Biodiversity and wildlife

Hart is rich in different habitats and species. We have a mosaic of farmland, ancient woodlands, lowland heathland and water courses.

Even our towns are biodiverse. Urban trees and green spaces not only look lovely, they also help maintain biodiversity and reduce the impact of climate change.

Hart has some important natural sites. There are three types:

• Internationally important sites

Our areas of heathland are part of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area. They are home to breeding populations of woodlark, Dartford warbler and nightjar.

• Nationally important sites

We have 16 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, which make up about 12.5% of the district.

• Locally important sites

We have several Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation and Local Wildlife Sites. They have been designated because they help maintain the natural habitat in Hart and benefit plants, animals and people.

You can view an interactive map which shows the location of natural sites in Hart.

No Mow May

No Mow May is a national campaign encouraging gardeners and green space managers to stop mowing the grass in May.

Having wilder areas in our public open spaces and in people’s gardens will provide more mini-beasts with the perfect environment, encouraging greater biodiversity.

In Hart, 60% of Council-owned grassland is conservation cut, meaning it is only cut twice a year for the benefit of wildlife. The first of these cuts happens during Spring, which means these areas will still be mown in May although we fully support the No Mow May campaign. 

Read Hart’s Grassland and Wildflower Strategy for more information on how we are mowing less to protect biodiversity.