1. PROJECT SPECIFICATION - Wirral Council · 1. PROJECT SPECIFICATION 1.1 The Wirral Biodiversity Audit Project, commissioned by Wirral Metropolitain Borough Council, was designed

Ref No. 090412 Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council

August 2009 Biodiversity Audit of the Wirral

1. PROJECT SPECIFICATION

1.1 The Wirral Biodiversity Audit Project, commissioned by Wirral Metropolitain Borough Council, was designed to develop a Biodiversity Evidence Base for the LDF and to review and update Wirral’s Local Wildlife sites selection criteria and guidelines. Under these two primary aims, a range of Tasks were identified, each of which has been addressed individually in subsequent sections of this report.

Project Rationale

1.2 RPG 13, the Regional Planning Guidance for the North West, sets out the framework into which the LDF sits. The Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS – currently under review) sets out the framework for the environment under its heading of ‘Enjoying and Managing the North West: Environmental Enhancement and Protection’. This requires sound environmental management to be delivered across the North West by:

• protecting and enhancing the most significant biodiversity, landscape, heritage and woodland assets;

• land and water management;

• the delivery of a green infrastructure – creating functional networks of greenspaces important not only for their environmental quality but also providing for recreation, opportunities for improving health, adaptation to climate change and other social and economic benefits; and,

• ensuring that the coast is properly managed.

1.3 As far as biodiversity is concerned, the targets for the North West in the RSS are derived from

the UK BAP. Local BAPs are seen as the key mechanism for implementing BAP targets and the regional biodiversity targets form a natural link between the two stages.

1.4 The LDF provides the local dimension within the RSS framework. It consists of a collection of statutory Development Documents that together set out the vision and spatial strategy for the future development and investment across the whole Borough. Development Plan Documents within the Framework will form part of the Development Plan for the area. As part of the LDF for Wirral, a Core Strategy is to be developed which will have status alongside the RSS as part of the statutory Development Plan.

1.5 The Core Strategy Development Plan will set out the vision, strategy and spatial strategy for the Borough. It will not be site specific, but will form the framework for the site or area-specific Development Plan Documents that will be prepared at a later date. A Proposals Map will be prepared alongside the Development Plan Documents to illustrate the geographical application of the Council’s policies and this will include areas designated for protection such as wildlife sites.

1.6 As part of the development of the Core Strategy Development Plan, a series of technical studies are required. The Wildlife Sites and Biodiversity Audit is one of these, on which this project focuses. The Core Strategy has to be consistent with the emerging RSS and the biodiversity scope required for this is set out as described above. At the same time, under the NERC Act (2006), all Local Authorities now have a duty to have regard for the purpose of



conserving biodiversity. This new duty is a catalyst for considering biodiversity data. The material needed on which the Development Plan Documents are prepared is evidence based. This can be interpreted as providing a sound foundation based on survey and assessment against consistent criteria. This is important so that the judgements and decisions made are clearly understood, are transparent as they are made against published and accepted criteria and are defendable.

1.7 The ALGE report ‘Biodiversity Data Needs for LDFs’ (2005) sets out the biodiversity information requirements to achieve this for local authorities. They include:

• a geographically comprehensive set of detailed data on species, habitats and designated sites for development control, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), countryside management and other activities;

• survey information covering the whole plan area for setting targets and objectives in the development of local BAPs as well as more general spatial and strategic plans;

• an audit of available information as a first step to identifying critical gaps; and,

• a data delivery mechanism that should include database reports and GIS layers for integration with other spatial datasets.

1.8 The list of biodiversity information needs given in the ALGE report for developing the LDF

reflect those set out in the remit for this project:

• an information audit and gap analysis;

• an assessment of the number, distribution, condition and extent of statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites in the area;

• the distribution and extent of key habitats within the area, together with trends and comparative data from other areas;

• the distribution of important species and comparative data from other areas;

• boundaries of critically important areas for maintaining favourable conservation status of important species assemblages and BAP priority habitats including potential areas for expansion; and,

• summary statistics and /or maps of important ecosystem functions and landuses factors that affect biodiversity than can be linked to the data collected.

1.9 This list forms the foundation of the first part of the remit in this project. The evidence-base

requires a systematic approach. Much of the information available for collation to prepare the Biodiversity Evidence Base has been collected over a long period of time, by different surveyors and organisations, using different methods and has often been evaluated using different criteria. An exercise is required that collates all the available information, sets it into a uniform context, provides it spatially, reviewed against modern criteria and key objectives such as the priority habitats and species and provides an assessment of the quality of the habitats and data.



Overview of Wirral’s Biodiversity

1.10 The current MBW has a population of over 300,000 and covers an area of 60.35 square miles (15,902ha above the mean high tide mark), bounded by the Cheshire Plain, the River Dee and the River Mersey. The Irish Sea lies to its northwest side. The Shropshire Union Canal joins the River Mersey at Ellesmere Port and the River Dee at Chester.

Figure 1.1. Location Map for the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

CheshireConwy

Greater Manchester

Denbighshire

Wrexham

Flintshire

Merseyside

Warrington

Halton

Stoke-on-Trent

The Wirral

CheshireConwy

Greater Manchester

Denbighshire

Wrexham

Flintshire

Merseyside

Warrington

Halton

Stoke-on-Trent

The Wirral

1.11 Within the MBW, a wide range of ecosystems is supported, from those relatively undisturbed in character, such as ancient woodlands, to landscapes with mixed patterns of human use, to ecosystems intensively managed and modified by humans, such as agricultural land and urban areas. The MBW is home to sandstone ridges and outcrops, estuarine habitat including mud/sand flats with extensive dune systems, mixed woodland, heathland and many lanes bridleways and footpaths. Biodiversity is an integral part of all such ecosystems and, given the prevalence of managed ecosystems and the anthropogenic pressures on them, it is critical that the value of biodiversity is appreciated and addressed.

Habitats

1.12 Natural and semi-natural habitats now account for only 11% of the MBW land area, many of which are of particular nature conservation value in national and regional terms. Important habitat types with the MBW include both local and UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority habitats, including seven local BAP habitats and ten UK BAP habitats (see Table 1.1). The individual habitats and the species which occur within them have been further analysed in Chapter 4.



Table 1.1. Local and UK BAP Priority Habitat Types Present across the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral

Priority Habitat Type Description

Local BAP

Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland

Ancient semi-natural woodlands are those that have persisted in the landscape since approximately 1600AD. Continuity of such woodland on a site determines whether it is classed as ancient. Such woodlands usually support a diverse array of animal and plant species, many of which are unique to such sites and which also represent the remaining link to the original 'wildwoods', which once covered most of England.

Local BAP Ponds

Ponds are defined as small, man-made permanent or seasonal water bodies up to 2ha in extent. Ponds at all successional stages are important for wildlife, including many invertebrates such as: broad bodied chaser (Libellula depressa), the red-eyed damselfly (Erythromma najas) and the protected lesser silver water beetle (Hydrochara caraboides). In Cheshire, ponds are particularly important for great crested newts (Triturus cristatus) (one in three ponds in Cheshire contain populations of great crested newts). Ponds also provide habitat for other amphibians such as, common toad (Bufo bufo), smooth newt (Triturus vulgaris), palmate newt (Triturus helveicus) and common frog (Rana temporaria). Water voles (Arvicola terrestris amphibious) and white-clawed crayfish (Autropotamobius pallipes) can also be found in ponds.

Local BAP Roadside Verges

Roadside verges probably constitute the largest extent of grassland of nature conservation value in many counties. They provide important corridors for the movement of species and regularly support important plant and animal communities.

Local BAP Unimproved Grassland

Before the influence of humans on the British landscape, grassland was limited to natural clearings in woodlands, high altitudes above the tree limit and coastal areas. Lowlands of the Cheshire region typically sustain grasslands with great crested dog's-tail (Cynocurus cristatus), common bent (Agrostis capillaris) and black knapweed (Centaurea nigra).The grassland ecosystem contains communities of specialised insects which are tuned to the traditional patterns of management and many other animals are dependent on this rapidly declining habitat.

UK BAP

Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows

Species-rich hedgerows are classified as those containing an average of five or more native woody species in a 30m section. Hedgerows act as wildlife corridors for many species, facilitating dispersal and movement between other habitats as well as providing shelter and food resources for small mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles. It is recognised that hedges are important not just for biodiversity, but also for farming, landscape, cultural and archaeological reasons. In this respect, Article 10 of the EC Habitats Directive requires member states to encourage the management of hedges (and other linear features) in their land use planning and development policies and, in particular, with a view to improving the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network.

UK BAP Cereal field margins

These are strips of land lying between cereal crops and the field boundary, extending for a limited distance into the crop, which are deliberately managed to create conditions for the benefit of key farmland species. Many species of butterflies, grasshoppers and plant bugs are associated with such sites. As a result of this, under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 it is illegal to spray pesticides into hedge bases without specific label recommendation or a specific off-label approval.




UK BAP Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh

This is defined as periodically inundated pasture, or meadow, with ditches which maintain the water levels, containing standing brackish or fresh water. The ditches are especially rich in plants and invertebrates. Almost all areas are grazed and some are cut for hay or silage. Some of the last remaining unimproved grasslands are highly sensitive to increased nutrient loadings. Unless conservation measures to retain this habitat type are in place, with particular emphasis on the maintenance of water levels, flooding regimes and appropriate grazing or cutting, most sites will deteriorate.

UK BAP Coastal saltmarsh

This habitat comprises the upper, vegetated portions of intertidal mudflats, lying approximately between mean high water neap tides and mean high water spring tides. Saltmarshes are an important resource for wading birds and wildfowl. They act as high tide refuges for birds feeding on adjacent mudflats, as breeding sites for waders, gulls and terns, and as a source of food for passerine birds, particularly in autumn and winter. In winter, grazed saltmarshes are feeding grounds for large flocks of wild ducks and geese. Saltmarshes also provide sheltered nursery sites for several species of fish.

UK BAP Coastal sand dunes

Coastal sand dunes develop where there is an adequate supply of sand in the intertidal zone and where onshore winds are prevalent. They tend to form in relatively exposed locations and in a number of physiographic situations. Sand dunes are important for a number of BAP species including fen orchid (Liparis loeselii) and tiger beetle (Cicindela hybrida).

UK BAP Fens

The UK is thought to host a large proportion of the fen surviving in the EU. Fens are peatlands which receive water and nutrients from the soil, rock and ground water as well as from rainfall: they are minerotrophic. Fen habitats support a diversity of plant and animal communities. Some can contain up to 550 species of higher plants, a third of our native plant species; up to and occasionally more than half the UK’s species of dragonflies, several thousand other insect species, as well as being an important habitat for a range of aquatic beetles.

UK BAP Lowland heathland

Lowland heathland is characterised by the presence of plants such as heather, dwarf gorses and cross-leaved heath, and is generally found below 300m altitude. Lowland heathland is a priority for nature conservation because it is a rare and threatened habitat. In England, only

1/6th of the heathland present in 1800 now remains. As a result of its

importance and decline, through the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981), a large proportion of lowland heathland habitat has been notified as SSSI.

UK BAP Lowland wood-pasture and parkland

Lowland wood-pastures and parkland are the products of historic land management systems, and represent a vegetation structure rather than being a particular plant community. Typically, this structure consists of large, open-grown or high forest trees (often pollards) at various densities, in a matrix of grazed grassland, heathland and/or woodland floras.

UK BAP Mudflats

Mudflats are sedimentary intertidal habitats created by deposition in low energy coastal environments, particularly estuaries and other sheltered areas. Their sediment consists mostly of silts and clays with a high organic content. Mudflats are intimately linked by physical processes to, and may be dependent on, other coastal habitats such as soft cliffs and saltmarshes. They commonly appear in the natural sequence of habitats between subtidal channels and vegetated saltmarshes. Mudflats are highly productive areas which, together with other intertidal habitats, support large numbers of predatory birds and fish. They




provide feeding and resting areas for internationally important populations of migrant and wintering waterfowl, and are also important nursery areas for flatfish.

UK BAP Reedbeds

Reedbeds are wetlands dominated by stands of the common reed (Phragmites australis), wherein the water table is at or above ground level for most of the year. They tend to incorporate areas of open water and ditches and are often associated with small areas of wet grassland and carr woodland. Five GB Red Data Book invertebrates are closely associated with reedbeds including red leopard moth (Phragmataecia castanaea) and a rove beetle (Lathrobium rufipenne), as a result of this most of the more significant reedbeds are notified as SSSI/ASSI and many are notified as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and as SPAs under EC Birds Directive.

Species

1.13 Across the MBW, data have been collated for 5,213 individual species. Of these, 275 are considered key species. This definition takes account of those species included on one or more of the following lists: UK BAP, Wildlife and Countryside Act, CROW Act Section 74, NERC Act Section 41 (Species of Principal Importance) and Local Wirral BAP species). In this regard, Wirral BAP species are those from the Cheshire BAP list known to occur within the Wirral. Data from these species has been analysed in detail in Chapters 7 and 8.

Sites

1.14 The sheer variety of species, habitats and landscapes and geological features represented across the Borough is reflected in the substantial numbers and types of sites that are designated for their wildlife value. Further details of these individual sites, including coverage and species, are presented in Chapter 3. These include:

• Two Ramsar Sites;

• One SAC;

• Two Special Protection Areas (SPAs);

• One proposed SPA/Ramsar Site (SPA/Ramsar), currently an SSSI;

• 12 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) (and 29 individual management units); and,

• Five LNR.

1.15 There are also a range of non-statutory sites and other designations including:

• 81 SBIs;

• One RSPB Reserve;

• Three Woodland Trust Sites;

• Two IBAs; and,



• 12 Countryside Stewardship agreements.

1.16 In addition to these official conservation designations/protected areas, green/open spaces

across the MBW are comprised of, amongst others:

• Greenbelt land;

• Allotments;

• Common land;

• Playing fields; and,

• Urban green space.

1.17 The remainder of this document is separated into the following sections:

• Task 1: Biodiversity information audit and gap analysis;

• Task 2: Assessment of the number, distribution, reported condition and extent of statutory and non-statutory nature conservation sites within the MBW;

• Task 3: Assessment of the distribution and extent of priority habitats within the MBW;

• Task 4: Identification of potential wildlife corridors and linkages;

• Task 5: Assessment of the distribution, condition and extent of priority species within the MBW;

• Task 6: Identification of critically important areas for maintaining favourable conservation status of important species, asseblages and BAP priority habitats including potential areas of expansion;

• Task 7: Monitoring and Review; and,

• Task 8: Review of the Local Wildlife Sites selection criteria for the MBW.



2. TASK 1: BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION AUDIT AND GAP ANALYSIS

Task Aims

2.1 Whilst a reasonable amount of information exists for the MBW, there is a need to summarise and assess the quality of available data, identify gaps in these data and provide suggestions as to how these may be filled. The following Section, therefore, provides an inventory of the available information (to be used alongside the database provided on cd) for the MBW and an assessment of the associated issues and concerns. It should be noted that additional information is provided in subsequent Chapters where relevant to the discussion (i.e. survey dates and condition monitoring information is presented in Task 2, Chapter 3).

Biodiversity Data Collection

2.2 Biodiversity can be defined as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.” (Millennium Ecosystems Approach 2005). Biodiversity is an integral part of all ecosystems, the dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and the non-living environment interacting together to form a functional unit. The world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate as a result of human activity. In the UK we have lost over 100 species during the last century, with many more species and habitats in danger of disappearing, especially at the local level.

2.3 The availability of consistent and accurate information on the distribution of biodiversity features at an appropriate spatial resolution still remains a major stumbling block nationally. Clearly the wealth of distribution data collected by amateur naturalists is an invaluable resource, but open access remains problematic and taxonomically restricted at the current time, despite initiatives such as the National Biodiversity Network (www.nbn.org.uk; a national database of biodiversity data) and rECOrd (Local Biological Records Centre serving Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral).

Data Inventory

2.4 The following biodiversity data and information for MBW has been assembled into a database and GIS in order to audit what is currently available and where further work may be needed. Data collated include the following geographical boundaries and citation information:

Statutory Designated Protected Areas

• SPAs;

• SACs;

• SSSI;

• Sites of National Importance (SNI) and Sites of International Importance;

• Ramsar Sites ( Wetlands of International Importance); and,

• LNRs.



Non-Statutory Protected Areas

• SBI – digital boundaries of all SBI (correct as of information provided in October 2008) and their citation information; plus Sites of Local Importance for earth science;

• Areas of Special Landscape Value;

• RSPB Reserves (and Important Bird Areas (IBA);

• Woodland Trust Sites;

• Cheshire Wildlife Trust (CWT) nature reserves;

• RIGs in the Borough;

• CSA; and,

• Scheduled Ancient Monument, Conservation Areas and Historic Parks.

Other Data

• Species records on protected species and priority UK and Cheshire and Wirral Local BAP that occur in the Borough were collated from rECOrd and the Wirral Wildlife Group. Other organisations were also contacted, such as Butterfly Conservation and the Botanical Society for the British Isles (Peak District and Cheshire Branch), CWT, Hilbre Bird Observatory, Liverpool Museum, Merseyside and West Lancashire Bat Group, National Biodiversity Network, Wirral Barn Owl Trust and local surveyors. The majority, however, had no records in addition to those that had already been submitted to rECOrd or did not respond to requests.

• National Habitat Inventories from Natural England (e.g. Coastal Floodplain and Grazing Marsh, Coastal Sand dunes, Fens, Lowland Heath, Lowland Meadow, Martime Cliff Slope, Mudflats, Reedbeds, Wetwoodland and Undetermined grassland);

• Phase 1 Habitat Survey (from 1986) scanned raster base maps and recent site-based surveys;

• Existing habitat condition information for SSSI and newly collected condition information for SBI; and,

• Green space information including: allotments, playing fields, common land and greenbelt land.

Data Format

2.5 A database has been populated with “metadata” in which various sources of information and evidence have been collated, digitised and integrated. This shows information assembled on GIS-based datasets, documents and records received. These data are stored in a Microsoft Access database for ease of use as requested by the client. The advantage of such a database is that the information is held in a single format, structured in a consistent manner, and allows the information to be summarised and presented in a clear, uniform format. It is possible to search for key words, sort by specific data types and update/add additional notes with ease.



The completed database is provided as a separate CD/DVD along with GIS Mapinfo .tab files and ESRI ArcGIS .shp files.

2.6 In order to populate the database, the data have been classified in terms of author/data contact, character, date(s) of survey or collection, type of data format, general area of coverage, size in hectares and number of records. A number of features were collected:

• Author/ data contact – including name and email address (where known);

• Character i.e. the type of data referring mainly to priority habitats or species;

• Date of survey – the date the data was first collected and then the date of issue (many organisations update datasets several times a year);

• Type of data – paper or electronic report, data table or GIS features with attribute information;

• General area of coverage - the areas where surveys have been carried out (e.g. site, coastal areas or the whole of MBW); and,

• Size in hectares is shown for area/ polygon features in the GIS system alongside the numbers of point features and species records.

2.7 There are no National Nature Reserves in MBW. Additionally, none of the following Natural

England National Inventories are currently recorded:

• Coastal vegetated shingle (version 1-1);

• Lowland beech and yew woodland (version 1-1);

• Lowland calcareous grassland (version 1-2);

• Lowland mixed deciduous woodland (version 1-1);

• Lowland raised bogs (version 1-2);

• Saline lagoons;

• Upland calcareous grassland (version 1-1);

• Upland hay meadow (version 1-1);

• Upland heathland (version v1-1);

• Upland mixed ashwoods (version 1-1);

Gap Analysis

2.8 The following gap analysis looks at the following characteristics of the available data for the MBW:

• Geographic extent and distribution;



• Data quality;

• Quantity/amount of data; and,

• Missing information.

Geographic Extent and Distribution

2.9 There is a good distribution of data across the MBW of habitats and species point records, covering inland and the coastal regions. No single area stands out as data deficient, although, in this regard it is likely that there are biases within the species data such that certain species are likely to be absent due to reporting deficiencies rather than truly absent from the MBW.

2.10 In order to assess survey effort, each species distribution (as shown in Task 5, Chapters 7 and 8) should be considered individually in relation to the coverage of reporting sites/recorders.

Data Quality

2.11 Various problems were encountered using the rECOrd data supplied for all species across the MBW, not least in obtaining a definitive list of local BAP species.

2.12 A list of species for local action was originally developed by the Wirral Biodiversity Technical Group from national and regional lists using local knowledge, after consultation with a range of groups and individuals. The local BAP for the MBW is part of the Cheshire Countdown BAP but excludes species found in Cheshire but not typical to Wirral (Tender document para. 2.10). It is recommended that further work be undertaken to define the scope of this document and to clarify which species are to be included. As detailed, the process of integration of Wirral Action Plans with the Cheshire Countdown was planned for the end of March 2008. This was mentioned in the initial tender and is separate to this report but is not yet complete. This additional work may have resolved the Local BAP issues encountered here. For the purposes of this project, the Cheshire Biodiversity website was used as the definitive Local BAP list for the Wirral and currently has 67 species.

2.13 It should, however, be noted that the Wirral section of the UK Biodiversity website, rECOrd and and Cheshire Biodiversity website were found to differ in relation to those species considered priorities.

2.14 Significant challenges arose from the data sets supplied by rECOrd, including missing data, incorrect conservation classifications, quality of data (i.e. missing years, inaccurate or misspelled site names and grid references, and inaccurate, old or misspelled species names (latin and common names)), and usability of data amongst others. Every attempt has been made, where possible, to correct and limit the impact of the data deficiencies on the outputs but care should be taken with interpretation of the results.

2.16 In this regard, such errors/inconsistencies would be more effectively addressed at source as they are, as present, reducing the functionality of the dataset. This is particularly relevant in terms of the supply of information for ecological assessments for BREEAM/Code for Sustainable Homes and Ecological Impact Assessments as part of the planning process. In such cases, requests for UK or local (Wirral) BAP species will return incomplete listings, similarly, various species searches will also capture only a proportion of records. It is, therefore, recommended that the database be quality checked to remove basic inaccuracies, thereby increasing the functionality of this data resource.



Quantity/Amount of Data

2.17 There is a large quantity of species point data available for the MBW. Specifically, the rECOrd GIS extract is a 100MB file with 119,959 species records. The majority of species data collected is passed on to rECOrd, the Local Biological Records Centre serving Cheshire, Halton, Warrington and Wirral. This centre provides a local facility for the storage, validation, and usage of Cheshire based biological data under the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) project.

2.18 This project did not adopt a specific cut-off date for old data to be discounted or analysed separately, this allows a broad range of information to be included and is of benefit where there are limited records. However, this may skew recent data trends if species records are included that are 20, 50 or even 100 years old, therefore, care must be taken when interpreting results. Most analysis in the report displays three groups of species data: pre-1988, post-1988 and all years in an attempt to reduce this issue.

GIS Data Layers

2.19 A range of different GIS layers were collated for the MBW. Although the majority of these are suitably accurate and comrehensive, GIS Mapinfo files such as Sites of National Importance for Conservation (SINCs), Sites of Biological Importance (SBI), greenspace, greenbelt data and would benefit from having associated data site names in addition to site identification numbers.

2.20 Considering the available information for the SBI, collation of an up-to-date database was confounded by a number of issues, largely pertaining to updated/altered status of individual sites. For example, New Brighton Shore and New Ferry Shore are no longer SBIs but now SSSIs. New SBIs to be identified but not yet listed on the council website (as of May 2009) are the ‘Former RAF Camp, West Kirby’ and Prenton Dell & Clay Pit’. Three SBI sites are also unnamed within the dataset. It is suggested that current condition and management details could be incorporated into the main GIS layer to increase its functionality.

Limited or Missing Information

Species

2.21 Whilst it is not possible at this stage to determine the level of coverage by individual recorders (this would require cross checking with individual species surveys) in relation to the spread of records across the MBW, it is clear from the analyses presented in Chapters 7 and 8 that records from various species do not represent a complete/accurate coverage. For example, there are limited great crested newt and bat records, which, given local knowledge of these species in Cheshire, likely reflects survey effort as opposed to actual distributions. It should also be noted at this point that Pipistrelle bat records have, for the most part, not been split into two species (P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus) within the rECOrd dataset. It is for this reason that these two species have been analyses together for this report. In addition, it is considered that hedgehog records, particularly from urban gardens, have been substantially underreported within the rECOrd data set.

2.22 This issue is particularly important for the planning process, as incomplete data sets are likely to adversely affect the outcomes of planning decisions. It is suggested that all records collected through protected species surveys for proposed development sites be sought and collated into the rECOrd database. In this way a clearer picture of the coverage of these species can be achieved. Simialrly, species lists for individual protected sites (i.e. those compiled by visitors in addition to those from warderns) should also be collected as they are likely to provide a valuable additional level of information for the MBW.



2.23 Simiarly, badger data were not provided by rECOrd. Given that this is a key protected species it is highly important that their distribution is know (albeit taking account of issues of confidentiality). As for amphibians and bats, information collected during protected species surveys could be a useful addition to the database. In addition to more general issues of under recording, the following known records have not been included within the rECOrd dataset (Hilary Ash Christine Smyth pers. comm.):

• palmate newts reported from Weatherhead high school in 2001,

• peregrine records on Hamilton Square Station, Birkinhead,

• various barn owl records,

• rest harrow from West Kirby Dunes,

• various common seal records,

• pintail from New Ferry Shore,

• Daubenton’s bat from Dibbinsdale,

• Mackay’s horsetail colony missing from Hoylake Station, Wallasy Golf Course and Meols.

Local BAP Records

2.24 Species data in the July 2008 extract of the rECOrd database appeared to differ from the Cheshire region Biodiversity Website (http://www.cheshire-biodiversity.org.uk/action-plans/). To resolve this, the data were updated to reflect the Cheshire Biodiversity list with 67 species in total (Table 2.1).

Table 2.1 Summary Table of Local BAP species

Local (Wirral) BAP Source

Total number of species in list 67 Cheshire Wildlife Website

Unique species sighted in Wirral 52 rECOrd Data updated against Cheshire Wildlife Website

Unique species with no sightings recorded

15 Cheshire Wildlife Website

2.25 Of the 67 species listed as local BAP priorities, data are available for 52 (See Chapters 7 and 8). The remaining 15 species do not have any records available (Table 2.2). Furthermore, although both species of pipistrelle bat have been included on this list, for the most part, these have not been subdivided within the rECOrd database and have, therefore, been analysed collectively in Chapters 7 and 8.

Table 2.2 Local (Wirral) BAP Species Not Recorded in Wirral

Type Latin Name English Name

Invertebrate Austropotamobius pallipes White-clawed freshwater crayfish



Type Latin Name English Name

Invertebrate Boloria selene Small pearl-bordered fritillary

Invertebrate Carorita Limnaea Linyphiid spider

Invertebrate Cordulia aenea Downy emerald

Invertebrate Cryptocephalus decemmaculatus

Ten-spotted pot beetle

Invertebrate Gomphus vulgatissimus Club-tailed dragonfly

Invertebrate Hydrochara caraboides Lesser silver water beetle

Invertebrate Omphiscola glabra Mud pond snail

Invertebrate Pseudanodonta complanata Depressed river mussel

Mammal Muscardinus avellanarius Dormouse

Mammal - Bat

Eptesicus serotinus Serotine bat

Mammal-small cataceans

Delphinus delphis Common dolphin

Mammal-small cataceans

Grampus griseus Risso's dolphin

Plant Ranunculus fluitans River water-crowfoot

Reptile Vipera berus Adder

UK BAP Species

2.26 Of the 1,149 species listed as UK BAP priorities, data records are available for 162 (See Chapter 7 and 8). The remaining 987 species do not have any records available (Table 2.3). Again, although both species of pipistrelle bat have been included on this list, within rECOrd, for the most part these have not been subdivided within the rECOrd database and have, therefore, been analysed collectively in Chapters 7 and 8.

Table 2.3 UK BAP Species Last Updated 2007 (Previously 1998)

UK BAP (2007) Source

Total number of species in list 1149 UK BAP Website

Unique species sighted in Wirral 162 rECOrd Data

Unique species with no sightings recorded

987 na

Priority Habitats

2.27 The most readily accessible source of data for priority habitats within the MBW are the Natural England ‘National Habitat Inventories’, freely available to download from Natural England (http://www.gis.naturalengland.org.uk/pubs/gis/GIS_register.asp). Data are available for the



following habitats: ancient woodland (Figure 2.1), waterfeatures and ponds (Figure 2.2), coastal and floodplain grazing marsh (Figure 2.3), coastal sand dunes (Figure 2.4), fens (Figure 2.5), lowland heath (Figure 2.6), mudflats (Figure 2.7) and reedbeds (Figure 2.8). The accuracy of these data is, however, rather course as the GIS polygon data indicates only an approximate boundary or that the habitat is present in small amounts somewhere within the polygon. This means that further work is required to determine the exact boundaries of each key habitat within the MBW. Nevertheless, various manipulations of the available data (in combination with the Phase 1 habitat data, aerial photographs and landcover map 2000 images) derived a range of key habitats (shown in Table 2.4). Considering specific errors with these habitat datasets, specific habitat patches have been missed from the inventories, including clay cliffs at Shorefields-New Ferry and small ancient woodland patches in Upton Bridge, The Dungeon and Harrock. In addition to these omissions, it is also clear that there is some overlap between the national inventory habitats. Specifically, between that reported as fen and reedbed (e.g. Dibbinsdale SSSI). Finally, the inclusion of the North Wirral Coastal Park within the coastal dunes inventory is questionable given the lack of dune habitat (similar to that found within the golf course). In view of these errors, it is suggested that these datasets are accurately ground truthed to provide a clearer and more accurate inventory of the priority habitats within the MBW. Nevertheless, it should be noted that, despite the various errors, these data are consistently used across England for analyses of this type.

Table 2.4 Data for Local and UK BAP Priority Habitats

Priority Habitat Type Description of data sources

1 Local BAP Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved Woodland

Ancient Woodland Inventory

2 Local BAP Ponds Ponds are defined as small, man-made permanent or seasonal water bodies up to 2ha in extent. They can be extracted from Ordnance Survey mastermap.

3 Local BAP Roadside Verges Grassland

4 Local BAP Unimproved Grassland Grassland

5 UK BAP Ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows

Species-rich hedgerows are classified as those containing an average of five or more native woody species in a 30m section.

Phase 1 data 1986

6 UK BAP Cereal field margins Phase 1 and mastermap

7 UK BAP Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh

Coastal floodplain grazing marsh national inventory

8 UK BAP Coastal saltmarsh Saltmarsh data is available for Wales from Countryside Council for Wales

9 UK BAP Coastal sand dunes Coastal Sand Dunes National Inventory

10 UK BAP Fens National Fen Inventory

11 UK BAP Lowland heathland Within SSSIs and Lowland Heathland National Inventory

12 UK BAP Lowland wood-pasture and parkland

Registered Parks and Gardens from English Heritage

13 UK BAP Mudflats National Mudflat Inventory

14 UK BAP Reedbeds National Reedbed Inventory and also with Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and SPAs.



2.28 Although Pase 1 information were available, these were in the form of a paper map dating from 1986. Nevertheless, this information has been included in subsequent Chapters where possible (using visual interpretation and comparisons with other habitat layers), particualy in reviewing the habitat compositon of SBI and SSSI.

2.29 To aid in the inventory of proiority habitats, mapped information from Landcover Map 2000 were also interpreted visually to resolve any conflicting sets of information or to add essential details. The full dataset was not available for this contract as is, therefore, provided as a general overview only and should not be taken as anything more accurate.

2.30 Information pertaining to allotments across the MBW refers to data collated by Wirral Council in 2001 and, consequently, do not reflect changes made in more recent years. Although these data were updated in 2007, this information was not provided at the time of writing. To this end, the information made available includes a total area of 32ha covering 24 allotment sites. According to the latest figures provided by Wirral Council in July 2009, there are currently 43 council-owned allotment sites covering 51ha. This figure includes 41 allotments sites owned and run by Wirral Council totaling 48.4ha and two allotment sites owned by Wirral Council but are self managed by allotment associations totaling 2.6ha. Given that this information was not made available at the time of writing, the 2001 coverage (and associated GIS later) has been used throughout this document.

2.31 The following Chapters include additional information with regards to deficiencies in the various data sets, including survey dates, condition assessment information and boundary information.