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3 Contribution of the Red Risk Sites to European Site Designations

3.1 Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar Site

3.1.1 The red risk sites at Duver Road, St Helen’s, and Bouldnor Road, Yarmouth, are close to the Solent and Southampton Water SPA/Ramsar as illustrated in Figure 3.1 and Figure 3.2.

Figure 3.1: Duver Road red risk site in relation to environmental designations

3.1.2 Migrant waders and wildfowl that contribute to the qualifying criteria of the SPA and Ramsar site are counted within Bembridge Harbour and Brading Marshes, and the Western Yar as part of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) core counts (Figure 3.3). The WeBS core counts scheme is the principal scheme of the Wetland Bird Survey. Coordinated monthly counts are made annually at around 2,000 wetland sites in Britain. Results from the Isle of Wight WeBS core counts are published annually in the Isle of Wight Bird Report (a joint publication of the Isle of Wight Ornithological Group and the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society). Data from 2010 Bird Report is used to characterise the use of both Bembridge Harbour and the Western Yar Estuary by passage and wintering migrant waterfowl.

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Figure 3.2: Bouldnor Road red risk site in relation to environmental designations

Figure 3.3: WeBS core count areas at Bembridge Harbour and Brading Marshes, and Western Yar

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Duver Road, St Helens

3.1.3 The Duver Road site is immediately adjacent to the Brading Marshes to St Helen’s Ledges SSSI and approximately 125m from the SPA/Ramsar boundary. The SPA/Ramsar in this location is fed by a small freshwater stream arising as a series of springs to the north of Duver Road. As the stream flows into Bembridge Harbour it passes areas of upper saltmarsh and intertidal mudflat. The mudflats in this part of the Harbour were once bounded by a sea wall to impound sea water to power a tide mill. The sea wall has long been breached but is remains as a series of concrete and masonry blocks set within the intertidal mud flats and tidal creeks. This combination of estuary habitats contributes to the Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar site qualification criterion 1.

3.1.4 Data from the 2010 WeBS core counts is presented to characterise use of the area by wintering and passage migrant waterfowl (Appendix II). This is sorted to identify the most abundant species and those species that occur within the SPA in internationally important numbers and meet the SPA selection criteria of article 4.2 of the Birds Directive. They include; Eurasian teal, dark-bellied Brent goose, black tailed godwit and ringed plover.

3.1.5 Data for this selected group of wildfowl and waders (waterfowl) is illustrated in Figure 3.4, and reproduced in Table 3.1.

1000

900 Northern Lapwing

Eurasian Wigeon 800 Eurasian Teal 700 Mallard

Eurasian Coot 600 Dark-bellied Brent Goose Common Snipe

500 Tufted Duck

Great Cormorant 400

Common Redshank Numberofbirds 300 Common Moorhen Mute Swan 200 Little Grebe Eurasian Curlew

100 Common Shelduck

Black-Tailed Godwit 0 Northern Shoveler Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Month

Figure 3.4: Changing populations of most numerous wildfowl and waders in Bembridge Harbour and Brading Marshes through the year (2009/10)

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Table 3.1: Most abundant waterfowl within the Bembridge Harbour and Brading Marshes WeBS Core Counts 2010. Highlighted species occur in internationally important numbers within the SPA

Species Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Northern 16 0 59 105 134 98 876 850 56 11 23 26 Lapwing

Eurasian 0 0 34 42 275 245 680 300 20 12 0 0 Wigeon

Eurasian Teal 8 68 91 130 136 250 196 363 255 27 2 10

Mallard 79 57 124 110 135 124 116 123 70 38 137 74

Eurasian 66 24 95 74 42 46 52 114 117 26 38 109 Coot

Dark-bellied 0 0 0 0 123 10 51 84 66 0 0 0 Brent Goose

Common 0 1 18 40 27 96 16 10 5 6 0 0 Snipe

Tufted Duck 19 15 11 5 2 12 26 2 32 28 30 33

Great 11 12 24 33 26 14 6 19 9 8 16 5 Cormorant

Common 0 1 31 37 15 53 29 13 1S 4 1 0 Redshank

Common 18 19 17 26 8 3 2 11 9 7 22 11 Moorhen

Mute Swan 16 7 5 10 0 7 12 9 24 18 28 14

Little Grebe 12 10 23 25 7 22 7 15 13 4 0 12

Eurasian 0 1 8 22 13 32 28 21 19 0 0 1 Curlew

Common 1 0 0 0 2 17 16 5 20 18 12 19 Shelduck

Black-Tailed 0 20 14 13 11 14 19 2 12 5 0 0 Godwit

Northern 1 0 15 0 1 16 15 22 22 9 3 2 Shoveler

Ringed 0 0 0 20 22 23 10 0 10 0 0 0 Plover

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3.1.6 The most abundant waterfowl present within the WeBS core counts comprise a mix of species associated with the fresh and brackish water wetlands as well as those more commonly associated with coastal habitats. Species more commonly associated with the freshwater habitats of Brading Marshes include coot, mallard, tufted duck, shoveler and moorhen.

3.1.7 A group of species occurs that may utilise both the fresh and brackish wetlands of the Marshes as well as the intertidal habitats of Bembridge Harbour. Species in this group include redshank, black tailed godwit, curlew, teal, wigeon, shelduck, dark bellied Brent goose and mute swans. The few ringed plover recorded are most likely to be associated with the intertidal mixed sediment shores at the entrance of Bembridge Harbour and are unlikely to use the Marshes.

3.1.8 At high tide many of the waders feeding on the intertidal mud and mixed sediment flats of Bembridge Harbour are concentrated on high water roost sites. This includes the relicts of the old sea wall and fringing saltmarshes around the old mill pond where appreciable numbers of birds can be concentrated.

3.1.9 Figure 3.4 and Figure 3.5 illustrate the changing pattern of waterfowl use of the area through the year. Peak numbers of birds are present in January and February with significant numbers extending from October through to March when at least 725 waterfowl are present in each month. Most numerous species are lapwing, teal, wigeon, mallard and coot. Lapwing, teal and wigeon numbers all build during the autumn to peak in January and February as they arrive from breeding grounds in northern Europe and Siberia. Mallard and coot are both resident breeding birds with their population being bolstered by migrant birds in winter.

2500

2000

1500

Western Yar

1000 Brading Marsh & Bembridge Harbour

500 TotalNumberofWildfowl Waders&

0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Month

Figure 3.5: Total numbers of wildfowl and waders present on the Western Yar and Brading Marsh & Bembridge Harbour through 2009/10

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Bouldnor Road, Yarmouth

3.1.10 Bouldnor Road in Yarmouth runs along the crest of a narrow isthmus of land separating the Solent Maritime SAC to the north from the Solent and Southampton Water SPA and Ramsar site to the south. The screening exercise found no likely significant effect of the proposed road scheme on the SAC but concluded that there were likely significant effects on the SPA and Ramsar site.

3.1.11 The SPA/Ramsar in this location extends to the south of the road, forming an area of coastal grazing marsh in the flood plain of the Thorley Brook. This discharges in the Yar estuary at its western end through a tide flap. The embankment of the old Newport to Yarmouth railway runs along the length of the Thorley Brook flood plain from east to west. The area of grazing marsh between the old railway and the A3054 Bouldnor Road is known as Rofford Marsh. This is owned by a consortium of local residents and managed as a nature reserve.

3.1.12 In winter, Rofford Marsh regularly floods as high tides prevent discharge of water from the Thorley Brook that backs up along the network and ditches and drains that cross this area of grazing marsh. Seepage and percolation of saline water into these water courses creates some well-developed transitions from brackish and saline to freshwater wetlands which in turn support a number of uncommon and nationally scarce wetland plants and animals. The many water courses that cross the flood plain of the Thorley Brook together with the Brook itself are lined with reed swamps. In summer these support good populations of breeding reed-nesting birds including reed warbler and sedge warbler. In winter the reed beds attract the occasional wintering bittern as well as bearded tits. The combination of coastal grazing marsh and associated reed beds creates a complex of Ramsar wetland habitats that satisfy Ramsar selection criterion 1.

3.1.13 Wintering migratory waterfowl (wildfowl and waders) attracted to the Yar estuary are counted as part of the Western Yar WeBS core count area. This includes the intertidal mudflats and saltmarshes of the estuary, coastal grazing marshes along the course of the Thorley Brook and Barnsfield Stream together with agricultural land flanking the estuary. WeBS core count data from 2010 is reproduced in Appendix III. Table 3.2 provides details of the most numerous species present, which is illustrated graphically in Figure 3.6.

3.1.14 Numbers of waterfowl in the Western Yar build up through the autumn reaching a peak in January and February (Figure 3.6 and Figure 3.7). Most numerous species are teal, wigeon, dark bellied Brent goose, mallard, lapwing, golden plover and black-tailed godwit. Some species such as the lapwing, dark bellied Brent goose, golden plover and redshank are largely confined to the intertidal areas of the estuary and associated agricultural fields.

3.1.15 Species such as the wigeon, teal and black tailed godwit frequent the saltmarshes and mudflats of the estuary as well as the fresh and brackish marshes of the coastal grazing marsh habitats, such as Rofford Marsh, on the eastern side of the estuary. Others, such as the coot, moorhen, shoveler, mallard and gadwall are largely confined to these fresh and brackish wetland habitats.

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3.1.16 Three of these more numerous species (teal, dark bellied Brent goose and black-tailed godwit) occur in internationally important numbers in the SPA and meet the SPA selection criteria of article 4.2 of the Birds Directive.

Table 3.2: Most abundant waterfowl within the Western Yar WeBS Core Counts 2010. Highlighted species occur in internationally important numbers within the SPA

Species Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Eurasian Teal 0 2 32 135 78 185 296 306 178 34 0 0

Eurasian 0 0 10 35 82 193 347 404 60 0 0 0 Wigeon

Dk bellied 0 0 0 15 55 95 507 234 99 0 0 0 Brent Goose

Mallard 36 27 108 135 52 55 61 146 74 106 92 49

Northern 6 8 14 3 20 4 556 231 1 0 0 5 Lapwing

Golden 0 0 0 59 0 0 262 267 0 0 0 0 Plover

Black-tailed 54 85 53 29 18 56 29 111 80 17 0 29 Godwit

Common 16 4 4 12 20 22 15 28 33 23 11 6 Moorhen

Eurasian 8 1 4 6 6 17 32 35 28 21 14 8 Coot

Eurasian 3 7 5 9 6 13 16 33 6 0 0 4 Curlew

Northern 0 0 0 0 8 18 34 22 14 0 0 0 Shoveler

Common 5 15 0 18 15 11 11 9 2 3 0 6 Redshank

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600

500

EurasianTeal

Eurasian Wigeon

400 Dk bellied Brent Goose

Mallard 300 Northern Lapwing Golden Plover

Black-tailed Godwit

NumberofBirds 200 Common Moorhen Eurasian Coot

Eurasian Curlew 100 Northern Shoveler Common Redshank

0 Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Month

Figure 3.6: Changing populations of most numerous wildfowl and waders in the Western Yar through the year (2009/10)

180

160

140

120

100 Western Yar Newtown NNR 80 River Medina Bembridge 60

40

20

0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Figure 3.7: Numbers of black tailed godwit Limosa limosa icelandica in Isle of Wight estuaries (from IW Bird Report, 2010). NB. these are not necessarily part of the coordinated WeBS counts.

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3.1.17 The black tailed godwits present in the Yar Estuary are of particular importance. In the Solent, these birds are from the Icelandic breeding population. Icelandic Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa icelandica breed primarily in Iceland, with an outpost in the northern isles, and small numbers on the Faeroes and Lofoten islands (Norway). They do not breed until they are two years old and this race frequently over-summers as immatures and non-breeders throughout the UK. The winter range of this population extends from Britain and Ireland to the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco (Figure 3.8).

3.1.18 Unlike other Island estuaries, significant numbers of black tailed godwits are present in the Western Yar in all months of the year. It is presumed those present in spring and early summer are immature non-breeding birds. These are joined by migratory birds giving peaks in July/August, October/November and over winter (February) as shown in Figure 3.7. The count data are given in Appendix IV. These birds are found feeding and roosting on the wet grasslands within the flood plain of the Thorley Brook as well as the intertidal of the Yar estuary.

Figure 3.8: Movements of Icelandic Black-tailed Godwit

3.2 South Wight Maritime SAC

3.2.1 The red risk sites at Undercliff Drive, St Lawrence, and Military Road, Brook, are close to the South Wight Maritime SAC.

Undercliff Drive Schemes

3.2.2 There are four schemes being considered for Undercliff Drive, Ventnor: Area A, above Hunts Road; Area B, Woodlands; Area C, Caravan park; Area D, Mirables.

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3.2.3 Area A is now considered unlikely to affect the SAC because of its distance from the SAC (c.500m) and the absence of a potential impact pathway; Vinci Ringway is not proposing alterations to surface or groundwater drainage which would discharge to the SAC.

3.2.4 The series of three remaining schemes along the Undercliff Drive to the west of Ventnor were identified as having uncertain or potentially likely significant effects on the South Wight Maritime SAC. These are all located approximately 300m inland of the SAC boundary which is confined in this area to the sub-tidal habitats below mean low water, as shown in Figure 3.9. Area C (Caravan Park) and Area D (Mirables) are also within the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI.

3.2.5 Undercliff Drive passes through an area of geologically jumbled land composed of mixes of chalk, upper greensand and gault clay that has fallen or slumped from the steep inner cliff that runs parallel to the coast and inland of Undercliff Drive. Many spring and seepages arise at the junction of the permeable upper greensand and chalk and the underlying clays. These drain south through the SSSI to discharge into the SAC.

3.2.6 The SSSI through which Undercliff Drive passes, and between Undercliff Drive and the SAC boundary, consists mostly of mature secondary woodland derived from 19th century planting. This secondary woodland is dominated by large mature sycamore Acer pseudoplatanus often with other non-native trees such as holm oak Quercus ilex, horse chestnut Aesculus hippocastanum and lime Tilia x europea. Many unusual native species also occur within these Undercliff woodlands. Wych elm Ulmus glabra, normally an indicator of ancient woodlands, is widespread although often suffering from Dutch elm disease. The woodland ground flora is also diverse and includes uncommon species such as the ivy broomrape Orobanche hederae and the nationally scarce Italian lords and ladies Arum italicum neglectum. The ground flora of the Undercliff is typically dominated by luxuriant carpets of Atlantic ivy Hedera helix hibernica. Ferns are also a common feature with frequently abundant growth of hart’s tongue fern Phyllitis scolopendrium.

3.2.7 The coastline below the road schemes is varied and includes low sea cliffs supporting examples of the vegetated sea cliff Annex 1 habitat type, although within the SSSI, these are not included within the SAC boundary. In this vicinity, these low 12m cliffs of chalky talus support a rich flora similar to that of the chalk cliffs with species such as yellow horned poppy, wild carrot, restharrow, kidney vetch, ribwort plantain and rock samphire. Glanville fritillary butterflies (Melitaea cinxia) also inhabit this section of cliff (Cox, 2010). Within Binnell Bay, the slumping cliffs slope more gently to the sea and support dense secondary woodland that extends inland to the Undercliff Drive.

3.2.8 The intertidal and sub-tidal off shore of this section of Undercliff Drive consists of a mix boulders and small rocky reefs that support kelp and diverse red algal communities that contribute to the Annex 1 Reefs habitat of the SAC (Isle of Wight Council & Royal Haskoning, 2010).

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Figure 3.9: Undercliff Drive red risk sites in relation to environmental designations

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Military Road Schemes - Brook Chine and Shippards Chine

3.2.9 Two schemes are proposed for maintaining the A3054 Military Road, near Brook. These are located within the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI and immediately adjacent to the South Wight Maritime SAC as shown in Figure 3.10.

3.2.10 The Brook Chine scheme affects a section of road running west from Brook Chine to a relatively new chine referred to as Churchill Chine. The road is in places within 2m of the cliff top and is separated from it by a narrow field that is included within the SAC boundary. A cliff fall in winter 2009/10 has created a slippage midway between Churchill Chine and Brook Chine. This slippage feature is not a chine but has led to the closure of one lane of the road in this vicinity. The Isle of Wight Council installed new drainage at this point in 2011, intended to stabilise the immediate area and temporarily extend the life of the road.

3.2.11 The Shippards Chine scheme is located further to the west of Brook Chine by the National Trust’s Compton Bay car park. The outfall of the stream feeding this chine has been stabilised as it discharges onto the beach through a rock gabion tower in front of the cliff. The field immediately above the chine is not included in the SAC at this location, but is included further to the west where the SAC boundary extends inland to the edge of the road.

Vegetated sea cliff habitat of Atlantic and Baltic Coasts

3.2.12 The SAC along this section of the coast supports the Annex 1 habitat Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts. This habitat occurs both on the cliff face and the cliff top where exposure to maritime influence can extend inland for approximately 30m (Cox, 2010). Cliff top vegetation samples from the vicinity of Shippards Chine were recorded as part of the Isle of Wight Soft Cliff Project, which showed the vegetation to consist of a rather rank tall sward dominated by red fescue Festuca rubra with an abundance of ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata and commonly wild carrot Daucus carota, creeping bent grass Agrostis stolonifera, red clover Trifolium pratense, rye grass Lolium perenne and common bent grass Agrostis capillaris. The cliff edge has a more maritime influenced vegetation including the soft-brome grass Bromus ferronii, buck’s horn plantain Plantago coronopus and rock sea spurry Spergularia rupicola.

3.2.13 The slumping cliff face is mostly free of vegetation, but in places, a typical pioneer community of soft rock cliffs has developed consisting of creeping bent grass and colt’s foot Tussilago farfara.

3.2.14 The tall, rather rank red fescue dominated cliff top grasslands associated with both the road schemes have abundant ribwort plantain and provide ideal habitat for the nationally rare Glanville fritillary butterfly. The two sections of vegetated sea cliff to the east and west of Shippards Chine (extending to Compton Chine in the west and Sudmoor in the east) are one of the most important for the Glanville fritillary on the Isle of Wight. Further information on the habitat requirements and importance of the Isle of Wight for this nationally rare butterfly follow.

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Figure 3.10: Military Road red risk sites in relation to environmental designations

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Glanville fritillary butterfly

3.2.15 The Glanville fritillary is a typical species of the vegetated sea cliff habitat of the South Wight Maritime SAC. It is referred to specifically in the reasons for the site’s selection, published by the JNCC5 (Section 2.3 of this report). In the UK, the Glanville fritillary is virtually restricted to the coastal landslips of the southern half of the Isle of Wight. It occurs on the Channel Islands and occasionally on the Hampshire coast, although it is not persistent here. It is a species of southern and central Europe reaching the northern edge of its range in the UK.

3.2.16 The ecology of this butterfly is closely related to the active erosion of the Island’s soft rock cliffs where it frequents coastal grassland on undercliffs and cliff tops or the eroding sides of coastal chines. In both situations, the larvae of the butterflies are dependent upon a warm micro- climate and the presence of their food plant the ribwort plantain Plantago lanceolata. The butterflies select small plants growing at high densities in short open vegetation on sheltered south facing slopes. On hatching, the larvae live gregariously in dense webs spun over the floodplant. These are quite conspicuous and counting them provides the main method of population monitoring. The larvae over winter in these communal webs but become solitary in April when they move to find fresh young plantain plants. They then pupate in dense grass tussocks, hence the species requires a mosaic of short and tall grass to complete its life cycle.

3.2.17 The populations of Glanville Fritillary on the Island have been monitored annually since the early 1980s (Pope, 1987; Butler, 2008). The soft rock cliffs between Compton Chine and Brook are one of the strongholds of the species on the Island. Table 3.3 provides monitoring data from 2007 (from Butler, 2008) and shows the relative abundance and distribution of larval webs in that year. For geographic context, Figure 3.11 shows the distribution of records of this species in Britain 1995-99.

Table 3.3: Isle of Wight Glanville Fritillary Monitoring 2007

Survey Site Sub-Site Number of webs Total Webs/Site

Compton Chine to Shippards Chine A 146 703

B 305

C 146

D 68

E 38

Shippards Chine to Brook Chine and A 9 135 East to Sudmoor B 23

C1 73

C2 30

Sudmoor East to Chilton Chine A 172 172

5 JNCC website: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/sacselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030061

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Survey Site Sub-Site Number of webs Total Webs/Site

Chilton Chine East to Grange Chine A 1 208

B 19

C 36

D 59

E 93

Shepherds Chine (Atherfield) 509 509

Rocken End to Castlehaven 19 19

Bonchurch Landslip 0 0

Redcliff 1 1

Figure 3.11: Distribution of Glanville Fritillary in Britain, 1995-99 (source: Asher et al, 2001)

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