Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan Annual Report for 2003 Prepared by the Leisure, Culture and Amenity Services Department of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council P Southend's Local Action Plan - Annual Report for 2003 Contents Section Page 1. Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan 3 2. Meeting the Local Biodiversity Action Plan in 2003 4 2.1 Habitat Action Plans - Aquatic 4 2.2 Habitat Action Plans - Terrestrial 5 2.3 Habitat Action Plans - Urban 6 2.4 Species Action Plans - Birds 8 2.5 Species Action Plans - Invertebrates 8 2.6 Species Action Plans - Mammals 9 2.7 Species Action Plans - Other Vertebrates 10 2.8 Species Action Plans - Plants and Trees 10 3. Other Biodiversity Actions during 2003 12 3.1 Conservation Working Parties in 2003 12 3.2 Walks and other Events in 2003 13 3.3 Education 15 3.4 Other items of note 15 4. Biodiversity data recorded during 2003 16 4.1 Biodiversity data recorded on specific sites 16 4.1.1 Bird Report 2003 16 4.1.2 Bird species recorded at Belton Hills LNR 1997 - 2003 18 4.1.3 Bund Bird Report 2003 19 4.1.4 Butterfly Census 2003 21 4.1.5 Marine Life at East Beach, Shoeburyness 26 4.1.6 Moth recording at Dodds Grove in 2003 27 4.1.7 Other notes from Hadleigh Great Wood in 2003 28 4.1.8 Plant Records 2003 29 4.1.9 Plant records for Pond in Hadleigh Great Wood 2003 30 4.1.10 Southend Foreshore LNR - Bird Count 2003 31 4.1.11 Westcliff Ray - Common Seal Count 2003 32 4.2 Biodiversity data recorded about specific species 33 4.2.1 Bird Highlights of 2003 33 4.2.2 Deptford Pink Report 2003 35 4.2.3 White-letter hairstreak Report 2003 35 4.2.4 The Heath fritillary second flight 2003 35 4.2.5 Fox Records 2003 36 4.2.6 The Heath fritillary Butterfly in Hadleigh Great Wood 2003 37 4.2.7 The Heath fritillary in Hadleigh Great Wood & Dodds Grove 1997 - 2002 39 4.3 Other unusual data recorded during 2003 49 5. Contact details 50 2 Section 1 Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan Southend Borough Council's Local Biodiversity Action Plan has been produced as a result of an international agreement, called the Convention of Biological Diversity, which the UK Government signed at the 'Earth Summit' held at Rio de Janiero in 1992. The UK Government has prepared national plans for over 400 species and 40 habitats, but has recognised that for national plans to be successful they need to be adopted by those local communities that live side by side with the biodiversity. Local Authorities have been encouraged to prepare 'Local' Biodiversity Action Plans in partnership with local communities. These plans can also identify species and habitats unique to, or important to those individual communities. Southend's Local Biodiversity Action Plan was begun in 2002 and after considerable effort from the Leisure, Culture and Amenity Services Department and its partners, who consisted of local and regional wildlife groups and organisations, the Local Biodiversity Action Plan for Southend- on-Sea was launched on 11th July 2003. The Local Biodiversity Action Plan consists of individual action plans for eighteen habitats (plus one habitat statement) and fourteen species. During July 2003 a number of copies were printed and distributed to our local partners and provided to library branches, Southend Central Museum and Leigh-on-Sea Town Council. During late 2003 the Local Biodiversity Action Plan was also placed on Southend Borough Council's web site, where it can be viewed at: www.southend.gov.uk/content.asp?content=1760 The Local Biodiversity Action Plan is an on-going process that consists of a number of key objectives. Under each of the objectives are a number of targets, many of which are open-ended and can be considered as 'on-going'. A small number of targets have specific dates that indicate the target date for completing that action. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council cannot hope to deliver all of the objectives within the Action Plan on its own and it cannot just be the responsibility of the local authority. Everyone has a role to play, either as an individual or in partnership with others, to help to meet biodiversity objectives and make a real difference locally. This Annual Report highlights the actions of Southend Borough Council and its partners during 2003. Biodiversity activities and any biodiversity data collected in 2003 are also included. Contact details for both Southend Borough Council and our partners can be found in Section 5. Paul Terry Environmental Officer What is Biodiversity? Biological diversity, or biodiversity as it is commonly known, is the collective term given to the huge variety of life that exists today. Not only does it include all species of plants and animals, but also their genetic variation and the complex ecosystems in which they live. It is not just rare or threatened species either: it encompasses the entire natural world including the plants and animals familiar to us in places where we live or work. 3 Section 2 Meeting the Local Biodiversity Action Plan in 2003 The following list identifies those objectives and targets that were met during 2003. 2.1 Habitat Action Plans - Aquatic Brackish Lagoons No specific action during 2003 Intertidal Mudflat and Sandflat Communities Objective 8.2 Monitor this habitat Target 8.2.1 Encourage the monitoring of the mudflats at Southend-on-Sea Target 8.2.2 Encourage the recording of biodiversity found in or depending on the mudflats at Southend-on-Sea, passing all data to the Local Biological Records Centre and any national database that may be established. Action: Chris Tyas from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds undertook the annual bird count on Southend Foreshore Local Nature Reserve on 14th March 2003. It was noted that this was slightly later in the year than previous years and this was reflected in the lower count numbers [see 4.1.10, page 31]. Roger Payne from the Southend Museum Service led an outdoor meeting for South Essex Natural History Society at East Beach, Shoeburyness on 17th July 2003. During the meeting marine life was recorded [see 4.1.5, page 26]. Mike O'Connor from South Essex Action for Mammals launched a Seal Watch scheme in 2003, which was publicised in local papers and has attracted local support. Six local residents currently provide regular count data for a colony found on Westcliff Ray on Southend foreshore [see 4.1.11, page 32]. Ponds and Lakes Objective 8.2 Improvement of this habitat in Southend-on-Sea Target 8.2.3 Restore local ponds and lakes to a more favourable conservation status where these bodies have had their conservation status degraded. Action: Second half of silted up pond in Hadleigh Great Wood (Belfairs Nature Reserve) cleared out and deepened mechanically by contractor in October 2003. Southend and Rochford Local Group of Essex Wildlife Trust organised a working party to clear debris and reeds from the centre of a pond on Two Tree Island Nature Reserve in October and November 2003 to allow sufficient water depth to prevent the pond from drying out completely. Objective 8.5 Raise Awareness Target 8.5.4 Encourage the recording of biodiversity associated with ponds and lakes, passing all data to the Local Biological Records Centre. Action: South Essex Natural History Society agreed to monitor plants that are found colonising area of renovated pond in Hadleigh Great Wood during 2003 [see 4.1.9, page 30]. Target 8.5.7 Encourage local residents to be aware of their own local garden pond by running the annual 'Pond Survey' scheme. Action: Publicity about 'Southend's Pond Survey 2003', which was run in partnership with the Essex Amphibian and Reptile Group (EARG), through press release and article in 'Wildlife in Southend' newsletter. Sixty residents take part in 2003 - up from thirty-seven in 2002. Reedbed and Marsh No specific action during 2003 4 Rivers, Streams and Drainage ditches No specific action during 2003 Saltmarsh Objective 8.3 Increase the extent and quality of this habitat. Target 8.3.2 Work with local and regional partners to undertake local practical actions that can lead to local increases in the area occupied by saltmarsh. Action: Southend and Rochford Local Group of Essex Wildlife Trust organised a working party on saltmarsh adjacent Two Tree Island in July 2003. Work involves bundles of vegetation being positioned across channels to slow the strength of currents, therefore reducing erosion and increasing deposition of silt. Seagrass Beds No specific action during 2003 2.2 Habitat Action Plans - Terrestrial Ancient and Veteran Trees No specific action during 2003 Arable Land and Field Margins No specific action during 2003 Hedgerows Objective 8.3 Encourage the increase of this habitat in Southend-on-Sea. Target 8.3.1 Continue to work on the existing 'Green Corridor' programme and where appropriate within this programme, plant native species to create hedgerow habitat. Action: As part of the Green Corridor project the following were undertaken - 650 mixed native tree and shrub whips planted in Cockethurst Park in December 2003 to extend existing hedgeline. 775 mixed native tree and shrub whips planted in Eastwood Park in December 2003 to create new hedgeline along west boundary. 285 mixed native tree and shrub whips planted in Eastwood Park in December 2003 in clumps amongst existing trees along southern boundary. Natural Grassland Objective 8.3 Prevent further degradation of existing unimproved grassland.