Bulletin of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management

Issue 98 | December 2017

Nature Conservation on a Shoestring

In this issue

Conservation on a Shoestring: Working for Wildlife – Pantheon: A New Resource The Mutualistic Benefits of Environmental Partnerships for Invertebrate Survey University – Nature Reserve between Water Companies Standards and Analysis Collaborations and Wildlife Trusts Welcome Information

Nature Conservation on a Shoestring In Practice No. 98 December 2017 Most CIEEM members will agree that a healthy, wildlife-rich natural world is valuable ISSN 1754-4882 in its own right as well as being the foundation of our wellbeing and prosperity; Editor we depend on it and it depends on us. Yet too many forces in the world are pulling Dr Gillian Kerby ([email protected]) wildlife and people apart, unnecessarily damaging natural systems, disrupting Internal contributions ecological processes and reducing biodiversity. The turbulence of the political climate coordinator opens up major risks but also presents new opportunities for nature conservation. Mr Jason Reeves ([email protected]) We have our work cut out to turn this chaos to the advantage of the natural world. Editorial Board Mr Jonathan Barnes, Dr Kate Bayley, The Wildlife Trusts believe that everyone deserves to live in a healthy environment, Dr Andrew Cherrill, Mr Dominic Coath, rich in wildlife and full of opportunities to enjoy the natural world. By working Mr Neil Harwood, Dr Caroline McParland, together, in the places that are closest and most important to us, people can change Mrs Kate Morris, Mr Paul Rooney, the natural world for the better – whoever and wherever we are – for ourselves and Mr Paul Scott, Miss Katrena Stanhope, Mr Darren Towers for future generations. By channelling the energy of more than 800,000 members, 40,000 volunteers and 2,000 staff, and by pooling funds and other resources, Opinions expressed by contributors to In Practice are those of the authors the Wildlife Trusts are committed to making a difference in the UK. We have big and not necessarily supported by the ambitions and face many challenges, and so there is a huge incentive to achieve Institute. Readers should seek appropriate more with less. As the charity equivalent of small businesses, it’s in the DNA of Trusts professional guidance relevant to their individual circumstances before following to make the most of what we’ve got, and there are many ways we do that. any advice provided herein. Our 40,000 volunteers are pivotal. Across the UK, volunteers not only look after Information on advertising, including nature reserves, run education initiatives, do ecological research and raise funds; rates and deadlines, can be found at they have even built visitor centres. They also comment on planning applications, www.cieem.net/ip-advertising. The and talk to MPs and other politicians and so are key to informing, educating, guiding Institute does not accept responsibility for advertising content or policy of advertisers, and influencing. In this way, plumbers, electricians and designers; professors, lawyers nor does the placement of advertisements and teachers; tree surgeons, gardeners and journalists all pitch in. within In Practice imply support for And because each Wildlife Trust covers a specific patch, we’re close to the ground. companies, individuals or their products or services advertised herein. If you share an office with the person who recruits members and raises funds, you respect how much each pound matters. People feel responsible and accountable not CIEEM Office just to their boss, but to their colleagues, the wildlife and wild places near to where 43 Southgate Street, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 9EH, UK they live and the people in the communities where they work.

Beyond that, of course, necessity is the mother of invention, so we constantly look T: 01962 868626 for new and better ways of working. Having less hierarchy releases creativity. And if E: [email protected] an innovation goes wrong the risk is innately managed as it affects only that patch. W: www.cieem.net

And that brings us to probably the most important thing: if you believe that nature In Practice is printed on paper using 100% post-consumer, de-inked waste. matters, the best way to achieve more with your limited resources is to spread This is manufactured by an ISO14001 the load and share the task with others who believe as you do. If you can inspire, and EMAS accredited company. The empower and enable others to work alongside you, by demonstrating what can be polybags used to mail In Practice are made done and establishing common cause with them, then every challenge becomes of Oxo-Degradable Low Density Polythene which will break down and degrade faster easier to overcome. than standard polythene products.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE © Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Chief Executive, The Wildlife Trusts Front cover image: Hiking in Scotland

2 Issue 98 | December 2017 Contents

Pantheon: A New Resource for Conservation on a Shoestring: Invertebrate Survey Standards The Mutualistic Benefits of University and Analysis – Nature Reserve Collaborations David Heaver, Jon Webb, David Roy, Sarah L. Taylor, Andrew J. Hunt Hannah Dean, Martin Harvey, PG 06 and Khaled de Jesus PG 25 Craig Macadam and Jon Curson

Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships between Water Companies Bat Guano Fertiliser: A Novel Method and Wildlife Trusts of Encouraging Conservation of Stuart Pudney, Anne Porter Tropical Bats on a Shoestring PG 11 and Charlotte Bradbury PG 30 Kathy Halsall

Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Biodiversity and UK Practicalities and Problem Solving: Conservation Benefit Orchid Translocation in Oxfordshire PG 16 Octavia Neeves PG 34 Samantha Hursey and Katrena Stanhope

Saving the Small Things that Run the Planet – Conservation How Many Great Crested Newts on a Shoestring Can Terrestrial Habitats Support? PG 22 Paul Hetherington PG 38 John Box

02 Editorial Professional Updates 03 Contents 42 – ALERC Accreditation: Quality Assurance 04 Chartered Institute News and Activities for Local Environmental Records Centres. 05 News in Brief Tom Hunt, Camilla Burrow and Hannah Cook 45 – A Guide to Good Practice Guidance: Feature Articles A new resource for CIEEM members 06 – Conservation on a Shoestring: The Mutualistic Benefits Sally Hayns of University – Nature Reserve Collaborations 46 – Level 7 Apprenticeships on the Horizon: Sarah L. Taylor, Andrew J. Hunt and Khaled de Jesus Are You Ready to Embrace Them? 11 – Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships Max Wade and Debbie Bartlett between Water Companies and Wildlife Trusts 48 – Implications of Brexit for Devolved Environmental Stuart Pudney, Anne Porter and Charlotte Bradbury Law in Scotland: Update 16 – Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Chris Cathrine Biodiversity and UK Conservation Benefit 50 – CIEEM Policy Update Octavia Neeves Jason Reeves 22 – Saving the Small Things that Run the Planet 52 – CIEEM Awards 2018 – Conservation on a Shoestring Sally Hayns Paul Hetherington 55 – Changes to CIEEM’s Membership Abeyance Processes 25 – Pantheon: A New Resource for Invertebrate Survey Stuart Parks Standards and Analysis David Heaver, Jon Webb, David Roy, Hannah Dean, 56 – A Modern Tree Charter John Jackson Martin Harvey, Craig Macadam and Jon Curson 59 – Student Hub 30 – Bat Guano Fertiliser: A Novel Method of Encouraging Conservation of Tropical Bats on a Shoestring 60 – Chartered Membership Kathy Halsall 61 – British Ecological Society 34 – Practicalities and Problem Solving: 62 CIEEM’s Member Networks Orchid Translocation in Oxfordshire Samantha Hursey and Katrena Stanhope 64 New Members 38 – How Many Great Crested Newts Can Terrestrial 65 Recent Publications and Journals Habitats Support? 69 Diary John Box 70 External Advertisements Issue 98 | December 2017 3 Chartered Institute News and Activities

Amendment to the Code of CIEEM Medal 2017 Consultants Portal Professional Conduct – An Update Professor Sir John Members should please note that there has Lawton was awarded the We have recently been having further been a minor amendment to the Code of Medal at the Autumn discussion with NBN and ALERC Professional Conduct. The Supplementary Conference on 21 regarding some improvements to the Information for Clause 4 has been added November 2017. The Consultants Portal which has been to make it clear that this clause includes Medal was presented in recognition of developed to facilitate the uploading complying with all relevant laws – i.e. laws his outstanding, highly influential and and sharing of data. Whilst there are relating to the conduct and competence of a life-long contribution to ecology and still some issues with the usability of member acting in their professional capacity. environmental management. To read aspects of the Consultants Portal, the full citation please visit we believe that this is still the most Social Media www.cieem.net/medal-winners. appropriate channel for sharing your data. Using the portal ensures that We are now on Facebook! Find us @ data enters the verification system CIEEM91 where we share news from New Guidance and is shared with LERCs, National the sector, latest jobs and training and photos from our various events The Guidelines on Preliminary Schemes etc. in the most efficient way. throughout the year. Ecological Appraisal (GPEA) have Dr Jo Judge, CEO of NBN, has Please note we have recently changed been updated and the new version was reported that NBN will be working our Twitter handle to @CIEEMnet. published recently (www.cieem.net/ on improvements to the portal and guidance-on-preliminary-ecological- its integration with the NBN Atlas in And don’t forget to join us on appraisal-gpea-). Lead author Mike Dean the coming months. NBN will also LinkedIn too – just search for CEcol CEnv FCIEEM will be giving a short be providing more detail on data “CIEEM” in groups. webinar presentation later this month to licencing and verification, as these are highlight the main changes in the revised handled differently in the NBN Atlas CIEEM Conferences 2017 – version (www.cieem.net/training-events). compared to how they worked in the presentations available NBN Gateway. Jo and her team would Some minor changes have also been made The CIEEM Summer Conference 2017 like to thank you for bearing with to the Guidelines for Ecological Report- – Making Nature Count: Natural Capital writing to ensure they are aligned with them while they have, by necessity, in Policy and Practice – and Autumn the revised GPEA. Again, the most up-to- concentrated on the NBN Atlas over Conference 2017 – Mitigation Monitoring date version is on the CIEEM website. the last year. and Effectiveness – presentations are The Professional Standards Committee now available at: www.cieem.net/ (PSC) has also produced a new webpage previous-conferences glossary of ecological surveys, reports and their purpose in the planning Future In Practice Themes system (in the members’ area of the Edition Theme Submission deadline website) to assist all stakeholders with 99 - March 2018 Genetic Techniques and Technologies 27 November 2017 understanding the complexity of ecological survey types and their associated reporting. 100 - June 2018 Centenary Edition: Big Ideas 26 February 2018 A downloadable summary is also available. 101 - September 2018 Environment and Pollution 28 May 2018 PSC is continuing to work closely with ALGE on an EcIA protocol for consultants 102 - December 2018 Data and Information Management 27 August 2018 and local authority planners to enable them If you would like to contribute an article to a forthcoming edition of In Practice please note to assess whether an EcIA is fit for purpose. the submission deadlines above. Please also note that early submission is appreciated. It is hoped that this protocol will help to Articles for the specific editions below could address, but are not limited to, the following: address proportionate EcIA approaches in cases of low biodiversity impact. • Genetic Techniques and Technologies – including eDNA and metabarcoding, etc. Finally, as reported on page 45, PSC • Centenary Edition: Big Ideas – innovation and new ideas in ecology and has produced a major new resource for environmental management members to replace Sources of Survey • Environment and Pollution – all aspects of pollution impacts on the natural Methods. Good Practice Guidance on environment including water, air quality, eutrophication and enrichment, agriculture, Survey, Mitigation, Management transport, etc. and Monitoring is only available in the • Data and Information Management – including big data, sharing, storage, CIEEM members’ area of the website. The management and analysis, etc. in relation to the natural environment intention is to turn it into a searchable For further information please visit the website (www.cieem.net/in-practice) or contact database resource early in 2018. the Editor ([email protected]). 4 Issue 98 | December 2017 News in Brief

Environmental scrutiny body UK omits climate change consultation announced from post-Brexit foreign Environment Secretary, Michael Gove, policy plan has announced plans to consult The UK government’s proposal for its on a new, independent body for future relationship with the EU calls environmental standards. A consultation Food, Farming and Countryside for cooperation on energy security, on the specific powers and scope of the Commission launched but makes no mention of the Paris new body will be launched early 2018. Agreement, a stated priority in Brussels. The RSA has launched a new, independent http://www.climatechangenews. https://www.cieem.net/news/444/ body to scrutinise the government on the com/2017/09/12/uk-omits-climate- environment-secretary-promises-to- future of food, farming and the countryside. consult-on-new-scrutiny-body post-brexit-foreign-policy-plan/ https://www.thersa.org/action-and- research/rsa-projects/public-services-and- rd Environment Secretary communities-folder/food-farming-and- Ireland launches 3 National questioned by Select Committees countryside-commission Biodiversity Action Plan Michael Gove has been questioned on Brexit Minister Heather Humphreys has launched rd and the environment by the Environmental NCC publish advice on Defra Ireland’s 3 National Biodiversity Action Plan. The Plan sets out actions through which Audit Committee and by the Lords EU Energy 25-Year Environment Plan and Environment Sub-Committee. Issues a range of government, civil and private The Natural Capital Committee covered included the future of environmental sectors will undertake to achieve Ireland’s has published its advice to the protection after leaving the EU, agri- ‘Vision for Biodiversity’. CIEEM responded to UK government on its 25-Year the plan consultation earlier in the year. environment funding outside the Common Environment Plan. The Plan is due to Agricultural Policy and the Government’s https://www.npws.ie/news/minister- be published by early 2018. 25-Year Plan for the Environment. heather-humphreys-launches-3rd-national- https://www.gov.uk/government/ biodiversity-action-plan http://www.parliament.uk/business/ uploads/system/uploads/attachment_ committees/committees-a-z/commons- data/file/650314/ncc-advice-on-25- select/environmental-audit-committee/ Phenology supplement year-environment-plan171009.pdf news-parliament-2017/governments- to State of UK Climate environmental-policy-michael-gove- 2016 report evidence-17-19/ Rabies in bats guidance This supplemental report has been http://www.parliament.uk/business/ Defra has published guidance on signs that released to complement the annual committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/ may suggest rabies in bats, what to do if State of the UK Climate 2016 report. eu-energy-environment-subcommittee/ you spot them, and measures to prevent The supplement discusses variations in news-parliament-2017/gove-brexit- exposing yourself to the disease. the budburst timing of 11 tree species environment-energy/ https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rabies-in-bats across the UK in 2016 relative to longer-term variations. UKELA publish new http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/news/ Welsh national priorities releases/2017/phenology-report Brexit reports announced in Natural http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/ The UK Environmental Law Association Resources Policy uk/about/state-of-climate has published new reports on Brexit: The Welsh Government has published • Brexit and Nature Conservation its new Natural Resources Policy (NRP), Factsheet – https://www.ukela.org/ the second major milestone in the Natural England consult on blog/Brexit-Task-Force/Brexit-and- implementation of the Environment new approach to bat licensing Nature-Conservation-Factsheet (Wales) Act. The priorities are: the Natural England has recently launched a delivery of nature-based solutions; • Brexit and Environmental Law: The consultation on a potential new scheme increasing renewable energy and for EPS licensing based on developing their UK and International Environmental resource efficiency; and taking a place- current Earned Recognition approach. Law after Brexit – https://www. based approach. More information and link to the short ukela.org/content/doclib/320.pdf http://gov.wales/newsroom/environ consultation survey via the link below. • Brexit and Environmental Law: mentandcountryside/2017/170821- www.cieem.net/news/445/natural-england- Brexit, Henry VIII Clauses and national-priorities-announced-natural- consulting-on-earned-recognition-for-bats Environmental Law – https://www. resources-policy/?lang=en ukela.org/content/doclib/319.pdf

Issue 98 | December 2017 5 Feature Article: Conservation on a Shoestring: The Mutualistic Benefits of University – Nature Reserve Collaborations

Conservation on a Shoestring: The Mutualistic Benefits of University – Nature Reserve

Keywords: academic research, employability skills, evidence-based Collaborations approach, study skills gap, volunteering, work placements Sarah L. Taylor MCIEEM Andrew J. Hunt Khaled de Jesus Lecturer in Ecology, Keele University Ranger, Groundwork West Midlands Master’s student, Kings College London

This article uses the Silverdale Country Park – Keele University partnership as a case study to outline the positive outcomes and potential pitfalls of collaborations from the perspective of the conservation body, academic institution and student. Collaborative university projects enable students to gain practical experience while generating research and monitoring data that would otherwise be too costly to the conservation body. They are an addition, not a replacement to professional ecological surveys. Figure 1. First year ecology students on a Country Park tour focusing on raising environmental Introduction: why do we awareness, access issues and availability of the park for volunteering and study. © Andrew Hunt. need collaboration? Limited budgets for nature reserve time consuming and costly to implement. rising student debt. In response to increases management means that funding must Collaborations between conservation in university fees (£9,000+ per annum), be targeted at resources (tools, tree plugs, bodies and academic institutions provide institutions are seeking unique learning biscuits for volunteers, etc.), and installation a means of gaining quality data that can experiences that provide value for money and management costs (labour, machine be fed into management plans. It also and ensure student satisfaction. Students hire, etc.). The result is a landscape full of provides students with an opportunity to have high expectations and want to do supposed habitat improvements (nesting gain vital experience through volunteering, meaningful projects that go beyond just boxes, meadows sown with wildflower placements and research that plug skills satisfying the requirements of their degree, seed mixtures) but limited resources to gaps and increases employability. Growing actively seeking out opportunities to work determine if they have been successful. numbers of graduates mean students now with outside organisations and tackle real- Such evidence-based data is a necessary need to arm themselves with additional world problems that produce meaningful element of the adaptive ecosystem skills that go beyond their academic studies data. In this article, we report the value approach to management that is now in order to be competitive in the job market, of project provision between Silverdale being advocated to land managers, but is and this pressure is further compounded by Country Park and Keele University. 6 Issue 98 | December 2017 Silverdale Country Park – Table 1. Flow of benefits (black solid line) and challenges (red dashed line) between Keele University partnership Silverdale Country Park and Keele University. (2012-present) The 87 ha Silverdale Country Park in Staffordshire is owned by the Land Trust and managed by Andrew Hunt of Groundwork West Midlands, both of which are charities. Andrew took up the post of ranger in 2011 when the park first opened following its restoration from a former colliery after campaigning saved it from the usual repurposing for landfill. In 2015, the park was designated a Site Silverdale Keele of Biological Importance for its mosaic of Country Park University early successional habitats and associated species; a legacy of past industrial use that a landfill development would have destroyed. The park protects priority bird species listed on the former UK Biodiversity Action Plan (16 red, 41 amber), and the largest colony of dingy skipper butterfly Erynnis tages in the county. Local schools, universities and community groups (scouts, youth offenders) utilise the park for educational activities and engage in conservation work parties (Figures 1 and 2). An audit in 2017 valued these educational services at £700,000 a year (Land Trust 2017). Reaseheath College in Cheshire brings students to learn practical skills at the park, such as fencing and woodland management. Students from Staffordshire University, Harper Adams University and Chester University have also carried out projects at Silverdale. In 2012, formal collaboration was established with Keele University to facilitate student projects and data sharing, as well as fostering key graduate attributes such as “the ability and motivation to participate responsibly and collaboratively as an active citizen in the communities in which you live and work” (Keele University 2017). Keele University is located three miles from the park and is home to 10,000+ students with over 900 students registered on a volunteering portal through the students union. Between 2012 and 2017, eight students conducted work placements, 177 students attended fieldtrips, 147 students participated in volunteering events, and 14 students carried out undergraduate projects at the park. To increase the visibility of volunteering and Figure 2. Volunteers constructing artificial wildfowl nests while water levels have been dropped. project opportunities at the park, in 2015 © Andrew Hunt. Issue 98 | December 2017 7 Feature Article: Conservation on a Shoestring: The Mutualistic Benefits of University – Nature Reserve Collaborations (contd)

a field tour was embedded into a first- year ecology module (Figure 1) and a case study featuring the park was published in the core biology textbook in 2017. Table 1 summarises the flow of benefits and challenges arising from the collaboration. What is the value of student undergraduate projects? Since 2011, 20 students have completed final year, independent research projects at the four institutions. Table 2 lists examples of projects and Box 1 gives an example of a. a project that generated valuable data on wildfowl nesting structures. Doing research can be daunting for students and time consuming for supervisors, especially at the project development stage, b. but students often relish the opportunity to contribute to evidence-based conservation and report positive impacts on their future Figure 3. Nesting sites at Silverdale Country Park: (a) natural sites at the base of flooded willow careers (Box 2). trees, and (b) man-made structures of stakes and brash. © Sarah Taylor.

Table 2. The economic value of student projects based on the cost of equivalent professional ecological surveys where data/reports were provided to the ranger. Project * Year Institution Topic Cost equivalent ** 1 2017/18 Keele Does presence of yellow rattle improve meadow diversity? £1900 for University Phase1 survey 2 2017/18 Keele Does meadow management at Silverdale Country Park promote £2952.50 for University butterfly biodiversity? butterfly and dragonfly survey 3 2016/17 Keele Do wildfowl birds prefer man-made or natural nesting structures £2850 for breeding University at Silverdale Country Park? bird survey 4 2016/17 Keele The effect of habitat management on the relative abundance of £1600 for University small mammal populations in Silverdale Country Park. bat survey 5 2016/17 Keele Characterising the ecology of Silverdale Country Park and £1900 for University quantifying its spatial variation. Phase1 survey 6 2014/15 Chester Does land management affect bird populations and communities? £2850 for breeding University A comparison between farmland and country parks. bird survey 7 2014/15 Keele Do seasonal pools at Silverdale Country Park have a secure future? £2910 for University invertebrate survey 8 2014/15 Keele Has the development of Silverdale Country Park impacted badger £6500 for bait University (Meles meles) sett territories and latrine use? marking survey 9 2013/14 Keele Do drainage ditches act as wildlife corridors in Silverdale £1570 for University Country Park? amphibian survey 10 2013/14 Chester Bait tube survey of small mammals on Silverdale Country Park, £1350 for University which will contribute to the National Atlas. Reptile survey 11 2012/13 Keele A review of active and passive remediation methods including a £665 for water University biological wetland system used at an ex-colliery in Silverdale. systems and quality surveys 12 2011/12 Reaseheath Waders distribution on the Void. £2850 for breeding College bird survey * Further information available from the lead author if required **Based on costings for equivalent surveys from Staffordshire Ecological Services, a non-profit making professional arm of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust. 8 Issue 98 | December 2017 Box 1. Evidence-based data generated around the nest (within 0.5 m radius) from a student project on wildfowl in a 5-minute observation period over usage of artificial nesting structures. nine visits. Fifteen nests were surveyed, Andrew Hunt and his park volunteers of which 10 were man-made. A total constructed man-made wildfowl nesting of 144 wildfowl were observed within sites on the lake at Silverdale Country Park and around the nests, comprising between 2013 and 2015 in an attempt to 55 (38%) coot Fulica atra, 50 (35%) boost breeding habitat. Structures were mallard Anas platyrhynchos, 26 (18%) constructed when the lake levels were moorhen Gallinula chloropus, and 13 low to emulate natural sites beneath (9%) other species. All nesting structures flooded willow trees by weaving brash had wildfowl activity in their vicinity but around stakes (Figures 2 and 3). It was some were more popular than others. important to evaluate effectiveness by Preference differed by wildfowl species, checking whether wildfowl were using with coots preferring the base of naturally the man-made structures, and which occurring willow trees and moorhen the of the design variants was better for man-made structures (Figure 5). However, breeding success. In the spring of 2016, only six nesting structures were observed a student from Keele collected data to be in use during the observation period on the use of natural and man-made (i.e. bird sat on eggs), which were split Figure 4. Keele University student and nesting sites under the supervision of equally between the man-made and Silverdale CP ranger discuss the proposed the authors (SLT, AJH) (Figure 4). The natural structures, and were occupied wildfowl nesting study. © Sarah Taylor. study was designed to fulfil the scientific by coots (3 natural, 2 man-made) and requirements of a biology undergraduate moorhen (1 man-made), while mallards Box 2. Student perspectives – thesis, while generating much-needed, were not seen on any of the nests. reflections and outcomes. evidence-based conservation data on The study confirmed the usefulness “My research of yellow rattle nesting preferences that would inform of man-made nesting structures, Rhinanthus minor will allow the park future management at the Park. although other variables, such as human to use tangible data in the future A review of the provision of artificial disturbance levels (dogs, walkers, etc.) management decisions of its grass nesting sites for wildfowl using and vegetative ground cover (shelter) meadows.” Nev Bradshaw, project in artificial/floating islands by the team at also play an important role and require progress (Table 1, Project 1). Conservation Evidence (Williams et al. further study. The study highlighted the 2017) highlighted the gap in evidence- presence of well-defined territories, which “Provided me with invaluable field based data: three studies were reviewed, had not been known and will inform experience.” Nyall Goodwin, project in two carried out in the 1970s in the management of the site. The knowledge progress (Table 1, Project 2). USA and one in the 1990s in the UK. that artificial nests enabled the once “My project has completely influenced Methods were adapted from the British scarce moorhen to flourish in the park my career path.” Khaled de Jesus, Trust for Ornithology breeding survey was a great way of demonstrating to the graduated 2017 (Table 1, Project 3). guidance (Robinson et al. 2016) to gauge regular band of volunteers the worthiness “I could use the expertise of the park nest occupancy and wildfowl activity of their efforts. ranger. My field work experience helped set me apart from my peers Practical conservation experience that Such an evaluation can be used as a means and helped me secure work at a addresses the skills gaps and increases of demonstrating to land managers the RSPCA wildlife centre.” Ashleigh Begg, employability of graduates is a clear selling worthiness of supervision time. graduated 2015 (Table 1, Project 8). point for students, but what about the Research data gained from student projects “Working on this project, I was able value to land managers? One way to put doesn’t replace the need for professional to appreciate the importance of an economic value on student project ecological survey but, in times of austerity, collaborative working relationships, as outputs is to compare them to the cost many sites only commission ecologists to well as developing applied skills that of an equivalent ecological survey. Not all meet planning requirements, etc. Student I have gone on to use in my career.” the projects that took place at Silverdale data may be ‘free’ in a financial sense but Emily Heades, graduated 2014 can be assessed in this way, but those that Silverdale has found that the usefulness (Table 1, Project 9). were comparable had a combined value of of student data is directly dependent on nearly £30,000 (see examples in Table 2). excellent communication between site Issue 98 | December 2017 9 Feature Article: Conservation on a Shoestring: The Mutualistic Benefi ts of University – Nature Reserve Collaborations (contd)

manager, student and academic supervisor so that everyone’s needs are met. This can be time consuming for a site manager and frustrating when a student does not forward the data or report outputs, which was the case for eight out of 20 of the project students. Output quality is directly related to enthusiasm for the research topic, therefore student interests are a primary consideration when deciding on a project brief rather than which survey is most needed for management plans. In addition, survey times of year and student academic holidays often confl ict so careful subject choice is important here too, as is the availability of materials and equipment at the site or academic institution. Weather Figure 5. Nest utilisation: percentage of man-made and artifi cial nest sites that were occupied variations can also dramatically impact by coot, moorhen or mallard and/or where wildfowl activity was recorded within 5 m of a nest. studies necessitating project redesign. Like many sites, Silverdale Country Park must report to its funders across several References About the Authors outcomes: Environment & biodiversity, Keele University (2017). My Keele Journey Dr Sarah Taylor joined – active citizenship and graduate attributes. Community engagement, Health, Keele University as Available at https://www.keele.ac.uk/journey/ an ecology lecturer in Economy and Education. The range of activecitizenship/. Accessed 4 October 2017. 2008. Sarah received student activities (research projects, work Khaled de Jesus (2017). Do wildfowl birds a teaching grant in placements, volunteering, visiting the Park prefer man-made or natural nesting structures 2014 to promote socially) means that the partnership with at Silverdale Country Park? Unpublished fi eld-based learning Keele is one of very few relationships that undergraduate thesis, Keele University. and a student-led teaching award in achieve all outcomes simultaneously. In The Land Trust (2017). The hidden value of our 2015 for impact in education. Sarah is addition to this, site managers can become green spaces. Available at www.thelandtrust.org. currently undertaking a Master’s degree in entrenched in ways of working and tend uk/thebenefi ts. Accessed 4 October 2017. Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. to follow documented management Robinson, R.A., Leech, D.I., Massimino, D., Contact Sarah at: prescriptions; the fresh eyes and energy of Woodward, I., Hammond, M.J., Harris, S.J., [email protected] Noble, D.G., Walker, R.H., Eglington, S.M., students is vital here because it provides an Andrew Hunt has Marchant, J.H., Sullivan, M.J.P. and Baillie, S.R. been ranger of opportunity to keep up-to-date with the (2016). BirdTrends 2016: trends in numbers, Silverdale Country latest research, as well as re-energising site breeding success and survival for UK breeding Park since 2011. staff with new perspectives. birds. Research Report 691. British Trust for Andrew has a Ornithology, Thetford. Available at https://www. Master’s in Habitat bto.org/about-birds/birdtrends/2016/methods/ Management and Conclusions breeding-bird-survey. Accessed 4 October 2017. Conservation, has Collaborations provide many benefi ts that Williams, D.R., Child, M.F., Dicks, L.V., Ockendon, taught on the go above and beyond obtaining data and N., Pople, R.G., Showler, D.A., Walsh, J.C., zu Countryside Resource Management writing reports. It is a process that requires Ermgassen, E.K.H.J. and Sutherland, W.J. (2017). degree at Reaseheath College and was engagement by all stakeholders to produce Bird Conservation. In: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, short-listed for the Land Trust’s ranger of N. Ockendon and R.K. Smith (eds), What Works useful results. The collaborative approach the year in 2017. in Conservation 2017, pp. 95-244. Open Book Contact Andrew at: gives students experience of fi eld techniques Publishers, Cambridge. Available at http:// [email protected] in a real-life environment, academics can www.conservationevidence.com/actions/483. Accessed 4 October 2017. Khaled de Jesus explore research ideas on a real fi eld site and carried out a Keele rangers keep fresh with current research. University fi nal year The quality of student research data can be biology project at variable and therefore should supplement Silverdale Country Park, graduating not replace professional surveys. Student in 2017. Khaled is research can be used to fl ag up areas where Acknowledgements doing a Master’s targeted, specialist ecological expertise is Thanks go to past and present students who in Environmental needed, helping to target limited resources, carried out their studies at Silverdale Park, Monitoring, Modelling and Management whilst also giving students practical and particularly those who supplied at King’s College, London, and aspires to comments for this article (Box 2). a career in environmental consultancy. experience that narrows the graduate skills gap and fosters ecological careers. 10 Issue 98 | December 2017 Feature Article: Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships between Water Companies and Wildlife Trusts

Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships between Water Companies

Keywords: cost-e¦ective conservation, Northumbrian and Wildlife Trusts Water, partnership, Wildlife Trust, volunteers

Stuart Pudney CEnv MCIEEM Anne Porter Charlotte Bradbury Northumbrian Water Conservation Heart of Durham Project Officer Essex Wildlife Trust Warden and Land Manager for Durham Wildlife Trust

Scything a meadow at Wear Valley Water Treatment Works.

This article reflects on the company perspective, Wildlife Water Group to manage sites benefits of an Environmental Trust and a volunteer perspective. of ecological interest, including Partnership between the These long-standing partnerships designated areas and sites with Northumbrian Water Group have been established as a protected species, in a climate of and the Wildlife Trusts from a means for the Northumbrian reducing budgets. Issue 98 | December 2017 11 Feature Article: Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships between Water Companies and Wildlife Trusts (contd)

Based on shared values and objectives variety of reservoir sites and treatment the Trust’s risk assessments and insurance. in conservation management, these works, some of which contain important The Environmental Partnership project partnerships really do work; crucially, this habitats and protected species. officers prepare six-monthly reports on is down to the Trusts’ volunteer base. Surveys in both NW and ESW areas management activities, which are used for Volunteers gain in many ways, including have helped to identify those parts of internal reporting within NWG as part of learning new skills, making new friends and our landholding with ecological interest, the process to guarantee future funding. gaining health benefits from outdoor work, including ancient semi-natural woodland, Some impressive statistics from 2016 and the Wildlife Trusts gain by having the semi-improved or unimproved grassland, include 6238 days of volunteer labour financial stability to employ project officers wetlands and heathland. These sites all (calculated as number of days x number who can also help in other Trust-related require some form of management to of volunteers) across all sites, which, at activity. In turn, Northumbrian Water gain maintain their interest, which would be quite a conservative value of £60/day, adds up from professional conservation management costly if we had to rely purely on contractors. to £374,000 worth of work. In addition, of their important sites by local experts. This led to an approach to establish seven these partnerships brought in external The following sections are written from environmental partnerships with Wildlife funding (various grants) which amounted the perspective of the Northumbrian Water Trusts including Durham, Northumberland, to £183,000. Set against a financial Group and two of our Environmental Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. NWG provides contribution to the Wildlife Trusts of Partnerships, with additional comments funding to enable the Trusts to employ £350,000, the net saving is £207,000. from volunteers. project officers who then undertake site management using trust volunteers. Essex Wildlife Trust perspective Northumbrian Water Management includes some fairly labour (Charlotte Bradley, Essex Wildlife Group perspective intensive work such as thistle pulling, Trust Warden) (Stuart Pudney, Northumbrian Water ragwort control, invasive non-native species There is a very strong working partnership Conservation and Land Manager) control and scrub management. In some at Abberton Reservoir in Essex between The Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) cases we have also leased areas of our the Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW) operates in the north east of England as landholding to the Wildlife Trusts so that Conservation Team and the Essex Wildlife Northumbrian Water (NW), a water and they have more direct control and can secure Trust (EWT) wardens based at the site. sewerage undertaker, and in the south east grants such as stewardship agreements. They meet regularly and have an ongoing as Essex and Suffolk Water (ESW), a water At a practical level, Trust volunteers receive seasonal work plan to agree what tasks the only company. In both areas, we have a appropriate training and are covered by EWT wardens and their team of up to 20

Volunteers at Northumbrian Water’s Head O©ce. 12 Issue 98 | December 2017 Hedge planting at Abberton Reservoir. or more volunteers can achieve throughout part of the site designation as a SSSI, SPA The volunteers have also assisted with the year. Over the last few years EWT and RAMSAR. collecting seed for aquatic planting, staff and volunteers have planted 70,000 The wardens and volunteers maintain including common reed Phragmites trees around the Abberton reservoir site, the trees and hedges they have planted australis, then growing-on and transferring 30,000 on the nature reserve and another by weeding and pruning them in the to new reed-beds that ESW are creating, 40,000 around the wider site. This includes first few years. All this work saves paying and also in preparation for a new EWT creating sections of new hedge to link contractors and as many of the volunteers designed and managed reed-bed on the to mature hedgerows and to provide have an individual link to the trees and edge of the nature reserve. screening along new permissive footpaths hedgerows, they take great pride in caring around the reservoir to prevent disturbance for what they have created. This personal “It is great to work as part of an to waterfowl. Blocks of woodland and and manual style of work produces high- enthusiastic team. We are looking scrub have also been added in line with quality results and excellent tree survival forward to more new projects, such as the ecological management plan that was drawn up by a partnership including rates. Volunteer satisfaction is also high as the establishment of reed-beds.” Natural England and Essex Wildlife Trust they see their hard work come to fruition. Peter Grieg-Smith – volunteer as part of the recent reservoir enlargement It also a very cost effective method of and enhancement project. The Abberton habitat creation for ESW. Seventy thousand Volunteers also help with a wide range of Reservoir top water level was raised by 3.2 m trees planted at a contractor rate of other tasks from maintaining boardwalks to generate an extra 58% in holding £2.30/tree would have cost approximately to coppicing, water vole translocation capacity, the concrete walls were removed £161,000 without the ongoing projects, maintaining great crested newt and the reservoir shoreline re-profiled maintenance costs needed to ensure tree ponds and grassland areas. The partnership to create low-gradient, muddy margins. survival. This gives a good indication of works exceedingly well as all parties This created important habitat for the the financial value of using volunteers for involved share the same aims to make the waterfowl species which form the main habitat management work. site as beneficial to wildlife as possible. Issue 98 | December 2017 13 Feature Article: Working for Wildlife – Environmental Partnerships between Water Companies and Wildlife Trusts (contd)

“Communication is good, mainly Heart of Durham volunteer perspective through regular progress meetings but “Going out on Fridays with Heart of Durham is always interesting as we visit so many also on an ad-hoc basis, which means different sites connected with Northumbrian Water – it has really helped to spark everyone involved agrees on what a my developing interest in botany and provided opportunities to carry out botanical particular project entails, and there is surveys on their various sites. Who would have thought that sewage and water trust between the two organisations’ treatment works could be such rich natural environments? In addition I’m always staff, that the work committed to will guaranteed a good work-out (far better than a boring gym) as well as a good laugh.” happen and to the required standard.” Krys Stenhouse Charlotte Bradley – warden “I had been a member of Durham Wildlife Trust for several years, visiting Low Barns, reading the magazine but nothing more. Finding I had some spare time, I was The sharing of experience and knowledge encouraged to volunteer and to join Heart of Durham by a group member. Starting in between ESW and EWT is also invaluable. October, I joined just as the weather was turning to winter and it became clear that The volunteers themselves provide huge lots of layers were needed. The group were most welcoming and I was encouraged benefit through their time, hard work and to see how working parties would form, split and then perhaps merge again to wide-ranging expertise. They range in age tackle the tasks at hand. Group members quickly appraise that week’s proposed task from retirees to younger people looking for and decide the best method and manpower needed. It is evident that the group has employment in the environment sector and, a wide range of skills that can be applied and taught. The work and the places visited among other things, they gain new skills and vary from NW sites to farms, pathways and walled gardens. After nearly a year with the satisfaction that comes from developing the group, I imagine I have been to all ‘our’ sites but yet another appears. There is a amazing habitats and new friendships. strong sense of doing a good job, for you, the group and for the conservation aims. Durham Wildlife Heart of Durham is what volunteering is about: people from different backgrounds Trust perspective working towards a defined, worthwhile goal that all parties benefit from.” (Anne Porter, Heart of Durham Project Roger Dockray Officer for Durham Wildlife Trust) “A change of perspective comes with countryside volunteering. A keen awareness The Durham Wildlife Trust (DWT) and interest in the varied plant life I am now seeing led me to take basic Botany partnership with Northumbrian Water training with DWT. Through this new understanding of botanical key features I am (NW), known as Heart of Durham, operates now able to satisfy my growing curiosity and identify what I see around me. This is in County Durham and covers a large one of the many learning opportunities offered to me, others include: butterflies, geographical range of sites and habitats, bumble bees, bird song identification, reptiles, trees, grasses, fencing, path making, from Derwent Reservoir and land adjoining stiles, planting, learning about native species and how nature interacts. I have also Wear Valley Water treatment works within been provided with training courtesy of Northumbrian Water, to enable me to the North Pennines Area of Outstanding become City and Guilds certified in Pesticide Application, so that I can help with the Natural Beauty to a number of smaller but eradication of invasive species on the sites we work on.” Ann Walsby still diverse habitats at Horden and Seaham on the east coast and Witton Gilbert and Tudhoe near the city of Durham. Meetings Heart of Durham volunteers have planted between DWT and NW once every two hundreds of native trees and created new months coordinate an efficient programme hedgerows to provide connectivity and of management and allows discussion and increase biodiversity. Initial costs of the feedback on work achieved. tree whips, guards and stakes are offset The Heart of Durham project officer by the volunteer hours that are invested leads a weekly group of 15 or more in the planting. volunteers from a dedicated list of about 50 individuals. These people provide the Ongoing management is also carried out “manpower” to carry out large-scale by volunteers including weeding, re- DWT volunteers admiring their handy work. management, repair and maintenance staking (in very windy sites) and eventually tasks, offering flexibility that contractors removing the guards when the trees Grassland cutting is an important late cannot always provide. Small immediate have outgrown them. This ensures high summer conservation task that is carried jobs, like tree removal from a footpath, tree survival, which contributes to the out on many of the sites each year. step repairs and sign installation, to give satisfaction felt by all volunteers as they see Volunteer power has replaced the use of a few examples, can be done quickly with their trees grow, and represents a positive contractors on many NW conservation very little cost. and fulfilling aspect of their work. sites, helping to reduce operational costs. 14 Issue 98 | December 2017 A new approach to cutting has seen In 2017, NW organised a grassland traditional brush cutters replaced with monitoring workshop where several Useful Links hand scythes. In 2016, six volunteers were volunteers were introduced to methods Heart of Durham – http://durhamwt.com/ trained to use Austrian scythes for cutting of setting up and carrying out grassland heart-of-durham/ grassland sites. The outlay for the course monitoring. This, along with the DWT Abberton Reservoir and the purchase of scythes returned in-house training and membership of – https://www.eswater.co.uk/your-home/ some very positive benefits. Grass cutting leisure/Visitor-Centre.aspx the DWT botany group, has enabled became a much more enjoyable activity volunteers to greatly improve their plant for the whole volunteer team, sitting identification skills and will save NW well with their conservation values as an money on ecological survey fees in future environmentally friendly method of grass About the Authors cutting. Scything is inclusive, allowing as volunteers take over the grassland Stuart Pudney every volunteer the opportunity to have a monitoring at certain sites. This training, MCIEEM CEnv has worked at go after training from a member of their combined with the physical conservation Northumbrian management of grass cutting, wildflower team. This positive feedback has resulted in Water in a land further purchases of scythes so that much plug planting and seeding, provides a management role more grass can be cut in a shorter time much more fulfilling role for volunteers and for over twenty with low equipment costs, no breakdown reinforces their commitment. years having previously worked repairs and no high-cost training. A field of Up-cycling and recycling has also saved for environmental consultancies. He volunteers using scythes has also generated money by re-using tree guards, old fence recently completed a foundation degree free publicity, not only helping to engage in forestry with the University of Cumbria posts, timber and wire, which can be used more volunteers but also stimulating and has a keen interest in wildlife on repair jobs and other projects. It would be interaction with the public, providing an and more recently in photography, expensive to use contractors to reclaim such specifically trying to master the art of ideal opportunity to explain the partnership macrophotography. between NW and DWT. materials but it is possible with a large team of volunteers. Heart of Durham volunteers Contact Stuart at: DWT has the expertise to provide in-house [email protected] have become very adept at creating new training on all aspects of conservation structures such as compost bays and bug Anne Porter’s management from planting trees, repairing former career was fences, constructing countryside furniture hotels using waste pallets! These have in midwifery and and using tools. They can also offer more provided new wildlife habitats as well as she then went on detailed training on species surveying skills. being a forum for community engagement to spend six months and a way of disseminating positive publicity working for Save The Heart of Durham Project has been the Children in involved in surveys of reptiles, dormice and about the NW/DWT partnership. Sudan. She recently small mammals, which has all contributed completed an to NW’s conservation management plans. MSc in Environmental Management at Sunderland that included a placement with Durham Wildlife Trust leading to various volunteer roles and eventually a full-time paid role as the Heart of Durham Project Officer. Contact Anne at: [email protected] Charlotte Bradley achieved a HND in Agriculture followed by nearly 10 years as a herdsperson working on a dairy farm. She returned to study and achieved a BSc (Hons) in Rural Resource Management whilst volunteering in the conservation sector. Charlotte then spent three years as a ranger for ESW based at Hanningfield Reservoir before joining EWT as a warden at Abberton Reservoir. Contact Charlotte at: [email protected] Volunteers out in all weather! Issue 98 | December 2017 15 Feature Article: Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Biodiversity and UK Conservation Benefi t

Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Biodiversity and UK Conservation Benefi t Keywords: biodiversity, collaboration, Octavia Neeves CEnv MCIEEM EcoReporter app, invasive species

Figure 1. Large blue butterfl y on railway cutting. Photo credit David Simcox (Habitat Designs Ltd).

This article sets out how and more effi cient, providing nectar-rich wildfl owers for many insects, Network Rail has approached the opportunity to innovate. including the internationally rare large blue butterfl y Maculinea arion (Figure 1); and biodiversity conservation Halting the loss of biodiversity in a variety of soil conditions that support strategically through more the UK is a huge challenge but rare plants, such as the Deptford pink Network Rail is fully committed Dianthus armeria (Figure 2). The railway effective data management, therefore plays an important role in helping working closely with external to supporting this. the UK to achieve targets for biodiversity partners and using the eyes, at a landscape scale (Lawton et al. 2012). Introduction The connectivity of the linear habitats ears and enthusiasm that The habitat alongside railways is important provided by the railway will help to give Network Rail has on the ground for wildlife within the modern landscape the coherence and resilience that Britain’s in their own staff. Network Rail and offers a corridor for wildlife movement ecological network needs in the face of across Britain at local and much bigger challenges such as climate change. is committed to contributing scales. The railway soft estate offers a Network Rail is divided up geographically towards UK targets for relatively undisturbed 20,000 mile (>32,000 into Routes, within which there is a biodiversity but needs to do so km) length of habitat that provides many Route Business managing the day-to-day wildlife resources such as space, food, operation of the railway to enable train in a way that still demonstrates hibernacular and refuges for a wide range companies to run trains safely. In addition, value for money for the of species. This includes but is not limited to Infrastructure Projects operates nationally customer. Balancing these two cable troughs and log piles for amphibians and delivers major programmes such as and reptiles; roosts in bridges for bats; Crossrail and Thameslink, as well as a wide targets means Network Rail woodland habitat for dormice Muscardinus range of enhancements and renewals, has had to become smarter avellanarius; open grassland habitats and such as bridge replacements, embankment 16 Issue 98 | December 2017 EcoReporter app The award-winning EcoReporter app (Figure 3a, 3b) provides the first layer of information for this internal database. The app engages the entire workforce in a citizen science programme of ecological reporting. Anyone within Network Rail who has the app downloaded onto their mobile device can submit records of what they see when they are out on the railway. Figure 4a illustrates the range of people using the app across the country. When downloading the app the user must first fill in some registration information, which includes what part of the business they work for. To date, the greatest number of submissions come from Route Businesses, whose personnel complete regular walkouts for asset assessments. This was one of the key target groups in the creation of the app so it is a huge success that this demographic is Figure 2. Network Rail Chief Executive O©cer, Mark Carne, with other volunteers carrying out contributing the most submissions. A large habitat management for the Deptford pink in Saltash. number of submissions also come from the Infrastructure Projects part of the business stabilisation, new stations, re-signalling and money for the customers. In order to make and the Safety, Technical and Engineering track renewals. All these projects ensure the most efficient use of public money (STE) group. In order to supplement these that the rail network is becoming better and to achieve maximum conservation records further on the database, a standard every day. Network Rail Infrastructure benefit through project delivery on the template submission form has been created Projects is committed to having a positive railway, it is vital that Network Rail has a to enable ecologists carrying out surveys contribution to biodiversity through the well-developed, internal data management on the network to submit records. (These delivery of projects, but also needs to system and excellent relationships with records have not been included in the ensure that every project delivers value for external conservation organisations. count in Figure 4a and Figure 4b).

Figure 3b. Record of a slow worm Anguis fragilis in Surrey, submitted through the app and demonstrating the app functionality to Figure 3a. Network Rail employee on site using the EcoReporter app. annotate photographs. Issue 98 | December 2017 17 Feature Article: Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Biodiversity and UK Conservation Benefi t (contd)

The records being generated by the app are broad, as shown in Figure 4b. The greatest number of records submitted are in relation to invasive plants (mainly Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica and Himalayan balsam Impatiens glandulifera). Other common records include badger Meles meles setts and signs; reptiles and amphibians, including reptiles seen basking on logs and cable troughs during routine walkouts; and bats, which are mainly roost sightings during bridge inspections. With many of the records, the use of the guide function on the app has been invaluable in helping workers to identify what they have seen themselves. The guide contains key invasive species and protected species likely to be encountered on the railway. It does not include invertebrate species and, interestingly, the high number of invertebrate records mostly concern identifi cation queries by interested recorders. All records submitted through the app go into a verifi cation portal where suitably qualifi ed ecologists at Network Rail check photographs and descriptions submitted and ensure every record in our Figure 4a. The number of records submitted through the EcoReporter app to date database is correct. They can also give (at October 2017) by business function. feedback to recorders where requested. The output and real power of the database generated by the app is that Network Rail has been able to develop an interactive Geographical Information System (GIS) map based on the data, to which new records can be added (Figure 5). Network Rail has recently expanded this to include records from ecology surveys, development licence information, Japanese knotweed treatment schedules and site management statements for Sites of Special Scientifi c Interest (SSSIs). This transformation in data management is helping us to better understand what Network Rail has and where, which leads to greater ability to infl uence projects earlier in design. Both the early identifi cation of protected species and more strategic planning of mitigation are leading to huge cost savings for Network Rail. Building partnerships As part of the Cornwall re-signalling project, Network Rail sought to work closely with Cornwall Wildlife Trust. Cornwall is one of the most well-recorded Figure 4b. The type of records submitted through the EcoReporter app to date (at October 2017). counties for biodiversity in Britain, with signifi cant coverage of survey data 18 Issue 98 | December 2017 Figure 5. Example output from the EcoReporter map. information, and Network Rail was later stages of design for a re-signalling by modifying habitat management on the advised that the volume of data for the project, where specific locations for asset railway in key areas and by focusing effort entire length of the railway in this county installation are identified as within the in different places. would be overwhelming. By working known range of a particular species, then Initially, Network Rail is seeking to work pragmatically with the Wildlife Trust, more detailed records can be requested with Butterfly Conservation to develop areas known to support dormice and from Cornwall record centre (part of hot spotting maps for the Western Route bats, for example, can be highlighted Cornwall Wildlife Trust) for that specific (London Paddington to Penzance). This on a map, rather than obtaining all the area, to understand the more localised mapping exercise will highlight areas of individual records. In addition to being distribution. Network Rail is building on the railway which are within or adjacent cost-effective, this meant that there was this relationship by providing Cornwall to priority butterfly habitat and where a more strategic overview of the ecology Wildlife Trust with ecological data from there is potential to develop connecting of that county at an early stage, giving the railway, which in terms of records habitat. This will make discrete populations Network Rail a better idea of the design has been a blackspot in the county due of butterfly species more robust to the risks, in relation to ecology, across the to access restrictions for safety reasons. challenges of habitat fragmentation and whole project. Typically for a re-signalling Both partners therefore benefit and cost climate change. A good example would project there is cabling for the length of savings are made in data acquisition and be where Network Rail has projects such the scheme, there is new installation of by focusing conservation effort where it is as embankment stabilisation, with a signals and electrical equipment cases, most beneficial. requirement for re-planting following and there can be the removal of signal Similar strategic conversations are also work. In such cases, Network Rail can boxes. An example of the advantages of taking place with organisations such as work with Butterfly Conservation to ensure this overview approach would be where Butterfly Conservation and the Amphibian that the planted species mix provides a section of the railway passes through and Reptile Conservation Trust. In the maximum conservation benefit for the a known dormouse area, the risks of same way that Network Rail can use its priority species. activities such as vegetation clearance mapping records to understand its role in Partnering with conservation would be known in advance and could habitat connectivity, these organisations organisations also means that Network be better prepared, timed and costed are mapping their species-specific records Rail staff can use their allocated volunteer for. Similarly, where a valley is known to understand distributions at a landscape days each year to deliver important for particular bat species, Network Rail scale. By sharing our data, we can better habitat management for priority species. can identify opportunities to enhance understand where the railway is providing This is well illustrated along a section of the railway for the target species such as important connectivity functions for railway which has an important through retention of building assets for specific species groups in the wider population of large blue butterflies. This bat houses (i.e. small railway buildings landscape. Equally, and importantly, these species has very specific habitat such as relay rooms or signal boxes that partnerships help to identify where the requirements, which has led to previous are converted into bat roosts). At the railway could be improving connectivity extinction in 1979 when its habitat was Issue 98 | December 2017 19 Feature Article: Network Rail’s Strategic Approach to Net Positive Biodiversity and UK Conservation Benefit (contd)

Figure 6. Volunteer team at the large blue butterfly site supported by Butterfly Conservation, Habitat Designs Ltd. and Somerset Wildlife Trust. degraded (see Butterfly-Conservation.org). Network Rail staff are using their volunteer leave to clear back scrub and maintain the open grassland habitat with wild thyme Thymus polytrichus and marjoram Origanum vulgare. Due to access difficulties and the large number of high priority sites that Network Rail needs to manage for safety critical reasons, there is a risk that a site like this would be neglected. By using staff volunteer days, not only do Network Rail ensure the work to conserve this important species gets done but it also gives staff, including those that are office-based, the opportunity to learn about biodiversity on the railway and to support the local environment (Figure 6) in a cost-effective manner. Licencing A further benefit of better data management and strategic approaches to ecology is that Network Rail has become more aligned with the statutory nature conservation organisations. Natural England released their new policies for European Protected Species Licencing in January 2017. Oakley et al. (2017) provide case studies of how Network Rail has used Figure 7. Japanese knotweed on the railway. 20 Issue 98 | December 2017 strategic mapping to apply for a licence would mean the project would fund the under these policies, demonstrating how clearance of areas of Japanese knotweed Acknowledgements costs per project can be reduced while on the railway network and then plant the As the article demonstrates, tackling biodiversity increasing the benefit to the conservation cleared and treated land with species of targets cannot be done in isolation. I would like of protected species – swapping miles of high biodiversity benefit to that area. This to acknowledge contributions from colleagues at Network Rail and the fantastic collaborative work fencing for more meaningful mitigation. initiative will help our projects to achieve ethic of organisations such as Somerset Wildlife Network Rail is also currently working with biodiversity targets and contribute to the Trust, Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Habitat Designs management of Japanese knotweed on Ltd, Butterfly Conservation and the Amphibian Natural Resources Wales on organisational and Reptile Conservation Trust, along with the Network Rail land, whilst also maximising licences. Having a map showing where large number of other organisations with the organisational licence is being used the return from conservation budgets. The which Network Rail works closely. across Wales provides the visibility required treatment plan, replanting and monitoring to manage the licence and also provides of the area will be handed over to Route Businesses from Infrastructure Projects, a helpful tool for assurance of the along with the required funding. All sites organisational licence use. References used for biodiversity offsetting on the rail network will be added to the GIS map to Butterfly Conservation (2017). Invasive species management See Butterfly-Conservation.org. Finally, as well as being an excellent help ensure longevity of the offset. Accessed 20 October 2017. conduit for protected species, the railway Conclusion Lawton, J.H., Brotherton, P.N.M., Brown, V.K., can also provide connectivity for the Elphick, C., Fitter, A.H., Forshaw, J., Haddow, Property and asset owners such as spread of non-native invasive species. One R.W., Hilborne, S., Leafe, R.N., Mace, G.M., Network Rail need to better understand Southgate, M.P., Sutherland, W.J., Tew, T.E., notorious species found on the railway is the environment within which they are Varley, J. and Wynne, G.R. (2010). Making Japanese knotweed (Figure 7) and it is a Space for Nature: a review of England’s operating. Better understanding of species common record submission through the wildlife sites and ecological network. Report distributions enables us to maximise to Defra. Available at http://webarchive. EcoReporter app (Figure 4b). Every Route opportunities to improve connectivity of nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130402151656/http:/ within Network Rail has a maintenance archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/ habitats and increase wildlife populations plan for the treatment of Japanese documents/201009space-for-nature.pdf. across Britain. Only by operating through knotweed, but the scale of the problem is partnerships, will Network Rail be able Oakley, M., Gorman, L., Neeves, O. and large and expensive. Wansbury, C. (2017). Accepting Little Losses to fulfil the conservation objectives of to Allow Genuine Gains – A New Approach to In order to help manage the cost of conservation partners as well as Network Great Crested Newt Mitigation Licensing. In treating Japanese knotweed, Network Rail’s own project requirements. Network Practice – Bulletin of the Chartered Institute Rail is looking at a range of options of Ecology and Environmental Rail seeks to work with other organisations Management, 97: 35-39. including combining the targets for net to bring data together in order to better positive biodiversity with the targets for identify mitigation opportunities of genuine Japanese knotweed treatment. To achieve conservation benefit. As pressure on net positive biodiversity gain on projects, land in Britain continues to increase, the it is common for Network Rail to carry safeguarding of natural assets such as those out biodiversity offsetting, particularly found along the railway, through protection where installation of a new asset may and enhancement, has to be a priority. mean the permanent loss of an area of Understanding where actions will have the habitat. Network Rail Infrastructure Projects greatest benefit is a key consideration for and our Route Businesses colleagues the sustainable management of the railway are looking for opportunities to use now and into the future, especially where areas blighted by Japanese knotweed the costs of delivering value to customers About the Author to complete biodiversity offsetting. This need to be considered. Octavia Neeves is an environment manager at Network Rail. Her role covers the Infrastructure Project Region of Western, Wales and Crossrail. Octavia has over seven years’ ecological and environmental experience with the last four and a half years specialising in rail infrastructure projects. Contact Octavia at: [email protected]

Issue 98 | December 2017 21 Feature Article: Saving the Small Things that Run the Planet – Conservation on a Shoestring

Saving the Small Things that Run the Planet – Conservation on a Shoestring

Paul Hetherington Keywords: budget priorities, citizen science, Buglife collaboration, invertebrates, volunteers

It is estimated that there are in the region of 40,000 terrestrial invertebrate species in the UK alone – before we even consider those in the marine environment surrounding our islands – and two thirds of them are known to be in decline. Looking after all these species is a massive job and something that could soak up an incredible amount of resource. Unfortunately, lacking Figure 1. Mediterranean oil beetle Meloe mediterraneus. © John Walters. the ‘cute and furry’ appeal of some other species, budgetary apart from butterflies. The new charity active overseas, with a seat on the European resources are limited. Working was supported and welcomed by all the Habitats Forum. Buglife raises funds on a shoestring, Buglife – the leading UK conservation organisations from a variety of sources, predominantly and it is governed by a board of trustees grant funding for projects topped up by Invertebrate Conservation Trust is elected by 30 conservation-based membership subscriptions, public donations the only organisation in Europe member organisations. From these small and some corporate giving. devoted to the conservation beginnings, with just one staff member in 2002, Buglife has grown steadily Budgets, priorities and strategies of all invertebrates. Buglife’s to the point where today there are 30 In terms of species, it is informative to see aim is to stop the extinction full-time equivalent employees and over how the conservation grant funding breaks of invertebrate species and to 4,000 volunteers (2016 figures). It is this down across the UK for global species work. volunteer power that helps delivery of Based on figures taken from a report by the achieve sustainable populations. invertebrate conservation on a shoestring. Environmental Funders Network (Murray Ultimately, all ecology Although still a young organisation, Buglife et al. 2014), if you divide the amount of and environmental management has gone from strength to strength in the money coming into the sector by the total global species in various taxa it presents is underpinned by what happens years since its formation. It has gathered much-needed support for invertebrate a telling story: mammals receive £578.50 at the invertebrate level. conservation across the UK and has drawn per species, birds £55.07, amphibians and attention to the importance, beauty and reptiles a combined £28.08, fish £7.59, Introduction fascination of all forms of bug life. Buglife butterflies and moths a combined £5.98 Buglife was founded in 2000 as the opened a Scottish Office in Stirling in and all other invertebrates a paltry £0.04 per Invertebrate Conservation Trust after work February 2007, in partnership with the species. Why are invertebrates so overlooked to produce the UK Biodiversity Action Plan Initiative for Scottish Invertebrates, and for funding when every ecosystem world- in 1994 had highlighted the absence of currently has further offices in Wales, wide depends on their survival? Clearly it an advocate for invertebrate conservation, Northern Ireland and England, and is also pays to be cute and cuddly but how can you 22 Issue 98 | December 2017 spin out a shoestring budget of just 4p per invertebrate species? Four pence per species barely covers the time cost of typing out its scientific name. First and foremost, there is a need to prioritise; it is simply not possible to do all things for all species simultaneously but how can such discrimination between species be determined? Having learnt lessons from early attempts at all-encompassing strategies, Buglife prioritised species and invertebrate groups through a broad consultation process involving staff, trustees and member organisations. Those species in greatest need were identified and an assessment was made of potential impact for a given level of funding. The prioritisation is set out in a ten-year strategy, Bugs United, Figure 2. Citizen science plant hunt in Scotland. © Craig Macadam. running until 2020. This overarching strategy Natural England, Plantlife and the RSPB) across the south west and also peat bog is underpinned by a series of three- to four- to the Heritage Lottery Fund called Back restoration across the Scottish lowlands. year business plans that set out transitional from the Brink. Awarded £4.6 million from goals and milestones on the way to HLF in March 2017, Back from the Brink Conservation delivery delivering on the main strategy. is all about conservation organisations Practical invertebrate conservation on a Buglife’s objectives are prioritised in the working together to take 20 of the most shoestring depends on public engagement strategy by focusing on those species at vulnerable species off the at-risk register to harness the power of volunteers. This risk of extinction, and important or rare and to improve the lot of over 100 other can be achieved in several ways including: habitats at risk of being lost. Much of this species. The project will address the needs i) citizen science, ii) activity in their own work tends to centre on fighting planning of threatened species in 150 key habitats space and iii) working on conservation applications and planned development that and landscapes across England and will sites. Working in partnership with other threatens endangered species, such as the focus on saving some very rare and elusive organisations is also important. recent successful blocking of construction species from extinction. i) Citizen Science is a great way to engage work at Radford Quarry in Plymouth, one These same priorities also underpinned a the public in conservation activities although of only three known sites for the endemic large, funded project to map Important it is important to design initiatives carefully horrid ground-weaver spider Nothophantes Invertebrate Areas across the UK based on so that they produce useful and potentially horridus. In this case, over £10,000 was historic data and local-level consultation. verifiable data. This moves the work from raised by a successful Crowdfunder appeal This mapping work, now completed, will being purely an engagement tool to to support surveys for this elusive species support future interventions by Buglife fulfilling a practical conservation role. An across Plymouth and South Devon. and will help to influence planners excellent example of worthwhile citizen Buglife works with policy makers to when making decisions. Building on science is Buglife’s oil beetle Meloe spp. protect species and habitats not only from this information, Buglife has produced a hunt. This survey has been running for over being destroyed by development but also downloadable advice sheet providing Good five years and has led to the rediscovery of from the ever-increasing array of invasive Planning Practice for Invertebrates: Survey. the believed-extinct Mediterranean oil beetle non-native invertebrate species that come Other priorities identified in the 10-year Meloe mediterraneus (Figure 1). Because into the UK (e.g. in soil as part of the strategy are pollinators and freshwater, there are only five species of oil beetle in the horticulture trade in potted plants), and selected because of the urgent need for UK, each relatively distinctive, by providing threaten the survival of our native species. action and the dearth of others acting in identification guides it is possible for the Working to prevent invertebrate extinctions these areas. The National Pollinator Strategy public to find and identify them. The survey also involves timely interventions or the has focused on influencing policy makers also allows for uploading photographs to establishment of new colonies, as with the and is complimented by practical on-the- the survey website, which trained volunteers ladybird spider Eresus sandaliatus on the ground work to create flower-rich habitat then verify and provide important feedback Dorset heaths. This can mean ambitious for pollinators (Urban Buzz) and recreating to the citizen scientist. Once areas of funding initiatives such as the recent, the connectivity they need to move around high concentration or rarity have been successful eight-agency bid (Buglife, the UK (B-Lines). Freshwater invertebrate identified, the way is open for dialogue with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation conservation to date has involved extensive land owners to ensure sympathetic land Trust, Bat Conservation Trust, Bumblebee work to create ark sites for native white- management to support these charismatic Conservation Trust, Butterfly Conservation, clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes beetles and their host solitary bees. Issue 98 | December 2017 23 Feature Article: Saving the Small Things that Run the Planet – Conservation on a Shoestring (contd)

approach can open access to different sources of funding, enabling far more to be achieved than with limited internal resources. Demonstrating the effectiveness of partnerships at a practical level, Buglife has restored or created 250 ha of wildflower habitat through B-Lines whilst partner organisations have delivered a further 200 ha, effectively doubling the output. By utilising a variety of different approaches, Buglife is able to deliver far more conservation action than the four pence per species would imply. Engaging with people and partner organisations in innovative ways and using the power of the internet has allowed Buglife to make great strides for invertebrate conservation Figure 3. Volunteers engaged in Urban Buzz planting in Birmingham. © Nick Packham. on a shoestring budget.

Citizen science has also been used at a are too small to fully support even a broader level to report on pollinator species hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus, they References and information and numbers along stretches of newly can provide permanent dwellings for Murray, P., Cracknell, J., Godwin, H. and enhanced or created meadows. This wide- innumerable invertebrates. Collaboration Scholfield, K. (2014). Where the Green Grants scale monitoring allows Buglife to verify with neighbours can create sizeable Went 6: Patterns of UK Funding for Environmental whether work undertaken has indeed areas that are rich in wildflowers or other and Conservation Work. Environmental Funders Network. Available at www.greenfunders.org. led to a positive benefit for target species plants. The webpages encouraging and Accessed 23 October 2017. groups and is a good example of how this informing people on how they can attract Good Planning Practice for Invertebrates: Survey. kind of citizen science can help to record invertebrates and what habitat they can Available at https://www.buglife.org.uk/sites/ the effect of positive interventions at low create in their own space are the most default/files/Good%20practice%20planning%20 cost. For example, the SNH-funded John visited areas of the Buglife website. This -%20surveys.pdf. Accessed on 23 October 2017. Muir Pollinator Way survey encourages theme is also the main emphasis on stands Brownfield Hub. Available at https:// people of all ages to look for pollinating www.buglife.org.uk/brownfield-hub. at public events or exhibitions attended by Accessed on 23 October 2017. insects and the flowers they are foraging Buglife. This is a great, cost-effective way Bugs United. Available at https://www.buglife. from. By providing a pollinator spotting to create small-scale conservation gains org.uk/sites/default/files/Bugs%20United%20 sheet and recording form, Buglife is able even if it may just be the equivalent of a Strategy%20Summary.pdf to improve the recording of species and motorway service station for pollinators Important Invertebrate Areas. Available at https://www.buglife.org.uk/important- ultimately to monitor the long-term trend passing between sustainable habitats. of populations of several invertebrate invertebrate-areas-map iii) Working on conservation sites. species at a fraction of the cost of Back from the Brink. Available at http:// Creating new meadow habitats, restoring www.naturebackfromthebrink.org/ professional survey (Figure 2). damaged and fragmented habitats, and Most citizen science activities can easily scrub clearance are all large-scale, practical be supported by developing and sharing activities of importance for invertebrate on-line materials. The Buglife website was conservation. This work requires hiring About the Author specifically designed to support such survey contractors or using people power. On a Paul Hetherington activity including an ability to automatically shoestring budget, mobilising volunteers is is the Director of transfer relevant data into the NBN the best approach. In the first 18 months Fundraising and Gateway. Once a survey has been initiated, Communications of the Urban Buzz project, 5,700 people social media channels and targeted press at Buglife and volunteered to assist meadow creation Managing Director releases are used to promote participation. by sowing seeds or planting plug plants of their trading arm Other, more basic citizen science activity creating 138 hectares of flower-rich habitat Buglife Services. may have little conservation value per se (Figure 3). This demonstrates the power of Paul has worked in but can act as a conduit for the deeper the nature conservation sector for the engaging with and supporting volunteers. past ten years and is a regular media engagement of some participants who may interviewee and public speaker on the go on to become species recorders. Working in partnership work to save invertebrates. ii) Activity in your own space is one area Buglife works in partnership to deliver its Contact Paul at: where invertebrates have an advantage objectives wherever possible. As shown [email protected] over other animals: whilst most gardens by the Back from the Brink project, this 24 Issue 98 | December 2017 Feature Article: Pantheon: A New Resource for Invertebrate Survey Standards and Analysis

Pantheon: A New Resource for Invertebrate Survey Standards

Keywords: analysis, database, and Analysis invertebrates, standards, survey David Heaver Natural England

Jon Webb Natural England

David Roy Biological Records Centre

Hannah Dean Centre for Ecology & Hydrology

Martin Harvey Biological Records Centre

Craig Macadam Buglife Jon Curson CEcol MCIEEM Natural England

The Pantheon database seeks to set a new standard in the analysis and reporting of invertebrates to achieve an approach comparable to that in use for other elements of Caucasian green leafhopper Cicadella viridis biodiversity. This will facilitate simple analyses of invertebrate Introduction site survey data thereby helping For decades, the analyses of the results survey reports have had an uphill struggle. ecology practitioners to produce of invertebrate survey have been variable. Some biological recording databases allow site reports more quickly, with Site survey reports, commissioned for a interrogation of the data held within them, greater ecological breadth and whole range of purposes, typically feature allowing users to process their records and long lists of species with an ordering sort and select by various criteria. Some deeper insight. The database is and highlighting by national rarity, and a allow advanced mapping and interrogation a free resource, which readers few pen pictures of the rarer taxa. More of records and record sets, with some are invited to explore and use. extensive reports include further context to conservation status output. But any attempt the list of species, providing interpretation to pull together contextual and ecological Observations on functionality of site quality and options for mitigation. data on the invertebrate species in a sample and design are welcome with a This is a long way behind the botanists, can involve long and laborious searches view to improving the first full who can produce plant community through dispersed information sources. assessments and community context maps. The Pantheon database, a joint venture version, scheduled for release in Ecologists and others wishing to compile between Natural England and the Biological Spring 2018. more useful and insightful invertebrate Records Centre (within the Centre for Issue 98 | December 2017 25 Feature Article: Pantheon: A New Resource for Invertebrate Survey Standards and Analysis (contd)

Ecology and Hydrology), addresses this gap. At its core, it is a set of database tables relating invertebrate species to ecological traits, assemblages and taxon associations, with in-built metrics to reflect the quality of the sample analysed. It has the potential to connect to other datasets online, as well as allowing system updates to be delivered to all users at once. The database currently holds 11,771 species, covering key invertebrate families that are both widely sampled in site surveys and for which enough meaningful and easily accessible information exists to allow Figure 1. The Pantheon Overview screen. reporting back. The information used to assign species Using Pantheon to habitats and resources was gathered Pantheon can perform simple analyses options are provided for data input (e.g. from an extensive range of sources (the of invertebrate site survey data replacing paste species lists, import CSV file, or enter principal of which are listed in Pantheon time-consuming manual assessment or the records). With a CSV file upload the non- under About/Bibliography). These ranged use of non-specific software. Analyses in matched species are placed in an output from field keys, family monographs, Pantheon have greater scope, enabling site file; the paste species lists method matches taxonomic databases and the scientific reports to be produced quickly, with wider the species in your list with those in the literature. This information was initially ecological breadth and deeper insight. taxon dictionary, highlighting uncertainties compiled within spreadsheets on a broad Beyond this, Pantheon can work on with species name options for you to select habitat basis (e.g. wetland), populated by other data such as an abstract list (potentially requiring assistance from an the pre-existing invertebrate assemblage (insects from ash trees, for example), or a invertebrate specialist). Once a sample species lists, and then filled in species by taxonomically-focused list (such as a data has been input into the system, a basic species against traits and resources as they from a moth trap). summary report provides a taxonomic order were encountered. Field layer species, Pantheon requires a species list from your breakdown. An example from Wicken for example, were checked against the site assessment or data review. A range of Fen is shown in Figure 1. This taxonomic substrate type they are typically found on, with entries against sand or chalk being the most commonly entered. These main spreadsheets were then subjected to rationalisation and compression to arrive at resource lists that are both useful and retain appropriate levels of detail, but do not succumb to information overload. The database’s focus is primarily England but only insofar as it does not yet include the few taxa only found in the other UK countries, and will poorly represent some assemblage types in Scotland. Outside of the UK it should be useful in Eire but will not be able to handle a significant fraction of species found in, for example, the western parts of Holland and Belgium. Currently, the database is in a beta build phase to incorporate user testing, error correction and development. It has a simple user registration requirement and account management system and is free to use. Figure 2. Hierarchy view of the habitats and resources of the Wicken Fen sample. 26 Issue 98 | December 2017 overview is useful when considering how robust a sample might be as a reflection of the sample site’s invertebrate fauna, e.g. to highlight any taxonomic skew, such as a species list with much more moth data than from other groups. At the bottom of the Overview screen are further options, e.g. Feeding guilds for adults and larvae; Associations with other species such as prey or host plant; or Habitat scores, which holds not only the rarity and threat status of the species, but also their habitat fidelity scores. This allows you to see, for example, which tree species on a site is associated with the most invertebrates in your sample, but also which is of the greatest conservation value for invertebrates. Deeper insight is provided under the Wicken Fen wetland Habitats & resources button. This gives two principal viewing options, an unfolding interest. The conservation status values robustness of the system can be tested by hierarchy or a tabular listing. Both display given are derived from the list currently ‘reconstructing’ site habitat descriptions your sample species list in terms of the maintained by Natural England, and utilise based just on these output resource lists. habitats and resources used by those the new Species Status project volumes The results have been quite accurate, which invertebrates. Some of these categories for both IUCN and Great Britain Rarity is encouraging, though this sometimes will be quite familiar to ecologists (e.g. Score (http://publications.naturalengland. results in habitats outside of the survey site ‘marshland’) whilst others may be less org.uk/category/4707656804597760), as being ‘pulled into’ the site descriptions. so (e.g. ‘riparian sand’). The accuracy of well as the older published statuses for Importantly, Pantheon allows us to move habitat and resource associations is likely to those families that have not yet had status away from uninformative and often- improve and achieve tighter resolution with review updates. encountered statements such as ‘good for more field research and autecological study. The database can be interrogated further insects’ or ‘has a deadwood fauna’ to a Figure 2 shows a hierarchical expansion on ‘habitat hierarchy’. This is a nested quantified understanding of the habitats of part of the wetland fauna from the reflection of the habitat from which the and resources used by the species found at Wicken Fen sample shown in Figure 1. species were collected as revealed by the a site. However, it is important to pay close The number of species matched to each animals themselves, although it is not attention to the definitions used (found habitat and utilising particular resources necessarily framed in terms familiar to under Help/Glossary), as many of the terms is shown, and gives an indication of the non-invertebrate specialists. The hierarchy have different usage elsewhere. resources used. One species can, of course, starts at the Broad biotope level (e.g. utilise a number of resources. At Wicken wetland), then Habitat (e.g. peatland, or Pantheon also provides information on the Fen, the report indicates that the shallow shaded woodland floor), and then as some invertebrate Specific Assemblage Types freshwater pond resource is used by the of 168 utilised Resources (e.g. variable (SATs). These Invertebrate Species-habitat highest number of species, with wetland humidity, exposed sand, or dung). The Information System (ISIS) invertebrate vegetation, litter and peat resources also being used. The percentage representation (% rep) shows the percentage of the, say, shallow freshwater pond resource species group that is discovered in the sample under analysis. Figure 3 shows part of the same sample but in tabular view. This view shows the Conservation status against the habitats and resources as well as Species Quality Index (SQI) for that element of the sample. We can now start to see Figure 3. Tabular view of part of the habitat analysis of the Wicken Fen sample. the conservation value in the sample, Conservation Status Key: NT = Near Threatened, NR = Nationally Rare, NS = Nationally Scarce, and where and what supports the main Nb = Notable b, Na = Notable a. Issue 98 | December 2017 27 Feature Article: Pantheon: A New Resource for Invertebrate Survey Standards and Analysis (contd)

database. These associated species may be prey items, food plants, or parasite hosts. Their presence on a site is thus suggested rather than confirmed by the species in the sample. Sometimes use of more generic association categories from the literature are used to code species to ‘trees’ or ‘grasses’, these being reported as Fagales or as Poaceae. In addition, there is a basic plant architecture module showing which parts of food plants are used by the species in the sample, i.e. leaves, stems or seeds. Extra quality measures are being added, derived from some well-known and Figure 4. Tabular view of the invertebrate assemblages present in the Wicken Fen sample. widely used measures (such as the Note. In the SQI (Species Quality Index) column, warning triangles are displayed when the Index calculation of the Revised Index of has been calculated from 15 species or fewer, and is therefore unlikely to be a robust measure. Ecological Continuity, Alexander 2004) to habitat fidelity indices such as that for calcareous grassland (Alexander 2003). assemblages (Webb and Lott 2006) Online troubleshooting and These are useful qualifiers in reports, are defined entities analogous to the additional information since the notion of fidelity to site is an National Vegetation Classification of plant A Help function, in the form of an A-Z important one, and can act alongside communities, and represent ecological Glossary, explains the terms used in the the more traditional Great Britain groupings derived from statistical system, with the ‘i’ icons at the end of many conservation rarity score. ordinations from large, standard-effort displayed entries giving shortened ‘mouse- In summary, for any sample Pantheon survey datasets. They were developed over’ informatives. The Species Assemblage can show: to establish site condition across the Type (SAT) tags on the assemblage entries • The invertebrate ISIS assemblages present SSSI series and are the core of Common in the A-Z take the user to illustrated Standards Monitoring within Natural descriptions of those assemblages, with • The habitats utilised by the species in England, but have wider currency and have the generic default scores, and some the sample been adopted by a number of other users. information about their species composition. • The resources upon which those Their power is to move discussion from The Help tab also includes User Guides, species rely individual species to a community level. though this is sparsely populated at • Which other species there is a Samples can be analysed against their present. The About tab holds the dependency on (essentially seeing other assemblage representation (Figure 4). In project detail on Pantheon, a disclaimer, species as a resource) addition to the Specific Assemblage Types acknowledgements, bibliography and • The taxonomic breadth of the sample (SATs) present, Pantheon also calculates contact address. The Species Index is the • The conservation status of the species in the Species Quality Index (SQI) and the portal to the underlying data and is found the sample, by resource and habitat assemblage Code. For example, the W314 under the Data menu. It shares this space • The Species Quality Index assessment by reed-fen & pools assemblage is strong with a Traits menu listing the traits and resource and habitat. in the Wicken Fen sample (12 species the number of species matched to them, from the assemblage are present), with and Taxon groups, which give detail of the Future aspirations database’s taxonomic breakdown. representation from both W211 open Whilst still in a testing stage en route to a water on disturbed mineral sediments and Many of the key outputs within the Version 1 release, there are a number of W313 moss & tussock fen assemblages database can be quickly accessed future aspirations to improve the database (each with 7 species present respectively). through the Combined Summary option function. Feedback from a workshop of Whether it is really in Favourable condition list which allows users to select outputs ecological consultancies, Environment critically hangs on whether the sampling in combination for a faster and more Agency, Natural England and other Agency protocols were followed correctly (the bespoke workflow. staff, entomologists and field ecologists notion of ‘ISIS-compliance’), something Pantheon is currently able to delve into held in December 2016 raised many we hope to emphasise and highlight. invertebrate samples and retrieve other development issues and goals, the principal The site report has now moved from an sorts of information. The Associated Species ones of which were: unstructured long list of species to one of table lists those species with some direct • Addition of Regional Score thresholds to defined assemblages. linkage to the main invertebrates in the take into account faunal changes over

28 Issue 98 | December 2017 longitude and latitude, so that quality measures truly reflect regional variation About the Authors • More aquatic quality measures, to David Heaver has been Hannah Dean is a data bring analysis of ditch, stream and lake Senior Invertebrate management and samples more into the core of Pantheon. Specialist at Natural informatics specialist at England for 10 years, the Centre for Ecology Conclusion having worked with & Hydrology. For the species and surveys in last 9 years, she has Readers can find Pantheon at http:// the legacy bodies since been working with www.brc.ac.uk/pantheon/. We welcome 1986. He leads Common complex biodiversity comments on layout, coding accuracy, and Standards Monitoring for datasets to improve the invertebrates on SSSI in England, and has an accuracy and efficiency of data capture, clarity of terms and their use. We hope interest in assemblages and what you can do storage and accessibility. She also works that CIEEM members will use, advocate with assemblage data. He is also involved in within the Environmental Information Data and value Pantheon’s freely available Species Recovery projects, and worked on the Centre where she supports researchers in outputs, and that we can collectively drive ladybird and fen raft spider projects. making their datasets publicly discoverable improvement to the standards and analysis Contact David at: and accessible. of invertebrate surveys in the UK. [email protected] Contact Hannah at: Jon Webb has worked [email protected] in the field of ecology Martin Harvey is an since 1996, ranging entomologist and from botanical surveyor, biological recorder, working in a museum, as working part-time for the climate change specialist, Biological Records Centre and, for the most part, at CEH Wallingford. In as an entomologist for 2016 he coordinated Acknowledgements Natural England. Tasks a review of Pantheon included field work, training, protected for Natural England, The authors are especially grateful for the skill and dedication shown by John van Breda in sites casework, red listing and leading liaising with other entomologists to steer building the Pantheon database, and to CEH the Pantheon project. He is now Principal its development, and he is a member of for hosting it. Also to the many entomologists, Specialist – Resilient Landscape and Seas. Jon the Pantheon steering group. He also uses ecologists, consultants and Agency staff who studies beetles (Coleoptera) and has a special Pantheon for entomological survey analysis. provided the core data for the assemblages; fondness for rove beetles (the Staphylinidae), Contact Martin at: tested and commented on the Pantheon layout, parklands and rivers and has also undertaken [email protected] outputs and data tables; and who participated fieldwork abroad, in Slovenia, France, Craig Macadam is an in the workshops and other associated events. Romania, Latvia and Honduras. invertebrate ecologist The ongoing beta development phase relies Contact Jon at: with over 25 years’ heavily on such engagement and participation, [email protected] and the authors are most grateful for such experience of studying involvement from across a broad spectrum David Roy is an ecologist freshwater species of the environmental community. who specialises in and their habitats. As biodiversity monitoring Conservation Director through citizen science. with Buglife – The He leads UK programmes Invertebrate Conservation for monitoring butterflies Trust, he oversees the charity’s conservation References and plants, and has projects and policy work across the UK. worked within the Contact Craig at: Alexander, K.N.A. (2003). A review of the Biological Records [email protected] invertebrates associated with lowland calcareous Centre for over 20 years. His research has Jon Curson is an grassland. English Nature Research Report 512. spanned a number of high impact themes, ecologist, specialising Available at http://publications.naturalengland. including urban ecology, genetically-modified org.uk/publication/132019. in the study and crops, climate change, invasive species and Accessed 12 October 2017. conservation of insects. ecosystem services and he has authored over He currently works Alexander, K.N.A. (2004). Revision of the Index 135 scientific papers. for Natural England of Ecological Continuity as used for saproxylic Contact David at: as a Senior Specialist beetles. English Nature Research Report 574. [email protected] Available at http://publications.naturalengland. for Invertebrates and org.uk/publication/133006. leads several projects Accessed 12 October 2017. countrywide to conserve some of our rarest insects. Webb, J.R. and Lott, D.A. (2006). The Contact Jon at: Development of ISIS: a habitat-based invertebrate assemblage classification system for assessing [email protected] conservation interest in England. Journal of Insect Conservation, 10: 179-188.

Issue 98 | December 2017 29 Viewpoint: Bat Guano Fertiliser: A Novel Method of Encouraging Conservation of Tropical Bats on a Shoestring

Colonies of free-tailed bats often roost in homes in tropical countries. Bat Guano Fertiliser: A Novel Method of Encouraging Conservation of Tropical Bats on

Keywords: agriculture, bats, conservation, developing a Shoestring countries, human-wildlife conflict, public health Kathy Halsall GradCIEEM

Based on observations made during a period of work overseas for Introduction African Bat Conservation studying bat ecology and human-wildlife Wildlife in tropical countries is under conflict, this article discusses a novel means of reducing prejudice increasing pressure from human development. Mass deforestation and against bats in countries where they have no legal protection. loss of habitat threatens many species, Although huge bat roosts are common in many tropical countries, whilst people struggle to make a living. people in rural communities are often misinformed or frightened of Wildlife, including bats, are forced to seek new habitat and often can be them, resulting in the persecution and extermination of bats as ‘pests’. found living alongside humans in homes. If, instead, people were educated to understand the benefits that bats Whilst bat roosts in homes in the UK are bring and were encouraged to harvest bat guano and use it as a low- generally very small and usually not even detected, bat roosts in the tropics can cost fertiliser for their crops, perhaps the benefits would outweigh the number several hundred. In these cases, disadvantages and successful bat conservation could become a reality. bats create issues of noise, smell, disease, 30 Issue 98 | December 2017 and in very large roosts, a risk of ceiling fuscus can consume nearly 1.3 million a useful model. Guanomad is valued at collapse from the build-up of bat guano. insect pests each year (Whitaker 1995). It is $10 million and produces 11,000 tonnes Often the homeowners will have the bats possible that bats in developing countries of bat guano a year which it collects exterminated as they perceive them as pests could have a role in mosquito control, from bat caves around the country. The and are not aware of the benefits bats can and might even help to prevent disease company mines guano from caves in provide to humans. outbreaks at a local scale. Large bat roosts partnership with ancestral communities In order to be effective, conservation in in homes may offer some protection for whom some of these caves are sacred. these regions needs to incorporate the against the risk of contracting insect-borne Guanomad has sought to engage with needs of communities whilst keeping diseases by reducing insect populations. local communities to dispel the negative management interventions or conservation Many rural people rely on subsistence image of guano as being unsafe and methods straightforward and low cost. farming and cannot afford pesticides for causing disease by holding seminars and Bats provide important ecosystem services their crops, lowering their ability to produce workshops. The company also encourages including controlling populations of enough food in drought years. Encouraging local agricultural communities to use disease-carrying insects and agricultural conservation of bats and protecting bat guano on their crops. To ensure Guanomad pests. Guano produced by bats is an roosts could boost the numbers of bats benefits the communities from which bat effective agricultural fertiliser that could feeding on insect pests, thereby delivering guano is mined, an amount agreed with be used to boost crop yields in countries significant benefits to agriculture. Brazilian the local councils is given away for free to where food shortages are common. At free-tailed bats Tadarida brasiliensis in North local farmers for each kilo of mined guano. present, with the exception of large guano America are known to consume agricultural Other countries including Jamaica, Mexico mining companies such as Guanomad in pests including tobacco budworm Heliothis and Indonesia have also begun to promote Madagascar, small-scale harvesting of bat virescens and cotton bollworm Helicoverpa bat guano as a fertiliser and there are over guano has only been recorded as novel zea (Federico et al. 2008). Cash crops such 950 bat guano products available on the observations. There is therefore capacity as these are an important source of income international market. Bat guano contains for wildlife conservation and humanitarian for farmers in developing countries and higher nitrogen levels than other manures aid organisations to encourage people bats provide an invaluable and free service such as cow and sheep dung and as it is in rural communities with large roosts by reducing pest populations. It has been only required in small quantities, it is a very in their homes in regions such as Sub- estimated that in the United States the value cost effective means of crop fertilisation. Saharan Africa, Latin America and the of bats to the agricultural industry is around Presently, most bat guano comes from Caribbean, to harvest bat guano and use $22.9 billion per year (Boyles et al. 2011). large-scale operations mining guano it to fertilise their crops. Collection and Conservation of bats is therefore not only from caves. This can cause significant production ‘on a shoestring’ is possible, necessary to protect wildlife and ecosystems disturbance to roosting bats and be particularly if a means could be found to but also to protect people’s livelihoods and detrimental to conservation. The IUCN has provide the basic necessary equipment to control insect-borne disease. Educating issued guidelines on extraction methods of shovels, empty grain sacks, facemasks rural communities on the benefits of bats to minimise disturbance to bats but the and access to water, perhaps through aid to public health and agriculture could be guidance is not currently enforced (IUCN from charities or international development an important step in changing attitudes Species Survival Commission 2014). Small- projects. Using guano from bats would and reducing human-wildlife conflict. If scale production of bat guano from roosts assist in reducing human-wildlife conflict people are made aware of the wide range within rural communities could be of by changing attitudes as a result of people of services that bats provide, they may be receiving direct benefits to their health and more willing to tolerate bats in their homes livelihoods from having bats in their homes. and be encouraged to experiment with Bats, agriculture producing bat guano fertiliser. and public health Bat guano Bats consume around 25% of their body mass in insects each night on average In countries where many people struggle (Coutts et al. 1973). In many tropical to make ends meet, encouraging wildlife countries, insects such as mosquitoes carry conservation can be a very challenging task. deadly diseases including malaria. Insect- Conservation management must consider borne diseases are high risk in developing how both wildlife and humans can benefit countries where many people either cannot whilst keeping costs to a minimum. access or afford health care. In 2015 there Bat guano can be used as an agricultural were an estimated 212 million incidences fertiliser and is already a novel means of malaria worldwide with over 400,000 of fertilising crops around the world. A Large quantities of bat guano can build up deaths (World Health Organisation 2016). company called Guanomad in Madagascar from bats roosting in homes, harbouring Set against this, consider the report that has pioneered guano harvesting with the parasites and creating bad odours unless a colony of 150 big brown bats Eptesicus support of local communities and provides frequently removed. Issue 98 | December 2017 31 Viewpoint: Bat Guano Fertiliser: A Novel Method of ^ƉƌŝŶŐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞϮϬϭϴ Encouraging Conservation of Tropical Bats on a Shoestring (contd) dŚĞEĂƚƵƌĞŽĨƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ͗ ĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐĞīĞĐƟǀĞŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶ systems, as a result of malnutrition or HIV, it producing agricultural fertiliser. Encouraging could cause pneumonia. Anyone collecting rural agricultural communities in developing bat guano should wear a mask capable of countries to use bat guano as a fertiliser is ĂŶĚĞŶŚĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ filtering the fungal spores. Over time, the one possible and appropriate method of regular collection of guano would prevent conserving tropical bats on a shoestring. the build-up of fungal spores and would also remove suitable habitat in which parasites could spread, reducing the health risks. Acknowledgements ϮϬDĂƌĐŚϮϬϭϴ͕ŝƌŵŝŶŐŚĂŵ Bat guano fertiliser is very simple to The author would like to acknowledge the prepare. A gallon of water is added to each ongoing work of African Bat Conservation to cup of guano and soaked overnight to promote bat conservation in Malawi and would produce a ‘tea’ which can then be added like to thank the organisation for the :ŽŝŶƵƐĨŽƌƚŚŝƐŽŶĞͲĚĂLJĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ directly to the soil. Essentially, with just a opportunity to work with them and support their research in Africa. shovel, an empty grain sack, a face mask and access to water, a rural agricultural ĞdžƉůŽƌŝŶŐŝŶŶŽǀĂƟǀĞĂŶĚĞīĞĐƟǀĞ Use of bat guano on crops could bring great household could produce valuable fertiliser. benefits to farmers in developing countries This initiative would also challenge the References ƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐĨŽƌďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ and help to increase food security whilst common assumption that bats are pests helping to conserve local bat populations. Boyles, J.G., Cryan, P.M., McCracken G.F. and which infest the home and spread disease, Kunz, T.H. (2001). Economic Importance of Bats ŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶĂŶĚĞŶŚĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚŝŶ and would instead encourage homeowners in Agriculture. Science, 332(6025): 41-42. great benefit to agriculture in developing to value bats and help to protect them. Coutts, R.A., Fenton, M.B. and Glen, E. (1973). countries without the conservation Food intake by captive Myotis lucifugus and ĂŶĚŽŶďƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ͘ concerns around disturbance. Many homes Future Eptesicus fuscus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Journal of Mammalogy, 54: 985–990. in tropical countries contain bat roosts and There is capacity for humanitarian with basic, low-cost equipment, it would Federico, P., Hallam, T.G., McCracken, G.F., organisations working to improve agricultural Purucker, S.T., Grant, W.E., Correa-Sandoval, be possible to collect bat guano from practices and public health in developing A.N., Westbrook, J.K., Medellín, R.A., Cleveland, these roosts. Removing the guano would countries to raise awareness of bat guano C.J., Sansone, C.G., López, J.D., Betke, M., also resolve common conflicts with bats as an agricultural fertiliser. Charities such as Moreno-Valdez, A. and Kunz, T.H. (2008). Brazilian free-tailed bats as insect pest regulators by reducing unpleasant smells, the risk of Farm Africa (www.farmafrica.org) and One in transgenic and conventional cotton crops. structural damage and preventing build-up Acre Fund (www.oneacrefund.org) already Ecological Applications, 18: 826–837. /ŶĂĚĚŝƟŽŶƚŽƐŚŽǁĐĂƐŝŶŐŶŽǀĞů of parasites in the home. have links and projects in rural communities IUCN Species Survival Commission (2014). However, there are some health risks in developing African countries and are well Guidelines for Minimizing the Negative Impact placed to provide information and basic to Bats and Other Cave Organisms from Guano ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĞƐ͕ǁĞǁŝůůĂůƐŽĞdžƉůŽƌĞ associated with the collection of bat guano, Harvesting. Version 1.0. IUCN, Gland. equipment. Wildlife conservation charities which would need to be highlighted to Whitaker, J.O. (1995). Food of the big brown ensure that people didn’t suffer any illness and research organisations could greatly bat Eptesicus fuscus from maternity colonies in ƚŚĞƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉďĞƚǁĞĞŶƚŚĞ or injury. These include respiratory illnesses, benefit from educating people about bat Indiana and Illinois. American Midland Naturalist, 134: 60. rabies and parasites. guano in areas where human-wildlife conflict ĂƌĐŚŝƚĞĐƚĂŶĚƚŚĞĞĐŽůŽŐŝƐƚŝŶ is an issue and could find it to be a useful World Health Organisation (2016). Many people in rural areas in developing means of developing positive attitudes World Malaria Report. World Health countries do not have access to healthcare Organisation, Geneva. towards conservation. ŝŶĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƟŶŐďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ and are not aware that bats can carry With minimal capital investment, harvesting rabies. Bats infected with rabies are often bat guano could have a significant impact found on the floor of roosts and anyone ŝŶŐŽŽĚĚĞƐŝŐŶ͘ on rural communities by helping farmers to collecting guano by hand is at risk of being About the Author become more self-sufficient and increasing bitten by sick and injured bats. When their food security. Wildlife conservation Kathy is a Graduate encouraging people to collect bat guano Ecologist at Mott is often considered an unaffordable luxury it is important to make them aware of the MacDonald and a in developing countries where the needs Graduate member risk of contracting rabies and to ensure they of people living at subsistence levels are of CIEEM. She has ŽŽŬŝŶŐƐŶŽǁŽƉĞŶ cover their hands with gloves and wear considered greater than the needs of previously worked shoes to prevent bites breaking the skin. wildlife. Encouraging the use of bat guano overseas assisting the New Zealand Bats also carry the histoplasmosis fungus sŝƐŝƚ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬƐƉƌŝŶŐͲĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞͲϮϬϭϴ would be a novel means of helping both Department of which can cause respiratory illnesses in people and wildlife by encouraging a Conservation with a radio-tracking study humans when breathed in. The mycelia are positive perception of bats as a valuable of long tailed bats in Fiordland and in /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚŝŶƐƉŽŶƐŽƌŝŶŐŽƌĞdžŚŝďŝƟŶŐĂƚƚŚĞĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ͍ fertilised in bat guano and can reach high natural asset as opposed to persecuting Malawi with African Bat Conservation. concentrations inside roosts. Histoplasmosis them as pests. Managed appropriately, Contact Kathy at: ŽŶƚĂĐƚĞŵŵĂĚŽǁŶĞLJΛĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚĨŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͘ [email protected] is normally asymptomatic in humans but in conservation of bats could improve public people with low or compromised immune health and offer a low-cost means of 32 Issue 98 | December 2017 ^ƉƌŝŶŐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞϮϬϭϴ dŚĞEĂƚƵƌĞŽĨƵŝůĚŝŶŐƐ͗ ĞƐŝŐŶŝŶŐĞīĞĐƟǀĞŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚĞŶŚĂŶĐĞŵĞŶƚ

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Issue 98 | December 2017 33 Feature Article: Practicalities and Problem Solving: Orchid Translocation in Oxfordshire

Practicalities and Problem Solving: Orchid Translocation

Keywords: orchid, salvage, in Oxfordshire translocation, turf cutter Samantha Hursey GradCIEEM Katrena Stanhope CEnv MCIEEM

Habitat translocation can be used to retain biodiverse habitats that would otherwise be damaged or destroyed due to development and to incorporate these habitats into the design of a mitigation scheme. It can take a considerable number of years for newly created habitats to attain the same level of biodiversity as those habitats lost. Translocating ecologically rich features that would otherwise be lost is a practical way of retaining biodiversity. This article describes the translocation of orchid species within grassland habitat due to a road project in Oxfordshire. It highlights the need for pre-works investigations; an onsite presence and rapid decision making; the importance of good communication between the ecologist and the contractor; and the importance of problem solving to improve the likelihood of success.

The scheme The scheme involved road improvement works to the A34 near Chilton including the provision of new slip roads by Oxfordshire County Council. Both the on- and off-slip road were to be constructed through mesotrophic grassland which Figure 1. Mesotrophic grassland with orchid species in June 2014. 34 Issue 98 | December 2017 supports areas of orchid species: pyramidal (Rodwell 1992). This grassland type is The chosen receptor site is located orchids Anacamptis pyramidalis, bee generally unmanaged with poor species approximately 200 m from the furthest orchids Ophrys apifera, white helleborine diversity and is characteristic of neutral donor site, is approximately 2,000 m2 in Cephalanthera damasonium and broad- soils throughout lowland Britain (Figure 1). area and was selected to match the donor leaved helleborine Epipactis helleborine. Three areas were identified for salvage sites as much as possible in terms of soil White helleborine are a UK Biodiversity translocation based on the results of survey. pH, drainage, topsoil depth (0.3 m) and Action Plan species and have a restricted Donor site 1 was 80 m2 within mixed aspect. Although there was no borehole distribution across England (Preston plantation woodland on an embankment information within the receptor site (as et al. 2002). Broad-leaved helleborine which supported white helleborine and there was no engineering requirement for are uncommon though widespread broad-leaved helleborine and would be geotechnical information at this location), throughout England (Preston et al. 2002). destroyed during the re-grading of the there were borehole logs for locations Bee orchids and pyramidal orchids are embankment. Donor site 2 (160 m2) immediately adjacent to the receptor site common, being found throughout the and donor site 3 (1820 m2) were areas and it was assumed that the soil conditions UK but restricted by habitat type (Preston of grassland within adjacent fields that of the receptor site were similar to the et al. 2002). Both species are important would be lost due to the construction of donor sites. indicator species for lowland calcareous the slip roads. As the translocation was The receptor site was surveyed during grassland. Regardless of status, orchids scheduled for autumn 2014, when most of the botanical survey in June 2014 and are attractive and highly distinctive with the orchids would not be growing above supported mesotrophic grassland absent of eye-catching colours and shapes, often ground, the exact limits of the grassland orchid species. enjoyed by members of the public. to be translocated were marked out with Method for translocation – It was considered that there was no canes at the three donor sites. Maps were made of these areas with GPS references of practicalities and problem alternative to the works that would solving avoid the loss of orchids. Section 40 the edges of the donor sites. Atkins produced a translocation method of the Natural Environment and Rural Geotechnical ground investigations were statement on behalf of Oxfordshire Communities (NERC) Act 2006 sets out also carried out in June 2014 at the donor County Council for contractors who would the duty for public authorities to conserve site to inform the scheme engineering carry out the work. The key parts of the biodiversity in England. Therefore, in order design. The borehole logs from the methodology are discussed below together to conserve the grassland supporting ground investigations showed topsoil at a with the practicalities of implementing the the orchids, turves from approximately depth of 0.2 m consisting of sandy clays 2 methodology and solutions to challenges 2,000 m of grassland supporting orchids with some chalk and flint gravel within faced on site by the ecologist and was salvaged from the working area and subsoil and made ground. Soil readings of contractor during the translocation. translocated to a suitable receptor site pH 8.4 and 8.8 were recorded, indicating within the land-take of the scheme. alkaline conditions; some of the plant Timing species recorded are calcareous grassland The donor site The translocation was due to be indicator species such as the white undertaken in autumn 2014, prior to the A sizeable population of 50 spikes of helleborine and broad-leaved helleborine. winter period, when the soils should be broad-leaved helleborine were found The grassland identified during surveys warm and moist and new root growth of during the initial extended Phase 1 Habitat is characteristic of a range of soils. It is the grassland is possible before winter. Survey in late August 2013. A report possible that ground disturbance during provided from the local biodiversity records previous works to build the existing road Turves were removed from the donor sites centre from 1999 also highlighted the or through ploughing, had brought chalk and installed at the receptor site on the presence of pyramidal and bee orchids. gravels closer to the soil surface, locally same day with minimal time between Botanical surveys were carried out in influencing soil conditions and giving cutting and laying to reduce the risk of June 2014 during the optimal survey rise to patchy occurrences of calciphilous turves drying out or disintegrating. season to identify potential donor plant species. Due to unforeseen delays in the timing of sites for translocation. The survey area the translocation, works took place from late included two triangular unmanaged The receptor site November to mid-December 2014. Works fields adjacent to the scheme. All plant The receptor site needed to be close to the could not be delayed to the following spring species within each of the two fields donor sites to ensure similar soil conditions, due to start of construction dates. In early were recorded using the DAFOR scale minimise transportation of turves, and December, temperatures dropped to below (Hill et al. 2005). The floristic composition to be within land owned by Oxfordshire freezing during the translocation. To protect and structure of the donor sites most County Council to allow for future the remaining areas of grassland within resembled the mesotrophic grassland MG1 maintenance. The logistical requirements the donor sites to be translocated and the Arrhenatherum elatius community, Festuca for access of suitable plant and machinery turves that were already at the receptor site, rubra sub community (false oat grass required for the translocation also had to exposed edges were covered in hessian to community, red fescue sub community) be taken into consideration. prevent frost damage (Figure 2). Issue 98 | December 2017 35 Feature Article: Practicalities and Problem Solving: Orchid Translocation in Oxfordshire (contd)

Figure 2. Hessian used to protect exposed edges of turves at receptor site in November 2014. Figure 3. Addition of chalky subsoil to improve conditions for calcareous species at the receptor site in November 2014. (Top right) Figure 4. Modified method, placing turf on to plywood to reduce breakage, November 2014 (Right)

Preparation of the donor Due to the shape of the receptor site and To ensure that the turves would be closely and receptor site its location (bordered on two of three sides abutted, the contractors constructed a turf- cutting box guillotine, 0.5 x 0.5 m, which The topsoil depth at the receptor site by mixed plantation woodland), access was was used to cut the edges of the turves was assumed but unknown prior to only available from one side. To use the neatly and vertically. The turf-cutting box the translocation works. Topsoil depth site in its entirety, the turves were placed in guillotine was positioned and inserted using was investigated once the translocation the far corner of the receptor site first and the bucket of an 8-tonne tracked excavator. contractor was on site and then removed then placed in rows to avoid machinery When the bucket was removed, the turf to a depth of 0.3 m using an 8-tonne needing to track over the translocated remained within the turf-cutting box tracked excavator to expose the subsoil. turves for access. Although a set route was guillotine and could be directly positioned This topsoil was no longer required used to minimise the effects, this meant on to pallets on the back of a flatbed and was stored onsite for later use in that some areas of the exposed subsoil vehicle at the donor site. The turves were landscaping for the scheme. Topsoil at the receptor site were tracked over by carefully removed off the pallets by hand at removal was conducted when ground machinery, potentially causing compaction. the receptor site. conditions were not too wet and care was To counteract any compaction, the subsoil Initially the turves were placed on pallets taken to avoid compaction or damage to was loosened using the teeth on the on a flatbed vehicle; the pallets were then the subsoil, which can affect growth of the excavator bucket before the translocated positioned on the ground using a forklift. root systems once translocated. turves were positioned. An excavator bucket was used to slide The exposed subsoil was inspected by the Turf cutting and laying the turf off the pallet and into position at ecologist to determine its condition and The size and depth of turves at the the receptor site. However, moving the characteristics. When the subsoil at the donor sites were determined on site by turf from the pallet to the ground caused receptor and donor sites were exposed, some of the more friable turves to break. an ecologist during the translocation it was obvious that there was variation Accordingly, the contractors modified operation. The topsoil at the donor sites between the sites. The subsoil at the donor their methods to use a sheet of plywood was relatively shallow, coarse and of a sites was light brown and sandy with chalk instead of a pallet. The turves were placed chalky nature, the flint and chalk making whilst the subsoil at the receptor site was on the plywood from the turf-cutting box it too difficult to cut ‘clean’ turf, so orange/brown, very clayey materials with guillotine, with the plywood positioned on the maximum depth of the turves was gravel. To improve the subsoil conditions two planks of timber on the flatbed vehicle approximately 0.25 m. for the orchid species, further excavation (Figure 4). The forklift then picked up the was required to enable chalky subsoil from The surface area of each of the turves was turf on the plywood which was placed the donor sites to be excavated and laid as large as practically possible, taking into directly on the ground. The excavator across the receptor site at a depth of 0.3 account the friability of the soil, the size bucket then carefully slid the turf directly m to 0.25 m prior to translocation of the of the machine bucket, transportation and off the plywood on to the ground which turves (Figure 3). ease of positioning at the receptor site. avoided breakage of the turves. 36 Issue 98 | December 2017 The following procedures were was considered to be better to do this than Flexible methodologies followed when laying turves to improve lose the species from the area. to improve the likelihood establishment and prevent drying out and of success damaging of the root hairs: Aftercare management and monitoring Translocation is a method that can • Turves were abutted tightly to each other be used to retain ecologically diverse Following the translocation, the receptor without any gaps to improve adhesion; features that would otherwise be lost to site and the surrounding grassland area • Turves were laid as evenly as possible development. This article outlines the need is to be managed for a period of ten to create a level surface (allowing for for the translocation methodologies to years by Oxfordshire County Council. This settling); be flexible to allow for new solutions to management will include maintenance be implemented to address the inevitable • All turves were in full contact with the (to include hay cutting, scrub removal and challenges faced during the actual subsoil surface beneath and compressed invasive weed species control) to ensure translocation process. This requires good gently with the bucket of the excavator; successful establishment of the grassland communications with the contractor and and supporting orchids and to maintain the working with the onsite conditions to solve extent of the grassland within the receptor • Any gaps between turves were filled practical problems to improve the likelihood site with no reduction in biodiversity with subsoil taken from the donor site. of success. Monitoring and adaptive value. Monitoring of the receptor site will management are the keys to the long-term Translocation of orchids be carried out annually by Oxfordshire success of the receptor site. Helleborine species are deep rooted and County Council and will inform an adaptive form a tripartite relationship with a tree management regime. and a fungus to supply the small seeds with carbon to enable germination and growth. The helleborine species were located within About the Authors an area of mixed plantation woodland Samantha Hursey at the top of an earth embankment and (née Ireton) is a access for the excavator and turf-cutting qualified Ecologist box guillotine was not possible. The risks of previously working within the root compaction to the trees to be retained Acknowledgements Cambridge office of at the edge of the scheme also prevented The authors would like to thank Drayton Atkins Ltd. Samantha the use of this method. As an alternative, Construction for their work on the orchid has been working a mini-digger and hand tools were used to translocation and Oxfordshire County Council professionally for over five years with experience on a excavate the soil containing the helleborine and Skanska for permission to use results from this project. range of development schemes including orchids and transport it to the donor site roads, rail, water and habitat creation. using a ‘dig and dump’ methodology Samantha now works for Meadfleet, (Helliwell 1996). providing ecological advice on housing developments throughout England Contractors removed the helleborine spikes References and further reading and Wales, ensuring effective habitat that had been identified together with Anderson, P. (2003). Habitat translocation – management for protected species and as much topsoil as possible; additional A best practice guide: C600. Construction promoting biodiversity. topsoil and subsoil were excavated to Industry Research and Information Association Contact Sam at: enable sufficient helleborine root materials, (CIRIA), London. [email protected] decided by the ecologist on site, to be Box, J. and Stanhope, K. (2010). Translocation of Katrena Stanhope translocated to sustain the helleborine wildlife habitats: a guide for civil engineers. Civil is an Associate Engineering, 163: 123-130. species at the receptor site. The excavated Director of Ecology soil was placed along one edge of the Helliwell, D.R. (1996). Case studies in vegetation at Atkins Ltd. Kat has change, habitat transference and habitat creation. been a professional receptor site adjacent to mixed plantation Reading Agricultural Consultants, Reading. ecological woodland of similar age and structure from consultant for over Preston, C.D., Pearman, D.A. and Dines, T.D. which it was removed. The material was fifteen years, with (2001). New Atlas of the British & Irish Flora. experience relating spread uniformly at the receptor site to Oxford University Press, Oxford. the same depth as it was before removal to biodiversity issues in the context Rodwell, J.S. (ed.) (1992). British Plant of environmental management and from the donor site (0.3 m), covering the Communities. Volume 3. Grassland and assessment, and the land use planning exposed subsoil of the receptor area. The montane communities. Cambridge University system including translocation of spread soil was firmed down using the Press, Cambridge. habitats and species. Kat is currently on back of a digger bucket, ensuring the soil Hill, D., Fasham, M., Tucker, G., Shewry, M. secondment with HS2 Ltd as a Senior was not compacted too much. Though and Shaw, P. (2005). Handbook of Biodiversity Environment Manager. there are limitations to this method, such Methods: Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring. Contact Kat at: Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. [email protected] as slower establishment and success rates in comparison with translocating turves, it Issue 98 | December 2017 37 Feature Article: How Many Great Crested Newts Can Feature Article: Terrestrial Ecology Legal Habitats Update Support? (contd)

How Many Great Crested Newts Can Terrestrial Habitats Support? John Box CEcol CEnv FCIEEM Keywords: compensation, European Protected Species, favourable conservation status, great crested newt, mitigation, terrestrial habitats

The design, planning and regulation of mitigation and compensation schemes for great crested newts require evidence-based rationales in relation to how many newts can be supported by different terrestrial habitats. This literature review demonstrates the paucity of published data on this key factor. Schemes based on evidence rather than opinion will give developers the confidence to invest in land purchase, habitat creation and long-term maintenance and monitoring. Figure 1. Upper Woodland Pond, one of four main great crested newt breeding ponds at Little Wittenham SAC. Photo credit Earth Trust. This will complement the reductions in time and financial the summaries for the new policies can be Material attributes of favourable burdens expected from the found in guidance from the EU Commission conservation status for a population or new Natural England policies (EU Commission 2007, page 61, paragraph metapopulation of great crested newts 46). Woking Borough Council and Natural include the distances that great crested for European Protected Species. England have been developing and trialling newts travel for different activities, the The challenge to those involved a new approach to development and great extent of the habitats supporting this in such schemes is to publish crested newts that involves an integrated, population, the connectivity between these landscape-scale approach (Woking Borough habitats, the long-term future of these relevant data. Council 2016a, 2016b). habitats, as well as the attribute of habitat The new licensing policies and the Woking quality. The quality of the water bodies Introduction trial will result in changes to the provision that form the breeding sites for great New licensing policies for European and funding of compensatory habitats crested newts, their size and their density Protected Species (EPS), principally for great for great crested newt populations is a major factor in the size of a great crested newt Triturus cristatus, have been affected by built development projects crested newt population. The terrestrial introduced in England (Natural England and following application of the avoid-mitigate- habitats and the waterbodies need to be Defra 2017, Oakley et al. 2017). The policies compensate hierarchy (e.g. para 118, fully integrated and well connected to the aim to achieve better outcomes for EPS National Planning Policy Framework in surrounding landscape. and reduce costs, delays and uncertainty England). Developers, regulators and There is guidance on the suitability of for developers. The policies seek to move voluntary organisations will want to be able waterbodies for great crested newts away from protecting individual animals on to estimate the numbers of great crested (Oldham et al. 2000, English Nature 2001, development sites and towards encouraging newts that can be supported by terrestrial Langton et al. 2001, Baker et al. 2011, greater investment in compensatory habitats, in conjunction with the provision Jehle et al. 2011). Jehle et al. (2011, page habitats to maintain the favourable of suitable waterbodies for breeding, 92) cite references to 0.17-6.7 newts/m2 conservation status of the local population. because greater investment will be expected and 0.2-0.6 newts/m3 for the density of The term ‘local population’ that is used in in relation to compensatory habitats. adult great crested newts in ponds, and 38 Issue 98 | December 2017 Table 1. Comparative densities of adult great crested newts in di¦erent habitats in association with breeding sites. Habitat Location Density (newts/ha) Reference Deciduous woodland Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire 100 – 1500 Oldham 1994, Figure 16 Shillow Hill, Cambridgeshire 25 – 1250 Oldham 1994, Table 2; Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire 62 – 1036 Latham et al. 1996, Table 3 Coniferous woodland Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire 150 – 400 Oldham 1994, Figure 16 Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire 113 – 364 Latham et al. 1996, Table 3 Open scrub over grassland Little Wittenham, Oxfordshire 100 – 870 Latham et al. 1996, Table 3 Hedgerow Site A, Leicestershire 250 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Pasture Site A, Leicestershire 95 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Pasture and post-industrial Lomax Brow, Greater Manchester 20 Oldham 1994, Table 2; Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Arable Site A, Leicestershire 20 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Arable with hedgerows Marnel Park, Hampshire 96 – 137 Redgrave 2009, page 25 Agricultural: non-woodland Site B, Leicestershire <20 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Agricultural: woodland Site B, Leicestershire 50 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4 Gardens Site A, Leicestershire 175 Latham et al. 1996, Table 4

Oldham et al. (2000) suggest four or more newts that can be supported by terrestrial therefore the emphasis placed on aquatic ponds/km2 as an optimal pond density for habitats in association with breeding habitats in their model for the Habitat great crested newts. sites (Oldham 1994, Latham et al. 1996, Suitability Index. Existing guidance either offers no guidance Redgrave 2009). The available data for Oldham et al. (2000) used 4 ha as the on how many great crested newts can be various habitats at six sites involving fencing lower critical limit of ‘newt friendly’ habitat and trapping of newts is summarised in supported by different terrestrial habitats within 500 m of a breeding site, taking Table 1. Marnel Park was being cleared for (English Nature 2001, Baker et al. 2011) account of barriers to terrestrial dispersal, residential development; Lomax Brow was or states that great crested newts ‘…have that is needed to sustain a thriving the subject of experimental research before rarely been found to exceed 400 adult population of great crested newts. The being cleared for opencast coal extraction; newts per hectare, but 100-300 per hectare application of such a lower limit is crucial is perhaps more typical.’ (Langton et al. experimental research was being undertaken to the planning and design of mitigation 2001, page 29). This paper summarises at Site A and Site B in Leicestershire, Shillow and compensation sites and should be information in the scientific and technical Hill and Little Wittenham (now a Special applied in conjunction with an assessment literature on the numbers of great crested Area of Conservation for great crested of the suitability of the ‘newt friendly’ newts that terrestrial habitats can support. newts) (Figure 1). habitat (e.g. habitat types, habitat structure In addition, estimates of 250-350 adult and heterogeneity) and a population Population estimates great crested newts/ha were used during viability analysis (Griffiths 2004). for terrestrial habitats the establishment of Hampton Reserve, from the literature Peterborough (now Orton Pit Special Such evidence-based planning and design Good terrestrial habitats for great crested Area of Conservation) (Figure 2) as a for schemes for great crested newts will newts include woodland (deciduous and receptor site for the translocation of a very provide developers and regulators with coniferous), scrub, unimproved grassland large population of great crested newts, confidence in the outcome and may result and gardens rather than improved pasture, although the numbers of newts trapped in in financial savings in relation to land arable and urban land; hedges and ditches defined areas is not given (Herpetofauna purchase as well as the scheme and its enhance the suitability of habitats for newts Consultants International 2007). programme. Projects involving the planning (Oldham 1994, Oldham et al. 2000, English Nature 2001, Langton et al. 2001, Baker et Discussion al. 2011, Jehle et al. 2011). The number of This review of how many great crested newts great crested newts that terrestrial habitats can be supported by terrestrial habitats, in can support can be difficult to establish association with suitable waterbodies, will because the environmental requirements of be of value to those involved with planning, a newt population are difficult to assess. designing and regulating mitigation and This is due to several elements of their compensation schemes. These published ecology including fluctuating population data can be used as an evidence-base for size over short periods; seasonal breeding creating sites to accommodate great crested behaviour and movements; and seasonal newts based on population surveys of the use of different habitats. breeding sites. That there are few published A review of the scientific and technical studies confirms the comment by Oldham literature reveals a paucity of published et al. (2000) on the paucity of information Figure 2. Orton Pit SAC looking south across studies of the numbers of great crested on this species in the terrestrial habitat and Hampton Reserve. Photo credit Froglife. Issue 98 | December 2017 39 Feature Article: How Many Great Crested Newts Can Terrestrial Habitats Support? (contd)

and design of sites for great crested newts in the short-term and in the long-term over to increase investment by developers in associated with scheme-wide strategies multiple generations (Bormpoudakis et al. compensatory habitats. Because of the costs (Oakley et al. 2017) and the ‘Woking 2016, in particular Appendix 2). of land and subsequent habitat management approach’ (Woking Borough Council 2016a, There is a challenge for ecologists and and monitoring, developers will want to 2016b) are likely to benefit from reductions environmental managers involved with know with certainty how large a site needs in intensive and costly field surveys. the planning and design of mitigation and to be for mitigating or compensating The numbers of great crested newts that compensation sites for great crested newts negative effects from built development on can be supported by different terrestrial to publish data on how many newts can be a population of great crested newts. Our habitats should be considered as one supported by different terrestrial habitats. solutions should be based on the available of the component attributes of current The new Natural England policies seek evidence and sound ecology. conservation status and favourable conservation status of the population or metapopulation. Account needs to be taken of all the material attributes of conservation References and further reading status in respect of the population or Baker, J., Beebee, T., Buckley, T., Gent, A. and Orchard, Latham, D.M., Oldham, R.S., Stevenson, M.J., Duff, metapopulation of great crested newts both D. (2011). Amphibian Habitat Management Handbook. R., Franklin, P. and Head, S.M. (1996). Woodland Amphibian and Reptile Conservation, Bournemouth. management and the conservation of the great crested Bormpoudakis, B., Foster, J., Gent, T., Griffiths, newt (Triturus cristatus). Aspects of Applied Biology, R.A., Russell, L., Starnes, S., Tzanopoulos, J. and 44: 451-459. Wilkinson, J. (2016). Developing models to estimate Natural England and Defra (2017). Wildlife licensing: the occurrence in the English countryside of Great comment on new policies for European protected Crested Newts, a protected species under the Habitats species licences (originally published February 2016; Directive. Defra Project WC1108. The identification of revised January 2017). Available at https://www. Acknowledgements models to improve decision-making processes relating gov.uk/government/consultations/wildlife-licensing- to the impact of developments on great crested newts. comment-on-new-policies-for-european-protected- I am extremely grateful for the advice I have Available at http://sciencesearch.defra.gov.uk species-licences. Accessed 15 September 2017. received on drafts of this paper from those with Accessed 16 September 2017. real expertise with great crested newts: Matt Oakley, M., Gorman, L., Neeves, O. and Wansbury, C. Ellis & Liz Howe (Cyfoeth Naturiol Cyrmu/Natural English Nature (2001). Great crested newt mitigation (2017). Accepting little losses to allow genuine gains Resources Wales), Paul Edgar (Natural England), guidelines. English Nature (now Natural England), – a new approach to great crested newt mitigation John Mckinnell (Scottish Natural Heritage), Tony Peterborough. Available at http://webarchive. licensing. In Practice – Bulletin of the Chartered Gent (Amphibian and Reptile Conservation nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140605090108/http:// Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, Trust), Jim Foster (Amphibian and Reptile publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/810429 97: 35-39. Conservation Trust), Richard Griffiths (Durrell ?category=30014. Accessed 16 September 2017. Oldham, R.S. (1994). Habitat assessment and Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University EU Commission (2007). Guidance document on the population ecology. In: Tony Gent and Robert Bray of Kent) and Dorian Latham (JBA Consulting). strict protection of animal species of Community (eds), Conservation and Management of Great Kat Stanhope and Victoria Sloan, both from interest under the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC. Crested Newts: proceedings of a symposium held Atkins, made very helpful and incisive comments. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/conservation/ on 11 January 1994 at Kew Gardens, Richmond, The Editor of In Practice (Gill Kerby) and the species/guidance/pdf/guidance_en.pdf. Surrey, pp. 45-67. English Nature, Peterborough. Editorial Board have challenged the content and Accessed 15 September 2017. Available at http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/ the outcome is a significantly improved paper. Griffiths, R.A. (2004). Great crested newts (Triturus publication/2282691. Accessed 16 September 2017. I am grateful for the photographs of two sites cristatus) in Europe: effects of metapopulation Oldham, R.S., Keble, J., Swan, M.J.S. and Jeffcote, with very large great crested newt populations: structure and juvenile dispersal on population M. (2000). Evaluating the suitability of habitat for the Hampton Reserve, Orton Pit SAC (Froglife, with persistence. In: H.R. Akçakaya, M.A. Burgman, O. great crested newt (Triturus cristatus). Herpetological the agreement of O&H Value Nature Ltd.) Kindvall, C.C. Wood, P. Sjögren-Gulve, J.S. Hatfield Journal, 10: 143-155. and Little Wittenham SAC (Earth Trust). and M.A. McCarthy (eds), Species Conservation and Redgrave, L. (2009). Marnel Park – accommodating Management: Case Studies, pp. 281-291. Oxford great crested newts within a residential development. University Press, New York. In Practice – Bulletin of the Chartered Institute of Herpetofauna Consultants International (2007). Ecology and Environmental Management, 64: 23-26. Hampton Western Periphery Road, Stages 2 &3: a Woking Borough Council (2016a). Great crested newts. About the Author review of the protection of great crested newt Triturus Available at https://www.woking.gov.uk/environment/ cristatus at Hampton Reserve, with particular reference greeninf/newt. Accessed 15 September 2017. John Box has been to land adjoining the identified route for WPR Stage Woking Borough Council (2016b). Natural Woking involved in many 2 & 3. Herpetofauna Consultants International Ltd., Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Strategy projects involving Halesworth, Suffolk. Available at http://herpecology. Supporting Information, Appendix 9 (Favourable great crested newts. co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/history-report_ Conservation Status) and Appendix 10 (Great Crested Iterations of this part1.pdf http://herpecology.co.uk/wp-content/ Newt). Available at https://www.woking.gov.uk/ technical paper have uploads/2009/04/history-report_part2.pdf. environment/greeninf/naturalwoking/nwsuppinfo. been used since Accessed 16 September 2017. Accessed 15 September 2017. 2009 to guide the Jehle, R., Thiesmeier, B. and Foster, J. (2011). planning and design The Crested Newt: A dwindling pond-dweller. of receptor sites for the capture and Laurenti-Verlag, Bielefeld, Germany. translocation of great crested newts. Langton, T., Beckett, C. and Foster, J. (2001). Contact John at: Great crested newt conservation handbook. Froglife, [email protected] Halesworth, Suffolk.

40 Issue 98 | December 2017 www.cieem.net/training-events

CIEEM Featured Training

understanding of the key terms and steps Technologies Transferable Skills involved. Developing Skills in EcIA (Level Camera Trapping for Survey, E¦ective Communication Skills 2) is suitable for those with some existing Monitoring and Public Birmingham, 8 February 2018 knowledge of undertaking EcIA and the Engagement NEW legislation and policy drivers behind the process. Understanding is developed using Totnes, 31 January – 1 February 2018 Our recent Skills Gap survey highlighted the extensive case studies and examples. The NEW importance of communication skills across Advanced Course in EcIA (Level 3) focuses Over two days this course offers detailed the sector, leading us to develop a new on getting to grips with some of the coverage of camera set up and programming course to support practitioners in developing more difficult topics including: identifying options, collecting, sorting and interpreting their professional communications with important ecological features, characterising results and avoiding common pitfalls. clients, home-owners, contractors, impacts and determining significance. The trainers will highlight how to embed colleagues and other professionals. A camera trapping in public engagement and range of participative activities will help Report Writing citizen science projects. The course includes develop skills in verbal and non-verbal Ecological Report Writing: comprehensive field elements, including communication, presentation and listening Leeds, 24 January 2018 evening and early morning field sessions. and build confidence in dealing with difficult situations / resolving conflict. Report Writing for EcIA: An Introduction to SUAVs for Birmingham, 22 February 2018 Ecological Practice Our report writing training focuses on Preston, 6 March 2018 Assessment & Reporting producing good quality reports following NEW Habitats Regulations CIEEM’s Guidelines for Ecological Report This new training course will assist Assessment / Appraisal (HRA) Writing. The training will explore the challenges faced in producing ecological practitioners in understanding the potential HRA of Projects (England and Wales): reports, offer generic guidance on report uses and application of Small Unmanned London, 25 January / Birmingham, structure and content and highlight Aerial Vehicles (SUAVs) for producing 21 March orthophotographs, site mapping, inspection common pitfalls and how to avoid HRA of Plans (England and Wales): of buildings or trees and more detailed site them. Guidance on writing ‘Species and Birmingham, 22 March modelling. Sessions include an overview of Habitat Survey Reports’ and ‘Preliminary the types of SUAV currently available, advice HRA of Projects and Plans (Scotland): Ecological Appraisals (PEAs)’ is covered on the selection of suitable equipment Glasgow, 27 February by the ‘Ecological Report Writing’ course. and software as well as the relevant rules, This one-day course provides a thorough Guidance on presenting the outcomes of an regulations and recommendations for their understanding of the overall purpose, EcIA is covered in ‘Report writing for EcIA’. safe operation. process and methodology of the HRA of projects. As well as covering relevant Intermediate QGIS policy and legislation, practical workshops Planning & Development for Ecologists and and presentations will be used to explore British Standard BS42020 Environmental Practitioners the key stages of the HRA process, with Biodiversity – Code of Practice Co. Westmeath, 13-14 March 2018 professional tips and hints on compliance for Planning and Development NEW and best practice. Bristol, 8 February 2018 This two-day course focuses on using QGIS Ecological Impact Assessment Newcastle, 29 March 2018 as a tool for data analysis and producing Level 1: Leeds, 23 January 2018 This training aims to provide professionals more complex maps accurately and with the confidence to ensure ecology work Level 2: Newcastle, 30-31 January efficiently. Pitched at intermediate level, the is compliant with all aspects of this new course offers ideal progression from our Level 3: Birmingham 21 February British Standard by familiarising them with entry level QGIS training. Our suite of EcIA courses are designed the content and structure of BS42020 and to offer support to practitioners involved its application within the planning process. in undertaking or reviewing EcIAs. An Led by Mike Oxford, Chair of BSI Technical Introduction to EcIA (Level 1) offers Committee on Biodiversity and principal an overview of the EcIA process and author for BS42020.

Book Early for Discounted Course Fees on all our Training Events Early Bird Discounts are available for bookings made up to 6 weeks in advance. http://events.cieem.net/Events/Event-Listing.aspx Issue 98 | December 2017 41 Professional Updates

ALERC Accreditation: Quality Assurance for Local Environmental Records Centres

Tom Hunt, Camilla Burrow and Hannah Cook Keywords: accreditation, ALERC, Association of Local Environmental Records Centres Local Environmental Records Centres, Accreditation Working Group quality assurance

Gary Lewis (right), Manager of the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS), receives an accreditation certificate from George Eustice, Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. © ERCCIS.

This article briefly describes working practices of individual some time to complete across the Association of Local LERCs. The assessment is all UK LERCs, it ultimately gives Environmental Records Centres made against a number of key them a formally recognised (ALERC) accreditation system criteria including data security mechanism with which to and shows how it provides practices and output content, demonstrate the high quality of assurance that LERCs meet with the full list viewable via the service that they are providing certain standards. It is based ALERC website. Whilst this is an to environmental recorders, on assessing the processes and ongoing process and will take partners and clients. 42 Issue 98 | December 2017 have successfully shown they meet the LERCs specifically because they want it standards required for accreditation. to be looked after by a local organisation The assessments themselves are dedicated to curating biodiversity data in conducted either by the ALERC National an appropriate, secure and sustainable Coordinator or another member of ALERC’s way. There are criteria dedicated to data accreditation committee. ALERC increased backup and disaster recovery, alongside the number of people able to conduct quality assurance. Currently, there is no assessments in 2016 in order to expedite nationally adopted system or protocol for the whole programme. The process shares the verification of biodiversity records, similarities with a driving test, with LERCs although this is something that ALERC is encouraged to apply for an assessment only working to change through ongoing liaison when they are reasonably confident that and discussions with other partners in the they will pass. Mentoring by an appropriate National Biodiversity Network. Through the representative from a previously accredited accreditation process, LERCs are required LERC can provide a very effective support to provide clear evidence that their own Many CIEEM members will know Local mechanism to help them achieve this. local quality assurance procedures are Environmental Records Centres (LERCs) as During the accreditation process, any LERCs effective and robust. Often this involves collectors, managers and suppliers of local who do not fully meet the requirements of data being verified by local experts such information on the natural environment. specific quality criteria are given support as the relevant county recorders or, if They analyse complex data and make it and guidance as to what additional necessary, seeking expertise from national understandable and available (often for evidence they might provide. This usually experts and recording groups. a fee, depending on circumstances) to takes the form of documents covering iii) Products and Services: this is where all who need it. The Association of Local policies, procedures, reports and webpages. many CIEEM members will interact with Environmental Records Centres (ALERC) can LERCs. These criteria seek to ensure accredit LERCs, providing environmental The value of accreditation that LERCs have the capacity to offer recorders, partners and clients with a The main purpose of the accreditation the basic suite of products, including high quality service to demonstrate this scheme is to enable LERCs to demonstrate priority species and habitat lists and high standard formally. LERCs work on a that they meet the standards specified maps. LERCs are expected to provide not-for-profit basis, meaning they cover in 20 criteria covering three key areas: clear evidence that they have access to their operating costs, but do not “make i) Organisation Fundamentals, ii) Data the relevant data and that the data are money” as such. They are steered by Custodianship, and iii) Products and being continually curated and updated in local partnerships for the benefit of data Services. LERCs are local organisations and order to provide high quality information providers and users, including their paying it is accepted that they need to be flexible to end users. Service delivery standards customers. Accreditation is an important and able to respond to different on-the- are also covered in response to the legal way of showing how LERCs meet high ground circumstances (e.g. presence requirements set out in the Environmental standards for their users, and offer value for or absence of natural history groups or Information Regulations (2004). The money to customers, which is even more county ecologists). However, it is also ALERC accreditation working group has important for those with restrictive budgets. important that their users and stakeholders reviewed the original wording of the The accreditation system for LERCs know what to expect from them and are criteria, which now specify a maximum was developed in 2011 by WGB assured that they are meeting nationally 10-day turnaround time for delivery of Environment following a commission accepted standards. biodiversity data to all clients, faster than from Natural England and with support i) Organisation Fundamentals: the criteria the mandatory 20 days stipulated by the from ALERC. The remit was ‘[to enable largely cover LERC constitutions and how Environmental Information Regulations. LERCS to demonstrate] a minimum level they ensure that they engage with and Most LERCs are able to provide a much of standards, to build confidence in are steered by their major stakeholders, faster service than this but in setting the [LERCs] as bodies which hold biodiversity including local authorities, naturalists and standard we can provide end users with a information in trust for society and manage environmental consultants. LERCs also documented level of consistency that will public resources well, and to encourage have to provide evidence to demonstrate be delivered by any accredited LERC. improvement’ (Butcher 2010). By 2011, that they are transparent and impartial, ALERC accreditation does not have a the first two pilot LERCs, Lincolnshire and operating to defined and documented specific criterion that dictates what LERCs Cambridgeshire, had successfully achieved processes and procedures. charge for their services as this varies due to accredited status. ii) Data Custodianship: these criteria circumstances such as hosting arrangement The ALERC strategy 2015 – 2020 commits relate to the ways in which LERCs or simple geography (premises costs, all member LERCs to achieving accredited handle the data they receive. This is of for example, vary widely between north status by the end of 2020. To date, 15 particular importance when we consider and south). But it does set out what the LERCs, from a total of 44 ALERC members, that many naturalists send their data to minimum products and services are that Issue 98 | December 2017 43 Professional Updates

paying customers will receive. Charges are The accreditation criteria are minimum specifically covered by ALERC’s position standards and many LERCs go far beyond About the Authors statement on LERC charging, which advises them already as they strive for ever Tom Hunt is ALERC’s that all LERCs publicise their full running higher standards. In time, it is likely even National Coordinator. costs and how their charges are derived. more ambitious accreditation criteria Tom’s work is to Typically, LERC costs will include staff will be required. LERCs are not-for-profit facilitate ALERC projects, time spent on data management (such as organisations run by a partnership so all communicate with validation and verification), engaging and those contributing data, information and LERC partners, training recorders and managing volunteers. expertise are helping to ensure that this encourage exchange Costs are covered by funding partners (such resource is available in the future and that of ideas and promote as local authorities) through annual funding environmental management can benefit collaborative working between LERCs. agreements, and charges to the private from evidence-based decisions. Contact Tom at: sector. Currently the only way for private [email protected] More information is available at www.alerc.org.uk sector organisations to contribute is by www.alerc.org.uk paying for data services at the point of use, Camilla Burrow is when they request a data search. Director of Thames Valley Environmental LERC accreditation provides assurance that Records Centre they are operating to accepted standards, Box 1. (TVERC) and a where they exist, and are following best Charlie Barnes of Lincolnshire member of ALERC’s accreditation practice. Importantly, it also provides Environmental Records Centre committee. Hosted by confidence in the LERC movement as a said “with both of the staff Oxfordshire County whole. Whilst this is of great value in itself, members involved in the running Council, TVERC was one of the first LERCs there are also many individual benefits of to be accredited (2013). It covers the of the LERC being relatively new participating in the accreditation process. counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire. in post, accreditation provided an For example, some LERCs have commented Contact Camilla at: excellent opportunity to become that there was real benefit in reviewing and [email protected] www.tverc.org updating their policies and procedures as fully accustomed with the systems, it made them take a much more objective processes and procedures involved in Hannah Cook is Chief and critical view of their day-to-day running a Record Centre”. Executive of Kent and Medway Biological management practices. Accreditation has Mark Wills of North and East Records Centre also proved very beneficial to the internal Yorkshire Ecological Data Centre said (KMBRC) and a review process for more established LERC “accreditation helped us become member of ALERC’s teams (Box 1). accreditation a more efficient, more streamlined committee. KMBRC LERC; one that is not afraid to stand are an independent back and critically look at ways it LERC and achieved accreditation in 2014. could improve – or to have a third Contact Hannah at: [email protected] party outside of the LERC community www.kmbrc.org.uk look at how it could improve”.

44 Issue 98 | December 2017 Professional Updates

A Guide to Good Practice Guidance: A new resource for CIEEM members

Sally Hayns CEcol MCIEEM Chief Executive Officer, CIEEM

To support the work of its members the Professional Standards Committee, supported by additional CIEEM members, has produced a new resource to replace Sources of Survey Methods. A Guide to Good Practice Guidance, now available in the members’ area of the CIEEM website, provides a list of key references for species and habitat survey, mitigation, management and monitoring in the UK and Ireland. The list is intended to signpost members to the most up-to-date guidance documents, where they exist. The Institute’s Code of Professional Conduct specifically requires members to maintain professional knowledge, work to expected standards, and have “regard to the relevant published technical guidance and standards”. Members working with any given habitat or species should therefore be fully conversant with the documents listed in those sections. However, it is not an absolute list of all relevant references; it is expected that, depending on the specific nature of the work, species or habitats involved, other guidance documents and reference sources may also be relevant. Barn Owl The list references what the Institute regards as good practice guidance. Where members CIEEM intends that the list will develop, depart from good practice guidance in their change and evolve over time, as new or work, or use alternative guidance to that updated guidance documents are published. listed, they should clearly state that this is The Professional Standards Committee the case and justify why they have done so. would welcome written representations The list for each habitat or species/species from members to add, change or update group has been compiled by individuals the list to keep it current and relevant. with appropriate expertise in the relevant This would be especially valuable for those areas. In compiling the list, consideration species and habitats where the list identifies has been given to CIEEM’s Principles of only limited or no relevant guidance. A form Preparing Good Guidance for Ecologists and has been provided in the members’ area of Environmental Managers. It should be noted the CIEEM website for this purpose. that many of the guidance documents listed The Professional Standards Committee were produced before these principles were would like to thank all those involved in published and not all will fully comply with producing the list, and especially Claire them; documents have been listed in such Smith CEcol MCIEEM who coordinated circumstances in the absence of alternatives. the publication. Issue 98 | December 2017 45 Professional Updates

Level 7 Apprenticeships on the Horizon: Are You Ready to Embrace Them? Max Wade CEcol CEnv FCIEEM Debbie Bartlett FCIEEM AECOM University of Greenwich

Level 7 Degree Apprenticeships For the apprentices, it is a valuable way order to make the most of this opportunity, in Ecology and in Environmental of achieving an MSc level qualification we need to be planning and preparing whilst benefiting from a salary. CIEEM is now. There is a lot that needs to be done. Management will be important taking a key role in the development of So, what is an apprentice and why new routes for training and these apprenticeships and the target is should we bother now about something recruiting to our professions as to have applications available to students that’s almost a year away? Let us stick graduating and other applicants in 2018 for the moment with Level 7 Degree well as for providing training for (i.e. starting in employment and training Apprenticeships (reference will be made graduates already in post. in late summer to early autumn 2018). In to Level 6 towards the end of this article 46 Issue 98 | December 2017 and there’s good information on the gov.uk website www.gov.uk/education/ apprenticeships-traineeships-and- internships). A Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship can be taken up by an individual with an undergraduate degree or relevant work experience. This is not just an opportunity for graduates but could be very interesting to mature professionals (e.g. rangers) who cannot progress as they lack a formal qualification. When successfully completed after 3-4 years, the apprentice will receive an MSc and will need to successfully complete the endpoint assessment for the apprenticeship. All apprenticeships are based on the principle that they receive a full-time salary and that 20% of their time must be spent on training off-the-job. In the remaining 80% of their time they would be undertaking day-to-day/fee-earning work. If the employer has a turnover of £3 million or more, most of the payment for the training These two apprenticeships are being is equivalent to a graduate with 2-3 comes out the payment that has been developed by what is termed a ‘Trailblazer years’ experience. Level 6 Degree levied by the English Government. Smaller Group’ which comprises at least 10 Apprenticeships therefore combine companies may also access Government employers of ecologists and environmental on-the-job training and development contributions to help to fund the training. managers, at least two of which must with a degree running alongside, The apprenticeship is assessed at the end be small to medium-sized enterprise/ building in the breadth and depth of of the training independently of the trainer. employers (SMEs). The Trailblazer Group knowledge expected of any graduate, (Apprenticeships are currently only available also includes representatives from the plus the independent and professional in England.) Environment Agency and Natural England competence of those in their early professional career. Level 6 Degree At this point in time, employers need to be as employers of large numbers of Apprenticeships could run over 4-5 years thinking about: ecologists and environmental managers, and CIEEM. To date the Trailblazer Group and entrants will range from 18-year-olds • whether or not to advertise has produced an Expression of Interest joining the team straight from school apprenticeships and, if so, how many in developing a standard for each of and A Levels to those already in the for ecologists and how many for the apprenticeships which have been workplace, carrying out technical work, environmental managers; approved and standards are in the process thereby providing a route for exisitng • how to communicate these vacancies to for approval. The Group is currently technical staff to upskill themselves students and other potential applicants, developing the assessment plans. Later to a higher professional level. This universities and their own staff; this year or early 2018, the Group will be apprenticeship aims to cover the breadth seeking/approaching universities or any of the environment profession – from • how Level 7 Degree Apprentices will other appropriate trainers to encourage Environmental Impact Assessment be integrated into the business, team them to register as training providers (EIA) and air pollution to acoustics and or section; and provide proposals for delivering the ecology – with apprentices developing • whether there are any graduates training. To inform this, the Trailblazer a specialism over the duration of their or experienced workers already in Group will have undertaken a survey of training. The implications of taking on the business, team or section who employers to identify the numbers of likely a Level 6 Degree Apprentice are that would benefit from a Level 7 Degree apprenticeships and locations around the much greater, necessitating potentially Apprenticeship; country where training would be best significant changes (e.g. considering what work the apprentice would be capable • where the apprentice(s) will be able to located. Do keep a look out for this survey. of potentially taking on at the outset of There is another Trailblazer Group receive their training; their apprenticeship). which is developing a Level 6 Degree • whether current staff need any Apprenticeship for Environmental additional support, for example, Professionals. This apprenticeship will in understanding more about support employers who are in the Further Information: apprenticeships and in mentoring; and business of design, development and For more information please contact • what the financial implications are of an delivery of the built environement and Debbie ([email protected]) or employee or employees who will not be infrastructure programmes. The outcome Max ([email protected]). on the job for 20% of their time. of a Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship Issue 98 | December 2017 47 Professional Updates

Implications of Brexit for Devolved Environmental Law in Scotland: Update Chris Cathrine MCIEEM Director, Caledonian Conservation Ltd

The implications of Brexit for devolved environmental law in Scotland were Box 1. Questions asked relating considered in a previous article1, written to devolved environment law before the snap general election and in after Brexit. the absence of meaningful responses 1. What work is currently being done from ‘Westminster’ (UK Government and to form wildlife legislation after UK Parliament) or ‘Holyrood’ (Scottish Brexit at UK Government and Government and Scottish Parliament). This Scottish Government? What are article provides an update based on new the aims of this work? Food and Rural Affairs) speech on 21 July 6 documents and responses received since. 2. Will wildlife law remain fully 2017 (which did not address devolved environmental law), and to the Withdrawal At present, although EU Directives provide devolved after Brexit, or will Bill. Defra gave no acknowledgement of a common framework in some areas, the UK Government replace the differences between UK environmental law environmental law is fully devolved to current EU legislative foundation and devolved law in Scotland post-Brexit. Holyrood, which has resulted in significant with legislation to be developed divergence between Scotland and the by UK Government (partly or fully The Scottish Government provided a rest of the UK1. References to EU law reserving these matters)? detailed response, addressing each specific are integral to the Scotland Act 1998 (as 3. If UK Government is to replace question. They stated that, in its current amended)2, and it is now clear that Brexit the EU legislative foundation form, the Withdrawal Bill reserves control will have a significant impact on devolved for wildlife laws, will there be a of scope and extent of any UK-wide powers. In its current form, the European degree of flexibility for devolved frameworks required to replace EU laws Union (Withdrawal) Bill3 (‘Withdrawal Bill’) administrations to implement this, to Westminster. This includes matters will reserve all powers currently exercised at or will this legislation be fixed by which are devolved at present, such as an EU level to Westminster, who will then UK Government? environmental law. The Withdrawal Bill decide which may be devolved to Scotland. 4. If devolved administrations also imposes new restrictions on Holyrood, The Queen’s Speech briefing notes4 will prepare their own wildlife and provides Scottish Ministers with limited indicated that Westminster would provide laws, or at least decide on their powers to make corrections to EU law in UK-wide frameworks for agriculture and implementation, which body will devolved areas while allowing UK Ministers fisheries post-Brexit, but did not mention enforce this implantation (currently to make changes in devolved areas the environment. this is done by the European Court without involvement of Holyrood. Scottish Requests for information relating to of Justice, which is objective and Government also highlighted concerns devolved environmental legislation in independent)? over enforcement of environmental law Scotland in the context of Brexit were after Brexit, as implementation of the Withdrawal Bill in its current form would made with Westminster and Holyrood Defra did not address specific questions, bodies in April 2017 (see Box 1), and mean various causes of action under EU but indicated that future protection would responses were received from the law will not exist in domestic law – this is a be based on the ‘25-Year Environment Scottish Government Directorate of common issue for the entire UK. Plan’, referring to a report by the Natural Environment and Forestry, the Department It appears likely that UK Government will 5 for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Capital Committee . However, as this Plan provide a legislative framework to replace (Defra) and the Department for Exiting the applies to England only, it is difficult to the EU Directives, although their ability to EU (the latter indicating that Defra were understand how this will relate to Scotland. do this depends on the final form of the the appropriate department to respond) Reference was also made to Michael Withdrawal Bill. UK Government have in October. Gove’s (Secretary of State for Environment, stated that they intend to seek Holyrood’s 48 Issue 98 | December 2017 consent for the Withdrawal Bill, and Scottish with UK Ministers with regards to consent before1. Therefore, it is conceivable Government have been clear that they devolved areas; that the Withdrawal Bill could be passed cannot recommend that Scottish Parliament • prevent Westminster from changing the in its current form without addressing give consent to the Bill in its current form. In devolution settlement unilaterally; and Scottish Government’s concerns. order to gain consent, Scottish Government • prevent Westminster from changing Although uncertainty remains until have suggested amendments which would: retained EU law without agreement the final form of the Withdrawal Bill is • ensure powers in devolved areas return from Scottish Government7. confirmed, it appears highly likely that to Holyrood after Brexit; a UK-wide framework will replace EU At present, any changes to devolved environmental Directives after Brexit. • ensure no new restrictions are placed on powers should be agreed with Holyrood, Scottish Ministers; although this is not a legal requirement • ensure no additional restrictions are and decisions in areas devolved to Scotland placed on Scottish Ministers compared have been taken by Westminster without

Notes 1. Cathrine, C. (2017). Implications of Brexit for Devolved Environmental Law in Scotland. In Practice – Bulletin of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management, 97: 18-19. 2. Scotland Act 1998 (as amended). Available at: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46 3. European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-19. Available at https://services.parliament.uk/ bills/2017-19/europeanunionwithdrawal.html 4. Queen’s Speech 2017: background briefing notes. Available at https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/queens-speech-2017- background-briefing-notes 5. Natural Capital Committee (September 2017) Advice to Government on the 25 Year Environment Plan. Available at https://www. gov.uk/government/publications/natural- capital-committee-advice-on-governments- 25-year-environment-plan 6. The Unfrozen Moment – Delivering A Green Brexit. Speech delivered by Secretary of State Michael Gove on 21 July 2017. Available at https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/ the-unfrozen-moment-delivering-a-green-brexit 7. Amendments to the UK’s EU (Withdrawal) Bill proposed by the devolved Scottish and Welsh governments. 19 September 2017. Available at https://beta.gov.scot/publications/eu- withdrawal-bill-proposed-amendments/

About the Author Chris Cathrine BSc(Hons) MCIEEM FLS FRES is the founder and Director of Caledonian Conservation Ltd. He has 13 years’ experience as a professional ecologist, including over 10 years as an ecological consultant. He has worked for NGOs, Local Authorities and as a consultant throughout the UK. Contact Chris at: chris.cathrine@ caledonianconservation.co.uk

Issue 98 | December 2017 49 Professional Updates

CIEEM Policy Update Jason Reeves MCIEEM Policy and Communications Manager, CIEEM

Responding to the NERC the role of biodiversity data; the differences Governments and Agencies between the duties in England, Scotland Act Inquiry CIEEM has also been engaging with the and Wales; natural capital; capacity in CIEEM has recently submitted evidence to national governments and agencies. local authorities; the understanding of the Lords Select Committee on the Natural biodiversity duties; and what needs to In England, Stephanie Wray (President), Lisa Environment and Rural Communities happen post-Brexit. See the CIEEM news Kerslake (Vice President (England)), Sally Act 2006 (NERC Act). Sections 40-42 of item (www.cieem.net/news/442/cieem- Hayns (CIEEM CEO), myself and others the NERC Act create a duty to conserve president-gives-evidence-to-lords-nerc-act- have been having ongoing discussions biodiversity. Section 40 places a duty on committee) for more information and to with Natural England regarding changes public authorities in England to conserve watch the video of the session. to protected species licensing including for biodiversity, Section 41 requires the bats, newts and charging for licences. Secretary of State to publish and maintain 25-Year Environment Plan lists of species and habitats of ‘principal for England In Ireland, Jenny Neff (Vice President (Ireland)) and Paul Lynas (Irish Section importance’ for the purposes of conserving At the time of writing we have not yet Convenor) have been engaging with the biodiversity in England, and Section 42 seen the Plan, however we understand Irish Government and National Parks and required the Welsh government to publish that it is due to be published imminently. Wildlife Service (NPWS), both of whom equivalent lists, but this has since been We understand that the Plan will be a have strong concerns regarding the future superseded by the Environment (Wales) Act fi nal version rather than a consultation, 2016. The NERC Act 2006 Committee will and we will comment on the publication. relationship between the UK and Ireland report back to government by 31 March We hope that, as we have been asking post-Brexit. Our new Ireland Project 2018. CIEEM’s response to the inquiry can for, the Plan is ambitious in its aims and Offi cer, Elizabeth O’Reilly, will facilitate this be found on the website (www.cieem.net/ in particular sets defi ned targets, enables ongoing engagement. past-consultation-responses). monitoring and enforcement, and provides In Scotland, Kathy Dale (Vice President On 31 October, CIEEM President Stephanie the resources required for delivery. (Scotland)) has been maintaining Wray, gave oral evidence to the Committee The Plan is also likely to have implications relationships with Scottish Government relating to whether Natural England is for the Agriculture and Fisheries Bills that and I have been engaging with the Brexit fulfi lling its role; to what extent budget cuts are due to be published next year, and discussion in Scotland. Continuing with have affected Natural England and others; which we will be responding to. Brexit, member Chris Cathrine provides a 50 Issue 98 | December 2017 Our key messages are that the UK framework for independent scrutiny of government should: future Government performance on the 1. Introduce a new Environment Act, environment. We also warn that devolved administrations should not be constrained envisioned jointly by all countries from pursuing ambitious environmental of the UK, to provide the legislative policies and targets of their own as a result framework for a new, bold, shared of the powers that the Bill creates. The ambition for the environment. responses were written under the banner 2. Transform land and marine of the Environmental Policy Forum (EPF). management policies by using The EPF is an umbrella group that includes ‘biodiversity net gain’ as the driver to the British Ecological Society, Chartered halt biodiversity loss and rebuild our Institute of Wastes Management, Chartered stocks of natural capital. Institution of Water and Environmental 3. Establish a new, independent scrutiny Management, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, Institute body – OfEnv – to provide appropriate of Fisheries Management, Institution enforcement of environmental of Environmental Sciences, Landscape legislation after we leave the EU. Institute, Royal Geographical Society, and The previous work of the Brexit Task Groups Society for the Environment. and Strategic Policy Panel will be kept as Where appropriate we continue to work ‘live’ documents to be used as supporting in partnership with the EPF, Greener evidence and further detail as required. UK, Wildlife and Countryside Link, UK useful update on the situation in Scotland By the time you read this we will have had Environmental Law Association, and the in his article in this edition of In Practice. several meetings with parliamentarians Law Society. to discuss our key messages. At the time For more information on CIEEM’s Brexit In Wales, Sally Hayns and Diana Clark of writing we have meetings arranged activities please visit our dedicated Brexit (Wales Project Offi cer) have met with with several MPs and Peers, including webpage: www.cieem.net/eu-referendum representatives of Natural Resources Wales chairs and members of relevant Select and Welsh Government regarding issues Committees, party spokespeople for the ranging from strategic engagement, Brexit, Country Policy Groups environment and Brexit, and two former and linking practitioners with academics Environment Ministers. We are setting up Country Policy and policy-makers. Groups for England, Ireland, Scotland Prior to these meetings we have already and Wales. Each group will engage with been establishing relationships with Brexit Activities policy activities specifi c to the relevant advisors to the Environmental Audit, In September we signed a contract with country and also feed into wider Science and Technology, and Environment, a communications consultant to help us activities (such as Brexit) in conjunction Food and Rural Affairs Committees to refi ne our Brexit messaging and to develop with the Strategic Policy Panel, which discuss our key issues regarding Brexit. dissemination materials. The six-month guides CIEEM’s overarching policy contract also includes providing strategic CIEEM has written a joint response to activities. For more information on the support, stakeholder mapping, public the EU Withdrawal Bill – both as a direct Country Policy Groups or to express an response to the UK government and as a affairs training, political monitoring, interest in joining one of the groups response to a Lords Committee inquiry – in facilitating meetings, and a parliamentary please see the website (www.cieem. which we point out that the current Bill will engagement event. net/country-policy-groups). not achieve Michael Gove’s ‘Green Brexit’ We are very pleased to have four Brexit ambitions. We warned that the Bill fails investors – Arcadis, Biocensus, BSG, and to adequately provide for parliamentary Environmental Planning and Research (EPR) scrutiny of the raft of changes required to Further Information: – who have agreed to support our activities make environmental laws function, ensure For more information on CIEEM’s policy over the next two years. In return for their the fundamental principles which underpin activities or to get involved please contact investment these organisations will have a decades of environmental improvement me at: [email protected] direct role in guiding our Brexit activities. are protected, or provide a meaningful Issue 98 | December 2017 51 Professional Updates

CIEEM Awards 2018 How to Maximise Your Chances of Success

Sally Hayns CEcol MCIEEM Chief Executive Officer, CIEEM

Entries are now open for the 2018 CIEEM Awards and we know that you are probably thinking that you will consider entering one or more categories in the New Year. But with closing dates in January you really do need to be thinking about your entries now. We have some exciting new categories (Best Practice in Mitigation and Enhancement (large- and small-scale) and Consultancy of the Year (small, medium 2017 Winners and Finalists and large) so please do take a look at the eligibility criteria for all the Awards and, if (not just hearsay or anecdotal). Use the Be innovative, bold and ambitious. To the you haven’t done so already, start planning total allowance of words to the full, it is judges, some submissions look much the your entries now. up to you to be sure you have made the same as all of the others. They welcome a Hopefully this article will help you to best possible case for your submission. variety of ways of demonstrating why your maximise your chance of success. Make sure that supplementary material entry should be short-listed. is relevant, focused, fit for purpose and So, the message is clear. Craft your entry Good Quality Entries reasonably accessible and readable, in a carefully, choosing supporting information There are two really important principles reasonable period of time, for the judges. to maximise the evidence available to that apply to all categories (except the In Simply attaching material and documents judges, and do not be shy about telling the Practice and Postgraduate Student Project prepared for a different purpose will rarely judges why your nomination should win. Awards). Firstly, the judges can only make help the judges reach their conclusions. their assessments based on the evidence that you put in front of them. They cannot bring any pre-knowledge of a project, site, person or campaign to the decision- making process so the quality of the entry is paramount. A project or nominee may be really good but if the evidence isn’t there for the judges to see then it won’t be shortlisted. This can be very frustrating for judges who often suspect an entry is better than it appears on paper but if the evidence isn’t there then they cannot make assumptions. The judges are looking for a full description of the project or the members’ achievements in the context of the category and the criteria, with plenty of strong evidence – sound and objective 52 Issue 98 | December 2017 Evidence of Impact, Closing Dates Influence or Success You should note the closing dates for the different Awards categories: The second important principle is that the judges are looking for evidence of success, Award Closing Date influence or impact. They do know that Postgraduate Student Project Award 8 January 2018 if you have been involved in designing a really good project and it has just been CIEEM Medal 9 January 2018 implemented that you will be proud of it Best Practice Awards 29 January 2018 and want to celebrate it. But the Awards • Practical Nature Conservation require evidence of impact – for example, - Small-scale were the intended conservation objectives - Large-scale achieved, was the mitigation effective? • Mitigation and Enhancement Judges would typically expect entries for - Small-scale site-based projects to be submitted 2-3 - Large-scale years post-implementation in order for the • Innovation evidence of impact to be available. • Knowledge Sharing Remember, it is a competitive process and • Stakeholder Engagement the judges will only shortlist entries that they feel merit an award on the basis of NGO Impact Award 29 January 2018 the information submitted. The judges Members’ Award 29 January 2018 are eager to select and promote the most Consultancy of the Year 29 January 2018 deserving entries so it is incumbent upon nominees to show that their entry is not • Small merely run-of-the-mill; or indeed just • Medium another example of routine good practice, • Large which we should all be achieving. Promising Professional 29 January 2018

Individual Awards 2018 Awards Event will take place during Of course, the Awards only work as a If you are nominating someone for an the day at the Merchant Taylors Hall in celebration of our success thanks to our individual Award (CIEEM Medal, Members’ London on the 21st June. From previous wonderful sponsors but also, and most Award, Promising Professional Award) the experience it is always a wonderful day of importantly, thanks to you, our members, same principles set out above apply but in celebration. Whilst some shortlisted entries who make the effort to enter. So why not a different context. You need to describe will inevitably go away as Commended or make 2018 the year that you enter the what impact or influence the individual Highly Commended rather than a winner, Awards? Hopefully we will then see you in has had which sets them apart and makes the fact that they have been shortlisted is London on the 21st June to celebrate the them outstanding. Nominations should be no mean feat. The standards are high and achievements of our profession. clear on what it is that the nominee has everyone who attends is there on merit done, using specific examples from their and should be proud of their achievement. work. You are their primary advocate so you need to make a strong case for their inclusion in the shortlist. Supporters Where required, the supporter’s statement should provide the judges with a meaningful endorsement, based on actual knowledge about the person, project or site, which is independent, and relevant to the nomination. The judges need a well-founded professional opinion, with a coherent explanation supporting the views expressed. Awards Event Judging takes place during February and March and shortlisted entries are usually notified in late March/early April. The Guests at the 2017 Awards Event Issue 98 | December 2017 53 ǁĂƌĚƐϮϬϭϴ ĐŚĂŶĐĞƚŽďĞƉĂƌƚŽĨƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ

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54 Issue 98 | December 2017 ǁĂƌĚƐϮϬϭϴ Professional Updates ĐŚĂŶĐĞƚŽďĞƉĂƌƚŽĨƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ Changes to CIEEM’s Membership Abeyance Processes Stuart Parks Membership Manager, CIEEM

Current Full, Associate and intention. This review was supported by • All members in abeyance will now Graduate members are able feedback gratefully received from members receive selected member benefits that had recently been through the to enable them to keep in touch to request to place their reinstatement process. with developments in the sector and membership into abeyance on A revised approach, proposed by MAC undertake some CPD should they and approved by the Governing Board in choose to (e.g. eNewsletters, policy an annual basis for a maximum briefings and an electronic version October is detailed below. of five consecutive years. of In Practice). CPD courses may be Members whose subscription is in undertaken at the member rate or at abeyance for less than 12 months can now CIEEM’s low-income rate (if eligible) to The most common reasons given for resume membership with no requirement reflect likely reduced income. requesting an abeyance agreement are to submit a development plan. maternity/paternity leave and childcare, • Members in abeyance are not • Members whose subscription is in expected to be working, so will not issues related to long-term/chronic illness, abeyance for between one and three be eligible to use post-nominals or or a temporary career break. years can resume membership with no advertise their services through the Members wishing to reinstate their requirement to submit a development Professional Directory. membership after a period in abeyance plan, but will automatically be entered :ŽŝŶƵƐŝŶĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŶŐǁŚĂƚŽƵƌ have previously been required to submit for into the CPD audit in the following year. assessment a development plan detailing • Members whose subscription is in how they will update their skills and abeyance for more than three years Further Information: ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƚĞƐƚŽĂ knowledge to a level commensurate with (to a maximum of five years) their membership grade. More information about abeyance can resume membership, but agreements is available on the CIEEM ŵŽƌĞƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďůĞĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘ At its September meeting the Membership will be required to submit a CPD website at: www.cieem.net/abeyance- Admissions Committee (MAC) reviewed development plan within six months and-deferral- the abeyance process, having previously of reinstatement. CPD undertaken will Contact the CIEEM Membership team at: [email protected] identified a risk that it was too onerous then be reviewed as part of the CPD ĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ͕/DƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐĂƐĞƌŝĞƐŽĨ and had perhaps lost sight of its original audit in the following year. ĂǁĂƌĚƐǁŝƚŚĂŶŽǀĞƌĂůůĂŝŵƚŽĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ƚŚĞĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐŽĨďŽƚŚƚŚĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂŶĚŽĨŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ƉƌĂĐƟƟŽŶĞƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ϮϬϭϴ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶƐǁŝůů ƚĂŬĞ ƉůĂĐĞ ŽŶ ^ŚŽǁŝŶŐŽīLJŽƵƌĞdžƉĞƌƟƐĞŝƐŶ͛ƚĂůǁĂLJƐĞĂƐLJ͘͘͘ dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJϮϭ:ƵŶĞĂƚDĞƌĐŚĂŶƚdĂLJůŽƌƐ͛,Ăůů͕>ŽŶĚŽŶ͘

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Issue 98 | December 2017 55 Professional Updates

A Modern Tree Charter John Jackson MCIEEM Former CEO of the Royal Forestry Society

A Bit of History The Need for a Modern Charter Mention the Magna Carta in conversation Now fast forward 800 years. Trees in 21st and most people will have heard of it century UK are often taken for granted. As and have at least an inkling of what the the human population is ever more urban, document was all about and the landmark it is easier to ignore the huge threats our it was in civil rights. But fewer UK citizens woods and trees are facing to their future may realise that, as a sequel, a second from pests, diseases, climate change and one followed two years on in 1217 – The pressure from development. Charter of the Forest or Carta Florestal. If we don’t bring trees and woods back Traditionally one would be issued by the In broad terms, this re-established the to the centre of everyday life here, we risk government or monarch (as were the rights of freemen to access Royal Hunting losing them from our lives and landscapes. Magna Carta and Charter of the Forest). Forests and Chases, eroded by William Jo and Joe Public need to stop taking trees However, the modern Tree Charter has The Conqueror. for granted, to recognise and celebrate been built from the grassroots up, and Confusingly, in the 13th century such tracts their huge contribution to our existence, should infl uence policy and practice of land were not always wall-to-wall trees to protect the right of the people of the through people power. or wildwood but were areas over which UK to the many tangible and intangible The build up to the production of the new the King owned hunting rights, backed up benefi ts provided by trees and woods and Charter was orchestrated over its two-year by draconian laws. Places such as Exmoor, take responsibility for their welfare. And gestation by the Woodland Trust, supported the New Forest or Sherwood remain that is the essence of a new ‘Charter for and guided by over 70 organisations. That important in conservation to this day. Trees, Woodlands and People’ or ‘The Tree included CIEEM, which was active on the The original Forest Charter paralleled Charter’ for short. Professional Steering Group through myself. the Magna Carta. It was re-issued with Over 100,000 private citizens in the UK amendments in 1225 and merged A New Charter is Born signed a petition in support of the charter with the latter as ‘The Confi rmation of In a nutshell, a charter is a document and numerous, eclectic organisations have Charters’ in 1297. that sets out rights for a group of people. added their weight. 56 Issue 98 | December 2017 The Launch What’s in the Charter? The main event took place on Monday 6th The Charter has 10 main broad November in Lincoln, where CIEEM was threads or principles. They are: represented. A candle-lit procession left the Castle for the nearby Cathedral. Lincoln 1. Thriving habitats for was chosen as the only place where an diverse species original 1215 Magna Carter and a Charter 2. Planting for the future of Forests can be seen side by side. Regional celebrations were held too. 3. Celebrating the cultural impact of trees As a nice historic touch, the new charter was written using oak gall ink from galls 4. A thriving forestry sector that collected by volunteers across the UK. That delivers for the UK was the everyday ink in use for writing 5. Better protection for important until about a hundred years ago. trees and woods

6. Enhancing new developments with trees

7. Understanding and using the natural health benefi ts of trees

8. Access to trees for everyone Get Involved 9. Addressing threats to Add your own name to the Charter at: woods and trees through https://sign.treecharter.uk/page/6023/ good management petition/1 10. Strengthening landscapes with woods and trees

The full document is at www.treecharter.uk

Issue 98 | December 2017 57 ^ƉŽŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉ KƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ

/DŚĂƐĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŽŶĞͲŽīĂŶĚŽŶŐŽŝŶŐƐƉŽŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĨŽƌŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐƚŽĞŶŐĂŐĞǁŝƚŚĂŶĚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚďŽƚŚƚŚĞ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞĂŶĚƚŚĞǁŝĚĞƌ ĞĐŽůŽŐLJĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ &ŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ŵŵĂŽǁŶĞLJΛĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚ

ĂƚDŝƟŐĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚWƌŽũĞĐƚ /DŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJǁŽƌŬŝŶŐǁŝƚŚWƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ&ŝŽŶĂDĂƚŚĞǁƐĂŶĚƌWĂƵů>ŝŶƚŽƩĂƚ ƚŚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨdžĞƚĞƌƚŽƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬĞƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĞīĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐŽĨĐŽŵŵŽŶ ŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐƵƐĞĚƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚďĂƚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ͕ŽƌůŝŬĞůLJƚŽďĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ͕ĚƵƌŝŶŐĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŝŶƚŚĞh<ĂŶĚ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘

DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬďĂƚͲŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶͲƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐͲƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚͲƉƌŽũĞĐƚ

/DǁĂƌĚƐϮϬϭϴ ĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ͕/DƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐĂƐĞƌŝĞƐŽĨĂǁĂƌĚƐƚŽĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐŽĨďŽƚŚ ƚŚĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂŶĚŽĨŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƉƌĂĐƟƟŽŶĞƌƐ͕ĂŶĚƚŽƌĂŝƐĞƚŚĞƉƌŽĮůĞŽĨ/D͕ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƟŶŐŽƵƌƌŽůĞŝŶĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶŝŶŐƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞĂŶĚƉƌĂĐƟĐĞŽĨĞĐŽůŽŐLJ͘KƵƌ ĂǁĂƌĚƐĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝĞƐŚŽŶŽƵƌďŽƚŚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͘  DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬĂǁĂƌĚƐ

/DŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐϮϬϭϴ /DŚŽůĚƐĂŶŶƵĂůĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƚŚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐ͕ƐƵŵŵĞƌĂŶĚĂƵƚƵŵŶ͘dŚĞƐĞ ĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐĂƌĞƐƉƌĞĂĚĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞh<ĂŶĚ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘/ŶϮϬϭϴ͕ŽƵƌĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐǁŝůů ĨŽĐƵƐŽŶĞĐŽůŽŐLJĂŶĚƵƌďĂŶĚĞƐŝŐŶ;ŝƌŵŝŶŐŚĂŵͿ͕ŶĂƚƵƌĞƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ;>ŽŶĚŽŶͿ͕ĂŶĚ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ;'ůĂƐŐŽǁͿ͘

DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐͲĞǀĞŶƚƐ

58 Issue 98 | December 2017 Professional Updates

Student Hub: ^ƉŽŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉ Boost Your CV and Employability What Do Recruiters Look For? Online Professionalism and Employability We asked Robert Magee Chartered MCIPD, The University of Aberdeen have created a guide on how to use social media to become more from WYG, what he looks for when he’s employable – read their top tips: www.abdn.ac.uk/careers/resources/documents/5665.pdf KƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ searching for the right candidate: “There are a number of things which I Your 2018 To-Do List would normally look for when trying to Get involved with your local CIEEM Member Network. You’re already a January /DŚĂƐĂŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨŽŶĞͲŽīĂŶĚŽŶŐŽŝŶŐƐƉŽŶƐŽƌƐŚŝƉŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƟĞƐ identify a graduate who has applied for a CIEEM member and member networks often run free events. role and it’s not all experience! ĨŽƌŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐƚŽĞŶŐĂŐĞǁŝƚŚĂŶĚƐƵƉƉŽƌƚďŽƚŚƚŚĞ/ŶƐƟƚƵƚĞĂŶĚƚŚĞǁŝĚĞƌ Sign up to receive newsfeeds to keep up-to-date with the latest in the February 1. The Basic CV sector (e.g. the statutory agencies’ newsletters). ĞĐŽůŽŐLJĂŶĚĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂůŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ Title and headings – Ensure font size Start building a portfolio to show an employer examples of outstanding and paragraph spacing is uniform work that you’ve completed, feedback that endorses essential skills &ŽƌŵŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƉůĞĂƐĞĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ͗ŵŵĂŽǁŶĞLJΛĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚ throughout as it must be easily read. March (LinkedIn is a great platform for this), certifi cates you’ve achieved or Borders, pictures and formatting can training you’ve completed. Use CIEEM’s Competency Framework to see take the focus away from the content. what technical and transferable skills you can map yours against. Length – Aim for three pages or less ĂƚDŝƟŐĂƟŽŶ^ƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐZĞƐĞĂƌĐŚWƌŽũĞĐƚ Write an article for a publication. Fancy writing for In Practice? You can and include only what’s necessary. check the themes and deadlines for submissions online (www.cieem.net/ Use simple, plain language with clear April /DŝƐĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJǁŽƌŬŝŶŐǁŝƚŚWƌŽĨĞƐƐŽƌ&ŝŽŶĂDĂƚŚĞǁƐĂŶĚƌWĂƵů>ŝŶƚŽƩĂƚ in-practice) and if you have any questions you can contact our editor, Gill ƚŚĞhŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJŽĨdžĞƚĞƌƚŽƵŶĚĞƌƚĂŬĞƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶƚŽƚŚĞĞīĞĐƟǀĞŶĞƐƐŽĨĐŽŵŵŽŶ and concise content, so put important ([email protected]). information fi rst, usually employment ŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐƵƐĞĚƚŽƉƌŽƚĞĐƚďĂƚƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ͕ŽƌůŝŬĞůLJƚŽďĞ Take an active part in online discussions on ecology, conservation and followed by academic qualifi cations. ŝŵƉĂĐƚĞĚ͕ĚƵƌŝŶŐĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚŝŶƚŚĞh<ĂŶĚ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘ May environmental management. You can make a start by joining us on Spelling and grammar – Always check. Twitter (@CIEEMnet), Facebook (@CIEEM91) and LinkedIn. DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬďĂƚͲŵŝƟŐĂƟŽŶͲƐƚƌĂƚĞŐŝĞƐͲƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚͲƉƌŽũĞĐƚ 2. Personal statements Take the plunge and join your fi rst expedition; it can be a life-changing Don’t waste space! It is important to experience and provide you with skills and experience relevant to your June understand what a graduate wants from career. There are many organisations out there that offer a wide range of a career, what interests them and why. volunteer programmes and internships. /DǁĂƌĚƐϮϬϭϴ Someone who is focused and clearly Volunteer for a relevant organisation. Take a look at whether your communicates what they want, makes July university runs a conservation volunteering group or contact a local ĂĐŚLJĞĂƌ͕/DƉƌĞƐĞŶƚƐĂƐĞƌŝĞƐŽĨĂǁĂƌĚƐƚŽĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐŽĨďŽƚŚ them stand out from the crowd. ƚŚĞƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂŶĚŽĨŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƉƌĂĐƟƟŽŶĞƌƐ͕ĂŶĚƚŽƌĂŝƐĞƚŚĞƉƌŽĮůĞŽĨ/D͕ charity such as a Wildlife Trust to see how you can get involved. 3. Tailored CV ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƟŶŐŽƵƌƌŽůĞŝŶĐŚĂŵƉŝŽŶŝŶŐƚŚĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞĂŶĚƉƌĂĐƟĐĞŽĨĞĐŽůŽŐLJ͘KƵƌ Start working towards a species licence. CIEEM Student members receive Reviewing a CV that is clearly related ĂǁĂƌĚƐĐĂƚĞŐŽƌŝĞƐŚŽŶŽƵƌďŽƚŚŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƟŽŶƐĂŶĚŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͘ August a discount on all CIEEM training. Our full programme is at www.cieem. to the job someone is applying for is  net/training-events. key. Spending time reviewing irrelevant DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬĂǁĂƌĚƐ Job shadow an expert. Write to local environmental consultancies and information is pointless – it must see if they run work experience or open days. Once you’ve joined some be relevant to the job and catch my September online discussions you will be able to expand your network and open up attention within 30 seconds. more opportunities. 4. Examples /DŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐϮϬϭϴ Attend a conference. A great way to meet like-minded professionals Relevant employment or work October and stay in the loop of latest trends in the sector. CIEEM offers 10 free /DŚŽůĚƐĂŶŶƵĂůĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐŝŶƚŚĞƐƉƌŝŶŐ͕ƐƵŵŵĞƌĂŶĚĂƵƚƵŵŶ͘dŚĞƐĞ experience is key but it must relate to student places for each conference which you can enter via a draw. ĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐĂƌĞƐƉƌĞĂĚĂĐƌŽƐƐƚŚĞh<ĂŶĚ/ƌĞůĂŶĚ͘/ŶϮϬϭϴ͕ŽƵƌĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐǁŝůů the role they are applying for. Enter the CIEEM Awards. Each year we run Student Awards with a prize ĨŽĐƵƐŽŶĞĐŽůŽŐLJĂŶĚƵƌďĂŶĚĞƐŝŐŶ;ŝƌŵŝŶŐŚĂŵͿ͕ŶĂƚƵƌĞƌĞƐĞƌǀĞƐ;>ŽŶĚŽŶͿ͕ĂŶĚ 5. Key words and phrases ŚĂďŝƚĂƚĐƌĞĂƟŽŶĂŶĚƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶ;'ůĂƐŐŽǁͿ͘ November of £250. A great way to showcase your projects and to add to your CV. Graduates who mention specifi c Find more information at www.cieem.net/awards. packages, competencies or technical Read, read, read as many publications and journals as you can to keep up DŽƌĞŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͗ǁǁǁ͘ĐŝĞĞŵ͘ŶĞƚͬƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐͲĞǀĞŶƚƐ skills on their CV show me that they December to date with the latest research. Use your local library or sign up to free understand the role/industry and what newsletters through organisations online. is required to work in it.“ Issue 98 | December 2017 59 Professional Updates

Chartered Membership

Fellows and Full Members of CIEEM can New Chartered Members develop their skills and gain professional CIEEM is pleased to announce the following new Chartered members: recognition from employers, colleagues and clients by achieving Chartered status. Chartered Ecologist Chartered Environmentalists CIEEM offers two Chartership awards: Mr Guy Miller CEcol MCIEEM Mr Keith Wilson CEnv MCIEEM • Chartered Ecologist (CEcol): Dr Katy Read CEcol CEnv MCIEEM Miss Lucy Fay CEnv MCIEEM The Register of Chartered Ecologists Mr Mark Wingrove CEnv MCIEEM recognises the effective application of Mr James Farrell CEnv MCIEEM knowledge and understanding of the science of ecology by professionals committed to the Mrs Anne Pritchard CEnv MCIEEM highest standards of practice. • Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv): Chartered Ecologist application deadlines CIEEM is one of 23 professional CEcol application due date CEcol Interviews bodies licensed by the Society for the 5 January 2018 26 March 2018 Environment (SocEnv) to award Chartered Environmentalist status. CEnv is an 30 March 2018 18 June 2018 increasingly recognised standard of good environmental practice. Chartered Environmentalist application deadlines The below profi le highlights the work of CEnv application due date CEnv report submission CEnv Interviews Chartered professionals and provides an deadline insight into the kind of roles that these senior 2 March 2018 25 May 2018 TBC ecologists and environmental managers are required for. Please note, these dates are subject to the availability of assessors and may change.

become involved with in the future will Our 150th Chartered Ecologist become increasingly complex as other Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Stephen Lockwood CEcol MCIEEM disciplines are beginning to recognise the Associate Director, RPS Planning & Development value of including a Chartered Ecologist as part of a project team. Why did you join CIEEM? How did you fi nd the I joined CIEEM approximately fi ve Chartership process? Would you recommend years ago at an Associate level, as the The initial understanding of the process applying for Chartership to body is the recognised organisation for was reasonably complex due to the your peers and colleagues? professional ecologists. Joining enabled number of potential competencies which I have recommended to a number of my me to assess my career development can be completed. Honing down to the colleagues that they apply for CEcol so that against standardised competencies, most relevant ones was the most time- they are able to assess where they are in helping me target areas of training to consuming process, ensuring I was able their careers and target specifi c continuing move forwards in my career progression. to summarise my relevant skills succinctly. professional development (CPD) activities The interview process was friendly to help them achieve their potential. Why did you apply for and straight forward and gave me the Chartered status? opportunity to add to the information I What is the best thing about In all professions Chartered status is the had already provided in my application. your job? recognition of a high level of professional The best thing about my job is the variety practice within a chosen career. To gain How has achieving Chartered of projects and locations I get to be this status as an ecologist is to exhibit status impacted on the types of involved with. My favourite habitat is the to both colleagues and clients the high work you undertake? upland environment, particularly blanket level of competency, knowledge and The work I undertake has remained the professional standards I have attained same for the time being, however having bog, so getting to assess these areas across through the course of my work. achieved CEcol I believe the projects I will the Scottish Highlands is a real bonus. I also enjoy mentoring members of RPS’s Scottish If you are interested in submitting your own profi le please contact the Registration ecology team and seeing more junior level Offi cer, Michael Hornby, at RegistrationOffi [email protected]. ecologists develop their skills.

60 Issue 98 | December 2017 Professional Updates

British Ecological Society Richard English Communications Manager

Information Sharing in the The symposium will compare and contrast We will welcome 1,500 international Ecological Community tree- and shrub-line vegetation dynamics delegates and offer 13 parallel sessions covering the breadth of ecological If you attended the recent workshop across northern Europe, and beyond, in the disciplines, two poster sessions, 13 at CIEEM’s Autumn Conference in context of differing land use methods and climate change, and examine the impact of career-progressing workshops and a social Manchester, jointly run by our Managing the vegetation dynamics on the biodiversity programme perfect for networking. We Editor Erika Newton and Conservation and ecosystem function of the habitat. pride ourselves on providing inclusive, Evidence, you’ll be aware that we are friendly events with strong science and looking for people to get involved by The altitudinal treeline habitat across renowned speakers. Our plenary speakers providing feedback and advice on a the boreal zone of Europe shares many this year are Iain Couzins, Sue Hartley, new project to facilitate information plant and animal species. These transition Carlos Herrera and Louise Vet. Catch up on sharing in the ecological community. Our habitats can be some of the most the Twitter conversation with #EAB2017. vision is to create an interactive online biologically diverse due to their highly platform that allows applied ecologists – variable structure. However, there are Videos of the plenary speakers and general researchers and practitioners – to browse differences in the history of land use across sessions will be online in January, so ensure and search a wide variety of applied Scandinavia and the UK which suggest you watch out for the announcement. that the current changes in vegetation ecological content including grey literature Membership Benefits reports, journal article summaries, and dynamics, in response to climate change, open access articles. If you’re interested may be very different in the separate Finally, we are currently looking to develop in finding out more, just visit www. regions. In turn, this affects other elements membership benefits for ecologists working britishecologicalsociety.org/infoshare and of the biodiversity (above and below outside academia; so, if you have any complete the short online form. ground). Generally, there appears to be an suggestions, we would love to hear from upward trend in the movement of tree and you: [email protected] Functional Traits in Agroecology shrub species in Scandinavia, while in the Meanwhile, take a look at the January UK treeline habitats are very rare and there issue of Journal of Applied Ecology for is conservation concern associated with our latest Special Feature, on Functional many montane scrub species. Traits in Agroecology. This group of papers, The land use differences, across the edited by Marney Isaac and Adam Martin, countries, have fostered very different highlights the role of agroecology in key attitudes to the vegetation in this zone global issues including farm management, and its role in supporting (or not) the food production and nutritional diversity. interests of extensive agriculture or hunting What’s more, this research demonstrates practice. Comparing and contrasting the how a trait-based approach can support vegetation and biodiversity dynamics in local ecological knowledge to assess crop- these different contexts may inform land environment interactions and ultimately use interests and will identify gaps in our develop sustainable management understanding of the dynamics that may solutions. Read the articles here: focus future research effort. http://bit.ly/JAPPL55-1 Keep an eye on our website for booking details and how to submit an abstract. Treeline Woodland and Scrub: Where Next? Joint Annual Meeting We’re excited to announce this joint By the time you read this, our joint Annual conference with the Norwegian Ecological Meeting will be in full swing in Ghent, Society. This event will bring together Belgium (11-14 December 2017). It is a practitioners, researchers and NGOs in first for us to hold a meeting with three Contact September 2018 in the UK and Norway. international organisations: Gesellschaft [email protected] It will use live video links between Perth für Ökologie (GfÖ) and NecoV, in www.britishecologicalsociety.org @BritishEcolSoc and Bergen to facilitate communication association with the European Ecological between the communities. Federation (EEF). Issue 98 | December 2017 61 Member Network News

Member Network News

CIEEM has two types of Member Networks: Geographic Sections and Special Interest Groups. Each is run by a committee of members for the benefit of other members, providing opportunities to network, share knowledge and learn more about the science and practice of our profession. For further information about Member Networks and how you can get involved, please visit www.cieem.net/member-networks.

EAST OF ENGLAND Visit to Nevendon Washland Nature Reserve 20 July 2017, Wickford A small but fairly diverse group parked up SOUTH EAST ENGLAND on Old Nevenden Road, Wickford, to be Visit to Ranscombe Farm met by the group’s host for the day, the 5 August 2017, Rochester ever-enthusiastic Jon Cranfield MCIEEM (Principal Ecologist at Herpetologic Ltd), and A South East Section event visited his equally enthusiastic dog. Participants Plantlife’s Ranscombe Farm on a stormy gathered to learn about how the creation, day in August. A guided walk was led enhancement and management of habitats by Plantlife’s Richard Moyse around the at the Nevendon Washland Nature Reserve nationally important reserve, which includes (as part of great crested newt mitigation) wild arable species, extensive ancient EAST OF ENGLAND has led to significant biodiversity gains woodland and fragments of chalk grassland. Serotines in Churches across a range of flora and fauna. For further information on this and other 4 August 2017, Chippenham Amphibians and reptiles were incredibly activities in the South East England Section visit www.cieem.net/south-east This event, led by experienced bat abundant on-site and the afternoon ecologist Chris Vine MCIEEM, began brought an opportunity to look at various with a talk before dusk on the types of aquatic funnel trap that Jon has ecology of serotine bats Eptesicus been trialling at the site for monitoring LAUNCH OF NEW SPECIAL serotinus and their history in this great crested newts. INTEREST GROUP: particular church. Chris has monitored You can read more about this event at: ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION this small colony on and off over www.cieem.net/east-of-england AND HABITAT CREATION the last 20 years, but they are not This autumn sees the launch of the only species to use the site for Adder Vipera berus CIEEM’s newest Special Interest Group roosting; both natterer’s bats Myotis (SIG) with the new committee being nattereri and brown long-eared bats elected as part of the 2017 elections. Plecotus auritus have been detected The new group will be working on over the years. events, policy engagement and other Chris talked the group through his initiatives relating to wide ranging hand-netting technique and this was aspects of ecological restoration and a great opportunity for attendees to Participants habitat creation. see the distinguishing features of one checking out To find out more about what of our larger bat species up close. the pond this new group will be getting up Many thanks to Chris for sharing his to as they begin making plans, knowledge and skills at this event! visit www.cieem.net/special- You can read more about this and interest-groups. other East of England Section activities at www.cieem.net/east-of-england. A successful great crested newt trapping session 62 Issue 98 | December 2017 WALES Welsh Section Conference 2017 Turning Policy into Practice: realising the environmental potential of new legislation in Wales 5 October, RSPB Newport Delegates gathered on a stunning October day at RSPB Newport to hear talks about how practitioners are beginning to translate recent Welsh legislation into wildlife 15th Century Farmhouse benefits on the ground. The day concluded with an unseasonably warm walk around this important wetland site, with sights including wetland birds, dragonflies, a lighthouse that sits below ground level and an unusual collection of electric pylons! You can find presentations from the day and speaker abstracts at www.cieem.net/ previous-conferences.

Lunch stop! WALES Visit to Coed Felinrhyd and Llennyrch led by the Woodland Trust 19 September 2017 A truly fabulous day was enjoyed by 10 people who had travelled from as far as Liverpool and Newport to Maentwrog, North Wales. Our expert guide for the day was Woodland Trust Site Manager for North Wales Kylie Jones Mattock who was assisted by her colleague Alastair Hotchkiss, an expert in lichens among other things. For further information on this and other activities in Wales please visit www.cieem.net/wales. Llennyrch was purchased by the Woodland Trust in 2015 via funds from a legacy, a public appeal which raised £400,000, as well as charitable trusts and £50,000 from ELECTIONS 2017 Natural Resources Wales (NRW). Together Thank you to all those who took part in this year’s elections – either standing as a candidate with their existing site Coed Felinrhyd, it or showing your support by voting for the many nominees. makes for a superb day out. You can find full details of who is on your Member Network Committees at www.cieem. Read more about this fascinating site at net/member-networks. www.cieem.net/wales You can also find details of current committee vacancies and how you can get involved at www.cieem.net/cieem-committee-vacancies SCOTLAND Scottish Section Conference 2018 Wildlife tourism in Scotland: A wildlife destination or a destination for wildlife Look out for upcoming events in your area and keep up to date with what’s 24 January, Aberdeen been going on at www.cieem.net/member-networks. For further details and booking information please visit http://events. For information on vacancies in your Member Network committees visit cieem.net/Events/Event-Listing.aspx www.cieem.net/cieem-committee-vacancies.

Issue 98 | December 2017 63 New Members

New Members The decision on admission is usually taken by the Membership Admissions Committee under delegated authority from the Governing Board but may be taken by the Governing Board itself. CIEEM is pleased to welcome the following individuals as new members:

ADMISSIONS

Full Members Graduate Members Peter Cleghorn, Sophie Connor,

Sara Abo El Nour, Mark Burton, Nicholas Benson, Abigail Case, Hazel Crossley, Millie Davey,

Paul Carrier, James Forde, Mike Harding, Zoe Courchene, Thom Erritt, Lauren Fear, Elizabeth Davis, Steven Davis,

Roger Herbert, Carys Hutton, Lewis Pate, Mary Gallagher, Abigail Gazzard, Craig Dickson, Christine Duffield,

Tristam Pearce, Josephine Preece, Jack Houston, James Hrynkiewicz, Jacob Elsey, Leanne Engdahl,

John Taylor, Rachel Whatmore Matthew Kirby, Laura Linsley, Jennine Evans, Brishan Finn-Leeming,

Katie Luxmoore, Charlotte Mason, Edward Font Freide, Samantha Gallimore, Upgrades to Full Membership Jonathan Molesworth, Adele Harrison, Abigail Harrison, Elaine Rickman, Dominic Bower, Matthew Mott-Dowling, Declan Murphy, Alice Harsant, Joseph Horrocks-Taylor, David McNicholas, Laura Holmes, Elinor Parry, Jennifer Paterson, Alex Keen, Nim Kibbler, Joe Laird, Jessica Andrews Georgina Pike, Joel Rowlands, Martin Lampert, Harri Lee, Associate Members Madelyn Shikh-Salim, Tonia Webster, Annabel Looker, Alice Maiden, Joanne Daly, Mike Drew, Paul Kennedy, Ashley Welch, Alexandra Yates Ian McGregor, Tessa McKnight, Jan Millard, Josephine Lewis, Christopher Mellor, Joanna Newton, Emily Park, Kiani Perera, Lloyd Richards, Louise Sherwell, Upgrades to Graduate Membership George Poulton, Sam Pratten, Roisin Tennyson, Sam Thomas, Kerri Watson Dean Carroll, Nathan Duszynski, Jake Hill, Samantha Ready, Edward Rickard, Philip Maund, Alexander Richardson, Upgrades to Associate Membership Rachel Roberts, Tanya Rowlinson, Neil Watkin, Ellis Watts, Emma Wayne, Richard Bates, Katherine Biggs, Elisabeth Seymour, Demi Slater, Hannah Williams, Deborah Wright David Blakemore, Matthew Buxton, Naomi Smith, Rachel Sore, Samuel Spry,

Catherine Coton, Nancy Davies, Student Members Abigail Strickley, Jack Taylor,

Errol Ibrahim, Nathan Jenkinson, Karen Andrews, Joanne Appleby, Rosalind Tomkins, Lucy Treasure,

Oliver Mackrill, Joe McLaughlin, Leona Baillie, Rhiannon Barton, Rowena Tylden-Pattenson,

Jack Muskett, Scott Roe, Andrea Sarkissian, Mariann Biro, Eilidh Brown, Julie Caldicott, Deborah Wallace, Sophie Whiting,

Catherine Wiseman Emma Carney, Victoria Chanin, Jack Childs, Matthew Wilcock, Emma Wood

64 Issue 98 | December 2017 Recent Publications

Saltmarsh (British Wildlife Grassland Fungi: A Field Guide Collection Volume 5) Authors: Elsa Wood and Jon Dunkelman Author: Clive Chatters ISBN-13: 9780957642416 ISBN-13: 9781472933591 Available from: www.nhbs.com Available from: www.bloomsbury.com Price: £19.99 Price: £31.50 The vital role of fungi in the ecology Saltmarshes are among Britain’s most of grasslands is becoming more widely diverse and dynamic landscapes. Clive appreciated, sparking an increasing Chatters has a lifetime’s affinity with them. interest in identification. Compiled from In this fifth volume of the British Wildlife Collection, he celebrates surveys in the Lower Wye Valley, this field their natural history and diversity, from the highly distinctive guide covers the species that are commonly found in meadows marshes in the Scottish Highlands to the urban remnants of the and other grasslands throughout the UK including the colourful Thames estuary now engulfed within the capital. By examining the waxcaps and many other fascinating species. Designed to be past of these complex habitats, we can gain an insight into how suitable for the beginner and amateur enthusiast, it will appeal they have developed, and an understanding of their relationship to anyone with an interest in grassland mycology. with people. In addition to their exceptionally diverse natural history, saltmarshes are sources of food and medicine, they play a pivotal role in flood defence and carbon sequestration, and have A Guide to Britain’s inspired artistic endeavour. Rarest Plants Author: Christopher J. Dixon Routledge Handbook ISBN-13: 9781784271466 of Urban Forestry Available from: www.nhbs.com Editors: Francesco Ferrini, Cecil C. Price: £19.99 Konijnendijk van den Bosch, Alessio Fini A Guide to Britain’s Rarest Plants describes ISBN-13: 9781138647282 66 native species of plants that have the most narrowly restricted ranges in Great Available from: www.routledge.com Britain. These range from continental, warmth-loving species in Price: £150.00 the south of England to those found only on the highest Scottish This comprehensive handbook provides mountains. Each species is shown together with its habitat to a global overview of the state of the art allow the reader to better understand the ecological context. and science of urban forestry. It describes the multiple roles and benefits of urban green areas in general and the specific role of trees, including for issues such as air quality, human well-being Adventures of a Young and stormwater management. It reviews the various stresses experienced by trees in cities and tolerance mechanisms, as well as Naturalist: The Zoo cultural techniques for either pre-conditioning or alleviating stress Quest Expeditions after planting. It sets out sound planning, design, species selection, Author: Sir David Attenborough establishment and management of urban trees. It shows that close interactions with the local urban communities who benefit from ISBN-13: 9781473664401 trees are key to success. By drawing upon international state-of-art Available from: any good bookstore knowledge on arboriculture and urban forestry, the book provides Price: £7.99 a definitive overview of the field and is an essential reference text In 1954, a young television presenter was for students, researchers and practitioners. offered the opportunity of a lifetime – to travel the world finding rare and elusive animals for London Zoo’s collection, and to film the expeditions for the BBC. His name was David Attenborough, and the programme, Zoo Quest, not only heralded the start of a remarkable career in broadcasting, but changed the way we viewed the natural world forever. Written with his trademark wit and charm, Adventures of a Young Naturalist is not just the story of a remarkable adventure, but of the man who made us fall in love with the natural world, and who is still doing so today.

Issue 98 | December 2017 65 Recent Journals

Basic mathematical errors may make ecological assessments unreliable Plant, soil and microbial controls on grassland diversity restoration: a long-term, multi-site P. R. Lintott and F. Mathews Biodiversity and Conservation 2017 (https://doi.org/10.1007/ mesocosm experiment s10531-017-1418-5) E.L. Fry et al. Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) are used globally as the Journal of Applied Ecology 2017, 54: 1320–1330 evidence-base for planning decisions, yet their efficacy is uncertain. (doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12869) Given that EIAs are extremely expensive and are enshrined in The authors carried out an 8-year mesocosm experiment across legislation, their place in evidence-based decision-making deserves three locations in the UK to explore the relative and interactive evaluation. The mean is the most commonly used summary statistic roles of various above-ground and below-ground factors in the in ecological assessments, yet it is unlikely to be a good summary establishment of target species, to determine general constraints where the distribution of data is skewed; and its use without any on grassland restoration. The results of this long-term, multi-site indication of variability can be highly misleading. Using bats as an study indicate that successful restoration of species-rich grassland example, the authors show that EIAs frequently summarise these is dependent primarily on priority effects, especially in the form data using the mean or fail to define the term ‘average’. This can of early-coloniser species that suppress establishment of slow- lead to the systematic misinterpretation of evidence which has serious growing target species. The authors also show that priority effects implications for assessing risk. There is therefore a pressing need vary with soil conditions, being stronger in clay than sandy soils, for guidance to specify data processing techniques so that planning and on soils of high nutrient availability. This work emphasises the decisions are made on a firm evidence-base. By ensuring that data importance of considering priority effects and local soil conditions processing is systematic and transparent it will result in mitigation in developing management strategies for restoring plant species decisions and conservation strategies that are cost-effective and diversity in grassland. proportionate to the predicted degree of risk. Correspondence: [email protected] Open access: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/ s10531-017-1418-5 Correspondence: [email protected] Livestock grazing alters multiple ecosystem properties and services in salt marshes: Comment: Evidence complacency a meta-analysis hampers conservation K.E. Davidson et al. Journal of Applied Ecology 2017, 54: 1395–1405 W.J. Sutherland and C.F.R. Wordley (doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12892) Nature Ecology and Evolution 2017, 1: 1215–1216 To investigate how livestock alter soil, vegetation and faunal properties The pernicious problem of evidence complacency, illustrated here in salt marshes, the authors conducted a global meta-analysis through conservation policy and practice, results in poor practice of ungulate grazer impacts on commonly measured ecosystem and inefficiencies. It also increases our vulnerability to a ‘post- properties. They also tested stocking density, grazing duration, grazer truth’ world dealing with ‘alternative facts’. identity, continent and vegetation type as potential modifiers of the Open access: http://www.readcube.com/articles/10.1038/ grazing effect. The majority of studies were conducted in Europe or s41559-017-0244-1 the Americas, and investigated cattle or sheep grazing. The results reveal that the use of salt marshes for livestock production affects multiple ecosystem properties, creating trade-offs and synergies Understorey plant community composition with other ecosystem services. Grazing leads to reductions in blue reflects invasion history decades after invasive carbon in the Americas but not in Europe. Grazing may compromise Rhododendron has been removed coastal protection and the provision of a nursery habitat for fish while creating provisioning and cultural benefits through increased J.E. Maclean et al. wildfowl abundance. These findings can inform salt marsh grazing Journal of Applied Ecology 2017 (doi: 10.1111/1365-2664.12973) management, based on local context and desired ecosystem services. Little is generally known about what happens to sites following Correspondence: [email protected] the removal of the invasives and the implicit assumption that the native community will return, unaided, to pre-invasion conditions is often left untested. The authors assessed recovery of the native understorey plant community following removal of the non-native invasive Rhododendron ponticum from Scottish Atlantic oak woodland. Cleared sites showed no evidence of returning to the target community, even after 30 years of recovery, and instead formed a bryophyte-dominated ‘novel community’, containing few of the typical oak woodland vascular plants. The findings demonstrate that native communities may be unable to recover effectively of their own accord following invasive species removal, and will require further management interventions in order to achieve restoration goals. Correspondence: [email protected]

66 Issue 98 | December 2017 Density dependence and marine bird populations: are wind farm assessments precautionary? Systematic searching for environmental evidence using multiple tools and sources C. Horswill, S.H. O’Brien and R.A. Robinson B. Livoreil et al. Journal of Applied Ecology 2017, 54: 1406–1414 (doi:10.1111/1365-2664.12841) Environmental Evidence 2017, 6:23 (https://doi. org/10.1186/s13750-017-0099-6) The authors reviewed the evidence for compensatory and depensatory regulation of 31 marine bird species, and conducted a meta-analysis This paper provides guidance about how to plan, prepare, to examine the functional shape of density-dependent population conduct, report, amend or update a systematic search. It growth. The evidence was also evaluated in relation to established aims to contribute to a new version of the Collaboration for species-specific indices of wind farm vulnerability in order to assess Environmental Evidence (CEE) Guidelines for Systematic Reviews whether compensatory mechanisms are likely to offset losses in Environmental Management, and the methods described are associated with collision or displacement. likely to be broadly applicable across a wider range of topics. In evidence synthesis, searches are expected to be repeatable, fit The authors conclude that among marine bird species with high for purpose, with minimum biases, and to collate a maximum vulnerability to wind farms, compensatory regulation is unlikely to number of relevant articles. Failing to include relevant information offset large and sustained losses from the breeding population. In in an evidence synthesis may lead to inaccurate or skewed addition, depensation has the potential to accelerate population conclusions and/or changes in conclusions as soon as the omitted declines and generate local or regional extinctions, especially in information is added. smaller colonial species. Consequently, density-independent models will not offer a consistently precautionary approach for assessing the Open access: https://environmentalevidencejournal. potential impact of wind farms on marine bird populations. Instead, biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13750-017-0099-6 assessments should examine the potential population response using a range of density-dependent structures. A national-scale assessment of climate change Correspondence: [email protected] impacts on species: Assessing the balance of risks and opportunities for multiple taxa More than 75 percent decline over 27 years in W. Pearce-Higgins et al. total flying insect biomass in protected areas Biological Conservation 2017, 213: 124-134 (https://doi. C.A. Hallmann org/10.1016/j.biocon.2017.06.035) PLoS ONE 2017, 12(10): e0185809 (https://doi.org/10.1371/ It is important for conservationists to be able to assess the risks that journal.pone.0185809) climate change poses to species, in order to inform decision-making. The author used a standardised protocol to measure total insect The authors present a national-scale assessment of the risks of range biomass deployed over 27 years in 63 nature protection areas in loss and opportunities for range expansion that climate change Germany to infer on the status and trend of local entomofauna. could pose for over 3,000 plants and animals. Species were selected The author’s analysis estimates a seasonal decline of 76%, and by their occurrence in England, the primary focus of the study, but mid-summer decline of 82%, in flying insect biomass over the 27 climate change impacts were assessed across Great Britain, widening years of study. This decline is apparent regardless of habitat type, their geographical relevance. A basic risk assessment that compared while changes in weather, land use, and habitat characteristics projected future changes in potential range with recently observed cannot explain this overall decline. This yet unrecognised loss of changes classified 21% of species as being at high risk and 6% at insect biomass must be taken into account in evaluating declines medium risk of range loss under a B1 climate change scenario. A in abundance of species depending on insects as a food source, greater number of species were classified as having a medium (16%) and ecosystem functioning in the European landscape. or high (38%) opportunity to potentially expand their distribution. Open access: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/ A more comprehensive assessment, incorporating additional ecological article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0185809 information, including potentially confounding and exacerbating Correspondence: [email protected] factors (e.g. dispersal, habitat availability and other constraints), was applied to 402 species, of which 35% were at risk of range loss and 42% may expand their range extent. Tree loss impacts on ecological connectivity: This study covers a temperate region with a significant proportion Developing models for assessment of species at their poleward range limit; the balance of risks and opportunities from climate change may be different elsewhere. R.C. Henry The outcome of both risk assessments varied between taxonomic Ecological Informatics 2017, 42: 90-99 groups, with bryophytes and vascular plants containing the greatest This study modelled the removal of non-woodland roadside trees and proportion of species at risk from climate change. Upland habitats the effects on wider landscape connectivity. Removing 60% of roadside contained more species at risk than other habitats. Whilst the overall trees decreased the number of successful dispersers by up to 17%. pattern was clear, confidence was generally low for individual Trees outside of woodlands (TOWs) are important for maintaining assessments, with the exception of well-studied taxa such as birds. landscape connectivity. The study says that spatially explicit individual- In response to climate change, nature conservation needs to plan for based models are valuable tools for assessing the loss of TOWs. changing species distributions and an uncertain future. Open access: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ Open access: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S157495411730211X S0006320717302859

Issue 98 | December 2017 67 Recent Journals

Environmental management from left to right – on ideology, policy-specific beliefs and pro- environmental policy support S.C. Jagers, N. Harring and S. Matti Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2017, 61: 86-104 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2017.1289902) Due to growing environmental challenges, the demand for effective management through pro-environmental policy measures is increasing. The effectiveness is, however, largely determined by the degree to which the policy measures are supported by the actors affected by them. A consistent finding in the literature is that ideology (or subjective positioning on the left–right dimension) affects environmental policy support, with left-leaning individuals being more pro-environmental. A major caveat with previous research is that it seldom makes a distinction between different kinds of policies. The authors investigate how different ideological positions affect attitudes The threat of invasive species to bats: a review towards different forms of environmental protection. The authors J. Nicole Welch and C. Leppanen show that ideology is related to conceptions about the fairness and Mammal Review 2017, 47: 277–290 (doi: 10.1111/mam.12099) effectiveness of different policy tools, which in turn steer preferences. Biological invasions are a major driver of biodiversity loss, but no Correspondence: [email protected] study has described the scope of threats to bats (Chiroptera) by invasive species. The missing pillar: Eudemonic values in the The authors reviewed the literature for negative effects of invasive species to bats and summarised threats according to four categories: justification of nature conservation predation, disease, competition, and indirect interactions. They R.J.G. van den Born et al. identified threats of 37 invasive species to 40 bat species. Ten bat Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 2017 species were threatened by more than one invasion pathway. (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09640568.2017.1342612) Although appreciable bat population reductions owing to invasive The public justification for nature conservation currently rests species are often unproven, invasions are likely to exacerbate effects on two pillars: hedonic (instrumental) values, and moral values. of other vulnerabilities. Multiple invaders and synergistic interactions Yet, these representations appear to do little motivational work may ultimately lead to species losses. in practice; biodiversity continues to decline, and biodiversity Managers should exercise the precautionary principle by taking action policies face a wide implementation gap. In seven EU countries, against non-native species when first detected, even if new species do the authors studied why people act for nature beyond not appear to be detrimental. professional obligations. The results show that the key concept Correspondence: [email protected] for understanding committed action for nature is meaningfulness. People act for nature because nature is meaningful to them, connected to a life that makes sense and a difference in the world. These eudemonic values (expressing the meaningful life) constitute a crucial third pillar in the justification of nature conservation. The paper explores important policy implications are explored, for example, with respect to public discourse and the encounter with nature in childhood. Open access: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/ 09640568.2017.1342612

68 Issue 98 | December 2017 Diary

Forthcoming Events 2017-2018 For information on these events please see www.cieem.net. Conferences Date Title Location CIEEM Scottish Section Conference – Wildlife tourism in Scotland: A wildlife destination or a destination 24 January 2018 Aberdeen for wildlife CIEEM Spring Conference 2018 – The Nature of Buildings: Designing effective mitigation and 20 March 2018 Birmingham enhancement

Training Courses 23 January 2018 Introduction to Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Leeds

24 January 2018 Ecological Report Writing Leeds

25 January 2018 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of Projects (England and Wales) London

25 January 2018 Ecological Clerk of Works Birmingham

30-31 January 2018 Developing Skills in Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Newcastle 31 January Camera Trapping for Survey, Monitoring and Public Engagement Totnes - 1 February 2018 6-7 February 2018 Developing Skills in Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Birmingham

8 February 2018 Effective Communication Skills Birmingham

8 February 2018 BS42020 Biodiversity: Code of Practice for Planning and Development Bristol

12-13 February 2018 Pine marten and wildcat ecology and survey Perthshire

15 February 2018 Ecological Clerk of Works Bristol

21 February 2018 Advanced Course in Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Birmingham

22 February 2018 Report Writing for Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Birmingham

22 February 2018 Effective Workplace Mentoring Birmingham

26 February 2018 Designing Biodiversity No Net Loss and Net Gain Projects London

27 February 2018 Habitats Regulations Appraisal of Plans / Projects (Scotland) Glasgow

27-28 February 2018 Train the Trainer for Ecologists Birmingham 28 February Developing Skills in Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) Stirling - 1 March 2018 6 March 2018 An Introduction to SUAVs for Ecological Practice Preston

13-14 March 2018 Water Vole Live Trapping, Handling, Practical Care and Re-establishment Lifton

13-14 March 2018 Intermediate QGIS for Ecologists and Environmental Practitioners Athlone

15 March 2018 Introduction to Protected Species Law and Policy Bristol

20 March 2018 Peregrine Falcon – Ecology, Survey and Mitigation Birmingham

21 March 2018 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of Projects Birmingham

22 March 2018 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of Plans Birmingham

22 March 2018 Barn Owl: Ecology, Surveying and Mitigation Tamworth

26 March 2018 Badger Ecology and Survey Dorchester

27 March 2018 Badger Mitigation Dorchester

27 March 2018 Otter Ecology and Surveys Cirencester

29 March 2018 Trees and Bat Roosts Dorking

29 March 2018 BS42020 Biodiversity: Code of Practice for Planning and Development Newcastle

Issue 98 | December 2017 69 Advertisements

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Issue 98 | December 2017 71 ECOLOGISTS COME AND JOIN THE ARCADIS TEAM Bristol / Cardi / Warrington / Stroud / London

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72 Issue 98 | December 2017