There was no externally published biodiversity target for 2007. An internal objective was adopted to achieve the independent Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark award for management of airport land set-aside to support local biodiversity objectives.

The full-time Heathrow Conservation Ecologist post was vacant for much of 2007 and this significantly limited our progress towards meeting the required Biodiversity Benchmark standards. Consequently the award was not achieved. The Conservation Ecologist post has now been filled and we are confident about receiving the award in 2008.

Some examples of our efforts to manage our impacts on biodiversity during 2007:

Cattle Grazing Orchard Farm Meadow
We continued our programme of grazing cattle on the Orchard Farm meadow site from summer to late autumn. As previously reported, this two hectare meadow was dug up and moved by the Terminal 5 project in 2002-03, under the supervision of an ecological consultant, to relocate it from the path of the Terminal 5/M25 spur road to a reconditioned brown-field site to the north of Heathrow. Grazing proved especially challenging in 2007 because the site fell within the Surrey foot and mouth disease protection zone and required frequent animal welfare inspections and maintenance of bio-security measures.

Heathrow conservation site management plans
As part of our work to meet the Wildlife Trust’s Biodiversity Benchmark criteria we made good progress to revise six of our site-specific management plans improving links between site conservation value and site-specific management plans. The delivery of our management plan actions continues to be driven and recorded using our bespoke biodiversity database.

Enhancing biodiversity off airport
Colne Valley landscape enhancement works to the west of Heathrow progressed well during 2007 as part of the Terminal 5 planning conditions. A 33 hectare landscape of grassland, hedgerows and small woodland plantations is emerging with public access routes and bridleways. In 2007 around 9,000 woodland plants were set out with a balance of around 2,900 to be planted in early 2008.

All woodland and hedgerow planting has been achieved using native species grown from genuine local-provenance seed collections. Within this project a vacant bungalow originally destined for demolition in 2007 was confirmed as a serotine bat roost. It was decided to retain the building within the landscape to avoid harm to the bat roost.

Crane Valley Partnership
We continued to support the multi-stakeholder Crane Valley Partnership (CVP), which aims to coordinate private, public and voluntary sector commitment to enhance the River Crane corridor and improve access for the local community. During 2007 the Crane Valley Partnership members submitted and won a bid for match-funding for several projects along the river. Project proposals and further match-funding for project delivery are to be taken forward in 2008.

Issues and approach
Our plans