Clark’s Bog

Management Plan 2016

Draft plans for Clark’s Bog – Park House Farm

Peter Matthewson2016The Hemmels, Park House Farm, Morpeth, NE61 6JY

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

DESCRIPTION OF LAND INVOLVED

TENURE/STATUS

CURRENT FAUNA AND FLORA

3 YEAR WORK PROGRAMME

DESILTED AREA PROFILE

Map 1- Clark’s Bog

https://goo.gl/maps/W1ZVZv9QNKN2

https://goo.gl/maps/eAXjn17Qzbr

Map 2 – Development enhancements

INTRODUCTION

The following management plan outlines the work programme planned between 2016 and 2019 for Clark’s Bog nature Reserve, Park House Farm. It will outline any significant works planned over the next three years. The document outlines the main habitats within the nature reserve, outline the features in each habitat and an evaluation of what works are required to maintain and enhance the wildlife potential for each of the habitats.

Location

Clark’s Bog is located on the south east edge of Morpeth in the centre of an arable farm, Park House farm.

https://goo.gl/maps/KgoM4oBQVbE2

OVERALL OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

Primary Objective – To develop the existing land into a private nature reserve that maximises the wildlife potential for the different land types within the boundaries, without any adverse effect on the existing wildlife nor the surrounding farmland.

Secondary Objective 1 – To, help protect, conserve, and enhance the existing biodiversity of the nature reserve.

Secondary Objectives 2 - To increase the potential of target species by specific management of the reed beds, marsh and the woodland habitats.

DESCRIPTION OF LAND There are four distinct land types on this 10 acre site:-

1.Immature plantation along the western side of the site with more mature woodland around the perimeter. The plantation is of mixed woodland Native: Non-native:Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Horse-chestnut

(Aesculus hippocastanum)Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) Beech (Fagus sylvatica) Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus)Common lime (Tilia x vulgaris)Downy birch (Betula pubescens)English Oak (Quercus robur)

Hawthorne (Crataegus monogyna)Hazel (Corylus avellana)Holly (Ilex aquifolium) Silver birch (Betula pendula)Willow (Salix)Rowan

2. A relatively small area of marsh (~1acres) On damp ground this gives way to a Sedge-dominated sward which includes Ragged-robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, Sneezewort Achillea

ptarmica and Marsh Fleawort Senecio palustris. Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua is also present. The grassland is damper in some areas and here the dominant species is Tufted Hair Grass Deschampsia cespitosa. There are also a number of neutral flushes which support species such as Quaking Grass Brizia media, Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsii

3. A reed bed (~4 acres) mainly of common reed (Phragmites australis) with a small area of Bulrush (Typha latifolia)

4. Scrubland, mainly under the powerlines that run across the site where no trees have been planted. Grassland is dominated by Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus and Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum

TENURE

The land is owned by Dungait & Sons. The nature reserve is being worked under a short term licence

initially with a view to a longer term licence being negotiated in 12 months time.

CURRENT FAUNA AND FLORA

Large mammals – Rabbits have warrens along the eastern boundary of the reserve, however, the area has daily visits from Fox and Badger that include this as part of their foraging ranges. Roe deer also move through the area feeding but also use the tall vegetation to give birth and hide their fawns from predators. Grey squirrel have been observed on occasion within the reserve and red Squirrels are known to visit the extreme southern boundary of the reserve.

Roe deer (2016)

Small mammals – There are healthy populations of Bank vole, shrew, and wood mice. Moles are also present, bats are resident on the western boundary of the reserve. Water shrews have also been observed at the southern end of the reserve.

Water shrew (July 2016)

Amphibians – Common toad and common frog are present in the marsh and reed bed areas respectively.

Common frog (July 2016)

Plants – Bottle sedge (carex versicana), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Germander speedwell (Veronica chamaednys), Greater stitchwort (Stellaria hobsted), Ladies smock (Cardamine pratensis), Lesser celandine (Fecaria verna), Wood anemone (Anemane nemarosa), Marsh marigold, Dog rose, Honeysuckle. Ragged-robin Lychnis flos-cuculi, Sneezewort Achillea ptarmica and Marsh Fleawort Senecio palustris. Greater Spearwort Ranunculus lingua. There are also a number of neutral flushes which support species such as Quaking Grass Brizia media, Common Spotted Orchid Dactylorhiza fuchsia. Grassland is dominated by Yorkshire Fog Holcus lanatus and Sweet Vernal Grass Anthoxanthum odoratum.

Bugle

Greater Stichwort

Ladies smock

Marsh Marigold

Birds – Reed warbler, Reed bunting, Willow warbler, Sedge warbler, Chiff chaff, Pheasant, Wood pigeon, Mistle thrush, Song thrush, Swallow, Swift, House Martin, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Kestrel, Sparrow Hawk, Buzzard, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Chaffinch, Jay, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Meadow pipit, Tree pipet, Blackcap, Whitethroat, Wren

Sedge warbler (2016)

Reed bunting (2016)

Sparrowhawk (2016)

Buzzard (2016)

Proposed Management of Clark’s Bog 2016 to 2019

Reed bed Management ProgrammeClarke’s Bog has a long history and from the present vegetation type and the archaeological evidence the original area would have featured open water. The reed bed area shows the remains of a dam at the eastern corner leading to the stream that flows of the plateaux to the Wansbeck. This dam would have created a lake in which the phragmites was probably planted. At present the reed bed is at the final stage of it life i.e. the dry reed bed. Although at present the reeds are growing extremely well. The situation will deteriorate as the humus from unrotted reeds builds up quickly rapidly increasing the overall height of the ground above the water table plus reducing the ability of new shoots growing correctly. This management plan includes two strategies to counter this effect. Firstly to desilt the area shown in map 3 Year 3 of the plan) thus creating open water which will slowly infill with reeds at a lower level below the water table mark creating a wet reed bed and secondly to cut and extract the reeds from other areas on a rotational plan: thus slowing the process of infill by the previous year’s growth.

Creating scrapes to increase biodiversity of the marsh land area

The marsh area of Clarke’s Bog is potentially very productive, however it lacks any open water surfaces and this reduces the number of species that can breed in the area. By creating small shallow scrapes see map 2 in two areas this will give potential breeding areas to amphibian that are already present as non-breeding species and create food sources for a range of marshland birds such as Snipe, Woodcock and possibly Redshank and Lapwing which require the presence of a broad range of small insects for the early developing young. This would also benefit the Water Shrew as it feeds along water edges. The two areas are outlined below and the profile diagram illustrates how the edges will be formed to maximise the benefit to animal foraging.

SMALL AREA – Approximately 10 metre diameter area desilted to a depth in the centre of 1 metre, a 3 metre central area will be dug to the 1 metre maximum depth tapering up gradually.

LARGER AREA – Approximately 20 metres by 10 metre area to be desilted, maximum depth at the centre will be approximately 1.5 metres tapering up gradually.

3 YEAR WORK PROGRAM

YEAR 1

Desilt 2 Shallow scrapes in marsh area (see Map 2)

Construct access paths (Approx 150m)

Photographic hide 1 construction – Dig base, adapted shipping container assembled on site.

Cutting back of scrubland

Fauna and flora survey (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter)

Construct a straw bale blind at the Northern end of the reserve.

Bird ringing at Northern end of the reserve.

YEAR 2

Cutting a section of reed bed

Construct access paths (Approx. 400m)

Photographic hide 2 construction – Dig base, adapted shipping container assembled on site

Observation platform construction

Bird feeding area

Bird and bat box placement

Fauna and flora survey (Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter)

Bird ringing in reed bed

YEAR 3

Desilt a portion of the reed bed (See Map 2), this larger desilting operation is dependent on consultation with experts to ensure there is no adverse impact on farmland or operations and also no adverse impact on the resident fauna and flora.

Fauna and flora survey

Bird ringing