1. To campaign locally and nationally for the value of nature to be at the heart of decision making
2. To help local councils identify where planning applications do not contain adequate information from ecological surveys to meet the requirements of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 and associated obligations and the NPPF
3. To develop and share best practice in measures which enhance biodiversity and also mitigate harmful impacts at proposed development sites and their surrounds for decision takers and action groups. Likewise monitoring effectiveness post-development
4. To draw together case studies to show the effectiveness of mitigation work in relation to protected species
5. To identify ‘wildlife crime’ – where the biodiversity of site is intentionally destroyed before a planning application is submitted and survey work is carried out and ensure this is reported
6. To encourage more ecological surveys to be carried out and for local people to identify wildlife and report this to the Biodiversity Records Centre
7. To raise  awareness of the environmental importance of non-designated sites (i.e. outside of the National Park / AONB etc)
8. To support environmental education projects for children to enable a ‘reconnection with nature.’

Photo © Martin Cooper