping to conserve the UK’s pollinators and has approved the Pollinator Action Plan 2019 - 2022, attached as an appendix to the report.

None