Biodiversity News - Issue 77 (Winter 2017-2018)jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/BiodiversityNews_77_Winter2017-18_Final.pdf · project to boost young people’s mental health and wellbeing

WINTER 2017/18 BIODIVERSITYNEWS | 1

Contents | News | Features | Local & Regional | Publications | Events

WINTER EDITION

WINTER 2017/18


If you would like to receive Biodiversity

News via email, or know of somebody

who would, please get in touch at:

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3

Healthcare Professionals Go Wild

4

Felixtowe moves forward for nature

6

A breath of fresh air for a local nature

reserve

8

Achieving No Net Loss of Biodiversity on

the Greater West Programme

10

The University of Leeds: Cultivating

Biodiversity from Policy to Practice

12

Securing a future for Warwickshire's

dormice

16

Establishing Crayfish Ark Sites in the

Yorkshire Dales National Park

18

Kester's Docking Update 20

Establishing Crayfish Ark Sites in the

Yorkshire Dales National Park

22

Cinderella will go to the ball but she will

be wearing hiking boots not glass

slippers

24

Christmas Trees in Flyde 26

Please note that the views

expressed in Biodiversity News

are the views of the contributors

and do not necessarily reflect

the views of the UK Biodiversity

Partnership or the organisations

they represent.

Old Chalk New Downs Project 28

Christmas Trees Just Keep Giving on the

Flyde

30

Local People, landscape specialists and

conservationists creating better green

spaces

32

Cumbernauld living landscape wins

national lottery support

34



W elcome to the 77th edition of Biodiversity News,

My name is Arun Kumar, and I am the most recent Biodiversity News editor. First and foremost I would like to thank my predecessor Ben Rhodes who left me lots of useful hints and tips which have been of excellent use and really helped me hit the ground running with this project. I would also like to extend my immense gratitude to all those who took the time to send in all the excellent articles and photos, without these contributions Biodiversity News would not exist. Over the past few Months the biodiversity News mailbox has experienced a hive of activity. In this edition I have included articles which delve into recent award winning projects, or excellent examples of organisations working to improve Biodiversity in the UK. There is a great set of upcoming events for all age groups. It is also incredibly enthusing to see the large range of people who sent in submissions from large non-government organisations to smaller charities. Please feel free to forward the newsletter along to anyone you think might be interested. I would also like to invite you to follow our partner twitter page @DefraNature

From the

Editor



Health Professionals get a taste of the Myplace project

Health professionals had a wild day out to find out more about an exciting community

project to boost young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

The professionals at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust took part in a Myplace taster session, an exciting community project aiming to improve mental and physical health among young people.

The ecotherapy based project is aimed at young people aged between 13 and 25 years, who live in the areas in and around Chorley, Preston and East Lancashire. Participants have the opportunity to spend time in positive and supportive environments in a wide variety of green spaces across Chorley, Preston, and East Lancs with the focus upon improving health and wellbeing through access to; conservation work, wildlife walks, mindful environments, growing projects, and bushcraft.

The aim of the taster session was for health professions to experience first-hand the benefits of Myplace before recommending to the young people they work with.

Georgie Hall Support, Time and Recovery Worker in the East Lancashire Community Restart Team at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust said:

“I had a great day at the Myplace taster session for staff, at Lomeshaye Marsh Local Nature Reserve. I really enjoyed

getting out in the fresh air, walking, doing crafts, building fires and spending time with colleagues.

“The reserve is a lovely, natural space

and there is so much to do and see.

Staff were extremely welcoming and

pleasant and the session was so well

thought out with lots of different

activities that were planned for us. I

would definitely recommend the Myplace project to anyone who is thinking about getting involved,



you will definitely enjoy it!”

Julie Bracewell, Housing Team Leader in the East

Lancashire Community Restart Team at Lancashire Care

NHS Foundation Trust said:

“I can honestly say it was my worst nightmare when I

heard that the taster session involved exploring a

nature reserve and looking at bugs, however as it turns

out I thoroughly enjoyed the day! I was very impressed

with the staff, they were very passionate and ensured we

participated in a variety of activities to make sure we got

as much as possible from the day. Lomeshaye is a very

tranquil setting and the activities planned were both

therapeutic and enjoyable. I can definitely see how young people would benefit from getting involved

in Myplace, what a fabulous session!”

Rebecca Witcombe, Myplace Project Officer at The Lancashire Wildlife Trust said: “We had such a fantastic session at Lomeshaye Marsh with our Lancashire Care colleagues, it was a great opportunity to showcase our Myplace ecotherapy activities. Everyone got really involved so will now be able to use this experience to explain about and refer the young people to the project.” Myplace is an innovative collaboration between the Trust and The Lancashire Wildlife Trust and is funded by close to £1m in Big Lottery Funding that is administered by the national ‘Our Bright Future’ campaign for young people. The Myplace project encourages young people aged 13 – 24 years old to explore the environment by offering opportunities to participate in eco-therapy based activities where they can develop new skills, increase their self-esteem, build resilience and improve their own self-confidence. By getting involved in activities outdoors young people can reduce their stress levels, prevent mental health problems and improve their concentration and mood. The Lancashire Wildlife Trust has also secured an additional £630k in funding from the European Social Fund, that has resulted in the Myplace project being able to increase employability prospects for those members of the community that are currently furthest away from the jobs market, including some young people, women and members of ethnic minority communities. The expanded project will also include the establishment of two new ‘Men in Shed’s’ projects that enable older men to work together on practical projects, such as furniture restoration or creating garden ornaments in order to develop new skills and build self-confidence . The Myplace project is delivered throughout Chorley, Preston, Blackburn, Skelmersdale and East

Lancashire running a variety of environmental activities to improve urban community greenspaces.

For more information about the Myplace project visit www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk/myplace or

www.lancswt.org.uk/myplace-project.

http://www.lancashirecare.nhs.uk/myplace

http://www.lancswt.org.uk/myplace-project



Felixstowe moves forward for nature

Buckets and spades, amusement arcades, the busiest container Port in England and bees, yes Felixstowe is home to wildlife as well as being a seaside destination for visitors. Thanks to the efforts of Felixstowe Forward, Suffolk Coastal Norse and volunteers gentle solitary bees (including Masonary Bees and Ivy Bees) and bumble bees keep the multi-million pound Seafront Gardens Restoration Project humming from late spring to November. European Wall Lizards, from an unknown but expected accidental import in the past continue to thrive in their little niche and attract positive attention without spreading further and affecting native species. The Landguard Nature Reserve Ranger continues to balance the desires of our many local dog walkers, families and visitors and the incredible wildlife and plants found on this 33 hectare site of special scientific interest. With his group of volunteers he has extended and improved boardwalks to make more of the reserve accessible for people with wheelchairs and direct people away from trampling on our sensitive shingle plants (such as sea pea, sea kale, yellow horned poppy and sea campion) . He has fenced off nesting areas and actively engaged with kite flyers and dog walkers to try to reduce disturbance of our Ringed Plovers and the many migratory visitors we get to the site. He has led essential work to control and remove patches of bramble which are in the wrong place to make room for Sea Spurge and other vegetated shingle plants. He would say there is still more to be done and of course in nature enhancement there always is but bringing Ringed Plovers back, increasing the presence of Lady's Bedstraw and keeping our rare stinking goosefoot and other shingle plants going even with the ever increasing usage of the site is at least holding the line if not making small steps forward. Indeed there are many individuals, families and groups all doing their bit to further improve nature in Felixstowe and all should be commended. From the popular Felixstowe Community Nature Reserve group which is successfully using online and offline marketing to engage many more people in devoting space and time to wildlife to the many who quietly litter pick and improve their patches. This truly is an exciting time for nature in Felixstowe and we hope that the shared goal of understanding the value of our wildlife and turning around its decline will one

http://www.felixstowe.gov.uk/partner/felixstowe-forward/

http://suffolkcoastalnorse.co.uk/

http://www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk/assets/Documents/Friends-of-Felixstowe-Seafront-Gardens-leaflet.pdf

http://www.discoverlandguard.org.uk/attractions/landguard-nature-reserve/

http://felixstowecommunitynaturereserve.webs.com/



day be met. If you would like to see it for yourself you can find out more information on Visit

Felixstowe website where we have info on places to visit (Landguard, Gardens, Trimley

Marshes, The Grove and so much more.)

http://www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk/

http://www.visitfelixstowe.org.uk/



A breath of fresh air for Local Nature Reserve

Monkstown Wood, in the historic County Antrim village of the same name, is set for a facelift. This urban woodland has received a funding injection of £65,000, made up of £20,000 from Antrim and

Newtownabbey Borough Council and almost £45,000 from Biffa Award; a multi-million-pound fund that helps to build communities and transform lives through awarding grants to community and environmental projects across the UK, as part of the Landfill Communities Fund. Cared for by the Woodland Trust, the wood is described by The Independent as “a small gem wedged between industrial buildings and a river”. The river is the glorious Three Mile Water and the gem has the added advantage of linking with the Newtownabbey Way, a popular walking/cycling path that runs from Newtownabbey to the shores of Belfast Lough. Some 17 years ago, the conservation charity planted thousands of native trees here – a flourishing and towering mix of oak, rowan, alder and wild cherry. And more recently Monkstown Wood was declared a Local Nature Reserve in recognition of its importance to people and wildlife. Rosie Irwin is the Woodland Trust’s contracts manager and said: “This wood is already well used by local people and groups, from dog walkers to anglers. But, with the forthcoming improvements, we want to put Monkstown firmly on the map. We want it to become a favourite with everyone – nature lovers and visitors from further afield.” The transformation will get underway this September, with works including improved access, new and improved pathways, quaint stone walls, way-markers, benches and interpretation boards. The new pathways will take walkers a step closer to nature: one route will provide access to an adjacent council-owned wildflower meadow, while another will offer a closer look at the Three Mile Water. Rosie continued: “The Three Mile Water Conservation & Angling Association have carried out extensive wildlife surveys of the important river corridor. They’ve worked tirelessly for years to improve the river quality – partly for the population of trout and salmon, but with other wildlife benefiting too. Kingfishers, dippers, otters and Daubenton's bats are just some of the creatures spotted.”

Gillian French, Biffa Award Head of Grants, added: “This urban woodland is a stunning green space loved by the local community. Biffa Award are proud that with Landfill Communities Funding we are able to support this ambitious project and create an even better space that will attract visitors to travel to Monkstown.” Monkstown Wood can be accessed via Monkstown Road, just off the Doagh Road, Newtownabbey. It will officially show off its new look next spring. To find out more search for Monkstown Wood online at woodlandtrust.org.uk

David Fenwick is the winner of the David Robertson adult award. David has been a dedicated recorder for many years. He has a dogged and determined approach to finding, photographing and recording marine and terrestrial species but in recent years his particular strength has been his work with Stauromedusae, rare and protected stalked jellyfish, and the bizarre and often colourful marine nudibranchs or sea slugs. has given up his time to help with Cornwall Wildlife Trust’s Shoresearch programme which engages with local people, and raises the profile of Cornwall’s local marine wildlife.





Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE2) and Network Rail are working together to offer an exciting funding opportunity for biodiversity in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. Network Rail Infrastructure Projects (IP), the division responsible for delivering railway upgrades, is committed to a “measurable net positive contribution towards biodiversity in the UK”. No Net Loss to Biodiversity on the Greater West Programme (TGWP) is a pilot project, putting principle into practice by compensating for unavoidable habitat loss (mainly young semi-natural woodland and some scrub) during the electrification programme. Although scrub, grassland and other low-lying habitats will grow back where trees have been removed, there has been some unavoidable loss to biodiversity. Funding is available for the creation and

improvement of similar habitats to those that have been lost.

What biodiversity projects are eligible? Creating new woodland, providing better links and connectivity between woodlands, and enhancing existing woodland and scrub mosaic; other habitats could also be considered if in close proximity to the railway line Preference for large projects (e.g. 5ha new woodland planting) or clusters of smaller projects delivered by partnerships A key aim is to improve good quality areas by making them bigger and better connected to other wildlife sites and to improve the quality of existing habitats The projects should be as local as possible to the railway line within the following local authority areas; Oxford City, South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, West Berkshire, Reading Borough, Wokingham Borough, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Further information is available at www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk. Please get in touch

Achieving No Net Loss of Biodiversity on the Greater West Programme

http://www.trustforoxfordshire.org.uk



with us to explore ideas for potential projects.



The University of Leeds: Cultivating Biodiversity from Policy to Practice Biodiversity in its widest application is a challenging and involved process. It can be even more challenging in an urban campus setting: at the University of Leeds, the response to the necessity of biodiversity ranges from comprehensive policies to the minute details of urban planning. This can even be as thorough as favouring down-lighting on walkways in the evenings instead of up-lighting, as to encourage bats to populate the space freely. It is perhaps fitting that in a thriving, urban ecosystem, the beehives, rooftop gardens, flower meadows and edible plots of the University are overlooked by the symbolic figures of rare peregrine falcons who occupy the spires and rooftops of the campus’s most iconic landmark, the Parkinson building. The University’s ‘Biodiversity Action Plan’ launched their commitment to biodiversity in 2011,

when there was a real need to identify a baseline of its biodiversity status before the huge construction and campus redevelopments planned for the coming years began. The targets devised for the Action Plan ranged from the simple to the ambitious; raising awareness is worthwhile and achievable, but to effect real change is much harder. The Action Plan’s sound foundation of operational targets, i.e. increasing green space, protecting bird species, improving mammal habitats, was integral in propelling the University towards valuing biodiversity on campus. Since then, the University has expanded this plan - from a strategic standpoint - but has also developed its tangible biodiverse spaces, used either for

research, in the curriculum or in the daily lives of the students. Biodiversity is one strand of the University’s Living Lab Programme, which enables staff and students to co-create research, innovate and drive real improvements to the way the University manages biodiversity on the campus. The Sustainable Garden is at the core of this effort and was planted as a result of the water@leeds research strand which lead to the design of garden that was award-winning at the RHS flower show in 2012. The garden provides a multi-functional space for staff, students and visitors to enjoy quiet contemplation but also to cultivate an allotment-and-forest-style edible garden. It is a great example of a functioning ecosystem with wildflower areas, soft fruit hedgerows,



insect houses and pocket habitats. The campus Living Lab also encompasses pollinator rich habitats that support the nationwide Urban Buzz project. The University houses three apiaries across campus and is keenly interested in pollination research. As well as providing volunteers an opportunity to do hive checks and swarm collections, the honey produced on campus is used and sold in the campus-managed food outlets. Related projects include annual crocus planting to improve pollinator habitat and upkeep of multiple rooftop gardens and edible-plots. The biodiverse spaces are accessed by everyone from school children - via the nationwide IntoUniversity project - to academic researchers, as The University tries to embed sustainability on campus as well as in the wider community. Recently achieving gold at the Yorkshire in Bloom awards is high recognition, which spurs the University on to continue managing the campus with biodiversity in mind. In 2015, the development of the ‘Biodiversity Standard’ cemented the University’s commitment to biodiversity. In its broadest sense, the standard outlines the requirements and responsibilities of everyone

who uses the campus space. This overarching document guides the University in its aim of becoming an exemplar of biodiversity, not just in the city, but across the sector and as a forerunner in the contemporary, biodiverse campus setting. Sustainability Projects Co-Ordinator Michael Howroyd, who oversees biodiversity practices at the University, knows the importance of this Standard:



“Our Biodiversity Standard apprises relevant stakeholders, departments and facul-ty of their role in fostering biodiversity, and outlines the University’s potential eco-system services. With our strategy and policy firmly in place, we have enabled the University to be a home to a rich mix of projects, spaces and tools which aim to in-fluence and improve local, national and international biodiversity practices.”

The newest and most exciting of these tools is the bespoke biodiversity tracking system, which calculates the many benefits of developing biodiverse spaces, not just in terms of supporting wildlife, but in maintaining health and wellbeing for all on campus. Put simp-ly, this tracking tool quantifies the value of green space, and helps to produce a hard number value of potential loss if, for example, a specific habitat was to be built on or if a wilderness area was to be landscaped. The benefit of putting real figures on biodiversity is that you can work it back into your strategy as well as have a robust basis to offset bio-diversity losses. It is standard practice to replace more than you lose, especially when the timescale for cultivating biodiversity is not immediate. Tree loss in an urban space can impact carbon sequestration, surface run-off and flood risk (especially when your University is right at the top of a hill) and so planting three trees for every one lost is an attempt to compen-sate for this as well as the 1 in 3 tree survival rate. The University grounds team does this as standard, but will go back and make sure each of those three trees is replanted if it does not survive. This is mitigation with real follow-up, and aligns with other offsetting practices of planting wildflower meadows to com-pensate if older trees are lost, for example. Using a nationally recognised offsetting tool is a foundation for maintaining biodiversity whilst developing a range of engagement projects for staff, students and members of the local community so that progress is con-tinued.



But with this aim of cultivating biodiversity comes natural barriers; in a literal sense biodiversity does not work in isolation and so at the borders of the 90 acre campus the University strives to extend its networks to include public-space habitats and green corridors into the wider city. In every strand that supports this patchwork of sustainable practice, the University is mindful that its projects will have a limited scope if it does not think beyond the campus, and convert its findings to be used in the community, in local green spaces, parks, woodlands, residences and in the city as a whole. In this way, the room to expand the University’s biodiversity ethos into the City of Leeds is twofold; both physically (through habitat expansion, reducing pollination gaps and ensuring green corridors), as well as in terms of sharing best practice. It is in this latter manner that collaborations can feedback into the aims at a strategic level, as the University work with the local NHS, City Council, Network Rail, York-shire Wildlife Trust and RSPB to aim bigger, better and more biodiverse in the fu-ture.



nearby woodland. The two reintroductions form part of the Princethorpe Woodlands Living Landscape Scheme (supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund), which aims to restore ancient wooded landscapes and connect them by trees and hedgerows. Preparations for the release were underway in 2015, when 300 nest boxes were installed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust to test out various designs against use by other mammals and birds; they were monitored weekly between May and September for two years. In April this year the boxes were located and cleaned or replaced by members of Dormouse Conservation Warwickshire (DCW) and Warwickshire Mammal Group (WMG). In June 150 more nest boxes were installed and 18 large mesh release cages assembled and positioned in the woodland, ready for the dormice's arrival. The dormice had been captive bred by members of the Common Dormouse Captive Breeders Group and quarantined prior to the release for 6 weeks at the Zoological

SECURING A FUTURE FOR WARWICKSHIRE'S DORMICE On June 20th 2017, the People's Trust for Endangered Species, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust and other partners released 38 dormice into an ancient woodland near Royal Leamington Spa. It is intended that a further release will follow at a later stage in a

Society of London and Paignton Zoo to conduct health checks and minimise any threat of disease. On arrival, they were placed into the release cages in their nest boxes, in pairs or trios to encourage breeding, provided with food and water and left to acclimatise themselves. A daily feeding rota was set up and after 10 days, a door was opened in the cages so that the dormice could explore the woodland.



Feeding continued at a reduced frequency until it was thought that the dormice were self-sufficient, and the cages were removed. All the dormice had been electronically tagged to enable their progress to be followed when they are found during box checks in the future.

This is the fourth attempt in Warwickshire to bring back a much loved animal to the heart of England. Years of surveys and monitoring, and several earlier releases spanning more than two decades – including the first release of wild dormice, at Bubbenhall Wood, in 1998 – have gone into trying to repopulate the Midlands with this charismatic, squirrel-like rodent, sadly better known in literature than in the wild. In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, the dormouse is an adjective: ‘Awake your dormouse valour’, says Fabian, meaning sleepy, dozing or slumbering. In Alice in Wonderland, sleeping Dormouse is used as a cushion by the March Hare and the Mad Hatter when Alice arrives at the tea table. This lazy, slightly hopeless depiction seems to have made the attractive little animal a popular pet; in the late 19th century the species was common, indeed it was known in almost every English and Welsh county.



The dormouse is distinguished from other mice by its furry tail and its habit of sleeping through the winter – strictly speaking, it hibernates. The name perhaps comes from the French dormir, meaning to sleep, or the Middle English dor-mouse, meaning sleepy. Regional names reflect this sleepiness: dory mouse, Derry mouse, dozing mouse, sleep-mouse, sleeper and seven-sleeper. In the north of England the name ‘dozy mouse’ may come from the Old Norse dusa, and in Devon the species acquired the curious name of ‘chestlecrumb’. In 1993 the Great Nut Hunt, organised by Royal Holloway College, London, to find and identify hazelnuts eaten by dormice, suggested that in the hundred or so years since Alice’s trip to Wonderland this once common mouse had disappeared from about half of its former range, and was now concentrated in southern England and Wales. Warwickshire is one of a band of six Midland counties from Staffordshire to Hertfordshire where dormice are now rare.’ Between 1999 and 2000, English Nature conducted a survey of dormice in Warwickshire, in recognition that the county was at the northern edge of the animal’s contemporary range and it was known from only a few sites. The survey, which covered 27 woods and relied on searching for nuts eaten by dormice, found evidence of the animal in only five places. Today Weston Wood and neighbouring Waverley Wood (not included in the English Nature survey) remain the only place with a confirmed natural population in Warwickshire. Our only other known dormouse population is at Windmill Naps, the only successful introduction so far, which seems to thrive. Since 2009, annual counts of individuals have built up to 82 'captures' in 2016; records may include repetition as dormice can be very mobile and found in more than one box during the checking season.



These two releases will be true reintroductions, rather than introductions, as both sites have past records of dormice, although surveys by DCW in 2012-13 indicated a current absence. The woods have good dormouse habitat and fit the recommendations for suitability, being more than 20ha in area and having appropriate management. Natural England’s criterion that reintroduction sites should be in clusters to create viable meta-populations, rather than one large woodland, is also met by these and other woods in the area. Dormice thrive in low-growing woodland, with a diversity of tree species, and with continuous above-ground routes which these arboreal animals can use. The long-rotation hazel-coppicing that is taking place here should create more than 150ha of dormouse-friendly habitat, all well connected by good quality hedgerows. Over the next two years DCW and the WMG will help to establish these new populations by checking nest boxes for survival and breeding; ; dates will be advertised on the Warwickshire Mammal Group website. For many members, this will provide their first sight of a dormouse.

http://warksmammalgroup.wixsite.com/warks-mammal-group



Kester’s Docking Update

In October 2014 The Fen Group began construction on the site, surveyors set out markers to guide the excavations and the diggers and dumper trucks moved in. A year later the excavations had started to fill with water, providing ideal conditions for colonisation with wetland plants. During the ecological surveys which WWT Consulting undertook in 2013, diverse communities of plants were found in the existing ditches, including common emergent species such as Common Reed Phragmites australis, Greater Reedmace Typha latifolia, Greater Pond-sedge Carex riparia, Branched Bur-reed Sparganiukm erectum and Fool’s Water-cress Apium nodiflorum, as well as aquatic plants such as Ivy-leaved Duckweed

Lemna trisulca and Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum plus scarcer plants such as the aquatic liverwort Ricciocarpus natans. Some of these plant species are likely to have a seedbank in the soils and could colonise from this, as well as spreading from populations nearby. It was noticed recently that the Google aerial imagery over Kester’s Docking has been updated over the north of the site. This has created a beautifully clear depiction of

the impact of wetland guide

the excavations and the diggers and dumper trucks moved in. A year later the



excavations had started to fill with water, providing ideal conditions for colonisation with wetland plants. During the ecological surveys which WWT Consulting undertook in 2013, diverse communities of plants were found in the existing ditches, including common emergent species such as Common Reed Phragmites australis, Greater Reedmace Typha latifolia, Greater Pond-sedge Carex riparia, Branched Bur-reed Sparganium erectum and Fool’s Water-cress Apium nodiflorum, as well as aquatic plants such as Ivy-leaved Duckweed Lemna trisulca and Rigid Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum plus scarcer plants such as the aquatic liverwort Ricciocarpus natans. Some of these plant species are likely to have a seedbank in the soils and could colonise from this, as well as spreading from populations nearby. It was noticed recently that the Google aerial imagery over Kester’s Docking has been updated over the north of the site. This has created a beautifully clear depiction of the impact of wetland restoration from arable fields to productive healthy wetlands. These wetlands can now support a wealth of fen wildlife, whilst benefiting us with other services such as water purification, flood resilience, groundwater recharge and recreational wildlife watching. Patches of naturally colonising reed can be seen in the image starting to form stands

which will extend the area of this important habitat from the neighbouring Rymes

Reedbed, whilst higher areas have been left to produce a mosaic of communities

supporting a great diversity of species.



Establishing Crayfish Ark Sites in the Yorkshire Dales

National Park Establishing Crayfish Ark Sites in the Yorkshire Dales

National Park

Our native White-clawed Crayfish

populations are under threat in the UK,

with the IUCN Red List stating a 52%

decline in England between the year 2000

and 2010. This is widely acknowledged to

be due to the introduction of the non-

native American Signal Crayfish. Signal

Crayfish outcompete our native White-

clawed through competition for food and

refuge sites, as well as direct predation.

The Signal Crayfish also carries a disease

called Crayfish Plague. The Signal

Crayfish has a resilience to this disease

but as a carrier can spread the Crayfish

Plague to the decimation of local White-clawed populations.

Signal Crayfish have recently been recorded within the lower reaches of the River Ure

in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. This is of concern for the native White-clawed

Crayfish populations and the National Park Authority have acted quickly to develop a

plan to ensure the survival of our native crayfish in this area.

JBA Consulting have been working with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority

to action this plan to save our crayfish by identifying suitable Ark sites. These Ark sites

are areas where White-clawed Crayfish can be safeguarded from the invasion of Signal

Crayfish, thus ensuring their survival. Desk studies have identified potentially suitable

Ark site locations which have been visited by our crayfish ecologists this summer to

survey for crayfish and take measurements to ground-truth the suitability of the sites.

The findings of these investigations are soon to be published and will provide a plan



for creating these vital Ark Sites within the Yorkshire Dales. This is important work to

preserve this species and maintain the rich biodiversity of the Yorkshire Dales.

So what can you do to help?

There are several things everyone can do to help preserve our native crayfish. For

example good biosecurity is vital for preventing the spread of Invasive species and

Crayfish Plague. This is particularly important if you work in or near water, or partake

in recreation activities at waterbodies. The Non Native Species Sectariat provides

advice on how to action biosecurity through adopting the Check-Clean-Dry approach

(http://www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/). If everyone were to incorporate this

advice when they are near water, this could help significantly reduce the likelihood of

spreading non-native species and harmful pathogens like Crayfish Plague.

Furthermore, you can help map the spread of non-native crayfish. Unless licensed to do

so, you should not handle crayfish. However, if you see a crayfish in your local river,

you can report your sighting at the following website: http://www.brc.ac.uk/risc/

signal_crayfish.php. This helps monitor the spread of non-native crayfish so that

conservation can be targeted in areas where it is most needed.

http://www.nonnativespecies.org/checkcleandry/

http://www.brc.ac.uk/risc/signal_crayfish.php

http://www.brc.ac.uk/risc/signal_crayfish.php



Cinderella will go to the ball, but she'll be wearing hiking boots, not glass slippers!

Fairy-tale in Edale as rare habitat is celebrated at festival-style conference in remote Peak District village. This September, nearly 300 international experts in peatlands came together to learn, share and celebrate the wonder of bogs at BogFest, a conference delivered with a festival atmosphere. Peatlands are exceptionally important for our wellbeing, even though for many they are out of sight, out of mind. Covering four million square km worldwide, peatlands

are found in almost every country. They store twice as much carbon as the entire world’s forests combined, playing a vitally important role in regulating climate change. However, peatlands are under threat globally because they have historically been undervalued, misunderstood and misused. Indeed more than one academic characterised peatlands as having Cinderella syndrome – meaning that they are not recognised or appreciated. But things are changing – in the words of Rob Stoneman, Chair of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, ‘Cinderella is yet to make the ball, but her fairy godmothers have been found and she is on her way.’ These fairy godmothers are the speakers and delegates at BogFest – people who spend their time contributing to the study and conservation of peatlands, and advocate for their protection and restoration.



Across the Peak District and South Pennines, Cinderella syndrome manifests itself as huge areas of blanket bog that were denuded of life and dried out due to years of atmospheric pollution, wildfire and overgrazing. Moors for the Future Partnership, co-organiser of BogFest, works on a landscape scale in the Peak District and South Pennines to rewet and reintroduce bog-forming vegetation to upland blanket bogs, in an effort to improve carbon capture and water quality, reduce the chance of flooding in the valleys, improve habitats for wildlife and reduce the risk of wildfire. The Partnership’s work covers vast areas of iconic scenery like Kinder Scout, Bleaklow and Black Hill, experienced by thousands when walking the Pennine Way. Holding BogFest in Edale meant that there was ample opportunity for conference delegates to witness practical peatland restoration work up close and personal and see for themselves the terrific difference it is making. The conference focussed on many aspects of peatland restoration and research, with 46 sessions and 85 speakers covering peatland science, practical management and restoration, the future of financing vital work, government policy and how better to communicate the value of our peatlands. BogFest was hosted and co-organised by Moors for the Future Partnership, based in Edale, alongside the International Union for the Conservation of Nature UK Peatlands Programme and funded Moors for the Future Partnership’s MoorLIFE 2020 project.

The OVO Trading Team who helped plant 1,000 native trees at Henbury, Bristol. © The Conservation Volunteers



Cinderella will go to the ball, but she'll be wearing hiking boots, not glass

slippers! Cont…

Popular sessions included a workshop demonstrating the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (also known as drones) to build an accurate picture of the type and mixture of plants on blanket bogs and a Question Time style panel on Peatland Policy: Supporting Nature’s Vital Services in the Uplands. The panel included the likes of NFU, Green Alliance and Defra on what a new agricultural subsidy system might look like and how new nature economies could be cultivated, with Brexit providing a unique opportunity to make the case for nature to the UK Government. New guidance was introduced to help build resilience into our uplands: Blanket Bog: Land Management Guidance, which has been produced by the Uplands Management Group (a collaborative working group of land managers and conservationists), and published by Moors for the Future Partnership. This practical guidance will help land managers to improve the condition of their bogs to benefit biodiversity, water quality and natural flood management, carbon capture, red grouse population and grazing.



Emma Howard-Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency, joined the conference to talk about the importance of investing in upland blanket bogs because of their direct effect on human wellbeing, highlighting the essential services they provide, including natural flood-risk management and water quality. Delighted to join in the proceedings, she said of BogFest: “I really enjoyed visiting Derbyshire and attending BogFest. There were some fascinating talks taking place and it was a great opportunity to meet people and make partnerships between Government, NGOs and businesses. Partnership is essential in environmental management, and the Moors for the Future Partnership has shown that you can make a compelling case for investment to enhance landscapes and catchments through its engagement with water companies.” Taking place across the village of Edale in three venues, including a marquee pitched on a campsite, BogFest was a conference with a difference. As well as expert delegates from all areas of peatland interest, an estimated 150 members of the public the public was got involved and learned more about blanket bogs and the uplands, with an optimistic film High Water Common Ground about how communities can help prevent flooding through natural interventions, a talk about the use of the bog-building moss sphagnum during the world wars, a fell race that attracted 71 adult and 17 young runners and boggy doodles, an art workshop taking place in the hills.



For decades, some parts of the North Kent Downs have been neglected, mismanaged

and mistreated, leading to the fragmentation of a rare and precious chalk habitat and

the decline in species dependent on it. Chalk grassland is often likened to tropical

rainforest because of its dramatic decline. Kent contains around 5% of Britain’s chalk

grassland reserve. Today there are only 700 hectares of unimproved chalk grassland

left within the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, of which 60% are

designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).

Over recent years a project to help reverse this decline has been taking shape, resulting

in the commencement of the work of the Old Chalk New Downs Project this summer.

Using map regression, the extent and position of historic areas of chalk grassland had

been identified in a desktop study. Parish workshops and public surveys informed the

content of the funding proposals further and finally, the Heritage Lottery Fund agreed

to support Kent County Council’s plans with £1.4million of funding.

Despite the pinpointing of the historic sites and breadth of Chalk Downland, there have

been many challenges to the aim to restore health and good management practice in

these areas. This patchwork landscape belongs to many and various owners, ranging

from small community groups of volunteer conservationists to large estate managers

and corporate landowners. The initial area, stretching along the Downs scarp from

Kemsing in the West, northwards to Cobham and eastwards to Detling and Bredhurst

covers almost 10,000 hectares in and around the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding

Natural Beauty, specified in the Kent Biodiversity Strategy (2015-2025).

Within and around this area lives a diverse community whose members all have a stake

in what happens to the landscape they admire and enjoy in a vast number of ways.

Alongside the 23 sites of Capital works in the plans, community engagement was

essential to educate, inform and involve those people living in the 33 parishes of the

project area. Common problems with access, anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and

threats to livestock from dogs are all prevalent issues which urgently need to be

addressed.

Over the 4 years of the Old Chalk New Downs Project’s lifespan, this small team of

three officers, their partners and many volunteers will work to improve, restore, and

reconnect chalk grassland habitats. This environment is home to rare orchid species

and black veined and straw-belle moths found only within the North Downs. Many

Old Chalk new downs project



other endangered species also

rely on healthy calcareous

grassland for existence, and

reconnection of its tattered

pockets to form corridors along

which these species might

spread is vital. A landscape-

scale approach, as with other

precious habitats, is the best

option for their survival.

Alongside the initial sites of

funded work, a Habitat Connectivity Fund will offer grants to those landowners in the

area wishing to join in with the regeneration work. Advice on land management will be

available from our seasoned Habitat Connectivity Officer and other experts and an

approach to long-term sustainability will be forefront in the project’s development. Our

small team is keen to leave innovative solutions to the many problems encountered.

These Capital works, and land management support for landowners will be

complemented by a host of community engagement activities. These will include

volunteering opportunities, learning and skills development, surveying and monitoring,

public access improvements, a programme for schools, and digital and interactive

resources. Starting with the youngest community members, a schools’ pilot scheme run

with 5 primary schools during the development phase, brought outdoor education and

grounds improvements to the schools who would benefit most. Now fully funded, this

work will continue with schools receiving seasonal education days and teacher training

courses.

Family fun eye-spy days and guided walks will introduce the wider communities to the

delights of this habitat, whilst adult workshops in species identification and survey

techniques will arm volunteers with the knowledge required to monitor our sites once

work has been done. An undergraduate bursary scheme will be available to those

wishing to study specific topics related to the project, enhancing the knowledge

available to those in working in environmental conservation fields. All this will bolster

the volunteer army needed to carry out so much essential work if we are to protect this

landscape as a legacy for

future generations.



Festive spirit on the Fylde continues well into the New Year as donated

Christmas trees are used to protect the coastline.

After the success of the past few years the Fylde Sand Dunes project is again

using recycled Christmas trees to build up the sand dunes in St Annes.

The sand dunes are a very effective form of coastal defence for local

communities and they’re also home to an amazing array of life. Whilst

everyone typically thinks of marram grass there are actually 280 species of

plant recorded in the dunes.

Christmas trees just keep giving on the Fylde



This includes the internationally rare Isle of Man Cabbage, which probably doesn’t look how you would imagine. You’re likely to see butterflies and moths fluttering past in the warmer months, with over 150 species recorded here. Stonechats, skylarks and reed buntings breed in the

dunes and amphibians can be spotted around the dune slacks. Last year the Christmas trees were buried in trenches by Lancashire Wildlife Trust and Fylde Borough Council staff and lots of volunteers. Half of the trees were left sticking out, ready to catch wind-blown sand. This sand accumulates around the trees and helps to build up new dunes. The effectiveness of this can already be seen by the increase in dune width around North Beach car park. Come and join us planting this year on Tuesday the 6th, Wednesday the 7th and

Thursday the 8th February.

If you would like to donate your Christmas tree you can do so by dropping

them off between the 5th and 15th January at one of the many drop-off locations

along the Flyde coast. The collection points can be found by going to

www.fylde.gov.uk/resident/recycling-refuse/christmastree/

The grand opening of an ambitious public access stairway overlooking restoration work some 50 metres above ENCI quarry in Maastricht has brought the trans-

European RESTORE project to a successful conclusion © ENCI

http://www.fylde.gov.uk/resident/recycling-refuse/christmastree/



An exciting new partnership between idverde and the RSPB will help improve the understanding and role Friends of Parks groups and residents can play in both discovering and looking after the wildlife and

plants in their neighbourhood. The innovative approach will see a dedicated member of the RSPB team based in Bromley, working with idverde, the Council’s greenspace management contractor, to help deliver the Council’s Biodiversity strategy. The work underlines the commitment to maintain, enhance and restore Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCS) and other green spaces for biodiversity. The initial 18-month partnership will play a key role in helping their community become a greener place that benefits both people and wildlife which will create a green legacy for future generations. As London’s largest and greenest London Borough, it contains the landscape which helped inspire Charles Darwin, with the Borough continuing to have a strong connection to its natural environment, with 93 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), six Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and five Local Nature Reserves (LNRs). The two organisations will be working closely to ensure the much-loved borough remains vibrant and welcoming to people as well as serving as an important and valuable natural habitat supporting a wide range of plants and animals. A key element of this work will be creating opportunities for everyone in the area to discover the wildlife and fantastic variety of species living in their neighbourhood. Nigel Symes, Head of Business Advice at the RSPB said: “ There is a growing body of research revealing the long-term benefits to people’s well-being from living in an urban area with access to green spaces. So it is really exciting to be working alongside idverde to give local people the tools they need to find out more about the important role Bromley is playing in providing a

Local people, landscape specialists and conservationists creating better green spaces



home for species and what we can all do to enhance and cherish the green spaces in our neighbourhood.” John Pemberton, idverde’s Conservation and Education Development Manager, commented: “ We are delighted to be working with the RSPB, an organisation whose values

align with our own, and many of our Friends and other stakeholders. Collaborative approaches to conservation are essential if we are to safeguard our biodiversity for future generations. We hope that through our funding, the RSPB will be able to continue its valuable work alongside idverde in enabling and empowering the communities of Bromley to engage with the nature on their doorstep and make a positive impact.”



Cumbernauld Living Landscape has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop its

Creating Natural Connections project. This is a four-year initiative that aims to make the town’s woods,

parks and open spaces better for wildlife and people with the support of National Lottery players.

The project hopes to work with young people and community groups to build a network of people who

care about, and have the skills to care for, the town’s greenspaces. The natural environment will be

improved through measures including increasing native woodland cover, removing non-native invasive

species and creating new wildflower meadows.

Greater connections between local people and the nature in their neighbourhood will be forged through

activities and events, imaginative artworks and new interpretation, and practical volunteering.

Creating Natural Connections is a partnership project between the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North

Lanarkshire Council, The Conservation Volunteers, Sanctuary Scotland and the James Hutton Institute. It

builds on work carried out in the town Cumbernauld Living Landscape was launched in 2013.

Ian MacKenzie, Project Manager, Cumbernauld Living Landscape, said: “Cumbernauld is one of

Scotland’s greenest towns. It’s criss-crossed with woodlands, meadows and ponds that are rich in

wildlife, but we have a lot of work to do to ensure that local people benefit from what’s on their

doorstep.

“The volunteers and school students we’ve worked with so far have gained practical skills and

confidence that will stay with them for the rest of their lives, and Cumbernauld now has several better

places for wildlife as a result of the thousands of hours that has been spent improving them.

“We’re delighted to have received support for our Creating Natural Connections project thanks to the

support of National Lottery players. This will build upon what has already been achieved to date and

help to create a network of people in the town who are committed to the long-term future of its green

spaces.”

Cumbernauld Living Landscape is also celebrating the achievements of the past two and a half years

groups of young people from four high schools in the town worked on three nearby greenspaces: St

Cumbernauld Living Landscape wins National Lottery support



Maurice’s Pond, Ravenswood Local

Nature Reserve, and the Scottish

Wildlife Trust’s Cumbernauld Glen

Wildlife Reserve.

More than 200 young people took

part in workshops and practical

conservation work, and local

volunteers gave up nearly 2,000 hours

of their time, gaining valuable skills and experience.

As a result of this work thousands of wildflowers and hundreds of trees have been planted within the

sites, 80 large sacks of litter have been cleared, and more than 5 kilometres of paths have been

improved.

This trial project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, North Lanarkshire Council, NHS

Lanarkshire, Sanctuary Homes and Tesco Bags of Help, and was recently shortlisted in two categories in

the prestigious Nature of Scotland Awards. This ground-breaking pilot work will now act as a

springboard for the new Creating Natural Connections project.

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, Lucy Casot, said: “It’s exciting to see plans for a project

which will build on what has already been very successfully achieved by the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s

Nature Ninja’s, and young people in Cumbernauld, in connecting the community with the abundant

green spaces in and around the town. We’re delighted to give it our initial support. “

Emma Louise McGurk, a student at St Maurice’s High School who took part in the project said: “Before

I started working with Cumbernauld Living Landscape I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I leave

school. Getting involved has given me conservation, teamwork and communication skills, and made me

realise that I love working outdoors.”

Cumbernauld Living Landscape is a partnership led by the Scottish Wildlife Trust, North Lanarkshire

Council, Forestry Commission Scotland and The Conservation Volunteers.



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