Parish Environmental Action

Through careful management of the land, buildings and open spaces that we own, and working with other groups and organisations, the Parish Council strives to introduce initiatives to protect and improve our environment. In 2022, we adopted our Environmental Policy, focusing on reducing pollution and encouraging sustainability. These principles continue in our Neighbourhood Plan, where new planning applicants are encouraged to focus on sustainable energy provisions. We are currently working on the following:

BIODIVERSITY

Our open spaces are managed to protect and enhance bio-diversity, with chalk meadow grassland and dedicated wild flower areas.

CLIMATE CHANGE

We have formed a Community Emergency Volunteer Group, and work with Wiltshire Council and Communities Prepared to disseminate guidance and information to prepare residents for Emergency Situations, and we continue to explore the potential use of Sustainable Energy.

FACILITIES

We work with the management committees at our community buildings to identify ways to reduce energy consumption and provide renewable energy sources such as the use of LED lightbulbs and the provision of solar panels.

Focus Themes :

Encouraging things that have a positive impact on the environment or biodiversity:  active travel (modes of travel that involve a level of activity),  litter-picking,  use of community gardens

Discouraging things that have a negative impact on the environment or biodiversity:  Unnecessary light pollution,  fly-tipping

Concerns and ideas for utilising benefit from water management features (for example, swales and SUDS areas) in terms of planting, wildlife and well being.

Positive aspects from which the Parish already benefits  include:

Local rights of way including Green Lane which Wiltshire Council plan to upgrade as part of the Cycle-link route from Amesbury to Salisbury

The open spaces we have include Castle Hill Country Park managed by The Land Trust, and the Laverstock Downs.

Chalk streams like the River Bourne

The water meadows at Laverstock, managed by the Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust

Existing biodiversity including wildflowers and wildlife

The trees we have and are in the process of planting

Archaeology (which brings interest to the area and restricts development)

Milford Area Preservation Group, existing litter womble groups and groups such as Wild about Laverstock

The work of Wiltshire Wildlife, PlantLife, The Devenish Bradshaw Charitable Trust, Wessex Rivers Trust and the River Bourne Community Farm

LINKS

Parish Strategic Action Plan

Environmental Policy

Tree Management Policy

See also Parish Open Spaces Parish Open Spaces and Volunteering Volunteering Links

and information about our Community Emergency Volunteers

ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS:

Asian Hornet Asian Hornet

Oak Processionary Moth Oak Processionary Moth

Invasive Species