Proposed Submission: Gravesham Local Plan Core Strategy

part of the Green Infrastructure network but is considered in more detail underPolicy CS11 Transport.Biodiversity5.7.7 Gravesham Borough has a significant biodiversity resource. Thisincludes:• Sites of international and national significance for wildlife, e.g. ThamesEstuary and Marshes Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site, NorthDowns Woodlands Special Area of Conservation, and Cobham WoodsSite of Special Scientific Interest. Internationally significant sites are alldesignated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and so are protectedby national legislation;• Species protected by European and/or national legislation, e.g. bats,great crested newts;• Local wildlife sites which are important for the conservation of wildlife atthe county level, e.g. Ebbsfleet Marshes, Court Wood Shorne; and• Roadside nature reserves, e.g. A226 Gravesend Road, Chalk;• Priority habitats and species identified in the UK Biodiversity ActionPlan, e.g. native woodland including ancient woodland, lowlandcalcareous (chalk) grassland.5.7.8 Some previously developed sites in the urban area have highbiodiversity value. The green space and green grid networks together withother areas such as school grounds and private gardens also have a role inproviding and connecting habitats.5.7.9 Recent evidence suggests that there has been a decline in birdpopulations in the internationally significant Special Protection Areas (SPA)and Ramsar sites that make up the North Kent marshes (Thames Estuary andMarshes SPA/Ramsar Site, Medway Estuary and Marshes SPA/Ramsar Site,and The Swale SPA/Ramsar Site) Ramsar/Special Protection Area sites.There is currently insufficient evidence to adequately assess the cause of thisdecline although interim findings indicate that recreational activity causesdisturbance to birds and that more development will lead to an increase in156