2005 Biodiversity Forum Report.

The second North Lanarkshire Biodiversity Forum was held at the Bellshill Cultural Centre on March 30^th.  Fourteen attended this event where they were updated on the progress of the North Lanarkshire Biodiversity Action Plan.  The last forum's biodiversity update focussed on the state of biodiversity within North Lanarkshire, creating a baseline from which to work from.  This report will focus on projects and action that have taken place to conserve and enhance our biodiversity.

• Barn owls - 30 boxes have been constructed with sponsorship from Scottish Coal, 24 have been put up over the winter and the hope is that soon they will be nested in.

• Amphibians and reptiles - the NLC Ranger service is undertaking a survey of all of the ponds in North Lanarkshire over the next 5 years.  This year, all of the 8 known great crested newt sites are being surveyed.  Last May a reptile training day was held at Palacerigg Country Park, looking at species identification and habitat preferences.

• Bean geese - regular monitoring of the wintering population of bean geese (one of only 2 flocks in the UK) on the Slamannan Plateau took place again this year.  262 birds recorded, the highest ever count.

• Mosses - 5 summer events were run all over North Lanarkshire celebrating mosses.  Over 100 people attended them.  The peat depths of all 5 mosses were measured.  Drumpellier was the deepest with over 5 metres of peat!

• Small pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly - last year 15 people attended an identification training day at Palacerigg.  The sun shone and 3 new colonies were found that day, 2 other new colonies were confirmed in 2004, bringing the total to 45.  It is planned to survey all know sites by 2010.

• Grounds Maintenance - a large-scale trial of a new grass-cutting regime will take place on 14 large sites all over North Lanarkshire.  Adjacent communities are being informed about this via leaflet and the sites' plants and animals will monitored see if this affects them.

• Swifts - nesting provision has been included in the 14 new build schools in North Lanarkshire.  In addition swift nesting provision is to be included in all council house refurbishments, this was agreed in 2004.

• Wild bird cover - the NLBAP was successful in obtaining a £2000 grant from the Scottish Biodiversity Action Grant Scheme to plant 7 hectares (or 14 football pitches) of this unharvested crop.  It provides food and shelter for birds such as linnet, greenfinch and goldfinch.  The crop is to be left standing for 2 winters and will be monitored by volunteers.

• Updating the NLBAP - all of the original 17 plans have been revised, 2 have been joined together and 4 new plans written - canals, urban and brownfield, interpretation communication and education and mud snail!  This brings the grand total to 20 species and habitat plans.  A consultation draft of the new plans to be circulated for comment in mid- May.

Future forums.

It was decided that a twice-yearly newsletter will be produced and circulated to Councillors, Community Councillors and available to the public in libraries and at events.  This will update them on the progress of the NLBAP.  This report will represent the first of these.

The forum will continue but its aim will be to inform those interested or involved in the NLBAP about its progress, rather than to try and reach a general audience.