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Who are we?

The Richmond upon Thames Biodiversity Group, is part of the Local Agenda 21 Group. Its members represent a range of local interests concerned with wildlife and biodiversity. Those actively involved include Richmond Royal Parks, Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, The Wetland Centre, Barnes, the Borough Ecology Section and local groups of the London Wildlife Trust, British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, London Natural History Society, Environment Agency, the Thames Landscape Strategy and many other local people and organisations that are concerned for local wildlife.

Our Group meets together several times a year but much of our work is now taken forward through subgroups responsible for species or habitat action plans. These plans are listed in the LBAP pages see link below.

In the past we have also had topic working groups who produced, for example, a Borough Wildlife Sites Leaflet that detailed a wide range of wildlife sites to visit in Richmond and also explains how people can get more involved with the 'wildlife on their doorsteps'. Another ran borough 'garden surveys' to find out what wildlife lives in Richmond gardens and also to encourage local residents to take an interest in what lives in their gardens. With recent declines in habitats, even the 'most common' species are retreating to gardens as wildlife refuges. These topic projects were aimed at developing the context for our 'Biodiversity Action Plan for Richmond' which is now available to download from this site.

What can you do?

• Would you be prepared to collect data on a wildlife site near to your home?
• Are you prepared to monitor local planning applications that may have an affect on local wildlife?
• Do you feel you are seeing less wildlife in your Garden? Is it time for another Garden Survey?
• Could you input survey data for analysis?

We really need volunteers to help us achieve the Group's aims. Every little helps. For more information please contact Charlotte Williams (Richmond Community Ecology Officer) on 020 8831 6135.

Some volunteering opportunities relate to specific projects requiring special training which is only available at certain times of the year. For example the Richmond Park Stag Beetle Project see http://www.jwhs.co.uk/SB/RPSBP.html which is looking for volunteers in April each year.

Do you want to help in a more 'hands on' way?

If you fancy getting your hands dirty and helping manage Richmond's wildlife sites through active management then please contact Richmond BTCV on 020 8831 6150 or see website British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. Their workday programme covers weekends and midweek. The London Wildlife Trust also have regular weekend workdays at Crane Park Island (contact Eleanor Lawrence 0208 894 2802 and see our Links page).

See also http://www.richenvironmentnet.org.uk/

Have you been keeping records of Richmond's wildlife?

One of our first steps was to set up a database of people recording wildlife in Richmond. The aim is to keep records on recorders and the sites they study. We need to know where to find records not collect copies of actual wildlife data. Knowing where data are helps in 3 ways:

1. preparation for a London Biological Records Centre; or
2. if a site is threatened by development proposals we can assemble records quickly; and
3. it encourages people to come forward with their records, if they plan to leave the area.

If you have such records we would like to hear from you. Please send a brief outline of the species and sites covered to John Hatto c/o Beetle Project, Royal Parks, Holly Lodge, Richmond Park, Surrey TW10 5HS or Info@richmond-biodiversity.org.uk.

What is Biodiversity

"Biodiversity is the biological diversity of life in all its different forms."

Understanding the biodiversity of the world, both locally and globally, can demonstrate the wealth of species and natural varieties that are present, and ultimately, the health of the natural world that we all depend upon and enjoy. Maintaining and developing a natural balance between different life forms, of both plants and animals, in a sustainable way, is one of the most important aspects of conservation. A main aim of biodiversity conservation is to ensure that all life forms ‘prosper’ through sympathetic, sustainable management, for future generations to share.

Why we need to conserve Richmond’s biodiversity

Due to ever increasing demands on land for new housing, industry, commerce and recreation in Richmond Borough, habitats are constantly threatened. We need to conserve these complex and dynamic systems which support a wide range of fauna and flora, many of which, for example the Skylark, are threatened on a local and global scale. Conservation of the Skylark shows how through conserving our local biodiversity we can make a difference on a much wider scale - a true example of "Think Globally, Act Locally".

A Short History of Biodiversity

The signing of the Biodiversity Convention in Rio in 1992 was a milestone. The need to conserve the biological resources of the planet was finally recognised by 150 world leaders, who committed their nations to take action. In the United Kingdom, two documents were published: The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (1994) and The UK Steering Group Report (1995). Putting the national plan into effect requires action at all levels: national, regional and local, and by a very wide range of people and organisations. The only way it can be made to work is by partnerships. The London Ecology Unit initiated the London partnership in December 1995. In September 1996 the partnership was launched and a coloured brochure "Capital Assets" was published, setting out its aims. In January 2000 the London Biodiversity Action Plan was launched.

If you would like leaflets or have specific concerns on general environmental issues, please contact the Richmond upon Thames Environmental Information Centre (REIC) on 0208 891 2930 or see the REIC Website.