GLASGOW CITY BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN MONITORING REPORT No 8 APRIL 2009
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GLASGOW CITY BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN MONITORING REPORT No 8 APRIL 2009 - MARCH 2010 1 CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 WOODLAND 4 Broad-leaved and Mixed Woodland Wet Woodland Hedgerows (Boundaries) GRASSLAND AND HEATH 5 Neutral and Acid Grasslands Dwarf Shrub Heath WETLAND 6 Rivers and Streams and Standing Open Water Reedbed, Swamp, Fen, Marsh, Raised Bog MAMMALS 7 Water Vole Otter Badger BIRDS 7 Reed Bunting Skylark Swift Tree Sparrow Jack Snipe AMPHIBIANS 8 Common Frog Common Toad Palmate Newt FISH 8 Atlantic Salmon INVERTEBRATES 9 Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Dragonflies PLANTS 9 Bluebell Burnet-saxifrage Tufted Loosestrife Purple Ramping-fumitory Bog-rosemary Toothwort Sheep’s-bit Wood Crane’s-bill Bog-mosses BUILT UP AREAS AND GARDENS / AWARENESS 10 2 INTRODUCTION This is the eighth annual Monitoring Report of the Glasgow Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP). It is an important element in the biodiversity process as it provides an update on the work and successes of the previous 12 months. The original LBAP (Tranche 1), including an introductory background booklet, along with 9 Species Action Plans (SAPs) and 11 Habitat Action Plans (HAPs), was launched in September 2001. Tranche 2, comprising a further 10 plans (2 HAPs and 8 SAPs), was launched in September 2002. A further series of plans (Tranche 3) followed in March 2005 and a review of actions approved by the Partnership in 2008. The monitoring and review element of the Plan not only enables reporting on what has been achieved but also helps the Glasgow Biodiversity Partnership in the review process. Each Species and Habitat Action Plan has a series of objectives and details specific actions to be carried out in order to conserve and enhance populations of particular animal and plant species or to protect and enhance sites containing valuable habitats. Objectives and Targets are listed, and a Lead Agency identified for each plan. The role of each Lead Agency is to aim to ensure that actions are delivered by a variety of organisations. The following pages report on the progress made in implementing the HAPs and SAPs, using information supplied by the various partner organisations, These have been grouped by habitat (e.g. wetlands) or species type (e.g. birds) to save repetition on the reporting of some of the more general actions that help meet the objectives of more than one habitat or species. 3 WOODLAND Broad-leaved and Mixed Woodland Lead FCS: Scott Gordon Wet Woodland Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Hedgerows (Boundaries) Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Introduction There are a diverse range of woodlands within the City from ancient and semi-natural woods through to mature Policy Estate plantations and newly created community woods and areas of scrub and hedgerows. The Council’s Woodland Unit, initially established with the support of the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage, remains the key focus for co- ordinating action for the City’s woodlands. The Unit is now part of the established structure of Land & Environmental Services Summary of Action Implementation The Woodland Unit continues to implement the Strategic Woodland Management Plan, with works occurring at a number of sites across the City with funding, in the main, from Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and the Council: x Woodland work at Robroyston Park Local Nature Reserve (LNR) to thin blocks of woodland, clearing sections of path to create scalloped edges for clearer sight lines and habitat enhancement. x Thinning canopy and understory trees at Dawsholm Park LNR to facilitate woodland regeneration. x Thinning of canopy and understory trees at Crookston Woodlands (5Ha) and thinning of over 1Ha of dense young woodland with the aim of opening up the woodland and allowing vegetation development. x Thinning of woodland at Cardowan Moss LNR in preparation for wildflower enrichment planting, carried out by FCS and volunteers. x Removal of Rhododendron ponticum continues, with total eradication from Dawsholm Park LNR achieved in 2010. In addition to works supported by FCS: x 2500 new trees planted at King’s Park, in partnership with Woodland Trust Scotland. x Further hedgerow planting and diversification at Windlaw and Pedmyre farmland. x Large scale hedgerow planting at Millichen area farmland. x Thinning and replanting of woodland at Pollok CP by CRS and volunteers from Shawlands Academy. x Beech and Sycamore removal and oak transplantation by BTCV and GCC Ecologist at Garscadden Wood LNR. x Woodland planting by SWT at Cardowan Moss. x Wildflower planting at Robroyston Park LNR as part of celebrations event to enrich woodlands. x Glebe Hedgerow project continues to restore hedges around conservation village area. Key Outcomes x Partnership working with a range of organisations. x Thinning of woodland at a number of sites to improve ground flora and understory. x 2500 new trees planted at King’s Park in partnership with Woodland Trust Scotland. x Large scale hedgerow planting at Millichen area farmland. 4 GRASSLAND AND HEATH Neutral Grassland Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Acid Grassland Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Dwarf Shrub Heath Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Introduction The grassland plans are aimed at conserving unimproved grasslands particularly on active farmland. These types of grasslands can also be found in the City on waste ground, road verges and within some parks. Heathlands are now very restricted to small isolated sites and the key aims are their protection and restorative management. Summary of Action Implementation The park meadow project continues with 39 sites under meadow management. Hogganfield Park LNR and Trinley Braes continued to attract attention with large scale meadow work and further wildflower planting. Due to operational staff shortages not all park meadow received annual cuts in late summer 2009. However, the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) team carried out meadow management at 11 sites covering nearly 4 hectares. Excellent progress has been made on grassland diversification at the farmland between Castlemilk and Carmunnock with some 30 hectares now being managed by a local farmer as species rich grassland, funded by the agri environment (SRDP) award and the Landfill Tax funded Farmland Birds Project. Other actions included: x Meadow cuts carried out at Robroyston Park LNR by SWT to improve floral diversity and enhance Skylark habitat. x Wildflower planting at Hill 60, Queen’s Park as part of meadow management. x Meadow management carried out at Tollcross and Kelvingrove Parks by GCC Biodiversity Officer and BTCV. x New meadow created at Petershill Business Centre. x Wildflower planting by CRS at Darnley Mill. x Wetland meadow seeded at Windlaw Marsh as part of the Glasgow Living Water Project. x BTCV planted wildflowers at Trinley Braes (500). x Temple Walkway wildflower planting – 5000 plants planted. x Wildflower planting carried out by BTCV at a number of sites including Hogganfield Park LNR, Queen’s Park, Tollcross Park and Provanhall. x Woodland wildflower planting at Springburn Park with LES and SAMH (Mental Health Group). x Wildflower plots (42) marked out at Tollcross Park with meadow areas raked and seeded. x Butterfly garden at Kelvingrove Park weeded out and tidied up. x BTCV cleared Rosebay Willowherb, Broom and Bracken as part of meadow management at Cathkin Braes. x BTCV removed large areas of Himalayan Balsam from Garscadden Woods grassland. x Yellow Rattle seed collected for Daldowie from local sites. x Removal of invasive plant species at Cleddans Burn. x GCC Highland cattle utilized at Dawsholm Park LNR for meadow management. Key Outcomes x Over 9 hectares of species rich grassland created at Windlaw Farm as part of SRDP application. x Agreements reached to create 4 hectares of species rich grassland and sympathetically manage 10 hectares x Meadow cut of 10 hectares of grassland at Hogganfield carried out by local farmer. 5 WETLAND Standing Open Water Lead SEPA: Jan Krokowski Rivers and Streams Lead SEPA: Jan Krokowski Reedbed Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Swamp Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Fen Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Marsh Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Raised bog Lead GCC-LES (CG): Keith Watson Introduction The wetland plans comprise several different habitat types ranging from the open water of lochs and ponds, or rivers and streams, through fringing swamps to marginal marshy grasslands. They also include fens and raised bogs, both wetlands associated with organic peaty soils. All are dependent on the amount and quality of the water they receive. Summary of Action Implementation x Glasgow Living Water Project (Froglife) started in July 2009, with funding for 2 years, to work at Glasgow wetland areas creating and enhancing ponds and involving local communities. x Major edge of loch naturalisation project (phase 1) completed at Hogganfield Park LNR. x Removal of willow scrub and trees around the wetland at Robroyston Park LNR by BTCV to improve the wetlands for waterfowl. x Ten dams installed in Commonhead Moss LNR, by GCC Ecologist and SWT to increase water table. x Hydrological monitoring at Commonhead Moss LNR carried out by SWT, in liaison with GCC Ecologist. x Clearance of birch scrub from line of proposed new path at Commonhead Moss LNR by BTCV. x Four new ponds created at Pedmyre and Windlaw Farm. x New pond, with pond dipping platform, completed at Hogganfield Park LNR. x New pond created at Darnley Mill by Dams to Darnley CRS, LWPO and 23 volunteers. x Three seasonal ponds at Cardowan Moss LNR deepened using volunteers from The Prince’s Trust and BTCV. x Two ponds created at Provan Hall. x Two ponds enlarged and planted up at Cardowan Moss LNR in association with Froglife and BTCV. x Natural edge creation at Dawsholm Park LNR pond with CRS and volunteers. x Ponds at Garscadden Wood LNR, Windlaw farm, Provan Hall and Victoria Park planted up with native aquatic vegetation by BTCV.