An Island project to sustain urban biodiversity has been recognised with a national award. The Abbey Mews Apple Project was chosen from 40 entries to win its category in the Big Biodiversity Challenge 2015, run by the UK construction industry body, CIRIA. The Newport project was a collaboration between Arc Consulting, the Isle of Wight College’s Horticulture team, Island fruit tree specialists Deacons, and David Wilson Homes.
Ian Boyd, chief ecologist at Arc Consulting said:
‘Local people who remembered the orchard trees that were a part of the old Dairy Crest site in Newport were committed to seeing something of that character retained as the new housing development took place. So, with the help of all the partners, cuttings were taken, grafted and grown on, tended off-site, before finally being returned to begin a new orchard. Some of the cloned trees have also gone to other Isle of Wight planting projects. It’s been great to see small interventions at the start of a scheme followed through to leave something for wildlife and for people, and to echo something distinctive about a place, something that was valued.’
Island public artists Eccleston George were shortlisted in the ‘Most Innovative’ category for their ‘Artecology’ research into Marine wildlife conservation with Bournemouth University.
CIRIA’s BIG Biodiversity Challenge aims to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and enhancing biodiversity in the built environment to all those who work in the construction industry -from developers to consultants and commissioners – by inviting them to build at least one biodiversity enhancement to their construction site, development or existing building.
Ian Boyd also highlighted that the BIG Biodiversity Challenge shows how the Isle of Wight is home to imagination and innovation – here in making space for biodiversity enhancements in built infrastructure and development.
