HBIC Annual Report 2017-18

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

Annual Report for 2017- 2018

2017: A colld and wet summer’’s traiiniing day moniitoriing Shortheath Common SSSI/SAC

Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife

The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups.

Page 1 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Contents

1. Summary of Key Activities for 2017/18 ...... 3 2. Staffing & Contact Details ...... 4 3 Habitat Survey Programme ...... 5 4. SINC Programme ...... 9 5 Provision of Data ...... 12 6 Screening of Planning Applications and Road Works ...... 15 7 Data Holdings ...... 16 8 Additional Community Recording inc. Living Record ...... 19 9 Updating the GIS habitat layer ...... 21 10 Special Projects ...... 22 11 IT Development & Improvements ...... 23 12. Financial Statements ...... 24 13. Annual Recorders Forum ...... 27

Tables Table 1 : Summary of HBIC staff roles and contact details...... 4 Table 2 : Request for Surveys Allocated to each Partner ...... 5 Table 3 : Additional Requests and funding received ...... 8 Table 4 : Summary of SINCs submitted to Panel ...... 9 Table 5 : Time spent on evaluation of SINCs ...... 11 Table 6 : GIS data to Partners ...... 12 Table 7 : Data requests summary...... 13 Table 8 : Data requests allocated to each partner ...... 13 Table 9 : Data requests by type of enquirer ...... 14 Table 10 : Planning applications screened by partner ...... 15 Table 11 : Screening Road Works ...... 15 Table 12 :Total Species data holdings by database ...... 16 Table 13 :MapMate Holdings ...... 16 Table 14 : Recorder Holdings ...... 17 Table 15 : Bioblitz results ...... 19 Table 16 : Living Record Verification ...... 19 Table 17 : Survey updates outstanding on the GIS Habitat layer ...... 21 Table 18 : Income from Partners ...... 24 Table 19 : Expenditure and income ...... 25 Table 20 : Local Recorders Fund ...... 26 Table 21 : Organisations represented at the HBIC Annua Recorders Fund……………………….28

Page 2 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

1. Summary of Key Activities for 2017/18 a. Delivered services to 24 funding partners set through Service Level Agreements & Data supply Agreements. Includes field survey & provision of comprehensive GIS data b. Reported to the HBIC Steering Group which met jointly with HBIC Users Advisory Group in November 2017. It also met in January 2018. The HBIC UAG also met in May 2017. c. Organised the 16th Annual HBIC Recorders Forum attended by 78 local recorders and recording groups - see page 27 d. Carried out a Habitat Survey Programme (Phase 2/NVC) of 246 sites (down from 367 last year) which included a review of 122 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (up from 97 last year). e. Imported 390,394 new species records into HBICs databases through on-going Data Exchange Agreements with the species recording groups, other individuals, and HBIC’s own survey programme. The Recorder and MapMate databases now hold 6,437,152 species records again up 6% on the previous year. The data is used to assist the evaluation of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), and to refresh the notable species GIS dataset used to inform all decision making. f. Responded to 649 requests for biodiversity information, down 2% on last year but with chargeable time increasing from 68% to 75%, and an increase in income of 14%. 91% of requests were dealt with within 10 working days, down from 97% last year g. Screened 13,135 planning applications – up 3% on last year. 22% were flagged as having a potential impact on designated sites, priority habitats and notable species - up from 21% last year. h. Evaluated the 2016 survey data and recommended 27 (31) new SINCs, 25 (37) amended SINCs and 5 (5) SINCs for deletion to the SINCs Panel. i. Further developed the ecological network mapping for Hampshire, with funding from the Hampshire local planning authorities via the Local Network Partnership j. Continued to support Living Record as an efficient user friendly on-line data capture tool for many recording groups/local community groups with 73,322 new records entered for 2016/17, up from 66,373 in 2016//17. k. Provided representation on the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres (ALERC) Board of Directors l. Provided training and work experience to 2 graduate volunteers. m. Supported two Bioblitz activities at Gilbert White’s House, Selbourne and Peartree Green SINC, Southampton

Acknowledgements The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre is grateful to the HBIC Steering Group*, for support and guidance and to the many species recording groups who provide regular updated copies of their data: Botanical Society of Britain & Ireland*, Butterfly Conservation*, Hampshire Amphibian & Reptile Network, Hampshire Bat Group, Hampshire Ornithological Society*, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust*, the Hampshire Mammal Group, Bees, Wasps & Ants Recording Society and several other national schemes & societies.

The following organisations provide funding and other in-kind support to HBIC in return for a Biodiversity Information Service; Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council, East Hampshire District Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Forestry Commission, Natural England*, Environment Agency*, Fareham Borough Council, Gosport Borough Council, Hampshire County Council Economy, Transport & Environment Department* and the Countryside Service, the Hampshire Cultural Trust*, Hart District Council, Havant Borough Council, New Forest District Council, New Forest National Park Authority*, Portsmouth City Council, Portsmouth Water, Rushmoor Borough Council, South Downs National Park Authority*, Southampton City Council, Southern Water, Test Valley Borough Council, Thames Water, Wessex Water and Winchester City Council.

* Steering Group members, plus 3 District/Unitary Councils per year in rotation. See page 4 Page 3 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

2. Staffing & Contact Details

Table 1 : Summary of HBIC staff roles and contact details

Role Staff Email Tel.

Specialist Environmental 01962

Nicky Court [email protected] Services/HBIC Manager 832322

IT databases/GIS/Species Wolfgang Ritter Senior 01962

[email protected] data/Special Projects Ecologist (Data Manager) 832324 SLA Lead inc. Survey Sarah Callegari Programme organisation 01962

Ecologist [email protected] and validation. SINCs 832320 (part-time Mon –Thurs) Programme Habitat Surveys & SINC Ian Ralphs 01962

evaluation – mainly West & [email protected] Field Ecologist 832328 South Hampshire Habitat Surveys & SINC Joel Miller 01962

evaluation – mainly North [email protected] Field Ecologist 832326 and East Hampshire Data requests, planning Lizzy Peat 01962

screening and collation/ [email protected] Ecologist 832327 validation of species data Data requests, planning Rachael Clemson screening, survey 01962 Assistant Ecologist [email protected] validation and habitat 832321 (1st June 2017 – April 2018) mapping. Data management tasks 01967 Kathleen (Kay) Humphreys started 29th November 2017 2 days/week (volunteer) 832327

Address: 1st Floor, Elizabeth II Court West, The Castle, Winchester, SO23 8UD General email: [email protected]

HBIC Steering Group for 2017/18

Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland – Martin Rand Butterfly Conservation – Andy Barker Environment Agency – no representative Fareham Borough Council* - Adam Collier Hampshire County Council - Economy, Transport & Environment Department – Gary King Hampshire Cultural Trust – Christine Taylor Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust – Debbie Whitfield Hampshire Ornithological Society – Keith Betton Natural England – Mark Larter/Becky Aziz New Forest National Park Authority – Ian Barker New Forest District Council – Andrew Herring South Downs National Park Authority – Adam Brown Test Valley Borough Council* – Louise Ward

*3-4 District/Unitary Councils rotate once every four years

Page 4 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

3. 2017/18 Habitat Survey Programme

3.1 Overview

The survey season began on the 11th April 2017 and 229 requests were completed, resulting in the survey of 246 sites.

A summary of the survey days scheduled for each partner is presented in Table 1; these figures include time allocated for field surveys and write-up. All partner allocations have been filled or exceeded. Allocations that are substantially over this year will be addressed by applying an informal reduction in the coming survey year or by an additional payment.

Table 2: Request for Surveys Allocated to each Partner Days Days Days Days Partner Requests Sites 2 Spent Left1 Total1 Allocated Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council 24 24 27.45 0.00 27.45 24  East Hampshire District Council 24 26 27.89 0.00 27.89 28  Eastleigh Borough Council 5 7 13.09 0.00 13.09 13  Fareham Borough Council 12 12 12.60 0.00 12.60 14  Gosport Borough Council 2 3 8.42 0.00 8.42 8  HCC - Countryside Services 17 17 14.78 0.00 14.78 15  HCC - Environment 26 26 20.81 0.00 20.81 20  Hampshire Wildlife Trust 7 7 14.68 0.00 14.68 15  Hart District Council 15 18 21.13 0.00 21.13 20  Havant Borough Council 5 7 13.49 0.00 13.49 14  New Forest District Council 12 14 18.25 0.00 18.25 14  New Forest National Park Authority 13 13 18.76 0.00 18.76 14  Portsmouth City Council 3 3 6.76 0.00 6.76 6  Rushmoor Borough Council 6 6 9.03 0.00 9.03 10  Southampton City Council 10 12 10.06 0.00 10.06 10  Test Valley Borough Council 18 19 30.28 0.00 30.28 28  Winchester City Council 11 12 31.33 0.00 31.33 28  Sub-total (survey programme) 210 226 298.80 0.00 298.80 281 Spare capacity 19 20 31.72 0.00 31.72 59 Total 229 246 330.52 0.00 330.52 3403,4

Notes: 1. 'Days Left' and 'Days Total' reflect the final figures. 2. Arrows indicate whether an allocation has been filled (), exceeded () or not been filled(). Thresholds are set at ±10% of the total allocation. 3. Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council has reduced its survey programme allocation this year to keep the SLA funding in line with year 1 of the SLA period. 4. Eastleigh Borough Council converted the SLA hours used on planning screening work to survey allocation days this year. The allocation temporarily increased to 13 days and this will be reviewed for next year.

HBIC partners have requested 69% of the survey requests, with a further 1% coming directly from land managers/owners to inform site management or to update the SINC data. The remaining 30% of requests have been organised by HBIC on behalf of the partners; either to

Page 5 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

contribute to SINC monitoring or to identify sites of potential SINC quality. In contrast to last year, this represents a lower number of requests directly arising from partners and a much higher amount of SINC monitoring than in previous years and is mainly due to a reduced level of Local Plan work this year.

3.2 SINC Monitoring

This year, HBIC sent letters to 51 landowners requesting permission to re-survey 93 SINCs where data is old. Of these, 28 landowners gave permission to survey 58 SINCs, which is a favourable return rate of 56% of landowners and 62% of sites targeted. Three landowners denied access to 9 sites, but the majority of these (2 landowners and 8 sites) were because they were not the landowner. Responses were not received from 21 landowners, which would have given access to another 29 sites. The majority of SINCs targeted this year were woodlands (71%), although a couple of larger estates with mixed habitat SINCs had been targeted alongside a number of non-woodland SINCs.

122 SINCs have been surveyed in total, which includes specific SINC monitoring requests, follow-on requests from the previous years and where SINCs fall within sites requested by partners.

3.3 Purpose of Surveys

Figure 1a presents data on the purpose of surveys as a percentage of the number of requests; Figure 1b represents the data as a percentage of survey allocation time.

This year, 43% (up from 30% last year) of survey programme requests were for SINC monitoring. The figure only slightly drops when considered as a percentage of actual survey programme days (42%).

The next largest category, but accounting for considerably fewer requests than SINC monitoring, at 18%, includes requests to inform management. As well as requests from HIWWT and HCC Countryside Service, surveys scheduled for the New Forest National Park Land Advice Service ‘Nature’s Stepping Stones’ projects have been included within this category. Requests to inform management take more of the survey programme time allocation at 22%, which might reflect that often these sites are split into smaller management units for survey. Requests for SSSI survey (see below) have also been to inform the management of the sites but are reported under the Monitoring of Statutory Sites category.

A further 13% of survey requests were initial surveys to establish whether there was any interest on sites. As a percentage of the survey programme time allocation, the figure drops slightly to 11%.

The number of sites surveyed as part of the Road Verges of Ecological Importance (RVEI) project stands at 11%, but taking only 7% of the time allocation, reflecting that they’re usually very small uncomplicated sites

Also in contrast to last year are the considerably fewer requests and time spent on survey of Local Plan sites (5% and 3% respectively), reflecting that there are fewer districts currently at this stage in their plan.

Sites requested to inform development control or planning applications account for 3.5% of the requests and 2% of the time spent this year, reflecting that these sites are generally quite uncomplicated to survey.

Page 6 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Monitoring of statutory sites comes in at 3.5% of the number of requests and includes quadrat surveys of a number of sites for the HWT North Hampshire Grazing Project. These requests, by the nature of the designation, cover more interesting sites, as well as often more time- consuming survey techniques and this is reflected in the percentage of time allocated to this category (7%).

Similarly, Priority species monitoring is only being carried out in one district this year and so only counts as 1% of requests but 3% of survey time, reflecting the time consuming nature of winter bird surveys, which require repeat visits over a 4 month period.

Sites surveyed for impact assessment or reviewed as part of the Berkshire Minerals and Waste Plan account for < 0.5% of survey requests and about 1% of survey days. The ‘Other’ category (0.5% of requests and 1% of time) includes a site scheduled for training purposes.

Figure 1a. Purpose of Survey Requests – by number of requests

Figure 1b. Purpose of Survey Requests – by time spent

Figure 2 presents how the requests were divided by designation. So far this year, 53% of the survey allocation has been spent surveying SINCs, with 32% spent on undesignated land and 15% on SSSIs. The amount of time spent surveying SINCs is much higher than last year and the undesignated time much lower reflecting the lower amount of Local Plan work that has Page 7 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

been requested this year. The amount of time spent surveying SSSIs is comparable with previous years, bar last year when the Basingstoke Canal SSSI Condition Assessment and survey attributed a large amount of time to SSSI survey.

Figure 2. Percentage of Survey Requests (allocation of time) by Designation

3.4 Additional surveys from spare capacity

The HBIC ‘spare’ survey capacity for this year was 59 days with a target income of £18,300. Eleven projects were scheduled, totalling 31.7 days and £9,153.60 in additional income. See Table 3.

A quote had been requested by the South Downs National Park Authority to survey the headwaters of the chalk streams within National Park. The quote would have used 35.5 days of the spare capacity and amounted to £11,140.70. However, SDNPA were then unable to raise the funding for this project to proceed and as a result there was a large shortfall in the anticipated income for 2017/18.

Table 3: Additional Requests and funding

Project Partner Days Fee~ Mileage

EBC Headwater surveys (3 sites) EBC 3 £915.00 £7.20 East of Lakeside EBC 1 £305.00 £9.00 HCC Ecology Training 4 days HCC ETE 4 £976.80* £21.15 Holmsley Bridge HCC ETE 2 £610.00 £26.10 Berkshire Mineral Plan - DBA HCC ETE 3.5 £854.70* £0.00 Bat/Glow worm surveys (4 surveys) HCC ETE 1.7 £459.60* £0.00 Bottom/Bushy Copse HCC ETE 2.5 £762.50 £14.40 HWT Grazing Project (4 sites) HWT 9 £2,745.00 £144.00 Dilton Common East NFNPA 1 £305.00 £27.00 Southwood Golf Course RBC 3 £915.00 £60.00 Pulens Lane Paddock SDNPA 1 £305.00 £19.80 Total 31.7 £9,153.60 £328.65

* Daily rate charged for these surveys reduced to £244.30 (from £305/day) to reflect absence of data management time, or data management charged separately and internal recharge cost. ~ Excludes VAT

Sarah Callegari, HBIC Senior Ecologist 25th April 2018

Page 8 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

4. SINC Evaluation and Notification Programme

4.1 Work remaining from the Nov 2016 SINCs Panel List approved March 2017

 Following the approvals given by the SINCs Panel in March 2017 (covering 2015 surveyed sites) the notifications were sent out to landowners in early May, with a deadline for objections 31st May 2017.  Objections were received for 8 sites; two were resolved and owners/agents for the remainder were expected to provide evidence to support their objection by the autumn 2017. The six sites remaining included 2 wet grassland sites in Hart (within potential housing sites), a small area of ancient woodland in Hart, an area of heathland adjacent to the Bordon Relief road in East Hampshire, a stream/urban semi-natural grassland in Basingstoke, and an important Nightingale site on former landfill in Test Valley.  Evidence in support of these objections was only submitted for the nightingale site in Test Valley. The evidence submitted so far is currently being reviewed in preparation for a site-specific Panel judgement in June 2018..  The GIS layer has been updated with the new/amended/deleted SINCs following the end of the notification/objection period and has been sent out to funding partners. SINCs that have been objected to remain as ‘candidate’ SINCs in the meantime.

4.2 Work carried out for the Nov 2017 SINCs Panel List

 The initial evaluation of 2016 survey data has been done by the field ecologists.  Final checks and paperwork for submission to the Panel was started in September 2017 and finished at the beginning of December. The proposals were sent to the SINC Panel mid December 2017.  27 New SINCs, 25 amendments, 5 deletions and 1 review have been proposed (Table 3).  The Panel met on the 5th March to finalise decisions on the SINC proposals and to discuss any where there wasn’t full Panel agreement. The Panel unanimously approved all but 2 of the proposals, which have been deferred pending further information.  The deadline for the candidate SINC proposed to the Panel for review (Nightingale site in Test Valley) has been extended until the end of June, following an extension given to the landowner to provide evidence.  Landowner notification letters will be sent out at the beginning of May 2018.  The SINCs Panel consists of representatives from the Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, Hampshire County Council Ecology Team and Natural England.

Table 4: Number of Proposed new/amended/deleted SINCs evaluated from 2016 survey data and submitted to the SINCs Panel for deliberation during Jan/Feb 2018

SINC New Amended Deleted Partner objections Total SINCs SINCs SINCs for Review Basingstoke & Deane BC 5 1 6 Eastleigh BC 0 East Hampshire DC 5 3 8 Fareham BC 0 Gosport BC 1 1 HCC-Countryside Service 2 1 3 HCC –ETE Dept. 5 5 Hart DC 6 5 1 12 Havant BC 1 1 Page 9 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Hampshire& IOW Wildlife Trust 1 1 New Forest DC 2 2 New Forest NPA 2 5 7 Portsmouth CC 0 Rushmoor BC 1 2 3 Southampton CC 1 1 Test Valley TVBC 2 1 1 4 Winchester CC 1 2 1 4 Total 27 25 5 1 58

4.3 Details of the proposed ‘New/Deleted/Amended SINCs are as follows

Deleted SINCs: Five sites were proposed for deletion; two were approved as the species for which they were designated had lost their notable status. A further two were approved due to loss of habitat through agricultural improvement. The final SINC was approved for deletion due to development.

New SINCs: The twenty-eight new SINCs comprised  3 areas of aquatic habitat, 2 of which support notable species  2 areas of previously unsurveyed species rich wet grassland  7 area of species rich neutral or calcareous grassland, 3 of which are as a result of habitat creation or restoration (2 road verges)  12 areas of previously unsurveyed ancient and/or wet woodland  2 areas of plantation over relic heath or open heathland, 1 previously unsurveyed, the other a result of positive management.  Finally, a road verge supporting a relic population of Juniper (s41) has been deferred pending further information on the provenance of the planted specimens.

Amended SINCs: The twenty-five amended SINCs comprised;  3 SINCs whereby the habitat had reflected a positive change, usually as a result of good management, restoration or re-creation, enabling a criteria change or boundary extension  10 SINCs where the habitat had shown a decline in quality or actual loss due to inappropriate management, forcing a boundary or criteria change  4 SINCs which had lost some habitat, as a result of development, amenity or extended gardens  8 SINCs where better or more detailed survey has necessitated a criteria change or a boundary change where additional Priority habitat had been discovered adjacent

In total new SINCs accounted for an additional 87 ha (down from 123 ha last year), deleted SINCs a loss of around 10ha (same as last year), and amended SINCs a net loss of 0.5 ha, resulting in a total gain of 76.5 ha in SINC coverage (up 24.5 ha from last year).

Page 10 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Table 5: Time spent on SINC evaluation & reporting to the Hampshire SINCs Panel

Preparation of Evaluation of 2017 survey data for SINCs list for Nov Nov 2018 SINCs Panel Total time spent Partner 2017 SINCs Panel1 No. of surveys HBIC Field (hrs) (hrs) evaluated2 ecologists (hrs) 3 BDBC 27.0 21 5.3 32.3 EBC 0.0 9 2.3 2.3 EHDC 36.0 22 5.5 41.5 FBC 0.0 12 3.0 3.0 GBC 4.5 2 0.5 5.0 HCC C’side 13.5 6 1.5 15.0 HCC - ETE 22.5 23 5.8 28.3 HDC 54.0 14 3.5 57.5 HvBC 4.5 8 2.0 6.5 HWT 4.5 2 0.5 5.0 NFDC 12.3 13 3.3 15.5 NFNPA 31.5 13 3.3 34.8 PCC 0.0 3 0.8 0.8 RBC 13.5 8 2.0 15.5 SCC 4.5 11 2.8 7.3 SDNPA 0.0 2 0.5 0.5 TVBC 18.0 15 3.8 21.8 WCC 18.0 11 2.8 20.8 Total 264.8 (35.8 days) 195 48.8 (6.6 days) 313.5 (42.4 days)

From this table HBIC will have spent in total 42.4days (0.20 FTE)) maintaining the SINCs system, based on the calculations in the footnotes below. We have yet to add time spent dealing with landowner objections to notifications and other queries which can be very time-consuming. Separate time spent dealing with landowners and other interested parties who have queries on SINCs are logged in the data request database and allocated to Districts/Unitaries under ‘non- chargeable data requests’.

Sarah Callegari, HBIC Senior Ecologist, 25th April 2018

4.4 SD160 Local Sites Reporting – “Local Sites in positive conservation management”

The National Indicator, NI197 has been replaced by a new Single Dataset indicator, SD160-00 which is now called “Local Sites in positive conservation management” and is defined as for NI187. The invitation to submit data for this year been received from Defra but Hampshire County Council has again declined to respond. At least 55% of local authorities no longer report on this indicator (up from 52% last year). https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/6653 45/Local_Sites_in_positive_conservation_management_England_200809_201617.pdf

Previous time spent on this Indicator has never been included within the partnership SLAs.

Nicky Court, HBIC Manager April 2018

1 Time spent producing statements and maps for reporting to the SINCs Panel, updating the database, GIS editing and notifying landowners - a total of 4.5 hrs per site, although landowners will be notified and the GIS layer/database updated and circulated in April 2018 2 Excludes any SSSIs and hedgerows surveyed in 2017. 3 Time spent evaluating 2017 survey data by field ecologists – undertaken in February 2018 (0.25 hr/site) Page 11 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

5. Provision of data

5.1 GIS Data to partners

 Protected/Notable species records and Invasive species layers – update provided February 2018. Next update is expected in June/July 2018.  SINCs: update provided July 2017. Next update July 2018.  RVEI layer: an update sent out in January 2016. Next update May 2018  Broad & Priority Habitats - update sent out January 2018. Next update January 2019.  Biosites layer – update sent out in October 2017. Next update in May 2018.  SDNPA integrated layers with Sussex data sent out late March 2018 for use 2018/19.

Table 6: GIS data to Partners

Non- Protected Native Broad Priority & Notable Biosites Partner Invasive Habitats Habitats SINC Layer RVEI Layer Swift layer Species Layer Species Layer Layer Layer Layer B’stoke & Deane 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 08/02/2016 01/02/2018 East Hants DC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Eastleigh BC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Fareham BC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Gosport BC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Hart DC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Havant BC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 New Forest DC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 NFNPA 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Portsmouth CC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Rushmoor BC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 S'hampton CC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Test Valley 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Winchester CC 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Forestry Com 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/07/2017 HCC C'side 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 17/12/2015 14/11/2014* 14/11/2014* HCC ETE 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 HIWWT 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Nat. England (1) 11/03/2016 11/03/2016 08/12/2009 28/03/2013 08/12/2009 27/08/2015 28/06/2011 Env. Agency 10/04/2018 10/04/2018 08/12/2009 11/03/2016 08/12/2009 10/04/2018 28/06/2011 P’mouth Water 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 SDNPA 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 23/03/2018 S'thern Water 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018 Thames Water 19/02/2014 16/12/2013 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 Wessex Water 01/02/2018 01/02/2018 18/01/2018 15/01/2018 10/10/2017 18/07/2017 25/01/2016 01/02/2018

* HCC Countryside Service can load these datasets directly from the HCC GIS catalogue. (1) Natural England no longer fund HBIC for county-wide datasets. The local team provided funding for up to 20 individual site data requests. This agreement ran out in August 2017. Wolfgang Ritter 30th April 2018

Page 12 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

5.2 Data requests

91% of data requests were responded to within the target of 10 working days (97% in 2016/17). This drop was due to being 1 FTE down during April/May, and staff sickness in November.

In September HBIC switched to an online form allowing pre-payment & negating the need for invoices. Take up of the pre-payment service has been very slow with most consultancies continuing to want invoices. It is hoped this will change over time. At the same time HBIC also moved to a new charging schedule, the fee for a standard data request increased by £10.

Table 7: Data requests summary

Summary 2017/18 2016/17 2015/16 2014/15 Total no. of requests 649 659 708 713 Total no. of chargeable requests 492 475 482 496 Total time logged (hrs) 728.95 696 710 794 Total time logged to chargeable (hrs) 549.1 470 437 459 Proportion of total time chargeable 75% 68% 62% 58% Total income £107,131 £93,891 £89,430 £79,915

The total number of chargeable requests has increased with HBIC exceeding its target of £100,000 to contribute more fully towards office overheads.

Table 8: Data requests allocated to each partner Partner Total Enquiries Total Time Chargeable Time Non Chargeable Time BDBC 98 86.8 63.05 22.75

EA 5 10.5 10.5 EBC 40 36.81 27.21 9.6 EHDC 52 41.66 37.91 3.75 FBC 40 48.25 43.25 5

FC 1 1 1

GBC 9 10.5 10.5 HCC - C’side 3 10 2 8 HCC - ETE 29 22 1.5 20.5 HDC 48 46.68 44.18 2.5

HIWWT 10 12.5 12.5 HvBC 34 42.35 33.85 8.5 NE 3 40 37 3 NFDC 46 51.83 44.33 7.5 NFNPA 34 37.88 25.88 12 PCC 15 17.2 13.7 3.5

PW 1 2 2 RBC 15 11.88 11.33 0.55 SCC 25 26.75 18 8.75 SDNPA 42 38.09 24.09 14

SW 2 5 5 TVBC 64 64.15 58.5 5.65 WCC 68 65.09 51.79 13.3 Totals (Note 1) 684 728.92 549.07 178.85 Page 13 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Note 1: The total number of enquiries may include those ‘double-counted’ where they relate to more than one partner organisation.

Table 9: Data requests by type of enquirer

Contact Type Total Enquiries Total Time Total

Consultancy/Developer 501 500.55 £103,333.00 Government Agency 16 59.00 £2,117.50 Public Utility 2 1.25 £950.00 Landowner/Agent/Tenant 6 6.90 £530.00 Non-Governmental Organisation 12 13.75 £200.00 Member of the public/Local group 24 31.70 £180.00 Consultancy/Developer (for Partner) 16 27.70 £0.00 Local Authority/Parish Council 41 49.85 £0.00 Local Record Centre 7 7.00 £0.00 National Park Authority 6 9.50 £0.00 Public Utility (for Partner) 2 8.00 £0.00 Researcher/Student/School/College 16 13.75 £0.00 Total £107,310.50

Lizzy Peat 1st May 2018

5.3 Production of Annual Biodiversity Monitoring Report for District AMRs As in previous years HBIC produced and sent out on 20th November 2017 an Annual Biodiversity Monitoring Report covering the period 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017 which detailed changes in:

 Area covered by different priority habitats and designated sites.  Extent of priority habitats within designated sites.  Conditions of SSSIs.  Extent and number of SINC and reasons for change  Population and range for a selected 50 notable species (reported 5 yearly).

The figures are broken down by district using GIS models, an Access database and VBA scripts to make the extraction of the statistics quicker and easier.

Total amount of time spent is on average 60 hours including time spent for the 4 districts that required the more detailed statistics. The AMR is provided at 3.5 hours per district for the summary report and an extra 2 hours for the detailed statistics.

Wolfgang Ritter 19th January 2018

Page 14 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

6. Screening Planning Lists to 31st March 2018

Table 10: Planning applications screened for each partner organisation

District/Partner Checked Flagged Hours spent Pro Rata

East Hampshire DC 1,368 231 (17%) 46 East Hampshire DC - SDNP 745 163 (22%) 32 Fareham BC 1,324 281 (21%) 56 Gosport BC 477 120 (25%) 24 Hampshire CC 102 41 (40%) 8 Havant BC 962 130 (14%) 26 New Forest DC 1,598 353 (22%) 70 New Forest NP 1,036 400 (39%) 79 Test Valley BC 2,404 532 (22%) 105 Winchester CC 2,477 502 (20%) 99 Winchester CC - SDNP 642 140 (22%) 28 Total 13,135 2,893 (22%) 572 Total 2016/17 12,788 2,691 (21%) 468 Total 2015/16 13,735 2,529 (18%) 583

The average hours spent per week pro rata has reverted back to 11 hours staff time per week, the same as 2015/16 up from 9 hours per week in 2016/17. This is due to a total increase in the number of applications screened, additional layers of data, and bringing a new officer up to speed.

The number of planning applications screened in 2017/18 is generally higher than the previous year for the majority of districts, except for the New Forest district and National Park which are broadly similar. The drop in applications screened for HCC (317 in 2016/17) is due to improvements with the HCC website meaning there are no longer duplicates to screen each week. Conversely, Winchester CC has been having problems producing a weekly list, without duplicates. As such the number of applications screened has increased to 2,477 (from 2,310 in 2016/17) although we do not know if the actual number of applications has increased.

The percentage of applications that are flagged as potentially having an impact on biodiversity has increased steadily from 14% in 2013/14 18% in 2015/16 to 22% this year. Possible explanations for this include holding more information, more spatially precise records, and possibly more potential development being proposed in sensitive places.

Table 11: Highways Road Verge Screening

New Updated Flagged Time Spent (hours) 380 33 (8.68%) 106 (25.67%) 52

A weekly spreadsheet is sent to the HBIC Inbox from Highways containing all works which may affect a Road Verge of Ecological Importance (RVEI). This list is then filtered by HBIC to show only ‘new’ and ‘updated’ works each week. Each of these works is then checked with the RVEI layer. Work is currently underway to get SINCs included in this system where they occur adjacent to the highway but are not RVEIs. Any works which are thought likely to impact on a RVEI are noted and comments submitted directly to the organisation/utility that raised the job. Approximately 1 hour per week is spent screening road verges, the same as last year.

Lizzy Peat 1st May 2018

Page 15 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

7. Data Holdings (to 31st of March 2018)

Table 12: Total Species data holdings by database

Total no. of Total no. of An Total no. Database records to 31st records to 31st increase of species March 2017 March 2018 of… MapMate (see below) From the 14,132 4,872,580 5,159,419 286,827 species recording groups Recorder (mainly vascular plants from HBIC habitat surveys, plus hymenoptera, Odonata, stag 6,636 1,176,922 1,280,489 103,567 beetles, Bryophytes, earthworms and recent HOS data) Totals 6,049,502 6,437,152 390,394

Approximately 21% of all species records held in MapMate are protected and/or notable species. This figure has stayed remarkably consistent with previous years.

Table 13: MapMate Holdings only

Taxonomic Group Total no Net Change Total no of notable of & protected records records (note 3 & 4) Amoebozoa 2 0 0 Amphibians & Reptiles 28,812 981 22,437 Birds 830,588 618 (note 1) 504,923 Fish 2,224 0 856 Fungi 848 -1 6 Higher plants - Clubmosses & Quillworts 1,058 89 1,045 Higher plants - Conifers 11,175 836 858 Higher plants - Ferns 28,672 2,286 2,713 Higher plants - Flowering Plants 1,015,975 61,471 115,636 Higher plants - Horsetails 4,067 182 363 Invertebrates - Acarina 1 0 0 Invertebrates - Annelida 39 0 3 Invertebrates - Araneae 4,160 -19 9 Invertebrates - Blattaria 211 39 207 Invertebrates - Bryozoa 1 0 0 Invertebrates - Chilopoda 129 0 0 Invertebrates - Cnidaria 1 0 0 Invertebrates - Coleoptera 66,532 30,698 (note 5) 10,628 Invertebrates - Collembola 2 -2 0 Invertebrates - Crustacea 1,319 7 549 Invertebrates - Dermaptera 580 12 42 Invertebrates - Diplopoda 117 0 2 Invertebrates - Diptera 45,106 1,776 2,124 Invertebrates - Echinodermata 1 0 0 Invertebrates - Ephemeroptera 136 0 1 Invertebrates - Hemiptera 17,921 770 555 Invertebrates - Hymenoptera 29,815 2,298 3,337

Page 16 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Taxonomic Group Total no Net Change Total no of notable of & protected records records (note 3 & 4) Invertebrates - Lepidoptera 3,000,861 179,544 (note 2) 381,597 Invertebrates - Mantodea 2 0 0 Invertebrates - Mecoptera 147 7 0 Invertebrates - Megaloptera 41 0 0 Invertebrates - Mollusca 2,749 9 243 Invertebrates - Neuroptera 272 36 0 Invertebrates - Odonata 6,431 18 898 Invertebrates - Orthoptera 4,357 177 477 Invertebrates - Plecoptera 42 0 2 Invertebrates - Porifera 1 0 0 Invertebrates - Psocoptera 3 0 0 Invertebrates - Raphidioptera 19 1 0 Invertebrates - Trichoptera 555 93 2 Lichens 885 0 13 Lower plants - Algae 66 16 0 Lower plants – 4,131 0 34 Liverworts/Hornworts/Mosses Lower plants - Stoneworts 166 137 15 Mammals - Marine 785 16 785 Mammals - Terrestrial (bats) 21,259 2947 21,259 Mammals - Terrestrial (except bats) 27,143 1,785 12,656 Total 5,159,407 286,827 1,084,275

Large increases are due to normal updates from key species groups with data exchange agreements. Minor changes are likely to be due to corrections and removal of duplicates or updated designations.

Note 1 The increase in birds (on MapMate) is from the Hampshire Swifts group providing us with an update for confirmed breeding records of Swifts. Note 2 HBIC has now received moth records for 2015. 2016 moth records are still outstanding. Note 3 Increases in numbers of records of notable species in some groups (Amphibians & Reptiles, Fish, Higher Plants, Blattaria, Molluscs, Orthoptera, Lichens, Bryophytes) are due to new designations on local (HantsPlants), national and European level. The decrease of records of notable species in Diptera is due to changes in designations on national level. Note 4: It was agreed by the HBIC Steering Group to remove Annex V as criterion for being notable. This removed the following species from the notable list: Common Frog, Barbel, various bryophytes (mostly Sphagnum species), and Lichens (mostly Cladonia species). Note 5: Dr Jonty Denton kindly sent us an update of his database during March 2018, which added a further 29,000 records to our holdings..

Table 14 Selected Recorder holdings

Taxonomic Group/Survey Total no of records Birds (Hampshire Ornithological Society) 309,183 British Dragonfly Society's Dragonfly Recording Network up to 2014 57,219 Hymenoptera (Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording society) 26,782 Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts (British Bryological society dataset) 20,808 PTES, covering Stag beetles only 1,528 National Earthworm Recording Scheme (Great Britain) 1,867

Page 17 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

The MapMate records for the Hymenoptera have been (and Bryophytes will eventually be) sent to the national schemes for incorporation into their datasets, thus removing any possible duplicates, and returned to us as part of their annual download as non-editable copies.

There are plans to collate the following additional data sets in future, subject to workloads:

 Birds - ~20,000 records received from HIWWT as a result of the Brent Goose and Wader Strategy will stay in a separate useable GIS alert layer and not be imported into MapMate or Recorder for the time being.  Further records catalogued by the Hampshire Cultural Trust as and when they become available (previously Hampshire Museums Service)  Coleoptera - Derek Lott Coleoptera Dataset, sourced from the NBN Atlas  British Arachnological Society/Spider Recording Scheme's Provisional Atlas of British Spiders dataset This is the dataset used in the Spider Recording Scheme's publication Provisional Atlas of British Spiders (Arachnida, Araneae), Volumes 1 & 2 - Peter R. Harvey, David R.Nellist & Mark G. Telfer' From the NBN Gateway

Currently we organise our data holdings as follows:  Newer HOS records are held in Recorder, Older HOS records are in MapMate at present. Each year the previous survey season’s data is imported into Recorder  The British Bryological Society provide an Excel spreadsheet once a year, which is imported into Recorder.  One copy of MapMate (Identification 6dn) holds data from Butterfly Conservation only  Another copy (Identification 5pw) holds all other MapMate data – from HARRS (HARG), BSBI, HBC, HMG etc.

Updates provided as follows so far this year:  Butterflies were imported on 15th of June 2017.  Richard Dickson’s records were imported on the 16th June 2017 and 2nd Jan 2018 (these are only records which have not gone to other species groups)  HOS Bird records for 2016 were imported on 5th July 2017.  Malcolm Storey’s records were imported on 21st July 2017.  HMG - temporary record update on 21st July 2017 and a full update on the 18th Dec 2017.  Moths for 2015 were imported on 25th July 2017. Discussion is underway about changing the system for lepidopteran updates, so deletions are removed from HBIC’s MapMate.  SNHS’s records were imported on 5th Dec 2017  Hoverflies were imported on 5th Dec 2017  BSBI ’s records were imported on 18th Dec 2017  HARRN’s records were imported on 18th Dec 2017  Richard Dickson’s Records were imported on 2nd Jan 2018  Hampshire Bat Group’s records were imported on 8th Jan 2018  Breeding Swifts were imported 9th Jan 2018  Coleoptera were imported on 27th Mar 2018

Outstanding imports:  97,000 HOS records  800 Spider records from the Museum’s Service (Hampshire Cultural Trust)  4,871 Bat records

We have also received records from Paul Brock, however these have not yet been imported. All other updates are still outstanding. Wolfgang Ritter and Lizzy Peat 30th April 2018

Page 18 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

8. Additional Community Recording

8.1 BioBlitz Events

HBIC has taken part in 2 BioBlitz’s this year. The Gilbert White & The Oates Collections ran a Nature Festival focussed on a BioBlitz at Gilbert White’s Selborne on the 27th and 28th of May 2017. A further BioBlitz in Peartree Green in Southampton occurred on the 5th of August. Lizzy Peat attended both events and provided the MapMate data entry and verification support. The final results so far are as follows;

Table 15: BioBlitz Results

Location Date Number of Number of Records Species made Recorded Gilbert White’s Selborne 27h – 28th May 2017 480 335

Peartree Green, Southampton 5th August 2017 315 218

50% of time spent by HBIC supporting Bioblitz events is either allocated to SLAs or charged for separately.

8.2 Living Record

HBIC are promoting and supporting the use of Living Record in Hampshire, which allows recorders to easily add records to an online mapping system (using it as their own database) but also allowing County Recorders to log on and download relevant records to incorporate into their databases. It is particularly useful for people wanting to record across taxon groups.

Table 16 : Living Record Verification (showing records entered between 01/04/2017 and 31/03/2018 for Hampshire)

Record Cleaner Hampshire New Query Reject Accept Locked Total Pass Fail Subject

Mammals (excluding bats) 1,372 54 5 10 1,303

Bats 3,664 2 5 40 3,617

Otters 2 2 Badger Setts 18 18

Birds 16,397 38 2 7,763 8,594

Reptiles 2,509 5 26 3 1 2,474

Amphibians 335 3 67 265

OLD ARC Natterjack Toad Survey (- 560 2 558 2017) Freshwater Fish 21 21

Insects: Bees, Wasps & Ants 274 274

Insects: Sawflies (Symphyta) 4 4

Insects: Moths 19,303 2,365 1 22 12 12 16,891

Insects: Butterflies 4,912 1,141 1 2 5 3,763 Insects: Flies (Diptera) 93 87 6

Insects: Beetles 130 125 3 2

Page 19 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

Insects: Orthoptera - Grasshoppers etc. 70 70 Insects: Bugs 57 57

Insects: Dragonflies 1,874 279 1,539 56

Spiders, Harvestmen & Pseudoscorpions 38 38

Isopods: Woodlice & Waterlice 2 2 (+Landhopper) Larger Crustaceans of fresh & brackish 1 1 water

Molluscs: non-marine 32 32 Vascular plants 20,868 3 32 13 31 20,789

Bryophytes 36 36

Fungi 43 43

Lichens 1 1

Seaweeds 122 2 120

Marine Fish 17 17

Tunicata: sea squirts 17 17 Marine Arthropods: Crabs, shrimps,

57 1 56 barnacles etc.

Echinoderms: starfish, sea urchins etc. 15 15

Marine Molluscs -slugs, snails, squid etc. 118 118 Marine Worms 20 20

Marine Bryozoa: moss animals 13 13

Marine Cnidaria: jellyfish, anemone, 18 18 coral etc. Marine Sponges 9 9

Survey: Riverfly Monitoring 56 56

Dragons (for training) 24 24

FHT Water Quality Survey Mk2 41 41

Source to Sea method - for invasive 179 179 plants Totals 73,322 4,959 1 163 32 9,426 58,741 The table above shows the number of records entered between the 1st of April 2017 – 31st March 2018 and their current status in the system.  “New” records have been entered by users but the verifiers have not looked at them.  “Accepted records” have been checked for errors and accepted but not yet downloaded.  “Locked records” are those which have been verified and downloaded by the County recorders, and passed through to HBIC in the usual way.  The number of queried and rejected records can also be seen, feedback is provided by email within the system.

HBIC has the admin rights to allocate users as County Recorders, and is in the process of approaching and training people to carry out this role in order to compliment the existing network. The HBIC Recorder’s forum was used to ask for new volunteers to act as verifiers, Simon Jones has offered to have a go at woodlice and Robert Aquilina was interested in covering some species he has expertise in. Lizzy Peat 30th April 2018

Page 20 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

9. Updating the GIS Habitat Layer / Dataset Work has been underway to clear the backlog of 2014 surveys with some progress being made. Currently 12 site surveys (5%) remain for 2014. These, combined with the 2015 and 2016 surveys, total 452, which will take approximately 51 days to complete, before starting on 2017 surveys. Progress in the near future will be a bit slower, because of a recent resignation. The new person will hopefully be in place in June 2018 and will need some time to get trained in the use of the HLU tool.

Table 17 shows total current outstanding figures and time it will take to complete all surveys from past 3 years.

Table 17: Survey updates outstanding on the GIS Habitat layer at 31st March 2018

Outstanding work as Year of Total Site Surveys at 31st December survey for Year1 2017 2014 255 12 (5%) 2015 264 216 (82%) 2016 223 224 (100%) Total 452

Outstanding work

Total number of surveys to update 452

Number of surveys that can be updated/day = approx. 10 - 15

Number of days to complete all surveys = 45 days (at 1 day/week)

Further work is required to update the GIS Habitat Layer as a result of the following:  Verification and incorporation of the PTES Traditional Orchards national inventory data  Verification and incorporation of the RSPB/EA Reedbeds regional inventory data  Verification and incorporation of Bownfield “Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land” data from BugLife

Maps are being produced to enable the field ecologists to ground truth areas they may come across during the 2018 survey programme, subject to access.

Wolfgang Ritter, 30th April 2018

1 The number of total surveys may vary slightly from totals in previous reports due to various factors, including imports of data, deletion of duplicate survey entries, double counting sample surveys within ‘sites’ etc. The figure for 2016 is significantly lower than that reported in the previous report as the figure was originally based on the total number of surveys completed in 2016, of which a substantial number were non-standard surveys that didn’t produce habitat data on which IHS classifications could be based (such as Brent Geese counts). The figure reported above does not include these non-standard surveys. Page 21 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

10. Special projects

10.1 Ecological Network Mapping: Natural England contracted HBIC in 2016 to develop detailed ecological network mapping for Hampshire on behalf of the Local Nature Partnership. The result is three GIS layers, which show existing areas of statutory and other non-statutory high ecological value land with linking/ expanding elements of lower ecological value but with high potential to restore to priority habitat. See http://documents.hants.gov.uk/biodiversity/MappingtheHampshireEcologicalNetworkFinalRepo rt.pdf

The mapping has been recently updated and will be made available to the local planning authorities once it has been road tested by the planning authorities and approved by the LNP, alongside production of policy guidance on its use. Based on the updated Ecological Network the mapping the BOAs (the strategic network) have also been checked and updated. It is hoped to eventually look at including strategically important areas/hotspots for certain protected species such as dormice or great crested newts.

10.2 Coastal Remediation Project:

HBIC is involved in a project which will support the Emergency Planning Unit in decision- making in cases of coastal incidents, where data on designations, habitats and notable species/species/assemblages are needed to determine the right course of action to minimise impact on biodiversity as part of clear up. HBIC is collating all relevant GIS layers and has been developing a reporting tool which can present the data clearly and efficiently in such an event.

The development of the tool is finished apart from minor improvements. The idea is that users select a stretch of the coastline in GIS and then can produce maps and tables about sites, which may potentially be affected. HBIC will then maintain this tool and update the data as and when. There will be a training session in May/June 2018, where the detailed usage of the tool will be shown to future users.

The project is being funded by the County Council’s Emergency Planning Unit.

Page 22 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

11. IT Development & Improvements

The on-going IT plan for HBIC is to enable greater integration between the HBIC databases and GIS to ensure duplication of effort is kept to a minimum and to enable greater flexibility and speed when interrogating and extracting data. Specifically this includes:

 Further improvements to the data request database to align it with the new epayments system and to make the data more consistent and easier to extract.  HBIC’s webpages have been updated as part of the HCC ‘digital transformation’. The web page with e-payment function went live in September. The customers are using the new form now, but so far the e-payment function is used less often than hoped.  Further improvements to the extraction of GIS data will be done using Python code.  HBIC is using some tools in ArcGIS which connect the ArcGIS to Access databases. They were developed in VBA, which is no longer fully supported. Most tools can probably be replaced by using a geodatabase. A proposal has to be written to explain this.  On-going updates to the Recorder 6 dictionaries and software. There may be further updates to Recorder 6 depending on level of support from JNCC, and the possibility of a complete review with a view to it becoming cloud based. LERCs may have to contribute to updates. ALERC is in discussion with JNCC about the future of Recorder 6. At the moment the opinion of HBIC and the majority of LERCs is to keep and further develop Recorder. That might mean contributions from LERCs to the development and on-going support. Andy Foy, on contract to the SE LERCs has developed a questionnaire to find out who uses Recorder and which components of Recorder 6 are used. The LERCs then will set up a priority list for the re-development of Recorder 6.  Andy Foy, also on contract to the SE LERCs, has evaluated the options to update the Habitat data capture tool/layer with the most recent OS MasterMap layers. Andy Foy is now developing generic tools to update the habitat data with MasterMap data using sample data from HBIC. Funding for these tools will come from the SE LERCs. HBIC will have to spend some time on this process, as not everything can be done automatically. We got the results of the update of the sample data and have to estimate, how much time and effort would be needed to update the complete Hampshire dataset.  Improving the efficiency of extracting GIS data into a Word template via an intermediate database for producing the annual biodiversity monitoring statistics.

Wolfgang Ritter 30th April 2018

Page 23 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

12. Financial Statement for 2017-18

12.1 Service level Agreements and Data Supply Agreements

Most LAs and the HIWWT have now completed the 3rd year of their 3 year agreements. Data supply agreements (DSAs) with Utilities and FC are mostly annual although Wessex Water and Thames Water have committed to 5 years. All agreements incorporated a 3% annual increase. The Environment Agency’s agreement remained the same and no local agreement was reached with NE following their grant from last year which ran out on 01/08/2017 and covered up to 29 hours spent on specific data requests and SINC pdf maps.

Table 18: Income from Partners Survey Partner Agreement type Hours Fee1 days Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 2624 145140 East Hampshire District Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 28 175 Eastleigh Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 1013 7554 Fareham Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 14 95 Gosport Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 8 55 Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife 3rd of 3 yr SLA 15 85 Trust Hampshire County Council ETE In kind 20 320 Hampshire County Council C’side. 3rd of 3 yr SLA 15 75 Hart District Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 20 95 Havant Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 14 95 New Forest District Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 14 105 New Forest National Park Authority 3rd of 3 yr SLA 14 125 Portsmouth City Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 6 40 Rushmoor Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 10 45 South Downs National Park Authority 3rd of 3 yr SLA - 85 Southampton City Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 10 60 Test Valley Borough Council 3rd of 3 yr SLA 28 185 Winchester City Council Annual SLA 28 215 Natural England - Environment Agency 3rd of 4 y MOA - 37 Forestry Commission (New Forest) Annual DSA - 5 Southern Water Annual DSA - 5 Wessex Water 3rd of 5yr DSA - 5 Thames Water (SINCs only) 2nd of 5 yr DSA - 5 Portsmouth Water Annual DSA - 5 Total (£124,761 in 2016/17) 281 2111 £126,545

1 Details of fees available on request Page 24 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

12.2 Main HBIC Account (J067M)

Table 19: Expenditure and Income for 2017/18

Projection for 2017/18 Actual from 2015 2017/18 Business plan EXPENDITURE Salaries & c24% on-costs for 5.85 HBIC posts £221,3021 £204,5002 (1.85 x F, 3 x E and 1 x D grade)

Travel, training, equipment, professional & ALERC fees £7,000 £6,231

10% Income from data requests to species groups £14,2503 £10,300

Total Expenditure £242,552 £221,031

INCOME

From partner SLAs £134,342 £126,545

Chargeable data requests £100,000 £106,2984

Chargeable survey days (59 @ £305/day) inc. mileage £18,300 £9,238

Internal HCC clients (Property Services & Highways) £5,000 £6,145 Additional target income from new projects  Coastal remediation project (c£3,502) (part)  Ecological network mapping cont..(£4,998)  Berks M&LP (£1,544) £15,000 £11,791  National Trust 1 yr agreement £1,067)  2 x Bioblitz – data input (£480)  HBIC Recorders Forum sponsorship (£400)** Total Income £272,642 £260,017

Projected balance (HBIC target is a surplus of £30,000) +£30,090 +£38,986

Other costs Departmental & Corporate overheads (c£15K per FTE) -£87,750 Salary & on-costs for 0.5 FTE Manager (outside HBIC cost -£32,000 centre) HCC ETE direct delivery (0.7 FTE mixed grades based on +£30,000 2015 Business Plan figures)

Summary: Expenditure and income are calculated slightly differently in the 2015-18 Business Plan but with similar end results. Despite the loss of NE funding and not fulfilling the spare survey capacity HBIC has managed to meet its target ‘surplus’ of £30K (as set out in the 2015-18 Business Plan) to contribute towards departmental & corporate overheads. Departmental overheads alone are £38,755.

**Sponsorship of the Annual HBIC Forum by the Vitacress Conservation Trust and Ecological Planning & Research was very much appreciated, enabling the conference to break even. (£200 received 2017-18 year, £200 received 2018-19 year)

1 Based on different set of figures to those projected – 5.5 posts plus 0.5 FTE manager, with 20% on-costs 2 2 months savings staff vacancy plus recruited at D grade rather than E 3 Has dropped to 10% from 15% in previous years. 4 Epayments and revised pricing structure now enabled Page 25 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

12.3 Local Recorders Fund (A985H)

Total income from data requests for 2016/17 was £92,500. 10% of this (£9,250) was transferred to the Local Recording Fund holding account with 9% to be divided amongst the species recording groups with data exchange agreements, and remainder available for projects to increase local recording capacity and available data.

Table 20: Local Recorders Fund expenditure and income

Balance carried forward from 2016/17 £ Balance carried forward from 2016/17 £9,5791 Plus 10% of Income from data requests (2016/17) £9,250 Total £18,829 Other Income Living Record supports costs from HCC Countryside £250 % Share of total Expenditure £ yearly Income Data Exchange Agreements  HWT (HARG/HMG/HFG) 4% [£3,700]  Butterfly Conservation 2% £1,850  Hampshire Ornithological Society 2% £1,850  Hampshire Bat Group 1% [£925] Local Recording Fund  Milford Conservation Volunteers – Living Record [£200]  Hampshire Ornithological Society - bird checklist £300  Butterfly Conservation - equipment £150  HIWWT – spotting scope for geese/wader movement [£300] studies  Hampshire Swifts – Display material [£150]  Hampshire Bat Group – QGIS training [£100] Living Record (HBIC & C’side) support costs £1,250 Total expenditure £5,400

Balance end of 2017/18 £13,679 10% income from data requests (carried forward into £10,300 2018/19) Balance at beginning of 2018/19 £23,978

[Italics] – not yet paid/claimed in the 2017/18 year – would bring balance to £18,604

Nicky Court, HBIC Centre Manager June 2018

1 Includes remaining funds from sale of County Rare Plant Register of £336.19 Page 26 Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Annual Report 2017- 2018 June 2018

13. Annual Recorders Forum 2018 Saturday 10th March 2018: 9.30am – 3.30pm Littleton Millennium Hall

Programme Chair: Nicky Court, Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre 09:30 10:00 Registration & Coffee 10:00 10:10 Welcome & Introduction: Nicky Court, HBIC Manager 10:10 10:30 Farmer Clusters and Recording: Peter Thompson, The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust 10:30 10:50 Targeting Priority Species: Mark Larter, Natural England 10:50 11:10 Refreshments 11:10 11:30 Use of Static Detectors and Thermal Imaging Videos: Nik Knight, Hampshire Bat Group 11:30 11:50 The Medicinal Leech in the New Forest: Robert Aquilina, Aquilina Environmental 11:50 12:10 20 Years of SINCs: Nicky Court, HBIC Manager 12.10 12.25 A series of 5 minute project updates:  Lizzy Peat HBIC, Verification in Living Record  Rob Blackler, RSPB - Colouring in the Margins  Christine Taylor, Hampshire Cultural Trust 12.25 13.30 Lunch & displays Chair: Ian Ralphs, Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre 13.30 13:45 A series of 5 minute project updates:  John Buckley, an Atlas of Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Amphibians and Reptiles  Ben Limburn ARC, Snakes in the Heather – Project Development  Martin Rand, Supplements to the BSBI flora 13:45 14.05 New Reserve- St Clair’s Meadow: Chris Lycett, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust 14:05 14:25 BTO Heronries Census: Brian Sharkey, British Trust for Ornithology 14.25 14:45 Refreshments 14:45 15:05 Progress in Mycological Recording: Eric Janke and Stuart Skeates, Hampshire Fungus Recording Group 15:05 15:15 Project Based Recording in Living Record: Adrian Bicker, Living Record 15.15 15.30 Summing up, Discussion about future forums and Close