Conservation Planner issue 28 - RSPB
Conservation Planner issue 28 - RSPB
Conservation Planner issue 28 - RSPB
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Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)<br />
CONSERVATION<br />
PLANNER<br />
SPRING 2008 ISSUE <strong>28</strong><br />
Housing, housing everywhere<br />
Over the last year, housing has risen almost to the top of<br />
current political agendas across the UK.<br />
In England alone the publication of a Housing Green Paper,<br />
an announcement of 10 new eco-towns and proposals for<br />
zero carbon new housing by 2016, has kept those involved<br />
in housing policy very busy.<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> broadly welcomed some of the proposals, in<br />
particular Zero Carbon homes and the Eco-Towns concept,<br />
believing them to be a way of demonstrating developments<br />
with high environmental credentials that can be used as<br />
exemplars across the UK. However, like all new housing,<br />
Eco-towns will have to go somewhere, and their location in<br />
respect to protected wildlife will be as important as their<br />
other green credentials. The <strong>RSPB</strong> will continue to watch<br />
carefully to ensure that all new housing is carefully located<br />
and improves environmental quality in terms of water and<br />
energy efficiency and other methods of making it more<br />
sensitive to the environment.<br />
In addition, we feature articles on a new biodiversity toolkit<br />
for planners, RTPI Planning Awards, a new M4 Toll Road<br />
and much more.<br />
Carl Simms, Editor<br />
carl.simms@rspb.org.uk<br />
In this <strong>issue</strong>: Tough questions on climate change • ’Biodiversity toolkit’ • A greener Thames<br />
Gateway • Homes for Wildlife • Sustainable planning rewarded • Failure to transpose SEA in Northern<br />
Ireland • New M4 toll road • Controversial golf course development • Speaking up for nature
<strong>RSPB</strong> poses tough questions<br />
and rough answers for<br />
adaptation to climate change<br />
The publication, in December 2007, of Planning Policy<br />
Statement: Planning and Climate Change represented the<br />
first real attempt to enshrine the need to contribute to the<br />
alleviation of climate change through the planning system<br />
in England.<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> welcomes this document. It makes positive<br />
strides towards greater awareness of the vital role the<br />
planning system can play in reducing greenhouse gas<br />
emissions and encouraging adaptation of the natural and<br />
built environments to inevitable climate change.<br />
Adaptation is something of a Cinderella in the climate<br />
change world. The urgent need for global mitigation has<br />
attracted massive attention – yet it is not the whole answer.<br />
Wildlife is already responding to climate change and we<br />
know further change cannot be avoided. We must therefore<br />
adapt to the climate change that we cannot avoid, whatever<br />
mitigation measures we take. The new PPS touches on<br />
adaptation in its overarching principles.<br />
To contribute to the debate, the <strong>RSPB</strong> has published a new<br />
report, Climate change, wildlife and adaptation: 20 tough<br />
questions, 20 rough answers, which outlines how nature<br />
conservation needs to adapt to meet the impacts of<br />
climate change.<br />
The scale of current and projected climate change and<br />
the speed of its development set the context for<br />
adaptation. We need to build a framework for action,<br />
which needs the views, experience and support of others,<br />
to help build the best adaptation strategy possible for the<br />
UK to secure a future for biodiversity, and the services it<br />
provides. <strong>Planner</strong>s and the planning system will have a<br />
key role to play.<br />
For biodiversity, our first response must be to strengthen<br />
and secure wildlife populations today: without these, we<br />
have no seed corn for the future. The 20 questions consider<br />
a range of <strong>issue</strong>s, with conclusions that may surprise. We<br />
outline why we believe a focus on species conservation is<br />
perhaps more important than ever, the importance of<br />
protected areas, and how species movements and<br />
re-distribution may be assisted in the wider countryside. We<br />
look at the legal underpinning of conservation, including<br />
how planning legislation can play its part. We consider<br />
whether some species really are beyond help; the validity of<br />
species targets, and the role of nature conservation<br />
techniques such as re-wilding and translocation, and, on<br />
broader <strong>issue</strong>s, the delivery of ecological services, the<br />
meshing of conservation with adaptation in other sectors,<br />
and how we might address the <strong>issue</strong> of uncertainty.<br />
The report also sets out a call to action. We need strong<br />
leadership from Government, for adaptation as well as for<br />
mitigation. This must start today, building resilient<br />
populations of wildlife in healthy habitats, with a massively<br />
increased area of land managed for environmental benefits.<br />
In planning terms we ask for a policy requirement for those<br />
areas of highest potential for habitat creation to be<br />
safeguarded from development. Investment in the future<br />
needs to include proper sustainability safeguards, mapping<br />
and protection of areas likely to be of biodiversity<br />
importance, and a programme of action to improve<br />
landscape permeability, underpinned by an enhanced<br />
commitment to agri-environment spending. There should<br />
be biodiversity checks and safeguards on the adaptation<br />
plans of all relevant sectors. We believe that all land should<br />
deliver some environmental benefit, which the planning<br />
system can help to ensure.<br />
The report is available on the <strong>RSPB</strong>’s website at<br />
www.rspb.org.uk/Images/<br />
climatechange20questions_tcm9-170121.pdf
New online ‘Biodiversity Toolkit’<br />
for planners<br />
A new resource is being prepared to<br />
provide a biodiversity planning toolkit<br />
for planners, ecologists and<br />
developers. The Planning Portal will<br />
host this online. Supported by CLG,<br />
Defra, and from the RTPI, IEEM, all the<br />
UK statutory nature conservation<br />
bodies and many wildlife NGOs, the<br />
kit will host tools for both forward<br />
planning and development control<br />
and management. These will be<br />
accessible through:<br />
• a home page with contents lists,<br />
pop up windows, dropdown fact<br />
sheets, useful links<br />
• four ‘explorable’ landscapes with<br />
easy visual access to crucial<br />
information and tools.<br />
The tools will cover legislation, policy,<br />
ecological surveys, validation of<br />
applications, good practice for<br />
ecological mitigation, compensation<br />
and enhancement, planning<br />
conditions and practical ways to<br />
incorporate biodiversity into<br />
development plans.<br />
The toolkit is expected to be available<br />
some time in early summer. Further<br />
details are available from Mike Oxford,<br />
Association of Local Government<br />
Ecologists at<br />
michaeloxford@btinternet.com<br />
Rainham Marshes – flagship for a<br />
greener Thames Gateway<br />
David Kjaer (rspb-images.com)<br />
The toolkit will, for example, provide<br />
advice on taking barn owls into<br />
consideration in new developments<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong>’s Rainham Marshes nature<br />
reserve, on the former Purfleet Firing<br />
Ranges in Thurrock, was highly<br />
commended at the recent Royal Town<br />
Planning Institute (RTPI) Planning<br />
Awards in the ‘Rural Areas and<br />
Natural Environment’ category. The<br />
application process started over a year<br />
ago, and included a visit by the judges<br />
in September 2007.<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> believes that Rainham, at the<br />
heart of the Thames Gateway, is a<br />
Visitor centre, Rainham Marshes<br />
James Brittain<br />
fantastic example of a ‘next generation’<br />
urban nature reserve. The state of the<br />
art Environment and Education Visitor<br />
Centre, designed by van Heyningen<br />
and Hayward Architects, has<br />
incorporated the highest standards of<br />
water and energy efficiency.<br />
The reserve itself gives local<br />
communities access to the marshes<br />
after more than 100 years, and will be<br />
a key part of the proposed London<br />
Riverside <strong>Conservation</strong> Park.<br />
Biodiversity will be enhanced and<br />
areas of wet grassland, marsh and<br />
open water are being maintained,<br />
supporting birds, scarce invertebrates<br />
and mammals such as the water vole.<br />
Over 250 bird species have already<br />
been recorded at Rainham.<br />
A crucial factor in the commendation<br />
was being able to show how the<br />
planning system had been used to<br />
bring the project to fruition. The <strong>RSPB</strong><br />
believes that Rainham is a best practice<br />
example of how to use the planning<br />
system to develop a significant project<br />
and how early engagement with a local<br />
authority can help overcome<br />
complicated problems.<br />
In delivering Rainham the <strong>RSPB</strong> worked<br />
with a wide range of partners including:<br />
Thurrock Council, London Borough of<br />
Havering, Environment Agency, Natural<br />
England, Port of London Authority,<br />
Greater London Authority, London<br />
Development Agency, East of England<br />
Development Agency, Thames Gateway<br />
DC and Thurrock Thames Gateway DC,<br />
Heritage Lottery Fund, Veolia ES<br />
Cleanaway Havering Riverside Trust,<br />
Sustrans, Learning and Skills Councils,<br />
local community groups, and local<br />
strategic partnerships.<br />
We were extremely pleased to be<br />
commended for the award and feel it<br />
rewards the Society for the values we<br />
believe in – high quality, sustainable<br />
design and a light touch on the<br />
environment. We warmly invite people<br />
to visit Rainham Marshes to see what<br />
we have achieved. Details can be<br />
found on the <strong>RSPB</strong>’s website at<br />
www.rspb.org.uk/reserves/guide/r/<br />
rainhammarshes/index.asp
Homes for people =<br />
Homes for Wildlife<br />
Last October saw the launch of<br />
‘Homes for Wildlife’, an exciting new<br />
<strong>RSPB</strong> project aimed at inspiring<br />
people to take practical steps to<br />
improve the wildlife value of their<br />
home and garden. Homes for Wildlife<br />
provides personalised online wildlife<br />
advice, tailored specifically to your<br />
home and garden – the perfect way to<br />
manage a mini nature reserve on your<br />
own doorstep.<br />
Homes for Wildlife is not just about<br />
putting up a nestbox. Instead, it<br />
provides practical advice to manage<br />
the whole house and garden as a<br />
patchwork of habitats with borders<br />
rich in a variety of flowers, trees and<br />
shrubs, and well-managed lawns. It<br />
also gives tips on how to create<br />
features such as ponds and artificial<br />
homes for wildlife.<br />
The project has many applications<br />
beyond the private household. New<br />
and existing developments can<br />
provide real opportunities to benefit<br />
our wildlife. Many familiar and<br />
widespread birds have suffered<br />
serious declines in recent years. Some<br />
species, such as the house sparrow<br />
and starling, are associated with<br />
human habitation, whilst the swift and<br />
house martin depend almost entirely<br />
on houses for nest sites.<br />
Homes for Wildlife also raises<br />
awareness and provides remedial<br />
advice on other <strong>issue</strong>s likely to affect<br />
wildlife, such as replacing fascia<br />
boards, creating hard surfaces for car<br />
parking, and small-scale green roofs.<br />
When designing and building new<br />
developments, taking into<br />
consideration the needs of nesting<br />
birds can make an important<br />
contribution. Nestboxes are frequently<br />
erected or donated as part of a new<br />
home package, but often little thought<br />
is given to the birds they are targeting<br />
or the locations used. Schemes should<br />
be aimed at species in most need. For<br />
example, internal nestboxes can<br />
provide a solution for some, as work<br />
carried out by Action for Swifts<br />
(www.actionforswifts.com) has<br />
shown. Internal nestboxes have been<br />
incorporated into existing buildings<br />
and renovations, as well as into new<br />
Homes for Wildlife offers practical<br />
advice on improving the wildlife<br />
value of your home and garden<br />
Steve Berry<br />
Find out how you can help house sparrows<br />
buildings. The concept is easily<br />
transferable to other species, such as<br />
the house sparrow and starling, that<br />
nest inside the roof space of houses.<br />
Increased use of hard surfaces for<br />
parking on front gardens has been<br />
identified as a significant contributor to<br />
flash flooding in towns and cities.<br />
Careful use of the space and materials<br />
can help to reduce the risks. Retaining<br />
soft landscape features in the space not<br />
required for parking and use of porous<br />
or hard standing material through<br />
which vegetation can grow provides<br />
vital wildlife habitat.<br />
Green roofs help reduce rainfall<br />
run-off and provide building<br />
insulation. While in no way a<br />
substitute for the protection and<br />
appropriate management of natural<br />
wildlife habitats, green roofs have the<br />
potential to provide niches for some<br />
specialised wildlife. Certain plants and<br />
insects thrive in the low-nutrient<br />
habitats while birds such as black<br />
redstarts have been provided for<br />
through specific design features.<br />
By adopting responsible practices that<br />
are sustainable and less intensive,<br />
developers can help boost the<br />
population of birds and other wildlife<br />
in new housing developments. We<br />
encourage them to take part in<br />
Homes for Wildlife and help to reverse<br />
the declines.<br />
John Day<br />
To find out more and sign up, please<br />
visit: www.rspb.org.uk/hfw
Sustainable planning rewarded<br />
in Northern Ireland<br />
The Orchard Building at Stranmillis University College in<br />
Belfast has become the first winner of a Sustainable<br />
Planning award by the RTPI NI Branch and the <strong>RSPB</strong>.<br />
Submitted by Scott Wilson and Knox & Clayton Architects,<br />
the design uses natural lighting, a biomass boiler and<br />
sustainable urban drainage to reduce water use and<br />
pollution. The judges were particularly impressed by the<br />
intention of Stranmillis College and the Department of<br />
Education to use the building as a flagship project and<br />
educational tool for local schools.<br />
Orchard Building, Stranmillis<br />
University College<br />
The other finalists were Hill House, a private dwelling in Co<br />
Down that incorporates renewable energy and natural<br />
waste treatment, and the HLF-supported Connswater<br />
Greenway project to develop a green corridor along three<br />
rivers in East Belfast to encourage cycling and walking and<br />
connect communities in the area.<br />
For further information, please contact Claire Ferry,<br />
<strong>Conservation</strong> Officer, Northern Ireland at<br />
claire.ferry@rspb.org.uk<br />
Courtesy of Scott Wilson<br />
Failure to transpose SEA in<br />
Northern Ireland<br />
In September 2007, Justice Weatherup decided on a judicial<br />
review of the Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs)<br />
for the draft Northern Area Plan 2016 and draft Magherafelt<br />
Area Plan 2015. SEAs for Area Plans are required by the<br />
Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes<br />
Regulations (NI) 2004, which transposes Directive 85/337/EC.<br />
Carlingford Lough Special Protection Area<br />
– the draft Newry and Mourne Area Plan<br />
housing proposals pose a potential<br />
sewage pollution threat<br />
David Kjaer (rspb-images.com)<br />
The Judge found two instances of non-transposition of<br />
the Directive:<br />
(i) the absence of a consultation body when the<br />
Department of the Environment (DOE) is also the<br />
responsible body for the development plan or<br />
programme, and<br />
(ii) the absence of appropriate timeframes for the referral to<br />
consultation and for receipt of responses.<br />
In addition, there were two instances of non-compliance<br />
with the Regulations and Directive, namely that:<br />
(i) information in the environmental reports was not in<br />
accordance with the requirements of Schedule 2 of the<br />
2004 Regulations, and<br />
(ii) the environmental reports did not emerge at<br />
appropriate times in order to influence the development<br />
plans in an appropriate manner.<br />
There are serious implications for environmental<br />
governance and the planning system in Northern Ireland.<br />
That the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) cannot be<br />
considered separate from Planning Service (both within<br />
DOE) adds fuel to the current lobby to achieve an<br />
independent environmental protection agency.
Lauri McLean/Gwent Wildlife Trust<br />
Reen habitat, Magor Marsh<br />
Planning <strong>issue</strong>s in Wales<br />
M4 Relief Road<br />
Later this year the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) will<br />
be submitting an application to construct a 14 km relief<br />
road of the M4, to the south of the city of Newport, to ease<br />
congestion. This new section of M4 would span the River<br />
Usk SAC, and cross the Gwent Levels. The Gwent Levels,<br />
known as the green lungs of Newport, are a series of six<br />
SSSIs primarily designated due to their botanical and<br />
invertebrate interest, but which are also home to otters,<br />
water voles and breeding waders such as lapwings and<br />
curlews. The Levels are one of the largest surviving areas<br />
of ancient grazing marshes and reen (drainage ditch)<br />
systems in the UK and the largest of its kind in Wales.<br />
<strong>RSPB</strong> Cymru is concerned that if the application were<br />
successful, a nationally important area for wildlife would be<br />
adversely affected. We are of the view that the application<br />
should also be viewed in the light of the statutory duty on<br />
the part of the Welsh Assembly Government to promote<br />
Sustainable Development.<br />
Further information is available at www.savethelevels.org.uk<br />
Port of Mostyn<br />
The Port of Mostyn submitted an application for a 2 m and<br />
4 m dredge in the Dee Estuary SAC, SPA Ramsar site prior<br />
to Christmas 2007.<br />
<strong>RSPB</strong> Cymru objected to the application for a 4 m dredge<br />
and raised concerns about the 2 m dredge, due to the<br />
potential effects on the qualifying features of the Dee<br />
Estuary SPA and SAC. The application is now with the<br />
Regulators, which include the Welsh Assembly<br />
Government and Environment Agency Wales.<br />
For further information on either of these cases, please<br />
contact Mike Webb, <strong>Conservation</strong> Officer, Wales at<br />
mike.webb@rspb.org.uk<br />
Dee Estuary<br />
David Wootton (rspb-images.com)0
Golf course development not<br />
a ‘top Trump’<br />
Major development proposals near Aberdeen have sparked<br />
controversy, not just over the merits and demerits of the<br />
case but also because of the planning <strong>issue</strong>s involved and<br />
the actions of Councils and the Scottish Government.<br />
An application by the American millionaire, Donald Trump,<br />
was made to Aberdeenshire Council for outline consent for<br />
a golfing resort development with 1000 holiday homes and<br />
500 additional houses by the coast at Menie Estate. The<br />
developer’s Environmental Statement conceded that part of<br />
one golf course, sited on the Foveran Links Site of Special<br />
Scientific Interest (SSSI), would destroy important dune<br />
habitats whose ‘near-eradication represents a very severe<br />
impact within the SSSI’. The <strong>RSPB</strong>, along with many other<br />
organisations and individuals including Scottish Natural<br />
Heritage (SNH), objected on the basis that this destruction<br />
was unacceptable. The developer rejected advice from both<br />
SNH and the <strong>RSPB</strong> to amend plans to avoid the SSSI. As<br />
well as conflicting with development plan policies on<br />
biodiversity and nature conservation, the proposals<br />
contravened policies on house building in the countryside,<br />
landscape, coastal development, sustainability principles<br />
and others. However, in recommending consent, the<br />
Director of Planning considered that the social and<br />
economic benefits were of national importance and<br />
overrode the adverse environmental impacts.<br />
The Formartine Area Committee followed this<br />
recommendation but the Infrastructure Services Committee<br />
voted for refusal, rejecting an amendment to defer making<br />
a decision to allow time to seek a compromise that might<br />
allow the development to go ahead yet safeguard the SSSI.<br />
Aberdeenshire Council then found that it had no power to<br />
reconsider the decision and, as the developer had<br />
previously ruled out an appeal, it looked as though the<br />
matter was closed. Before a decision notice had been<br />
<strong>issue</strong>d, however, Ministers used their powers under Section<br />
46 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 to<br />
call-in the application for their own determination. This is<br />
believed to be the first time that ‘call-in’ powers have been<br />
exercised at such a late stage and following a planning<br />
authority’s passing of a resolution. At the time of writing,<br />
no announcement has been made on whether the<br />
Government will use a public inquiry or another process to<br />
help it decide this case.<br />
Aberdeenshire Council, no longer the planning authority,<br />
then resolved that taking into account all its objectives and<br />
not just those in the Development Plan, it would<br />
recommend to Ministers that they should give consent to<br />
the application. It also revised its scheme of delegation to<br />
ensure that, in future, major planning applications would<br />
be referred to the full Council for final consideration.<br />
Media attention on this case not only centred on the<br />
polarisation between perceived pro- and anti-development<br />
camps but also on the roles of Councillors, Members of the<br />
Scottish Parliament, including the First Minister (who is<br />
also the constituency Member) and the Government’s Chief<br />
<strong>Planner</strong>. The Chair of the Infrastructure Services Committee<br />
lost his position as a direct result of the case and the<br />
Scottish Parliament’s Local Government & Communities<br />
Committee has taken evidence from these individuals as<br />
part of an inquiry into the matter. It has prompted a huge<br />
number of parliamentary questions about the planning<br />
system and seems set to continue to do so.<br />
For further information go to our website at<br />
www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/sites/scotland/<br />
menie.asp<br />
Golf course development would destroy important dune habitats<br />
Ian Francis
Planning –<br />
speaking up<br />
for nature<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> has recently published a new leaflet entitled<br />
Planning – speaking up for nature.<br />
The leaflet highlights what many stakeholders do not<br />
realise – that the <strong>RSPB</strong> is a significant player on many<br />
planning-related <strong>issue</strong>s. It explains the <strong>RSPB</strong>’s involvement<br />
across three main areas: planning policy, responding to<br />
planning proposals and making applications on our own<br />
reserves. We believe that sustainability should be at the<br />
heart of decision-making, so we campaign to improve<br />
planning systems and policy across the UK in order to<br />
protect and enhance biodiversity.<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> engages with all four planning systems in the<br />
UK: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. We<br />
work on national planning policies on a wide range of<br />
<strong>issue</strong>s including renewable energy, housing, flood risk,<br />
climate change, minerals and natural greenspace to name<br />
but a few.<br />
We work on over 1000 planning cases a year across the UK<br />
with staff in our country and regional offices leading with<br />
support from our UK headquarters. We comment, make<br />
submissions on specific applications, and engage with<br />
development plans and other spatial planning documents.<br />
We are a significant user of the planning system and submit<br />
over 100 planning applications a year on our own reserves<br />
and estate for various things such as engineering works,<br />
roads, bridges, and other visitor-related infrastructure.<br />
The leaflet is intended to be an information source for<br />
planners and related professions to explain how you can<br />
work with us to make the best use of the <strong>RSPB</strong>’s expertise<br />
to help provide sustainable development through planning.<br />
You should have received a copy with this magazine.<br />
However, if this is not your copy of <strong>Conservation</strong> <strong>Planner</strong><br />
or you have received it from elsewhere, please contact<br />
carl.simms@rspb.org.uk to obtain a free copy of the<br />
new leaflet.<br />
As a charity, the <strong>RSPB</strong> depends on the goodwill and financial support of its members and people like you.<br />
Please visit www.rspb.org.uk/supporting or call 01767 680551 to find out how to join.<br />
UK Headquarters<br />
The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire<br />
SG19 2DL<br />
Tel: 01767 680551 Fax: 01767 692365<br />
Northern Ireland Headquarters<br />
Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT<br />
Tel: 0<strong>28</strong> 9049 1547 Fax: 0<strong>28</strong> 9049 1547<br />
Scotland Headquarters<br />
Dunedin House, 25 Ravelston Terrace,<br />
Edinburgh EH4 3TP<br />
Tel: 0131 311 6500 Fax: 0131 311 6569<br />
Wales Headquarters<br />
Sutherland House, Castlebridge,<br />
Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB<br />
Tel: 029 2035 3000 Fax: 029 2035 3017<br />
North Wales Office<br />
Maes y Ffynnon, Penrhosgarnedd,<br />
Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2DW<br />
Tel: 01248 363800 Fax: 01248 363809<br />
Midlands Regional Office<br />
46 The Green, South Bar, Banbury,<br />
Oxfordshire OX16 9AB<br />
Tel: 01295 253330 Fax: 01295 265734<br />
East England Regional Office<br />
Stalham House, 65 Thorpe Road,<br />
Norwich NR1 1UD<br />
Tel: 01603 661662 Fax: 01603 660088<br />
Northern England Regional Offices<br />
1 Sirius House, Amethyst Road,<br />
Newcastle Business Park, Newcastle<br />
upon Tyne NE4 7YL<br />
Tel: 0191 256 8200 Fax: 0191 233 4322<br />
Westleigh Mews, Wakefield Road,<br />
Denby Dale, Huddersfield HD8 8QD<br />
Tel: 01484 861148 Fax: 01484 862018<br />
South East England Regional Office<br />
2nd Floor, Frederick House,<br />
42 Frederick Place, Brighton BN1 4EA<br />
Tel: 01273 775333 Fax: 01273 220236<br />
South West England Regional Office<br />
1st Floor, Keble House, Southernhay<br />
Gardens, Exeter, Devon EX1 1NT<br />
Tel: 01392 432691 Fax: 01392 453750<br />
East Scotland Regional Office<br />
10 Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen AB10 1YP<br />
Tel: 01224 624824 Fax: 01224 626234<br />
North Scotland Regional Office<br />
Etive House, Beechwood Park,<br />
Inverness IV2 3BW<br />
Tel: 01463 715000 Fax: 01463 715315<br />
South and West Scotland Regional<br />
Office<br />
10 Park Quadrant, Glasgow G3 6BS<br />
Tel: 0141 3310993<br />
BirdLife<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> speaks out for birds<br />
and wildlife, tackling the<br />
problems that threaten our<br />
environment. Nature is amazing<br />
– help us keep it that way.<br />
The <strong>RSPB</strong> is part of BirdLife<br />
International, the global<br />
partnership of bird conservation<br />
organisations.<br />
Cover: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)<br />
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds<br />
(<strong>RSPB</strong>) is a registered charity: England and Wales<br />
no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654<br />
270-0669-07-08