Recreational impacts on European sites 1

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......

â&#x20AC;˘ How does housing relate to visitor numbers? â&#x20AC;˘ What is the link between visitor numbers and an adverse effect on integrity? â&#x20AC;˘ 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) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 15% for N. Kent, Solent, Cannock.

35% Dawlish Warren