Guiding Principles
• The environment is a core part of our business. It provides the inspiration, experience and resources we need to connect people with nature. It is in our interests to ensure that it is taken care of to the highest degree.
• To work in line with the Forestry Commission, European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and Natural England guidance to maintain good working practice for countryside stewardship.
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 remains one of the most important pieces of wildlife legislation in Great Britain. Species listed under Schedule 5 and 8 will be accorded the specific protections specified. All staff will be familiar with this list and any updates.
• All staff (paid/unpaid) working in the organisation have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate authority.
Protection Policy Statement
The organisation has a duty of care to use the environment sustainably and protect it from harm. All staff and participants will be taught the principles of sustainability and environmental protection.
Policy aims
The aim of the Environmental Protection and Sustainability Policy is to promote good practice which ensures:
• The environment is protected for future generations
• The staff maintain good practice throughout all activities and demonstrate this to all clients.
Promoting good practice
• Staff training embeds good practice which is then conveyed to the client
• Site specific risk assessments will be undertaken to identify sensitive environments and protected species. These take into account all seasons and may be updated on an ongoing basis.
• Exclusion zones will be set up where any concerns are identified and all staff and participants will be advised to avoid these clearly marked locations.
• Sustainable harvesting techniques will be used to ensure balance within the environment.
• Seasonal maintenance will be undertaken to address any safety and environmental issues.
• Where invasive species are noted all staff are expected to report the issue as soon as possible.
Sensitive environments
• Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• Natural waterways
• Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
• Locally important wildlife corridors
Protected Species
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 5 – wild animals
• The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 Schedule 8 – wild plants
Notes
It is not normally an offence to pick the ‘Four Fs’; fruit, foliage, fungi or flowers – assuming that none of them are protected specifically – which are growing wild if they are for personal use and not for sale. This is not part of the Wildlife and Countryside Act but a part of common law. It covers such customs as blackberry-picking, taking ivy and holly at Christmas, mushroom-hunting and gathering sloes.
To exercise this right, you must be somewhere you have a legal right to be – such as on a public footpath or in a public park. You cannot just go anywhere and pick the Four Fs. Obviously if enough people exercise this right at the same time and in the same place it could cause a lot of damage to habitats and species. In some places such as parks or commons local byelaws prevent such activities.