Written question WQ84334

Welsh Government is taking a number of measures to prevent habitat and biodiversity loss in Cardiff, through the Local Places for Nature programme, Enabling Natural Resources and Well-being grants, and the Green Corridors initiative. These include:

Project Name

Project Description

Cardiff Pollinator project

Better management of amenity grassland areas by producing species-rich grasslands that will create places for nature and improve biodiversity for years to come

The Cardiff Green Walls project

Installation of green walls at two sites in areas of poor air quality and little or no green space: Kitchener Road Primary, Canton and The Dusty Forge Community Centre in Ely.

Local Nature Partnerships Cymru led by WCVA

This project is a collaboration between Wales Biodiversity Partnership, WCVA, local authorities, National Parks Authorities and the Local Environment Records Centres.

A co-ordinator is based in Cardiff Council’s Parks Services Community Ranger Team and works to support biodiversity:

1. Coordinates Cardiff LNP steering group which includes representatives from 12 organisations involved with biodiversity work in Cardiff including RSPB, Buglife Cymru, Plantlife Cymru, Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust.

2. Shares news and information about biodiversity events, activities, and volunteer opportunities with over 130 subscribers on the Cardiff LNP mailing list.

3. Manages community project fund which offers up to £500 to community groups for biodiversity projects.

4. Works with Council colleagues and partner organisations on a wide range of biodiversity initiatives and projects. Coordinates development of the Cardiff Local Nature Recovery Plan.

Caru Cymru led by Keep Wales Tidy

A collaborative approach to tackling Local Environmental Quality (LEQ) issues across Wales and improving habitats for biodiversity.

Cardiff’s Urban Forest led by Cardiff Council

A three year pilot to establish a long-term tree planting programme in the city.

Fit for the Future: Green Hospital Infrastructure and Outdoor Healthcare led by Down to Earth

This project will create an outdoor health care and rehabilitation facility at Llandough Hospital based on 14 acres of woodland and meadow next to the hospital.

Opening up of Llanishen & Lisvane Reservoirs led by Welsh Water

The project will maintain, protect and enhancing the ecological value of the site, whilst reconnecting people with water and our beautiful environment.

Pollinators and Freshwaters led by Buglife Cymru

Developing new delivery partnerships for B-Lines, and support the delivery of the Action Plan for Pollinators in Wales; and improving the quality of our freshwaters, to safeguard freshwater invertebrates in Wales and to improve public engagement with freshwater invertebrates and their conservation needs.

Green corridors initiative

A programme of improvements on the trunk road soft estate in Wales to benefit biodiversity. In the Cardiff area this has included;

· restoring species rich grassland on the A4232 near St Fagan’s,

· on the M4, working with Natural Resources Wales, improving Dormouse habitat and carrying out new native tree and shrub planting, grassland restoration and planting native primroses and cowslips at Junction 30, Cardiff Gate.