Center Parcs UK: leisure development which achieves biodiversity gains

Abstract

There is a growing consensus that land management for nature conservation in the UK must move from being a negative, essentially protectionist, activity to being a positive, creative, managerial one. Maintaining and enhancing biodiversity is the driving force for both statutory and voluntary nature conservation organisations. Leisure development is often associated with a change of land use to a 'less natural' environment, which threatens nature conservation interests. However, this does not have to be the case. Environmental assessments for some leisure developments which involve large areas of land, including areas marginal to the main focus of recreational activity, have suggested, at the planning stage, that such developments can result in environmental improvements. This paper examines the three Center Parcs UK Holiday Villages established in coniferous woodland plantations and illustrates the biodiversity gains, which can be achieved. Careful site selection, environmentally sensitive design and construction, and management regimes that foster target species and habitats are important. Ecological monitoring is vital both to quantify and substantiate biodiversity gains and to raise awareness and confirm expectations.