Biodiversity is in serious decline with many species having suffered dramatic drops in population. Climate change, land management, development and recreation all pose threats to biodiversity.

Conserving and restoring natural habitats enhances biodiversity and provides vital ecosystem services.

The Council is working with key stakeholders on a range of projects and initiatives to protect our most important sites, improve all habitats for wildlife across the borough and build in resilience to climate change. Our partners include Natural England, Kent Wildlife Trust, Kent County Council, Kent Nature Partnership and the Kent High Weald Partnership.   

Trees

Woodland is a valuable resource within the borough, and ancient woodland in particular is a habitat of major importance to nature conservation. It plays host to a number of protected or notable species and is a key feature of the landscape character and historic fabric of the borough.

Trees and hedgerows provide habitat for many species of mammals, birds, and insects. Whilst all wildlife is important, some species are legally protected, including nesting birds and bats.

Find out more about trees and woodland management within TWBC.

Walking in beautiful Ashdown Forest - photo by David Hodgkinson
Walking through Tunbrifge Wells countryside
Rainy day Rainbow over Sherwood Lake
Beautiful walk by High Rocks - photo by David Hodgkinson
Barnetts Wood Nature Reserve - photo by David Hodgkinson
Tunbridge Wells Common - photo by David Hodgkinson
Tunbridge Wells Common - photo by Lynda Grigs
Blue Magic in the woods - Hole Park Gardens

The Queen’s Green Canopy

The Council is working in partnership with Town and Parish Council’s and ‘Friend’s’ groups to take part in the Queen’s Green Canopy. This is a unique tree planting initiative to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

We will provide 700 trees for free and 70 specimen trees at a subsidised rate.  Our partners will be identifying suitable locations and we will provide information on planting and after care.

Find more about the scheme from one of our latest news items ‘Queens Green Canopy’

Our own biodiversity agenda

Our local plan includes strategies for biodiversity and ecological management.

Here are some examples of the work our parks and planning teams have done (and are planning) to improve the biodiversity across the borough!

Our Parks Team

  • Converted flower beds to permanent herbaceous planting tolerant to drought

  • Creating meadows, more wildflowers, ensuring only native tree species are planted and reduced mowing

  • Use of peat free compost

Our Planning team

  • Generating net gains for biodiversity (a minimum of 10%) from most new developments through wildlife enhancement

  • Created a Local plan which contains a range of environmental policies for improved sustainability of new development including addressing climate change and adaptation as well as specific policies for trees, ancient woodland, biodiversity and green infrastructure.

  • Focusing on the Councils own woodland, which will be placed into a new long term management plan to boost biodiversity

  • Exploring opportunities for trees in urban areas to reduce heat gain

  • Tree cover across the borough will be retained and increased with a particular regard to on street tree planting

  • Designated sites for wildlife will be protected from development

  • The landscapes and wildlife zones included within new development will be secured in perpetuity through planning consents and management plans

  • The Council supports the work of the Kent Nature Partnership and Kent County Council in the Kent Biodiversity Action Plan and the Local Nature Recovery Strategy Making Space for Nature in Kent and Medway which now has its own website.

  • As required by the Environment Act 2021 the Council has produced a Biodiversity Report which will be updated periodically.

Biodiversity Podcast

Listen to our podcast to find out more about biodiversity, and about how we at TWBC are working to preserve and improve it:

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council – Pesticide Policy

The growing concern around the use of pesticides and trends in reduction

Throughout the UK many Councils are considering the use of horticultural chemicals which have traditionally been used as a cost effective way to control fungi, insects, plant disease and weeds amongst others.

There is growing public concern over the use of horticultural chemicals in public open spaces in particular the possible health effects on humans through the exposure to pesticides and herbicides, especially the impact on children.

Read the full TWBC – Pesticide Policy