‘Farmland into gardens policy is not enough’
A BIODIVERSITY clause in planning policy to stop agricultural land being subsumed into residential gardens is not enough for La Societe Guernesiaise
‘While we welcome the DPA’s commitment to enhancing biodiversity in development, we don’t believe that allowing the loss of agricultural land should be endorsed, even if land owners are encouraged to enhance biodiversity,’ said a spokesman for La Societe’s scientific committee.
‘La Societe is of the opinion that there should be a moratorium on further loss of agricultural land to domestic curtilage and of the development of green field sites.’
It said that successive habitat surveys showed that species-rich grasslands in the island declined from 446 hectares in 1999 to 93 hectares in 2018.
‘Much of the loss has been caused by intensive management. While certain agricultural practices can also cause harm to the environment, the conversion of large areas of the island’s countryside to gardens is not likely to lead to an increase in biodiversity as many gardens are intensively managed.’
These are often planted with non-native plants which, at best, could provide some shelter or food for local species. But at worst La Societe would be concerned about invasive plants and environmental implications.
With only one enforcement officer employed in the planning department, it said, it was worried that the policy would be impossible to police effectively
La Societe shared the National Trust of Guernsey’s fears that once an area has been brought into curtilage it could be open to applications for development but it was also concerned that developments not needing planning permission, such as swimming pools, could impact on the site’s biodiversity.
Dairy farmers could be forced to bring in more intensive practices as agricultural land continues to be converted.
‘While many current agricultural practices are damaging to the environment, farms such as the RSPB’s Hope Farm have shown that it is possible to farm with nature,’ said the spokesman.
‘Guernsey can have both a thriving dairy industry and a biodiverse countryside – but only if there is sufficient land to allow these management practices to be introduced.’
