Introduction

All work on urban ecology has to consider the policy dimensions of managing and planning cities. This final section looks at the practical applications of urban ecology and ways in which ecological revitalization can stimulate socioeconomic revitalization by bringing together through wild flower planting, community forestry and stream restoration projects and by creating a greater sense of social well-being. The final ten chapters look at what planning policies can achieve and what needs to be done in the future, including the new ideas about eco-towns and eco-cities. Natural England’s Urban Greenspace standards provide a set of benchmarks for ensuring access to places of wildlife interest. These standards recommend that people living in towns and cities should have

a an accessible natural greenspace less than 300 metres (five minutes’ walk) from home; b statutory Local Nature Reserves at a minimum level of one hectare per thousand population;

and c at least one accessible 20 hectare site within two kilometres of home; one accessible 100

hectare site within five kilometres of home; and one accessible 500 ha site within ten kilometres of home.