Bournemouth Borough Council is committed to creating more environmentally sustainable parks over the next 5 years and beyond, as set out in the Green Space Strategy 2007-2011. 

We are committed to:

Monitor and preserve rare habitats, flora and fauna across the Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCI) and Local Nature Reserves (LNR) designated sites, working in partnership with Natural England.

Extract from Leisure Services Service Plan 2007/08

• Management and operation of the Council’s 842 hectares of parks, gardens, countryside and open spaces, including the sports, recreation and play facilities provided within them whilst achieving sustainability and promoting bio-diversity.
• Improve our performance in Recycling, Waste Management and Energy Management.
• Achieve at least 8 Green Flag Park Awards annually.
• Prepare a Heathland Mitigation Strategy for Bournemouth.

Extract from Bournemouth Vision 2026 – sustainable community strategy 2007-2011  

• Support people with the removal of bulky goods.
• Increase the use of green and urban spaces for community cultural activity.
•  Improve the facilities and quality of green spaces.
• Improve the bio-diversity of green spaces.
• Increase monitoring of environmental quality and act on that monitoring.
• Increase respect for the built environment and heritage of Bournemouth.
• Increase the voluntary effort associated with ‘greening’ Bournemouth such as Bournemouth in Bloom.
• Improve the facilities and overall quality of urban spaces.
• Reduce the litter, graffiti and mess in streets.
• Improve the lighting of urban spaces.
• Reduce the mess and glass in play areas and parks.
• Design and manage open spaces to reduce and mitigate the effects of climate change.
• Work in partnership to reduce anti-social behaviour in public space.

Extract from Green Space Strategy 2007-2011 

• Protect and enhance the wildlife resource of Bournemouth, thereby contributing to local and national biodiversity action plan (BAP) targets
• Promote greater awareness and understanding of the local environment and nature conservation issues and to encourage community involvement
• Improve data collection and record keeping
• Eradicate invasive alien plant species from all Council owned sites, with particular attention on Rhododendron ponticum, Gaultheria, Japanese Knotweed, Giant Hogweed and Hottentot Fig; whilst controlling potentially invasive tree species such as White Poplar and Sycamore
• Continue with the Borough’s grazing project and expand it where appropriate e.g. investigate goat grazing on sections of the cliff to improve condition of the SSSI
• Increase the number of sites with a high wildlife value in areas where access to nature is limited e.g. sowing of wild flower areas at 12 Borough sites in 2007
• Develop more small and accessible nature sites throughout the town, to increase the volume of valuable habitats and provide corridor/link sites for wildlife
• Incorporate nature conservation values into the Local Development Framework
• Develop a suggested species list for developers, in anticipation of new Local Development Framework policies to emphasise native species within amenity plating projects
• Promote the potential ecological value of private gardens through active advice and encouragement of good practices to improve biodiversity
• Improve community involvement in practical nature conservation through friends groups, community activates and an improved website
• Improve and encourage responsible access to all sites with nature conservation interest
• Aim to develop the Stour Valley Way as a continuous countryside route from Hengistbury Head to Milhams Mead, accessible for all to enjoy
• The percentage of deciduous tree cover within the town should be increased annually, using species that are likely to be tolerant of a warming climate and will benefit local wildlife
• Benchmarks, targets and milestones for tree cover need to be agreed with the residents and the Bournemouth Partnership
• Develop a sustainability partnership with schools to work on education and practical projects to tackle climate change at a local level
• A more varied grass sward length needs to be established within the Borough to assist with the retention of soil moisture and to increase biodiversity
• Utilise the horticultural skills of staff to develop a showcase – bedding schemes interpreted to highlight environmental issues, e.g. water free, indigenous, peat free, organic etc
• Improve access to countryside sites for all sectors of the population by appropriate means, with particular attention to developing sustainable transport links
• Seek to obtain funding to develop a multi-user crossing (horse/bike/pedestrian) at Pig Shoot Lane, so that residents can access employment and recreational opportunities in the Hurn area
• Promote a message about taking litter home and recycling on Welcome signs along side other positive behavioural messages
• Invest in ‘green’ energy sources for new buildings and other electrically/gas powered systems (e.g. wind, solar voltaic or biomass) as part of a ‘spend to save’ programme
• Reduce energy consumption wherever possible in public open spaces and related buildings