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National Stepping Stones

This project hopes to build on the knowledge and achievements Buglife have made on Brownfield sites in the past and apply it on a national scale to help save Brownfield habitats.

This project will build upon and take forward the achievements of 'All of a Buzz in the Thames Gateway' (2005-2008), a joint project with Natural England. All of a Buzz was the largest brownfield bioidiversity project to date, and developed a new approach to the identification and protection of brownfield biodiversity. The project was the first to quantify the ecological importance of brownfield land for biodiversity at a landscape scale; mapping over 6,900 hectares of brownfield, before undertaking an assessment of the ecological value of almost 500 sites. The key finding was that over 50% of brownfield land in the region was likely to support a high level of biodiversity. The project then worked with local authorities and other key stakeholders to ensure that the best sites are afforded protection through planning policy or, where appropriate, statutory designation.

brownfield site
West Thurrock, a brownfield site © Greg Hitchcock

Buglife is keen to ensure that the knowledge, expertise and lessons learnt on the project can be applied more widely. Nationally there is still a low level of awareness about the brownfield biodiversity issue amongst key stakeholders, particularly amongst local authorities and regeneration agencies. The tools that Buglife have developed in this area (including an information pack for planners and a rapid site assessment methodology) need to reach the widest possible audience if the ongoing loss of brownfield habitats and species is to be addressed.

Buglife and Brownfield conservation work

Buglife has played a central role in the conservation of brownfield biodiversity (including Open Mosaic Habitats) since 2004. Buglife is represented on the England Biodiversity Strategy’s Towns, Cities & Development workstream group, sits on four local brownfield Habitat Action Plans in key areas, and is Lead Partner for the brownfield Habitat Action Plans in Essex and Cambridgeshire. Additionally, Buglife are providing advice to a current DEFRA contract to define the new ‘Open Mosaics on Previously Developed Land’ Priority habitat

Why save Brownfield sites?

Brownfields (perviously developed) land supports an incredible biodiversity, including 35 UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority invertebrate and reptile species (species of conservation concern), with the best sites supporting as many rare endangered species as ancient woodland.

Bombus sylvarum
Bombus sylvarum © Peter Harvey

Brownfield sites under threat

Key brownfiled sites are under threat from development. It has been estimated that the majority of brownfield land (including extensive areas of the Biodiversity Action Plan Priority habitat/ Open Mosaic Habitats – habitats of conservation concern) will be lost in the next 10-20 years.

Invertebrates comprise the most significant ecological interest on brownfield. Therefore, without prompt and concerted conservation action by Buglife and others these sites and their ecological interest will be lost.