Landscape and ecological guidelines

Our borough is home to a variety of landscapes with a natural and cultural heritage. They offer opportunities for conservation, recreation and maintaining or enhancing ecology. Our landscapes include:

• the Kent Downs National Landscape
• urban fringe and nature reserves
• historic parks and gardens
• ancient woodlands
• the Low Weald
• river landscapes

Our guidelines will help you demonstrate good management practices and meet landscape aims and objectives for:

• housing developments
• nature reserves
• woodlands

Ecological surveys and landscape maintenance

You should complete a casual periodic site survey to assess the ecology of the site. Maintenance adjustments can then be made if needed. Discuss the results with industry experts before you make changes. Avoid starting maintenance if you are unsure.

Complete maintenance regularly. A neglected landscape can be overrun with aggressive and non-native plant species. Tree supports and ties should also be checked to protect growth.

Hedgerows, trees and mulch

There are rules you need to follow when planting hedgerow plants and applying mulch. Find more details on our hedges page.

Mowing regimes

Cutting regimes should be determined by the:

• local landscape characteristics
• purpose of the area
• seed mix specifications
• biodiversity
• soil types

Some wildflower meadows and rough grass areas should be cut rotationally in the autumn. Others should be left to protect overwintering fauna. Avoid mowing outside the cutting period unless approved by an ecologist.

If paths are adjacent to, or go through wildflowers or grass, mow a 0.5 metre (m) to 1 m boundary strip. It improves the look of the area and:

• prevents trip hazards on overhanging vegetation
• helps specialist species to survive
• traps windblown litter

Keep recreational grass below a height of 75 millimetres (mm). Lawns must not be cut too short or too often. Over-mowing can:

• increase the need for water and fertilisers
• reduce rainfall infiltration rates
• reduce biodiversity
• weaken grass

Pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers

Avoid using chemical fertilisers, pesticides and fertilisers. Maintain the area by cutting or hand pulling. They harm biodiversity, pollute waterways, and degrade soil health.

Certified contractors can be used for regulatory reasons, such as controlling Japanese Knotweed or Oak Processionary Moth.

Promoting pollinators

Habitat enhancements will help to complete life cycles and support pollinators. This includes:

• such as bare soil banks
• maintaining dry stems over winter
• south-facing ivy
• rough grass

Include a variety of plants that flower at different times throughout the year. You could use:

• herbs
• climbers
• shrubs
• trees

Ponds and wetlands

Design new ponds, swales and wetlands alongside ecological principles. Shallow-water with deeper areas and natural colonisation are preferred. Include biodiversity and surface water management in your plans.

Avoid aquatic plants and animals that may harm local species. Bio-swales should include flood-tolerant trees and shrubs to support surface water management. You could use:

• alder and alder buckthorn
• black poplar
• downy birch
• guelder rose
• willow

Stakeholder and expert insight

You should work with ecologists, local communities, landscape contractors and other stakeholders so that maintenance is effective and supported.

All contractors and stakeholders must be made aware if there is a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan (LEMP) document. They need to know about the duties it includes.

Water harvesting and irrigation

Include an irrigation plan in your design so that a sustainable watering regime can be created. You should consider collecting rainwater runoff.

Do not use non-permeable surfaces like concrete or asphalt because it prevents water infiltration. It can increase runoff and restrict wildlife movement.

Wildlife and habitats

Creating and maintaining habitats

Designate areas for birdhouses, bat boxes and insect hotels. Use cord wood and brash from tree works to create log pile habitats and hibernacula. Dead trees and shrubs should be kept to provide habitats. You can partly bury branches in the shade to encourage wildlife.

Connect habitats to the landscape to increase biodiversity. Avoid single or divided habitats that break up the ecological network and artificial lighting.

Use a variety of habitat spaces and keep a clear maintenance plan. Set out your ecological objectives and review them before adjusting.

Animal traps and poison

Avoid rodent traps and rodenticide hoppers to preserve biodiversity. Well managed areas that encourage natural predators will keep an ecological balance.