Policy information sourced from the Effingham Neighbourhood Plan
ENP-ENV2: Wildlife Corridors and Stepping Stones
New development proposals should recognise the identified woodland wildlife corridors and stepping stones as shown on the Policies Map in Section 8. The boundaries of the corridors are designated as they appear on the maps.
Proposals for new developments within a wildlife corridor or stepping stone site within the neighbourhood area will be resisted unless they are able to demonstrate how they will deliver appropriate net gains in biodiversity or a qualitative improvement to the ability of the wildlife corridor or stepping stone to support flora or fauna and to facilitate their movement.
New developments bordering a wildlife corridor or stepping stone within the neighbourhood area must demonstrate how they will mitigate any significant harm to wildlife using the corridor or stepping stone site. Harm is likely to be caused by the introduction or enlargement of barriers such as buildings, roads, hard landscaping and artificial lighting, and by the re-direction of water sources or water courses that would effect the severance or narrowing of wildlife corridors.
- Woodland wildlife corridors between Ranmore Common and Sheepleas and Bookham Commons consist of:
- Western corridor: Oldlands Wood, woodland west of Calvert Road, woodland north and west of Orestan Lane, Effingham Common
- Northern corridor: Effingham Common, Banks Common connecting through to Bookham Commons, and ancient woodlands of Little and Great Mornshill Wood, Gallows Grove and Oaken Wood
- Eastern corridor: Thornet Wood and land to the north, agricultural land on eastern part of Effingham Lodge Farm and the footpath and hedges along its eastern boundary, the eastern part of the Howard of Effingham playing field and its hedge along Lower Road (which connects to the corridor in Bookham comprising fields east of Manor House Lane, Rolls Farm and hedges, through to Chalk Pit Lane)
- Southern Corridor: connecting the eastern and western corridors in the AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty).
The Plan identifies woodland and grassland wildlife stepping stones, which are patches of habitat that facilitate the movement of wildlife.
- Important Woodland stepping stones are: Oldlands Wood, Horseclose Copse (Ancient Woodland), Kiln Field Coppice (Ancient Woodland), Hermitage Plantation, Greatlee Wood, Great Ridings Wood, Effingham Common, Bank’s Common, including Bank’s Lane, Thornet Wood (Ancient Woodland).
- Grassland stepping stones are: Effingham Golf Course (a Site of Nature Conservation Importance), Effingham Common (SANG) and Banks Common, supported by grassland corridors that include grass verges that are identified as particularly important to the movement of grassland dependent wildlife.
For more information please see the Neighbourhood Plan