The 1996 Leisure Strategy highlighted the importance of implementing local Agenda 21 environmental action plans to ensure that a suitable environment including biodiversity is maintained, balancing the needs of the community with the needs of the environment.

As in 1996, active management of environmentally sensitive 'honeypot' sites like Hengistbury Head continues to be very important. To assist in reducing the pressure on such sites it is important to recognise the value of other countryside areas such as the clifftops at Boscombe and Southbourne and the ability for people to safely travel by bike or foot to other PGCOS. Offering a variety of experiences locally can assist not only in reducing the pressure on Hengistbury Head but also car journeys to the Purbeck Heritage Coast and the New Forest. Gaps in provision locally include the missing links in the Stour Valley Way at Iford, Throop and Kinson, the lack of an Interpretation Centre at Hengistbury Head and the lack of a country park within the Borough. The potential for achieving a country park at Kinson should continue to be explored, and would provide an important additional countryside site in the conurbation, consistent with the aims of the South-East Dorset Countryside Strategy. The proposals for improved interpretation at Hengistbury Head are being developed in conjunction with the Education Directorate to provide an integrated Field Studies and Visitor Centre at the site, for which planning consent has now been achieved.

This sub-section has several themes: -

(i) the importance of maintaining wildlife corridors and havens for flora and fauna, to enable wildlife to thrive. This opportunity was identified in the 1996 Strategy through diversifying the management of previously formally maintained areas. Whilst some progress has been made, there is further scope, particularly in the majority of open spaces that are subject to close mowing regimes.

(ii) the increasing emphasis at a National and European level on the protection of heathland sites. It will be essential to support and implement projects such as 'Tomorrows Heathland Heritage' and the 'LIFE' project which are providing resources to protect and manage the remnants of Dorset's rare heathlands including Turbary Common and areas of Kinson Common and Hengistbury Head.

(iii) The importance of improving the environmental understanding in PGCOS through a multi-faceted education programme, including: -

• Links with Education in schools.
• Involvement of adults and children in a variety of volunteering and conservation groups such as the Wildlife Trust Watch Groups and Park 'Friends' Groups.
• Promotion and development of the countryside, waymarked self-guided walks where people can study on site interpretation boards.
• Participation in guided walks, talks and events organised throughout the year at countryside sites, parks and gardens.
• Involvement in voluntary conservation work helping to conserve, preserve and manage PGCOS.

In addition to these many forms of education, the Cultural Strategy highlights the need to:-

• develop a policy for educational work for schools
• increase work placements for young people through extending links to voluntary sector providers, such as the Princes Trust and Scouts
• develop more interactive information through the Internet
• increase working with voluntary bodies including the Dorset Wildlife Trust and the development of new voluntary 'Friends Groups' as successfully introduced at Kinson Common, Turbary Common, Redhill Common, Boscombe Chine Gardens and Hengistbury Head, etc.

(iv) The importance of developing a comprehensive environmental monitoring programme to measure a variety of environmental targets including biodiversity and wildlife.

2.5.4 Environmental Management

This sub-section also has a number of themes: -

(i) Grounds Maintenance Operations

Opportunities to reduce energy consumption and introduce more environmentally sensitive working practices include:

• Landscape changes which reduce the intensity of maintenance and which can provide visual and ecological benefits.
• Energy saving initiatives in buildings, e.g. depots and sports pavilions.
• Increased use of 'green' fuels in the Grounds Maintenance fleet of vehicles and plant.
• Reducing water leakage . There are increasing cases of water leakage from pipes servicing buildings and irrigation systems. A programme is proposed at major sites such as the Lower Gardens to refurbish the water piping system. A rolling programme of repairs will have both an economic and environmental benefit.
• Reducing use of pesticides and peat . Within PGCOS there is a continual reduction in the use of pesticides through the use of mulch on shrub borders. The use of peat in nurseries continues for bedding plant production whilst consistent suitable alternatives are evaluated.
• Waste recycling . The Cultural Strategy highlights the importance of recycling waste and of using recycled products. Current examples in Grounds Maintenance include the recycling of green waste on site and the use of bark mulch.

(ii) Tree Management

The town has a variety of woodland copses, wooded chines and parkland. Different types of woodland are found ranging from pine-dominated chines in the south to oak woodlands in the north of the Borough.

Trees are significant in the landscape and provide both environmental and ecological benefits. It is therefore important; not only to manage the existing tree stock, but also to ensure that replacement and new tree planting is carried out to ensure continuity of tree cover in the future.

Where it is possible to do so, the tradition of re-establishing the pines associated with Bournemouth will be maintained and failing specimen trees will be replaced prior to their removal.

Within woodlands native tree species of local provenance will be used where possible, and fallen and standing dead timber will, where practicable, be left on site to provide habitats for insects and fungi, thereby improving the food chain.

(iii) Management Plans

The 1996 Leisure Strategy highlighted the importance of management plans to programme work, particularly where there is diversity of habitat and site use or management obligations following designation, e.g. as a Site of Special Scientific Interest; Local Nature Reserve, etc.

(iv) Grazing Animals

Grazing animals not only add to the visual amenity of the area but also are a natural and effective method of managing grassland. The Council's herd of Galloways at Hengistbury Head have successfully carried out this function and consideration will be given to managing other sites by this method in the future. The provision of areas for the grazing of horses will continue where appropriate.