Quite an interesting guidance note:
Natural environment - GOV.UK
WWW.GOV.UK
Explains key issues in implementing policy to protect and enhance the natural environment, including local requirements.
"What are the Standard Criteria for Local Wildlife Sites?
Standard CriteriaDetail
Size or extentLarger sites are important for supporting viable populations of species, but smaller sites can be important as part of a larger habitat resource dispersed across the landscape. Smaller sites can be particularly valuable in areas lacking natural greenspace.
DiversitySites should seek to reflect the diversity of wildlife, habitats, geological or geomorphological features that characterise the area.
NaturalnessThe degree to which a site supports natural features, including rock exposures revealing underlying geology, or demonstrates active or past natural processes
Rare or exceptional featureSites should comprise habitats or geological or geomorphological features that are rare or exceptional in the area. The local loss of a rare species or habitat may result directly in the reduction in its wider geographical range. Geological sites are often unique, formed in environments and processes that no longer exist, and their loss removes part of our understanding of the geological history of an area.
FragilitySome habitats and geological features are more sensitive to change and are at greater risk of being lost or damaged due to the direct or indirect impacts of climate change, human activities or other influences
TypicalnessAreas that exemplify a type of habitat, geological feature, or a population of a species, that is characteristic of the natural components of the landscape in which they are found.
Recorded history and cultural associationsSites with links to land-use, industrial and cultural history, historic events, literary or other associations in art, and the history of natural environment research can reveal environmental change over time, changes in the use of natural resources or changes in perception of the natural environment.
Connectivity within the landscapeSpecies may require habitat comprised of dispersed areas which are accessible and part of a functional network. Individual sites (both wildlife and geological) need to be considered in terms of the contribution they make to wider ecological networks.
Value for appreciation of nature and for learningSites can provide opportunities for local educational use, enabling people of all ages to learn about, better understand, experience and enjoy local wildlife and geology. Sites with less intrinsic interest may be of nature conservation value for the opportunities they provide for the appreciation of nature. Sites may also provide opportunities for ecological or geological research."
This connectivity thing is a hobbyhorse of mine in that I don't think any big projects, motorways, HS2 and roads in general have taken into consideration how meta populations of nimals can swap a few genes, hopefully this guidance can lead to some green bridges .