Recreational impacts on European Sites Durwyn Liley
Current levels of planned new growth • Solent (3 SPAs): 82,000 new properties • Cannock Chase SAC: 50,000 new dwellings within 20km of SAC. • Exe Estuary SPA: 29,000 new dwellings within 10km of SPA, a 29% increase • North Kent Marshes (3 SPAs): 63,000 new dwellings. Understanding and resolving these incombination effects a challenge !
Direct links between bird nos. & housing Stone Curlew, Brecks
Nightjar, Dorset Heaths
0.9
Mean nest density (km -2 )
0.8 0.7
2007-11
0.6
2002-06
0.5
1997-00
0.4
1993-96
0.3 0.2
1988-92
0.1 0.0
<500
500-1000 1000-1500 1500-2000 Distance to nearest settlement (m)
Direct relationship with birds and housing indicates impacts
>2000
Links between housing, access and nature conservation People visit the countryside for a wide range of reasons. Visitors at sites will often be a complex mix of local residents, day trippers and tourists. In order for development to take place without impact or with mitigation we need to understand the links in more detail......
• How does housing relate to visitor numbers? • What is the link between visitor numbers and an adverse effect on integrity? • What solutions are possible?
GPS Tracks: Kite Surfing NW
E
SSW
Windspeeds of at least 12-15 mph needed
SW
Beyond 6km visits per dwelling is low: 31 houses at 10km same as 1 house 0.5km
% change in access (from local housing) – 15% for N. Kent, Solent, Cannock. 35% Dawlish Warren