Biodiversity

According to ‘Bugs Matter’, insect populations in the UK have declined by almost 60% in the past 20 years, and many species are now in danger of extinction. Cheshire Wildlife Trust has confirmed that insect populations are in critical decline in our area and urgent action is required to reverse this.

With a third of our food crops and as many as 87% of other plants pollinated by insects there is a lot to lose. Much of our wildlife, be it birds, bats, amphibians, small mammals, or fish rely on insects for food. Without them we risk the collapse of our natural world.

In a bid to help combat the consequences of the UK’s drastically declining insect population, Congleton Town Council is building biodiversity thinking into our outdoor maintenance.  For more information see our Outdoor Environment page.

In addition to managing our spaces differently the Council has worked with a qualified landscape architect to create a Biodiversity Plan for Congleton. 

This plan identifies 30 sites where there is an opportunity to promote more biodiversity. Each site will have its own specific plan, taking into account the local conditions and the views of the local residents. The initial focus will be on 7 key sites: Quinta Park, Back Lane, Stirling Close, land off Hillfields Close, Redfern Avenue, Windsor Place and Blackshaw Close.

Introduction to site specific biodiversity plans

Official Launch of the Biodiversity Project

Congleton Town Council supported by its green partners, will be launching the Biodiversity Improvement project at Stirling Close on Thursday 6 April, 11am. Everybody is welcome to come along to discover more about the issues around biodiversity and actions being taken locally to develop more green sites across Congleton.

Staff and volunteers from the project will be on hand with interesting and informative displays, highlighting the town’s commitment and plans to improve biodiversity for both people and wildlife. Several groups involved in the project will be there on the day to celebrate the official launch. For those wanting to get more involved there will be opportunities to learn about hedge planting, tree planting and maintaining green spaces. There will also be lots of practical advice available for residents looking to increase biodiversity in their own gardens.

Congleton Town Council’s 30 Biodiversity Sites

The sites are as follows:

West Heath

• Padgbury Lane/Langdale Close/Rydal Close (CTC rewilding site)
• Thirlmere Close
• Newcastle Road linear green space
• Quinta Park Play Area (key site)
• Sycamore Avenue-Chestnut Drive
• Longdown Road-Chestnut Ave (CTC rewilding site)
• Bowness Court
• Newcastle Road-Solly Crescent
• Back Lane/Hawthorne Close group of small green spaces (key site)

Click below to see more about the 9 sites in West Heath:

Central

• Hankinson’s Field (CTC rewilding site)
• Banky Fields (CTC rewilding site)
• Thames Close-Townsend Road?
• Quayside-Goldfinch Road
• West Road (former Danesford frontage)
• Stirling Close (CTC rewilding site) (Key site)

Click below to see more about the 6 Central Sites:

Lower Heath

• Land off Hillfields Close (CTC rewilding site) (Key site)
• Lower Heath Play Area
• Hertford Close-Riverdane Road
• Lady Warburton’s Walk. Ownership unclear (CTC rewilding site)
• Buglawton
• Mardale Close
• Havannah Lane/St John’s Road
• St John’s Recreation Ground, Play Area and River Dane floodplain
• Redfern Avenue-Buxton Road (CTC rewilding site) (Key site)

Click below to see more about the 9 sites in Lower Heath:

Bromley Farm

• Bromley Woods (has an old management plan)
• Bromley Farm Play Area
• Windsor Place (key site)

Click below to see more about the 3 sites in Bromley Farm:

Mossley, Astbury Lane Ends, upper Canal St

• Derwent Drive (CTC rewilding site)
• Isis Close-Tamar Close (CTC rewilding site)
• Bridgewater Close (CTC rewilding site)
• Blackshaw Close (Key site)

Click below to see more about the 4 Mossley Sites:

Buglawton

• Havannah Lane – St John’s Road
• Mardale Close
• Redfern Avenue – Buxton Road (Key site)
• St John’s Playing Fields & Riverside

Click below to see more about the 4 Buglawton Sites:

Other alternative sites suggested:

• River Dane walkway (extent of CEC ownership to be determined)
• Area off Howarth Avenue
• Area off Pirie Road
• Congleton Cemetery (part-owned by CEC)
• Area off Camborne Close
• Area off Lamberts Lane, including bridleway
• Marshall Grove Play Area (managed but not owned by CEC)

Congleton Park and the Town Wood will have their own specific biodiversity plan, in addition to the sites listed above.

You can get involved in the work to develop these sites, comment on them or suggest other sites. Please email: info@congleton-tc.gov.uk if you would like to volunteer or comment.

Congleton Community Garden and Allotments

Following on from the feedback received at the informal meeting on Thursday 23 March, we will not be reviewing the plan that was published but would look to understand what you, the residents, would like on this site. We are pleased that there are so many residents who are keen to protect and enhance our green spaces in Congleton.

To confirm your attendance, please email Ruth Burgess, Streetscape Development Manager: ruth.burgess@congleton-tc.gov.uk

Read more about the plans below. For anyone who cannot attend but would like to give feedback on the plans, please email your comments to: ruth.burgess@congleton-tc.gov.uk

What about you?

Many Congleton residents are doing their bit to drive more Biodiversity and improve insect populations. If you have a garden or even a small outdoor area, you might like to try:

• Letting a section or all of your lawn grow long and maybe seeding wildflowers. This can create an important habitat for all sorts of insects and minibeasts, which then provide food for birds
• Growing flowering plants and shrubs that give nectar-rich food to butterflies and bees, as well as seeds, berries and cover for birds and small mammals
• Providing trees, climbing plants and hedges to create roosting and nesting sites for birds and mammals, as well as valuable shelter
• Adding a pond or water feature – these can be a habitat for a huge variety of animal life, from amphibians and invertebrates to bathing garden birds
• Not being too tidy! Woodpiles, compost and trimmings can be incredible places for animals to live, feed and hibernate.

There are many more tips for creating a biodiverse garden on the RSPB website’s page: Gardening for Wildlife.

For infographics and checklists about Biodiversity, check out our Green Resources page.

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Last updated: 7th January 2023

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