New Forest National Park 2013 Marchwood Community Wildlife Plan Written by the Community Wildlife Plans Project in partnership with Marchwood Parish Council and the Marchwood Conservation Volunteers

Working in partnership with Marchwood Parish Council.

www.newforestnpa.gov.uk Marchwood Community Wildlife Plan Written by Angela Peters for the Community Wildlife Plans Project 2013 The 12 month pilot project worked with seven communities, including Marchwood, in the to help get local people involved in wildlife recording and conservation work in their local area. It was funded by RDPE (Leader) and the New Forest National Park Authority. Angela works within the New Forest Land Advice Service team which provides independent land management advice to land owners in the New Forest. The plan has been written in discussion with the Marchwood community and it is hoped that the document will be useful in taking forward community-led wildlife surveying and conservation action in Marchwood.

Acknowledgements Many colleagues at the New Forest National Park Authority, New Forest Land Advice Service, Pond Conservation, Environment Agency, Marchwood Parish Council and Marchwood Conservation Volunteers have helped in the production of this report including Andy Bell, Kathryn Boler, Zoe Caals, Colette Cockeram, Jill Goddard, Jo Holmes, Tony Lavington, Lucy Page, Julie Stubbs, Annie Thain, Melanie Wathen and Tracy Weeks. Much data represented in the report has been supplied by the Biodiversity Information Centre. Contents

Chapter 1 What is a Community Wildlife Plan? Chapter 2 Habitats in Marchwood Chapter 3 Conservation designations in Marchwood Chapter 4 Land ownership and land management Chapter 5 Opportunities for connecting habitat and improving habitat quality in Marchwood Chapter 6 Important species found in Marchwood Chapter 7 Non-native invasive species Chapter 8 Sharing wildlife expertise in the community and getting involved Chapter 9 Surveying, recording and monitoring wildlife in Marchwood Chapter 10 Marchwood’s Community Wildlife Plan and the future

Action plan for surveying wildlife in Marchwood Action plan for practical conservation in Marchwood Action plan for communications in Marchwood Action plan for community involvement in Marchwood Chapter 1 What is a Community Wildlife Plan?

A Community Wildlife Plan (CWP) is both a summary and celebration of the wildlife resource in a parish or town as well as an action plan that communities can use to plan future wildlife surveys and local conservation action. The CWP is a toolkit that can help the community to look at opportunities for practical conservation measures to increase connectivity between habitats, improve habitat quality and further the community’s understanding about the wildlife value of their local area. It can also be used to bring interested residents together to build on wildlife recording and conservation action and to lead discussions on how different community groups can get involved in conservation work. The Community Wildlife Plan is a working document and can be continuously added to and reviewed as new information is gathered about habitats and wildlife in the area, and as projects are developed and take place around the parish. The CWP folder contains a selection of supplementary information and resources to the Plan, which can be added to as new advice leaflets and resources become available. The CWP will be accessible on-line and several hard copies held with the parish council and community groups. Community groups may be better able to get small grants to deliver conservation work or buy wildlife surveying equipment because the Community Wildlife Plan contains information that groups can use to do this.

4 Chapter 2 Habitats in Marchwood

The underlying geology and soils, as well as historic and present day land management practices and climate, dictate what plants and trees grow where and subsequently what wildlife is supported. Marchwood is diverse in the habitats it supports, because as well as being positioned over sands, clays and gravels and having a varied land management history including agriculture, forestry and quarrying, it has a stretch of coastline. Vegetation is influenced by land management practices, as well as soils and climate. Depending on the intensity of these practices on the land, both historic and present day, vegetation can be in a near-natural state (semi-natural) or an un-natural state (improved or developed). The map on the following pages show the broad habitat types found in Marchwood (courtesy of Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC)). Please see www3.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity/hbic for further information about HBIC. The map data was created to the best of their knowledge at the time of production using available data sources, including aerial photographs. The maps may therefore show areas of habitat types that are incorrect on the ground today.

Magazine Lane stream

Marbled white butterfly

Spindle Habitats map (from the 2010 dataset courtesy of Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre)

6 Habitats map (from the 2010 dataset courtesy of Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre) The sandy and clay soils to the south-west of the Parish, where little development or agricultural improvements have occurred, give rise to small pockets of acid and neutral grassland and larger blocks of broad-leaved woodland. In this area there is also a patchwork of arable fields and improved grassland (pasture) and a network of hedgerows dividing the fields. Conifer plantations occur in isolated pockets within the broad-leaved woodland. The majority of these habitats are within the New Forest National Park, a boundary defined in Marchwood largely but not completely by the A326. The road verges of the A326 are a valuable habitat in itself. Having had no agricultural inputs, road verges can support good quality semi-natural habitats with many species of wild flowers and can provide important wildlife corridors. To the north-east of the A326 is the majority of the built up urban area of Marchwood, as well as the industrial estates, military units, quarries and amenity grounds. Adding to Marchwood’s biological diversity are the sections of coastal habitat that that include saltmarsh and mudflats. Historically these areas would have covered a much wider area. Small remnants of semi-natural grassland, scrub and wooded habitat remain in some small areas within the urban areas, such as St John’s churchyard and some of the road verges. These pockets hold important sources of wildlife that can spread into adjacent habitat if conditions allow them to do so. Marchwood has five streams that run out into Water in a north-east direction from the parish including the Magazine Lane stream and Marchwood Park Stream tributary. There are several man-made lakes and ponds in Marchwood that are a result of quarrying and development, and no doubt numerous ponds in residents’ gardens. Lakes and ponds can provide valuable habitat for waterbirds, amphibians, insects and plants. Gardens provide habitats for wildlife too. Much recent research has highlighted the importance of gardens, both small and large, for wildlife such as butterflies, bats, reptiles, amphibians and hedgehogs as they can provide guaranteed food and shelter for animals all year round.

8 Chapter 3 Conservation designations in Marchwood

The area of Marchwood to the south-west of the A326 and a little to the east, falls within the New Forest National Park. This highest level of legal protection recognises the national importance of the landscape and wildlife and ensures new developments are considered with this in mind so that the specialness of the area is protected. Marchwood also has international nature conservation designations on some of its coastal habitats. The north-western section of Marchwood’s saltmarsh and mudflats fall within the Solent and Ramsar site, the Solent maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA). These areas are also covered by the Eling and Bury Marshes Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The eastern section of the coastal strip falls within the Bay SSSI and the Hythe to marshes SSSI as well as the above Ramsar, SAC and SPA sites. All these designations are in recognition of the international importance of these coastal habitats such as saltmarsh and intertidal mudflats, for wintering wildfowl, breeding birds and rare and important invertebrates and plants. Further technical details are available on the internet at http://jncc.defra.gov.uk and www.naturalengland.org.uk. Marchwood also has a number of non-statutory designated Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation that occurs widely throughout the parish. These ‘SINC’ designations recognise these areas for their value as natural and semi-natural habitat which may even sometimes be as rich a wildlife resource as the statutory designated land. The presence of European Protected Species such as otters, bats and dormice, which often occur in SINCs can highlight the necessity for appropriate management by those responsible. Equally, other listed species present at any undesignated site, such as those on the Schedule 41 of the NERC Act (2006) i.e. UK Biodiversity Action Plan species (such as stag beetle, Borrer’s saltmarsh grass and the house sparrow) and the Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan species list, highlight the need for sensitive management. Badgers are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act (1992). Another non-statutory designation present in Marchwood, is that of the Road Verges of Ecological Importance (RVEI), of which there is one designated site along a narrow strip either side of the A326. RVEIs support ‘notable’ species and semi-natural habitat that can provide really important wildlife corridors for many species of insects, small mammals and reptiles, which can in turn provide food for birds of prey.

Common seal Statutory and non-statutory nature conservation designations in Marchwood

10

Chapter 4 Land ownership and land management

Marchwood Parish Council owns and manages around 80 acres (30 hectares) of land, much of which is managed as public open space such as Cork Field, Crooked Hayes Copse, and Lloyds Recreation ground. It also looks after other green spaces in and around the village, some adjacent to the streams of Marchwood. The Marchwood Conservation Volunteers (MCV) set up in the 1990s and affiliated to Marchwood Parish Council, are a local voluntary group involved in the delivery of the management of both Crooked Hayes copse and Cork Field hay meadow. St John’s churchyard, in the centre of Marchwood is managed by the Diocese, and supports pockets of flower-rich grassland. Some areas of private land in Marchwood will have been entered into Government funded ‘agri-environment’ schemes such as the Higher Level Scheme and Woodland Grants Scheme. In these schemes, landowners have signed up to an agreement with Natural England, a Government Agency, where they receive grants to help them manage the land with habitats and wildlife in mind. See http://magic.defra.gov.uk for an interactive map where you can see different agri-environment schemes in your local area. Other one-off grants sometimes become available for sites, particularly those of high nature conservation value such as SSSIs or SINCs that are given to landowners to help with the management of the site, for example for removal of non-native invasive species. The New Forest Land Advice Service and New Forest National Park Authority are able to assist in advising on these small funds, and may be able to help community groups apply for small grants for projects.

Marchwood Parish Council look after other green spaces, some adjacent to the streams of Marchwood

12 Chapter 5 Opportunities for connecting habitat and improving habitat quality in Marchwood

Understanding the habitats and wildlife in your local area and who owns the land are a good starting point for looking at opportunities for improving habitat quality and connecting habitat. One place to start looking at these opportunities is public open spaces that are managed by Hampshire County Council (HCC), Council (NFDC) and Marchwood Parish council (MPC). Local authorities have a duty to manage these sites with wildlife in mind. Parish-owned woodland Crooked Hayes copse is a small 1.4 Ha semi-natural broad-leaved woodland designated as a SINC. It supports oak, wild cherry, field maple, ash, willow, crab apple and wild service as canopy tree species. Hazel, holly, blackthorn and hawthorn form an understorey and species such as wood melick, bluebells, greater stitchwort and violets form the ground layer. The woodland was surveyed in 1990 by the Hampshire and Naturalists Trust and a management plan drawn up. A review of the management plan was made in 1995 and again in 2003 and this year is being reviewed as part of the Community Wildlife Plans Project.

Bluebells at Crooked Hays Copse

A woodland survey workshop was held in May 2013 at Crooked Hayes Copse and despite the incessant rain, five local residents came along. The group looked at how to identify and survey woodland trees and plants and discussed the management of the woodland. The management, which largely involves a coppice rotation, is working well and there are fortunately no garden escapes in the woodland. One point raised during the 2013 workshop was that some further sections of the edges of the footpaths (‘rides’) could be kept more permanently open to allow warm sunny, nectar-rich ‘glades’ to flourish. This will benefit nectar and sun-loving insects such as butterflies, moths and hoverflies.

Poplar hawk moth Other Parish Council-managed green spaces There are a number of other green spaces that Marchwood Parish Council manage. These include wooded and grassland sections adjacent to the Magazine Lane stream and other streams, as well as planted areas and land around the Falklands memorial. Some opportunities to enhance streamside habitats have been discussed with Marchwood Parish Council, such as removal of garden escapes to allow native vegetation to flourish. There could be opportunities here for the Marchwood Conservation Volunteers to assist in some habitat management to benefit biodiversity. Cork Field is a recreation area surrounded by native broad-leaved woodland and scrub, and a small haymeadow in a corner. The haymeadow was sown by the Marchwood Conservation Volunteers following advice from the British Trust for Nature Conservation (BTCV) in 2000. In July 2013 the meadow was surveyed briefly by the author and found to support a large number of haymeadow species including 11 species of grass and 32 species of wildflowers, sedges and rushes including meadow buttercup, kidney vetch, black knapweed, St. John’s-wort, ladies bedstraw, restharrow and cowslips. During this visit the meadow was buzzing with insects including six-spot burnet moths, meadow brown butterflies, grasshoppers and crickets. Marchwood Conservation Volunteers manage this meadow in partnership with Natural England and take a late hay cut in early September. At the edges of Cork Field is a mix of native broad-leaved woody species such as dogwood, field maple, oak, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, willow, apple, aspen, rowan and field rose. These species provide great habitat for a wide range of birds and insects through the year. The garden escape snowberry was seen to be present also and should be kept in check from spreading as it can become invasive and dominant in hedgerows to the detriment of native wildlife.

Hawthorn berries

14 Six-spot burnet

Kidney vetch in the St John’s churchyard haymeadow St John’s church is located at the heart of Marchwood. Representatives responsible for the management of the churchyard have met with the Community Wildlife Plans project to discuss the cutting regime and other opportunities to enhance the biodiversity of the churchyard. During a site visit in July, a number of wildflowers were recorded in the churchyard such as common mouse-ear hawkweed, agrimony, meadow vetchling, yarrow, black knapweed, common bird’s-foot trefoil, oxeye daisy, violets, as well as a number of grass species. Meadow brown, gatekeeper and large white butterflies were seen in July and no doubt the churchyard supports a number of other animals such as other butterfly species, moths, feeding and possibly roosting bats, breeding and migratory birds, reptiles, grasshoppers and crickets and many other insects. As a result, a management plan is being drafted in partnership with the church suggesting a rotation of cutting to allow wild flowers to set seed and maintain the diversity. Road verges Both sides of the A326 that run through Marchwood are designated as Road Verges of Ecological Importance (RVEIs). They form an important wildlife corridor with a good range of wild flowers, offering a rich nectar source and larval foodplants for insects, and habitat for small mammals and reptiles. The RVEI project, managed by HBIC, negotiate a cutting plan with the Highways Agency to ensure appropriate cutting for these verges. Marchwood has other wildflower rich road verges that would be worth surveying to determine their value so that their designation as RVEI could be considered ensuring an appropriate cutting regime is implemented. One verge that the author surveyed during July 2013 was the stretch between Tavells Lane and the Normandy Way/Bury Road roundabout. A number of wildflowers were recorded including agrimony, black knapweed, meadow vetchling, yarrow, hedge bedstraw, goatsbeard, wild carrot and perforate St John’s wort. As well as meadow brown butterfly, large white butterfly and common blue damselfly, seven spot ladybirds were seen and Roesel’s bush cricket was heard. The water environment The water environment includes rivers, streams, groundwater, coastal waters, ponds and lakes. Surrounding land management can affect the quality of a water body such as a stream or pond, so water bodies cannot be looked at in isolation from the surrounding land or ‘catchment’ area from which the water drains. A ‘New Forest catchment project’ has been looking at opportunities for improving the water quality of catchments in the New Forest area, and one of the water bodies that was highlighted by the work is the Magazine Lane stream. Further information about the catchment project can be found at www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/info/20095/habitats_and_wildlife/244/ river_catchment_pilot_project An evening was arranged by the CWP project in partnership with the Environment Agency (EA) and Pond Conservation for residents in July 2013 to look with experts at the wildlife that the stream supports, and to discuss opportunities for improving the quality of the stream corridor for wildlife and local residents. Residents and a parish councillor present at the evening also heard about New Forest catchment work which involves liaising with communities, landowners and individuals to address water quality issues and is happening across the New Forest within several specific catchments. Fourteen residents came along to the walk and were shown some of the wildlife that the stream habitats supports such as sea purslane and sea beet in the saltmarsh at the lower stretches of the stream and stream dwelling animals such as leeches, shrimps, stickleback and water scorpion further upstream in the residential area. Along the stream as dusk fell, the group listened to common pipistrelle bats on bat detectors and learnt how the Magazine Lane stream could offer an excellent habitat for bats, both for roosting in old trees and for feeding on midges and moths associated with the stream habitat corridor.

Kingfisher

16 Golden-ringed dragonfly

Large red damselfly

Opportunities raised by residents and the experts that evening that will be explored further include: Further investigation of water quality both downstream by the industrial estate, but also in the residential area to see if there is any road run-off or dirty water from residential pipe misconnections. Local residents could get involved with water quality testing through the Community Wildlife Plans Project. Dog fouling is an issue along the Magazine Lane stretch of the stream. Local residents and MPC are keen to raise awareness to irresponsible dog owners of the importance of picking up after their dogs. Survey and record the two veteran oak trees along the stream. Community involvement in further wildlife surveys along the stream to understand what it supports, and start ecological monitoring, with the support of the CWP project. Although the whole stream corridor is rather squeezed by road, industry and housing estates, there may be some opportunities for some localised improvements where there are current signs of erosion to the cement, rock and timber revetments by replacing these with more natural protection. The un-natural debris and litter in the stream could be removed and un-natural debris replaced with natural debris, particularly within the Magazine Lane section of the stream. Garden escapes such as snowberry can become dominant to the detriment of native vegetation. In some stretches this plant does form densely shaded areas and could be removed so that native vegetation can flourish and visibility to the stream is improved. The Marchwood Conservation Volunteers are interested in helping out with practical work to improve the habitat of the Magazine Lane stream. Stag beetle

As well as opportunities along the Magazine Lane stream, another stream in Marchwood that runs behind Crooked Hayes copse and through some parish owned land, could offer opportunities for improvements. The stream corridor, on MPC land, should be surveyed, and a management plan drawn up. There are opportunities here for river corridor habitat improvement such as removal of non-native species which have become dominant, improving access and some woodland management such as glade creation and coppicing in wooded sections. The siting of a new pond could be investigated on MPC land in consultation with local residents and the CWP. Garden habitats Gardens can provide excellent habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, small mammals and lots of species of insects. With its New Forest character and coastal features within the parish, gardens in Marchwood probably support an important resource of wildlife, which could include rare and scarce wildlife. One way of finding out how important Marchwood’s gardens are for wildlife could be to encourage residents to record their garden wildlife sightings such as hedgehogs, frogs, bats and butterflies on the species recording website http://livingrecord.net so that the Parish can see what is being recorded. Chapter 9, Surveying, recording and monitoring wildlife in Marchwood outlines on-line resources and best practice techniques for recording wildlife information, including using of Living Record and other national recording initiatives such as the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch and Butterfly Conservation’s Big Butterfly Count. Quarries and developed sites About one fifth of Marchwood is mapped as built up area and quarry (inland rock) and this includes houses and business developments and the industrial estates. It is likely that within this developed area, substantial habitat such as lakes, ponds and wildlife corridors are present, which could support a wealth of species. It may be possible for MCV and other community groups to work with businesses to help with some conservation management in these areas, as well as surveys and monitoring, in agreement with landowners.

18 Veteran tree Trees Trees feature in most of the habitats already discussed but emphasis here is given to them for their importance in the landscape and for wildlife they support. Native tree species offer more suitable habitat for native wildlife than non-native species. When managing trees both on public and private land, consideration should be given to the wildlife that the tree supports as well as aesthetics and safety. Trees provide nesting and roosting sites for birds, bats, other mammals, amphibians and insects. Trees also provide habitat for ‘lower’ plants such as lichens, mosses and liverworts. Fungi are intrinsic to the ecology of all habitats. Trees both support and benefit from a huge array of fungal species, some of which are edible like truffles and Chantarelle and some can be habitat for invertebrates and some can be rare. Generally speaking the older the tree the more species it can support, but this is not strictly true, and often younger trees that for whatever reason, show signs of stress and decay, can support more species than those that haven’t undergone ‘stress’. Features such as cracks, crevices, holes and cavities in the trunk, branches and bark can support bats and birds. Deadwood in the canopy and on the ground, as well as around the trunk can support ‘saproxylic’ insects which are those that feed on decaying or dead wood. Trees that show these features and support ‘epiphytes’ and saproxylic insects may be recorded as a ‘veteran tree’ (see the CWP folder for recording form and how to record a veteran tree). Many of the saproxylic species are rare such as the noble chafer and stag beetles whose larvae are dependent on decaying and dead wood. Both species are known in the New Forest which is a national stronghold for the stag beetle. There are several records for stag beetles in Marchwood and recording efforts in Marchwood could focus on this easy to spot species, particularly in schools and gardens where children could enjoy learning about these fascinating creatures. When any woodland or tree work is carried out, it is important to ensure no harm or disturbance comes to wildlife such as breeding birds, particularly as breeding birds are protected by law. Barn owls, bats and great crested newts receive added legal protection through European law, as they are listed as ‘European Protected Species’. (See www.naturalengland.org.uk). Suitably qualified ecologists can survey your trees and advise on existing and potential habitats and how to ensure no disturbance is made and work is carried out within legal constraints. Destruction of a roosting space, even if a bat is not present, is illegal so surveys well in advance of any proposed work is advised. There are many trees located around Marchwood on parish council land which are subject to annual tree safety checks. Ivy offers important habitat for both overwintering insects and bats, can be excellent late summer nectar source for bees, butterflies and hoverflies, and can be habitat for nesting birds, as well as being one of the two larval foodplant species for the holly blue butterfly. Ivy berries are also an important winter food source for birds. If ivy must be cleared from the trunk as part of any tree safety inspection it is advised that it is only cleared from trees when absolutely essential, due to the importance of it as wildlife habitat. More detailed advice for bats and trees can be found in the CWP folder and on-line.

Barn owl

20 Chapter 6 Important species found in Marchwood

There are around 300 records for notable species recorded in the Marchwood area (reference HBIC data). Notable species in broad terms means any species that are listed in any of the local, regional, national or international lists due to their rarity, scarcity or decline in recent years, as well as species protected by law. Some species fall within one list and others fall within several. As there are too many species to list individually, some key notable species for Marchwood have been selected here to be highlighted. Reptiles and amphibians The four more commonly found reptile species, out of the six British species, have been recorded in Marchwood, namely the slow worm, grass snake, adder and common lizard. Cork Field was used as a relocation site for slow worms a few years ago so may support a good population. It is unlikely that the rare smooth snake or sand lizard occurs within Marchwood as there is no actual heathland currently recorded (they are heathland specialists in the UK) but as Marchwood is located close to open forest it is not out of the question that they may exist there. There are no records for any notable amphibians in Marchwood on the HBIC database but on a distribution map on Pond Conservation’s website, great crested newts are known in the area. Other notable amphibians that may occur in Marchwood would include common toads. Great crested newts are listed as European Protected Species which means they have a higher protection than other notable species and any developments that may affect any bit of habitat they use at any time during their lifecycle is protected by law as well as the animals themselves. For further information see the Natural England website. Birds Birds are one of the best recorded taxonomic groups and Marchwood has a lot of records of notable birds. The coastal marshes, in particular Bury marshes has records of a number of notable birds such as kingfisher, shoveler, gadwall, whimbrel, black-tailed godwit, dunlin, herring gull and long-tailed duck. Cuckoo have been noted in Marchwood and in several of the woodlands, lesser spotted woodpecker, marsh tit, spotted flycatcher and bullfinch have been recorded. Barn owl have been recorded and representatives from MPC have seen tawny owls in Marchwood.

Slow worm Higher plants There are only around 20-30 notable higher plant species that have been recorded in Marchwood. Many of these are associated with the coastal habitats of Marchwood, such as sea barley, divided sedge, brackish water-crowfoot and beaked tassleweed, whereas one species that is associated with the designated road verges is French oat-grass. Invertebrates There are around 50 notable species that have been recorded in the Marchwood area. These include the stag beetle, silver-washed fritillary butterfly, several species of solitary bee and many species of moths such as the Mullein wave, cinnabar and the long-legged tabby. There are likely to be more notable species as few taxonomic groups seem to have been surveyed to date. Lower plants, including lichens, mosses and liverworts There are very few records for notable lower plants in Marchwood with only a handful of records of lichens from 1996. It is likely that with greater recording effort, more notable lower plant species could be found to be present in Marchwood. Mammals Common seals have been recorded off the coast at Marchwood, which must make a pleasant sight off the highly developed Southampton Water. There are a few records for bats in Marchwood, although there are likely to be roosts as well as feeding sites for bats in the area. During the evening event along the Magazine Lane stream, several individuals of common pipistrelle bats were watched feeding at a range of locations. Trees, houses and other buildings offer roost sites for bats and it is likely that there are several bat roosts in Marchwood. There is a record of an otter being seen on a stream in Marchwood and some old records for hedgehogs and badgers in Marchwood. Deer have been seen in Marchwood and are likely to be present in several of the woodlands as well as the fields.

Hedgehog

22 Chapter 7 Non-native invasive species

There don’t appear to be many records of non-native invasive species in Marchwood but there are significant problems with this group of plants in the New Forest so it is worth being aware. There is a small patch of Japanese knotweed on a ditch close to the Magazine Lane stream, which the Environment Agency is managing with herbicide. There could be more at other sites in Marchwood so it is good to become familiar with what these species look like. The GB Non-Native Species Secretariat website (see https://secure.fera.defra. gov.uk/nonnativespecies/home/index.cfm) offers a wealth of information about how to identify, record, and manage invasive non-native species. The sooner that non-native and invasive species are dealt with after initially finding them the better, both in terms of effectiveness of the treatment and their impact on native wildlife. It is also an offence to plant or otherwise cause to grow the wild invasive non-native plants listed on Schedule 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (which was updated in 2010) and after April 2014 it will be illegal to sell the following five of the invasive non-native aquatic species: New Zealand pygmy weed, water fern, floating pennywort, parrot’s feather and floating water-primrose. A full list of species found on Schedule 9 can be found on the internet. Chapter 8 Sharing wildlife expertise in the community and getting involved

There are many ways to contribute to conservation in your local area including joining the Marchwood Conservation Volunteers to do practical conservation work. However, if you have an interest in species recording, you could volunteer to contribute data to local, national and international recording schemes as well as helping to monitor the impacts of management practices on land in your local area. There are often knowledgeable people in your local area that may have a particular interest in birds, butterflies or wild flowers, and whatever the level of this knowledge, it can always be shared. These local ‘wildlife champions’ might want to lead or help lead a guided walk in a particular wildlife hotspot locally, to help share their knowledge and enthusiasm about a particular taxonomic group. The Marchwood Conservation Volunteers would seem a good group to coordinate such information about a pool of local experts. There are a vast array of wildlife conservation charities and organisations that encourage members of the public to contribute wildlife data to help build a better picture of how our wildlife is faring. Often local groups, run by volunteers, offer training sessions and local field meetings to help get more people involved in local recording. A list of these organisations, their websites, and local contacts can be found in the Community Wildlife Plan folder. Training and support can also be facilitated by the New Forest Land Advice Service to help get local people more confident in wildlife identification and survey techniques.

The community getting involved

24 Chapter 9 Surveying, recording and monitoring wildlife in Marchwood

There are many wildlife charities and organisations promoting on-line recording of wildlife sightings, in order to add to the bigger picture of how British wildlife is faring. Locally in Hampshire, the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and the Community Wildlife Plans Project has been working with Adrian Bicker, the developer of ‘Living Record’ to make wildlife recording by members of the public easier and more efficient. Living Record is a website where species records can be entered on-line. Each record will then be verified by a county expert before being incorporated into the databases of the relevant local species recording group and HBIC before being shared with the national recording schemes, Natural England and the local authorities and parish councils. Living Record can be used by anyone who sets up an on-line account at http://livingrecord.net to record wildlife. Groups can be set up that can look at distribution maps for species and taxonomic groups recorded in their local areas. The CWP project has been working with Adrian to develop site boundaries for recording ‘compartments’ where community groups that are set up as ‘groups’ can share information about wildlife records. For example, Crooked Hayes copse will be set up as a ‘compartment’ and species records can be inputted by anyone with a login. Training on how to use Living Record is being provided for community groups through the CWP project and further instructions on how to use it can be found at http://livingrecord.net and in the CWP folder. The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust offers lots of workshops and courses for people to learn more about wildlife and conservation and has lots of links to excellent resources on their website. Training and support for future survey and monitoring in Marchwood can be facilitated by the New Forest Land Advice Service who can also advise on site management plans.

Surveying, recording and monitoring wildlife Chapter 10 Marchwood’s Community Wildlife Plan and the future

This plan has been written in discussion with Marchwood Parish Council and the Marchwood Conservation Volunteers. The plan summarises and outlines some of the wildlife resource for Marchwood and opportunities and actions that the Marchwood community can take forward to work together to survey, conserve and protect the important wildlife resource in the area, building on the great work that MCV and others have already been doing. There are other community groups that would be good to get involved in these discussions as there are many further opportunities to build on this work. It is suggested that this plan is used to help form annual survey and conservation workplans for community groups, and if resources allow should reviewed on an annual basis, perhaps being formally reviewed in three years time, to ensure it is kept up to date and new ideas and opportunities are incorporated The final section outlines the Action Plans of the Community Wildlife Plan that will help the community plan its work.

Future wildlife champions

26 Action plan for wildlife surveys in Marchwood The following table summarises some suggested survey and monitoring work that could take place in Marchwood by members of the local community. Training and support can be facilitated by the New Forest Land Advice Service.

Taxonomic Survey Specialist groups Time of Suggested group method and experts that can be year sites subject to be surveyed consulted

Dormice Nest tube inspection Hampshire Mammal March to Crooked Hayes copse for presence/absence Group October

Birds Breeding bird survey Hampshire March to July Crooked Hayes copse; Ornithological Society St John’s Churchyard (HOS)

Birds Winter bird surveys HOS September to Coastal sites March

Water quality testing pH, conductivity and NF Land Advice All year Magazine Lane stream on the Magazine phosphate testing kits; Service (NF LAS) round Lane stream riverfly monitoring Environment Agency Riverfly Project

Road verge surveys HBIC Road verge Hampshire Biodiversity April to Road verges where safe survey method Information Centre September to survey NF LAS

Hedgerow surveys Standard hedgerow Hampshire Biodiversity All year Where landowner survey method Information Centre round permission granted and NF LAS where safe to survey

Bat surveys Bat transects with bat Hampshire Bat Group April to Public open spaces; detectors; emergence NF LAS September Buildings where permission surveys for survey agreed

Butterfly surveys Species records; Butterfly Conservation April to Crooked Hayes copse; butterfly transects September Cork Field hay meadow

Moth surveys Light ‘trap’ and other Hampshire Moth March to Crooked Hayes copse; methods Group October others where landowner Local enthusiasts permission granted

Reptile and Pond surveys Amphibian and March to Public open spaces, amphibian surveys and monitoring; Reptile Conservation October gardens, private land as tinning surveys and Trust agreed with landowners monitoring Pond Conservation

Plants Rare and scarce species Hampshire Flora April to Crooked Hayes copse; surveys; habitat Group September sites where landowner monitoring permission granted

Fungi Species recording Hampshire Fungi July to Crooked Hayes copse; Recording Group November other sites where (depending landowner permission on species granted and season)

Small mammals Longworth traps; Hampshire Mammal April to Sites with landowner pellet analysis Group September permission

Specialist Specialist survey Buglife, Bees, wasps April to Sites with landowner invertebrates such as techniques and ants recording September permission granted bees, ants and wasps society (BWARS) Other specialist groups Action plan for practical conservation work in Marchwood The following table summarises existing practical conservation work and suggestions for other practical conservation work that could take place in Marchwood.

Site Work item Time of year Management Groups plan exists? involved

Crooked Hayes Coppicing September to Yes MCV/ MPC copse mid-February

Cork Field hay Hay cut September Yes MCV/ MPC meadow

Magazine Lane Management of vegetation to September to No (to be drafted NF LAS/ MPC/ MCV stream improve access and biodiversity mid-February 2013/14)

Private land Explore opportunities for Landowners/ community based practical NF LAS/ MPC/ MCV conservation support for private landowners. Explore opportunities for linking local woodland managers, woodland owners (small and large) and wood-fuel energy suppliers though NF LAS woodland project.

Action plan for communications about conservation and wildlife survey work in Marchwood Ideas that have been discussed with Marchwood Parish Council and Marchwood Conservation Volunteers for informing the local community about conservation work and opportunities in Marchwood are listed below.

Action Groups involved Timescale

Article in Marchwood Village news about wildlife sightings, events, MPC Quarterly recent activities or up-and-coming activities that local people would MCV be interested in hearing about New Forest National Park Authority (NFNPA)

On-line updates on the MPC webpages about wildlife sightings, MPC 6 monthly events, recent activities or up-and-coming activities that local MCV people would be interested in hearing about NFNPA

Facebook updates about wildlife sightings, events, recent activities MCV As and when or up-and-coming activities that local people would be interested in appropriate hearing about

Interpretation board at Crooked Hayes copse to be replaced by MPC MPC By Autumn 2014 and MCV. Encourage children to get involved in producing artwork. MCV

Marchwood Community Wildlife Plan wildlife poster to be put up CWP December 2013 in a community space, e.g. village hall and notice board in shopping NFNPA precinct. Poster was produced by CWP project to illustrate habitats and wildlife of Marchwood.

Marchwood CWP PDF to be put on MPC webpages. Hard copies CWP November 2013 kept at MPC office, with MCV representative and presented to MPC three other community groups including the schools.

28 Action plan for community involvement in Marchwood The following ideas that have been discussed with Marchwood Parish Council and Marchwood Conservation Volunteers are listed here.

Group/ Activity Technical support Groups Suggested organisation that may be available involved timescale

Marchwood Engage with head teacher to NFNPA MPC By Summer Infants School discuss opportunities for getting the NF LAS MCV 2014 children involved in wildlife surveys, Hampshire and Isle of Marchwood making nest boxes and carrying out Wight Wildlife Trust Infants School practical conservation (HIIOWWT)

Marchwood Engage with head teacher to discuss NFNPA education officers MPC By Summer Junior School opportunities for getting the children and rangers MCV 2014 involved in wildlife surveys, making NF LAS Marchwood nest boxes and carrying out practical Hampshire and Isle of Junior School conservation. Discuss opportunities Wight Wildlife Trust for getting the children involved in (HIIOWWT) an art project to help create a new interpretation board for Crooked Hayes copse

Marchwood Engage with head teacher to NFNPA education officers MPC By Summer Junior School discuss opportunities for New Forest NF LAS MCV 2014 National Park Authority education Marchwood officers to assist delivery of New Junior School Forest based curriculum activities

Marchwood Discuss with youth group leaders NFNPA rangers MPC By Summer Youth Group opportunities for getting young NF LAS MCV 2014 people involved in wildlife surveys, Hampshire and Isle of NFNPA making nest boxes and carrying out Wight Wildlife Trust Marchwood practical conservation (HIIOWWT) Youth Group

Marchwood Discuss with group leaders NFNPA rangers MPC By Summer based beavers, opportunities for getting young NF LAS MCV 2014 cubs, scouts, people involved in wildlife surveys, Hampshire and Isle of NFNPA guides, brownies making nest boxes and carrying out Wight Wildlife Trust Beavers, cubs, practical conservation (HIIOWWT) scouts, guides, brownies

Marchwood Engage with local businesses about NF LAS NF LAS By Summer businesses the CWP and how community MCV 2014 involvement could help the Marchwood businesses learn more about the based wildlife on their patch, and practical businesses support from MCV, and technical help from NF LAS, whilst improving their green credentials

Marchwood land Engage with local landowners NF LAS NF LAS By Summer owners regarding possible access for wildlife MCV 2014 surveys and monitoring, and help Landowners with conservation work through in assistance from MCV. Marchwood NF LAS can offer land management advice and help with grants for conservation land management How to contact us Marchwood Community Wildlife Plan Marchwood Conservation Volunteers Call Annie on 02380 808666 or Paul on 02380 862985 Marchwood Parish Council Melanie or Colette at [email protected] and at www.marchwoodparishcouncil.org.uk Community Wildlife Plans and the New Forest Land Advice Service Call Angela on 01590 646654 or email [email protected] New Forest National Park Authority education officer 01590 646680 New Forest National Park Authority rangers 01590 646660

You can download this report from our website: www.newforestnpa.gov.uk This document is available on request in other formats such as large-print, Braille or any alternative language.

Front page photographs: Magazine Lane stream, spindle, common knapweed, bumblebee on figwort, bluebells at Crooked Hayes copse, common bird’s-foot trefoil in Marchwood, slow worm, common seal, marbled white butterfly, kingfisher, hummingbird hawkmoth.