Yell Ramna Stacks & Gruney Fetlar

Mousa Loch of Spiggie Sumburgh Head

Noup Cliffs North Hill Birsay Moors Trumland The Loons and Loch of Banks Onziebust Mill Dam Marwick Head Brodgar Cottasgarth & Rendall Moss Copinsay Hoy Hobbister Durness Dunnet Head Eilean Hoan Broubster Leans Loch na Muilne Forsinard Flows

Priest Island Troup Head Vallay Edderton Sands Balranald Nigg and Udale Bays Ardmore Culbin Sands Loch of Strathbeg Fairy Glen Loch Ruthven Meikle Loch Eileanan Dubha Corrimony Ballinlaggan RSPB Abernethy Insh Marshes The Crannach

Fowlsheugh Coll Glenborrodale RESERVES The Reef Loch of Kinnordy

Skinflats Tay Inversnaid Colonsay Vane Farm 2011 Oronsay Inner Clyde Fidra Fannyside Smaull Farm Lochwinnoch Inchmickery Loch Gruinart/Ardnave Baron’s Haugh The Oa Horse Island Bogside Flats Aird’s Moss Rathlin Ailsa Craig Coquet Island Lough Foyle Ken-Dee Marshes Wood of Cree Kirkconnell Merse Crook of Baldoon Campfield Marsh Larne Lough Islands Mersehead Geltsdale Belfast Lough Lower Lough Erne Islands Portmore Lough Mull of Galloway & Scar Rocks Saltholme Haweswater St Bees Head Aghatirourke Strangford Bay & Sandy Island Lyth Valley Hodbarrow Leighton Moss & Morecambe Bay Bempton Cliffs Carlingford Lough Islands

Hesketh Out Marsh Fairburn Ings Marshside Read’s Island Blacktoft Sands The Skerries Dove Stone Tetney Marshes Valley Wetlands DearneV alley – Old Moor and Bolton Ings South Stack Cliffs Dee Estuary Beckingham Marshes Conwy Eastern Moors Malltraeth Marsh Langford Lowfields Morfa Dinlle Coombes & Churnet Valleys Freiston Shore Titchwell Marsh Lake Vyrnwy Frampton Marsh Snettisham Sutton Fen Mawddach Woodlands Middleton Lakes Mid Yare Valley Nene Washes Berney Marshes & Breydon Water Ynys-hir Sandwell Valley Ouse Washes Lakenheath Fen Ouse Fen (Hanson-RSPB project) Dingle Marshes Carngafallt Minsmere Fen Drayton Lakes Snape North Warren Gwenffrwd/Dinas The Lodge Fowlmere Havergate Island & Boyton Marshes Stour Estuary Wolves & Ramsey Woods Ramsey Island HighnamWoods Old Hall Marshes Otmoor Wallasea Island Grassholm Cwm Clydach Nagshead Rye Meads South Essex Marshes Church Wood Cliffe Pools Newport Wetlands Northward Hill Winterbourne Downs Rainham Marshes Nor Marsh & Motney Hill Shorne Marshes Great Bells Farm Normanton Down Seasalter Levels Elmley Ham Wall Farnham Heath Harty Marshes Chapel Wood Barfold Copse Tudeley Marshes Lydden Valley Greylake Blean Woods Isley Marsh West Sedgemoor Woods Broadwater Warren Garston Wood Dungeness Fore Wood Aylesbeare Common Adur Estuary Lewes Brooks Exe Estuary Arne Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wildbrooks Labrador Bay Bracklesham Bay Radipole Lake Wareham Pilsey Island Lodmoor Meadows Langstone Harbour Hayle Estuary Brading Marshes Grange Heath Marazion Marsh Stoborough Heath

Locations of RSPB reserves Featured reserves 1

RSPB Reserves 2011 A review of our work

COMPILED BY JANE SEARS AND JO GILBERT Contents

Our vision 3

Introduction – Stepping up for nature 5

Reserves and wildlife – a review of 2010 7 Progress towards bird species targets 8 Other wildlife 12 Land acquisition 14 Condition of RSPB-managed SSSIs/ASSIs 15

Saving nature 17 Conserving black grouse at Geltsdale 18 FAME – understanding seabird feeding behaviour 22 Management for eels on RSPB nature reserves 26 100 years of protecting Welsh wildlife 30 35 years of management for wildlife at Elmley Marshes 34 Breeding purple herons and little bitterns – whatever next? 38

Restoring lost habitats 43 Winterbourne Downs – a landscape in the making 44 Wet grassland restoration at Lough Beg – realising the “country of the mind” 48 Working with Scottish Natural Heritage through Area Framework Agreements 52 Connecting habitats at Loch Leven NNR 56 Restoration and expansion of Scotland’s Atlantic woodlands – our Celtic rainforests 60 Vallay island nature reserve 64

Reserves and people – a review of 2010 69 Bringing backstage to the fore 70 Moving the mountain – South Essex Marshes 72 Fifty years of the RSPB at The Lodge 74 Volunteering at the ends of the earth 78 Young people show their “green talents” at Sandwell Valley 80 The local value of seabirds 82

Benefiting the environment 85 From birds to briquettes – using waste on the Exe Estuary reserve 86

Supporting partners around the world 90 Fuelling the recovery of the aquatic warbler in Poland’s Biebrza Marshes 92 Management planning in Badhyz, Turkmenistan – the “Serengeti of Central Asia” 96

Thank you to our supporters 100 2 RSPB RESERVES 2011 3 Mark Sisson(rspb-images.com)

Our vision

Our vision is to help achieve a wildlife-rich future by doubling the area of land managed as RSPB nature reserves by 2030; protecting our most special places for birds and all wildlife; and redressing past losses through habitat restoration and creation.

Our reserves will be wonderful places, rich in wildlife, where everyone can enjoy, learn about and be inspired by the wealth of nature. Working with neighbouring landowners, we will help enhance the quality of the surrounding countryside through our Futurescapes programme.

Increasingly, we will focus on restoring land of low ecological interest to that of high quality. We set challenging targets, but more is needed given the size of the task facing all of us.

Golden eagle 4 RSPB RESERVES 2011 INTRODUCTION 5 Ian Hughes(RSPB) Introduction Stepping up for nature

So, collectively we failed nature. to create the political impetus for importance for biodiversity to The commitment to halt the loss of strong conservation legislation, Favourable Condition. Further west, biodiversity by 2010, made by EU effective frameworks for strategic near Sheffield, the RSPB has entered member state governments, was planning, and the right mix of into a formal partnership with the not met. regulation to prevent damage to National Trust to jointly manage the nature – and incentives and advice Eastern Moors under lease from the For England at least, there was a silver to stimulate action by companies, Peak District National Park, again lining: the target to have at least 95% communities and individuals. seeking to restore ecosystem function of SSSIs in Favourable or Unfavourable- in an area of dramatic beauty, for Recovering Condition was achieved by In making a difference through our own biodiversity and people. the end of 2010, as intended. The RSPB actions, the RSPB will seek to build on played a full part in this success. Of the partnerships established with a wide Not all partnerships are at such a large remedies that fell to us to implement range of organisations, both in the scale. In North Uist, for example, we on our nature reserves, we delivered public and private sectors. Some are are delighted to be working with 99.9% by area. The overall percentage obvious, some surprising; some are Angus MacDonald at Vallay island, of the RSPB’s land that met target long standing, some newly forged. All where his management of the island condition was lower, at 93.7%, are valued. In 2010, several important for beef production has dovetailed because many external problems new partnerships came to fruition, seamlessly with habitat restoration for affecting our reserves, such as diffuse some having been in gestation for corncrakes. Since 2002, numbers of pollution and coastal squeeze, remain several years. singing corncrakes have increased unresolved by statutory regulators. from the occasional bird to more than In Essex, the Wallasea Wild Coast 15! A personal highlight for us during But there is hope for the future. At the project is now well underway, in 2010 was visiting Vallay, meeting 2010 Nagoya biodiversity summit, partnership with Crossrail and the Angus, and learning at first hand how world leaders promised to do better. Environment Agency. Essex County this has been achieved. A renewed target was set to halt Council granted planning permission, biodiversity loss and begin its and the Crouch Harbour Authority has Given that you are reading this, the restoration by 2020 – a commitment given other essential consents for the chances are you will have helped the that UK Environment Secretary, project. Arable farmland at risk from RSPB do something special, in a small Caroline Spelman, played an important flooding will be restored to inter-tidal or big way; through donations of personal role in brokering. The RSPB mudflat and saltmarsh, facilitating money or time, or through political or has since launched its Stepping Up For adaptation to climate change through moral support or practical work. Nature campaign, to support attainment beneficial use of spoil from the Whatever you’ve done, and might soon of this target. We will encourage Crossrail project. do, thanks for stepping up for nature. individuals, communities, companies, and local and national governments to In the Peak District, the RSPB’s do more for biodiversity and the natural partnership with United Utilities has environment, on which we all entered a new phase through Gwyn Williams ultimately depend. establishment of a moorland nature Head of Reserves & Protected Areas reserve at Dove Stone, east of Halting biodiversity loss will require Oldham. This will continue work to co-ordinated action by us all. Individual restore peat bogs, to reduce water commitment will need to be discoloration from peat and return Martin Harper Our uplands are covered with miles of drains. Blocking these improves conditions for wildlife complemented by government action – protected areas of international Director of Conservation and prevents the loss of carbon. 6 RSPB RESERVES 2011 7 Danny Green(rspb-images.com)

Reserves and wildlife a review of 2010

There are several strategic aims within the RSPB’s Reserves Conservation Strategy: • We have set ambitious targets for key bird species: to increase the populations of 15 species and maintain population of 11 others. • To ensure that wildlife thrives on our reserves, we aim to maintain rare and scarce species of plants, fungi and animals and to enhance numbers of some of the most threatened species. • We will continue to create important new habitats on existing reserves and to acquire further land where this helps us to conserve priority species and habitats. • For those areas of reserves designated as Sites and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs and ASSIs) where the RSPB is responsible for delivery of Favourable Condition, our aim is that all are classified as in Favourable Condition or Unfavourable-Recovering Condition by 2012 in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. This target should have been reached by 2010 in England. This chapter reports on progress made towards these aims during 2010.

In recent years, productivity of Slavonian grebes at Loch Ruthven has been poor. Fortunately, it was improved in 2010, after recommendations from a detailed study were implemented. 8 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 9 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

Populations of priority bird species present on RSPB nature reserves managed since 2005 or before. In some cases the population on the entire RSPB reserve network is higher than this, because birds on land acquired since 2005 have not been included in this table.

Species 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 target Slavonian grebe 2 2 3 4 4 2 2 Black-necked grebe 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 Bittern (booming males) 18 19 20 26 29 34-37 34 Common scoter 11 14 10 10 12 11 11 Hen harrier (nests)* 53 - - 43 56 47 59 Black grouse (lekking males) 104 151 189 174 141 169 170 Capercaillie (lekking males) 48 39 47 41 32 31 60 Spotted crake (calling males) 10 13 14 12 12 10 10 Corncrake (calling males) 242 266 294 240 289 246 330 Crane 0 0 1-2 2 2 3 3 Stone-curlew 7 7 6 10 12 17** 20 Lapwing (on lowland wet grassland) 1,311 1,366 1,392 1,458 1,500 1,402 1,650 Snipe (on lowland wet grassland) 542 579 495 565 568 507 700 Black-tailed godwit race limosa 46 50 43 43 43 45 46 Whimbrel 10 - >8 8 - 8 10 Redshank (on lowland wet grassland) 1,070 1,128 1,180 1,196 1,192 1,178 1,300 Red-necked phalarope (males) 18 12 8 6 11 13 18 Little tern 191 127 137 113 122 122 191 Seventeen pairs of stone-curlews bred on RSPB nature reserves in 2010, an increase from 12 in 2009. Nightjar*** 71 75 68 65 59 63 71 Woodlark*** 38 51 53 50 50 33 38 Dartford warbler*** 139 108 c 125 c 147 c 85 100 165 ProgressProgress towardstowards bbirdird sspeciespecies targetstargets Crested tit c 200 - - - - - c 200 Golden oriole 2 2 3 2 2 0-1 4 MALCOLM AUSDEN, PRINCIPAL Chough 31 34 37 34 33 32 40 RESERVES ECOLOGIST unlikely to achieve their 2012 There were further increases in Scottish crossbill (individuals) - - - 23 - - - “maintain” targets, with an additional booming bitterns at our two longest- Cirl bunting 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

We aim to maintain the populations of two species likely to fail to colonise or established reedbed creation sites. At Note: Figures are pairs except where stated otherwise. 11 key bird species at or above their re-colonise RSPB reserves. Numbers Ham Wall, there were eight booming * The original target has been revised because of changes in recording area at one of their key sites, Forsinard Flows. ** Includes two females, which both laid in the same nest, and which we have counted as separate ”pairs”. 2005 levels. Ambitious targets have of the remaining two priority species (calling male) bitterns plus a minimum *** The original target has been revised because one of the sites at which they breed, Avon Heath, is no longer an RSPB reserve, and because of changes been set to increase populations of a are not monitored regularly on RSPB of eight nests; an increase from three in recording at North Warren. further 15 key species breeding on our nature reserves. boomers and 6–7 nests in 2009. At reserves by 2012 (see table). Lakenheath Fen, there were six

Numbers of calling corncrakes increased markedly at Durness, Highland. Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Species making good progress boomers and five nests (four boomers Figures for 2010 again show mixed towards achieving their 2012 and four nests in 2009). There was progress. Five species are making good “increase” targets also the first confirmed bittern nest at progress towards achieving ambitious Five species are currently on track to Dungeness, where bitterns first targets to increase their population, and achieve their 2012 increase targets: boomed in 2009. 10 species are expected to maintain bittern, black grouse, crane, stone- their existing numbers on our nature curlew, and redshank (on lowland Black grouse increased at Geltsdale reserves. Seven species appear wet grassland). between 2009 and 2010, from 18 to 10 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 11

38 lekking males. Part of the increase and again fledged one young. A third re-created heath (an increase from Species making good progress have been increasing slightly on our Washes, possibly as a result of poor is likely to be in response to the good pair of cranes bred at the Nene five in 2009), and these fledged nine towards achieving their 2012 principal wet grassland reserves, weather conditions when they were breeding season in 2009, and part due Washes after summering there for the young. Just one other stone-curlew “maintain” targets although there was a small drop in surveyed. In recent years, numbers to a re-location of birds in the North last two years. This pair also fledged fledged on the Suffolk Coast. There Ten species are expected to achieve 2010. This is set against large-scale have remained fairly stable on RSPB Pennines in snowy conditions. The lek one young. This is the first time that were four breeding pairs of stone- their 2012 Reserves Conservation declines in the wider countryside lowland wet grassland reserves but count for the whole of the North cranes have been recorded breeding curlews on the land being reverted Strategy maintain targets: Slavonian outside nature reserves. Trends in have failed to increase as hoped. The Pennines declined dramatically since in Cambridgeshire for 400 years. to chalk grassland at Winterbourne grebe, common scoter, hen harrier, lapwing breeding populations and maintenance of a more or less stable the last survey in 2007–8. This decline Downs in 2010 (up from three in spotted crake, corncrake, lapwing levels of productivity vary greatly population on reserves as a whole is is thought to have been due to the Twenty-one young cranes were 2009, and one in 2008). (on lowland wet grassland), snipe between reserves. in contrast to the collapse of the hard winter. At Geltsdale, it is likely released to the Somerset Levels as (on lowland wet grassland), black- breeding snipe populations across that winter survival of black grouse part of a re-introduction programme, Total numbers of breeding redshanks tailed godwit (limosa race), whimbrel Total numbers of breeding snipe on the lowlands outside of reserves. was higher than elsewhere in the from 25 eggs collected from the have been increasing slightly on our and chough. the RSPB’s lowland wet grassland Numbers of drumming (displaying) North Pennines, as a result of the donor site in Germany. principal lowland wet grassland reserves declined slightly in 2010. This snipe remained high at West extensive planting of native trees reserves. Small declines at several Slavonian grebes had a productive was almost entirely due to lower Sedgemoor (70 drummers in 2010, providing more accessible food during Numbers of breeding stone-curlews sites in 2010 were largely offset by year on Loch Ruthven (their only numbers being recorded at the Nene compared with between 33 and 49 the period of deep snow. increased on the habitat re-creation increases at others. RSPB breeding site). Over the whole areas at Minsmere and Winterbourne loch, nine pairs bred, raising six Nick Upton(rspb-images.com) For the second year running, two pairs Downs. At Minsmere, there were six young. This follows two years during Twenty-one young cranes have been released to the Somerset Levels of cranes nested at Lakenheath Fen pairs of stone-curlews nesting on the which no young at all were reared on the loch.

Numbers of breeding hen harriers on Snipe numbers have remained fairly stable on RSPB reserves in recent years but are declining Richard Revels (rspb-images.com) reserves fluctuate from year to year, elsewhere in the lowlands. probably largely in relation to food supply. Birsay Moors, on Orkney, held 21 territories, the highest number in the last five years at this site. The lack of regular breeding at Geltsdale remains of concern and is almost certainly due to persecution in surrounding areas. There have been no successful breeding hen harriers at Geltsdale for the last four years.

Numbers of spotted crakes breeding in the UK also fluctuate from year to year, although total numbers on reserves have remained fairly stable over the last few years.

Total numbers of calling corncrakes on reserves were slightly lower than in 2009. This was due to small reductions in numbers at Coll, Balranald and The Reef, combined with a marked increase at Durness. Total numbers of breeding lapwings 12 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 13 Bob GomesRSPB Dungeness has been managed to increase the extent of pollen- and nectar-rich plants. Excitingly, the shrill carder bee (below) and large garden bumblebee were recorded drummers in 2005-7). There was also second year running, from six males (from 16 to nine pairs) and Minsmere there for the first time in 2010. an encouraging increase in numbers in 2009 to eight males in 2010. This (from 17 to 14 pairs), almost certainly of drumming snipe on the re-created follows the clearance of existing due to the severe winter weather. wet grassland at Greylake, from three pools and creation of new pools in Numbers at other sites remained in 2009, to 12 in 2010. these mires prior to the 2009 fairly stable, and at Arne were breeding season. slightly higher (52 pairs), compared Numbers of breeding black-tailed with when the site was last fully godwits remained fairly stable at the There were 31 lekking male surveyed in 2006 (37 pairs). Nene Washes reserve (44 in 2010, 42 capercaillies at Abernethy in 2010, in 2009). On the RSPB-managed down from 32 last year. Capercaillies The population of breeding golden section of the Ouse Washes, no had a productive breeding season in orioles at Lakenheath Fen has failed to godwits bred for the sixth year 2009, but then suffered a hard increase since the beginning of the running, although a male displayed winter. The fact that this hard winter Reserves Conservation Strategy. The for the first time since 2004. resulted in a decline of just one male UK breeding population of this species can be regarded as quite positive. has been in long-term decline, in line Numbers of breeding whimbrels are Productivity was also reasonably with the decline since the mid-1990s remaining fairly stable on RSPB good in 2010, with records of 25 of its much larger breeding population reserves, but there is a potential for hens producing 23 chicks. in the Netherlands. The golden oriole them to decrease in numbers, given is in danger of becoming extinct as a the wider decline that has taken A highlight in 2010 was the success breeding species in the UK. The place since the 1980s in their of little terns at Langstone Harbour, decline in the UK and elsewhere in Shetland stronghold. following creation of suitable nesting North-west Europe does not appear to areas and some control of foxes. In be caused by a deterioration in habitat Numbers of breeding choughs were 2010, there were 60 pairs (compared conditions on their breeding grounds. similar to those in 2009. The only with 45 in 2009) and between 47 Highlights during 2010: the maintenance of grazed to support many rare beetles, but changes were declines by one pair and 70 young fledged (compared pasture and the avoidance of this habitat has become scarce each at Ramsey Island and South with five young fledged in 2009). Other wildlife ● Following the sighting of two adult anti-parasitic drugs. since commercial gravel Stack, and an increase by one pair Our centralised database now holds argent and sable moths at extraction stopped. We have at Ardnave. Numbers of churring nightjars in more than 2.5 million records of Coombes Valley in 2009, caterpillars ● Two BAP priority bumblebees, the created new bare margins by 2010 were fairly similar to those in species recorded on RSPB reserves, were discovered there in 2010. This shrill carder bee Bombus removing vegetation and were Species making unsatisfactory 2009. At Farnham Heath, where we including almost 3,000 rare and moth has been lost from many sylvarum, and the large garden delighted when one of the most progress towards achieving are re-creating heathland by felling scarce taxa. We are using this to parts of England and Wales, and it bumblebee Bombus ruderatus, important species, Omophron their 2012 “maintain” targets conifer plantation, nightjars increased identify gaps in our knowledge of is now a Nationally Scarce species. were recorded for the first time limbatum, was re-discovered by Seven species are currently not on from four to five churring males. species on reserves and to determine The coppice work at Coombes has on the RSPB’s Dungeness visiting coleopterists in August. track to achieve their 2012 maintain Nightjars have increased at Farnham the most important species to revived suitable habitat for the reserve, during the annual targets: red-necked phalarope, Heath by one churring bird each year conserve: which to maintain and species, and we now have proof monitoring of arable reversion ● The roothole rosette, Stereopsis capercaillie, little tern, nightjar, since they first started breeding which to enhance. We are assessing that it is breeding on the site. fields. This bodes well for the vitellina, a species of fungus, was woodlark, Dartford warbler and there in 2006. the requirements of rare and scarce project to reintroduce the short- described new to science from golden oriole. An additional two species against our current ● A striking rare rove beetle, Emus haired bumblebee, Bombus near Abernethy in 1901. It went species, cirl bunting and black- The decline in total numbers of management practices and hirtus, or the “Maid of Kent”, was subterraneus, led by Natural missing for almost a hundred necked grebe have failed to achieve breeding woodlarks on reserves in determining where additional re-sighted at RSPB’s Elmley England, the Bumblebee years before it was found again our target of, respectively, colonising 2010 was due to declines at sites on management is required. In addition, reserve after an absence of Conservation Trust, Hymettus and in 1998. In 2010 a local naturalist and re-colonising RSPB reserves. the Suffolk Coast. we are identifying which of the most records for five years (see page the RSPB, as the bees have made a concerted effort to threatened species we should be 36). Only known from one other similar habitat requirements. survey this species and he found Numbers of male red-necked There were declines in numbers of seeking to enhance through site in the UK, this top predator it in many new places. This phalaropes on the mires managed by breeding Dartford warblers between measures such as habitat creation of the dung invertebrate ● The silt margins at the edge of internationally rare fungus the RSPB on Fetlar increased for the 2009 and 2010 at Stoborough Heath and translocation. community is surviving thanks to the pits at Dungeness are known seems to be scattered along the 14 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2010 15 RSPB Roy Leverton

A previously undiscovered population of the dark bordered beauty moth was found at Insh Marshes, increasing the number Aerial view of Wallasea showing arable land to be restored to intertidal habitat adjacent to of occupied Scottish sites to three. the Defra-managed realignment.

tracks in the forest, like many of ● During intensive searches for the total area managed by the RSPB was Our supporters Condition of RSPB-managed SSSIs and ASSIs the rare tooth fungi that share dark bordered beauty moth 143,217 ha at 209 reserves, of which In 2009–10, we received £4,475,500 its habitat. Epione vespertaria at Insh about 56% is owned. in grants for land acquisition. Grants Almost three-quarters of the land Favourable or Unfavourable-Recovering Marshes reserve, prior to a totalling £736,500 were received from managed by the RSPB is designated as Condition. The 142 features assessed as ● Attempts to re-establish the pearl- planned translocation, a The new reserves established were: the Environment Agency for Lydden SSSI/ASSI (Site/Area of Special being Unfavourable-Declining or bordered fritillary into suitable population was discovered on the ● Wallasea Island, Essex (arable, Valley, Sidlesham and Rainham Scientific Interest), reflecting the high Unfavourable-No-Change include coppice areas at Tudeley Woods reserve, increasing the number of for conversion into inter-tidal Marshes, with Natural England also value of the RSPB’s reserve network. a large number not in RSPB management showed signs of success. occupied Scottish sites to three. mudflat and saltmarsh for contributing to the purchases at control. This reflects, in particular, the large Working in partnership with The work was funded through a waders and other wildlife) in Lydden. Crossrail continued to support In England, 24,764 (93.7%) of 26,442 number of breeding seabird SSSI and SPA Butterfly Conservation and the Cairngorms Local Action Group conjunction with Crossrail our work at Wallasea. Biffaward ha of SSSI managed by the RSPB features on the RSPB’s reserve holdings in Forestry Commission, we Biodiversity grant. ● Crook of Baldoon, Wigtown Bay, granted £305,000 towards purchases are in Favourable Condition or Scotland, as well as a more widespread released 126 (58 male/68 female) Dumfries and Galloway (swamp, at Portmore Lough and Lydden. Unfavourable-Recovering Condition, attribution of Unfavourable Condition of butterflies at suitable sites fen, carr and wet grassland for Scottish Natural Heritage contributed an increase from 84.6% in 2009. bird features to influences with no “on- through the woods in May 2009. Land acquisition geese and other waterfowl). £200,000 to the purchase of the Remedies are now underway or site” remedy. Taking this into account, In spring 2010, the reserve was During 2009–10, 1,364 ha were added Crook of Baldoon. There were also a complete for 99.9% of the area of SSSI 95% of the features for which there are closely monitored for signs of to RSPB landholdings. This comprised number of private donations from land which was previously in considered to be on-site remedies, are emerging adults and at least 12 two new reserves totalling 432 ha trusts, and organisations, particularly Unfavourable Condition, and for which now in Favourable Condition. butterflies were counted during and 12 extensions on 12 reserves, the Sussex Ornithological Society for the necessary remedies are within the visits in May and June. totalling 932 ha. On 1 April 2010, the land at Sidlesham. We are grateful to RSPB’s control. Information on the condition of RSPB- all our supporters – a comprehensive managed units in Wales and Northern list of these is published in the RSPB In Scotland, of 802 features assessed, Ireland is not available from the statutory Annual Review. 660 (82.3%) were assessed as being conservation organisations. 16 RSPB RESERVES 2011 17 Laurie Campbell(rspb-images.com)

Saving nature

An amazing variety of birds, plants, animals and fungi depend on RSPB nature reserves for their survival, particularly species with small UK populations that have specialised requirements. Over the last half century, RSPB reserves have played an important part in preventing the extinction of several UK breeding birds, such as marsh harriers and Dartford warblers, and have greatly aided the recovery of others, such as bitterns, avocets and corncrakes. Increasingly we are managing habitats for other wildlife and are focusing attention on rare and threatened species with important populations on our reserves and those threatened through loss of habitat elsewhere.

Yellow saxifrage, one of more than 15,000 species recorded on RSPB reserves 18 SAVING NATURE 19 Steve Knell(rspb-images.com)

At the beginning of the 20th century protein and are an important food grazing, the vegetation had recovered you might not have had to travel far source for greyhens (female black enough to attract three males to this to enjoy the spectacular drama of a grouse). side of the reserve for the first time black grouse lek. Since then, the in decades. Following the species’ range has shrunk After several years with no black introduction of cattle, targeted control dramatically so that now black grouse grouse, severe weather in the 1996 of crows and foxes around brood are restricted to isolated populations winter brought an influx to the rearing areas, and the planting of in North Wales, the North Pennines in reserve. Six males remained in the native deciduous trees to create England and parts of Scotland. The Gelt Valley in the spring and a 230 ha of forest, the black grouse population at Geltsdale, in the north- breeding population was population began to expand. west corner of the North Pennines, is re-established. Numbers increased particularly vulnerable to extinction, to 10 males by the late 1990s but In 2009, six broods of black grouse as male black grouse do not move far then began to decline again. were found in the newly planted from their natal areas and the area. Further changes in grazing distance to the nearest black grouse The RSPB bought Tarnhouse Farm in occurred in 2004 when Geltsdale population has become much further 2001, following foot and mouth Farm, for which the RSPB holds the than the distance flown by dispersing disease when there were neither sporting rights but not the freehold, females. Perhaps it is not surprising black grouse nor any stock on this entered into an agri-environment that by 1982 they had disappeared north-western section of the reserve. scheme and sheep numbers were from Geltsdale. After two years without sheep reduced by two-thirds.

The RSPB nature reserve at Geltsdale

is predominantly made up of two large Male black grouse are counted during the lek when David Kjaer(rspb-images.com) upland livestock farms, straddling a they are easiest to observe. watershed, with Geltsdale Farm lying in the Eden catchment to the west Black grouse: adult male at lek. and Tarnhouse Farm lying in the Tyne catchment to the east. Two-thirds of the reserve is covered by blanket bog, with acid grassland making up the Conserving black grouse at Geltsdale majority of the remainder. Historically, the grassland around the edge of the Geltsdale, in the North Pennines, is one of the RSPB’s largest moor has been subject to agricultural reserves and is the north-west outpost of black grouse in England. improvement. Having suffered a local extinction in the 1980s, the population The past remains very vulnerable. So what is the RSPB doing to conserve Through the 1990s, what is now the this precarious population and how is it faring? Geltsdale reserve was two very large sheep farms with more than 4,000 STEPHEN WESTERBERG, SITE MANAGER AT GELTSDALE AND SIMON WIGHTMAN, SENIOR ewes grazing on the hills. Sheep tend RESERVES ECOLOGIST to graze grassland very tightly, which can be good for birds such as lapwings, but black grouse prefer a more varied structure and diversity to the vegetation. Cotton-grass can be particularly important in the early spring as the shoots are high in 20 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 21 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

Current numbers HLS scheme on Geltsdale Farm to We are increasing cattle and decreasing sheep By spring 2008, the number of black remove all the sheep from the hill numbers to improve the habitat for black grouse grouse males had increased to 22, and increase cattle numbers. It is and other upland species. despite poor productivity in the North hoped that this will increase natural Pennines as a whole. A very wet regeneration of the scant woodland summer in 2008 again reduced in the upper part of this valley. If this productivity and the number of males works, it has the potential to counted on the reserve the following increase black grouse numbers as spring fell by almost 20%. The well as benefiting many other upland summer of 2009 was much better for species. The RSPB will be black grouse chick survival and in monitoring the changes in bird early 2010, despite severe winter numbers in relation to these weather with snow lying for over changes in habitat management. three months on the reserve, the number of males increased to 38. Tarnhouse Farm, which is owned What makes this increase even more and managed by the RSPB, is a surprising is that the North Pennine more conventional mixed upland population had fallen by a third over farm. There are plans to increase the same period according to records cattle grazing, especially on the Black grouse lek counts in North Pennines collated by the Game and Wildlife higher ground, which will further 1200 Conservation Trust. The contrast in improve the suitability of this habitat 1000 800 these different population trends is for black grouse. 600 likely to be due to the habitat 400 management on the reserve making Black grouse depend on transitions.

No. of males No. 200 a greater diversity of vegetation They use the transition between 0 available to black grouse. This would forest and open ground, between 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2007 2010 2005 2006 2008 2009 have been particularly important if it improved grassland and moor. Our Year led to more food being available to rural landscape has often become Geltsdale co-ordinated lek counts sustain them during the harsh winter. one of stark boundaries, with well- 40 Adults were seen foraging in the defined forest edges and intensively trees when thick snow would have managed in-bye lying next to 35 made it difficult for them to find food unenclosed moorland. To keep black 30 on the ground. grouse as part of that landscape, we must recognise the value of blurring 25 The future these edges. 20 The challenge of maintaining black

15 grouse here will be to continue to Thanks to: No. of males No. manage change, through grazing, Habitat restoration to benefit black 10 while not damaging habitats that are grouse at Geltsdale is supported by 5 essential for the many other species Natural England and The Famous on the reserve. Reduction of grazing Grouse, through sales of “Black 0 can bring about a short-term Grouse” whisky, and WREN through 2010 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2008 2009 2006 2007 2005 2004 2002 2003 2000 increase but to ensure the viability its Biodiversity Action Fund. Thanks Year of the population in the long-term, are also due to John Errington, the “pulses” of increased grazing RSPB’s tenant grazier, and the As numbers of male black grouse fell in the North Pennines, they increased at Geltsdale, probably thanks to a good breeding season in pressure might be more appropriate. owners of Geltsdale Farm, the 2009 and more accessible winter food in the recently planted woodland. Natural England has established an Weir Trust. 22 SAVING NATURE 23 Ellie Owen(RSPB) Graham Eaton(rspb-images.com)

These insights are being made possible by an exciting project called FAME – Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment – which is 65% funded by the European Union Regional Development Fund through its Atlantic Area programme. The purpose of FAME is to monitor and track seabirds across the western seaboard of Europe through a variety of methods – from colony counts, beached bird surveys and surveys of birds at sea by boat and plane, to recently developed GPS tracking tags and dive loggers. The project has seven partners across five countries – the RSPB in the UK, BirdWatch Ireland, the BirdLife partners in France (LPO), Spain (SEO) and Portugal (SPEA) and the University of Minho and WavEC (an offshore renewable energy developer) also in Portugal. By working together we are Kittiwakes on sharing skills and ensuring best use of their precarious nests. GPS tags the data. In the UK, we are tracking enable them to be and monitoring five seabird species tracked as they at multiple sites including several forage at sea. We are using new technology to study causes of decline in seabirds such as fulmars. RSPB reserves, extending from the Isles of Scilly in the south to Shetland in the north. speed). It is these areas that we are figures describing changes in seabird FAME – understanding Kittiwakes on our Copinsay reserve in especially interested in. One kittiwake populations between 1999 and 2010 seabird feeding behaviour Orkney have been fitted with GPS flew an astonishing 230 km (145 show that some of our best-loved tracking devices. The data gathered miles), half way across the North Sea, species are undergoing declines of RSPB nature reserves are amazing places to see are already challenging our in one 24 hour trip, only pausing three huge proportions. Top of the list are nature. They are also the focus of many important understanding of where our seabirds times to forage. herring gulls, kittiwakes, fulmars, Arctic travel to, to feed. By recording the skuas, lesser and great black-backed research projects, helping our understanding of bird geographic position of the bird to an Seabird ecologists have waited gulls, razorbills and shags. RSPB behaviour and ecology and improving our chances of accuracy of five metres every 100 decades for such technology to reserves are not immune from these conserving their habitats successfully. The plight of seconds the tags are helping us to become available and it has arrived just problems: figures for our Copinsay seabirds is one area where new technology and the identify key offshore foraging areas for in time. Worldwide, seabirds are reserve on Orkney show a huge 70% concerted efforts of an international partnership are UK seabirds. The major advancement suffering unprecedented population decline in razorbills and 57% decline in beginning to shed light on what seabirds do when recently is that, with such high- declines. Nowhere is this more true kittiwakes between 1999 and 2008. At they disappear from our view out to sea. resolution data, we are able to tell than in the UK. Every one of our 25 Ailsa Craig reserve, off the Ayrshire when birds are travelling (straight breeding seabird species is rated as coast, kittiwakes have declined from ELLIE OWEN, RSPB SEABIRD CONSERVATION SCIENTIST tracks with fast passage speed) and either amber or red on the traffic light 1,675 pairs in 2000 to a mere 428 when and where they are foraging system for identifying birds of pairs in 2010, a dramatic 74% decline. (tortuous tracks with slow passage conservation concern. The latest The causes of decline vary, but 24 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 25 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

emerging as a common theme is the Recently tagged for tracking, this shag is settled at its nest. failure of the birds’ food supply.

The RSPB has long advocated the creation of nature reserves at sea. By protecting known foraging areas we can buffer seabirds against the challenges they face from climate change, pollution and other threats. During 2010, new marine planning and nature conservation provisions finally became law under the UK and Scottish Marine Acts. Knowing where seabirds forage and understanding the underlying oceanographic features that make these areas favourable will be critical to ensure proper implementation of both these This track shows the move ments of a kittiwake from the RS PB new laws and existing European law Copinsay reserve, travelling 230 km – twice as far as we thought – for birds. It can also alert us to areas to forage. where seabird foraging and offshore renewable energy developments overlap, so that we can monitor any impacts on the seabirds, and can Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) help in preparing pollution contingency plans.

The next few years will be a critical time for seabirds in the UK. The FAME project could unlock the secret lives of many species and help efforts to halt the slide in their populations. The RSPB and its reserve network will play a crucial role in this work.

European Union

European Regional Development Fund

Data from the tags are downloaded to a computer. 26 SAVING NATURE 27 Matt Self (RSPB) Roy (naturepl.com) Mangersnes

Eels have a unique life cycle. They don’t breed in our wetlands. Instead the adults migrate out and across the Atlantic to spawn in the warm waters of the Sargasso Sea. The North Atlantic Drift brings their growing larvae to the shores of Europe where they turn into transparent ”glass” eels and begin to swim towards rivers and estuaries. They gain pigment and many continue upstream. However, efficient modern Glass eel at Lodmoor nature weirs and sluices in our rivers have reserve. This site has passes to become major obstacles. Eels may ensure these immature eels can also be caught in the nets of reach the reedbed. fishermen, affected by changes in the Gulf Stream, contaminated by PCBs and other compounds, or infected by and age structure of eels in reedbed from moving freely in and out, and 11 the parasite Anguillicola crassus. The reserves. At 32 sites, electric fishing, passes have already been installed at 10 result has been large declines in net surveys and traps installed on sites. A further consideration is that if commercial glass eel and adult eel passes over sluices and weirs, have eels can’t get out of sites because of catches, and declining numbers in shown their importance for eels. obstacles, they can grow very large and many wetland reserves, as shown by There are good numbers of eels at become significant predators, causing fish survey work undertaken over the 25 of these sites, which have more an imbalance in the ecosystem. last 15 years. than 10 kg of eels per ha. We have also looked at the pipes, sluices and There are numerous examples of eel Many RSPB nature reserves have good numbers of eels, a Critically Endangered species. The Environment Agency has weirs that may be preventing eels conservation work on our reserves. responded to this evidence by developing Eel Management Plans for River Basin Districts, focusing on

Management for eels on RSPB nature reserves fishery regulation and stocking, and Matt Self (RSPB) ensuring free passage over obstacles The RSPB is taking action for many rare and threatened such as weirs. These have been used species on its reserves. One of these is the European eel. to develop the statutory Eel This fascinating fish is an important inhabitant of our Regulations, which came into effect in 2010. The Environment Agency has wetland reserves, as well as being a favoured food for provided funding and technical bitterns. In the last 30 years eels have suffered a huge assistance at a number of the decline in numbers. We are working with partners to RSPB’s sites. ensure our reserves provide suitable conditions for them to thrive. We manage almost 20% of the 6,630 ha of reedbed in the UK, and a MATT SELF, RESERVES ECOLOGIST wide range of associated swamp, fen and carr, so have a major responsibility and opportunity to Very large eels such as this are usually a sign of poor connections contribute to the conservation of with rivers and the sea. At Minsmere, things have been improved eels. We investigated the numbers through work with the Environment Agency. 28 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 29 Matt Self (RSPB) Matt Self (RSPB)

At Minsmere, we are working with Electric fishing survey at Dungeness, a valuable technique for assessing the Environment Agency to eel abundance and age classes in wetlands incorporate eel-friendly measures on the proposed new main sluice, and we are reducing the number of sluices within the site. We have also carried out several kilometres of ditch restoration to increase connectivity through the reserve for Typical outlet flap eels and other fish, and have valves into an estuary, a major introduced glass eels seized by the obstacle to eel Environment Agency in enforcement migration operations.

At Leighton Moss, detailed monitoring of glass eel immigration Matt Self (RSPB) over the last decade is contributing to a wider understanding of the role of commercial fishing and sluice management on recruitment.

At Lodmoor, an experimental eel pass in the main outlet sluice has resulted in a quadrupling of the numbers of glass eels reaching the reedbed. At Ham Wall, the Environment Agency is helping us to build a pass that will work with our RSPB sluice near Leighton Moss, unusual pumped outflow system. with eel pass and monitoring trap The European eel is now listed as globally Critically Endangered by the IUCN and is a UK BAP Priority Species. Work will continue at RSPB Matt Self (RSPB) wetlands with partner organisations to ensure that this intriguing species RSPB sluice at Lodmoor, with astroturf for eels to climb, has a future. and monitoring trap 30 RSPB RESERVES 2011 SAVING NATURE 31 Roger Wilmshurst (rspb-images.com) Roger Wilmshurst ai iln (rspb-images.com) David Tipling

1948 – RSPB Cymru’s first reserve – Grassholm Island The islands of Pembrokeshire offer some of the best habitats and conditions for seabirds and coastal wildlife. Grassholm Island was of particular interest to the RSPB because of its gannet population. In 1948 only around 8,000 pairs of gannets nested here; however, with our protection, the number now stands at 39,000 pairs. Large parts of the Lake Vyrnwy reserve are managed for breeding curlews.

1969 – Thanks to a tip from naturalist William Condry, RSPB 81% between 1993 and 2006. Since conservation managers. Heather Cymru purchases its first piece 2007, large parts of the reserve have management has been undertaken to of land at Ynys-hir been managed especially for curlews, help the breeding success and Ynys-hir is a flagship reserve, covering through mowing and grazing along survival of black grouse and field more than 700 ha of woodland, wet the moorland edge and using fences drainage has been blocked as part of grassland and marshland. Thanks to to protect nests. an EC LIFE-Nature project to restore focused management work, it is one heather moorland and protect blanket of the most important breeding sites In 1996, the RSPB took on the bog by reversing large-scale drainage. for lapwings in Wales. Since 1987, management of part of the nature lapwings have declined in Wales by reserve and T≈ Llwyd Farm in the 1977 – The lease of land from more than 80%. At Ynys-hir we have Vyrnwy Estate. Within two years we Ynys Môn Borough Council focused on increasing their breeding had started the conversion to organic was the first step for our work success by raising water levels, status, removed a pollution problem at South Stack cliffs Grassholm Island now has 39,000 nesting pairs of gannets. replacing sheep with cattle, managing and turned a loss-making hill farm into South Stack is a coastal heathland grazing to minimise nest trampling, a profitable operation. This has been reserve with dramatic sea cliffs, and installing anti-predator fencing used extensively to demonstrate the which are teeming with seabirds in around key breeding fields. This has importance of sustainable catchment the spring. Some 180,000 visitors 100 years of protecting Welsh wildlife resulted in the breeding population at management to decision makers and come each year to enjoy the dramatic Ynys-hir’s Lodge Farm increasing from From upland moors and woodland to coastal wet grassland 29 pairs in 2004 to 55 pairs in 2010, and islands, the RSPB’s 18 nature reserves in Wales protect a with a further 10 pairs across other Ellins Tower at South Stack cliffs was acquired in 1979 as a focal Robert Horne(rspb-images.com) huge variety of habitats and species. On these reserves you parts of the reserve. Our hope is this point for visitors wishing to see seabirds. will find the world’s third largest gannet colony (Grassholm), will lead to the birds re-colonising the only regular wintering ground for Greenland white- adjacent farmland. fronted geese in England and Wales (Ynys-hir), and the 1977 – RSPB Cymru enters into world’s only population of South Stack fleawort. In 2011, partnership with Severn Trent the RSPB is celebrating 100 years of working in Wales. Water, marking the beginning of Here are just a few highlights from the history of RSPB our work at Lake Vyrnwy Cymru’s reserves. Our reserve at Lake Vyrnwy is a mosaic of blanket bog, heather moor, DELYTH WILLIS, HEAD OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS – WALES grassland and woodland, and supports AND LEWIS JAMES, HEAD OF RESERVES – WALES. a great variety of birds, including curlews. Curlews declined in Wales by 32 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 33 Eleanor Bentall(rspb-images.com)

landscape and wildlife of the plantings of the century, which, 2000 – Partnership at its best 2000–2010 – More places for headland. The RSPB established an during its succession to maturity, will leads to the creation of lapwings at Ynys-hir and Information Centre at Ellins Tower in provide habitat for other woodland Newport Wetlands National Morfa Dinlle 1979 and in 2010 purchased a café. species such as the tree pipit. Nature Reserve Two significant additions, a new This will now open all year round for Created as part of a mitigation package reserve at Morfa Dinlle, and a those attracted by the chance to see 1994 – Innovation leads to the for the loss of mudflats in Cardiff Bay, significant extension to Ynys-hir have choughs as well as the seabirds in creation of the RSPB’s Conwy Newport Wetlands National Nature increased numbers of nesting lapwings spring and summer. nature reserve Reserve – owned and managed by through conservation grazing regimes, Conwy is the result of a major CCW – is the only place in Wales with in partnership with local graziers, 1980s – Three new woodland engineering project to take the A55 breeding avocets. Here, the RSPB careful hydrological management and reserves! The Mawddach, coast road beneath the Conwy estuary. manages an impressive Environmental installation of anti-predator fences. Carngafallt, and Cwm Clydach The reserve was created from the Education and Visitor Centre, which These additions to the RSPB’s mud, sand and silt dredged from the provides opportunities for 80,000 already impressive portfolio of estuary and pumped into settling visitors each year to experience wildlife Western Atlantic oak woodlands are lagoons. Conwy, which opened to the at close quarters. The successes here Ynys-hir is a fantastic place for wildlife and people and home to BBC Springwatch. managed for their sub-Saharan public in 1995, now holds 6-14 pairs of have been brought about by excellent summer visitors: the pied flycatcher, breeding lapwings, and a large partnerships, especially with CCW and redstart and wood warbler. In the wintering roost of starlings. In 2010, Newport City Council, and through a latter part of the decade our reserve bearded tits bred on the reserve for large number of dedicated volunteers. 1948 Purchase of Grassholm at Gwenffrwd was the site of one of the first time, increasing the number of 1967 Purchase of land at Gwenffrwd the largest broadleaved woodland current nesting sites in Wales to two! 1969 First freehold purchase at Ynys-hir 1977 First involvement (via a lease) at Lake Vyrnwy. (First purchase in 1984, management agreement in 1996) 1979 Purchase of Ellins Tower, South Stack. 1983 First purchase at Mawddach Woodlands. First involvement on The Skerries via lease from Trinity House John Bridges(rspb-images.com) 1984 Purchase of Carngafallt RSPB Cymru reserves 1986 First freehold purchase at Cwm Clydach 1992 Purchase of Ramsey Island The Skerries 1994 Creation/lease of Conwy reserve from Crown Estate Valley Wetlands 1994 Initial transfer of land at Malltraeth Marsh South Stack Cliffs Conwy 1996 Purchase at Valley Wetlands Malltraeth Marsh 2006 Purchase of Morfa Dinlle Morfa Dinlle 2008 Newport Wetlands – Ground Lease of area for visitor / education centre taken from CCW 2009 Purchase of Hen Hafod land at Ynys-hir Lake Vyrnwy 2010 Purchase of the cafe and site at South Stack Mawddach Woodlands Ynys-hir Wales NewsService (rspb-images.com) Carngafallt Gwenffrwd/Dinas

Ramsey Island Grassholm Cwm Clydach

Newport Wetlands Newport Wetlands, where 80,000 people each year enjoy the chance to get closer We manage our Western Atlantic oakwoods for to nature. pied flycatchers and other summer migrants. 34 SAVING NATURE 35 (RSPB)

Pioneering wetland other important species such as white- conversion to arable land. The new management fronted goose, dunlin and grey plover. flood was soon occupied by large The RSPB started to invest heavily in Teams of volunteers and staff numbers of wildfowl, with wigeons and wetlands during the late 1970s through undertook backbreaking work to build teals increasing to 20,000 and 1,700 its “Silver Meadows” campaign, dams and sluices that would retain respectively by 1981. It is still in alarmed at the rate at which flood plain water in the existing network of operation today, regularly attracting and coastal grazing marsh were being ditches and rills and create the more than 100 pairs of breeding drained and converted for arable seasonal surface flooding that is a key avocets, and with a spectacular winter production, stimulated by generous element of wet grassland. wader roost. subsidies. The North Kent Marshes were no exception: despite a large area In 1978, excavators were used to We have developed the hydrology of being notified as SSSI, nearly a third build a low bund around an area of the site ever since, and following work was drained in the decade to 1979. 20 ha, allowing us to pump water in 2009, Elmley now has a network of inside and create a permanent flood, bunds, pipes and sluices that allow Elmley was identified as an opportunity the first of its kind. To allow us to water to be distributed to all parts of for the RSPB to secure a wetland maintain this flood throughout the the site. refuge for the future in the face of such year, we also impounded an adjacent rapid change. The site had the potential fleet to create a reservoir that holds Breeding waders to attract wintering waterfowl but was up to 40 million litres of water, a By the mid 1980s, subsidies for described by John Crudass, the RSPB‘s feature that is now increasingly wetland drainage were withdrawn. Chief Reserves Officer of the time, as important as the local climate shifts Sadly the fortunes of breeding waders too dull, “with few obvious birds or towards increasingly dry summers. such as lapwings, redshanks and black- other wildlife” and winter counts of tailed godwits did not improve, as it only a few hundred each of wigeon and At the time, these were pioneering became obvious that the management teal. The main focus of management wetland techniques and contrary to the of the remaining marshes needed The marshes at Elmley extend along the Swale estuary. The RSPB reserve is in the foreground, was to provide safe roosting and prevailing management philosophy on enhancement. The RSPB researched with Elmley Conservation Trust land in the background. feeding areas for these birds, plus the grazing marshes of drainage and the requirements of breeding waders.

35 years of management for wildlife The wet meadows at Elmley provide good feeding areas for lapwings. Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com) at Elmley Marshes

The marshes at Elmley extend eastwards from the Sheppey bridge along the north edge of the Swale Estuary in North Kent, an unexpected wilderness in the crowded South-East of England. They are acclaimed for their big skies, open green expanses filled with wildfowl and waders and, at one time or another, all bar a few of the UK’s resident and visiting raptors. Since 1975, the RSPB has managed 282 ha of grazing marsh and saltmarsh as part of what is now the Elmley National Nature Reserve. Here we describe some of the pioneering work of past reserve managers to develop high quality wetland habitats and a wilderness experience for people to enjoy.

ALAN JOHNSON, AREA MANAGER, KENT RESERVES AND ROLF WILLIAMS, COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, SOUTH-EAST REGION 36 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 37 Tom (rspb-images.com) Marshall

One important study looked at the and their populations have waxed and nursery for this spectacular beetle, the threatened mammals. Our ditch The future prospects of the species dietary requirements of lapwing waned at Elmley, but this early, cowpat, is safe for eggs and larvae of networks are carefully managed to mentioned in this article would be best chicks, which involved trying to pioneering management helped to dung-loving insects. avoid damaging the water voles’ served by creating an even wider identify small invertebrates in their establish what is still the highest feeding and burrowing habitat. network of wetland habitat, and Elmley droppings! Other studies looked at the density of breeding waders in The ditch networks are particularly now sits within the Greater Thames hatching success of wader nests, Southern England. rich in wildlife and are carefully Landscape scale conservation Futurescape. This developing vision for chick survival and the dietary managed to maintain a range of The research, knowledge and landscape-scale conservation, based on requirements of avocets during the A wealth of wildlife conditions to suit a broad range of experience developed at Elmley has the marshes of Essex and Kent, aims to nesting season. Studies such as these It is essential that our management is species. The brackish water ditches, informed the RSPB’s work across build on existing nature reserves and helped build a picture of the specific effective for the full range of wildlife themselves a scarce habitat the North Kent Marshes and beyond, will allow redshanks, water voles, yellow habitat requirements of individual that occurs on grazing marsh and nationally, support a number of rare and plans for wetland creation are wagtails and a host of other wetland species. We started to understand saltmarsh habitats, of which Elmley aquatic insects, especially water now at an advanced stage for Great wildlife to expand into new areas and what the ideal grazing system would has some rare and unique examples. beetles. By allowing some ditches to Bells Farm, an adjacent piece of develop more robust populations. be, how we should manage the water become dominated by sea club rush, former arable land of similar size. and what the topography of the fields Elmley is one of only two UK sites for we have helped the scarce-emerald The Elmley Conservation Trust, Thanks to: should look like. More recently we the Maid of Kent beetle Emus hirtus. damselfly, which prefers ephemeral which manages neighbouring land, SITA Trust for their recent contribution have experimented with electric This enigmatic insect, thought to be water bodies, to become established has also adopted similar to funding for our biodiversity work at fencing, intended to reduce the locally extinct by 1950, was on the Isle of Sheppey. management techniques and more Elmley Marshes, Natural England for pressure from mammalian predators rediscovered at Elmley in 1997. The The best sites for water voles in the than tripled the area of grazing their continuing support and the and give ground-nesting birds the best beetle has survived due to the careful UK are monitored annually and marsh available for wildlife. It is the Vodafone Foundation for supporting possible chance. The fortunes of such control of veterinary products used in Elmley has amongst the highest scale of the combined sites that our work at the reserve through its delightful birds is still in the balance, livestock, which means that the recorded densities of these makes Elmley so important. World Of Difference scheme. Elmley has large numbers of water voles Robert Canis

The rare rove beetle, Emus hirtus, was rediscovered at Elmley after an absence of records for five years. Paul Sterry (NaturePhotographers) Around 25,000 birds spend the winter at Elmley. 38 SAVING NATURE 39

Little bitterns bred at Ham Wall in 2010, the second Steve Round (rspb-images.com) Danny Green(rspb-images.com) record in the UK in modern times.

Purple herons and little bitterns are both species for which the UK is predicted to become climatically suitable for breeding, as the climate continues to warm1. Could the changing climate be the reason for these recent breeding records? Over the last three decades, rare breeding birds in the UK have shown population trends consistent with those expected under levels of warming that have already taken place2. During this period, southern species have generally fared well, while northern species have generally fared badly. Over the same period, wintering waders have shown a north-easterly shift in distribution, associated with a trend towards at Dungeness are most likely to be wintering grounds in sub-Saharan milder winters. from the Netherlands, where their West Africa3. The increase in records population is increasing. This of breeding spoonbills in the UK, and The recent range expansions of increase is most likely to be due to in numbers of great white egrets purple herons, great white egrets, a combination of better habitat and glossy ibises, coincides with the glossy ibises and spoonbills are, conditions on their breeding sites, re-colonisation of these species’ however, probably due to other coinciding with a period of more historical ranges. Again, there is no reasons. The purple herons that bred favourable conditions in the species’ reason to believe that this has been Purple herons bred successfully at Dungeness in 2010: their first attempt in the UK.

Many of the potential colonists will require large wetlands, such as Ham Wall, where more than 200 ha Breeding purple herons of reedbed has been created from old peat workings over the last 16 years. and little bitterns – whatever next?

In 2010, a pair of purple herons bred at the RSPB’s Dungeness reserve; the first time they have been recorded breeding in the UK. In the same year, little bitterns bred at Ham Wall RSPB reserve, the second record in the UK in modern times. These, together with the UK’s first breeding cattle egrets in 2008,

the first breeding colony of spoonbills since the early 1700s, David Kjaer(rspb-images.com) influxes of glossy ibises in three out of the last four years, and unprecedented numbers of great white egrets, all suggest that something strange is happening.

MALCOLM AUSDEN, PRINCIPAL RESERVES ECOLOGIST 40 SAVING NATURE SAVING NATURE 41 John Cancalosi/ardea.com Michael Gore(rspb-images.com)

Glossy ibises are arriving in the UK in increasing numbers.

caused by changes in climate on the that are potential colonists is will affect our fauna and flora to an species’ breeding grounds. It is recorded on wetland nature increasing extent. These changes are more likely to be due to the success reserves. This is because there is not likely to be bad for much of our of conservation measures elsewhere much suitable habitat for these special avifauna, particularly our in Europe. species outside nature reserves4. internationally important seabird and Several of the species that could upland bird assemblages. A small Even though climatic warming might begin regular breeding in the UK – consolation might be colonisation by eventually make the UK suitable for purple heron, great white egret, more southern species and the breeding by a range of more spoonbill and glossy ibis – are large chances of this happening will be southerly species, these are only waterbirds that prefer to nest in increased by the restoration of large likely to colonise if their populations colonies. Most of our freshwater and areas of habitat. So, whatever next in are faring well elsewhere in Europe, brackish wetlands are simply too terms of potential colonists? Maybe and there is suitable habitat for them small to support significant breeding breeding great white egrets at one of in the UK. It will also depend on colonies of these species. But we our newly created large wetlands? conditions on migration and in their could enlarge these wetlands. wintering grounds. A particular Creating suitable breeding habitat for References concern is likely changes in these species in the UK would 1 Huntley, B, Green, RE, Collingham, YC, & conditions on wintering grounds in partially offset reductions in their Willis, SG. 2007. A Climatic Atlas of European Breeding Birds. Durham University, RSPB and sub-Saharan Africa, caused by populations further south, which are Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. increasing human pressure on land likely to occur as a result of 2 Green, R., Collingham, YC, Willis, S G, Gregory, R D, Smith, KW & Huntley, B. 2008. use in Africa. increasing drought in these regions. Performance of climate envelope models in retrodicting recent changes in bird population size from observed climatic change. Biology Interestingly, the purple herons and Although the recent range Letters, 4, 99-602. 3 little bitterns that bred in the UK in expansions of purple herons, great Zwarts, L, Bijlsma, R., van der Kamp, J & Wymenga, E. 2009. Living on the edge: 2010 were both in areas of reedbed white egrets, glossy ibises and Wetlands and birds in a changing Sahel. KNNV recently created for bitterns and spoonbills are unlikely to have been Publishing, Zeist, The Netherlands 4 Gurney, M 2009. Rare birds on RSPB reserves. other wetland wildlife. Overall, a due to warmer temperatures in RSPB Reserves 2009, 72-75. large proportion of the rare species Europe, it is clear that climate change How long before we see breeding great white egrets in southern England? 42 RSPB RESERVES 2011 43 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

Restoring lost habitats

The main cause of loss of biodiversity in the last century has been destruction of habitat. RSPB nature reserves conserve a significant proportion of some of the UK’s most threatened habitats, including native Caledonian pine, reedbed, Flow Country deep peat blanket bog, wet grassland and brackish lagoons, and also large areas of lowland heath and intertidal habitats. Nature reserves allow the re-creation of lost habitats in the areas from which they have disappeared, or their creation in new areas. The RSPB has been particularly active in creating and restoring reedbeds, wet grasslands and heathlands, which are important habitats for birds, and in so doing has contributed significantly to UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for these habitats.

Brash was scraped up and mulched, to restore the sandy surface for heath to re-establish at The Lodge reserve. 44 RSPB RESERVES 2011 RESTORING LOST HABITATS 45 P Cashman(RSPB) P Cashman(RSPB)

Dexter cattle from the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

“Manor“Manor FFarm”arm” wwasas aacquiredcquired inin toto ccontrolontrol weeds in their first year, clustered bellflower, greater DecemberDecember 22005,005, tthroughhrough mmembershipembership andand hayhay isis then taken for several knapweed, fairy flax and devil’s-bit Newly-created flower studded landscape at Winterbourne Downs. donations and a substantial grant from years to remove nutrients. We scabious. They are also buzzing with the Heritage Lottery Fund. Support in plough six 2 ha plots each year for insects, and we aim to provide good setting up the Winterbourne Downs stone-curlews to nest in. populations of food plants of a nature reserve on the site was number of BAP priority invertebrates. Winterbourne Downs – a landscape in the making provided by the SITA Trust Enriching The results are encouraging. These In 2010 we saw the best year yet for Nature programme and Natural new grasslands are now a blaze of stone-curlews, with four nesting pairs The RSPB’s plan at Winterbourne Downs in Wiltshire is a England’s Countdown 2010 colour in the summer. The panorama that fledged at least three chicks. bold one: to create a landscape-scale area of species-rich Biodiversity Action Grant. of nodding wild flowers includes an Notably, one pair nested for the first chalk grassland to act as a permanent haven for nesting increasing proportion of characteristic time on the developing chalk Work commenced in 2006, since chalk grassland plant species, such as grassland. Up to 12 pairs of lapwings stone-curlews in the heart of their Wessex range. A former when we have taken successive arable farm, the reserve is strategically positioned fields out of arable production and between the two largest remaining areas of chalk sown them with a wide variety of grassland in NW Europe: Porton Down and Salisbury Plain. chalk grassland flowers and grasses. Within the next 10 years, we aim to restore or create more Some of the seeds have been than 200 hectares of chalk grassland to help link these collected by brush harvesting from existing areas of chalk grassland, as part of our Wiltshire flower-rich grasslands on Salisbury P Cashman(RSPB) Plain and surrounding downlands. Chalk Country Futurescape. Twenty-six hectares were sown in 2010, bringing the total to 132 ha on Volunteers hand-sowing one of the first chalk grassland PATRICK CASHMAN, SITE MANAGER, WILTSHIRE RESERVES this one reserve. The fields are cut fields at Winterbourne Downs. 46 RESTORING LOST HABITATS RESTORING LOST HABITATS 47 David Kjaer(rspb-images.com)

Chalk Country Futurescape. In 2010 we celebrated International Biodiversity Day by holding an “Introduction to Butterflies” event, led by Nick Wynne of Butterfly Conservation, who enthralled his audience with the natural history of butterflies we encountered. We also hosted a demonstration day on arable plants and bumblebees in partnership with Plantlife and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, which was well attended by farm advisers from right across the southern counties of England.

We have also teamed up with the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust‘s “New Life for Chalk Grasslands” project and brought in a small herd of their Dexter cattle to Brown hairstreak butterflies are graze our fourth year reversions. Their monitored at Winterbourne Downs. Map of Winterbourne Downs, adjacent to Porton Down, with plan for reversion of arable fields to chalk job has been to provide extensive late grassland 2006-11. summer grazing, to control the coarser grasses, and via hoof prints plant out juniper seeds. We were chalk soils. We have also seen that have also nested, together with small of wild bird seed mixture plots, winter the numbers of finches built up create gaps in the sward for plants to excited to find that previous scrub there is no need to buy in extra yellow numbers of corn buntings. brassica fodder crops followed by sharply during the cold weather in the germinate in. clearance has helped create the rattle seed to help suppress grass The arable reversion works are now over winter stubble, fallow plots, wild bird seed mixture plots. Large conditions for the reappearance of a growth, so long as it is present in the part of a new HLS agreement with skylark plots, nectar flower, grass and flocks of several hundred linnets and A local venue for people and critically endangered species, the red original seed mix and the reversions Natural England. This includes a wide cultivated margins, and field corners. chaffinches gathered, as well as a farmland wildlife hemp-nettle Galeopsis angustifolia. are managed sympathetically. range of other wildlife-friendly We have seen up to 23 grey flock of 200 bramblings. The reserve Winterbourne Downs has become a measures, including more than 12 ha partridges in one covey, and last also supports important species such popular venue for surrounding Lessons learnt A Futurescape showcase as the small blue and brown hairstreak birdwatching groups, and has now The work at Winterbourne Downs has Although it is quite early days in this Families enjoyed P Cashman(RSPB) butterflies. In drawing up the reserve become a regular fixture for the local reaffirmed the success of providing project, the RSPB has been able to butterfly walks with management plan and formulating our primary school and a local University of cultivated fallow plots close to stone- showcase successful plot Butterfly Conservation agreements, care has been taken to the Third Age (U3A) group. The RSPB’s curlew strongholds, both to provide management for stone-curlews, and at Winterbourne Downs. take account of their requirements. attendance at the local horticultural security for the existing population the establishment of species-rich show is still able to garner a few and opportunities for expansion. Initial chalk grasslands on former arable Working with partners memberships, and the annual free indications that we can maximise the fields. We will be using these We are using Winterbourne Downs “Harvest farm walk” one week after potential of the new calcareous experiences to inform the to inform others of our work, the show managed to draw 21 people grasslands for biodiversity are good management of existing and future providing a discussion and training last year. given the increasing frequency of reserve agreements, and through venue for those involved in chalk indicator species appearing as further advocacy and demonstration landscape management such as the We are very grateful to the band of our reversions develop. We have to encourage our partners and agri- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty hardy volunteers, who regularly brave shown by using penultimate arable environmental scheme managers to teams and the Country Landowners the elements for the winter work crops and taking hay crops as nutrient promote further stepping stones for Association, and as a workshop parties. This year we started a new strippers, that the nutrient status of wildlife across the Wiltshire Chalk venue for partners in the Wiltshire coppice rotation, and cleared scrub to fields can be effectively reduced on Country Futurescape. 48 RESTORING LOST HABITATS 49 Chris Knights(rspb-images.com) Lower BannPartnership

Why Lough Beg? Between 1985 and 1987 the RSPB carried out the Northern Ireland Breeding Wader Survey. This identified Lough Beg as one of the best areas for these birds. Almost 200 pairs of breeding waders – lapwings, curlews, redshanks and snipe – could be found there in 1986. Since then, a decline has occurred that mirrors what has happened throughout the countryside. Fewer than 80 pairs of breeding waders remain there, with lapwings failing to breed successfully in recent years. Lapwing chicks use the wet grassland along the We are working with a range of lough shore, where they can easily reach soft mud. partners towards restoring the area.

Partnership with others Helophorus granularis. The RSPB will washes away the nests of ground- All 500 ha of wet grassland at Lough assist farmers by carrying out large- nesting birds such as lapwings. Beg is in the ownership and care of scale rush management and other local farmers. One of the first steps activities to help them graze the area Management plan we took was to talk to them. It once again, and we will provide advice To find a solution, we developed and became evident that they were and practical support where required. agreed a Management Plan with all

The intricate floodlands of Lough beg provide valuable wet areas for wading birds and waterfowl. finding it increasingly difficult to graze of the key people. Local landowners the lands and dense areas of rush Water levels will help deliver the plan. With were developing; a situation that is Lough Beg is located north of Lough support from staff from the Northern unsuitable for breeding waders. We Neagh on a floodplain of the Lower Ireland Environment Agency and the looked at each farm holding in turn to Bann River. Lough Neagh is the Department of Agriculture and Rural assess what could be achieved and largest freshwater lake in the UK, Development, we have prepared farm Wet grassland restoration worked together with the Northern receiving water from a catchment area plans for each landowner. Rivers at Lough Beg – realising the ”country of the mind” Ireland Environment Agency to find that covers one-third of Northern Agency staff installed water level solutions. With the Department of Ireland. Due to large-scale agricultural recording stations on behalf of the Agriculture and Rural Development drainage schemes across this area in RSPB so that data can be gathered Working with others, the RSPB is helping to restore 500 we identified appropriate support for the last 40 years, Lough Neagh water and used to look for long-term ha of wet grassland at Lough Beg. This is an internationally farmers through agri-environment levels increase quickly following solutions to spring and summer important wetland within the Lough Neagh basin in the schemes. periods of heavy rainfall. When levels flooding. Biffaward funded the heart of Northern Ireland. It is an Area of Special increase, water is released from production of the plan and is funding Scientific Interest (ASSI), a Special Protection Area (SPA) Managing rushes Lough Neagh and flows along the rush and scrub control on an area and a Ramsar Site. For the RSPB it represents the While changes in numbers of breeding Lower Bann river and floods the wet managed by the RSPB. A Soucy beginning of a landscape-scale conservation process. Land waders were the signal that the wet grassland at Lough Beg. tractor with special tracks has been grassland was changing, the planned purchased through funding from the management within the Lough Beg Wetlands is part of our restoration work also ensures the In winter, this creates a fantastic European Union Regional Futurescapes programme in Northern Ireland. future for rare plants such as Irish wetland for thousands of wildfowl and Development Fund – INTERREG – to lady’s-tresses and pennyroyal, and rare waders such as wigeons and golden access the land and carry out rush SEAMUS BURNS, RESTORATION OFFICER invertebrates such as the scarce blue- plovers. However, spring and summer control during wet conditions. tailed damselfly and the water beetle flooding affects grazing and often 50 RESTORING LOST HABITATS RESTORING LOST HABITATS 51 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Lane(rspb-images.com) Mike

New Ferry, Church Island The Mullach Aughrim

“Those names are to be found on a map showing the local wildlife habitats, but for me and for anyone of my generation brought up in the Lough Beg area, they belong first and foremost in memory and imagination. They evoke a dream land that was once the real land, a shore at evening, quiet water, wind in the grass, the calls of birds, maybe a man or woman out in a back field, just standing looking, counting cattle, listening.

“The Lough Beg Management Plan intends to make that “country of the mind” a reality once again. It wants to bring back a landscape where the peewit and the curlew and the whirring snipe are as common as they used to be on those 1940s evenings when I’d go with my father to check on our cattle on the strand.

“In the meantime, as a result of different threats – pollution and We are helping farmers to View of Church Island, on the west shore of Lough Beg. improve conditions for curlews. development and drainage and under-grazing among them – the wet and the weeds and the wilderness have suffered, and the bird life and flora and fauna that gave our part of the world its secret beauty have been sadly diminished.

We worked with local landowners to develop a management plan, funded Futurescapes People in the landscape “But now there is a realisation by the people who own and live by Biffaward (representative on the right) Restoration is undertaken through The last word must go to the families by these wetlands that they can reverse this trend. These our Futurescapes programme, who own the farmland at Lough Beg. families have a precious corner of our planet in their keeping using nature reserves to share They have worked closely with the and deserve high praise for taking thought and taking care of it experiences and resources with RSPB every step of the way, to for future generations. In doing so, they make themselves others. The RSPB has a land develop sustainable land examples at local level of what has to happen globally – they are management agreement with management to provide a place for helping the earth’s immunity system to contend with the landowners on a reserve area at nature and food for people, and a dangers it now faces everywhere.” Lough Beg, where we carry out landscape that is simply breathtaking. management in this way. The It is an example of how landowners reserve area acts as a across the Lough Neagh landscape demonstration site and helps inform can come together with local landowners, who work with us environmental and statutory to restore the wetlands and rebuild organisations to help nature co-exist the countryside area around with farming and other land Seamus Heaney reserves and protected areas. management activities. Poet Laureate Biffaward 52 RESTORINGRSPB RESERVES LOST 2008 HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 53 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Choughs should benefit from work planned on Mull of Oa, Islay. Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

SNH has been supporting the development of the Scottish National Nature Reserve (NNR) network, which includes RSPB nature reserves at Vane Farm, Insh Marshes, Abernethy and Forsinard Flows. NNRs are places where people can experience the incredible sights and sounds of Scotland’s natural world, and they are host to species and habitats of international conservation importance. For more information on Scottish NNRs, you can visit the website at www.nnr-scotland.org.uk.

SNH support at our four NNRs has been largely focused on improving the visitor experience at our sites and meeting the overall programme of enhanced NNR standards. In the past few years we have made significant improvements to the public experience at our NNR sites, which should be noticeable to our many visitors. At our main visitor facility at Loch Garten, part of the Abernethy At Loch Garten, part of the Abernethy NNR, improvements to facilities have been funded by Scottish Natural Heritage. NNR in Highland, new reserve interpretation, signage and leaflets have all been put in place, enhancing the experience visitors have of the the SSSI network. A large proportion factors that damage the Loch of Working with Scottish Natural Heritage unique Caledonian pinewoods. At our of our Scottish nature reserve Kinnordy in Angus, again funded in through Area Framework Agreements Insh Marshes reserve a stunning new network is notified as SSSI under part through agreement with SNH. visitor hide gives panoramic views domestic legislation, and Natura 2000 The RSPB is grateful for the financial and logistical across the Spey Valley. This was under European Union legislation. In this way, and through a targeted support of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), opened by Danny Alexander MP in approach, we are pleased that we July 2010. These are just a few Within these protected areas, we have exceeded Scottish Government through a network of Area Framework Agreements. examples, but improvements have have been working hard to restore Favourable Condition targets of 95% This funding is helping us to deliver some of the been made, where appropriate, those notified features that are under of the features of SSSIs being in objectives of our nature reserve management the across all of our NNRs to make them our control but are presently in Favourable Condition by 2010, on our length and breadth of Scotland. Here we provide a accessible and enjoyable to people of unfavourable condition. As examples, own land, where the management is taste of them with the following three articles all ages and abilities. significant wetland habitat restoration within our control. However, we wish describing some in more detail. work, including measures to deal to raise the standards even further SNH support through Area with diffuse pollution, have been and more work is planned, including DUNCAN ORR-EWING, HEAD OF SPECIES AND LAND MANAGEMENT, Framework Agreements is also undertaken at the Loch of Strathbeg increasing the grazing levels on our RSPB SCOTLAND helping us to ensure that we meet in Aberdeenshire and a restoration land at the Mull of Oa, Islay, to Scottish Government targets for the plan has been developed to deal with improve the condition of habitats for restoration of the notified features of a range of natural and anthropogenic breeding and wintering choughs. The 54 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 55 Tom Leach (arkive.org)

Mull of Oa is one of the most now have increasing numbers of in Shetland, Area Framework support important sites for this rare breeding barnacle geese grazing on our helps us manage visitor disturbance bird in Scotland, at the northern end reserve rather than on valuable grass to the island of Mousa through of its UK range. Work to improve crops grown by local farmers in the staffing, monitoring and monitoring, using Area Framework Solway coastal area. Our nature infrastructure, such as signs and Agreement support, is helping us reserve at Mersehead is therefore a boardwalks – all helping to maximise also to expand our knowledge of critical refuge area for the barnacle the wildlife experience of storm other wildlife apart from birds at our geese in the context of the Solway petrels, seabirds and seals for the sites. For example, on our Coll goose scheme, administered by SNH. island’s visitors. reserve in Argyll, new colonies of the rare Irish lady’s-tresses have In Shetland, SNH Area Framework These are just a few examples of been discovered. support is helping us manage mires partnership working between the on Fetlar where the Red Listed RSPB in Scotland and Scottish Natural In Dumfries and Galloway, at our red-necked phalarope breeds, at the Heritage. We are grateful to SNH for Mersehead reserve, SNH Area southern edge of its world range. its funding support through Area Framework support helps us to The support extends to a monitoring Framework Agreements, as well as for monitor the wintering Svalbard programme across the island, the advice and support of their staff population of barnacle geese, which increasing our understanding of on the ground, which is allowing us to only occurs in the UK in this area. how our management is affecting achieve our management objectives This monitoring has shown that we the population of this species. Also for both wildlife and people. Steve Knell(rspb-images.com) On the Fetlar reserve, Shetland, mire habitats have been improved with the help of SNH to benefit red-necked phalaropes.

Irish lady’s tresses – more of these rare orchids have been discovered on the RSPB’s reserve on Coll. 56 RSPB RESERVES 20112008 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 57

Before tree removal Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Gwyn Williams (RSPB) Gwyn Williams

Since 2002, the RSPB has managed nearly 300 ha of the 1,824 ha Loch Leven National Nature Reserve (NNR) at our Vane Farm reserve. The wetland part of Vane Farm has been developed entirely since 1990 when it was purchased as an arable farm. Since then, the RSPB has re-established 80 ha of wet grassland on the site and started the process of restoring 16 ha of lowland raised bog. The reserve now attracts more than 50,000 visitors, and offers great panoramas of the loch and wetland from the Visitor Centre. The connectivity between the marsh and the open water has been dramatically increased by the recent management of a newly-acquired parcel of land.

Good quality wetland habitat is scarce Uwe Stoneman(RSPB) and the remnants are increasingly under pressure in the countryside of this part of Scotland. In 2009, the RSPB took a 25-year lease on 22 ha of Vane Farm reserve with a view of Loch Leven NNR. Trees have been grass and scrub-woodland lying removed from near the loch shore, improving habitat connectivity. between Vane Farm and Loch Leven from the Kinross Estate, which owns the Loch and most of the land in the NNR. Despite being designated an Connecting habitats at Loch Leven NNR SSSI and Special Protection Area (SPA), this land had fallen out of Work at the RSPB’s Vane Farm nature reserve is continuous active management since helping to improve wildlife habitats within the the 1980s and as a result more than Loch Leven National Nature Reserve, as a half of it had become covered in scrub Trees were removed by a local specialist conservation contractor. diverse mosaic of wetlands is expanded and and woodland. Together with rank linked. Large areas of connected habitat always grassland, choked ditches and

numerous old fences, the area had Uwe Stoneman(RSPB) prove more valuable for wildlife than small, After tree removal become a physical barrier to birds fragmented patches. moving between the Loch and the RSPB reserve, and a refuge for SIMON BUSUTTIL, RESERVES MANAGER, EAST SCOTLAND predators of ground-nesting birds (particularly lapwings) at Vane Farm. It cast a virtual shadow over the northern part of our grassland, and prevented some areas of habitat from being used by open-ground loving species. In 58 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 59 © Organica / Alamy ai iln (rspb-images.com) David Tipling Restoring ponds and grassland management should benefit wintering waterfowl such as pink-footed geese. fragile SSSI designated for its vegetation, and conscious of our carbon impact, there was no burning on site and over 100 tonnes of firewood and 700 tonnes of chippings were created and sent for use elsewhere. This showed that the view of cleared scrub as a waste product is not necessarily valid. All stumps were ground to ground level and treated with herbicide to help future mechanical management and minimise re-growth. Fencing was installed in winter 2010–11 and controlled seasonal cattle-grazing will be introduced in 2011, completing the integration of the management of this area into Vane Farm and effectively linking the RSPB reserve directly to the Loch. The re-profiling of old flight-ponds and the re-establishment of old water control structures, together with management of the grassland and fen sward, will improve conditions for breeding and wintering waders and addition, this part of the SSSI was waterfowl. Early indications from 2011 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Lapwings have increased since this work was done approaching Unfavourable Condition show that numbers of breeding for its Open Water Transition Fen lapwings have increased. Feature. It made sense to SNH, the Kinross Estate and the RSPB to bring The shore of the Loch has also been this area within the RSPB reserve and made more suitable for important integrate management into one unit. plants, such as the rare holy grass Hierochloe odorata, and for scarcer After surveys for bats and other specialist species such as the carrion protected species had taken place, beetle Thanatophilus dispar. and under a Rural Development Contract (RDC) through the Scottish We are excited about the future of Rural Development Programme Vane Farm, as planning permission has (SRDP), 14 ha of trees and scrub were been granted for major works to cleared in five weeks in late summer continue improving the wetlands. 2010, by local specialist conservation- contractor AMW of Auchterarder. The Thanks to: tight timescale was necessary to Our work is supported by SNH minimise disturbance to both breeding through the Tayside and birds (particularly duck broods) and Clackmannanshire Area Framework wintering waterfowl (particularly pink- Agreement. We are grateful to footed geese) for both of which Loch Kinross Estate for facilitating the Leven is designated. Operating on a agreement supporting this work. The shore of Loch Leven is now more suitable for the nationally rare holy grass. 60 RSPB RESERVES 2011 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURALRSPB RESERVES HERITAGE 2011 61 Laurie Campbell(rspb-images.com) Steve Round (rspb-images.com)

Due to the influence of the Gulf Stream, Scotland’s Atlantic coast has relatively mild, but notoriously wet weather, with abundant rainfall year round. This provides ideal conditions for the establishment of semi-natural oakwoods with a diverse flora of ferns, lichens, mosses and liverworts. This habitat is also the stronghold for an important group of woodland birds, most of which migrate from sub- Saharan Africa each year to breed.

Some of our important oakwood bird species, such as wood warbler, have declined in the last decade or so in England and Wales. Numbers are holding up better in Scotland, but they still need help. As well as expanding our Atlantic woodlands to make them more resilient to change, and developing woodland habitat networks, we need to manage our existing woodland fragments to maintain their current wildlife. A policy of non-intervention is not always best, and long-term exclusion of grazing can be a bad thing. Redstart – a beautiful sight Native oak woodland is an important habitat on the west coast of Scotland. Some grazing is required to encourage in many Atlantic oakwoods structural diversity within the field layer and tree habitats. It also helps provide the conditions required to sustain a loss and fragmentation have historically and tree pipit enhance the colourful Restoration and expansion of Scotland’s diversity of bryophytes and lichens. been the major threats to Atlantic backdrop of spring flowers with their Atlantic woodlands – our Celtic rainforests Grazing also provides opportunities for woodlands and the diverse fauna and distinctive songs and calls. Boulders are tree regeneration. Leaving dead wood flora associated with them. Woodland coated with Wilson’s and Tunbridge Fragmentation and loss of woodlands has threatened on the site is important for invertebrates expansion and the establishment of filmy ferns, as well as notable lichens the unique wildlife and landscapes of the Atlantic and lower plants and provides places for woodland habitat networks are and bryophytes. Large numbers of bats and birds to roost and breed. important for their long-term continuity. small pearl-bordered fritillaries are found woods of western Scotland. Management of three in clearings, and the reserve boasts an RSPB woodland reserves aims to restore and recreate The RSPB has three important Atlantic Inversnaid impressive 20 species of butterfly. On this important habitat. woodland reserves on the west coast Our reserve at Inversnaid is nestled on the woodland edge, grazing by of Scotland at Inversnaid, Wood of Cree the eastern banks of Loch Lomond, Highland cattle provides a variable NEIL COWIE, RESERVES ECOLOGIST; NICK CHAMBERS, SITE MANAGER, CENTRAL and Glenborrodale. Over the past 10 with oak and alder woodlands rising sward, which is proving attractive to the SCOTLAND RESERVES; ANDREW BIELINSKI, AREA RESERVES MANAGER, DUMFRIES years, there has been a big effort to from the loch shore to meet open increasing numbers of black grouse. AND GALLOWAY RESERVE. improve the management of these sites moorland on the higher slopes. The through a series of major restoration reserve is an excellent place to see the Inversnaid reserve was extended in and expansion projects, often working wildlife associated with these habitats. 2003 with the acquisition of the in collaboration with other organisations Woodland specialities such as the Garrison estate. With the adjacent Loch and neighbouring estates. Woodland wood warbler, pied flycatcher, redstart Katrine land (Forestry Commission 62 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 63 Niall Benvie (rspb-images.com)

177,000 trees have been planted. Our work at Wood of Cree and Barclye is an integral component of the Cree Valley Community Woodland Trust’s project (CVCWT), which aims to create a woodland habitat network along the entire length of the River Cree – a real landscape-scale project. The RSPB has been part of this project since its Neil Cowie(RSPB) inception, along with Forestry Commission Scotland and Scottish Areas of Glenborrodale have been cleared of Natural Heritage. The relationship has rhododendron, allowing the field layer to recover. been mutually beneficial with CVCWT using part of our land at Barclye as a tree nursery and their volunteers also Scotland) and nearby Glenfinglas to enjoy the spectacular views for helping on the reserve. (WTS) this area forms The Great which the area is famed. Trossachs Forest project. This is the Glenborrodale result of a collaboration known as the Wood of Cree At our Glenborrodale reserve on the Scottish Forest Alliance, made up of Our Wood of Cree reserve in Dumfries shore of Loch Sunart, on the rugged Forestry Commission Scotland, RSPB and Galloway is one of Scotland’s Ardnamurchan peninsula, Scotland, Woodland Trust Scotland largest Atlantic oakwoods. The original management of the 100 ha site (and and BP. It is unique because at this reserve extended to 266 ha and other oakwood sites within the Sunart location all the project partners have management has largely focused on oakwoods SAC), has focused on land adjacent to each other. This enhancing the natural heritage value of removing rhododendron and non- forms one of the largest native the woodland through sensitive native conifers. This has come at a cost woodland expansion projects in woodland management and removing of around £100,000, much of which Britain, covering around 16,650 ha of non-native trees and shrubs. The has been funded through forestry land from Inversnaid in the west to reserve is incredibly important for grants. Rhododendron is still a major Callander in the east. The project wildlife. As well as the usual long- threat to our Atlantic woodlands in helps joint monitoring and a distance summer migrants, as at western Scotland. co-ordinated approach to deer Inversnaid, the increasingly rare willow management, fencing and other tit is also present, and there are black These woodlands are now well matters. Important open ground grouse on the fringes of the reserve. recognised for their value as wildlife habitats will be maintained, and the There is a great variety of mammals habitats. They are also remarkably project will allow people to continue including red squirrel, pine marten, beautiful and tranquil places for people otter and seven species of bat, to visit, and take their place amongst Steve Knell(rspb-images.com) including the rare Leisler’s bat. the gems of western Scotland.

In 2006, 371 ha were added to the Thanks to: reserve through the purchase of the SNH for their support for work at adjacent Barclye farm. Again with Inversnaid, through the Argyll and funding from the Scottish Forest Stirling AFA and at Wood of Cree Red squirrels are threatened by Alliance, a mixture of new woodland through the Dumfries and Galloway encroaching grey squirrels at Wood and woodland pasture is being AFA. of Cree. A high level of vigilance is maintained to spot any invasion and established, and to date around we are trapping any grey squirrels arriving at the site. Small pearl-bordered fritillary 64 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 65 Jamie Boyle(RSPB) Jamie Boyle(RSPB) Small areas are harvested, providing a rich mosaic of land use.

“The island of Vallay lies on the West, near the mainland of North Uist; it is about four miles in circumference, arable and a dry, sandy soil, very fruitful in corn and grass, clover and daisy.” Martin Martin, 1695.

The RSPB became involved in the management of Vallay island in 2002, just after Angus and Michelle MacDonald had taken over the island tenancy. Angus MacDonald, a lifelong crofter and breeder of pedigree Highland cows, was intending to reinstate traditional Uist machair management over the island as it had once been known for the excellence of its arable and grass crops. He approached the RSPB and asked if we would be interested in some type of mutually beneficial management agreement. We jumped at the chance.

The RSPB does not own land in the Traditional crofting on the islands of more efficient ways to farm. This does Uists due to the crofting system of the Uists is high nature-value farming not have to mean intensification but can, tenure. Instead, our work centres on at its best, and it supports some of as in this instance, mean following the Angus’s pedigree Highland cattle on the strand at Vallay. The island is accessible at low tide. many management agreements with the richest bird and botanical areas in old system using modern machinery. individual crofters covering small areas the UK. The machairs of the Uists hold The agreement with Angus and Michelle of high nature value land. Our first more than 12,000 pairs of breeding provides them with a small amount of significant agreement was established waders and many thousand more can additional income to invest in the as early as 1966. The Vallay agreement be found on the hill reseeds adjacent infrastructure on Vallay island and to do Vallay island nature reserve offered a chance to influence to the crofts. Skylarks compete with that little bit extra for wildlife. It can be management over a further crucial corncrakes and corn buntings to be enough to make a big difference. We have long wished to help crofters in the Uists to area of machair. The 250 ha island is a heard over the fields of corn and manage land in ways that are more efficient and effective spectacular place with many key grass. Wetlands and lochs are With funding from Scottish Natural habitats, including machair, hay scattered between the machair and Heritage, we have re-instated fencing for them, but also more sensitive to the needs of rare meadows, wetland/saltmarsh, shingle croftland, where numerous orchid around the island to enable us to restrict wildlife. Working with new tenants on the island of Vallay beaches and calcareous sand dunes. species thrive, including one species spring and summer grazing in areas has helped us to achieve some of our aims. endemic to North Uist. By working managed for corncrakes, waders, We knew that the island had huge with crofters and farmers we can help machair flowers and invertebrates. The JAMIE BOYLE, SITE MANAGER AND NEIL COWIE, RESERVES ECOLOGIST potential for wildlife if the growing of to keep a once subsistence based Highland cattle are of a traditional breed arable and grass crops was reinstated, crofting system viable in a modern, perfectly suited to machair habitat. The along with grazing controls in key profit driven, agricultural industry. cattle are kept in the hills for the areas. More than a hundred pairs of summer, and in winter they thrive on waders already bred on the island, but However, crofters on the Uists have the island’s machair. only the occasional corncrake had ever increasing demands on their time been recorded. and money, and need to find faster, Corncrakes are fantastic birds to work 66 RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE RESTORING LOST HABITATS – WORKING WITH SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE 67 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Cliff Reddick

with, as results can be almost instantaneous if you get the habitat right. From the start of the agreement, the island population rapidly rose from the occasional bird to 15 in an incredibly small area. Breeding wader numbers almost doubled, particularly redshanks and lapwings. They have benefited from the extensive cattle management. A little tern colony has appeared on the cropped machair area but the biggest Corn buntings have recolonised Vallay where nine males now surprise was that corn buntings have hold territory. also colonised Vallay. The islands of Uist hold the last island and west coast population of this rapidly declining species. Now, nine males hold territories on Vallay, which is Numbers of corncrakes and corn buntings recorded on Vallay since 2001 almost 10% of the Uist and Barra 16 population. 14

12 It is not only birds that have benefited from this agreement. The 10 great yellow bumblebee now thrives 8 Corncrake: Number of on the island, and can often be seen Number 6 calling males foraging on the vetch- and clover-rich 4 machairs along with the rare northern Corn bunting: 2 Number of pairs mining bee, which has just been discovered here. 0 2002 2003 2005 2001 2004 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 The future looks bright for Vallay Year island.

Thanks to:

Jamie Boyle(RSPB) Scottish Natural Heritage for their Great yellow bumblebees have benefited from extensive management of the machair. support through the Western Isles Area Framework Agreement.

Corncrakes are doing well on Vallay now that their habitat has been restored. 68 RSPB RESERVES 2011 69

Reserves and people a review of 2010 The growth of the RSPB nature reserve network and the appeal of the reserves to visitors go hand in hand. As we have increased the land that we have taken into conservation management we have, at the same time, extended the opportunity for people to visit our reserves. Inspired by their visit, many people go on to provide the moral, financial and voluntary support necessary to acquire and manage new sites – a virtuous circle which is good for both people and wildlife.

By 2012, we want to extend opportunities for people to be connected with nature – our nature reserves will represent the best manifestation of this ideal, welcoming 2.2 million visits per year.

Our aim is that on leaving an RSPB reserve, visitors will feel they have had a special and enjoyable time. We want them to have a high quality experience, in which they have connected with birds, other wildlife and the natural environment, and consequently feel more committed to their conservation. Eleanor Bentall(rspb-images.com)

Our progress towards these objectives during 2010 is reported in the following chapter. 70 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 71 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

In 2009–10, we welcomed nearly 2 million visitors to our reserves, well up on the 1.6 million visits in 2006–07 and well on track towards our aim of 2.2 million by 2012. Ensuring that visitors have a rewarding experience is of prime importance and we have taken a range of backstage initiatives to help provide this. Visitors need good information to plan their visits and find out what is happening on our reserves. An increasingly popular channel is the website. In 2010 our reserves web pages were overhauled and now include seasonal wildlife highlights and weather reports. Visitors can add comments, pictures and bird sightings, bringing a visitor community to the pages as never before.

The improvements to the website coincided with a UK-wide Easter advertising campaign. This was It’s good to talk – understanding our visitors’ needs and expectations is vital to providing an aimed at raising awareness of our excellent visitor experience. nature reserves as places to connect with nature and enjoy time in the outdoors. It brought a marked increase in visits to the website and Bringing backstage to the fore a 6% increase in visitor numbers following the campaign. With any theatre, film or television production there is a myriad of things going on backstage that make the We also need to understand more production work. The audience doesn’t see them, but about our visitors. In 2010, more than without them the production would never take place. 3,000 visitor surveys were analysed. The results are valuable in planning The same applies to our excellent visitor experiences Staff are on hand to greet visitors, on their our operations and help us to on nature reserves. Many things go on behind the arrival at the Saltholme visitor centre. scenes that visitors are unaware of but which make monitor visitor satisfaction. Two years into a five-year strategy, we their visit memorable. have exceeded our target of 90% of visitors saying they had a good or need to train our staff – front and reserve through visitors’ eyes. All in LIZ OUTHWAITE, VISITOR SERVICES ADVISOR, excellent visit, but we are still back stage – and our valued all, we are confident that we can PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT DEPARTMENT striving to improve and innovate. volunteers. In 2010, we launched continue to give people a rewarding training schemes for our reserve experience and to show more than To give visitors the best possible teams, covering the visitor ever that seeing nature firsthand is time on our nature reserves, we experience and ways to see the simply unbeatable. 72 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 73 David McHugh(rspb-images.com)

How do you connect with a Leila Balin, Education Manager, Leila adds: “Even our visits to community that feels nature has little explains. “We’ve found outreach an community groups, to make bird relevance in their lives? With people ideal way to connect a disengaged, feeders or nature diaries, can make a who don’t visit the countryside and urban community with nature. By considerable difference to people have little or no knowledge of wildlife? working with schools, youth groups or who find the countryside intimidating The South Essex Marshes team feel new communities and visiting them in or irrelevant. It really is the first step they’ve found an answer in their a place they understand and are towards making more significant “outreach” work. comfortable with, we are able to get connections with the RSPB and them excited about the natural world. conservation.” The South Essex Marshes are part of a This biggest bonus we’ve found is this wealth of wetland countryside nestled initial visit almost always results in the Thanks to: alongside the Thames Estuary, full of group coming to our reserves and The generosity of numerous funders wildlife and big sky landscapes, but starting a significant relationship with including Veolia Pitsea Marshes Trust, hidden by large urban sprawls. Many the RSPB and nature.” Parklands funded by the Homes and local communities are unaware of the Communities Agency administered existence of the marshes and many There are also practical implications of by Essex County Council, Biffaward; more don’t feel any relevance to their outreach, as school budgets are and Natural England – Access to lives or neighbourhood. slashed and visits off school grounds Nature, part of the BIG Lottery’s fund diminish. The team has found that Changing Spaces Programme. However, since we introduced our more and more schools and youth outreach work, thousands of children, groups are asking for outreach. Being families and communities have had a able to provide that service has seen chance to experience nature. them in constant demand.

Children discover there is wildlife in even the most urban of school grounds. The first steps towards a lifelong love of nature David McHugh(rspb-images.com)

Moving the mountain – South Essex Marshes

In the last 10 years, the RSPB, with the help of many partners, has invested heavily in the creation of nature reserves in South Essex, in part to provide green space for the growing urban communities of the London Gateway. If full use is to be made of this provision, we need to reach out actively to reconnect people with nature.

THEA KING, VISITOR AND PUBLICITY OFFICER, SOUTH ESSEX MARSHES RESERVES 74 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 75 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) The RSPB

Arguably the best purchase the RSPB made was in 1961, when the princely sum of £21,400 bought a country house and associated grounds 50 miles north of London. The RSPB’s then Chair of Finance Committee, Tony Norris, had the foresight to broker the move from cramped headquarters near Buckingham Palace (raising more than £60,000 from the sale of the London lease!) to The Lodge, a place where the Society could expand its office accommodation and service a growing membership of around 10,000. Yet he could not have predicted the significance in terms of land acquisition. 99% of heathland in Bedfordshire has been lost in the last 200 years. By extending remnant patches we are doubling the current area. During the early years, the small surrounding broadleaved woodland was seen as the reserve’s most century. With two Iron Age hill forts, An archaeology field day, run with the precious habitat. But a greater jewel Victorian buildings, Italianate gardens help of the Cambridge Archaeological lay hidden inside the leafy woods and laid out in the 1930s, and the Unit, unearthed a medieval sand beneath the surrounding conifer remains of a World War II quarry and the foundations of plantations. It is clear today that The ammunitions depot, it offers visitors wartime huts. Engaging cartoon-style The Lodge around 1900. Lodge’s heath and acid grassland – more than just an attractive walk in interpretive panels were installed on part of the narrow exposed the woods and heath. In 2010, with Galley Hill, interesting a new Greensand belt running diagonally support from English Heritage, the generation in the ”lumps and through Bedfordshire – is a much site began to develop its historical bumps” of this 2,700 year-old Iron Fifty years of the RSPB at The Lodge rarer and hence more precious associations to attract new visitors. Age hill fort, with its impressive ditch habitat. Careful expansion over the The RSPB has had its headquarters at The Lodge in Sandy last decade has seen the reserve for the last 50 years. Originally bought for its buildings reabsorb most of Arthur Wellesley Time explorers enjoy and surrounding grounds, its other values can now be Peel’s original Victorian estate, and re-enacting battles appreciated: as an important remnant of heathland and we have begun to restore heathland acid grassland with a fascinating heritage. It has enough where maturing conifers had to delight any visitor. smothered former nightjar territories. During the next decade, we plan to have restored 100 ha of heathland, a PETER BRADLEY, SITE MANAGER, THE LODGE; ROBIN STANDRING, RESERVES big enough area to see woodlarks, ARCHAEOLOGIST; DEREK NIEMANN, EDITOR AND LODGE HISTORIAN Dartford warblers and the long- displaced nightjars return to breed on

the reserve. Peter Bradley

The Lodge’s history stretches much further back than the RSPB’s half 76 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 77 Jesper Mattias (rspb-images.com) Robin Standring Jesper Mattias (rspb-images.com)

The gardens are managed for nature and the quiet enjoyment of visitors and staff. Andy Hay(rspb-images.com) The restored heath should attract breeding nightjars. This one stopped to roost for a day.

“Time explorers” enjoy a demonstration of iron casting at The Lodge.

ramparts. We also held a ”Time RSPB reserve. The year 2010–11 saw experience, and promoting an Explorers” weekend, with Romano- visitor numbers increase by over 6% important message – that what we do British re-enactments, flint-knapping, and membership recruitment in managing land has a lasting effect bronze casting and a range of increase by a third. on our environment. prehistoric activities along a ”time trail”. Iron Age expert, Dr Dave The Lodge’s 50th anniversary will see We are grateful to the many McOmish of English Heritage, the heritage theme continued. There organisations that have provided entertained visitors on walks around will be a Time Explorers II, theatre funding for the purchase of land and Galley Hill. Visitor feedback proved performances of Chaucer’s Canterbury restoration of heathland at The overwhelmingly positive, and this Tales in the gardens, and tours of the Lodge. Current work is supported by major event attracted more than hill fort and house. Promoting our English Heritage, the SITA Trust and 1,300 people – mostly families with heritage is helping the RSPB to bring Natural England’s Countdown 2010 younger children – many of whom in new groups of people, offering Biodiversity Action Fund. were making their first visit to an existing RSPB supporters a richer 78 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 79 Steve Knell(rspb-images.com) Peter Cairns(rspb-images.com)

It’s no coincidence that some of the residential volunteer warden at the UK’s most important habitats and RSPB’s reserve on Hoy – about as stunning wildlife thrive in the farthest far away and remote as I could get reaches of the country. It is here, whilst remaining in the British situated away from the hustle and Isles?” said Laura. bustle of human life, that the RSPB’s remotest reserves lie. At the opposite end of Scotland, back on the mainland, lies the Mull of As well as being wonderful places for Galloway nature reserve – Scotland’s nature, these unique sites also offer most southerly point. Seabirds are some of our most challenging and the stars of this reserve; some 3,500 rewarding volunteering opportunities. breeding pairs breed on the lichen- covered cliffs. Last year, we had more than 700 volunteers taking part in our Paul Tarling has been community residential scheme across the UK, liaison officer here for the past three Sumburgh Head, Shetland Isles: one which is the equivalent of an extra 80 years. of the RSPB’s most remote reserves. full-time members of staff. They carried out vital conservation work, “I can honestly say that without welcoming visitors to our reserves our residential volunteers I would a difference and really is ”stepping and sharing a passion for nature and not be able to get out and do my up for nature”. the need to conserve it. A hugely job within the community”, admitted diverse group of people take on this Paul.“They look after the visitor These remote areas may seem like a volunteering challenge, including centre, talking to the public about million miles away to some people, those who want to get that all the area and the wildlife; this but for others they are home. These important first foot on the allows me to get out to talk to local volunteers play a vital role as Planting native trees in the uplands is possible only with the help of volunteers. conservation job ladder. tourists and other people in the Helen Moncrieff, RSPB Shetland local area.” Warden explained. “With a fairly It was the lure of helping preserve small community, like here in Britain’s most northerly native With visitors in safe hands, Paul is Shetland, local volunteers can be Volunteering at the ends of the earth woodland at Hoy, in Orkney, that free to promote the amazing work hard to come by. Our volunteers are attracted residential volunteer and wildlife that can be found at Mull an essential part of our small team. 2011 is a special year for volunteering: the European Year Laura Giles. of Galloway to new people. But he Whether they are helping at events of Volunteering. The year aims to celebrate the fantastic knows the location isn’t for everyone. in summer, monitoring twites in contribution made by volunteers who donate their time Hoy is a great place to get involved winter, or running our new Wildlife and talents to society and organisations across Europe. with the spectacular sea cliffs and “The remoteness of the Mull of Explorer group, every individual’s More than 4,500 people regularly volunteer on our nature sub-Arctic vegetation found on the Galloway does not suit all our help is appreciated.” reserves. They do so because they love rolling up their hill summits. Planting native trees volunteers but several come year in and welcoming and inspiring visitors year out and a few come twice a There are RSPB reserves where you sleeves, getting stuck in and stepping up for nature. to this reserve are just two of the year, spending a total of a month can find yourself in the middle of a ways that volunteers can contribute. on this beautiful and dramatic vast unspoilt landscape, but you don’t JACKIE BROWN, VOLUNTEERING DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, peninsula of rock that juts out into have to travel too far from the UK’s RSPB SCOTLAND “After spending far too much time the Irish Sea. main cities to find your own place of in an office chained to my desk and tranquillity. Volunteers help the RSPB computer, I wanted to get away “Every willing volunteer who protect these areas of natural beauty from it all. So how better to do that makes this reserve a home, for so they will be around for than by spending two weeks as a however long they can give, makes generations to come. 80 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 81 Carolyn Merrett (rspb-images.com) Carolyn Merrett (rspb-images.com)

Alongside the established youth to find out that they were “working programme, which includes field for nothing”. Perhaps the concept of teaching, holiday wildlife clubs, and volunteering might just start to activities for Wildlife Explorers and change his perception of who we are Phoenix members, we have created and what we do. opportunities for young people to get involved with their local nature reserve. The Prince’s Trust Since 2009, teams of young people Learning along the way have been working on the Sandwell Before working with the RSPB on the Valley nature reserve as part of a reserve, many of these young people project between the Prince’s Trust, had never dug a hole, cut willow with West Midlands Police, Wolverhampton a bow saw, worn waders or sat in a College and the RSPB. boat. It is a steep learning curve for most and doing physical work Up to 10 volunteers, aged between outdoors is a huge contrast with their 16 and 25, spend five days doing usual lifestyle. It is a great chance for conservation jobs, from scrub them to work as part of a team and management to path repairs and learn new skills in a safe environment tending the wildlife garden. with plenty of support. We benefit The young people often devise a from the work they do for us whilst project idea themselves, make a visit, introducing new people to “our do research and preparation, then world” at the same time. We start the placement with us. Part of understand the value of outdoor their job is to find ways to raise funds education for our younger children; it for their project. Phoenix Forum members work hard at Sandwell Valley is equally important to offer this as part of a life long learning process to These young people are described as older children and young adults too. “at risk”. RSPB staff don’t judge them. Queen Alexandra College They can prove themselves to us Recently young adults with Young Offenders without bringing any baggage from extra support needs from Young people show their “green talents” For several years, young people from personal lives. We trust them to do a Queen Alexandra College have at Sandwell Valley our local Youth Offending Services in good job and they usually rise to the made weekly visits to work on Sandwell and Walsall made monthly challenge. Seeing them increase in the reserve: hay raking, RSPB reserves offer great opportunities for young people visits to work on the reserve as part confidence and self-esteem over a few preparing a flowerbed for native to get excellent hands-on experience of nature of their reparation orders, often as an days is remarkable. When they first plants in the wildlife garden and alternative to having a custodial arrive it can be hard to imagine that cutting back hawthorn. Some conservation. At Sandwell Valley, we have successfully sentence. They had a chance to “give these young people will be standing in have visual impairment; others reached out to diverse communities of young people since back” something productive to the front of a room full of people and have varying levels of learning the mid 1980s. local community by contributing a speaking confidently to them, at their difficulty. These sessions away few hours hard graft. One team presentation event, a few weeks later. from their college environment LEE COPPLESTONE, SITE MANAGER, RSPB SANDWELL VALLEY worked extremely hard to remove are a crucial part of developing some fencing that was no longer Thanks to: life skills in the “real” world. needed. During a break, John, (a Funding from Advantage West Ruth Jackson, a QAC team young offender), used the telescope Midlands and NE, through the Natural leader, said “They come back to get a closer view of the lake. He Assets grants programme, WREN from Sandwell buzzing, really saw some RSPB volunteers working and Ibstock Cory Environmental Trust proud of their achievements.” out on the reserve and was amazed has helped make this work possible. 82 RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2010 83 Ben Hall(rspb-images.com)

In 2009 and 2010, we wanted to determine the benefits of designating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) for seabirds, but these have traditionally been difficult to calculate. Instead, we estimated the economic benefits to local communities of seabird tourism, which relies on flourishing seabird colonies, and consequently the areas at sea that support them. As well as being beautiful, seabirds are a To do this, we measured the valuable local asset to Bempton. additional money spent in local communities by visitors who were there specifically to see seabirds. ■ At Bempton Cliffs, an estimated we need to protect all the areas If local economic benefits are to income of over £750,000 was important to support those seabirds continue, protecting offshore areas attributable to seabirds, equivalent throughout their lifecycle – both vital for foraging seabirds is just as to 21.5 full time jobs – over 5% of onshore and offshore.

Carolyn Merrett (rspb-images.com) important as the protection of the Bempton Parish Council breeding colonies onshore. workforce. Thanks to: We are very grateful to everyone We chose four RSPB reserves ■ At South Stack Cliffs, spending who filled out questionnaires and around the UK and asked visitors to on seabirds was estimated at answered surveys. provide information on their reasons £223,000, equivalent to over six for visiting – only counting tourists, full time jobs or approximately not locals, who came to see 0.7% of the local workforce. Visitors to Rathlin’s seabird viewing (rspb-images.com) Simon Watterson Tourists come to watch puffins at South Stack: and they support the local economy. seabirds and wildlife, rather than for platform spend over £115,000. a walk or a trip to the cafe. We ■ At Mull of Galloway, an asked local businesses to estimate estimated income of £126,000 the proportion of spending with was attributable to seabirds, them which came from tourists who equating to four full time jobs – The local value of seabirds were visiting the reserve. The nearly 0.3% of the local workforce. results gave a snapshot of the There’s nothing more enjoyable than watching and listening economic benefits that flourishing ■ At Rathlin Island, spending on to seabirds during the breeding season as they whirl seabird colonies can generate, or, seabirds was estimated at over around the nesting colonies. An obvious place to get a the potential losses that local £115,000, equivalent to over three good view is at RSPB nature reserves. But did you realise economies could suffer if seabirds, full time jobs or over 4% of the how valuable seabirds and seabird reserves are in which are protected on land, are not entire Rathlin Island population. supporting local communities? properly protected at sea where they spend most of their lives. This shows just how valuable SHARON THOMPSON, SENIOR MARINE POLICY OFFICER seabirds and RSPB seabird reserves The results were presented as are to small and often isolated spending attributable to seabirds and communities around the UK, by converted into the number of full bringing additional spending power time jobs that this spending could into the area. But it also shows that support. to retain these benefits in the future, 84 RSPB RESERVES 2011 85 Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

Benefiting the environment

Nature reserves contribute to the environment beyond their boundaries. They provide environmental benefits such as absorbing high energy waves to protect property inland. Some reserves are washlands and receive floodwater at times of high rainfall, releasing the water more slowly after the storm has passed. Other reserves are natural water-harvesting areas for water companies.

As far as possible, our nature reserves are managed to minimise their carbon footprint and maximise their value in demonstrating good environmental practice. We aim to protect their constituent species and habitats by taking measures to adapt to climate change.

Getting the most out of RSPB nature reserves is made possible with the help of a great many partnerships. These include statutory bodies, private companies, farming tenants and other nature conservation NGOs, to name but a few.

Installing solar panels on our reserves buildings is one way we can reduce our carbon footprint. 86 BENEFITING THE ENVIRONMENT 87

Briquettes make a clean fuel, LachmannLars (RSPB) Lars LachmannLars (RSPB) marketed locally, for use in wood- burning stoves and open fires. On the wet grassland of the RSPB’s method of dealing with the waste Exe Estuary reserve we have a material, taking advantage of a problem with two tussock-forming possible new market on our doorstep. species; Deschampsia caespitosa After considering other options, such (tufted hairgrass) and Juncus effusus as composting and production of (soft rush), which have become thick pellets, it was decided to trial the and impenetrable and shade out production of briquettes as a clean growth of the desirable grassland fuel, which could be marketed locally species beneath. To reduce their for domestic heating in wood-burning cover to less than 10%, the stoves and open fires. grassland needed to be hit hard through a process of herbicide Briquetting compacts dry shredded treatment, cutting and removal and material under great pressure in a grazing of the re-growth. With over container. Cut rush is typically about 80 ha to be cut, and an estimated 80% moisture and this was to be one average of six bales per hectare, we of our biggest challenges. Briquetting were going to have a lot of material machines typically cope with material to dispose of. between 10 and 20% moisture, depending on compaction rates. The reserve’s location adjacent to the city of Exeter and near to the RSPB Less compacted briquettes may often retail outlet at Dart’s Farm offered the need a binding agent, such as rape exciting opportunity to try an unusual seed oil, to hold them together, which

Activity Area Total cost Waste Tonnage Cost Cost Large quantities of waste vegetation can be converted into briquettes. material per hectare per tonne Cutting and baling 80ha £5,646 470 round 235 £70 £24 bales Each bale assumed to be approximately From birds to briquettes – using waste ½ tonne on the Exe Estuary reserve Shredding £1,000 117 Assuming shredding Once shredded The RSPB is keen to make good use of the large twice reduces the amount of quantities of waste vegetation arising from habitat material by half management on our reserves. At our Exe Estuary reserve, we have trialled a creative method, converting bales of Briquetting £3,276 235 tonnes £28 tufted hairgrass and soft rush into clean fuel for local processed people. Given the need to reduce fossil fuel produces 117 tonnes for retail consumption, developing such methods is an important part of preparing for the future. Movement of briquettes £500 Additives/Waxing £2,000 SALLY MILLS, SITE MANAGER, EXE ESTUARY Total cost £12,422 £160 trade price for a ton of brushwood briquettes – £160 x 117 = £18,720

Note* These figures do not include the cost of drying 88 BENEFITING THE ENVIRONMENT BENEFITING THE ENVIRONMENT 89 Sally Mills(RSPB) Andy Hay(rspb-images.com)

Cutting the soft rush and tufted hairgrass, which shade out finer grasses, produces around six bales per hectare.

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helps those with higher moisture The product has many marketable briquetting as a technique to content to burn. A coating of wax can qualities; it is clean, easy to transport dispose of rush or other vegetation improve fire-lighting qualities, provide and handle, and can be burnt in waste from RSPB reserves. moisture resistance to aid storage, household wood-fuel stoves. It is not and help with marketing and dusty or damp, and will not go Although in its early stages, this branding. These factors also alter the mouldy or smell, or harbour insects in project shows that with perseverance calorific value and burning rate. The the home. and ingenuity we can find solutions to burn rate of brash wood in a high long-standing reserve management density briquette nine inches long is Our next steps are to: problems. The development of similar to that of lower quality coal 1. Look at refining the harvesting methods such as this, which both and it will burn for approximately one method to generate material in a remove waste vegetation and put it to and a half hours. form that can be easily shredded good use replacing fossil fuels, are and briquetted. part of the future of sustainable land To reduce the moisture content, 2. Explore ways of reducing the management. trials were conducted with a local moisture content and hence the entrepreneur mixing woodchip with drying needed. Thanks to: the rush in varying percentages, 3. Consider the storage of the David Wynne of Ag-Bag systems for using rush at 40 to 75%. All were product and the need to provide a helping to develop products and for successful and it was felt that if the covered area. his willingness to experiment, and to rush was sufficiently dry then it 4. Undertake a cost analysis and Natural England for supporting the could be processed on its own. determine the feasibility of using work. Exminster Marshes, part of the Exe Estuary reserve, is being managed for breeding waders. 90 RSPB RESERVES 2011 91 Guy Shorrock (rspb-images.com)

Supporting partners around the world

The RSPB is part of the BirdLife International partnership and works with over 20 countries around the world and in the UK Overseas Territories. Our work involves building the capacity of other BirdLife Partners to become strong and independent nature conservation organisations, and a strong voice for nature in their countries. We also help them to set up, raise funds for and implement important projects in their own countries. Often we get involved with training the staff of our partner organisations in areas such as scientific research, management planning and management of protected areas.

Gola Rain Forest in Sierra Leone was recently declared a National Park, after years of lobbying by the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone and the RSPB. 92 SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 93 Lars LachmannLars (RSPB) Nick Upton(rspb-images.com)

Prototype mowing equipment has been used to manage peat meadows in the Biebrza Valley since 2007.

The aquatic warbler is the only overgrown with dense reeds and type of management could continue globally threatened songbird of the birch, willow and alder, as a result of in the long-term over the 30,000 ha. Poland's Biebrza marsh. European mainland. It is the only slight changes to the hydrology globally threatened landbird regularly caused by man. From about 300 Since 2005, the Polish BirdLife Partner, visiting the UK, and has been years ago up until the 1960s and the Polish Society for the Protection of recorded at RSPB reserves during 70s, this succession was halted by Birds (OTOP), and the RSPB have Fuelling the recovery of the autumn migration. Until recently, all the use of traditional hand scything implemented a large-scale project aquatic warbler in Poland’s Biebrza Marshes was not well for this bird and its practices. However, when this funded by the EC LIFE-Nature unique fen mire habitat. The fens became uneconomic, the vast Programme, with additional funding The famous wetlands of the Biebrza Valley in northeast survived the large-scale drainage of extent of the problem became from Swarovski Optics and Cemex peatlands that swept across Europe, apparent. By the end of the Poland. The conservation of aquatic Poland are probably Europe’s most pristine fen mires, valued starting with the great fens of East millennium, over half the area of warblers and their fen mire habitats for their sheer wealth of birdlife and as the best sites for Anglia some 200 years ago and open fen mire vegetation was has been targeted. This has been the great snipe and greater spotted eagle in the EU. The real ending with the drainage of a large subject to overgrowth. Breeding catalyst for the implementation of a gem, however, is the aquatic warbler. With about 2,500 mire just downriver from Biebrza in waders such as black-tailed godwits, landscape-scale solution for the singing males, the Biebrza Valley holds 20% of the species’ the late 1960s. There were plans to redshanks and lapwings abandoned restoration and sustainable world population and is now the subject of recovery work drain the Biebrza Valley as well, but large areas, and habitat for the management of peat meadows in the led by Ogólnopolskiego Towarzystwa Ochrony Ptaków engineers decided it would be too aquatic warbler significantly Biebrza Valley. complicated. Instead, most of the decreased, despite the (OTOP), the Polish BirdLife Partner. area became a National Park in 1993. establishment of a National Park. As it was impossible to find enough people willing to do the heavy work of LARS LACHMANN, EUROPEAN COUNTRY PROGRAMMES OFFICER Today, the biggest threat to the open It was essential to re-introduce hand scything, we introduced a fen mires is that they become regular mowing and to make sure this purpose-built mowing machine: an 94 SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 95 Gerold Dobler Lars LachmannLars (RSPB)

use in wood stoves and ovens, replacing about 190 tonnes of coal.

In summer 2011, as part of an EC LIFE+ Nature-funded project, infrastructure will be put in place to allow for a much larger-scale conversion of the harvested biomass into carbon-neutral fuel. This will contribute to or even fully-fund future management costs, should the agri-environment programme cease. We monitor the effects of mowing on vegetation and birds. By early 2011 more than half (over 2,500 ha) of the core area of the marshes was under regular management. In 2009, waders returned to breed for the first time in many years. The new mowing equipment does not leave tracks on the delicate peat soils. Lapwings, godwits and redshanks were everywhere, and one of OTOP’s land parcels even held the adapted alpine piste-basher, on The National Park has made 12,000 first brood of wood sandpipers in caterpillar tracks, with very low ground ha of public land available under lease Poland for 10 years. While there are pressure and fast working speeds (up agreements that will benefit all the early indications of a real increase to 10 hectares per day, including rare species on the site. Some 300 ha in aquatic warbler numbers in the removal of the vegetation mown). It of the most important areas outside valley, we are especially pleased can also be used during periods of the National Park were bought by to see that the bird’s numbers high water and does not destroy the OTOP, with RSPB support, and are have increased in areas under delicate peat soil and vegetation. now reserves managed for aquatic management. Sadly they are warblers; another 150 ha will follow in declining in the unmanaged areas. We have worked with the government the coming year. to develop a targeted aquatic warbler This project is an impressive example agri-environment package to secure Mowing such a large area produces of how the enthusiasm and effort of financial support beyond the project an enormous amount of waste, our Polish BirdLife Partner, combined for large-scale habitat management. which can be used as a carbon- with RSPB experience, can make a Under this programme, local farmers neutral fuel. In an existing pilot landscape-scale difference and save and businesses who own or use land project, the biomass from just 50 ha one of Europe’s prime nature sites. occupied by aquatic warblers receive of aquatic warbler habitat was used an attractive annual payment if they to test the methods. mow their land regularly, after the aquatic warblers have left the site for The 250 tonnes of material were Western Africa. The programme converted into briquettes at a rate of started in 2009 and is secure until at 250 kg each hour, and then sold at least 2013. £115/t to private home owners, for Biebrza Marshes hold 20% of the world’s aquatic warblers. 96 SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 97 Gertrud andHelmutDenzau Dovlet Muradov

Badhyz State Nature Reserve is a complex of state nature reserve and three wildlife sanctuaries covering 144,680 ha, lying in two regions on the Iran–Turkmenistan–Afghanistan border. The Turkmenistan government wanted to propose Badhyz as the country’s first UNESCO Natural World Heritage Site and the management plan was a key part of the nomination paperwork. Over the last two years, we have helped the small team from the reserve and the Turkmenistan Important Bird Areas (IBA) project to prepare the plan. Badhyz has the world’s largest population of Turkmen kulan.

With its undulating steppe and herds of Turkmen kulan and Persian leopards, Turkmen caracals and discussions with the head of one of goitered gazelles, Badhyz has been striped hyenas and larger numbers of the regions were very positive as described as the Serengeti of Central grey wolves and red foxes. Other soon as he realised that the reserve Asia. Adding to its attraction, the wildlife includes 255 species of birds, didn’t want to stop local farming steppe contrasts dramatically with including eight globally threatened activities, but were seeking ways of the Yeroylanduz Depression, a saline species such as Egyptian and working together. Negotiations are still depression dotted with the cones of cinereous vultures and saker falcon, under way with the other region but extinct volcanos 500 m below the almost 700 species of plants (53 the final decisions will rest with Poppies add a splash of colour to the steppe in Badhyz. adjoining plateau, and the towering endemic), 1,300+ species of central government. cliffs of the Gyzyljar Canyon. Western invertebrates (40 endemic) and 39 areas support 9,000 ha of natural species of reptiles. Another challenge facing the reserve pistachio savannah woodland, the is securing funding to implement the largest area in Central Asia. Brown A key feature of Badhyz is the management plan. Staff salaries are Management planning in BADHYZ, for much of the year, in spring the seasonal migration of kulan and covered by the government but the TURKMENISTAN – “the Serengeti of Central Asia” steppe becomes an endless green gazelles between the core part of the reserve has to find ways of generating carpet sprinkled with a variety of site and the Chemenabat wildlife income for much of the day-to-day The RSPB has extensive experience of preparing and implementing colours – red poppies, red and yellow sanctuary, in search of water on the management, such as maintenance of Kushka tulips, yellow and blue irises, Gushgy and Islimcheshme rivers. A machinery. One major source of management plans for its nature reserves. Increasingly this white milk vetch and much more. significant objective in the income is the annual harvesting of experience is transferred to RSPB-supported partners around the management plan, and a first for world. Preparing the management plan for Badhyz State Nature The Turkmen kulan, a wild ass, is the Turkmenistan, is establishing two Reserve in Turkmenistan, on the Iran–Turkmenistan–Afghanistan most important mammal. The 615 ”ecological corridors” linking these border, presented unique challenges. Poaching, competition animals counted in 2009 represent areas and providing protection to the between wildlife and livestock for grazing and water, illegal the largest population of this animals while they cross farmland and pistachio collection, fire and the fact that one part of the site is subspecies in the world. There are steppe. Other objectives include also over 4,000 Persian goitered expanding the state nature reserve 30 km away from the remainder were just a few! gazelles and 1,200 urial (a wild and Chemenabat wildlife sanctuary, sheep). This abundance of food declaring the Yeroylanduz Depression GEOFF WELCH, INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT PLANS ADVISOR supports plenty of predators with a wildlife sanctuary and establishing small populations of Central Asian an effective buffer zone. Initial 98 SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 99 Geoff &Hilary Welch

pistachios from the planted areas of together to prepare the plan so national level. This has already woodland. This is assisted by up to opportunities for collaboration and happened in Kazakhstan where the 300 local people, with 80% of the sharing of resources have been approach to management planning harvest going to the reserve and identified. Additionally, by considering promoted by the RSPB has become 20% to local community members. all of the key features of the site national legislation, applying to all Involving people in the harvest is a together – species, habitats, socio- protected areas. We hope that this good way of building links between economic and cultural – the highest will be repeated, with Badhyz the reserve and local communities, priorities for work have been becoming a major training and who then see a direct financial identified and, together, these have demonstration site for protected benefit from safeguarding the made management of the reserve areas staff from throughout reserve. more efficient. Turkmenistan.

Prior to 2010, work on the reserve The management plan preparation Thanks to: was carried out according to annual process has also provided a valuable Staff from Badhyz State Nature work plans prepared independently training opportunity. One of the Reserve and the Turkmenistan IBA by each department – administration, bonuses of working in regions such Project for help with plan production, scientific, protection and as Central Asia is that, within and the Ministry for Nature maintenance – which was not ideal. governments, there is a culture of Protection of Turkmenistan for their With the new management plan, all transferring experience and ”best support for the reserve and the of the departments have worked practice” from the site to the UNESCO nomination process. Gertrud andHelmutDenzau

The management planning team outside the reserve HQ in Serhetchi. Geoff &Hilary Welch

“The Serengeti of Central Asia”: more than 4,000 Persian goitered Erosion can be a major problem around watering points. Finding ways to reduce conflict between wildlife and gazelles are found in Badhyz State Nature Reserve. livestock is one of the challenges for the reserve’s management plan. 100 Ernie Janes (rspb-images.com)

Thank you to our supporters

Our conservation work on reserves has been made possible by a large number of people and organisations. We would like to thank our members, volunteers, individual and legacy donors, charitable trusts, business supporters, public bodies, non-governmental organisations, the statutory sector and government agencies for the support we have received. A comprehensive list of our funders and supporters for the financial years 2009–10 and 2010–11 can be found in the relevant RSPB Annual Review.

Join us If you would like to support the RSPB in working for a healthy environment for birds and wildlife to create a better world for us all, then please contact us at one of the addresses on the back cover. The RSPB

UK Headquarters The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 680551

Northern Ireland Headquarters Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT Tel: 028 9049 1547

Scotland Headquarters 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh EH12 9DH Tel 0131 317 4104

Wales Headquarters Sutherland House, Castlebridge, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB Tel: 029 2035 3000 www.rspb.org.uk

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

We belong to BirdLife International, the global BirdLife INTERNATIONAL partnership of bird conservation organisations.

As a charity, the RSPB is dependent on the goodwill and financial support of people like you. Please visit www.rspb.org.uk/supporting or call 01767 680551 to find out more.

Front cover: Black guillemot by Chris Lloyd (rspb-images.com) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England & Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 120-1786-10-11