Weaver Valley Natural Environment Task Group

The Task Group has been set up by the Weaver Valley Management Board to develop a vision document and action plan for the natural environment of the Weaver Valley Regional Park. This will incorporate biodiversity, ECOnet, Flood Risk, Water Quality, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, River/canal and Riparian habitats, Green Infrastructure Proposals and Landscape Character Assessment & Historic Landscape Characterisation

Chairman: Chris Mahon, Coordinator: Steve Clarke.

Membership includes representatives from:

Environment Agency, Mersey Basin Campaign, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, Mersey Forest, British Association for Shooting and Conservation, Natural England, Cheshire Landscape Trust, Vale Royal Borough Council, Cheshire County Council.

The Nature Conservation Resource in the Weaver Valley

Name	Area in WV Ha	Area in County	% Area in County
Sites of Special Scientific Interest	307	6405	4.8
Sites of Biological Importance	1306	10613	12.3
Ancient Woodland	494	1909	25.9
Heathland	1.3	158	0.8
Peatland	48	2419	2.0
Grassland	349	3003	11.6
Glacial Meres	70	404	17.3
Local Nature Reserves	14	133	10.5
Cheshire Wildlife Trust Reserves	46	353	13.0
Woodland Trust Reserves	75	141	53.2
Black Poplars	71	315	22.5
Ponds	1965	16409	12.0
Total: WV/County	33000	210754	15.7

Natural Environment Developments

The Natural Environment Task Group is currently working on a baseline report on the total range of habitats, species and existing activities and projects within the Weaver Valley.
This will be followed by a vision document that sets out our aims and ambitions for the natural environment of the Weaver Valley.
It is also hoped to commission a habitat survey of those areas closest to the river and canal network.