This proposal sets out the terms for the continuation funding for the IMRC at Imperial College. All objectives, research plans and beneficiaries information has previously been approved though the 3rd year review of the existing Centre.

The natural world as a fascinating feature of towns and cities has a long history (e.g. Fitter 1945), and has also played a strong part in local biological conservation in some countries over the late 20th Century (Goode, 2016). In addition to this long tradition, an abundance of research findings that could help promote biodiversity in towns and cities also exists; however, it is not necessarily the case that this research is regularly put into practice. At the same time, urban areas throughout the UK include deprived areas, and there is evidence that such locations may miss out on the benefits associated with access to high-quality green space and a biodiverse environment (Public Health England, 2014). Our project will produce a simple, clear toolkit of materials and approaches that will enable Housing Association (HA) estate managers to (i) better manage their sites for biodiversity; (ii) better understand how their sites link into the local environment; and (iii) understand the many ways in which residents and staff can contribute to wider environmental monitoring by recording species on the sites that they manage. These objectives will not only have immediate benefits for biodiversity in and around HA sites, but also have the potential to improve the quality of life of the residents. Residents on the Bracknell case study site have already expressed a strong interest in understanding how to improve their neighbourhood for wildlife. Our advice will be based on the findings of biodiversity and health researchers, thereby ensuring that proposed changes to HA site management have the best chance of working for both biodiversity and the mental and physical well-being of HA residents and staff. Our toolkit will comprise a selection of simple steps that HAs can follow to create wildlife friendly areas, such as planting and management advice. Alongside this management information, ideas and tools for promoting a greater appreciation and knowledge of wildlife by residents will also be provided. These will be demonstrated by events held on the case study site in Bracknell. The toolkit will be developed through our close working relationship with SHG, with input from other stakeholders (see below), to ensure that the suggestions are practical, and have the best chance of providing a sounds basis for enhanced HA site management for biodiversity, and enhanced access to wildlife recording networks, across the whole of the UK. The toolkit will be published online through a project website, advertised through stakeholder websites and promoted at stakeholder conferences and national conferences, such as the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC) conference and the National Biodiversity Network conference. The promotion and uptake of such a tool has the potential to bring enhanced biodiversity and a better quality of life to thousands of the most deprived people across the UK (see the reach of our main partner, the Southern Housing Group, alone below). Stakeholders The project partner, Southern Housing Group (SHG) manages and owns almost 28,000 homes, with 72,000 residents. SHG is one of the largest social housing providers in southern England. Furthermore, it has close links with other HAs that could benefit from this work. There are almost 1,700 registered HAs in the UK. Other stakeholders that have expressed support for this application are: ALERC (letter of support and free attendance to ALERC conference to promote toolkit Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (letter of support and reduced consultancy fees at partner rate) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (letter of support) Keywords Urban biodiversity, well-being, aesthetic, land management, housing, human-wildlife interactions, biological recording, mental health, green infrastructure, sustainability, grounds maintenance, natural capital, cultural services, ecosystem services, biodiversity strategy

The natural world as a fascinating feature of towns and cities has a long history (e.g. Fitter 1945), and has also played a strong part in local biological conservation in some countries over the late 20th Century (Goode, 2016). In addition to this long tradition, an abundance of research findings that could help promote biodiversity in towns and cities also exists; however, it is not necessarily the case that this research is regularly put into practice. At the same time, urban areas throughout the UK include deprived areas, and there is evidence that such locations may miss out on the benefits associated with access to high-quality green space and a biodiverse environment (Public Health England, 2014). Our project will produce a simple, clear toolkit of materials and approaches that will enable Housing Association (HA) estate managers to (i) better manage their sites for biodiversity; (ii) better understand how their sites link into the local environment; and (iii) understand the many ways in which residents and staff can contribute to wider environmental monitoring by recording species on the sites that they manage. These objectives will not only have immediate benefits for biodiversity in and around HA sites, but also have the potential to improve the quality of life of the residents. Residents on the Bracknell case study site have already expressed a strong interest in understanding how to improve their neighbourhood for wildlife. Our advice will be based on the findings of biodiversity and health researchers, thereby ensuring that proposed changes to HA site management have the best chance of working for both biodiversity and the mental and physical well-being of HA residents and staff. Our toolkit will comprise a selection of simple steps that HAs can follow to create wildlife friendly areas, such as planting and management advice. Alongside this management information, ideas and tools for promoting a greater appreciation and knowledge of wildlife by residents will also be provided. These will be demonstrated by events held on the case study site in Bracknell. The toolkit will be developed through our close working relationship with SHG, with input from other stakeholders (see below), to ensure that the suggestions are practical, and have the best chance of providing a sounds basis for enhanced HA site management for biodiversity, and enhanced access to wildlife recording networks, across the whole of the UK. The toolkit will be published online through a project website, advertised through stakeholder websites and promoted at stakeholder conferences and national conferences, such as the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC) conference and the National Biodiversity Network conference. The promotion and uptake of such a tool has the potential to bring enhanced biodiversity and a better quality of life to thousands of the most deprived people across the UK (see the reach of our main partner, the Southern Housing Group, alone below). Stakeholders The project partner, Southern Housing Group (SHG) manages and owns almost 28,000 homes, with 72,000 residents. SHG is one of the largest social housing providers in southern England. Furthermore, it has close links with other HAs that could benefit from this work. There are almost 1,700 registered HAs in the UK. Other stakeholders that have expressed support for this application are: ALERC (letter of support and free attendance to ALERC conference to promote toolkit Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre (letter of support and reduced consultancy fees at partner rate) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (letter of support) Keywords Urban biodiversity, well-being, aesthetic, land management, housing, human-wildlife interactions, biological recording, mental health, green infrastructure, sustainability, grounds maintenance, natural capital, cultural services, ecosystem services, biodiversity strategy