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The Newsletter for Biodiversity

Action Partners

www.ukbap.org.ukBiodiversity NewsIssue 41 January 2008


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News updates

Wormwood Scrubs Reveals Rarest Bird

Rare Plant Makes Comeback Thanks to Mud, Glorious Mud

Lending a Hand to Wildlife New Helpline Service

Biodiversity Training Programme

Brian Blessed Presents Marshalls Plc with Biodiversity Bench-

mark Award

Making Game the Name in Wildlife Conservation

Otter Project Triumphs at UK Environment Awards

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News publications

New Strategic Statement form the UK Biodiversity Partnership

New Report Identifies That Gamekeepers Help Wild Birds to

Thrive

The State of UK Birds 2006

Are You Making Contracts Work for Wildlife

Conserving Biodiversity in a Changing Climate

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Features

Apple Rust Mitea Beneficial Pest?

Biodiversitys the Business!

Tough Questions, Rough Answers on Climate Change

Important New Method Developed to Monitor Common

Butterflies

Kent Downs Land Managers Pack

The Glaslyn Osprey Project

Results of Greenspace Scotland Survey

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15

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Local and Regional

Monitoring Nesting Habitats for Corn Buntings in North and

East Scotland

Bed and Breakfast Could Save the Hampshire Tree Sparrow

Manchesters Rarest Bird Benefits from Brown Roof

Seasonal Changes at Denmark Farm

Choughs Return to Breed on Rathlin Island

Greening Up Lambeth

Lamesley Reedbed Tops the 100 Bird Mark

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Plan Updates

Caravanners Back Biodiversity

Funding Boost for Middle Level Commissioners Otter

Recovery Project

Partridge Conference Inspires Action to Halt Decline

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Group Updates

The UK Biodiversity Partnership Conference 2007

Action planning process following the publication of new UK

list of priority species and habitats

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Diary 2008 34

Inside this issue:Dear Reader,Happy New Year and welcome to Issue 41: the first

Biodiversity Newsof 2008.

This issue is packed full of information, updates and

success stories surrounding biodiversity.

In News Updates, theres a report of a rare sighting

of a Richards Pipit at the Wormwood Scrubs Local

Nature Reserve (page 3), the launch of a free wild-

life helpline for people in Wales (page 4) and Brian

Blesseds presentation of the Biodiversity Bench-

mark to Marshalls plc (page 6).

News Publicationsincludes details of the new stra-

tegic statement from the UK Biodiversity Partner-

ship (page 9), and the relevance of Making Con-

tracts Work for Wildlifefrom CABE Space (page 11).

There is an interesting article on the apple rust

mites role in integrated pest management (page

13), a new method of monitoring common butter-

flies (page 16) and details of a Land Managers' Pack

for the Kent Downs (page 17) in Features. Addition-

ally, details of green roof and brown roof projects

(pages 24 and 26), along with good news for the

Chough in Northern Island (page 25), are included in

Local and Regional.

Plan Updates includes details of the Caravan Clubs

new Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan (page 28)and a funding boost for the Middle Level Commis-

sioners Otter Recovery Project (page 29), Group Up-

dates recounts Octobers UK Biodiversity Partner-

ship Conference (page 31) and finally the Diarysec-

tion (page 34) contains details of some informative,

relevant seminars and dates.

Many thanks to the authors for their contributions

to this issue. If anyone is interested in having an ar-

ticle published in Biodiversity News, please contact

me on [email protected]; I will be

posting updated article guidelines on the websiteshortly.

Regards,

Tom O'Hanlon

UK Biodiversity Policy UnitDepartment for Environment, Food & Rural AffairsZone 1/07Temple Quay House2 The SquareTemple QuayBristol BS1 [email protected]

Once again we wish to thank Natural England & BTCVfor the contribution of the line drawings in this issue.

Note: The Views expressed in Biodivers i t y Newsare the views of individual contributors and are not

necessarily the views of the UKBG or the organisations involved.


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3 Biodiversity News January 2008

Wormwood Scrubs Reveals Rarest BirdLocal birding expert David Lindo

uncovered a rare sight at Worm-

wood Scrubs Local Nature Reserve

on Sunday 30th September when

he spotted a Richards Pipit

(Anthus richardi) skulking in the grassland. Not only

is this the first report of this species in Britain this

autumn; it is also the closest to central London ever

recorded.

David Lindo has expert knowledge of Wormwood

Scrubs Local Nature Reserve, having been birding

there for fourteen years. Also known as The Urban

Birder, he is a familiar face in urban birding having

starred on the BBCs Springwatch, regularly pre-

sented on BBC Ones The ONE Show and on BBC Radio

London and written for RSPB and Birdwatching maga-

zines.

David found Wormwood Scrubs rarest bird in the

grassland near Braybrook Street. A denizen of the

grasslands of central Asia, this large relative of the

more familiar Meadow Pipit is a rare autumn visitor

to Britain and Ireland. There are normally only

twenty records a year, usually from Cornwall and is-

lands off the coast of Scotland. In the last 100 years,

only twenty Richards Pipits have been recorded in

London.

The Scrubs also revealed its first ever Mass Twitch

that day with some of Londons top birders descend-

ing to catch a glimpse. One East London birder com-

mented, I have always wondered how the Scrubs

can get so many different species coming here. But,

looking around I can see why.

Groundwork West Londons Nature Conservation Offi-

cer, Paul Clay has spent the last year carrying out

conservation work at the Scrubs. Thanks to funding

from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Hammersmith

& Fulham Council, Paul works with hundreds of lo-

cals on all kinds of creative, fun and educational

projects. Paul said, This is a fantastic start to year

two of my project. When something like this hap-

pens, it just shows how important and rewarding

the conservation of Londons green spaces is. David

has been a real asset to our project, giving talks

and bird walks which inspire locals to be involved

in nature conservation. Sighting this bird is a real

inspiration!

Richard Bashford of the RSPB commented: Wow!

Well done you sir...an excellent find anywhere but

more so on the local patch.

The Urban Birder said: Wormwood Scrubs over the

years has attained the reputation of being an inner

city goldmine for birds amongst ornithologists

across the country. We often have more warblers

and other migrants in our small park than in the

whole of north Norfolk.

For more information, please contact Jane Priestat Groundwork West London on 020 8743 3040, or

e-mail [email protected]

Contents

David Lindo Kim Dixon


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New management techniques

undertaken by staff from the

Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT)

are helping a rare herba-

ceous plant to return to a

wildlife reserve in Fife. Water levels on Cullaloe

Wildlife Reserve, near Aberdour in Fife, have been

temporarily lowered to create the right conditions to

help mudwort (Limosella aquatica) return to the site

in greater numbers.

Cullaloe is designated as a Site of Special Scientific

Interest (SSSI) for its rare plants, including mudwort

which grows in a very few places in Fife. Over the

last two weeks, water levels have been lowered by

opening the reservoirs sluice exposing large areas of

mud replicating conditions found when the site was a

functioning reservoir and when mudwort thrived.

Alistair Whyte, SWTs Reserve Manager for the area

said: This is a great example of how a simple man-

agement technique can benefit a number of species.

Over the next few years the Scottish Wildlife Trust

hopes that mudwort will become commonplace on

the reserve and the species on the site will also be-

come more diverse as a result of this work.

If this effort is successful, SWT hopes to mimic the

rising and falling water levels regularly so this rare

plant can flourish. Other wildlife also benefits from

the lower loch levels. The exposed mud attracts

waders such as curlew, lapwing and redshank, and

the number of ducks using the loch has already in-

creased significantly. Recent sightings have in-

cluded large numbers of teal, wigeon and mallard.

There is also a large number of other wildfowl us-

ing the loch, such as coot and moorhen. The water

level will be allowed to rise again to its former

level over the coming months.

Visitors are welcome to visit Cullaloe Wildlife Re-

serve, which is one of the most accessible SWT re-

serves in Fife, with an all-abilities trail to the view-

ing platform over the loch.

For further information, please contact:

Clara Govier, Communications Manager, SWT

Tel: 0131 312 4747 or email: [email protected]

Many people take it that wildlife is for the experts

and there is nothing they can do to help. This is far

from the truth, as Malcolm Magee of the Denmark

Farm Conservation Centre, near Lampeter, ex-

plains. We have had many wide-ranging requests

for advice from all parts of the community on how

to help wildlife. Farms, smallholdings, gardens,

school grounds and church yards have all featured,

Lending a Hand to Wildlife New Helpline Service

Contents

Mudwort Scottish Wildlife Trust

Rare plant Makes a Comeback Thanks to Mud,

Glorious Mud


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Maximising the benefits for

biodiversity of land manage-

ment or advising others is

both challenging and reward-

ing. It requires skill and

knowledge of both the wildlife

needs as well as the site-specific circumstances you

are working with. The RSPBs 2008 training pro-

gramme has been specially designed to help those

tasked with creating and/or managing bio-diverse

habitats or advising others, to keep up to date with

the latest research and management practices to

benefit wildlife. Each course offers the opportu-

nity to get out on site and discuss the successes

and pitfalls of habitat management, equipping you

with the knowledge needed to inform your own land

management decisions. Courses cover farmland,

woodland, heathland, wetland and amenity habitats

and are led by our specialist advisors. To receive a

copy of the full 2008 programme or more details on

specific courses, contact conservation-

[email protected].

as well as animals such as badgers, birds and bats.

All these ad hoc contacts indicated the demand for a

more organised service. We are pleased to an-

nounce that, with funding from the Countryside

Council for Wales, we now have a helpline for any-

one in Wales who wants to help wildlife on their

land, in their garden or community area, or has a

question or concern about wildlife in their locality.

It is essentially a free telephone/email helpline on

01570 493358 or [email protected]

backed by the Denmark Farm ecological advisors.

We undertake to reply to enquiries within 7 days and

if we cannot help the enquirer directly, we try tofind other organisations, resources and services that

can. For those who can travel to Denmark Farm, we

also offer a free consultation session by appoint-

ment.

Frequently, enquiries are very simple and just need

quick, practical tips rather than in-depth advice.

There is always a way to help wildlife, however

small this may appear at first sight. Sometimes, itsa case of stopping someone from doing something

that would damage valuable existing habitat if they

went ahead, for example, digging out species-rich

damp pasture to site a deep, square-sided pond

miles from any other freshwater habitat. Also, it can

often be a case of doing less rather than more. Cut-

ting a smaller area of grass (and leaving the rest to

flower) or creating habitat piles rather than bonfires

are good examples that cost nothing. Identifying the

ecological gaps at a site also means that we canrecommend the most fruitful avenues for more tar-

geted intervention, such as providing a bird or bat

box or helping to create wildlife corridors, which

help even the smallest creatures to move around an

area. For example, slow-moving animals that move

between different habitats during the year often

need the cover and microclimate conditions of

hedgerows - warmth, shade, humidity and wind shel-

ter. Toads use such corridors between breeding

ponds and the dry ground where they hibernate.

If people help create these little wildlife 'stepping

stones' and links they add up to a much greater col-

lective boost to the biodiversity in any area large

or small, urban or rural - as well as bringing more

joy into peoples everyday lives. We usually find

that once people get hands on with wildlife, they

get really enthusiastic. Then, some clear, practical

ongoing advice is all thats needed to match the en-

thusiasm and we hope our helpline will soon become

a hotline!

Contents

Biodiversity Training Programme


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around its old pump lagoon with man-made island

retreat, spread in excess of 200 tonnes of soil fornew planting, placed reeds to form new wetland ar-

eas, sited a total of 150 new trees and sown areas

with grass and wild flower seed. It is now also ac-

tively managing its hedgerows and remaining habi-

tats to encourage new flora, fauna & wild-

life. This action has already been very suc-

cessful and has led to new breeding pairs of

birds visiting the site to accompany the

yearly return of a flock of Sand Martins who

make home around the lagoon area. Recent surveys

on the site have recorded more than 70 species of

bird and over 20 different species of butterfly.

Ian Manley, Health & Safety Coordinator, Marshalls

Maltby Works, who has been pivotal in managing the

Biodiversity Action Plan said:

We are delighted to have achieved accreditation toThe Wildlife Trusts Biodiversity Benchmark. Whilst

it has been hard work we feel it has been well

worth the effort and have been pleasantly surprised

Actor and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust President, Brian

Blessed presented leading landscaping manufactur-ing company, Marshalls plc with The Wildlife Trusts

Biodiversity Benchmark award for the sustained work

carried out at its quarrying and manufacturing facil-

ity in Maltby, South Yorkshire. The award was pre-

sented at the Yorkshire Wildlife annual Gala

Dinner in November. Marshalls Maltby site

is the first manufacturing operation to gain

the rigorously audited accreditation.

Brian Blessed, President of the Yorkshire

Wildlife Trust, said:

This is a fantastic achievement; I only hope other

companies use Marshalls as an example to follow in

improving their local wildlife for the future. We all

need heroes like these.

Amy Underwood, Biodiversity Benchmark Manager,

The Wildlife Trusts, said:

Marshalls worked incredibly hard to achieve the

Biodiversity Benchmark a commitment that should

be applauded. I hope that the site in Maltby is the

first of many manufacturing sites to take the chal-

lenge of seeking Biodiversity Benchmark.

To achieve the Biodiversity Benchmark, Marshalls

Maltby works produced an exacting Biodiversity Ac-

tion Plan to ensure proper site management, allow-

ing wildlife value to be improved for the long term.

A keen interest in the project has been demon-

strated from site staff and has grown to involve the

local community, arranging site visits for schools and

developing partnerships with Doncaster MBC, Roth-

erham Chamber of Trade and Doncaster Biodiversity

Action Partnership.

Since starting its Biodiversity Action Plan, Marshalls

Maltby works has created a new conservation area

Contents

Brian Blessed Presents Marshalls Plc withBiodiversity Benchmark Award

Brian Blessed with a Great Crested Newt Yorkshire

Wildlife Trust


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than 2,500 peo-

ple, we discov-

ered how people

view and use the

countryside. We

were greatly re-

assured by the

huge number of people that feel an affinity for the

countryside irrespective of where they live."

Throughout the re-branding process, the Trust was

acutely aware that it needed to maintain the sup-

port of its loyal members and staff. Teresa contin-

ued, "Game remains central to our core beliefs as

does the recognition that game management plays a

vital part in the wider conservation of the country-

side."

Mark Hudson, Chairman of the Game & Wildlife Con-

servation Trust was equally pleased with the name-

change and said, "For some years there has been an

active debate about whether our name reflects the

breadth of work we do, which extends beyond game

With the increasing pressures being placed on our

wildlife and the countryside, conservation has be-

come the new watch-word. With this in mind, The

Game Conservancy Trust, one of the most respected

research charities in this country, has changed its

name to reflect the relevance of its work on broader

conservation issues.

From the 1st October, The Game Conservancy Trust

became the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. To

accompany the name-change the Trust also un-

veiled a new logo (see right) which still incorporates

the iconic grey partridge, but is fresh and modern

and skilfully depicts this much loved farmland bird.

Commenting on the new name, Teresa Dent, the

Trust's chief executive, said, "We are all really de-

lighted with the new name and logo, and I believe

that these subtle changes more accurately reflect

what we do. It has been a fascinating process, par-

ticularly because we carried out an extensive mar-

ket research study prior to initiating any major

changes. Through the study, which involved more

Contents

by the amount of flora, fauna & wildlife already

within our site boundary. Receiving our certificate

from Brian Blessed was the icing on the cake!

The team at Maltby has given 100% to achieve this

accreditation. Our staff have given up weekends to

help clear the lagoon of debris, create the island,

plant the reeds and help in conducting surveys. We

would also like to thank all the people outside of

Marshalls who have helped us to achieve the award,

especially Keith Rich & Louise Hill.

It was a day of double celebration for Marshalls who

earlier in the day received a Gold Award at the 2007

Green Apple Environment Awards ceremony held at

the Houses of Parliament in recognition of environ-

mental best practice carried out at the Maltby site

and integration of biodiversity into their environ-

mental management system.

More information on the Biodiversity Benchmark,

including the Requirements and how to apply, can

be found on www.biodiversitybenchmark.org

Making Game the Name in Wildlife Conservation

The lagoon in September 2006

The new logo


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Contents


An environmental project around the River Lea has

won the Natural Environment category at the Bif-

faward Awards 2007 - a prestigious national awards

ceremony held at Manchesters Victoria Baths.

The Lea Rivers Trust competed with three other fi-

nalists to become the winner of the Natural Environ-

ment category, winning a prize of a further 2,000

towards its work together with an exclusively de-

signed trophy.

The Lea Rivers Trusts successful application to Bif-

faward for 42,773 enabled work to increase the

awareness and understanding of otters, and the

ecology of the River Lea as a whole. Local people

have implemented a range of essential habitat im-

provements that provide otters with accessible feed-

ing sites, essential refuge areas and safe access

routes through the valley. Otters have recently

been reported at Wapping Beach at the mouth of

the Lea.

On hearing the news, Mark Gallant from The Lea Riv-

Otter Project Triumphs at UK Environment Awardsers Trust said: I am truly sur-

prised and delighted that our

project was chosen by the Bif-

faward judges and Id like to thank all out volunteers

and Biffaward who have made this project possible.

But the real winners are the otters and everyone

who enjoys nature we now have otters back in the

Thames for the first time in a hundred years. The

surprise winnings will be a great help towards fur-

ther habitat improvements and the creation of more

otter holts and refuges along the Lower Lea corri-

dor.

Biffaward, which is managed by the Royal Society of

Wildlife Trusts, distributes landfill tax funding to en-

vironmental and community projects across the UK.

Since 1997, hundreds of communities and wildlife

habitats have been awarded nearly 85 million in to-

tal. Its annual awards ceremony recognises the

achievements of the diverse projects which have

used their funding to make a real difference.

Peter Jones OBE, Director of External Affairs, Biffa

Waste Services, was Guest of Honour at the cere-

mony. He said: The Biffaward Awards is an oppor-

tunity to applaud those who have had the determi-

nation and commitment to make a real difference to

their local communities and environments and I con-

gratulate everyone involved in this project.

2007 is the tenth anniversary of Biffaward and during

this time a tremendous amount has been achieved

by more than a thousand funded projects; winners

species into many aspects of wildlife, and country-

side management, including research into farmland

ecology, conservation of farmland birds, entomology

and wildlife-friendly farming. The new name and

logo should help us to communicate this messagemore effectively and I believe that this better re-

flects the work we have done over the past 75 years

and will continue to do so in the future. Also, link-

ing game and wildlife together puts game into the

right context and emphasises our view that game

conservation is an integral part of nature conserva-

tion."

For further information please contact:Morag Walker 01425 652381

Wildstock


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Contents

9

like The Lea Rivers Trust are excellent examples of

just what can be achieved by drive and tenacity

and funding which makes a project possible.

Biffaward supports a huge range of projects the

length and breadth of the UK and we gain a great

deal of satisfaction from providing funding which

can help to improve peoples lives and environments

in so many different ways. In 2008 the total amount

awarded by Biffaward will reach 100 million and I

know that this years winners will provide inspiration

for even more groups to benefit from this funding in

the future.

RSPBs Fairburn Ings Nature Reserve, near Castle-

ford, was highly commended at the Awards following

a successful application to Biffaward for 38,514

which enabled the dilapidated and unwelcoming Lin

Dyke Hide to be demolished, making way for a largerand more user-friendly replacement constructed

from an old shipping container. A new pathway to

the hide was also laid, and interpretation panels in-

stalled.

For further information, contact Biffawards PR

Team on 01636 670083 or e-mail [email protected].

New Strategic Statement from the UK BiodiversityPartnership

Conserving Biodiversity - the UK ap-

proach, a new strategic statementprepared by the UK Biodiversity

Standing Committee, was launched

at Octobers UK Biodiversity Part-

nership Conference.

This document, published by Defra on behalf of the

UK Biodiversity Partnership, is intended to show the

vision and approach to conserving biodiversity within

the UKs devolved framework, and is useful for any-one with a policy interest in the conservation of bio-

diversity.

Since the publication of the UKs then national

Biodiversity Action Plan in 1994, which was the first

in the world, there have been many new drivers for

action identified that were not included in the origi-

nal plan, and devolution from 1998 onwards has led

to the development of strategies at country level.

Biodiversity is not constrained by political bounda-

ries; what is done in one country can affect biodiver-

sity in another. It is more important than ever thatwe work together in overcoming challenges and

reaching goals, through a partnership approach in-

volving business, academic, statutory and voluntary

sectors at both the UK and national level.

The strategy has been signed by ministers from all

four countries and is a demonstration that the part-

nership is committed to meeting the challenges and

goals set out in theframework.

Copies of the docu-

ment are available

from Defra publica-

tions (PB code 12772)

or on the Defra web-

s i t e : h t t p : / /

www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/

biodiversity/


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The shooting season is

underway but the role of

gamekeepers in conserv-

ing many non-gamebirds

is not widely understood.

Many songbirds and other bird species have dramati-

cally declined in recent decades but a new report

shows that where land is managed by gamekeepers

many species thrive.

The report 'Singing fields' compiled by Dr Stephen

Tapper, director of policy and public affairs with the

Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (formerly The

Game Conservancy Trust), highlights the contribution

that gamekeepers have made in protecting many of

our most threatened birds from starvation and attack

from generalist predators such as foxes, magpies and

crows.

'Singing fields' draws on recent research by the

Trust's own wildlife biologists as well as other experts

and assesses the evidence that shows the species that

do and do not benefit from game management activi-

ties, such as predator control, habitat creation and

feeding techniques.

Dr Tapper explains, "Gamekeepers manage large parts

of the countryside for pheasants, partridges and

grouse and in so doing, create conditions that benefit

other birds too. Game management delivers a very

considerable net conservation gain and without this

conservation work, carried out by the 3,000 game-

keepers working in our countryside, the prospects for

many declining wild bird populations would be much

worse."

A 10-year study on the Trust's Allerton Farm project

at Loddington provides compelling evidence to sup-

port this view and shows how farmland birds benefit

from game management. Over the study period habi-

tat improvement and predator control boosted the

number of wren (from 47 to 141 pairs), dunnock(46 to 144 pairs), blackbird (66 to 143 pairs) and

song thrush (14 to 56 pairs). The most noticeable

beneficiaries of this regime were the resident

seed-eating finches who took advantage of the

pheasant feeders and set-aside cover crops. Inter-

estingly, many of these species declined after

predator control was stopped in 2002.

In the uplands, gamekeepers burn heather and con-

trol crows, foxes and stoats which provide ideal

nesting areas for waders. Lapwings are at least

twice as common on grouse moors. On the North

Pennine moors there are at least 700 pairs of

golden plover and 3,900 pairs of curlew. Raptors

like merlin also thrive and occur at much higher

densities on grouse moors than on other moors.

Dr Tapper concludes, "Gamekeepers make an often

New Report Identifies that Gamekeepers Help WildBirds to Thrive

Contents


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The State of UK Birds 2006

The state of the UK's birds

2006 was released in August.

This is the eighth in a series of

annual reports containing re-

sults from annual, periodic

and one-off surveys and stud-

ies from as recently as 2006. It draws on many

sources of information to give an up-to-date over-

view of the health of bird populations in the UK and

its Overseas Territories. The report is produced by a

partnership of three NGOs the Royal Society for the

Contents

Protection of Birds (RSPB), the British Trust for Orni-

thology (BTO) and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

(WWT) and the UK Governments four statutory na-

ture conservation agencies the Countryside Council

for Wales (CCW), Environment & Heritage Service

(Northern Ireland) (EHS), Natural England (NE) and

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). It is available for

download as a PDF from the RSPB's website at this

link;

http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science/sotukb/2

006/Index.asp

Are You Making Contracts Work for Wildlife?

Recent reports by the

Wildlife Trusts have

revealed some of the

unexpected impacts of

the flooding last sum-

mer. Floods do not

only threaten the wildlife trying to survive at the

time the young bats whose mothers are unable to

lactate due to lack of food, for example, or the wa-

ter voles which drowned. They also inflict long term

damage on habitats. Some riverbanks are still unfit

to be re-colonised, and the surge tide that hit Dingle

Marshes in Suffolk in November has reduced the

chance of bitterns nesting there this year.

We have been warned that up to 37 per cent of all

species worldwide could be lost through climate

change by the middle of the century. 2050 might

feel a long way off, but sea level rises and more fre-

quent storms look set to continue, and biodiversity

needs support now in order to adapt to new climatic

conditions.

Climate change affects urban areas as much as ru-

ral, of course. The Environment Agency noted that

two thirds of the flooding of some 55,000 homes and

Unseasonal primrose flowering in November DFox

unappreciated contribution to the richness of bird

life in the countryside. Intensive farming and for-

estry means that wild birds often struggle to find

shelter and food in modern crops. Conservation is

not just about creating nature reserves. It must alsobe about economic land use and how this can be

made to support increased biodiversity. Game man-

agement for pheasants, partridges and grouse is a

good example of this as it supports a variety of

other species as well."

For further information please contact:

Morag Walker 01425 652381


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Contents


businesses this summer was caused when drains,

culverts, sewers and ditches became overwhelmed.

The Department for Transport is also concerned that

climate change will affect landscaping and biodiver-

sity in the transport network. The Highways Agencyowns a considerable soft estate and the concern is

for changes in types of plants that will thrive, as

well as soil erosion. The growing season is also

changing, with adverse effects on breeding cycles.

New pests and species are appearing, in competition

to native species.

CABE has spent some time looking at the best ways

to encourage biodiversity in the urban environment.The first lesson weve drawn was that biodiversity

can and should be encouraged everywhere possi-

ble. This challenges the misconception that nature

or wildlife landscapes must be untidy, or even look

abandoned. In fact encouraging biodiversity is just

as relevant in a formal public garden as it is in a

large area of ancient woodland on the edge of a

city, and neglecting it there is missing an opportu-

nity.

The second lesson weve drawn is that activity to

encourage biodiversity needs to be embedded in

contracts and management plans. What often hap-

pens instead is that one or two keen members of

staff develop relevant knowledge and skills because

of their personal enthusiasm for the subject and

when they leave, all that experience leaves with

them.

Biodiversity in urban public space is moving up the

agenda, with all public authorities now having a

duty to consider biodiversity in their work. The re-

cord 554 Green Flag Awards in local areas are hugely

encouraging, and there are tools to help. In our

guidance, Making contracts work for wildlife, on

www.cabe.org.uk we updated the principles of ur-

ban biodiversity and made them relevant to todays

urban green space managers. Case studies illustrate

the value of taking a holistic approach. The guid-

ance provides desirable outcomes that can be cross-

referenced to local biodiversity action plans, and

which can be written into specifications for either

in-house or external teams.

Colleges including Myerscough College, Askham

Bryan, Hadlow College and Otley College have incor-

porated it into teaching: elements such as the build-

ing blocks of biodiversity fit neatly into more practi-

cal level FE schemes, whilst the overarching princi-

ples are suited to HE programmes. Pershore College

is using the guide within its National Diploma

courses and using the case studies and concepts

within degree modules. CABE Space has also pre-sented the guidance to students at Birkbeck College

and Kews School of Horticulture - where students

were quick to propose how they would encourage

biodiversity on left over green desert patches.

Now CABE is developing new guidance on ways to

place urban public space at the heart of climate ac-

tion. Coping with extreme weather conditions will

require flexibility in the choice of species in plant-ing schemes, and a more naturalistic approach.

Many species need to be more actively provided

with safe routes for movement. All in all, 2008 feels

a good time for biodiversity to break free of the tra-

ditional confines of the nature garden.

For further information, please contact:Brian Quinn, Senior Programme [email protected].

Extreme weather: torrential rain in August Stephen McLaren


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Apple Rust Mite a Beneficial Pest?The apple rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali (Figure 1) has a

worldwide distribution. It was first recorded in Britain back in

1928 on both wild crab apple and cultivated apple. Since then,

the mite has become more widespread and numerous in com-

mercial orchards.

Adult rust mites are up to 0.18 mm long. Their body is orange/

brown, darkening with age. Over-wintering in groups occurs un-

der loose bark or bud scales, with the mites emerging to invade

the opening fruit buds to feed in early spring. They also feed on

the leaf and flowers of the plant. Eggs are deposited on the

green tissue of both fruit and vegetative buds, and a generation of males and protogynes appears in May.

Mites can also be found on the sepals at petal fall, but they do not feed on developing fruitlets, unlike the

pear mite, Epitrimerus piri. Breeding of the mites continues throughout the spring and summer, forming

several overlapping generations of primary forms. New deutogynes appear in increasing numbers from late

June or early July onwards. The population growth is rapid; egg to adult can occur in 1-2 weeks with warm

summer temperatures. Mite numbers then begin to decline as the new deutogynes enter hibernation during

autumn time and breeding ceases.

Mites occur on the underside of the leaves and their feeding produces a patchy felt-like malformation on

leaf surface and yellowing of hairs. The upper surface of foliage appears speckled, dull and faded. Heavily

infested leaves appear silvery before turning brown and shrivel up.

Apple rust mite although a pest is an important part of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes in

the U.S.A. This species is available as food within orchard ecosystems for many predatory mites such as Phy-

toseius macropilis, Amblyseius finlandicus andTyphlodromus rhenanusearlier than other pest species such

as the fruit tree red spider mite, Panonychus ulmi, which does not begin hatching until early May. Later in

the year, predatory species, which have reduced P. ulmipopulations to low levels maintain themselves on

apple rust mite. Therefore, if apple rust mite is allowed to re-

main in orchards to provide food for predators that then also feed

on P. ulmi,it is important to know the population levels that can

be tolerated without damage to the tree. In Northern Irish apple

orchards up to 160 per eight leaf sample have been recorded by

the current authors with no visible damage to foliage. However,

population development of these mites can be very rapid, and so

even on trees of low nutrient status, and in the presence of pre-

dacious mites, they are capable of attaining levels that can cause

Contents

Figure 1. Apple rust mite (Aculus schlechtendali) on

underside of leaf Dr Andrew Cuthbertson

Figure 2. The predatory mite, Anystis baccarum. Dr Andrew Cuthbertson


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Businesses and wildlife in the Teifi valley are set to gain from a new

pilot scheme run by the Shared Earth Trust, based near Lampeter.

With the help of funding from the Countryside Council for Wales,

the Trust will help businesses large and small to introduce simple, low cost measures to encourage wildlife

at their work premises. The service includes an advisory visit and the chance to receive a wealth of ongoing

advice, all for a small subscription fee. There will also be help in referring businesses to other environ-

mental schemes. and assistance.

Malcolm Magee, Trust Co-ordinator, explains:

West Wales is renowned for its natural assets, attracting thou-

sands of visitors every year. There's a growing awareness these

days that stunning landscapes and wildlife play a major role in

boosting West Wales's image as an 'environmentally friendly'

place to live and visit.

By participating in agri-environment schemes, the farming com-

Biodiversitys the Business!

Contents

damage. This means that selective sprays may sometimes be necessary to reduce apple rust mite popula-

tions in an IPM programme.

The presence of alternative prey species in an orchard does not necessarily reduce a predators effective-

ness against the main pest species. Anystis baccarum(Figure 2), the most commonly occurring predatory

species in Northern Irish apple orchards (Cuthbertson, A.G.S., Biodiversity News, 30: 29; Cuthbertson &

Murchie, Biodiversity News, 34:16), is known to be a predator of various invertebrate species and, when

juvenile or during times of low alternative prey numbers, will feed on apple rust mite. The potential of A.

baccarumto control pest species such as apple rust mite in UK apple orchards may be underestimated. Until

recently Northern Irelands apple growers were unaware that this mite occurred in their orchards. Within

the UK, and indeed the world, most research on biocontrol within the apple sector has concentrated on Ty-

phlodromus pyrias the major predator of apple pests and its potential within IPM programmes. Typhlodro-

mous pyridoes occur in Northern Irish orchards, but in smaller numbers compared to English orchards. With

A. baccarum commonly occurring in apple orchards, this mite needs to be considered in any potential IPM

programme being developed within the orchards (Cuthbertson & Murchie, Biodiversity News, 39:22-23).

Anystis baccarumhas shown much potential in aiding the control of economically important pests. This gen-

eralist predator may well survive by feeding upon apple rust mite when other prey items are scarce. There-

fore, the presence of apple rust mite within the apple orchards, though classed as an economic pest

(Cuthbertson & Murchie, Biodiversity News, 32:19), may well have a more important role in sustaining the

populations of predatory species, and in particularA. baccarum.

For further information concerning invertebrate biodiversity within apple orchards contact: Dr Andrew G.

S. Cuthbertson, Central Science Laboratory, York YO41 1LZ (e-mail: [email protected]) or Dr Archie

K. Murchie, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast BT9 5PX (e-mail: [email protected]).

Ryton Gardens / Angela Polkey


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munity helps to support this image, along with other Assembly-led and voluntary sector initiatives. How-

ever, the Countryside Council for Wales and ourselvesthought that the local business community could also

play a part - and gain by improving their own marketing profile to customers. It would also add to a busi-

nesss green credentials, a factor which is increasingly coming into play for many businesses when they

are tendering for contracts or approaching new clients. Businesses involved in tourism would be obviouscandidates but any company or sole trader that feels that their brand could be enhanced by being more

wildlife friendly stands to benefit.

Many large corporations spend millions on promoting themselves as environmentally aware, sustainable and

forward thinking. We see no reason why our local businesses cannot do the same - but without breaking the

bank! It's just a case of providing enthusiastic and experienced advice and helping to identify some simple,

very affordable, wildlife-friendly options. We all know that a little will go a very long way in West Wales!

Contact the Shared Earth Trust for more information on 01570 493358 or [email protected] .

Tough Questions, Rough Answers for Adaptation toClimate Change

Adaptation is something of a Cinderella in the climate change world. The urgent need

for global mitigation has attracted massive attention yet it is not the whole answer.

Wildlife is already responding to climate change and we know that further change can-

not be avoided. How should nature conservation respond?

The new report Climate Change, Wildlife and Adaptation: 20 Tough Questions, 20Rough Answersoutlines the RSPBs thoughts on how nature conservation needs to adapt to meet the im-

pacts of climate change.

Weve chosen this format because we dont have all the answers. We face many uncertainties in the fu-

ture, yet we know that we must act, and now, so it is important to start building a framework for action.

This framework will be stronger with the views, and experience and support of others, to help build the

best adaptation strategy possible for the UK, to secure a future for biodiversity, and the services it pro-

vides.

The context for adaptation is set by the current scale of climate change, which is greater than anything

seen for 100,000s of years, and the speed of its development at an order of magnitude faster than historical

rates of change. Our first response to this must be to strengthen and secure wildlife populations today:

without these, we have no seed corn for the future. The 20 questions consider a range of challenging issues,

with conclusions that may surprise. We outline why we believe a focus on species conservation is perhaps

more important than ever, the importance of protected areas, and how species movements and re-

distribution may be assisted in the wider countryside. We look at the legal underpinning of conservation and

note the urgent need for marine legislation to match the protection afforded to terrestrial biodiversity. We

consider whether some species really are beyond help, the validity of species targets, and the role of natureconservation techniques such as re-wilding and translocation. And, on broader issues, the delivery of eco-

logical services, the meshing of conservation with adaptation in other sectors, and how we might address


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Important New Method Developed to MonitorCommon Butterflies

Over the last three years, Butterfly Conservation, CEH and the BTO have been developing a new method to

more effectively monitor the changing abundance of common butterfly species across the general country-

side. This work forms part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme (UKBMS) and aims to complement UKBMS

transect monitoring, which successfully monitors the abundance of butterflies on semi-natural sites.

Strong emphasis has been placed on designing a scheme that is both scientifically sound (by objectively

sampling of the countryside through random sampling) and efficient (a scheme with fewer visits to account

for the fact that butterflies are now uncommon across much of the general countryside).

The methodology developed is based on the highly successful BTO Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), with some

practical adaptations for butterflies. In the proposed method, butterflies are counted over a minimum of

two summer visits along two 1-km survey lines located in randomly selected 1-km squares. In this reduced

effort approach a doubling of the number of sites can achieve the same power to detect trends as conven-

tional 26-week transects.

Following a successful season of field-testing by BC volunteer recorders in 2006, testing was extended toinclude both BC and BTO BBS recorders in 2007. Over 300 squares were surveyed across the UK in 2007 with

volunteer participation doubling expectations and both butterfly and bird recorders equally enthusiastic

about the fieldwork. Despite the bad weather, 43 butterfly spe-

cies were seen, including most wider countryside species, plus

four migrants and 14 habitat specialists. On average nearly 100

butterflies and ten species were seen per square based on two

summer visits.

Importantly, the results show that virtually all the target widercountryside species are likely to be detected in more than 3% of

survey squares. From the pilot results we predict that over 1000

Contents

the major issue of uncertainty.

And of course there are clear calls to action. We need strong leadership from Government, for adaptation

as well as for mitigation. This must start today, building resilient populations of wildlife in healthy habitats,

with a massively increased area of land managed for environmental benefits. Investment in the future needs

to include proper sustainability safeguards, mapping and protections of areas likely to be of future biodiver-

sity importance, and a programme of action to improve landscape permeability underpinned by an en-

hanced commitment to agri-environment spending.

Climate 20 Tough Questions, 20 Rough Answers is available on the RSPBs website at http://

www.rspb.org.uk/Images/climatechange20questions_tcm9-170121.pdf. We are also welcoming feedback

and development of our ideas: please e-mail your thoughts to [email protected], or adap-

[email protected]

Speckled Wood Jim Asher


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The Kent Downs cover nearly a quarter of Kent, stretching from the White

Cliffs of Dover up to the Surrey and London Borders. It is a diverse and vi-

brant landscape with its dramatic chalk cliffs, secluded dry valleys, an-

cient woodlands, traditional orchards and locally distinct villages. With

such a variety of landscapes comes a variety of habitats, each supporting

its own typical and important wildlife. The Kent Downs is designated an

Area of Outstanding Natural beauty (AONB) in recognition of its national landscape value. For landowners in

the Kent Downs AONB (and beyond), whether they own a garden, a small piece of land or even a farm, then

this pack will help them understand the conservation value of that land as well as providing practical guid-

ance for its management and enhancement. It has been created in an easy to use, on-line format, where

information specific to the character area in which the landowner lives can be accessed and downloaded for

free. Habitat management topics covered extend from woodland management, and include hedges, ponds,

grasslands and orchards. Information provided is suitable both for the lay person, but also the more experi-

enced land manager. Guidance extends to which species of plant and animal may do well in each character

area. To this end there are contacts for organisations that can help with more specialist advice.

The pack has been specifically put together with the 13 Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) of the Kent

Downs AONB in mind, but could easily be used more widely, as much of the advice is sufficiently generic to

Kent Downs Land Managers Pack

Contents

volunteers would take part if the scheme were to be launched in the near future. In a 1000+ square

scheme, 3% is equivalent to 30 occupied squares, which is a sufficient sample size for each species to en-

able calculation of unbiased national abundance indices and to monitor trends over time.

Thus, it seems highly likely that the scheme as proposed would be able to report effectively on the status of

butterflies across the whole of the UKs landscape, giving the first truly nationally representative population

trends for widespread butterflies like the Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) and Speckled Wood (Pararge

aegeria). As butterflies are considered by the UK Government as good

indicators of the broad state of wildlife and the countryside the data

will be of additional value in assessing how insects in general are faring

across the countryside.

Further research and development is needed in 2008 and a scheme roll

out (subject to funding) is currently proposed for 2009. We would like

to thank the consortium of government agencies led by Defra, for fund-

ing the work.

For more information seewww.ukbms.org/

Katie Cruickshanks and volunteers testing

the method Charles Sanderson


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be valuable in other areas. Each LCA has its own identity, and the pack focuses on typical landscape fea-

tures and those of flora and fauna which contribute to local distinctiveness. In this way, the pack can in-

form, advise and educate, to help land managers choose the most appropriate, representative and, hope-

fully, successful management end points for their own particular parcel of land.

How to use the pack

The Kent Downs is divided into 13 Landscape Character Areas based on their local distinctiveness, for exam-

ple the Mid Kent Downs is characterised by orchards, hop gardens and parkland. Guidance sheets to each

area can be downloaded by clicking on the map or on the contents page headings.

Guidance is available for the following categories: ponds; rivers and riverside land; woodlands; hedgerows;

chalk grasslands; meadow grasslands; orchards; marshes; and heathlands.

Each guidance sheet is concise, yet contains a multitude of useful information ranging from practical man-

agement tips, plant and animal species characteristic of the area, through to local and national organisa-

tions from where the reader can gain more advice. A sample page below shows the type and range of infor-

mation which is available.

Of course, no one guide can be totally comprehensive, or exhaustive in its coverage. However, by adopting

a Landscape Character Area based approach, this Land Managers Pack does provide valuable pointers to

concerned land-owners that help them target what is both typical of their area, and which habitats and spe-

cies will thrive. Armed with these insights they can then make better educated decisions at maintaining

their small part of the world in a sensitive, healthy and ecologically friendly way. The site is expected to go

live early in 2008 and, once completed, will be accessible via the link below:

http://www.kentdowns.org.uk/landmanagerspack.html

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Ospreys have never been reported as a breeding species in Wales until this century

when in 2004 a pair nested in mid Wales near Newtown. Unfortunately, this pair did

not return the following year despite fledging one chick. Coincidentally however, an

osprey pair also colonised and bred in the Glaslyn valley for the first time in 2004 and

this pair has been coming back to the same nest site ever since. The Glaslyn valley is

rich in both animal and plant wildlife and is an ideal locale for ospreys, lying as it

does in the heart of Snowdonia, full of rivers and lakes to the north and east, and just two or three miles

from the mullet rich Cardigan Bay to the west.

Ospreys have had a tumultuous time of it in Scotland, their former (and now current again) British

stronghold. From being driven to extinction as a UK breeding species in 1916, a pair recolonised near Loch

Garten in Speyside in the mid 1950s and this nest has probably become one of the most visited, and is cer-

tainly the most famous, nest in the world to date.

Scotland recently passed the 200 breeding osprey

pairs figure for the first time in probably many cen-

turies, with the original nest at Loch Garten still

going strong.

The Glaslyn Osprey Project has just closed its

doors after the fourth successive season having wel-

comed 186,000 visitors in that time. As well as show-

ing tourists and local people the birds, the project

also has a strong team of protection staff and volun-

teers who guard and keep watch over the nest, particularly for the six-week incubation period. This is the

only osprey pair that nest in Wales and this fact alone makes the whole situation rather precarious the

Loch Garten nest fell victim to many an egg collector in the early days.

Despite four of the ten Glaslyn chicks that have hatched to date dying in the first four years, the other

six successfully fledged. This bodes well for osprey colonisation in Wales of course. The amount of philo-

patry (the tendency of offspring to chose a nesting site close to their ancestral site when they themselves

are ready to breed) in ospreys is very high this is one of the main reasons why the geographical population

expansion in Scotland has been relatively slow. At least three other ospreys were reported as being resident

in the north Wales area in the 2007, one residing just a few miles from the Glaslyn pair was this bird an

offspring from 2005? Who knows, despite all six fledged chicks being ringed, nobody has managed to get

close enough yet to see these rings.

One can only hope now, as the Welsh ospreys enjoy their winter break in West Africa, that more return

each year. How nice it would be one day to walk through a valley in Wales as a magnificent red kite returns

to its nest with its prey and at the same time an osprey flies past in the opposite direction, talons filled

with fish. Were working on it..!

More information on the Glaslyn Osprey Project can be found on the RSPBs website: www.rspb.org.uk

The Glaslyn Osprey Project

The 2007 chicks that are now hopefully in WestAfrica Emyr Evans


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Our parks and greenspaces are getting better but we're still failing to meet the needs of nearly half of the

people in Scotland's towns and cities.

A report published in October revealed that nearly half of Scots think their local greenspace is unsafe to ex-

ercise in and an unsafe place for their children to play, and nearly half don't think that their local green-

space is an attractive place to be.

The report was based on a survey of more than 1000 people, commissioned by greenspace scotland to

measure changes in the public's use of and expectations and attitudes to greenspace over recent years.

In 2004 greenspace scotlandconducted a similar piece of research - providing the first data on how Scot-

land's urban population uses its parks and greenspace and a measure of attitudes towards the availability

and quality of greenspace in their communities.

The new 2007 report shows that while more of us are spending more time in greenspaces and many of us

think the quality is improving, there is still a dramatic difference between people's expectations of what

their local greenspace should be and the reality. We are still failing to meet the needs of people living in

our towns and cities, particularly in our most deprived communities where expectations are higher and lev-

els of satisfaction are significantly lower.

Physical inactivity is recognised as the single biggest risk factor for people in Scotland. We are sitting on an

obesity time bomb. Many of us are using our greenspaces to exercise or walk our dogs but the report reveals

that while 91% of people think that greenspaces should be safe places for physical activity, only 56% agree

this is true of their local greenspace.

The health and wellbeing of our children is also at risk: 89% of people agree that greenspaces should be

good places for children to play but only 55% agree this is true of their local greenspace.

The report was produced by Progressive Partnership of Edinburghfor greenspace scotland. The data was

gathered using the Scottish Opinion omnibus survey. 1017 people living in towns or cities were interviewed.

Key findings:

greenspaces are getting better - only 33% [compared with 40% in 2004] think the quality of their green-

space has deteriorated in the last 5 years

we're using greenspace more - 58% of us [compared with 49% in 2004] use our greenspaces at least once

a week and over three-quarters of us visit our local greenspaces at least once or twice a month. The num-

ber never using greenspace has dropped from 13% in 2004 to 8%

91% of people agree that greenspaces should be safe places for physical activity but only 56% agree this

is true of their local greenspace [up from 80% and 46%] in 2004

89% of people agree that greenspaces should be good places for children to play but only 55% agree this

is true of their local greenspace [up from 81% and 47% in 2004]

Results of gr eenspace scot l and Survey

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however there is an increase in children playing in their local greenspace - with 26% of us who use

greenspace regularly taking our children there to play [up from 19% in 2004]

85% of people think good quality greenspace makes an area a great place to live but only 48% said their

local greenspace makes their area a great place to live

81% of people agree that greenspaces should provide opportunities to see nature but only 47% agree this

is true of their local greenspace [up from 63% and 40% in 2004]

The 15% most deprived sample* shows the same pattern as in 2004 - higher expectations of greenspaces

than amongst the overall sample but less satisfaction with their local greenspaces. Overall, 26% of those liv-

ing in deprived communities say that their local greenspace does not meet their needs.

Greenspaces are free to use. Deprived communities often lack private gardens for relaxation, exercise and

for children to play. They also often lack other leisure opportunities, therefore their local greenspace may

offer the only opportunity for exercise but it will not be used if it is perceived as run down or dangerous.

* derived from Scottish Government classification of SIPs based on postcode data

Julie Procter, Chief Officer of greenspace scotlandsaid:

Comparing figures from 2004 with today, people seem to be using greenspace more frequently and their

expectations of what greenspace should offer are higher - a sign that people do recognise that fresh air and

exercise are crucial to our health and wellbeing. There is certainly a greater belief that greenspaces can

help deliver these benefits and a desire to see the quality of spaces improved.

"Overall the research confirms that greenspaces are clearly seen as vital components of urban communities,

providing local people with space where they can exercise, play and relax. The majority of people use their

greenspaces regularly and value their contribution to the quality of their lives.

"It's very good news for people's expectations of greenspaces as places to see nature; there's been a huge

increase compared with 2004, perhaps attributable to the huge amount of good work undertaken by Scottish

Natural Heritage and the hugely popular BBC Breathing Places campaign with the Springwatch and Au-

tumnwatch programmes. There is a strong desire to connect with nature on our doorstep but still less than

half the people surveyed viewed their local greenspace as a good place to see wildlife.

"All in all, there is still so much to achieve. Despite the encouraging signs of improvement, we're still failing

too many communities. For everyone involved in delivering a healthier, safer and greener Scotland, the

challenge is to turn the knowledge that greenspace is good into a reality for everyone living and working in

our towns and cities. In many places there is still a piecemeal approach to the provision and maintenance of

greenspace and not enough strategic and coordinated action. greenspace scotlandwill continue to work to

inspire, challenge and support organisations to work together with communities to ensure that people have

easy access to greenspaces that meet their needs."

For media enquiries: Chris Lord 01786 465934 [email protected]

greenspace scotland-transforming urban spaces into people places


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During summer 2007, 26 farms in Aberdeenshire, In-

verness-shire, Fife and Angus were monitored as part

of a Corn Bunting intervention project, Farmland Bird

Lifeline (FBL). The RSPB led project has been running

since 2002 and is supported by Scottish Natural Heri-

tage with additional funding through the Biodiversity

Action Grant Scheme - supported by the Scottish Ex-

ecutive. The project has provided habitats for Corn

Buntings (Miliaria calandra) on 37 farms during the

past six years and has been closely monitored

throughout. Some of these farms have since gone into

agri-environment schemes and continue to manage

important habitats for seed eating passerines.

In 2004-5, as part of a research project we studied

180 Corn Bunting nest locations on 13 farms in Aber-

deenshire to determine which crop types were used.

We found that up to a third of first nesting attempts

were in grass silage. Most nests were destroyed when

the grass was mown for the first silage cut. Trials of a

late-cut grass prescription began in 2005 as part of

FBL. This involves paying farmers to delay cutting un-

til 1stAugust or during a period in late July when Corn

Buntings have finished nesting. Between 2005 and

2007, 17 fields on 14 farms have been managed in this

way. Of the 42 Corn Bunting nests located within

these fields, 18 fledged. All of these nests would have

probably failed had these fields been managed con-

ventionally for silage.

2007 was a poor year for productivity and bad

weather may have caused failure of up to 70% of

nests in the treatment fields. Trials will continue in

2008, with the aim of fine-tuning an agri-

environment prescription that will allow most Corn

Bunting nests to fledge, and, given appropriate

compensation, that is acceptable to farmers.

We are now in a position to design farm environ-

ments to maximise the chances of Corn Buntings

producing enough young and surviving through the

winter, at a local scale. These methods need to be

tested and refined to improve our knowledge and

feed into the development of schemes such as Ru-

ral Development Contracts. A number of options

targeting Corn Buntings will be available to farmers

as part of a Corn Bunting package in Rural Devel-

opment Contracts, which is due to open in January

2008. This package will include prescriptions such

as un-harvested crops, late cut grass, biodiversity

cropping, grass margins and conservation head-

lands.

For more information, contact:

[email protected]

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Monitoring nesting habitats for Corn Buntings inNorth and East Scotland.


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24 Biodiversity News

A roof in Manchester covered with crushed rubble

may sound an unlikely setting for a good meal but

for the Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) itspells fine dining. Its at Unicorn Grocery in Chorl-

ton, where volunteers from conservation charity

BTCV have helped to create Manchesters first

brown roof, including a small wetland area the

first of its kind in the UK. The work was funded by

a 24,685 SITA Trust grant and is part of a larger

project Make Room for Black Redstarts organised

by Graham Jones of the Greater Manchester Biodi-

versity Project.

The Black Redstart, an attractive Robin-sized mem-

ber of the turdidae family, takes its name from the

males grey-black plumage and red tail. With less

than 100 pairs breeding in Britain, it is on the am-

ber list of Birds of Conservation Concern, being

rarer than the Golden Eagle or Osprey. Currently,

London and Birmingham have the largest popula-

tions, but at least one pair lives in Manchester. It

is unusual amongst small ground feeding birds in

breeding almost exclusively in urban areas, prefer-

ring shrub-free stony ground and complicated

structures mimicking the cliffs and gorges of its

natural habitat.

Within Greater Manchester, the Black Redstart is

considered threatened with decline due to the

large-scale redevelopment of city centre sites. Old

buildings are the favourite nest sites of this bird

and brownfield areas a favoured feeding site. With

the major regeneration work that is currently hap-

pening in the city many such sites are being lost.

By creating brown roofs on existing roof space ar-

eas, and by working closely with developers on in-

corporating them into new developments, lost

brownfield habitat can be recreated. A further two

brown roofs are planned for Manchester in 2007

and it is hoped that more will be created over the

coming years. This will create a stepping stone ef-

fect of suitable habitats that will allow the Black

Redstart population to expand, flourish and remain

an icon of Manchester for many years to come.

Katie Lowry of BTCV says: It is great involving lo-

cal volunteers on this very worthwhile project and

working with an organisation in the heart of the

community like Unicorn Grocery that understands

how local business can help wildlife.

Set up 10 years ago, Unicorn Grocery is a worker-

owned co-operative retailer based in Chorley which

focuses on organic, Fairtrade and local produce.

Kellie Bubble of Unicorn Grocery says: "It's been a

few years since we started looking into a brown

roof as an insulation solution, and for a while it

didn't seem financially viable. Collaboration has

made it possible, and even more beneficial than

we'd envisaged. It really is a fantastic project and

we're very proud to be involved with it.

For more information please contact: Katie Lowry,

BTCV Project Officer - 0161 608 0498

[email protected]

Manchesters Rarest Bird Benefits from Brown Roof

Up on the roof - BTCV volunteers create an ideal foraging ground

for the Black Redstart above Unicorn Grocery, Chorlton

Karen Wright Photography


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The first season of Natural Links,

a new environmentally themed

programme, run by The Shared

Earth Trust at Denmark Farm, has been a huge suc-

cess. Designed specifically for community groups,

Natural Links offers seasonal activities and crafts

which help people to engage with nature and care

for wildlife.

Natural links, which began in August 2007, is a 3 year

Big Lottery Fund funded programme. As the first

seasonal programme comes to a close, groups taking

part all agree that it has been a worthwhile and thor-

oughly enjoyable experience.

Activities have included willow weaving, lantern

making, land art and animal sculptures. In addition

to these practical activities all participants are en-

couraged to explore the rich environment of Den-

mark Farm and to consider what they can do to im-

prove their own environment. The groups which took

part are Hafal Llandovery, Mind Aberystwyth, Car-

marthen based Awaydays, Llandysul Family Centre,

Carmarthenshire County Council Learning Disability

Services and British Red Cross Ceredigion Young Car-

ers.

Neville Weekes from Hafal Llandovery says I feel as

if Ive come alive againeverythings getting better.

I love being around people and in nature and my in-

volvement with Natural Links

has been a very rewarding ex-

perience.

The next Natural Links programme will run from

mid November 2007 to mid February 2008 and will

focus on woodland management and green wood-

work. Participating groups commit visit three times

during this period, with a final get together for a

celebration at the end of the season. Plans for fu-

ture programmes are now being put in place and

will include a gardening project, roundhouse con-

struction and many more activities.

Any groups interested in getting involved with

Natural Links can register their interest or get

more information from: info@shared-earth-

trust.org.uk / 01570 493358

Contents

Seasonal Changes at Denmark Farm

Angie Polkey (Shared Earth Trust) leading a nature

walk with members of Hafal Llandovery.

Choughs Return to Breed on Rathlin Island

The chough, Northern Irelands

rarest breeding bird and longest

standing BAP species, bred this

summer on Rathlin Island produc-

ing three healthy fledglings. This

was the first successful nesting attempt in the coun-try for three years and on Rathlin for 18 years. A

member of the crow family, the chough

(Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) is a glossy black bird

with a curved red beak and red legs. Named for its

call, the choughs buoyant, acrobatic flight marks it

out on its cliff-top home.

In the 1960s, there were 22 breeding pairs of

chough in Northern Ireland, 12 of which were on

Rathlin Island, once a stronghold for the species. By

the late 90s, numbers had fallen to just one breed-


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Lambeth may be thought of as a typical inner Lon-

don borough with plenty of houses and estate blocks

but not enough local green space. However, as from

December people living in the Fenwick Estate in

Clapham will be benefiting from a new biodiverse

roof that will create a green oasis for residents. The

roof is designed to be attractive to birds and other

forms of wildlife, whilst also providing residents with

protection from the weather and helping reduce en-

ergy bills. It is the first biodiverse roof in the bor-

ough and is one of the few such designs in London.

Local residents have welcomed the councils plans

for more greenery and wildlife on their estate.

Ron Laidley, Chair of the Fenwick estate Tenants

and Resident Association, says: "I am proud that we

are the first estate in the borough to have this kind

of roof. I look forward to seeing the kind of wildlife

that it attracts."

It is a little known fact that Lambeth has an incredi-

bly rich variety of wild plants and animals, and the

habitats they need, and the borough is already home

to green roofs on the Ethelred estate in Kennington,

and the Mursell estate in Stockwell. However, as

with anywhere else in the capital, Lambeths wild-

life needs constant attention to prevent losses due

to neglect, inappropriate development, pollution or

other forms of disturbance. The council has a Biodi-

versity Action Plan to promote and protect the natu-

ral environment. It works alongside developers,

businesses, residents and other groups not only to

protect the boroughs existing wildlife, but also to

ing. The Environment & Heritage Service (EHS) and

the RSPB carried out research to find out which

farms, and fields, the chough were using. Then in an

effort to hold on to this remaining pair, the Depart-

ment of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD)introduced a chough option for farmers along this

stretch of coast within the Environmentally Sensitive

Areas (ESA) Scheme. This chough option offers pay-

ments in return for farming in a way that benefits

the chough. Chough feed mostly on soil insects or in

cattle dung, supplementing their diet with spilt

grain from stubble fields in winter. The chough op-

tion encourages mixed farming, creating a range of

habitats from sheep-grazed cliff slopes to seed-rich

stubbles.

There is a real partnership approach to bringing

back the chough, with farmers along the coast, in-

cluding the National Trust, farming under DARDs

chough option and the RSPB monitoring progress.

The RSPB have also employed a Chough Project Offi-

cer to examine the history of the birds ecology in

Northern Ireland to determine how best to ensure its

long-term survival. Much work remains to be done,

but with this level of partnership from stakeholders,

the future of Northern Irelands choughs seems a

little brighter.

For more information contact:

[email protected]

Chough Mike Lane (rspb-images.com)

Greening Up Lambeth


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Contents


create new opportuni-

ties and widen peoples

experience of nature.

Green or living roofs of-

fer an effective and ex-

citing means of promot-

ing nature in Lambeth

as they create new wild-

life habitat, adding to

whats already there,

and provide wild plants

and animals with a refuge well away from distur-

bance.

Councillor John Kazantzis, cabinet member for hous-

ing at Lambeth Council, says; Green roofs are a

great way to promote biodiversity in the built envi-

ronment. Well be encouraging their creation and

maintenance on both public and private buildings,

and for developers and managers to be innovative in

their design, location and use.

The biodiverse roof on Cottage Grove is being sownwith a range of native wild plants that are found

right across London, but whose distribution and

abundance is under threat from loss of existing habi-

tat or competition from more invasive species. This

new roof will significantly boost the biodiversity of

Lambeth as well as providing a new home for impor-

tant plant species.

The mix of wild plants both those originally sown

and those that will gradually colonise the roof - are

attractive to many different wild animals, not just

beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, but also

birds like sparrows, blackbirds and finches. One bird

that should find the new roof very attractive is the

black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros), a red-tailed

bird closely related to our more common robin. The

black redstart is one of Britains rarest birds, it is

closely associated with wasteland and industrial

sites in London because these sites provide it with a

wide range of small insects attracted to the differ-

ent wild plants found there. By creating a roof

based on crushed rubble and brick, this will favour

the wild plants and insects that the black redstart

wants, and who knows in time Cottage Grove and

Clapham might be providing a home for this splen-

did little bird!

For more information on the Lambeth Biodiversity

Action Plan, please go to: http://

www.lambeth.gov.uk/Services/Environment/

ParksGreenSpaces/WildlifeBiodiversity.htm

The newly seeded roof on

Cottage Grove

A mature bio-roof, as the Lambeth roof is expected to

appear, when mature and in flower

A relatively new reedbeed in Birtley, Gateshead

which co-treats final effluent from the adjacent

wastewater treatment works and minewater, before

discharge to the River Team, has now topped 100

recorded bird species! The site developed in part-

nership between Northumbrian Water and the Coal

Authority comprises of nine separate cells making up

5.6Ha of predominantly phragmites australis reed-

bed. Wildlife features were incorporated into the

design stage including open water, native marginal

plants and islands for nesting waterfowl. Interpre-

tation boards were also placed along a footpath

which divides the site with excellent views of the

reedbeds.

Thirteen BAP species have been recorded to dateby the Northumbria Bird Ringing Group including;

grey partridge, barn owl, reed bunting, yellow

Lamesley Reedbed Tops the 100 Bird Mark!


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28 Biodiversity News

wagtail, merlin, skylark and song thrush. For the last

two years it has also provided a valuable roosting site

for 5000+ swallows, over 500 swift and 400 starlings!

The total number of species now stands at 107 (up to

end September 07) which is not bad for a site that is

less than 5 years old and on what was previously in-

tensive arable land. We're now hoping for a bittern

record so watch this space!

For more information contact Stuart Pudney:

[email protected]

Contents

That caravanning is a popular UK pastime is an undis-

puted and well known fact. What is perhaps less well

known is the fact that Europes premier caravanning

organisation, The Caravan Club, has around one mil-

lion members, and runs some 200 caravan sites

across the UK, with an additional 2,500 Certificated

Locations. As a result, The Caravan Club is uniquely

placed to deliver the messages of the UK Biodiversity

Action Plan to a very wide, and potentially un-

reached audience, and to drive forward ecological

improvement across a wide network of sites and

land.

The Club chose its centenary celebrations in 2007 as

the impetus to commit itself to the development of a

corporate Biodiversity Action Plan, the first organisa-

tion of its kind to do so. It contracted Environmental

Consultancy JUST ECOLOGY to draw up a plan which

would set defined objectives and actions for the con-

servation of biodiversity across the organisation, and

to recommend the management needed to achieve

measurable targets.

The initial tranche of twenty individual BAPs has now

been prepared, encompassing eight habitats and

twelve species. Each BAP contains the information

required to begin the Biodiversity Action Planning

process, but will be revised as part of an ongoing

programme at the Club. Following on from this,

Caravanners Back Biodiversity

Lamesley Reedbed from the air

Mullein moth (Cucullia verbasci) caterpillar feeding on waterfigwort in drainage ditch, at Moreton-in-Marsh Caravan Club

Site, Gloucestershire. Vilas Anthwal


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Trevor Watson, Director General of The Caravan

Club said: This is a wonderful opportunity for The

Caravan Club to demonstrate its commitment to en-

vironmental stewardship and to lead the way in pro-

tecting and enhancing the threatened wildlife ofthe UK. It represents an exciting new phase in the

development of the Club, and its an initiative that

we know is supported by our members who share a

love of the countryside and its natural history.

For more information please contact:

Dr Philip Corney:

[email protected];

Tel: 01454 269650

Fiona Bewers:

[email protected];

Tel: 01342 336664

one of the key recommendations of the Main BAP

Report is that The Caravan Club appoint an internal

BAP officer, to co-ordinate the Biodiversity Action

Planning process and to lead on BAP implementa-

tion, with support from the Caravan Club SitesTeam, Site Wardens, Head Office staff, and most

importantly, from the Club members themselves.

The BAP was accepted by the Caravan Club Execu-

tive Committee in autumn 2007 and has recently

been incorporated into the UK BAP scheme, via the

Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS). As

with all BARS registered BAPs, this will allow the

Caravan Club BAP to contribute to the national BAPprogramme of monitoring and recording, which is

such a valuable aspect of the BAP process.

Funding Boost for Middle Level CommissionersOtter Recovery Project

Fenland rivers but numbers crashed nationally

mainly due to chemical pollution. While they are

returning to other parts of the country, a Cam-

bridgeshire Otter Survey completed in February

2007 showed that they are still largely absent from

the middle of the Fens. The provision of breeding

and resting habitat throughout the Middle Level sys-

tem via this project aims to allow the natural ex-

pansion of otters to continue.

The Middle Level Commissioners, (MLC), have re-

ceived a 52,000 funding boost from SITA Trust for

a project that aims to get otters back to the water-

ways of the Fens as a regular breeding species. SITA

Trust provides funding through the Landfill Commu-

nities Fund. Funding is available for community andenvironmental groups to carry out a range of im-

provement projects.

The funding allocated to MLC for this three year

project will enable the construction of a network of

33 breeding and resting holts, (underground dens),

and the creation of 15 small pockets of otter-

friendly habitat alongside the 120 miles of Middle

Level waterways.

Before the 1950s, otters occurred regularly onA trial holt in the process of construction in the side of a Middle

Level channel Cliff Carson


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Other elements of the project involve assisting the

Environment Agency in combating the use of illegal

nets and traps that can drown otters and also work-

ing with bridge owners to improve access for otters

by providing ledges where necessary.

Additional support and funding for the project has

been offered by Natural England, The Environmen

Documents

UKBAP_BiodiversityNews-41