Camden Biodiversity Action Plan

Overview

A healthy natural environment is vital to the health and wellbeing of our people and communities.  Trees and shrubs clean pollutants from the air we breathe and keep us cool in increasingly hot weather; vegetation and well-structured soils slow down storm waters and help prevent local flooding; and the sounds, smells and sight of nature in amongst the city help us to feel connected, calm and inspired.  There is a wealth of research to show how vital nature is to our health and wellbeing.

Camden’s natural environment is made up of all of our parks, gardens, allotments, verges, trees, ponds and The Regents Canal and all the habitats and species that they support.  It is also all the green roofs and walls, bird and bat boxes, tree pits and planters which are dotted in and around our buildings

A healthy natural environment is one that is biodiverse, resilient and functional – where our best places for wildlife are well managed and are connected across the landscape with ‘stepping stones’ and ‘pit stops’ to allow species to move around.  We also need to make sure we have nature in the right places so that people who will benefit most have access to nature close to where they live, learn or work. 

Over the last five years we have been working with our partners to deliver the Camden Biodiversity Action Plan 2013-18 which aimed to protect and enhance wildlife sites across the borough, ensure support from planning & development, and increase access to nature for residents.  We’ve had some great successes and challenges - you can read this plan and progress reports below.

Why your views matter

We now want to develop a new plan for nature in Camden – building on what we have achieved so far to do even more – and we need your help

Over the coming months Camden will be leading conversations with land owners & managers, businesses, conservation organisations, local campaign groups and residents to hear your concerns and ideas for making Camden better for wildlife and for people.

In the meantime we would love to hear your thoughts.  Please help us by answering FIVE BRIEF QUESTIONS below and tell us what you think Camden can do better for nature.  You can even make a pledge of your own!