4.30.1 Although sites of nature conservation value contain some of the most valuable nature conservation assets, it is important to recognise that they are not islands in an otherwise sterile environment. Much agricultural land in Britain is of quite low value from an ecological viewpoint because it lacks the variety of species found in natural systems. Modern agriculture is intensive in nature and tends to restrict the scope for native species, although "set-aside" and the conservation and creation of farm woodlands and other features continue to maintain key wildlife habitats. (See also Policy C23)

4.30.2 Fortunately most agricultural land is broken up and interspersed by areas which are unsuitable for grazing or cultivation or by field boundaries often in the form of hedgerows. It is in these areas where the more valuable habitats for wildlife occur. More often than not these features tend to be linear in the form of field boundaries, watercourses, road, and railway lines. They often penetrate right to the heart of the urban environment, forming an invaluable network of "corridors" along which wildlife is able to flourish and migrate. The Council has identified wildlife corridors throughout the Borough, including the urban environment It is essential that such corridors be retained both for their own intrinsic habitat value and as migration routes for wildlife. It is important that these corridors be linked to those in adjoining districts as wildlife does not recognise man made boundaries and such links will help to maximise their effectiveness.

4.30.3 Development in identified wildlife corridors should normally be resisted but there will be occasions when some operations or developments are unavoidable or necessary and in these cases it will be important to ensure that the physical continuity of the corridor is maintained, as a general rule the Council considers a minimum of 5 metres should be provided wherever possible.

4.30.4 The Council has identified wildlife corridors adjacent to Alnwick and Tynedale Districts who have decided that their areas are of such general wildlife interest that designation of corridors is impracticable. Accordingly wildlife corridors at the boundaries with these districts are not continued in those authorities' Local Plans, although the movement of wildlife across Local Authority boundaries is unaffected by designation.