Developing a toolkit to enable positive ecological site management and resident well-being in Housing Association developments

自然界作为城镇的一个引人入胜的特征有着悠久的历史(例如Fitter 1945)，在20世纪末的一些国家也在当地的生物保护中发挥了重要作用(Goode，2016)。除了这一悠久的传统之外，还存在着大量有助于促进城镇生物多样性的研究成果；然而，这项研究并不一定定期付诸实践。与此同时，英国的城市地区包括贫困地区，有证据表明，这些地点可能会错过获得高质量绿地和生物多样性环境所带来的好处(Public Health England，2014)。我们的项目将产生一个简单、清晰的材料和方法工具包，使房屋协会(HA)物业经理能够(I)更好地管理其地点的生物多样性；(Ii)更好地了解他们的地点如何与当地环境相联系；以及(Iii)通过记录他们管理的地点上的物种，了解居民和工作人员可以以多种方式为更广泛的环境监测做出贡献。这些目标不仅对房委会地盘内和周围的生物多样性有即时的好处，而且有可能改善居民的生活质素。Bracknell案例研究现场的居民已经表达了浓厚的兴趣，希望了解如何为野生动物改善他们的社区。我们的建议将以生物多样性和健康研究人员的研究结果为基础，从而确保房委会场地管理的拟议改革具有最好的机会，既有利于生物多样性，也有利于房委会居民和员工的身心健康。我们的工具包将包括一系列可以遵循的简单步骤，以创建野生动物友好区，例如种植和管理建议。除了这些管理信息，还将提供想法和工具，以促进居民更多地欣赏和了解野生动物。这些将在布拉克内尔的案例研究现场举行的活动中得到证明。工具包将通过我们与SHG的密切合作关系以及其他利益相关者的意见(见下文)来开发，以确保建议切实可行，并有最好的机会为加强整个英国的生物多样性HA场地管理和更好地利用野生动物记录网络提供可靠的基础。工具包将通过项目网站在线发布，通过利益攸关方网站进行宣传，并在利益攸关方会议和国家会议上进行宣传，如地方环境记录中心协会会议和国家生物多样性网络会议。推广和采用这种工具有可能为英国数以千计的最贫困的人带来更好的生物多样性和更好的生活质量(参见我们的主要合作伙伴南方住房集团，仅见下文)。持有者项目合作伙伴南方住房集团(SHG)管理和拥有近28,000套住房，拥有72,000名居民。SHG是英格兰南部最大的社会住房提供商之一。此外，它与其他可能从这项工作中受益的机构有着密切的联系。在英国，有近1700家注册的HAS。其他表示支持这一申请的利益相关者有：ALERC(支持函和免费出席ALERC会议以推广工具包泰晤士谷环境记录中心(支持函和按合作伙伴费率降低咨询费)伯克希尔、白金汉郡和牛津郡野生动物信托基金(支持函)关键词城市生物多样性、福祉、美学、土地管理、住房、人与野生动物互动、生物记录、心理健康、绿色基础设施、可持续性、场地维护、自然资本、文化服务、生态系统服务、生物多样性战略

The natural world as a fascinating feature of towns and cities has a long history (e.g. Fitter 1945), and has also played a strong part in local biological conservation in some countries over the late 20th Century (Goode, 2016). In addition to this long tradition, an abundance of research findings that could help promote biodiversity in towns and cities also exists; however, it is not necessarily the case that this research is regularly put into practice. At the same time, urban areas throughout the UK include deprived areas, and there is evidence that such locations may miss out on the benefits associated with access to high-quality green space and a biodiverse environment (Public Health England, 2014).Our project will produce a simple, clear toolkit of materials and approaches that will enable Housing Association (HA) estate managers to (i) better manage their sites for biodiversity; (ii) better understand how their sites link into the local environment; and (iii) understand the many ways in which residents and staff can contribute to wider environmental monitoring by recording species on the sites that they manage. These objectives will not only have immediate benefits for biodiversity in and around HA sites, but also have the potential to improve the quality of life of the residents. Residents on the Bracknell case study site have already expressed a strong interest in understanding how to improve their neighbourhood for wildlife. Our advice will be based on the findings of biodiversity and health researchers, thereby ensuring that proposed changes to HA site management have the best chance of working for both biodiversity and the mental and physical well-being of HA residents and staff.Our toolkit will comprise a selection of simple steps that HAs can follow to create wildlife friendly areas, such as planting and management advice. Alongside this management information, ideas and tools for promoting a greater appreciation and knowledge of wildlife by residents will also be provided. These will be demonstrated by events held on the case study site in Bracknell. The toolkit will be developed through our close working relationship with SHG, with input from other stakeholders (see below), to ensure that the suggestions are practical, and have the best chance of providing a sounds basis for enhanced HA site management for biodiversity, and enhanced access to wildlife recording networks, across the whole of the UK.The toolkit will be published online through a project website, advertised through stakeholder websites and promoted at stakeholder conferences and national conferences, such as the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC) conference and the National Biodiversity Network conference. The promotion and uptake of such a tool has the potential to bring enhanced biodiversity and a better quality of life to thousands of the most deprived people across the UK (see the reach of our main partner, the Southern Housing Group, alone below).StakeholdersThe project partner, Southern Housing Group (SHG) manages and owns almost 28,000 homes, with 72,000 residents. SHG is one of the largest social housing providers in southern England. Furthermore, it has close links with other HAs that could benefit from this work. There are almost 1,700 registered HAs in the UK. Other stakeholders that have expressed support for this application are:ALERC (letter of support and free attendance to ALERC conference to promote toolkitThames Valley Environmental Records Centre (letter of support and reduced consultancy fees at partner rate)Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (letter of support)KeywordsUrban biodiversity, well-being, aesthetic, land management, housing, human-wildlife interactions, biological recording, mental health, green infrastructure, sustainability, grounds maintenance, natural capital, cultural services, ecosystem services, biodiversity strategy