Northamptonshire Biodiversity Action Plan

Northamptonshire Biodiversity Action

Plan

2nd Edition (2008)

Version 1.4 07/09/09

Northamptonshire Biodiversity Action Plan c/o The Wildlife Trust Lings House Billing Lings Northampton NN3 8BE Tel: 01604 405285 Fax: 01604 784835 Email: [email protected] Web: www.northamptonshirebiodiversity.org

Coordinator: Heather Ball

Version Control

Version Number Date Changes Implemented Staff Involved V1 21/07/08 Original document Heather Ball V1.1 21/01/09 Updates to habitat descriptions to reflect Matt Johnson new national habitat descriptions Heather Ball V1.2 11/06/09 Inclusion of Local BAP Species Heather Ball V1.3 12/08/09 Corrections to baseline estimates Lucetta Price Heather Ball V1.4 07/09/09 Slight alterations to action wording and Heather Ball partners, addition of 1 new action NOR_PAP_PL_A5.

Contents

Introduction ...... 1 How to Use this Document ...... 2 Background...... 3 Recent Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy...... 4 General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration and Creation ...... 6 General Action Plans ...... 10 Advisory and Advocacy ...... 11 Community Awareness and Involvement...... 12 Data, Monitoring and Evidence ...... 13 Policy and Planning...... 14 Habitat Action Plans ...... 15 Eutrophic Standing Waters...... 16 Floodplain Grazing Marsh...... 18 Hedgerows ...... 21 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ...... 24 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...... 27 Lowland Fens...... 31 Lowland Heathland...... 33 Lowland Meadows...... 35 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland ...... 38 Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land...... 43 Ponds...... 46 Reedbed...... 49 Rivers...... 52 Traditional Orchards ...... 54 Wet Woodland...... 56 Wood-Pasture and Parkland...... 58 Species Action Plans ...... 60 Otter (Lutra lutra) ...... 61 Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris) ...... 63 Tables...... 65 TARGETS ...... 66 Definition of Terms ...... 66 Guide to Acronyms and Abbreviations...... 66 General Targets ...... 67 Advisory and Advocacy...... 67 Community Awareness and Involvement...... 67 Data Monitoring and Evidence ...... 68 Planning and Policy...... 68 Habitat Targets...... 69 Eutrophic Standing Waters ...... 69 Floodplain Grazing Marsh...... 69 Hedgerows...... 70 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ...... 70 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...... 71 Lowland Fen...... 71

Lowland Heathland ...... 72 Lowland Meadows ...... 72 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland ...... 72 Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land ...... 73 Ponds...... 74 Reedbed...... 74 Rivers...... 74 Traditional Orchards...... 75 Wet Woodland...... 75 Wood-Pasture and Parkland ...... 76 Species Targets ...... 77 Otter ...... 77 Water Vole ...... 77 ACTIONS ...... 78 General Actions ...... 78 Advisory and Advocacy...... 78 Community Awareness and Involvement...... 79 Data Monitoring and Evidence ...... 79 Planning and Policy...... 80 Habitat Actions ...... 81 Eutrophic Standing Water ...... 81 Floodplain Grazing Marsh...... 82 Hedgerows...... 82 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ...... 83 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...... 84 Lowland Fens...... 85 Lowland Heathland ...... 86 Lowland Meadows ...... 86 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland ...... 87 Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land ...... 88 Ponds...... 88 Reedbed...... 89 Rivers...... 90 Traditional Orchards...... 90 Wet Woodland...... 92 Wood-Pasture and Parkland ...... 92 Species Actions ...... 94 Otter ...... 94 Water Vole ...... 94 BAP SPECIES ...... 96 Local BAP Species ...... 113

Introduction

This section outlines the importance of biodiversity and the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). Relevant recent legislation and policy is referenced. Brief guidance is given on general strategies and principles relating to habitat restoration and creation because this topic is potentially the most complicated but valuable BAP delivery mechanism.

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Introduction • How to Use this Document

How to Use this Document

Introduction This document sets out the highest priorities for action by BAP partners, to conserve Northamptonshire’s most threatened and declining habitats and species. Throughout, it attempts to set out a strategic framework and give guidance on priorities and how these might be achieved. It should therefore be used as a source of reference when planning projects and other related work.

This document does not set out an exhaustive list of all aspirational actions and targets to conserve biodiversity in Northamptonshire. Instead, only those highest priority actions and targets, which are realistic and achievable by BAP partners, are included. This is because resources for BAP delivery are in short supply and difficult to obtain, and the conservation of biodiversity has to exist alongside many other priorities for a number of partners.

Strategy and Guidance Guidance on how biodiversity fits into legislation and policy at both the national and local levels, as well as guidance on planning habitat restoration and creation, are outlined later in the introduction section. Where relevant, guidance is also given on strategies and priorities within individual action plans.

The Action Plans These outline plans of action for BAP habitats and species (those identified as priorities at the UK level, found within Northamptonshire). Plans are separated into three sections: General Action Plans (GAPs), Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) and Species Action Plans (SAPs). • GAPs include themes of action, which are implemented at the wider scale than just single habitats or species. Examples include survey of Local Wildlife Sites, including biodiversity within local development policy and community involvement. • HAPs include action required at the habitat level. This includes action to conserve BAP habitats, as well as additional considerations needed to conserve BAP species strongly associated with each habitat. • SAPs include BAP species-specific action, which cannot be carried out at the BAP habitat level. These include species occurring over a large range of habitats or within non-BAP habitats.

All BAP species occurring in Northamptonshire are found in a table at the back of the document.

Actions, Action Goals and Targets All actions and targets are found within the Tables section. Targets are the overall aspirations of what we are trying to achieve for each GAP, HAP or SAP. Actions are what BAP partners have agreed to do in order to achieve the associated target. Each action has an associated action goal, which can be treated as a milestone towards achievement of the relevant target.

Alongside each action lead and support partners are shown. In each case, the lead partner is responsible for coordinating that particular action.

Progress towards actions, action goals and targets must be reported to the nationally based Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS). In each case, it is the Lead Partner’s responsibility to ensure this is done.

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Introduction • Background

Background

What is Biodiversity? Biodiversity simply means the variety of life.

A practicable working definition is: “The full natural range of habitats and species, as well as the processes and systems that maintain them.”

Why is biodiversity important? • Conservation of biodiversity is one of the key principles of sustainable development. • It is a life-support system and provides ecosystem services such as climatic stability, clean air and water, and pollination (see http://www.ecosystemservices.org.uk/ecoserv.htm). • There are economic benefits such as the money spent in the county by visitors who come to see wildlife and attractive landscapes. A bio-diverse area is also more likely to be a desirable place to live and work. • Many people have an interest in wildlife, with 12% of the adult population of the UK being members of environment and/or conservation groups. • It is an important part of our local heritage and contributes to our immediate environment and quality of life. • It is often taken for granted but the natural world plays an important part in our everyday lives.

What is the BAP? In 1992, at the Earth Summit in Rio, the UK government, along with 150 other countries, signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. This is a commitment that all contracting parties shall: “Rehabilitate and restore degraded ecosystems and promote the recovery of threatened species through the development and implementation of plans or other strategies.”

The UK’s strategy was the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), launched in 1994. Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) followed the recognition that “biodiversity is ultimately lost or conserved at the local level.” They identify priorities for action and give guidance on implementing targets to reverse the loss of habitats and species.

Biodiversity in a Northamptonshire Context Biodiversity in Northamptonshire is under severe pressure. Most of our countryside consists of arable fields, mainly of little biodiversity value. Additionally, our local wildlife is experiencing one of the highest levels of pressure from development in the whole of the UK. Being within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area, we are expecting approximately 5000 new homes per year to be built within Northamptonshire, along with all of the necessary infrastructure that goes along with them.

This development pressure, coupled with the fact that Northamptonshire has one of the lowest proportions of protected areas for biodiversity in the country, means that it is extremely important that steps are taken to ensure our remaining biodiversity is not further degraded or destroyed. Instead, new development should be seen as an opportunity, within which biodiversity can be integrated and enhanced to safeguard its future, whilst providing a naturally functioning environment for local communities to enjoy.

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Introduction • Recent Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy

Recent Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy

The Countryside and Rights of Way (CROW) Act, 2000 This amends the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981) to strengthen protection for SSSIs and protected species, and places a duty on government departments to have regard for the conservation of biodiversity.

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act, 2006 This extends the statutory duty of the CROW Act (2000), relating to biodiversity, to all public bodies. The duty to conserve biodiversity, under the NERC Act, states that: “Every public authority must, in exercising its functions, have regard, so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions, to the purpose of conserving biodiversity.”

Planning Policy Statement 9 (PPS 9), 2005 This supersedes Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 9. It includes a number of key principles such as the need for development plan policies to be based on up-to-date information, and to aim to both maintain and enhance biodiversity conservation interests.

Government Circular: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation – Statutory Obligations and their impact within the Planning System, ODPM 06/2005 “The potential effects of a development, on habitats or species listed as priorities in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), and by Local Biodiversity Partnerships, together with policies in the England Biodiversity Strategy, are capable of being a material consideration in the preparation of regional spatial strategies and local development documents and the making of planning decisions.”

Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) for the East Midlands, 2005 This includes several policies relating to regional priorities for protecting and enhancing the region’s natural assets, including biodiversity. Regional targets were set for habitat restoration, management and creation.

The East Midlands RSS was followed in 2006 by “Putting Wildlife Back on the Map – A Biodiversity Strategy for the East Midlands”. This includes mapped-out Biodiversity Conservation Areas (BCAs), Biodiversity Enhancement Areas (BEAs) and Strategic River Corridors to assist in prioritising biodiversity restoration.

MKSM Sub-regional strategy Identifies that advantage needs to be taken of the opportunities of the Sub-Region’s growth to create advances in sustainability. Protecting and promoting biodiversity will be part of the integrated approach to creating attractive, healthy and safe places to live.

North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy

Policy 13: General Sustainable Development Principles “Development should meet the needs of residents and businesses without compromising the ability of future generations to enjoy the same quality of life that the present generation aspires to.”

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Introduction • Recent Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy

Protecting the area’s assets should include among other things the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity, making reference to the Environmental Character Assessment and Green Infrastructure Strategy.

Northampton Local Plan Includes a commitment that the Council will “seek to improve the ecological value of its open space and wildlife habitats and will initiate schemes to increase the ecological interest of specific sites and feature through the creation of habitats, sympathetic landscape design and management practices.”

South Northamptonshire Local Plan Includes policies related to landscape features that are BAP habitats, such as the expectation “to retain wherever possible, or failing that to replace, trees, hedgerows, ponds or other landscape features where they make an important contribution to the character of the area.”

Policies also state that development that will lead to the loss or significant damage of a Local Wildlife Site will not be permitted. Where development is permitted the retention and protection of such sites may be secured through planning conditions or obligations.

Daventry Local Plan The District Council endorses the objective to promote “the retention and sympathetic management of hedgerows, copses, woodlands, meadows, ponds, water courses and other habitats of ecological and landscape importance, together with the creation of new habitats.”

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Introduction • General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration & Creation

General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration and Creation

The Importance of a Landscape-scale Approach Good quality habitat areas are now small in size and heavily fragmented, resulting in increased threats of local extinctions.

Added to this, climate change is a huge challenge for biodiversity. Most species are adapted to live within a clearly defined “climate space”. Research is already showing that as our climate changes, some species are starting to shift their distribution.

Because our habitats are fragmented and isolated from other patches, it will currently be impossible for many species to follow their climate space. This would likely result in large numbers of local extinctions. Therefore, it is essential to future-proof our landscape, allowing our biodiversity to move freely through large, interconnected habitats. See Natural England’s ‘Conserving Biodiversity in a Changing Climate’.

Green Infrastructure (GI) GI provides a framework to guide and prioritise habitat restoration and creation within strategic areas in Northamptonshire. The GI framework splits the county into landscape character areas and seeks to link up areas of high biodiversity value into a continuous functioning network. One of the main principles behind the GI strategy is to provide a network of greenspace from high-use amenity land through to wilderness areas.

The GI framework should be used in conjunction with the Northamptonshire BAP in order to inform habitat creation or enhancement prioritisation in any given area, and where possible, to link these areas with public access, for the benefit of the local community.

Incorporating the Green Infrastructure (GI) Strategy into the BAP BAP habitats are an essential part of GI and a large proportion of BAP targets can, and should, be delivered through the planning and development process, according to the NERC Act, PPS 9 and the East Midlands RSS. Figure GS1 and Figure GS2 (overleaf) are the GI Strategic Biodiversity Network maps for West and North Northamptonshire respectively. Full details can be found in Northamptonshire’s Environmental Character and GI Suite. These maps form a crude preliminary basis for prioritising habitat restoration and creation. These strategic maps are increasingly being interpreted at a local level, at growth points such as Daventry and Northampton, to produce more accurate Green Infrastructure Strategies.

To provide effective BAP habitat delivery, the following principles need to be adhered to: • GI and its proposed BAP delivery need to be incorporated within the first design stages of every planned major development project. • GI strategic work needs to be informed by an up-to-date field-by-field assessment of existing and potential biodiversity resources to apply the framework on the ground. • Provision of amenity land and access does not constitute BAP delivery. This can only be attained through habitat buffering, linkage and enhancement. • Restoration or establishment of BAP habitats only achieve BAP delivery if those habitats reach, or are provided for in order to future meet, LWS criteria.

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Introduction • General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration & Creation

• Thin wildlife corridors such as road verges or hedgerows are not sufficient to provide biodiversity network connectivity. Wide swathes, often incorporating a mixture of suitable habitat types, are essential.

Choosing and Prioritising when Establishing New Habitat • Identify existing BAP habitats, particularly Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites (LWS), and aim to link and expand these. • Refer to the GI strategy map and aim to match suggested habitat types. • Take existing land character into account. • Aim to include several habitats to improve diversity and to avoid severing potential linkage of one habitat type for that of another. • Take into account minimum sizes required for different habitats in order to allow correct functioning. • Take into account the relative habitat creation targets between different habitats.

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Introduction • General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration & Creation

Figure GS1. The GI Strategic Biodiversity Network Map for West Northamptonshire. After Northamptonshire’s Environmental Character and GI Suite.

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Introduction • General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration & Creation

Figure GS2. The GI Strategic Biodiversity Network Map for North Northamptonshire. After Northamptonshire’s Environmental Character and GI Suite.

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General Action Plans

This section includes generic strategies, targets and actions that are not duplicated in individual Habitat or Species Action Plans. The level at which General Action Plans (GAPs) are implemented, results in simultaneous delivery for all BAP habitats and species.

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General Action Plans • Advisory and Advocacy

Advisory and Advocacy

Introduction Most of Northamptonshire’s countryside, including protected sites and nature reserves, is under private ownership. Landowners are therefore stewards of a significant proportion of the county’s biodiversity resource. It is essential that as much privately owned land as possible is not lost or degraded, but instead enhanced, from the biodiversity point of view.

The dominant land cover in the county is cropped land. Advisory work is therefore needed to notify landowners of biodiversity resources and to facilitate creation, restoration and enhancement works under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS) and other funding sources. Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) is likely to be highly targeted where the greatest opportunities lie. Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) and other funding sources may be more widely available.

Much of our biodiversity exists within Local Wildlife Sites (LWS). These are non-statutory and are recognised at the local level as being of local, national or sometimes even international importance. Most landowners and managers welcome advice on funding availability and appropriate sensitive land management.

Main Issues • With limited resources available, funding and advice need to be targeted. • Scarcity of additional funding streams to complement agri-environment schemes.

Strategy and Guidelines • Support and advisory work for landowners and managers. • Guidance on good practice for biodiversity to be made available to landowners and managers. • Establish key sites as best examples of good practice.

Targets

Actions

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General Action Plans • Community Awareness and Involvement

Community Awareness and Involvement

Introduction Conservation organisations, local authorities and other bodies play a key role in conserving biodiversity but it is public awareness and appreciation of the natural environment that ultimately dictates the degree of success.

Active public or community involvement in conservation at the local level is critical: • Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) and associated Community Strategies offer the opportunity to involve local communities in the BAP and encourage action at the local level. • Measures to implement Accessible Natural Greenspace Standards provide the means of ensuring more people are able to experience nature. • Education and interpretation promote public interest and increase understanding of biodiversity conservation. Schoolteachers have a large role to play in this respect. • Development of wildlife areas in school grounds and making links with local nature reserves can supplement these efforts usefully.

Main Issues • Conserving biodiversity is as much about people as it is about wildlife. If biodiversity is to be conserved then all sectors of the community should have the opportunity to be involved, not only in the implementation of projects, but also in the design of them. • A lack of awareness can lead to an unintentional disregard for wildlife and conservation.

Strategy and Guidelines • Develop ‘flagship’ sites to increase the public’s awareness and appreciation of their local biodiversity. • Environmental education of local school groups. • Natural history sessions for adults. • Local community events and guided walks.

Targets

Actions

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General Action Plans • Data, Monitoring and Evidence

Data, Monitoring and Evidence

Introduction A sound knowledge of our local biodiversity resource is essential as a starting point for the effective implementation of conservation objectives. Without baseline data it is difficult to set targets and to measure progress towards them. The existing Green Infrastructure (GI) suite has provided a valuable framework for BAP delivery at the sub-regional level. Updating of this dataset and assessment of GI delivery is dependent on monitoring of biodiversity assets. Good biodiversity data are essential in the following aspects of partners’ work: • PPS9 places responsibilities on planning authorities to base decisions on up-to-date biological information. • Local Development Frameworks & Annual Monitoring Reports • Green Infrastructure • Reporting to BARS, funders and performance indicators • Biodiversity Duty (Section 40, NERC Act)

Main Issues • We have very little or inaccurate baseline information for our BAP habitats and species. • Most of Northamptonshire’s biodiversity data are derived from over 800 Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) but many of these have not been surveyed within the 5-year period that is recommended by DEFRA. • There are also a further 1000 or more Potential Wildlife Sites (PWS), which have never been surveyed. • For many of the BAP species, monitoring has been identified at the National level as being the top priority if we are to understand how to conserve them. • Landscape-scale projects and Green Infrastructure require a field-by-field knowledge of not just existing resources but also the best potential areas for linkage and expansion. • In order to store, process and disseminate this information it is essential to have a fully functional Records Centre. The Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre has established a one-stop-shop for biological data but it’s future funding is uncertain and there are existing data that still need to be collated.

Strategy and Guidelines • Achieve funding and resources for the Records Centre to become fully functional. • Resurvey LWS on a rolling 5-year programme and identify new LWS. • Identify priority areas for landscape-scale restoration and creation of BAP habitats within the GI framework to focus action and guide development proposals. • Pass all biological records and monitoring results to the Records Centre. • Support species and habitat monitoring above and beyond the LWS system. • Survey PWS and where necessary designate new LWS. • Burrow down into the Green Infrastructure strategy on a field-by-field basis to identify the current resources and highest priorities for habitat linkage.

Targets

Actions

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General Action Plans • Policy and Planning

Policy and Planning

Introduction Biodiversity is not just confined to designated sites and nature reserves but occurs throughout urban and rural areas. National legislation, policy and guidance now require a significant commitment to biodiversity conservation from local authorities and other public bodies. If biodiversity is to be conserved it needs to be considered within: • Local Development Frameworks (LDFs). • Local Strategic Partnerships (LSPs) via Local Area Agreements (LAAs). • Water Framework Directive.

Main Issues • Conservation of protected sites only leaves wildlife in small isolated pockets, therefore the conservation beyond the existing resource is essential to secure a future for the county’s biodiversity. • Pressure on land resources in Northamptonshire is high due to the large number of houses and associated infrastructure that are required within the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area.

Strategy and Guidelines • Ensure that key habitats and species are protected in development plans. • Ensure that Green Infrastructure is given significant consideration in all planning applications that may affect land with existing or potential conservation value. • Support the development of the Local Biological Records Centre. • Provide biodiversity advice to developers and local authorities.

Targets

Actions

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Habitat Action Plans

This section outlines individual action plans for UK BAP habitats occurring in Northamptonshire. Habitats are described and current strategies and progress are outlined. For each habitat, additional management considerations are given for those BAP species strongly associated with it, but with no individual Species Action Plan.

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Habitat Action Plans • Eutrophic Standing Waters

Eutrophic Standing Waters

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts No accurate estimate exists for the total area of this habitat in Britain, but there may be around 54,000 hectares in England. Overall trends are not clear but new eutrophic standing waters have been created in many areas through quarrying in floodplains.

Estimated Current Northants Resource There are at least 1700 hectares of standing open water in Northamptonshire ranging from small ponds to large reservoirs. The proportion of this classed as eutrophic is unknown but will be significant.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Most of the Nene Valley’s open water bodies now receive full protection as a SSSI and as a proposed Special Protection Area and Ramsar site.

Lead Partner RSPB

Habitat Description Eutrophic standing waters are highly productive because plant nutrients are plentiful, either naturally or as a result of artificial enrichment. In their natural state eutrophic waters have high biodiversity; planktonic algae and zooplankton are abundant in the water column, submerged vegetation is diverse and numerous species of invertebrate and fish are present, in turn supporting a diverse breeding and wintering bird assemblage and other species like otters.

To prevent overlap with the Pond Action Plan, Eutrophic Standing Waters should be considered as areas of open, standing water over 2 hectares in size.

Main Issues and Threats • Diffuse pollution from agricultural and urban run-off, causing nutrient enrichment. • Over-stocking with coarse fish. • Disturbance and habitat degradation from water-based recreation and inappropriate shoreline development. • Impacts on native wildlife of alien species introduced accidentally or intentionally, e.g. signal crayfish, zander, Japanese knotweed, mink.

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Habitat Action Plans • Eutrophic Standing Waters

General Strategy • There is no urgent need for large new open water bodies to be created. • The existing resource needs to be managed carefully to reconcile demand for recreation and leisure opportunities with wildlife value of many lakes. Open water habitats play a key role in managing landscape quality and delivering Green Infrastructure opportunities. • The impacts of introduced species need to be monitored carefully and mitigation measures incorporated into site management plans if necessary. Management of some introduced species will require a coordinated catchment-wide strategy to be effective. • The effects of diffuse pollution on eutrophic standing waters in the County should be kept under review. Agri-environment schemes and the planning system should be used as appropriate to control and where possible reduce diffuse pollution problems.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Clustered earth-moss • Herring gull • Common toad • Otter – see species action plan. • Eurasian curlew • Water vole – see species action plan. • Grass-wrack pondweed

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Grass-wrack Local Retain wet ditches and River Nene, Grand pondweed canals, prevent Union Canal eutrophication, monitor effects of boat traffic and associated pollution.

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Habitat Action Plans • Floodplain Grazing Marsh

Floodplain Grazing Marsh

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Floodplain grazing marsh has declined significantly. In England and Wales the remaining wet grassland covers an area of approximately 220,000ha from a historical resource of 1.2 million ha. Losses over the last 60 years are typically 30-60% by area.

Estimated Current Northants Resource 15.25 ha of ‘Wet Marsh’ adjacent to rivers have been recorded in Local Wildlife Sites. 259 ha of floodplain grazing marsh, of all levels of quality, were reported in 2002.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Negotiations are under way to create areas of floodplain grazing marsh in the Earls Barton West area, as part of a wider wetland mosaic, following proposed aggregate extraction. Since 2004, some areas of former arable or intensive grassland have been reverted to more natural floodplain grassland under the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Lead Partner RSPB

Habitat Description Floodplain grasslands in the UK are predominantly semi-natural or man-made habitats, strongly influenced by water management and by farming practices. They form important habitats for wildlife, perform a vital flood storage function and play a significant role in traditional farming systems. Winter floods bring nutrients to the grasslands and traditional farming systems recognised this benefit, with the productive sward in the meadows managed for hay production and cattle grazing.

Grazing marsh is defined as periodically inundated pasture, or meadow with ditches that maintain the water levels, containing standing fresh water. The ditches are especially rich in plants and invertebrates. Almost all areas are grazed and some are cut for hay or silage. Sites may contain seasonal water-filled hollows and permanent ponds with emergent swamp communities. In Northamptonshire it includes the following NVC communities:

• MG9 Holcus lanatus – Deschampsia cespitosa (Yorkshire fog – Tufted hairgrass) • MG10 Holcus lanatus – Juncus effusus (Yorkshire fog – Soft rush) • MG11 Festuca rubra – Agrostis stolonifera – Potentilla ancerina (Red fescue – Creeping bent – Silverweed)

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Habitat Action Plans • Floodplain Grazing Marsh

• MG12 Festuca arundinacea (Tall fescue) • MG13 Agrostis stolonifera – Alopecurus geniculatus (Creeping bent – Marsh foxtail)

Inundation Grasslands – MG9-13 grasslands Inundation grasslands occur on poorly structured clay soils that flood in winter and spring, but do not then readily drain. As such, plant species present have to contend with water- logging in early summer and then drought conditions as the soil gradually dries out. Example: Plumpton Pasture SSSI.

Main Issues and Threats • Agricultural intensification, leading to drainage and conversion to arable farmland; • Water abstraction. • River channel modifications (deepening, widening, and construction of flood defences) altering the frequency and duration of flooding. • Eutrophication of ditch systems and surface water features from diffuse pollution – mainly from agricultural run off.

Additional Information

Poor condition BAP habitat: Hydrological regime in place but site inappropriately managed i.e. water levels too low, insufficient or no wet surface features or flooding, inappropriate sward condition, incorrect hedge height, excessive scrub cover.

Example of relict habitat: Hydrological regime no longer in place but typical physical features of FPGM present e.g. ditches reflecting land that has previously and more recently been managed as wet grassland and also reflected in either the existing land use and / or botanical communities present e.g. intensively cultivated drained land.

Habitat for new FPGM creation: Generally agricultural land with no typical physical features of FPGM present reflecting land that has not recently been managed as wet grassland and also reflected in either the existing land use and / or botanical communities present e.g. intensively cultivated drained land.

Targets

Action

Associated National Priority Species

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Habitat Action Plans • Floodplain Grazing Marsh

• Black-tailed godwit • Powdered-quaker (moth) • Blood-vein (moth) • Pennyroyal • Eurasian curlew • Shoulder-striped wainscot (moth) • Flat-sedge • Small square-spot (moth) • Marsh stitchwort • The crescent (moth) • Northern lapwing • The concolorous (moth) • Oblique carpet (moth) • Tubular water-dropwort

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Flat sedge Very rare Marshy fields should be cut Bulwick for hay and the aftermath grazed. Northern Breeding Maintain short vegetation Wadenhoe, Earls lapwing structure of open aspect, Barton Gravel Pit, with numerous flooded Brampton Valley shallow scrapes/grips. Pennyroyal Very rare Requires short turf in areas Abington Meadows disturbed by grazing, CWSs. trampling or vehicles.

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Habitat Action Plans • Hedgerows

Hedgerows

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Substantial decline; 21% between 1984 and 1998.

Estimated Current Northants Resource In the region of 13000 km (1982 survey).

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 80% of farmers now within ELS with improved hedgerow management, covering at least one side of a total of 11,930 km of hedgerow.

Lead Partner Natural England

Habitat Description About 84% of hedgerows are covered by this definition. A hedgerow is defined as any boundary line of trees or shrubs over 20m long and less than 5m wide, and where any gaps between the trees or shrub species are less than 20m wide. All hedgerows consisting predominantly (i.e. 80% or more cover) of at least one woody UK native species are covered by this priority habitat.

Up to 33% of all hedgerows can be described as ancient and/or species rich. Many of these are the remnants of ancient woodlands that have been left to enclose fields. To meet this definition, hedgerows must have one of the following:

• Five or more woody species per 30m section, • Fewer woody species but a rich basal flora, • Predate the Enclosure Acts (1720 – 1870).

Ancient hedgerows are often found along Parish boundaries, streams and ancient roads and tracks. Enclosure hedgerows are found on early enclosures starting in the 13th Century. Hedgerows contain important ancient and veteran trees, which are often the oldest remaining historic link to the past. Some may have Tree Preservation Orders but most will be remnants of ancient woodland or will date back to when the site was enclosed.

Main Issues and Threats • Under threat from the growth agenda; with large lengths being taken out for new housing development. • Loss due to inappropriate management (over cutting, grazing, and spray drift). • Becoming defunct due to lack of suitable management – laying, coppicing, and suitable cutting regime. • Increased field size through the removal of hedges. • Replacement of hedges with fencing that is cheaper to maintain.

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Habitat Action Plans • Hedgerows

General Strategy • Specific target areas include the Nene Valley, Rockingham Forest and Yardley- Whittlewood Ridge. • Sympathetic management through Entry Level Scheme, encouraging farmers to join and use the enhanced hedgerow management option. • Planting new hedgerows and restoration of existing hedgerows funded primarily through the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.

Additional Information

Achieving condition (hedgerow trees): Management must be in place for 2 trees per 100m to reach a diameter of 15cm plus. Current work by the Tree Council is highlighting the importance of hedgerow trees and they are also running a Tree Tagging campaign. Agri- environment schemes will also be able to encourage tagging and new planting where appropriate. A review of incentives, particularly in Entry Level schemes may be needed to encourage retention of young trees.

Expansion: Hedgerows must contain entirely native species including a number of tree- forming species such as ash and oak. Appropriate management must be put in place.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• August thorn (moth) • Grey partridge • Barred tooth-striped • Hedge accentor • Brindled beauty • House sparrow • Centre-barred sallow • Linnet • Common bullfinch • Oak hook-tip • Corn bunting • Pale eggar • Dormouse • Pretty chalk carpet • Dot moth • Shaded broad-bar • Double dart • Small emerald • Dusky-lemon sallow • Song thrush • Dusky thorn • Spotted flycatcher • Eurasian tree sparrow • The lackey • Figure of eight • The streak • Goat moth • White letter hairstreak • Green-brindled crescent • White-spotted pinion • Grey dagger • Yellowhammer

Associated Local BAP Species • Black hairstreak • Plot’s elm • Black poplar

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Habitat Action Plans • Hedgerows

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Black hairstreak Breeding Management to retain Rockingham Forest blackthorn scrub. Black poplar Declining Protection of existing trees, Scattered plant females, and remove hybrids. Dormouse Rare Survey hedgerows around Unknown dormouse woodlands. Actively manage hazel coppice within hedgerows. Eurasian tree Breeding Sensitive management of Summer Leys sparrow hedgerows and retention of dead trees. Plot’s elm Very rare Protection of suckering trees Laxton in hedgerows. White letter Frequent Maintain Elm where present. Unknown hairstreak

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Calcareous Grassland

Lowland Calcareous Grassland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Areas Sharp decline in extent by up to 50% over past 50 years, only 40,594 ha remain in the UK. Remnant patches are small and isolated.

Estimated Current Northants Resource Approximately 300 ha

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 The Wildlife Trust’s Grazing Project has helped find graziers for sites in need of grazing, and ensured that existing calcareous grasslands are grazed in a more positive manner. Provision for the creation of calcareous grassland was ensured through a planning agreement in Corby.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Lowland calcareous grassland develops on shallow, lime-rich soils, usually overlying limestone rocks. The most significant areas of calcareous grassland in Northamptonshire are found on man-made sites where removal of upper strata has exposed underlying limestone and natural re-colonisation has occurred. More uncommon natural sites are typically managed as components of pastoral or mixed farming systems, and a few are cut for hay. In Northamptonshire it includes the following NVC communities:

CG2 Festuca ovina – Avenula pratensis (sheep’s fescue - meadow oat grass) grassland.

CG3 Bromus erectus (erect brome) grassland.

CG4 Brachypodium pinnatum (tor grass) grassland.

CG5 Bromus erectus – Brachypodium pinnatum (erect brome – tor grass) grassland.

CG3 is the dominant type within Northamptonshire, and is often the result of undergrazing. CG2 is a short sward community associated with heavy grazing of lowland calcareous grassland. CG4 and CG5 are rank, tussocky grassland, which like CG3 are associated with low levels of grazing. This description now includes roadside verges of this habitat.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Calcareous Grassland

Main Issues and Threats • Quite a rare habitat in Northamptonshire with many important associated species. Much is isolated in small fragments, dangerously reducing species’ population sizes and making it impossible for individuals to move between them. • Additional loss of habitat to development. • Inappropriate or lack of management (e.g. improving soils with nutrients, undergrazing) leading to domination by coarse grasses and invasion by scrub. • Recreational pressures causing soil compaction and floral changes.

General Strategy • Burrow down into the Green Infrastructure strategy on a field-by-field basis to identify the current resources and highest priorities for linkage by sympathetic management of degraded sites and establishment of new sites. • Expansion of the habitat by conversion of arable land and improved pasture in areas with suitable soil type and underlying geology to calcareous grassland. • Sympathetic management and restoration of existing sites, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). Grazing management is vital to control coarse grasses and scrub. • Specific target areas are limestone slopes, mineral extraction and landfill sites. • In order to benefit invertebrates, management of calcareous grassland sites should not be uniform, but produce a mosaic of vegetation structure and composition: a knowledge of the species present on a site will allow management to be tailored appropriately.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Basil thyme • Latticed heath • Chalk carpet • Man orchid • Deep-brown dart (moth) • Mellet’s downy-back (beetle) • Dingy skipper • Purple milk-vetch • Dusky brocade • Rare spring-sedge • Ear moth • Red hemp-nettle • Four-spotted moth • Rosy minor (moth) • Frog orchid • Set-aside downy-back (beetle) • Galium carpet • Shaded broad-bar (moth) • Grass rivulet (moth) • Small blue • Grizzled skipper • Sky lark • Hedge rustic (moth) • The forester • Large nutmeg (moth) • Violet crowncup

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Dingy skipper Restricted Common bird’s foot trefoil is the Twywell Hills main food plant. This is required and Dales in a sparse sward, with areas of Country Park. open ground and taller vegetation

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Calcareous Grassland

for shelter and roosting, in a sunny sheltered position (Butterfly Conservation, 2008). Frog orchid Very rare Requires dry, well-grazed Hardwick grassland. Meadow Grizzled skipper Restricted Requires at least one of the main Twywell Hills food plants (Rosaceae family) and Dales growing among short vegetation Country Park. (< 10cm), with patches of bare ground, taller vegetation and scrub or woodland edges (Butterfly Conservation, 2008). Man orchid Very rare Grows particularly in abandoned Collyweston chalkpits and limestone quarries, Quarries usually at the foot of slopes (1984 last (David Lang, 2008). record). Rare spring- Very rare Grazing of grass layer on infertile Harlestone sedge soils over chalk or limestone. Firs – recent discovery Purple milk- Very rare Requires well-drained, well- Collyweston vetch grazed short turf, not improved Quarries with fertilizer or herbicides (JNCC, 2008). Small blue Very rare Kidney vetch is the sole food Brackley plant. Requires dry sheltered Railway Line grassland with sparse or eroding Embankment vegetation where kidney vetch seedlings can establish and where flowering plants are abundant. A mosaic of short and tall vegetation with some light scrub is usually best (Butterfly Conservation, 2008). Violet crowncup Rare Associated with pine trees. Twywell Hills and Dales Country Park

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Substantial decline; less than 30,000 ha remaining. Severe decline in specialist species within sites.

Estimated Current Northants Resource Up to 220ha are known in the county, many of which maybe under plantations.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Initial scoping study to identify priority potential areas for habitat restoration and creation (see Figure AG2). Maintenance of current resource on The Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves by grazing management.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Lowland dry acid grassland occurs on nutrient-poor free-draining soils, overlying acid rocks or superficial deposits such as sands and gravels. In Northamptonshire it includes the following NVC communities:

U1 Festuca ovina – Agrostis capillaris – Rumex acetosella (sheep’s fescue – common bent – sheep’s sorrel) grassland. U4 Festuca ovina – Agrostis capillaris – Galium saxatile (sheep’s fescue – common bent – heath bedstraw) grassland. MG1 Arrhenatherum elatius (false oat-grass) grassland.

U1 mostly occurs under scrub, on road verges or where rabbit grazing causes disturbance. U4 tends to occur in damper areas where rainwater filtering through sandstone encounters a layer of clay and flushes to the surface. MG1 is typical of a long-term lack of management, with coarser grasses dominating. However, it does tend to occur on sites that have not been seeded or heavily fertilised and these habitats are often easily recoverable with the right management.

Areas within West Northamptonshire with potentially suitable soil types for acid grassland restoration or creation are shown in Figure AG1. Priority areas for recommended survey and investigation into potential habitat restoration and creation opportunities are shown in Figure AG2. The full High Woods Habitats Scoping Report is also available for download.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

Figure AG1. Areas in West Northamptonshire in excess of 50 hectares where acid grassland is likely to occur or where it may be possible to either restore or create acid grassland.

Caveat: Soil maps are not totally reliable and other factors are also important in predicting suitability for current and potential habitat. This map should be used as a guide only and does not preclude the possibility of restoring or creating acid grassland in appropriate places elsewhere in the county.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

Figure AG2. Priority areas for recommended survey and investigation into potential habitat restoration and creation opportunities.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Dry Acid Grassland

Main Issues and Threats • Very little remaining in Northamptonshire. Much is isolated in small fragments, dangerously reducing species’ population sizes and making it impossible for individuals to move between them. • Additional loss of habitat to development. • Inappropriate management (e.g. improving soils with nutrients, overgrazing/over- mowing, mowing without removing the cuttings). • Lack of management (e.g. under-grazing).

General Strategy • Specific target areas include a 3-mile radius of High Wood, south of the town of Daventry, and the northwest area of Northampton around Harlestone Firs. • Sympathetic management and restoration of existing sites, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG).

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Basil thyme • Hedge rustic (moth) • Deep-brown dart (moth) • Sky lark • Dusky brocade (moth) • Small heath butterfly • Ear moth • The forester (moth)

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Fens

Lowland Fens

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Total UK extent is approximated at 18,050 ha.

Estimated Current Northants Resource Extent possibly between 38 ha and 292 ha. The figure of 38 ha is from a Natural England inventory and the figure of 292 ha is extracted from The Wildlife Trust’s data. The 38 ha figure is likely an underestimate while the 292 ha is likely an overestimate.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Previously contained within the ‘Reedbeds and Swamps’ and ‘Springs and Flushes’ habitat action plans.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Fens usually occur over peat, but can also form on a river or stream floodplain which is waterlogged and, typically, inundated periodically, when they are then referred to as floodplain mires. It is this type of fen that occurs in Northamptonshire. Fens receive water and nutrients from soil, rock and groundwater as well as rainfall. They can encompass a wide range of plant communities and can include swamps, mires, springs and flushes. Fens often occur in association with other semi-natural habitats especially wet woodland, wet grassland and open water. In Northamptonshire fens occur solely on mineral soils, and are generally associated with other wetland habitats. The following NVC communities may be present:

S22 Glyceria fluvitans (floating sweet-grass) water margin vegetation S23 Other water margin vegetation S26 Phragmites australis – Urtica dioica (common reed – nettle) tall herb fen S28 Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary-grass) tall herb fen

Similar Habitats Swamps tend to be relatively species-poor wetland habitats dominated by coarse grass or sedge species. They typically form in depressions in the ground, or as fringing vegetation alongside rivers, ponds, reservoirs etc. Springs occur where water wells up from underground aquifers, whilst flushes occur on sloping ground with impeded drainage. Species assemblages are partly determined by the underlying geology of the area.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Fens

Main Issues and Threats • Very little remaining in Northamptonshire. Much is isolated in small fragments, dangerously reducing species’ population sizes and making it impossible for individuals to move between them. • Fragmentation due to drainage and reclamation for agriculture. • Degradation in quality and species diversity due to lack of management and drying out of land often leading to scrub encroachment and succession to woodland. • Reduction in water quality, an increase in the incidence of pollution, both point source and diffuse, and nutrient enrichment leading.

General Strategy • Burrow down into the Green Infrastructure strategy on a field-by-field basis to identify the current resources and highest priorities for linkage by sympathetic management of degraded sites and establishment of new sites. • Re-introduction of management and restoration of existing sites, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). • Monitor and manage water level and quality at the catchment scale to promote rehabilitation of degraded sites and creation of new sites. Bringing land adjacent to fens and wet woodland into a set-aside scheme is important to reduce nutrient enrichment. • Ensure that management of flood risk works with and enhances natural systems, for example through the reconnection of watercourses with their floodplains. • Increase structural and floristic diversity and prevent dense scrub encroachment. • This habitat may occur across the whole of the county, therefore specific target areas occur wherever this habitat is identified. • Establish a large-scale wetland complex incorporating all successional stages of fen.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Blood vein (moth) • Reed bunting • Double dart (moth) • Scarce four-dot pin-palp • Goat moth • Shoulder-striped wainscot (moth) • Greater water parsnip • The crescent (moth) • Marsh stitchwort • The concolorous (moth) • Oblique carpet (moth) • Tubular water-dropwort

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Greater water Rare Keep water in ditches open Wadenhoe Marsh parsnip by occasional clearance with and Achurch a bucket excavator or scythe. Meadow SSSI, Prevent growth of carr and Achurch Marsh. do not allow heavy grazing or frequent cutting.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Heathland

Lowland Heathland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts In England only one sixth of the heathland present in 1800 now remains. The UK has some 58,000 ha of lowland heathland of which 55% is found in England.

Estimated Current Northants Resource 3 ha at Harlestone Firs, and small patches of heather at approximately 6 other locations.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Maintenance of Harlestone Firs Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Lowland heath occurs below 300m altitude on nutrient poor, free draining acid soils where rainfall is below average. Vegetation is characterised by heather, dwarf gorses and cross- leaved heath, and often occurs in a mosaic with acid grassland, wet bogs and scrub. They form a broadly open landscape and are dynamic habitats, undergoing significant changes in different successional stages These different stages often co-occur within a site. In Northamptonshire it includes the following NVC communities:

H1 Calluna vulgaris – Festuca ovina (heather – sheep’s fescue) heath.

NVC community H1 is currently found only at Harlestone Firs/Darlaston Firs. There may be limited opportunities for some lowland heathland creation alongside acid grassland sites in the Daventry area but suitable soils in Northamptonshire are extremely limited in extent. Heather (Calluna vulgaris) occurs on Church Brampton golf course (part LWS), Charwelton disused railway (LWS), Borough Hill Field (LWS/Country Park), Coleready Plantation (LWS), Bedford Purlieus (SSSI), Lings (NNR).

In order to be sustainable heathland patches need to be at least 30 ha. This should be the ultimate target for the only remaining area of heathland in Northamptonshire at Harlestone Firs.

Main Issues and Threats • Encroachment of trees and scrub and the simplification of vegetation structure due to a lack of conservation management such as light grazing, controlled burning and cutting. • Nutrient enrichment, particularly deposition of nitrogen compounds emitted from intensive livestock farming, or from other sources.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Heathland

• Fragmentation developments such as housing and road constructions. • Disturbance and predation on ground nesting birds, reptiles and other fauna from human activity and cats and dogs. • Over-frequent burning by arsonists.

General Strategy • Remnant heathland in Northamptonshire is limited to the Harlestone/Dallington Heaths, NW of Northampton. Some areas of heathland have not been planted over on the Northamptonshire County Golf Course, and patches of heathland survive among the conifer plantation of Harlestone Firs, both on the rides and emerging after blocks have been clear-felled. The strategy is to extend and link these remnant patches of habitat. • Promote heathland formation adjacent to small patches of heather on Local Wildlife Sites and Nature Reserves.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species • European nightjar • Heath rustic (moth) • Neglected rustic (moth) • Pale eggar (moth) • Small heath (butterfly)

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status European Breeding Heathland and clear fell Yardley Chase, nightjar plantation. Titchmarsh Wood, Salcey Forest

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Meadows

Lowland Meadows

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Substantial decline; 97% in the last 70 years.

Estimated Current Northants Resource In the region of 300 ha in SSSI, LNR and The Wildlife Trust Reserves. Remnants in Local Wildlife Sites and potential Wildlife Sites.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Maintenance of current resource on The Wildlife Trust Nature Reserves by grazing management. Creation of several sites across the county such as Crowfield Common and Barnes Meadows.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Lowland Meadows occur on neutral soils in river corridors and floodplains. They include most forms of unimproved neutral grassland over the enclosed lowland landscape. This plan includes grasslands cut for hay and unimproved neutral pastures grazed by livestock. The plan focuses on meadows with low-input nutrient regimes, which have a specialist group of scarce and declining plant species. In Northamptonshire it includes the following NVC communities:

MG4 Alopecurus pratensis – Sanguisorba officinalis (meadow foxtail – great burnet) floodplain meadow.

MG5 Cynosurus crustatus – Centaurea nigra (crested dogstail – common knapweed) grassland.

MG8 Cynosurus cristatus – Caltha palustris (crested dogstail – marsh marigold) flood pasture.

Flood Meadows – MG4 Grassland Areas that experience periodic inundation in winter, but have good sub-surface drainage and water retentive soils, allowing the water table to fall in spring, can support species-rich MG4 plant communities. Example: River Ise and Meadows SSSI.

Grazed Hay Meadows – MG5 Grassland This is the typical grassland community of grazed hay-meadows managed in the traditional fashion in lowland Britain. Example: Grafton Regis Meadow Nature Reserve.

Water Meadows - MG8 Grassland Water meadows can occur naturally but often result from careful water level management; ditch water levels are kept high in summer to prevent either drying out or water-logging of the

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Meadows

soil. Such habitats develop species-rich vegetation communities. Example: Bugbrooke Meadows SSSI.

Within Northamptonshire there are 88ha of grassland within 8 SSSI’s that are classed as containing MG5 grassland. There is 66ha of MG4 grassland within 5 SSSI’s, while only one SSSI of 9.8ha contains any MG8 grassland. A further 22ha of MG4 type grassland, 15 ha of MG5 type grassland, 20 ha of MG4/8 type grassland and 8ha of MG4/5 type grassland can be found on LNRs and WT Reserves. All sites are identified on Figure LM1.

Further remnants are spread across the county with some being contained in Local Wildlife Sites, others in potential Wildlife Sites and several in private sites.

Main Issues and Threats • Very little remaining in Northamptonshire. Much is located in small fragments dangerously reducing species’ population sizes and making it impossible for individuals to move between them. • Additional loss of habitat to development. • Inappropriate management (e.g. improving soils with nutrients, overgrazing/over mowing, mowing without removing the cuttings). • Lack of management (e.g. under grazing).

General Strategy • Linkage by sympathetic management of degraded sites and establishment of new sites. Use the GI strategy and Local Wildlife Sites database to identify suitable areas. • Specific target areas include the Nene Valley and other river corridors. • Sympathetic management and restoration of existing sites.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Brown hare • Harvest mouse • Common grasshopper warbler • Hedge rustic (moth) • Common starling • Marsh stitchwort • Curlew • Northern lapwing • Deep-brown dart (moth) • Shoulder-striped wainscot (moth) • Dusky brocade (moth) • Sky lark • Ear moth • The forester (moth) • Feathered gothic (moth) • Tubular water-dropwort • Grass rivulet • Yellow wagtail

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Northern Breeding Graze pastures and Nene Valley lapwing wetlands.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Meadows

Figure LM1: The location of Lowland Meadows in Northamptonshire

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts The area of woodland in the UK is estimated at 2.8 million hectares of which 1.1 million (40%) is in England. Since 1900 the overall area of forest cover has steadily increased from a low of 5% to 11.7%, although the UK still remains one of the least wooded countries in Europe.

Estimated Current Northants Resource 5.2% of Northamptonshire is woodland, of which 3% is broadleaved and 2.2% coniferous, mixed, scrub or newly planted. This compares to a national average of approximately 9%.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007

Lead Partner Forestry Commission

Habitat Description This habitat includes ancient and semi- natural woodlands that are composed of at least 90% native species. Native woodland of ash, maple and hazel is the commonest type found in the county, chiefly on ridge and plateaux tops where extensive deposits of calcareous boulder clay have historically limited the expansion of agriculture. Many are ancient woodlands. Calcicolous shrubs and plants such as dogwood, privet, spindle, wayfaring tree, guelder rose, dog’s mercury and enchanter’s nightshade are distinctive components of the these woodlands, together with bluebell and bramble. In such woods oak is often an artefact of planting, most of which was carried out in an attempt to convert coppice to High Forest. Conversion to conifer plantation, carried out slightly later, has also destroyed many native woods of this type.

Native oak woods of the county are commonly associated with base poor soils, which occur in patches and over sandstone soils to the west. This type of wood lacks the base rich indicators found in boulder clay woods, and these freer draining soils are typically dominated by pendunculate oak, birch, hazel, bracken, bramble and yorkshire fog, with prominent displays of spring vernals such as greater stitchwort and bluebell. Small-leaved lime can also be locally prominent, as in the ash-maple-hazel woods.

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

Many subsidiary woodland habitats such as ponds, grass rides and open space are key biodiversity features and management should be tailored towards maintaining or enhancing these as part of the overall woodland environment. NVC communities present are:

W8 Fraxinus excelsior – Acer campestre – Mercurialis perennis (ash – field maple – dog’s mercury) woodland. W10 Quercus robur – Pteridium aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus (oak - bracken - bramble) woodland. W7 Alnus glutinosa – Fraxinus excelsior – Lysimachia nemorum (alder – ash – yellow pimpernel) wodland.

Distribution of woodland over 0.5ha in Northamptonshire

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

For the purposes of this action plan, non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites are those plantations dominated by conifers or other non-native species which were planted for forestry purposes on ancient woodland sites which are shown on the Natural England Ancient Woodland Inventory.

Woodland is not evenly distributed across the county but historically concentrated in three core forest areas within four Districts. To the north of the County is the Rockingham Forest stretching across the Districts of East Northamptonshire, Corby and Kettering. And to the south lies the forests of Salcey, Yardley Chase and Whittlewood, all within the District of South Northants.

Main Issues and Threats • Loss of traditional management practises, such as coppicing. • Historic afforestation of native woodland with non-native species. • Decline or loss of management of subsidiary habitats, such as rides and open space.

General Strategy • Reinstate sustainable management practices to neglected woodlands. • Discourage the planting of non-native species. • Restore coniferous/non-native plantations to semi-natural broadleaved woodland. • Highlight the importance of subsidiary habitats such as rides and glades and encourage management for these habitats. • Created new native woodland in locations where it will enhance existing native woodland, particularly ancient woods, and other priority habitats.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Adder • Lesser spotted woodpecker • Argent and sable • Linnet • August thorn (moth) • Marsh tit • Barbastelle bat • Mouse moth • Barred tooth-striped (moth) • Neglected rustic (moth) • Beaded chestnut (moth) • Knot grass (moth) • Brindled beauty (moth) • Noctule • Brown hare • Oak hook-tip (moth) • Brown long-eared bat • Oak lutestring • Brown-spot pinion (moth) • Pale eggar (moth) • Centre-barred sallow (moth) • Pretty chalk carpet (moth) • Common bullfinch • Polecat • Common fan-foot (moth) • September thorn (moth) • Common grasshopper warbler • Small emerald (moth) • Cuckoo • Song thrush • Dormouse • Spotted flycatcher • Double dart (moth) • The concolorous (moth) • Dusky lemon-sallow (moth) • The lackey (moth) • Dusky thorn (moth) • The sprawler (moth) • False mocha (moth) • The streak (moth)

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

• Feathered gothic (moth) • Tree pipit • Figure of eight (moth) • White admiral • Flounced chestnut (moth) • White helleborine • Fly orchid • White letter hairstreak • Goat moth • White-spotted pinion (moth) • Green-brindled crescent (moth) • Willow tit • Grey dagger (moth) • Wood warbler • Hawfinch • Wood white • Heart moth • Yellow bird’s-nest • Hedge accentor

Associated Local BAP Species

• Black hairstreak • Nightingale • Lime bark beetle

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Adder Unknown Maintain sunny areas in Kingscliffe Disused woodland habitats. Railway Line, Fineshade Wood. Barbastelle bat Unknown Retention of mature and Roost in building in hollow trees, prevent Croughton. fragmentation of ancient woodland, protect roosts in buildings. Black hairstreak Breeding Management to retain Rockingham Forest blackthorn scrub. (Glapthorn Cow Pasture) Dormouse Very rare Requires actively managed Westhay Wood hazel coppice. Hazelborough Fly orchid Rare Preserve open woodland on Wakerley Woods, calcareous soil and prevent Collyweston, scrub encroachment. Easton Hornstocks. Lime bark beetle Very rare Management of old coppice of Easton Hornstocks small-leaved lime. Nightingale Breeding Coppice management. Rockingham Forest Tree pipit Rare but breeding Clearings needed within Fineshade Wood woodlands. White admiral Local Suitable ride management. Salcey Forest White Very rare Woodlands on calcareous soil. Woodford helleborine Shrubbery, Ashton Wold White-letter Frequent Woods and wood edges with hairstreak elm. Willow tit Breeding Maintain standing deadwood, particularly rotting stumps of willow, birch, and alder. Scrub required nearby. Wood white Restricted Recently opened clearings Salcey Forest

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Habitat Action Plans • Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland

such as rides and glades. Hazelborough Food plants are vetches and bird’s-foot-trefoils. Yellow bird’s- Rare Beech and pine woods. Apethorpe Woods, nest Wakerley Woods

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Habitat Action Plans • Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land

Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Declining due to infill development pressure.

Estimated Current Northants Resource Unknown but anticipated being concentrated in Northampton, Corby and Kettering.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 This was not a BAP habitat previously.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Previously developed land includes redundant urban land which once served a use, such as industry, housing, extractive industry, landfill, or transportation (railway lines) but has now become derelict, allowing natural processes, once again, to take place. These sites are best defined by structure and growth form, rather than specific vegetation communities. It comprises mosaics of bare ground with, typically, very early pioneer communities, more established open grasslands, usually dominated by fine-leaved grasses with many herbs, areas of bare ground, scrub and patches of other habitats such as heathland, swamp, ephemeral pools and inundation grasslands.

The heterogeneity of these habitats means that they hold diverse and sometimes unusual species assemblages, particularly for invertebrates – Buglife reports that brownfield sites have as many associated Red Data Book and Nationally Scarce invertebrate species as ancient woodland. Pioneer communities are common and the habitat can often remain in a state of ‘suspended succession’ for many years. Post-industrial habitats are often, but not always, associated with urban areas. Within the county most previously developed habitats occur within the principal towns of Northampton, Corby and Kettering.

The existence of these mosaics of habitat is essential to the survival of many species, both those specific to this type of habitat and to those moving between patches of other habitat. Brownfield sites also provide a refuge for species that would be associated with other habitats, e.g. species rich grasslands, was it not for man’s influence on the environment.

The main criteria for selection of qualifying habitats of high nature conservation value are: • Rich and/or large examples of habitats typical of the substrate/edaphic conditions concerned, which demonstrate the characteristic mosaic of bare ground, pioneer communities, flower rich grassland and other habitat patches with associated structural and topographical features.

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Habitat Action Plans • Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land

• Areas that have retained bare ground and pioneer communities over an extended period, demonstrating arrested succession; • Threatened areas that support either the last remaining examples where the habitat was formerly widespread/extensive, or rare/specialised types of this habitat for example where the nature of the substrate is particularly unusual • Presence of UK BAP priority species or Red Data Book/List species; • Importance for an exceptional assemblage of key species groups.

Main Issues and Threats • Development pressure due to historical lack of recognition and the consequently poor history of recording on many urban and post-industrial sites. • Built development is concentrated in urban areas in order to protect the countryside: The current national target for housing is that 60% of all new housing should be on previously developed land. Unfortunately this has led to the loss of valuable habitats and green space in urban areas. • Local communities have a strong desire to ‘clean-up’ previously developed sites, whereas untidiness is more valuable for biodiversity. • Mismanagement of brownfield sites by ‘green washing’ – importation of topsoil, seeding of grassland, and planting of trees can be devastating to their already rich biodiversity.

General Strategy • Protect these sites through good use of planning conditions and use Section 106 agreements or conditions to secure funding for long-term management. • Ensure that green infrastructure is integral in new development schemes. • Refine the Wildlife Sites designation criteria to allow previously developed land to be designated. • Identify and survey previously developed sites that may have a high biodiversity value (particularly invertebrates). • Educate conservationists, local authorities and local people about the value of naturally recolonised habitats. • Ensure suitable restoration schemes are put in place once industrial use (e.g. landfill or quarrying) of a site ceases. • Specific target areas are Northampton, Corby and Kettering.

Targ e ts

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Annual knawel • Grizzled skipper (butterfly) • Broom moth • Hedge rustic (moth) • Brown hare • Red hemp-nettle • Caraway • Red star-thistle • Common lizard • Rosy rustic (moth) • Dark spinach (moth) • Shaded broad-bar (moth) • Dingy skipper (butterfly) • Sky lark • Four-spotted moth • Slow worm • Garden tiger (moth) • Small heath (butterfly) • Ghost moth • The cinnabar (moth) • Grass snake • The lackey (moth)

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Habitat Action Plans • Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Annual knawe l Rare Prefers sandy areas such as Unknown disused sand pits. Dingy skipper Restricted Common bird’s foot trefoil is Twywell Hills and the main food plant. This is Dales Country required in a sparse sward, Park. with areas of open ground, taller vegetation for shelter and roosting, in a sunny sheltered position (Butterfly Conservation, 2008). Grizzled skipper Restricted Requires at least one of the Twywell Hills and main food plants (Rosaceae Dales Country family) growing among short Park. vegetation (< 10cm), with patches of bare ground, taller vegetation and scrub or woodland edges (Butterfly Conservation, 2008).

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Habitat Action Plans • Ponds

Ponds

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Declining

Estimated Current Northants Resource 1133 ha of open water in Northamptonshire is included within the definition of a pond, 392 ha of which is within Local Wildlife Sites. Much of this open water area would not qualify as BAP pond habitat and so the Northants baseline resources is 59 ha.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Wildlife friendly ponds have been created across the county but the total number is unknown.

Lead Partner Natural England

Habitat Description Ponds are defined as small water bodies between 1m2 and 2 ha that hold water for more than four months in a year. Ponds can be formed naturally in depressions created by glacial activity, natural subsidence or river activity. They can also be man- made, in gardens and village greens, or be created by landowners for fishing, shooting, livestock watering, aesthetic or amenity purposes. Ditches with open water for at least the majority of the year should also be included in this type. It includes the open water zone, which may contain submerged, free floating or floating- leaved vegetation, and water fringe vegetation. It also includes adjacent wetland habitats with contiguous water levels that are less than 0.25ha.

To be considered BAP habitat a pond must meet the above description and one of the following criteria:

• Habitats of international importance: Ponds that meet criteria under Annex I of the Habitats Directive. • Species of high conservation importance: Ponds supporting Red Data Book species, UK BAP species, species fully protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act Schedule 5 and 8, • Habitats Directive Annex II species, a Nationally Scarce wetland plant species, or three Nationally Scarce aquatic invertebrate species.

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Habitat Action Plans • Ponds

• Exceptional assemblages of key biotic groups: Ponds supporting exceptional populations or numbers of key species. Based on (i) criteria specified in guidelines for the selection of biological SSSIs (currently amphibians and dragonflies only), and (ii) exceptionally rich sites for plants or invertebrates (i.e. supporting ≥30 wetland plant species or ≥50 aquatic macroinvertebrate species). • Ponds of high ecological quality: Ponds classified in the top PSYM category (“high”) for ecological quality (i.e. having a PSYM score ≥75%). [PSYM (the Predictive SYstem for Multimetrics) is a method for assessing the biological quality of still waters in England and Wales; plant species and / or invertebrate families are surveyed using a standard method; the PSYM model makes predictions for the site based on environmental data and using a minimally impaired pond dataset; comparison of the prediction and observed data gives a % score for ponds quality]. • Other important ponds: Individual ponds or groups of ponds with a limited geographic distribution recognised as important because of their age, rarity of type or landscape context e.g. pingos, duneslack ponds, machair ponds.

In Northamptonshire (in 2002) 123 county wildlife sites were listed that included at least one pond on site. Ponds provide habitat for invertebrates, which in turn attracts foraging birds and bats. Managing ponds for biodiversity provides areas for water voles to feed, dragonfly larvae to develop and habitat for newts to breed and lay their eggs.

Main Issues and Threats • Lack of management leading to gradual loss of open water through siltation, build up of dead plant material and expansion of marginal vegetation. • Infilling of farm ponds that no longer have a specific function. • Nutrient enrichment (eutrophication) resulting from agricultural runoff and leaching. • Reduction in water quality and an increase in the incidence of pollution, both point source and diffuse. • Over zealous management can result in the loss of fringe habitats and marginal zones. • The release of non-native garden plant species and unnatural fish populations can seriously affect indigenous flora and fauna.

General Strategy • Improve the ecological value of ponds by promoting conservation for nature conservation. • Re-introduction of management of existing ponds and creation of new ponds, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). • Create a full range of successional stages at every pond, from open water, through marginal zones, to scrub, woodland or grassland. • Maintain water quality by controlling agricultural inputs and point source pollution. • The value of temporary pools should be recognised and these protected from infilling or excavation.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species • Common toad • Grass snake

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Habitat Action Plans • Ponds

• Great crested newt • Water vole – see species action plan.

Associated Local BAP Species • Palmate newt

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Great crested Widespread Reduce heavy shading Widespread newt around southern margins of ponds, create new ponds with habitat connections to other ponds, create buffer zones around ponds, restrict grazing around part of the pond margin, prevent stocking of breeding ponds with fish or large numbers of ducks or geese. Palmate newt Rare Management of known Yardley Chase breeding ponds.

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Habitat Action Plans • Reedbed

Reedbed

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts There are about 5000 ha of reedbeds in the UK, but of the 900 or so sites contributing to this total, only about 50 are greater than 20 ha, and these make a large contribution to the total area. As much as 45% of the reedbed resource existing in 1945 may have since been lost. Some large new reedbeds are now being created in the UK following aggregate quarrying.

Estimated Current Northants Resource 25-30 hectares, with most in small blocks and reed fringes of less than 1ha apiece.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Negotiations are under way to create a large new area of reedbed in the Earls Barton West area, as part of a wider wetland mosaic, following proposed aggregate extraction. Volunteers have cleared encroaching scrub from a small reedbed at Stanwick.

Lead Partner RSPB

Habitat Description Reedbeds are wetland habitats dominated by stands of common reed, classified as NVC community S4. Those areas where the water level in the reedbed remains high (20cm above the surface) in the summer months are referred to as reedswamp and those where the water table is at or below the surface are referred to as reedfen. For the purposes of this HAP, it is considered important to distinguish wet reedbed from reed-dominated fen due to its association with the bittern. Reedbeds are amongst the most important habitat for birds within the UK.

In Northamptonshire reedbeds are very restricted in size and are mainly associated with the margins of open water bodies, particularly flooded gravel pits. Isolated pockets of reedbed exist at Stortons Gravel Pits, Billing Sewage Treatment Works, Higham Ferrers Gravel Pits and Stanwick Lakes. Map A below shows the extent of the current reedbed resource (green) and areas identified with potential for reedbed creation (red), mainly following gravel extraction in the Earls Barton West area. Map B shows the existing reedbed resource in the Higham Ferrers and Stanwick areas.

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Habitat Action Plans • Reedbed

Map A

Map B

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Habitat Action Plans • Reedbed

Main Issues and Threats • Small size and fragmentation. • Inappropriate management or neglect leading to drying out and scrub encroachment. • Reduction in water quality and an increase in the incidence of pollution, both point source and diffuse. • Challenge of achieving high quality reedbed creation over sufficiently large areas (>20 hectares) on sand and gravel sites in the Nene Valley.

General Strategy • Ensure existing reedbeds are not damaged by inappropriate development, and are brought into favourable management where necessary. • Identify opportunities to create new reedbeds, ideally of a size (>20 hectares) and quality suitable to attract the full range of specialised species that rely on them. • The main target area to create new reedbed is the Earls Barton West area. Smaller- scale opportunities to develop fringing reedbeds around existing lakes may occur elsewhere in the county.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Bittern • Otter (see species action plan) • Common cuckoo • Reed bunting • Common grasshopper warbler • The crescent (moth) • Common starling • Water Vole (see species action plan) • Harvest mouse

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Bittern Very rare (1 Requires large areas of Stanwick Lakes individual) reedbed with a high ratio of water’s edge to reed, and good populations of small fish.

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Habitat Action Plans • Rivers

Rivers

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Water quality improving but problems caused by high levels of abstraction are increasing.

Estimated Current Northants Resource

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Unknown

Lead Partner Environment Agency

Habitat Description Rivers are exceptionally varied and dynamic habitats forming invaluable wildlife habitat. In Northamptonshire they vary from the fast flowing streams rising in the southern and western uplands of the county, to the wide, slow-moving lowland River Nene. These watercourses form, either in their own right or in association with other habitats, a vital nature conservation and wildlife resource for the county. Marginal and bankside vegetation is an integral part of the river habitat and act as important migration corridors.

The Rivers Tove, Great Ouse, Avon and Nene all have their sources in the southern and western upland areas of the county. The Tove and Great Ouse flow east towards Bedfordshire, the Avon flows west into Warwickshire, the Nene flows north-east from its source near Daventry across Northamptonshire and into Peterborough. The River Welland forms part of Northamptonshire’s northern boundary and flows north-west to the Wash. Major tributaries that drain into the Nene are the Brampton Nene, River Ise, Harper’s Brook and Willow Brook.

The River Nene is eutrophic; receiving treated sewage effluent discharges from the Whilton, Billing, Broadholme and Corby sewage treatment works. Most of the rivers and streams in Northamptonshire have been engineered or managed to some extent, either for modern flood defences, or historically for milling, navigation and during railway construction.

Main Issues and Threats • Abstraction for public water supply, industry and irrigation adversely affects flows in the county’s major rivers. • Barriers to water flow in the form of weirs, locks and flood defence structures alter the natural flow of the river and prevent fish migration. • Land drainage and management, particularly in the upper reaches of streams and rivers, has led to the interception of springs and the drainage of wet flushes and mires, reducing the flow of groundwater into rivers.

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Habitat Action Plans • Rivers

• Arable cultivation and livestock grazing extended to the edge of riverbanks results in the loss of marginal, bank-side and in-stream habitat, increased siltation of gravel beds, and increased seepage of herbicides, pesticides and ammonia into the watercourse. • Alien plant species such as Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), and Floating pennywort (Hydrocotyle ranunculoides) are highly invasive, colonise new areas quickly, and crowd out native vegetation. • Fishing and fish farming can cause conflict because of escapes of non-native fish and crayfish into watercourses, which cause considerable damage to native populations.

General Strategy • Reduce the current level of abstraction and restrict future abstraction by the use of Catchment Abstraction Management Strategies and abstraction licensing. • Promote good practice through agri-environment schemes and encourage the establishment of buffer strips along riverbanks. • Implement habitat improvement schemes at catchment scale, with initial work on small streams and headwaters. • Stop and reduce the spread of alien and invasive species. • Identify priority barriers to fish migration and develop action plans for their removal or modification to allow fish passage. • Produce Slimline Fisheries Action Plans for major river fisheries in Northamptonshire.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Brown/sea trout • Mullein wave (moth) • Compressed river mussel • Otter – see species action plan. • Common toad • Spined loach • European eel • Water vole – see species action plan. • Grass-wrack pondweed • White-clawed crayfish • Goat moth

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Grass-wrack Local Retain wet ditches, prevent River Nene and pondweed eutrophication, monitor Grand Union Canal effects of boat traffic and associated pollution.

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Habitat Action Plans • Traditional Orchards

Traditional Orchards

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Declining

Estimated Current Northants Resource Between 15 and 90 hectares.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Survey to identify the extent of remaining traditional orchards, and restoration work at a number of orchards such as Wilson’s.

Lead Partner South Court Environmental

Habitat Description Orchards are collections of cultivated ‘top-fruit’ and/or edible nut bearing trees. By common agreement among present orchard-researchers the number of trees required is greater than five. Traditional Orchards are a subset of such orchards and may be described as those dominated by older, less intensively-managed ‘standard’ trees, with main branches above the reach of grazing animals, and planted at relatively low densities. Associated habitats of hedgerows and the ground flora may also be diverse depending upon their historical and present management. Traditionally grazing of the under- storey in such orchards was not uncommon but is now in some cases mimicked by appropriate mowing regimes.

Traditional orchards can have significant ecological value and wildlife diversity. Ongoing research, in both the UK and abroad, has identified their importance for birds (including the woodpeckers, bullfinch, fieldfare and redwing) and for many other groups of species. In particular, a great part of the diversity has been recorded as depending upon the microhabitats present in, for instance, dead or decaying wood - both lying on the ground and in the trees – and to be mediated by rich assemblages of fungi present and by the diversity of saproxylic invertebrate species.

Main Issues and Threats • Insensitive management e.g. Use for horse-grazing which has a number of deleterious effects; Removal of dying trees or parts of trees; Use for overwintering livestock with feed-spillage over-enriching the ground; Lack of re-planting regime to maintain sustained missed-age orchards. • Agricultural removal, partial removal or fragmentation. In general for the purpose of seeking more financially productive use of the land. • Development removal, partial removal or fragmentation. This may be either for “site improvement” in the case of an individual house-and-land or, more generally, for

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Habitat Action Plans • Traditional Orchards

housing or other development, the latter especially as orchards frequently fall under the designation of ‘brownfield’ sites. This has lead to speculative removal of orchards in the past ahead of building permission having been granted. • Neglect of traditional management. Although pear trees are known to live for over 200 years and frequently longer, apple and prunus species (plum etc) have much shorter lives, typically 100 and 50 years respectively. A regime of rolling replacement of trees over a period of decades is therefore required if the orchard’s tree assemblage is not to deteriorate. As orchards have in general been created all-of-a-piece at one time, they typically also stand in danger of failing within a short time-period if not appropriately managed for sustainability. • Isolation: Northamptonshire, in common with many other counties, has experienced ongoing decline in the number of orchards surviving. This tends to isolate remaining orchards from another with consequent local extinction effects on less mobile species.

General Strategy • The identification and maintenance of the current resource. • The enhancement of current resource: The planned enhancement of management of orchards in accordance with traditional prescriptions, and the increase in the number and the area of extant orchards managed traditionally in the county • The restoration of degraded orchards: This can be accomplished by the updating of the management of, and the in-fill planting of, degraded traditional orchards and by extending their size as appropriate. It may also be accomplished, in some cases, by adopting and applying enhancements to management regimes for degraded non- traditional orchards in some cases. • The establishment of additional traditionally managed orchards: By identification of suitable sites and subsequently planting and managing new orchards in accordance with traditional management regimes, additional traditional orchards can be established. • The enhancement of the perceived or actual economic and cultural, health and well- being values to be derived from traditionally managed orchards with a view to increasing the attractiveness of adopting such management.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species • Common bullfinch • Lesser-spotted woodpecker

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Common Breeding Provision of plants that Unknown bullfinch provide seed or fruit buds at different times of year (e.g. herbaceous plants produce seed in autumn, trees in winter, and buds on fruit trees in spring).

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Habitat Action Plans • Wet Woodland

Wet Woodland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts Total UK extent is approximated at 52,850 ha. Wet woodlands are a scarce and easily damaged habitat.

Estimated Current Northants Resource A number of wet flushes are present in ancient semi- natural woodland, but total extent is unknown.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Unknown

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Habitat Description Wet woodlands occur on poorly drained or seasonally wet soils, usually with alder, birch and willows as the predominant tree species. It is found on floodplains, as successional habitat on fens and bogs, around water bodies and along stream and hillside flushes. Boundaries with dry land woodland may be sharp or gradual and can change over time though natural succession or as a result of human influence. Wet woodlands are often found in mosaic with other key woodland habitats.

There are 7 NVC wet woodland communities:

W1 Grey sallow – marsh bedstraw woodland W2 Grey sallow – Downy birch – reed woodland W3 Bay willow – bottle sedge woodland W4 Downy birch – purple moor grass woodland W5 Alder – tussock sedge woodland W6 Alder – nettle woodland W7 Alder – ash – yellow pimpernel woodland

Wet woodland has a canopy usually dominated by willow (Salix sp.), alder (Alnus glutinosa) or birch (Betula sp.) but stands vary considerably in their overall appearance. Riverside trees are also included, and are individuals that line the riverbanks throughout the county. These are important landscape features as well as supporting a wide range of invertebrates and other species.

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Habitat Action Plans • Wet Woodland

• Alteration of hydrology: Flood prevention measures and lowering of water tables through drainage or abstraction lead to succession away from wet woodland; dredging of ponds and streams; groundwater abstraction. • Damage from mechanical operations, which have a detrimental effect on ground flora. • Over-tidiness resulting in the removal of dead trees and fallen dead wood. • Diseases such as Phytophthora, a root disease of alder.

General Strategy • Detailed survey to identify wet woodland sites and those that could support wet woodland. • Sympathetic management and restoration of existing sites, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). • Maintain as a successional stage between open wetland areas and drier woodland. Particularly important within wet woodlands is a mosaic of habitats including lichen and moss covered trees, areas of higher ground, bare mud, stands of mature trees, clearings and rides, transitional edge habitat, fallen, submerged and standing dead wood and water bodies. • This habitat may occur across the entire county but specific target areas are the Nene Valley and Pitsford Reservoir.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• Lesser redpoll • Powdered quaker (moth) • Lesser-spotted woodpecker • Small square-spot (moth) • Marsh tit • Song thrush • Minor shoulder-knot (moth) • The crescent (moth) • Oblique carpet (moth) • Willow tit • Otter – see species action plan

Specific Management Required for Associated Species

Species Northamptonshire Management Prescriptions Key Sites Status Willow tit Breeding Maintain standing deadwood, Kings Wood Local particularly rotting stumps of Nature Reserve. willow, birch, and alder. Scrub required nearby.

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Habitat Action Plans • Wood-Pasture and Parkland

Wood-Pasture and Parkland

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts It is estimated that nationally less than 10,000 to 20,000 ha of working wood pasture and parkland remain.

Estimated Current Northants Resource Approximately 97.8 ha within local wildlife sites, possibly over 1000ha on 30 plus sites, in various states of dereliction outside of this.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Over 50ha was restored, 90ha enhanced and 25ha created in 2002 and 2003 through RDS grants.

Lead Partner Natural England

Habitat Description Wood pastures are areas of wooded land that have been historically used for the dual purpose of growing trees and grazing animals, particularly deer and livestock. They typically represent a vegetation structure rather than being a particular plant community and usually consist of large spreading trees (native or non-native), often managed as pollards, set within a matrix of grassland or heathland, although many examples are now incorporated into other woodland, transformed into landscaped parks, or converted to arable.

The intrinsic value of wood pasture and parkland is primarily associated with the trees, which are often ancient, and in some cases may represent survivals of the genetic stock from the primeval forest, or wild wood. These trees are also important for invertebrates of dead wood, which are dependent for some part of their life cycle on living, dying or dead wood and for a range of epiphyte flora and fungi.

Large areas of working wood pasture and parkland may once have existed in Northamptonshire in the grounds of large estates and historic houses such as Althorp, Fawsley and Castle Ashby. These areas of wood pasture and parkland have gradually been lost to other land uses or have lost their traditional features through neglect.

Main Issues and Threats • Lack of new generation of trees to replace existing ancient examples is producing a skewed age structure and will lead to a break in continuity of suitable dead wood habitat.

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Habitat Action Plans • Wood-Pasture and Parkland

• Damage to tree roots from soil compaction and erosion caused by trampling by livestock and people, car parking and close ploughing to former parkland trees when parkland is converted to other land uses. • Isolation and fragmentation of remaining wood pasture and parkland sites; Many of the species dependent on old trees are unable to move between these sites due to their poor powers of dispersal and the increasing distances they need to travel. • Pasture improvement through reseeding, deep ploughing, fertiliser and other chemical treatments. • Over-grazing leading to bark browsing, soil compaction and loss of nectar plants. • Felling of old or dead trees for safety reasons (which are exempt from needing a felling licence). • Loss of habitat through conversion to arable or other land uses.

General Strategy • Plant young trees and ensure the survival of semi-mature trees to ensure a wide age range and constant availability of dead wood. • Protect the area under tree canopies from compaction and erosion by fencing or prevention of harmful activities in the vicinity. • Encourage lower intensity farming of the grassland below the tree canopy (reduced grazing levels and lower input of fertiliser). • Discourage the felling of trees for safety reasons. • Restore areas of wood pasture and parkland that have become partially converted to other land uses.

Targets

Actions

Associated National Priority Species

• August thorn (moth) • September thorn (moth) • Brown long-eared bat • Small heath • Feathered gothic (moth) • Spotted Flycatcher • Noctule • Stag beetle • Oak hook-tip

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Species Action Plans

This section outlines individual action plans for those UK BAP species occurring in Northamptonshire, not associated with a BAP habitat in the previous section. All other BAP species do not currently require individual action plans because they can be appropriately conserved by action within HAPs. Species are described and current strategies and progress are outlined.

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Species Action Plans • Otter

Otter (Lutra lutra)

Current UK Status and Trends Target Areas 2219 10km squares occupied, and population expanding in size and distribution.

Estimated Current Northants Resource In 2002, 58% of surveyed sites on the River Nene had signs of otter presence, a significant increase since the early 1990s. Currently 22 10km squares are used by otters.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Otter holts have been constructed at Stanford Reservoir, Summer Leys and Ditchford.

Lead Partner The Environment Agency

Species Description The species of otter present in the UK is the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra). The Eurasian otter is a large, mainly piscivorous mammal that covers a long linear aquatic territory and is generally solitary. Otters suffered serious decline between the 1950s and 1970s but are now making a comeback across the UK, including in Northamptonshire. The number of survey sites that were otter positive increased by 37% between 1991/94 and 2000/02. Before 2000/02 there was regular presence of otters at a low level, but the large increase in positive sites in recent years suggests that a breeding otter population is becoming established in the region.

Otter presence has been recorded in recent years along the River Nene from Weeden Bec to Oundle and on several smaller tributaries of the Nene, along the full length of the River Welland in Northamptonshire, and at (Image courtesy of Stewart McDonald) a few locations on the Rivers Ise, Great Ouse, Willow Brook and at Pitsford Water. It seems that the county has been recolonised from the east and the population is therefore more established in the east of the county than the west.

Main Issues and Threats • High non-natural mortality, namely road-deaths where roads cross over or come in close proximity to watercourses. • Poor water quality causing direct ill effects in otters and preventing populations of fish from reaching high enough levels to support a resident population. • Otters are drowned in fyke nets, which are set to catch eels. • Wetland and other semi-natural habitat adjacent to watercourses has been lost to development, agricultural intensification, and drainage operations, reducing the availability of suitable resting and breeding habitat.

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Species Action Plans • Otter

General Strategy • It is expected that range expansion will occur through natural recolonisation, with conservation priorities being monitoring the continued recovery, addressing any direct threats such as roadkill and persecution, and monitoring the health of the population through post-mortem and tissue analysis. • Improve road bridges over watercourses to allow otters to pass safely underneath during times of flood and deter them from crossing over roads. This can be achieved by constructing high-level culverts under roads, inserting dry ledges under bridges, and placing fencing and reflectors along the road. • Improve the water quality of rivers, streams and canals to assist fish populations. • Raise awareness of the danger posed to otters by fyke nets. • Promote suitable management of watercourses and adjacent habitat (wet woodland, scrub, wetland, riverside trees), funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). • The specific target areas are the catchments of the River Nene, Welland, and Ise. The south and west of the county are under-surveyed compared to other areas, so an understanding of otter distribution in these regions (River Tove, Cherwell and tributaries) is required.

Targets

Actions

Associated BAP Habitats • Eutrophic Standing Waters • Reedbed • Rivers and Streams • Wet Woodland

Specific Management Required for Associated Habitats

Species Management Prescriptions Key Sites Eutrophic Maintain high water quality standards; retain Stamford reservoir, Standing Waters undisturbed areas of open water, bank and Pitsford reservoir, Nene behind bank habitat. Valley gravel pits, canals. Reedbed Establish high edge/reed ratios and healthy Stanwick Lakes, Nene fish populations. Valley reedbeds. Rivers and Maintain high water quality standards; retain All rivers and streams. Streams undisturbed areas of bank and behind bank habitat. Wet Woodland Retain fallen dead wood in undisturbed areas near to rivers and streams.

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Species Action Plans • Water Vole

Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris)

Current UK Status and Trends Target Districts On average 11.21% of sites across Britain were positive in 1996-98, representing a loss of 69.63% occupied sites since 1989/90.

Estimated Current Northants Resource 26% of surveyed sites in the Anglian region contained water voles in 1996-98, representing a loss of 58.82% over 8 years. Occasional new records occur, but old records become unreliable.

Progress Towards BAP Targets 2002-2007 Swanspool Brook designated as a County Wildlife Site because of the presence of water voles.

Lead Partner The Wildlife Trust

Species Description The water vole is a small semi-aquatic mammal that uses a wide range of fresh-water habitats. Important habitats for water voles within Northamptonshire include rivers, streams, ditches, ponds, canals, marshes, reedbeds, fens, gravel pits, lakes and reservoirs. The water vole is mainly herbivorous, feeding on grasses, sedges and rushes, with the predominant food being the common reed. Water voles excavate burrows in the riparian zone, with entrances usually being just above or below the water level, and sometimes on the top of the bank. The water vole has suffered a serious decline across Britain in recent years and is of critical concern.

Water Voles are thought to remain in only a few isolated pockets in Northamptonshire. The only remaining colonies that could be described as strongholds exist on the northern edge of Wellingborough, and at RAF Croughton but the persistence of these require more recent confirmation. Other sporadic sightings have occurred in the past 5 years, which suggests that a few scattered individuals may still be surviving elsewhere.

Main Issues and Threats • Predation by American mink (Mustela vison). • Destruction of burrows and bank-side habitat by insensitive dredging and re-profiling methods. • Reduction in suitable bank-side habitat caused by inappropriate management (poaching by stock, overgrazing, intensive mowing etc) or loss to development. • Non-specific pest control procedures accidentally affecting water voles or misidentification of water voles as brown rats resulting in targeted pest control.

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Species Action Plans • Water Vole

• Isolation of small populations causing reduced mobility and low genetic diversity.

General Strategy • Promote suitable management of riparian habitat, funded primarily through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (Advice can be provided by The Wildlife Trust, RNRP or FWAG). • Suitable management involves retaining a patchwork of vegetation along banks, with cut and uncut sections. Vegetation should only be cut on one bank per year, and only between October and March. Riparian buffer strips should be created, with no grazing, cultivation or spraying within 6 m of the watercourse. • Refer to best management practices when undertaking any engineering or habitat work. • Habitat restoration across farmland at the catchment scale to include wetland creation, sympathetic ditch management, and use of riparian buffer strips. • Creation of corridors of suitable habitat adjacent to existing colonies to enable populations to increase in size and range. • Strategic mink control based on key site conservation. • The specific target areas are Swanspool Brook between Wellingborough and Mears Ashby, Barnwell Brook through Barnwell, and RAF Croughton near Brackley.

Targets

Actions

Associated BAP Habitats • Eutrophic Standing Waters • Ponds • Reedbed • Rivers and Streams

Specific Management Required for Associated Habitats

Species Management Prescriptions Key Sites Eutrophic Retain a patchwork of vegetation along Canals and fishing lakes. Standing Waters banks, with cut and uncut sections. Vegetation should only be cut on one bank per year, and only between October and March. Riparian buffer strips should be created, with no grazing, cultivation or spraying within 6 m of the water. Ponds As for Eutrophic Standing Waters. Unknown Reedbed Establish high edge/reed ratios and healthy Nene Valley reedbeds. fish populations. Rivers and As for Eutrophic Standing Waters. Small, slow flowing Streams streams and ditches.

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Tables

This is a reference section containing details of all the targets and actions applicable to the Northamptonshire BAP. There is also a table detailing information on all UK BAP species found in Northamptonshire.

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Appendix 1: Targets

TARGETS Definition of Terms

BAP-defined habitat: Area of habitat that meets the definition set out in the UK BAP for that habitat. LWS standard: Habitat meets the UK BAP definition but also meets the higher standards of the Local Wildlife Site criteria for the specified habitat. Sites that meet the LWS criteria will be designated as Local Wildlife Sites. Baseline Resource: The current amount in Northamptonshire as described in Target Text (baseline equals 0 for expansion targets). Maintaining Extent: No reduction in the area of habitat that qualifies as the UK BAP or other specified type. Achieving Condition: Maintaining the area of habitat already in good condition and working on some poor condition habitat. Poor condition habitat still meets UK BAP criteria; good condition habitat meets LWS criteria. Restoration: Work on relic habitat that currently does not meet UK BAP criteria but shows indicators of that habitat. Expansion: The establishment of new BAP habitat in areas where it is not currently present and no significant remnants exist. Unit Cost*: The estimated cost per site or per hectare for carrying out the activities required by the target. Total Cost: Unit cost multiplied by number of units required by the target to result in the total cost for meeting the target.

*Costs were taken from a report produced for Defra and Partners in 2006 by GHK Consulting Ltd, entitled “UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Preparing Costings for Species and Habitat Action Plans. Revising the Costs of Delivering Habitat Action Plans”.

Guide to Acronyms and Abbreviations

GI Green Infrastructure HQA Habitat Quality Assessment JPU Joint Planning Unit LNR Local Nature Reserve LWS Local Wildlife Site NACRE Northamptonshire ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England) NBP Northamptonshire Biodiversity Partnership NBRC Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre NEN Northamptonshire Environment Network pSPA Proposed Special Protection Area PWS Potential Wildlife Site RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest

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Appendix 1: Targets

General Targets

Advisory and Advocacy <>Actions

Target Code Target Description Target Units Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Baseline Resource NOR_AAA_T1 Establish a Flagship site by 2010 as an example Sites 0 1 2010 of good land management practice and promotion for agri-environment schemes. NOR_AAA_T2 Ensure that an additional 400 local wildlife sites Sites 79 (WT 479 2015 are under positive management across the reserves county by 2015. and Country parks) NOR_AAA_T3 All Protected Wildflower Verges to be maintained Sites 23 23 2012 to meet the designation criteria or improved in species diversity by 2012. NOR_AAA_T4 Expand Northamptonshire’s network of Protected Sites 23 33 2012 Wildflower Verges by identifying 10 new sites or expanding10 existing sites by at least 20 meters by 2012. NOR_AAA_T5 Produce best-practice guidance leaflets for all 16 Leaflets 0 16 2012 BAP habitats.

Community Awareness and Involvement <>Actions

Target Code Target Description Target Units Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Baseline Resource NOR_CAI_T1 Increase the number of Pocket Parks in the Sites 80 92 2011 County by creating 3 new Pocket Parks per year over the next 4 years. NOR_CAI_T2 Ensure that all LNRs have management plans for Sites Unknown 22 2015

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Appendix 1: Targets

improving biodiversity and that they are implemented.

Data Monitoring and Evidence <>Actions

Target Code Target Description Target Units Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Baseline Resource NOR_DME_T1 Re-survey 100 % of existing LWS by 2012, write Sites 811 811 2012 Approx £250,000 site reports and provide management advice. £300/site NOR_DME_T2 Survey and/or re-assess all Potential Wildlife Sites 1170 1170 2015 Approx £351,000 Sites by 2015. £300/site NOR_DME_T3 Produce an updated strategic biodiversity Maps 0 1 2010 network map by 2010. NOR_DME_T4 Create a revised edition of The Flora of 2010 Northamptonshire by 2010.

Planning and Policy <>Actions

Target Code Target Description Target Units Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Baseline Resource NOR_PAP_T1 Ensure no Local Wildlife Sites, Nature Reserves, Sites 959 No 2015 Pocket Parks or Protected Wildflower Verges are Loss lost to development. NOR_PAP_T2 All developments that require Section 106 Applications 0 100% 2009 agreements/conditions regarding biodiversity to have SMART targets for biodiversity gain from the outset. NOR_PAP_T3 Establish a large-scale wetland complex in the Complex 0 1 2020 Nene Valley incorporating floodplain grazing marsh, wet woodland, lowland fen and reedbed.

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Appendix 1: Targets

Habitat Targets

Eutrophic Standing Waters <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_ESW_T1 Achieving Maintain the condition of all eutrophic Hectares Unknown No 2015 Unknown Condition standing waters of known Loss conservation importance currently judged in good condition.

Floodplain Grazing Marsh <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_FGM_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of BAP- Hectares 259 No 2015 £200/ha/yr £51,800/yr Extent defined Floodplain Grazing Marsh Loss (no loss of BAP habitat). NOR_FGM_T2 Achieving Maintain the condition of FPGM Hectares 15.25 20.25 2015 £200/ha/yr £1,000 Condition habitat where already LWS standard initial + and establish by 2015, management £1,000/yr to reach LWS standard for 5 ha of grazing marsh currently not classed as LWS. NOR_FGM_T3 Restoration Restore 5 ha of relict Floodplain Hectares 0 5 2015 £1280/ha £6,400 Grazing Marsh from degraded sites initial no longer meeting BAP definition (e.g. agriculturally improved or with poor hydrological regime) by 2015. NOR_FGM_T4 Expansion Establish 5 ha of BAP-defined Hectares 0 5 2015 £1,280/ha £6,480 Floodplain Grazing Marsh (which is +£315/ha/yr initial +

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Appendix 1: Targets

capable of supporting a diverse £1,575/yr range of invertebrates, mammals and breeding waders) from arable land/quarries by 2015.

Hedgerows <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_HDG_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of Kilometers 13,000 No net 2015 £200/km/yr £2.6 Extent hedgerows (no net loss). loss million/yr NOR_HDG_T2 Restoration Restore appropriate management to Kilometers 11,930 12,465 2015 £8000/km £4.28 50% (535 km) of hedgerows not million currently under agri-environment initial schemes by 2015. NOR_HDG_T3 Achieving Increase the number of new young Number of 0 800 2015 £4.50/tree £3,600 Condition hedgerow trees by 800 by 2015 trees (equal to rejuvenating or planting 40 km of hedgerow). NOR_HDG_T4 Expansion Increase the extent of species-rich Kilometers 0 40 2015 £5,300/km £212,000 hedgerows by 40 km by 2015. New initial hedgerows to include hedgerow trees.

Lowland Calcareous Grassland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_LCG_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 305 No 2015 £200/ha/yr £61,000/yr Extent LWS-standard Lowland Calcareous Loss Grassland (no loss of BAP habitat). NOR_LCG_T2 Achieving Achieve LWS condition on x ha of Hectares 2015 £200/ha/yr

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Appendix 1: Targets

Condition calcareous grassland by 2015. NOR_LCG_T3 Restoration Restore 60 ha of Lowland Hectares 0 60 2015 £2,063/ha £123,780 Calcareous Grassland to LWS- initial standard from semi-improved or neglected grassland by 2015. NOR_LCG_T4 Expansion Establish 30 ha of LWS-standard Hectares 0 30 2015 £2,100/ha + £63,000 Lowland Calcareous Grassland from £280/ha/yr initial arable, improved grassland and mineral extraction and landfill sites by 2015.

Lowland Dry Acid Grassland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_LAG_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 220 No 2015 £200/ha/yr £44,000/yr Extent LWS-standard Lowland Dry Acid Loss Grassland. NOR_LAG_T2 Restoration Restore 20 ha of Lowland Dry Acid Hectares 0 20 2015 £830/ha £16,600 Grassland to LWS-standard from initial semi-improved or neglected grassland by 2015. NOR_LAG_T3 Expansion Establish 10 ha of LWS-standard Hectares 0 10 2015 £920/ha + £9,200 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland from £280/ha/yr initial + arable, improved grassland and £2,800/yr coniferous plantation by 2015.

Lowland Fen <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_LFE_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent and Hectares 292 No 2015 £60/ha/yr £17,520/yr

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Appendix 1: Targets

Extent standard of fen-type habitats. Loss NOR_LFE_T2 Restoration Restore 40 ha of floodplain to LWS Hectares 0 40 2015 £575/ha £23,000 standard fen-type habitats by 2015. +£60/ha/yr initial

Lowland Heathland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_LHE_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 3 No 2015 £200/ha/yr £600/yr Extent LWS-standard Lowland Heathland. Loss NOR_LHE_T2 Expansion Increase the extent of Lowland Hectares 0 10 2015 £350/ha + £3,500 Heathland by creating 10 ha of LWS £450/ha/yr initial + standard adjacent to existing £4,500/yr heathland by 2015.

Lowland Meadows <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_LME_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 300 No 2015 £200/ha/yr £60,000/yr Extent LWS-standard Neutral Grassland. Loss NOR_LME_T2 Restoration Restore 60 ha of Neutral Grassland Hectares 0 60 2015 £453/ha + £27,180 to LWS-standard from semi- £200/ha/yr initial + improved or neglected grassland by £12,000 2015. NOR_LME_T3 Expansion Establish 30 ha of LWS-standard Hectares 0 30 2015 £561/ha + £16,830 Neutral Grassland from arable or £280/ha/yr initial + improved grassland by 2015. £8400/yr

Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost

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Appendix 1: Targets

Units Baseline Resource NOR_LMW_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 7200 No 2015 £75/ha/yr £540,000/y Extent LWS-standard native secondary Loss r woodland. NOR_LMW_T2 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 4000 No 2015 £75/ha/yr £300,000/y Extent LWS-standard ancient semi-natural Loss r woodland. NOR_LMW_T3 Achieving Achieve LWS condition of 635 ha of Hectares 8800 9435 2015 £75/ha/yr £47,625/yr Condition native broadleaved woodland by (if mgmt 2015 (1% per year). from yr 1) NOR_LMW_T4 Restoration Restore 120 ha of non-native Hectares 0 120 2015 £300/ha + £36,000 plantations on ancient semi-natural £75/ha/yr initial + woodland sites to native woodland by £9,000/yr 2015. NOR_LMW_T5 Expansion Increase the extent of Native Hectares 0 240 2015 £3,375/ha £810,000 Woodland by 240 ha by 2015 + initial + through a combination of converting £900/ha/yr £984,000 (restocking) existing plantations and for 3 years over 10 creating native woodland on ex- then yrs. agricultural land. £200/ha/yr for 7 yrs

Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_OMH_T1 Identify Identify all areas that meet the Ha Unknown 2012 Extent definition for this habitat through desk study and site visits by 2012. NOR_OMH_T2 Maintain Based on the results of surveys, Ha Unknown No Net 2015 extent calculate the extent of this habitat Loss and ensure no net loss.

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Appendix 1: Targets

Ponds <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_PND_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Ha/Number 59/76 No Net 2015 Unknown Extent BAP habitat ponds. Loss NOR_PND_T2 Achieving Achieve BAP habitat standard of 50 Number 76 126 2015 Unknown Condition ponds. NOR_PND_T3 Expansion Create 25 BAP habitat ponds. Number 0 25 2015 Unknown

Reedbed <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_RBD_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent and Hectares 30 No 2015 £60/ha/yr £1,800/yr Extent quality of wet reedbeds by 2015. Loss NOR_RBD_T2 Achieving Maintain the condition of wet Hectares 2.5 30 2015 £60/ha/yr Included in Condition reedbed habitat where already LWS the above standard and establish by 2015, figure management to ensure LWS condition for all areas of targeted reedbed currently not designated LWS. NOR_RBD_T3 Expansion Establish 50 ha of wet reedbed from Hectares 0 50 2015 £1,361/ha £68,050 land of low nature conservation + initial + interest by 2015. £380/ha/yr £19,000/yr

Rivers <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline

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Appendix 1: Targets

Resource NOR_RIV_T1 Maintain Ensure no deterioration of River % Sites in ? No 2015 Extent Habitat Quality (National River each reductio Habitat Survey Programme). Habitat n in Quality quality Assessmen t Class NOR_RIV_T2 Achieving Ensure all rivers in Northamptonshire % Rivers ? 100% 2015 Condition meet Good Ecological status or reaching Good Ecological potential by 2015 standard (according to the Water Framework Directive).

Traditional Orchards <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Total Units Baseline Cost Cost Resource NOR_TOR_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of Hectares 40 No Loss 2015 Unknown Extent traditional orchards. NOR_TOR_T2 Achieving Maintain the condition of orchards Hectares 12 40 2015 Unknown Condition already qualifying as LWS and improve the condition of those that don’t so that they do meet LWS criteria. NOR_TOR_T3 Restoration Restore 5 ha of heavily degraded Hectares 0 5 2015 Unknown and historic orchard to LWS standard. NOR_TOR_T4 Expansion Establish 5 ha of orchard on land of Hectares 0 5 2015 Unknown low conservation value.

Wet Woodland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Total

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Appendix 1: Targets

Units Baseline Cost Cost Resource NOR_WWO_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent of at least Hectares 33 33 2015 £75/ha/yr £2,475/yr Extent LWS-standard wet woodland. NOR_WWO_T2 Achieving Achieve LWS standard of 5 ha of Hectares 33 38 2015 £75/ha/yr £375/yr Condition currently non-LWS wet woodland by 2015. NOR_WWO_T3 Expansion Establish 10 ha of LWS-standard wet Hectares 0 6 2015 £1,500/h £9,000 woodland on non-wooded or a + initial + plantation sites by 2015. £200/ha/y £1,200/yr r for 10 yrs

Wood-Pasture and Parkland <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Cost Units Baseline Resource NOR_WPP_T1 Maintain Maintain the current extent and Sites 33 No loss 2015 £180/ha/yr £29,700/yr Extent standard of wood-pasture and (average parkland and their associated trees site = 5ha) by 2015. NOR_WPP_T2 Restoration Restore 2 degraded or remnant Sites 0 2 2015 £1,700/ha £17,000 wood-pasture or parkland sites to + initial + help reverse fragmentation and £180/ha/yr £1,800/yr reduce the generation gap between veteran trees by 2015. NOR_WPP_T3 Expansion Establish 1 new wood-pasture or Sites 0 1 2015 £350/ha + £1,750 parkland site on arable land or £180/ha/yr initial + improved grassland. £900/yr

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Appendix 1: Targets

Species Targets

Otter <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Total Cost Units Baseline Cost Resource NOR_OTT_T1 Maintain Maintain the current distribution (22 Occupied 22 No Net 2015 Extent occupied 10km squares) of the otter 10 km Loss (Range) throughout Northamptonshire. Squares NOR_OTT_T2 Expansion Encourage the natural expansion of Occupied 22 25 2015 (Range) otter distribution to achieve 85% 10 km occupancy of 10 km squares by Squares 2015.

Water Vole <>Actions

Target Code Target Type Target Description Target Northants Target By Unit Cost Total Units Baseline Cost Resource NOR_WAV_T1 Maintain Maintain the current range (2 Occupied 2 No Net 2015 Extent occupied 10km squares) of water 10 km Loss (Range) vole in Northamptonshire. Squares NOR_WAV_T2 Expansion Achieve an increase in range by 1 Occupied 2 3 2015 (Range) new occupied 10km square in the 10 km county by 2015. Squares

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Appendix 3: Actions

ACTIONS General Actions

Advisory and Advocacy <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_AAA_CA_A1 Natural England to liaise with potential landowners Natural England NOR_AAA_T1 regarding the establishment of a Flagship land management site. NOR_AAA_CA_A2 Produce best-practice guidance leaflets for all 16 BAP Natural England NOR_AAA_T2 habitats. NOR_AAA_CA_A3 Each Local Authority to ensure that landowners of 10 Local Local Authorities NBRC/NBP NOR_AAA_T2 Wildlife Sites (on average) in their district receive The Wildlife Trust management advice and implement it each year. NOR_AAA_CA_A4 Liaise with the relevant road verge management bodies County Council The Wildlife Trust NOR_AAA_T3 and landowners to ensure adoption of suitable management prescriptions for all existing PWVs by 2010. NOR_AAA_SU_A5 Ensure that all Protected Wildflower Verges are surveyed County Council The Wildlife Trust NOR_AAA_T3 every year and assessed against the qualification criteria. NOR_AAA_ID_A6 Update the GIS map of Protected Wildflower Verges after County Council The Wildlife Trust NOR_AAA_T3 the annual surveys. NOR_AAA_CA_A7 Liaise with the relevant road verge management bodies The Wildlife Trust County Council NOR_AAA_T3 and landowners to ensure adoption of suitable management prescriptions. NOR_AAA_HC_A8 Where appropriate implement sympathetic management 10 County Council The Wildlife Trust NOR_AAA_T4 meters either side of existing PWV boundaries to allow wildflowers to spread. NOR_AAA_SU_A9 Follow up on reports of suitable new PWVs made by County Council The Wildlife Trust NOR_AAA_T4 partners or the public by surveying and assessing during the current/next suitable surveying period.

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Appendix 3: Actions

Community Awareness and Involvement <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_CAI_SU_A1 Identify potential new Pocket Park sites through community NCC NOR_CAI_T1 consultation and ensure that new sites incorporate the existing biodiversity value of the site and strive to enhance it. NOR_CAI_HS_A2 Review existing LNR management plans every 5 years and Northamptonshire The Wildlife Trust NOR_CAI_T2 write plans for those that currently do not have them. County Council NOR_CAI_HS_A3 Set up a ‘Friends of’ group, a ‘Green Gym’ or similar Groundwork The Wildlife Trust NOR_CAI_T2 initiative with every new nature reserve that is designated BTCV and with each large conservation project.

Data Monitoring and Evidence <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_DME_SU_A2 Ensure that all Local Wildlife Sites in each district are Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_DME_T1 surveyed every 5 years. JPUs NOR_DME_CA_A3 As part of the LWS survey process allow time and Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_DME_T1 resources for management advice to be provided to the JPUs landowner (in order to report on NI 197). NOR_DME_SU_A4 Identify for survey PWSs that have no supporting survey NBP NOR_DME_T2 data and that are in a strategic location either in terms of development pressure or habitat connectivity. NOR_DME_ID_A7 After the first complete CWS/PWS and SSSI survey, The Wildlife Trust NBRC NOR_DME_T3 calculate a more accurate baseline for each BAP habitat, area-quality index, average fragment size and average linkage index. NOR_DME_ID_A8 Set up and maintain a complete database of the extent and NBP The Wildlife Trust NOR_DME_T3 distribution of all 16 BAP habitats that allows an annual monitoring statement to be produced for each.

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_DME_SU_A9 Ensure that BAP species are the focus of survey efforts (for The Wildlife Trust All NOR_DME_T3 example through Local Groups) and that all results are reported to NBRC.

Planning and Policy <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_PAP_PL_A1 Refuse Planning Applications that are received that show Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_PAP_T1 potential to damage or destroy a Local Wildlife Site, unless WNDC Natural England biodiversity gain greater than that which will be lost can be NNDC RSPB ensured. NOR_PAP_PL_A2 Monitor the change in number and area of sites of nature Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_PAP_T1 conservation value on an annual basis. JPUs NOR_PAP_PL_A3 Engage Environmental Consultees in the production of Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_PAP_T2 Conditions/Section 106 agreements that aim to deliver WNDC Natural England biodiversity gain. NNDC RSPB NOR_PAP_PL_A4 Develop the Nene Valley Strategy in line with the Wildlife RNRP All NOR_PAP_T3 Trust’s Nene Valley Vision, incorporating floodplain grazing The Wildlife Trust marsh, wet woodland, reedbed and lowland fen. Environment Agency NOR_PAP_PL_A5 Ensure that the aims of the BAP are supported by Local JPUs Local Authorities NOR_PAP_T1, Policy Documents such as Core Strategies and T2 & T3 Development Plan Documents.

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Appendix 3: Actions

Habitat Actions

Eutrophic Standing Water <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_ESW_SU_A1 Identify all eutrophic standing waters of >1ha in the Nene NBRC NOR_ESW_T1 Valley target area and provide maintenance and NBP enhancement advice to landowners, by 2012. NOR_ESW_CA_A Produce guidelines for developers and local authorities Natural England RSPB NOR_ESW_T1 2 (including RNRP) on monitoring standards, mitigation, RNRP development ‘zones’ and the process of Appropriate Assessment for proposals affecting lakes designated as SSSI and pSPA, by end 2008. NOR_ESW_SP_A3 Respond to all planning applications and other proposals Natural England The Wildlife Trust NOR_ESW_T1 subject to a consenting scheme where these have the RSPB potential to damage or destroy the features of interest of a eutrophic lake designated as LWS, SSSI or pSPA. NOR_ESW_SU_A4 Monitor the occurrence and impacts of invasive alien Site managers Natural England NOR_ESW_T1 species (e.g. mink, signal crayfish, crassula) in eutrophic The Wildlife Trust habitats and where necessary, identify control measures in management plans and implement accordingly. NOR_ESW_ID_A5 Maintain a register of occurrence of alien invasive species. NBRC Site managers NOR_ESW_T1 Recording Groups NOR_ESW_RE_A6 Complete one study of the effects of diffuse pollution on Environment Anglian Water NOR_ESW_T1 designated eutrophic standing waters in Northamptonshire Agency or Natural NEN and produce recommendations with an action plan as England? Site Managers necessary, by 2015. NOR_ESW_HS_A7 Help landowners to extend and create semi-natural Natural England The Wildlife Trust NOR_ESW_T1 habitats around the margins of eutrophic standing waters RSPB to help buffer the effects of diffuse pollution and silt, Landowners particularly through effective use of agri-environment schemes.

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Appendix 3: Actions

Floodplain Grazing Marsh <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_FGM_SU_A1 Identify the current extent of BAP-defined FGM by 2010. NBRC NBP NOR_FGM_T1

NOR_FGM_CA_A2 Provide management advice to landowners of current FGM The Wildlife Trust NBP NOR_FGM_T1 sites to maintain condition by 2012. NOR_FGM_SP_A3 Respond to all planning applications and other proposals The Wildlife Trust RSPB NOR_FGM_T1 subject to a consenting scheme where these have the potential to damage or destroy the features of interest of FGM designated as LWS or SSSI. NOR_FGM_CA_A4 By 2015 establish management to reach LWS standard on The Wildlife Trust NOR_FGM_T2 5 ha of FGM in the Nene Valley currently not classed as LWS. NOR_FGM_HC_A5 Restore 5 ha of relict FGM from degraded sites no longer The Wildlife Trust Natural England NOR_FGM_T3 meeting BAP definition (e.g. agriculturally improved or with poor hydrological regime) by 2015. NOR_FGM_HC_A6 Help landowners and mineral companies establish 10 ha of RSPB The Wildlife Trust NOR_FGM_T4 BAP-defined FGM from arable land in the Earls Barton West area by 2015, following restoration of sand and gravel quarries. NOR_FGM_CA_A7 Advise planning authorities, landowners and mineral RSPB The Wildlife Trust NOR_FGM_T4 companies on creating FGM as part of applications for Natural England mineral quarrying in the Earls Barton area, to contribute to Environment an overall long-term target beyond 2015 of c.100-200 Agency hectares.

Hedgerows <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s)

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_HDG_FI_A1 Through section 106 agreements/new developments Developers The Wildlife Trust NOR_HDG_T1 ensure that all species-rich hedgerows are maintained and Local Authorities Natural England & T3 40 km newly created. NOR_HDG_CA_A2 Identify hedgerows which are currently over-managed or in The Wildlife Trust Natural England NOR_HDG_T2 poor condition in the target areas of the Nene Valley, Rockingham Forest and Yardley-Whittlewood Ridge and provide maintenance and enhancement advice to landowners NOR_HDG_HC_A3 Restore 535 km of hedgerows through the inclusion of Natural England FWAG NOR_HDG_T2 appropriate prescriptions in Environmental Stewardship RNRP (ES) agreements for the management and enhanced management of hedgerows (ELS options EB2 and EB3) NOR_HDG_HC_A4 Plant new hedgerow tree species, appropriate to the The Wildlife Trust NOR_HDG_T3 locality. The priority should be for reinstating landscape boundary features

Lowland Calcareous Grassland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LCG_HS_A1 Maintain approx 70 ha of calcareous grassland on The Wildlife Trust NOR_LCG_T1 Bradlaugh Fields, Collyweston, Twywell Hills and Dales and Old Sulehay. NOR_LCG_HS_A2 Restore favourable conditions on 0.5 ha of Irchester NCC Countryside NOR_LCG_T2 Country Park Quarry Bank. Service NOR_LCG_RE_A3 Prioritise areas for calcareous grassland creation and The Wildlife Trust NBRC NOR_LCG_T3 restoration, to maximise buffering and linkage of existing sites as well as overall patch size – create maps like those for acid grassland by 2010. NOR_LCG_HC_A4 Through section 106 agreements/new developments Developers NOR_LCG_T3 ensure that 10 ha of semi-improved or neglected grassland Local Authorities is restored to LWS calcareous grassland standard. WNDC NNDC NOR_LCG_HC_A5 Restore 10 ha of semi-improved or neglected grassland to Natural England NOR_LCG_T3 LWS standard acid grassland through the implementation

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Appendix 3: Actions

of improved management. NOR_LCG_HC_A6 Identify two mineral extraction or landfill sites on which 10 Northamptonshire The Wildlife Trust NOR_LCG_T4 ha plus of calcareous grassland could be created and County Council initiate the creation process by 2010. NOR_LCG_HC_A7 Create 10 ha of calcareous grassland through section 106 Developers NOR_LCG_T4 agreements/new developments from arable, improved Local Authorities grassland and mineral extraction and landfill sites by 2015. WNDC NNDC NOR_LCG_HC_A8 Create 10 ha of calcareous grassland through agri- Natural England RNRP NOR_LCG_T4 environment or other grant schemes from arable land FWAG and improved grassland by 2015.

Lowland Dry Acid Grassland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LAG_HS_A1 Maintain 6.5 ha of acid grassland in the meadows at High The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T1 Wood and Ramsden. NOR_LAG_HS_A2 Identify Local Wildlife Sites that contain acid grassland NBRC/Northampto NOR_LAG_T1 within the South Daventry target areas and provide nshire Biodiversity & T2 maintenance and enhancement advice to landowners. Partnership NOR_LAG_HC_A3 Identify Local Wildlife Sites within the South Daventry acid NBRC/Northampto NOR_LAG_T2 grassland target areas with potential to form acid grassland nshire Biodiversity and target these for restoration/creation. Partnership NOR_LAG_HC_A4 Restore 1 ha of coniferous plantation in Lings Wood to The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T2 LWS acid grassland standard on by 2015. NOR_LAG_HC_A5 Restore 1ha of acid grassland at Sywell Country Park by NCC The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T2 grazing management by 2010. NOR_LAG_HC_A6 Through section 106 agreements/new developments Developers The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T2 ensure that 8.5 ha of semi-improved or neglected Local Authorities grassland within an acid grassland target area is restored (Daventry District to LWS acid grassland standard. Council/South Northants Council/WNDC)

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_LAG_HC_A7 Restore 9.5 ha of semi-improved or neglected grassland to Natural England FWAG NOR_LAG_T2 LWS standard acid grassland through the implementation RNRP of improved management. NOR_LAG_HC_A8 Establish 2 ha of LWS standard acid grassland within 3 The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T3 miles of High Wood by 2015. NOR_LAG_HC_A9 Create 4 ha of LWS standard acid grassland through Local Authorities The Wildlife Trust NOR_LAG_T4 section 106 agreements/new developments from arable (Daventry District land or improved grassland sites by 2015. Council/South Northants Council/WNDC)

NOR_LAG_HC_A1 Create 4 ha of LWS standard acid grassland through agri- Natural England RNRP NOR_LAG_T4 0 environment or other grant schemes from arable land or FWAG improved grassland by 2015.

Lowland Fens <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LFE_RE_A1 Identify the location of habitat that classifies as lowland Northamptonshire NOR_LFE_T1 fen. Biodiversity Partnership NOR_LFE_HS_A2 Manage the water level at Southfield Farm Marsh SSSI in The Wildlife Trust Natural England NOR_LFE_T1 order to maintain the area of lowland fen. NOR_LFE_HS_A3 Manage water level and quality at a catchment scale to Environment Water Companies NOR_LFE_T1 promote rehabilitation of existing sites. Agency (Anglian Water /Severn Trent Water) NOR_LFE_RE_A4 Identify where greater water parsnip occurs and promote NBRC The Wildlife Trust NOR_LFE_T1 management for this species on these sites. NOR_LFE_HS_A5 Through management of flood risk create 20 ha of lowland Environment NOR_LFE_T2 fen on flood plain. Agency NOR_LFE_HS_A6 Restore 20 ha of lowland fen in areas adjacent to existing Natural England RNRP NOR_LFE_T2 fen, reedbed and wet woodland through agri-environment FWAG

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Appendix 3: Actions

schemes. Funding may be targeted to the Nene Valley.

Lowland Heathland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LHE_HS_A1 Maintain the condition of Harlestone Heath Nature Reserve The Wildlife Trust NOR_LHE_T1 by scrub clearance and grazing. NOR_LHE_HC_A2 Establish a minimum of 10 ha of heathland at Harlestone The Wildlife Trust Natural England NOR_LHE_T2 Firs by ride widening and tree felling by 2015. NOR_LHE_HC_A3 Create 5 ha of heathland by 2015 by encouraging Northamptonshire Northants County NOR_LHE_T2 landowners to manage existing patches of land with Biodiversity Council (Borough heathland indicators to promote expansion of heathland. Partnership Hill), The Wildlife Trust (Lings)

Lowland Meadows <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LME_HS_A1 Maintain lowland meadow on Sywell Country Park and Northants County NOR_LME_T1 Fermyn Woods Country Park under stewardship Council arrangements. NOR_LME_HS_A2 Maintain 18 ha of meadows at Barford, Barnes, The Wildlife Trust NOR_LME_T1 Boddington, Bugbrooke, Ditchford, Farthinghoe, Great Oakley, Kingsthorpe, Mill Crook and Grafton Regis, Tailby and Pitsford reserves by grazing and cutting for hay. NOR_LME_HC_A3 Restore 7.5ha of lowland meadow in the Nene Valley by The Wildlife Trust NOR_LME_T2 2015 through taking on the management or ownership of new sites. NOR_LME_HC_A4 Restore 20ha of lowland meadow from semi-improved or Natural England RNRP NOR_LME_T2 neglected grassland in the Nene Valley by 2015 through FWAG agri-environment schemes. NOR_LME_HC_A5 Restore 2.5ha of wet meadow at Sywell Country Park by NCC The Wildlife Trust NOR_LME_T2 2015. Environment

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Appendix 3: Actions

Agency NOR_LME_HC_A6 Create 7ha of herb rich lowland meadow from arable land National Trust NOR_LME_T3 on the Lyveden Estate in 2008. NOR_LME_HC_A7 Create 20ha of lowland meadow from improved grassland Natural England RNRP NOR_LME_T3 or arable in the Nene Valley by 2015. Developers FWAG

Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_LMW_CA_A1 Initiate active management on woodland LWS including Northamptonshire The Forestry NOR_LMW_T1 the creation and maintenance of associated features such Biodiversity Commission as glades and rides. Partnership NOR_LMW_CA_A2 Prevent the loss of ancient woodland to development or Local Authorities Woodland Trust NOR_LMW_T2 other land uses. NOR_LMW_HS_A3 Retain existing veteran trees and identify and protect Woodland Trust The Forestry NOR_LMW_T2 veteran trees of the future. Commission NOR_LMW_SU_A4 Identify and survey woodland identified as Potential Northamptonshire The Wildlife Trust NOR_LMW_T3 Wildlife Sites and provide management advice to Biodiversity landowners. Partnership NOR_LMW_CA_A5 Promote the use of sustainable management practices The Forestry Royal Forestry NOR_LMW_T3 such as coppicing by actively targeting woodland owners Commission Society in Northamptonshire and providing training and advice. NOR_LMW_CA_A6 Promote the use of woodfuel from native woodland as a The Forestry Woodland Trust NOR_LMW_T1 sustainable source of heat and power generation and Commission & T2 & T3 provide advice and support to landowners to establish supply chains that facilitate sustainable woodland management (in line with “A Woodfuel Strategy for England”, Forestry Commission, 2007). NOR_LMW_CA_A7 Identify the location of plantations on privately owned The Forestry The Wildlife Trust NOR_LMW_T4 ancient woodland sites and provide advice to landowners Commission Woodland Trust about grant schemes available for conversion to semi- natural woodland.

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_LMW_HC_A8 Restore non-native plantations on ancient woodland sites The Forestry Woodland Trust NOR_MNW_T4 on Forestry Commission owned or managed land. Target Commission areas where there is potential connectivity to ancient and semi-natural woodlands. NOR_LMW_HC_A9 Identify target areas where woodland connectivity can be The Forestry The Wildlife Trust NOR_LMW_T5 enhanced and ancient woodlands buffered, and promote Commission Woodland Trust the creation of 240 ha of native woodland on these sites through grant-funded natural regeneration or planting of native species.

Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_OMH_SU_A1 By 2010 carry out a desk study to identify potential sites The Wildlife Trust NOR_OMH_T1 that meet the BAP habitat description. NOR_OMH_SU_A2 By 2013 carry out a general and floristic survey of all areas The Wildlife Trust University of NOR_OMH_T1 of previously developed land that may meet the LBAP Northampton (PhD description. students) NOR_OMH_SU_A3 Carry out invertebrate surveys on all sites meeting the Diptera Group NOR_OMH_T1 LBAP habitat description by 2015. The Wildlife Trust NOR_OMH_SP_A4 Assess the surveyed sites against Local Wildlife Site The Wildlife Trust NOR_OMH_T2 criteria within 6 months of survey date and designate where appropriate. NOR_OMH_CA_A5 Produce a guidance document for planners and The Wildlife Trust NOR_OMH_T2` developers regarding the value of open mosaic habitats on Buglife previously developed land by 2015. NOR_OMH_CA_A6 Ensure that suitable restoration schemes are put in place NCC The Wildlife Trust NOR_OMH_T2 once industrial use of sites such as landfill sites and quarries ceases.

Ponds <

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Appendix 3: Actions

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_PND_HS_A1 Re-introduction of management of existing ponds through Natural England FWAG NOR_PND_T1 appropriate Environmental Stewardship (ES) prescriptions RNRP & T2 for target habitats/species. The Wildlife Trust NOR_PND_HC_A2 Restore x ponds through ES to at least LWS standard and The Wildlife Trust FWAG NOR_PND_T2 to reflect the character of existing ponds within the locality. RNRP Natural England NOR_PND_HC_A3 Through section 106 agreements/new developments Developers The Wildlife Trust NOR_PND_T2 ensure that ponds of LWS standard are created, restored Local Authorities Natural England & T3 or enhanced wherever appropriate. WNDC NNDC NOR_PND_HC_A4 Encourage the creation of new ponds through the use of RNRP / FWAG Natural England NOR_PND_T3 ES and other funding streams. A full range of successional The Wildlife Trust stages should be created at every pond, from open water, through marginal zones, to scrub, woodland or grassland.

Reedbed <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_RBD_SU_A1 Identify the current extent of BAP-defined reedbed by June NBRC Northamptonshire NOR_RBD_T1 2009. Biodiversity Partnership NOR_RBD_CA_A2 Provide management advice to landowners of current The Wildlife Trust Northamptonshire NOR_RBD_T1 reedbeds to maintain condition by 2010. RSPB Biodiversity Partnership NOR_RBD_SP_A3 Respond to all planning applications and other proposals The Wildlife Trust RSPB NOR_RBD_T1 subject to a consenting scheme where these have the potential to damage or destroy the features of interest of a reedbed designated as LWS or SSSI. NOR_RBD_HS_A4 By 2015 establish management to ensure LWS condition The Wildlife Trust Northamptonshire NOR_RBD_T2 for all areas of targeted reedbed currently not designated Biodiversity LWS. Partnership

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_RBD_HC_A5 Help mineral companies and landowners establish 20-30 RSPB Northamptonshire NOR_RBD_T3 ha of wet reedbed suitable for high priority breeding birds, Biodiversity mammals and invertebrates in the Earls Barton area by Partnership 2015, including through the restoration of the Ecton estate following sand and gravel quarrying. NOR_RBD_CA_A6 Advise planning authorities, landowners and mineral RSPB The Wildlife Trust NOR_RBD_T3 companies on creating high quality reedbed as part of Natural England applications for mineral quarrying in the Earls Barton area, Environment to contribute to an overall long-term target beyond 2015 of Agency 100-130 hectares.

Rivers <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_RIV_SM_A1 Manage the spread of alien invasive species on Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_RIV_T1 watercourses. Agency NOR_RIV_CA_A2 Provide training and information to everyone involved in Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_RIV_T1 managing rivers and riparian habitats by 2012. Agency NOR_RIV_CA_A3 Encourage better management of agricultural land to Environment FWAG NOR_RIV_T2 eliminate point source pollution. Agency NOR_RIV_CA_A4 Encourage a catchment wide approach to identifying sites Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_RIV_T2 suitable for conservation initiatives and for the targeting of Agency improved management regimes NOR_RIV_HC_A5 Ensure 5 fish passes are created or barriers to fish Environment NOR_RIV_T2 movement removed. Agency NOR_RIV_HC_A6 Enhancement for biodiversity of 2km of river. Environment NOR_RIV_T2 Agency NOR_RIV_SU_A7 Survey for the presence of grass wrack pondweed on British Waterways NOR_RIV_T2 water bodies in Northamptonshire – particularly the Grand Union Canal and the Northampton Arm of the river Nene.

Traditional Orchards <

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Appendix 3: Actions

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_TOR_SU_A1 Undertake survey work on orchards (area, distribution in South Court NOR_TOR_T1 the county, i.e. Phase I surveying) and survey work on Environmental &T2 the measurable biodiversity value as habitats of individual orchards (character, management, species and habitats present i.e. Phase II surveying). NOR_TOR_CA_A2 Provide information on appropriate management for South Court Natural England NOR_TOR_T1, orchards to their owners and to those wishing to plant Environmental 2&3 orchards in order to attain, maintain and enhance the biodiversity of their habitats. NOR_TOR_HC_A3 Identify appropriate sites for the creation of additional South Court The Wildlife Trust NOR_TOR_T4 traditionally managed orchards and undertake, or Environmental Natural England encourage there to be undertaken, the planting and maintenance of such orchards. NOR_TOR_CA_A4 Identify and undertake, or cause there to be undertaken, South Court Groundwork NOR_TOR_T1 appropriate education and training activities for Environmental promoting the wider understanding of orchards as priority habitats for wildlife diversity and for their additional cultural, health and well-being and community values. NOR_TOR_CA_A5 Identify the means whereby those undertaking traditional South Court NOR_TOR_T1 management of their orchards have access to Environmental &2 appropriate financial gain from doing so, for instance by Natural England the sale of products and the provision of services (e.g. education) and Higher Level Stewardship. NOR_TOR_CA_A6 Produce criteria for assessing traditional orchards for South Court The Wildlife Trust NOR_TOR_T2 selection as Local Wildlife Sites, and assess all existing Environmental and newly identified orchards against these criteria. NBRC NOR_TOR_CA_A7 Encourage communities to highlight the biodiversity NACRE NOR_TOR_T1 value of orchards in Parish Plans. Local Authorities NOR_TOR_SP_A8 Where appropriate apply Tree Preservation Orders to Local Authorities NOR_TOR_T1 safeguard orchard trees.

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Appendix 3: Actions

Wet Woodland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_WWO_HS_A1 Ensure that existing wet woodland within designated The Wildlife Trust Anglian Water NOR_WWO_T1 sites is maintained in good condition through the control Natural England Severn Trent of water levels. Northamptonshire Water Biodiversity Environment Partnership Agency NOR_WWO_SU_A2 Identify the location of all wet woodland outside of The Wildlife Trust NBRC NOR_WWO_T2 designated sites by 2012. NOR_WWO_HS_A3 Provide management advice and incentives (through Natural England Northamptonshire NOR_WWO_T2 agri-environment schemes) to owners of wet woodland Biodiversity outside of designated sites in order that 5 ha achieves Partnership LWS condition by 2015. NOR_WWO_HC_A4 Create 2 ha of wet woodland at Pitsford Reservoir and The Wildlife Trust Anglian Water NOR_WWO_T3 other nature reserves by 2012. NOR_WWO_HC_A5 Create 2 ha of wet woodland through succession from Natural England The Wildlife Trust NOR_WWO_T3 open water bodies in the Nene Valley by 2015. NOR_WWO_HC_A6 Create 2 ha of wet woodland through conditions on Developers The Wildlife Trust NOR_WWO_T3 planning applications by 2015. Local Authorities WNDC NNDC

Wood-Pasture and Parkland <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_WPP_SU_A1 Identify the extent and current condition of wood pasture The Wildlife Trust Royal Forestry NOR_WPP_T1 and parkland in the county. Forestry Society Commission NOR_WPP_HS_A2 Manage wood-pasture and parkland through appropriate Natural England NOR_WPP_T1 Environmental Stewardship (ES) prescriptions.

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Appendix 3: Actions

NOR_WPP_HS_A3 Plant young trees and ensure the survival of semi-mature Forestry Royal Forestry NOR_WPP_T1 trees to veteran status to ensure a wide age range and Commission Society constant availability of dead wood. NOR_WPP_CA_A4 Promote a balanced, risk-based approach to tree safety Forestry The Wildlife Trust NOR_WPP_T1 works, considering the biodiversity value of standing dead Commission Natural England wood and advocating crown reduction as opposed to whole tree removal where this can reduce the public risk to a suitable level. NOR_WPP_HC_A5 Identify sites that are suitable for restoration which still Forestry Natural England NOR_WPP_T2 support a number of ancient trees and/or parkland Commission The Wildlife Trust features. Restoration to be achieved through ES or England Woodland Grants Scheme (EWGS). NOR_WPP_HC_A6 Identify suitable arable land or improved grassland for the The Wildlife Trust Royal Forestry NOR_WPP_T3 establishment of a new wood-pasture or parkland site. To Society be achieved through ES or EWGS. NOR_WPP_CA_A7 Identify potential areas for the expansion and buffering of The Wildlife Trust NOR_WPP_T4 wood pasture and parkland sites and provide advice to owners of this land.

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Appendix 3: Actions

Species Actions

Otter <

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_OTT_SU_A1 Encourage the formation of an otter group by 2009 that The Wildlife Trust Environment NOR_OTT_T1 can implement structured otter surveying within Agency Northamptonshire. NOR_OTT_SU_A2 Identify black spots on roads that cause otter fatalities Highways Agency Environment NOR_OTT_T2 through road accidents and report every 3 years. NCC/Highways Agency Authority NBRC NOR_OTT_HS_A3 Install safety improvements such as high-level culverts or Local Authorities Environment NOR_OTT_T2 ledges at the sites identified in action A2. Highways Agency Agency NOR_OTT_HS_A4 Ensure that new infrastructure developments incorporate Local Authorities Environment NOR_OTT_T2 the needs of otters, e.g. passes under new roads. These WNDC Agency measures should be implemented on all river catchments NNDC Natural England in anticipation of the otter population expanding. NOR_OTT_SU_A5 Report all dead otters to the records center and the EA Environment All NOR_OTT_T2 and send all recoverable dead otters for post-mortem at Agency Cardiff University. NOR_OTT_HS_A6 Protect natural holt sites from the adverse impacts of Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_OTT_T2 development and habitat degradation. Agency NOR_OTT_HS_A7 Manage watercourses and associated habitats to ensure Environment FWAG NOR_OTT_T2 an abundance of ground cover to reduce disturbance and Agency provide resting sites. Plant reedbeds and allow scrub encroachment. Erect fencing to reduce disturbance. NOR_OTT_HC_A8 Create 5 holts in suitable habitats along riverbanks by Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_OTT_T2 2015. Agency NOR_OTT_CA_A9 By 2010 ensure otter guards are placed on all licensed eel Environment NOR_OTT_T2 and crayfish traps. Agency

Water Vole <

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Appendix 3: Actions

Action Code Action Description Lead Partner Support Related Target Partner(s) NOR_WAV_SU_A1 Carry out annual surveys on the last known water vole The Wildlife Trust NOR_WAV_T1 positive sites. NOR_WAV_SU_A2 Collate incidental records and plan extended surveys for The Wildlife Trust Environment NOR_WAV_T1 2008/9 based on these. Agency NOR_WAV_SU_A3 Encourage the formation of a water vole conservation The Wildlife Trust Environment NOR_WAV_T1 group to take forward the survey program. Agency NOR_WAV_SP_A4 Designate all water vole positive sites as LWS. The Wildlife Trust Environment NOR_WAV_T1 Agency NOR_WAV_CA_A5 Produce management plans for all known water vole sites Environment The Wildlife Trust NOR_WAV_T1 by 2009, and update if new sites are identified. Agency British Waterways NOR_WAV_CA_A6 Produce, publicise and distribute a best practice Environment NOR_WAV_T1 management leaflet by 2009 for landowners who have Agency water voles on their land. NOR_WAV_CA_A7 Produce, publicise and distribute a best practice leaflet for Environment NOR_WAV_T1 engineering works on watercourses by 2009. Agency NOR_WAV_SM_A8 Carry out natural mink control by encouraging the spread All NOR_WAV_T1& of otters into areas where water voles are still found. 2 NOR_WAV_HS_A9 Retain and improve bank side habitat adjacent to known FWAG Environment NOR_WAV_T2 and historical water vole sites, through agri-environment RNRP Agency and other schemes where appropriate, to provide British Waterways The Wildlife Trust protection and encourage spread. (canals)

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

BAP SPECIES That are found in Northamptonshire, grouped by taxon and listed alphabetically by scientific name Local BAP species can be found in a separate table following this one

Scientific Common Northants Management Action Taxon Associated Habitats Key Sites Name Name Status Considerations Category Alauda Lowland Dry Lowland arvensis Lowland bird Sky Lark Breeding Arable Acid Calcareous Monitor arvensis/scoti Meadows Grassland Grassland ca2 Lowland Mixed Anthus Clearings needed Fineshade bird Tree Pipit Breeding Deciduous HAP trivialis within woodlands Wood Woodland Yardley Chase, Caprimulgus European Lowland Clear fell Titchmarsh bird Breeding HAP europaeus Nightjar Heathland plantation Wood, Salcey Forest

Lowland Mixed Large woodland Carduelis Bird Lesser Redpoll Breeding Deciduous blocks with some Unknown Monitor cabaret Woodland conifers present

Carduelis Lowland Mixed cannabina Common bird Breeding Hedgerows Deciduous Arable Monitor autochthona/c Linnet Woodland annabina2 Coccothraust Lowland Mixed es bird Hawfinch Breeding Deciduous Monitor coccothrauste Woodland s bird Cuculus Common Breeding Reedbeds Lowland Mixed No Action

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

canorus Cuckoo Deciduous Woodland Dendrocopos Lesser Lowland Mixed Traditional bird minor Spotted Breeding Deciduous Wet Woodland Monitor Orchards comminutus6 Woodpecker Woodland Emberiza bird Yellowhammer Breeding Hedgerows Monitor citrinella Emberiza bird Reed Bunting Breeding Reedbeds Lowland Fens Monitor schoeniclus Passage Larus migrant and Eutrophic bird argentatus Herring Gull No Action winter Standing Water argenteus7 visitor Limosa limosa Black-tailed Passage Floodplain bird No Action limosa8 Godwit migrant Grazing Marsh Common Lowland Mixed Locustella Lowland bird Grasshopper Breeding Deciduous Reedbeds Arable No Action naevia Meadows Warbler Woodland Miliaria calandra bird Corn Bunting Breeding Arable No Action calandra/clan ceyi2 Motacilla flava Lowland bird Yellow Wagtail Breeding No Action flavissima9 Meadows Lowland Mixed Lowland Wood Muscicapa Spotted bird Breeding Deciduous Hedgerows Pasture and No Action striata Flycatcher Woodland Parkland Passage Numenius Eurasian migrant - Eutrophic Floodplain Lowland bird Monitor arquata Curlew historical Standing Water Grazing Marsh Meadows breeder Parus Lowland Mixed Maintain standing bird montanus Willow Tit Breeding Deciduous Wet Woodland HAP deadwood kleinschimdti6 Woodland

- 97 -

Appendix 3: BAP Species

Parus Lowland Mixed palustris bird Marsh Tit Breeding Deciduous Wet Woodland Monitor palustris/dres Woodland seri2 Open Mosaic Habitats on Passer House bird Breeding Hedgerows Previously No Action domesticus Sparrow Developed Land Sensitive management of Passer Eurasian Tree specific Summer bird Breeding Hedgerows HAP montanus Sparrow hedgerows and Leys LNR retention of dead trees bird Perdix perdix Grey Partridge Breeding Hedgerows Arable Monitor Rare Lowland Mixed Phylloscopus bird Wood Warbler Passage Deciduous No Action sibilatrix Migrant Woodland Prunella Lowland Mixed Hedge bird modularis Breeding Hedgerows Deciduous No Action Accentor occidentalis10 Woodland Pyrrhula Lowland Mixed Common bird pyrrhula Breeding Deciduous Orchards Hedgerows Monitor Bullfinch pileata5 Woodland Streptopelia European bird Breeding Arable Monitor turtur Turtle Dove Sturnus Common Lowland bird vulgaris Breeding Reedbeds Arable No Action Starling Meadows vulgaris11 Turdus Lowland Mixed bird philomelos Song Thrush Breeding Deciduous Arable Wet Woodland Monitor clarkei13 Woodland Maintain short Mainly Vanellus Northern Floodplain bird Breeding vegetation Nene HAP vanellus Lapwing Grazing Marsh structure of open Valley.

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

aspect, with Wadenhoe, numerous flooded Earls Barton shallow Gravel Pit, scrapes/grips. Brampton Valley. Brown/Sea bony fish Salmo trutta Rivers No Action trout bony fish Anguilla (Actinopte European eel Rivers Monitor anguilla rygii) bony fish (Actinopte Cobitis taenia Spined loach Rivers Monitor rygii) Eutrophic amphibian Bufo bufo Common Toad Rivers Standing Ponds Monitor Waters Reduce heavy shading, buffer zones around Triturus Great Crested ponds, restrict amphibian Widespread Ponds HAP cristatus Newt grazing around pond margin, prevent stocking with fish or ducks. Open Mosaic Habitats on reptile Anguis fragilis Slow-worm Unknown Previously Monitor Developed Land Open Mosaic Habitats on Lowland Lowland Dry Lacerta Common reptile Unknown Previously Calcareous Acid Monitor vivipara Lizard Developed Grassland Grassland Land

- 99 -

Appendix 3: BAP Species

Open Mosaic Habitats on reptile Natrix natrix Grass Snake Unknown Previously Ponds Monitor Developed Land Kingscliffe Disused Maintain sunny Railway Lowland Mixed areas in Line, reptile Vipera berus Adder Unknown Deciduous HAP woodland Fineshade Woodland habitats. Wood, Bedford Purlieus Daventry Ephemerum Clustered Eutrophic Reservoir, bryophyte Rare Monitor cohaerens earth-moss Standing Water Wellford Reservoir Twywell Lowland Hills and Sarcosphaera Violet Associated with fungus Rare Calcareous Dales HAP coronaria Crowncup pine trees. Grassland Country Park White-clawed crustacea Austropotamo freshwater Unknown Rivers River Ise No Action n bius pallipes crayfish insect - Bembidion Maintain areas of beetle Scarce Four- quadripustulat Very Rare Lowland Fens wet calcareous Pitsford Monitor (Coleopter dot Pin-palp um clay a) insect - Lowland Wood beetle Lucanus Stag Beetle Very Rare Pasture and Monitor (Coleopter cervus Parkland a)

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

insect - Ophonus beetle laticollis Set-aside Calcareous Very Rare Collyweston Monitor (Coleopter (=Harpalus Downy-back Grassland a) punctatulus) insect - beetle Ophonus Mellet's Calcareous Very Rare Collyweston Monitor (Coleopter melletii Downy-back Grassland a) insect - beetle Ophonus Oolite Downy- Very Rare Monitor (Coleopter stictus back a) Open Mosaic Insect – Habitats on Lowland Dorycera The Pheonix Bradlaugh fly Very Rare Previously Calcareous Unknown Monitor graminum Fly Fields (Diptera) Developed Grassland Land Open Mosaic Habitats on Lowland Wood insect - Coenonymph Locally Lowland Small Heath Previously Pasture and Monitor butterfly a pamphilus Common Heathland Developed Parkland Land Kidney vetch is the sole food Brackley plant. Requires Lowland Railway insect - Cupido dry sheltered Small Blue Very Rare Calcareous Line HAP butterfly minimus grassland with a Grassland Embankme mosaic of short nt and tall vegetation. Common bird’s Open Mosaic foot trefoil in a Twywell Lowland Habitats on sparse sward, Hills and insect - Erynnis tages Dingy Skipper Restricted Calcareous Previously with open ground Dales HAP butterfly Grassland Developed and taller Country Land vegetation in a Park. sunny sheltered

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

position.

Lowland Mixed insect - Leptidea Suitable ride Salcey Wood White Restricted Deciduous HAP butterfly sinapis management Forest Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Limenitis Suitable ride Salcey White Admiral Local Deciduous HAP butterfly camilla management Forest Woodland Rosaceae growing among Open Mosaic Twywell short vegetation Lowland Habitats on Hills and insect - Pyrgus Grizzled (< 10cm), with Restricted Calcareous Previously Dales HAP butterfly malvae Skipper bare ground, Grassland Developed Country taller vegetation Land Park. and scrub or woodland edges. Lowland Mixed insect - Satyrium w- White Letter Maintain elm Frequent Hedgerows Deciduous HAP butterfly album Hairstreak where present Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Acronicta psi Grey Dagger Common Deciduous Hedgerows Monitor moth Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Acronicta Fairly Knot Grass Deciduous Scrub Monitor moth rumicis common Woodland Lowland Dry Lowland insect - Adscita Lowland The Forester Rare Acid Calcareous Monitor moth statices Meadows Grassland Grassland Lowland Mixed insect - Agrochola Flounced Rather local Deciduous Monitor moth helvola Chestnut Woodland

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Lowland Mixed insect - Agrochola Brown-spot Common Deciduous Monitor moth litura Pinion Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Agrochola Beaded Common Deciduous Monitor moth lychnidis Chestnut Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Allophyes Green-brindled Common Deciduous Hedgerows Scrub Monitor moth oxyacanthae Crescent Woodland Lowland Dry Lowland insect - Amphipoea Lowland Ear Moth Scarce Acid Calcareous Monitor moth oculea Meadows Grassland Grassland Lowland Mixed insect - Amphipyra Mouse Moth Common Deciduous Monitor moth tragopoginis Woodland Lowland Dry insect - Apamea Large Nutmeg Common Calcareous Monitor moth anceps Grassland Lowland Dry Lowland insect - Apamea Dusky Lowland Common Acid Calcareous Monitor moth remissa Brocade Meadows Grassland Grassland Lowland Dry Lowland insect - Aporophyla Deep-brown Fairly Lowland Acid Calcareous Monitor moth lutulenta Dart common Meadows Grassland Grassland Open Mosaic Habitats on Gardens, insect - Arctia caja Garden Tiger Scarce Previously allotments, rough Monitor moth Developed ground Land Lowland Mixed insect - Atethmia Centre-barred Common Deciduous Hedgerows Mature Ash Monitor moth centrago Sallow Woodland insect - Brachylomia Minor Fairly Wet Woodland Willow Monitor moth viminalis Shoulder-knot common

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Open Mosaic Feeds on Habitats on herbaceous insect - Caradrina Very Lowland Mottled Rustic Previously plants, including Monitor moth morpheus common Meadows Developed nettle and Land dandelion. insect - Celaena Floodplain The Crescent Local Lowland Fens Reedbeds Wet Woodland Monitor moth leucostigma Grazing Marsh Lowland Mixed insect - Chesias The Streak Local Deciduous Hedgerows Monitor moth legatella Woodland insect - Chiasmia Latticed Heath Common Arable Lucerne crops Monitor moth clathrata Glapthorn Lowland Mixed Cow insect - Chortodes The Floodplain Local Lowland Fens Deciduous Pasture, Monitor moth extrema Concolorous Grazing Marsh Woodland Geddington Chase Lowland Mixed insect - Cosmia White-spotted Rare Deciduous Hedgerows Monitor moth diffinis Pinion Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Cossus Goat Moth Rare Rivers Lowland Fens Hedgerows Deciduous Woodland edge Monitor moth cossus Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Cyclophora False Mocha Local Deciduous Oak Monitor moth porata Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Cymatophori Oak Lutestring Local Deciduous Oak Monitor moth ma diluta Woodland insect - Small Square- Very Floodplain Diarsia rubi Wet Woodland Gardens Monitor moth spot common Grazing Marsh Lowland Mixed insect - Dicycla oo Heart Moth Very local Deciduous Monitor moth Woodland

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Diloba Lowland Mixed insect - Figure Of caeruleoceph Rather local Hedgerow Deciduous Gardens Monitor moth Eight ala Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Ecliptopera Lowland Food plant mainly Small Phoenix Common Deciduous Monitor moth silaceata Meadows willowherbs. Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Ennomos September Fairly Wood Pasture Deciduous Gardens Monitor moth erosaria Thorn common and Parkland Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Ennomos Fairly Dusky Thorn Deciduous Hedgerows Ash Monitor moth fuscantaria common Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Ennomos August Thorn Rather local Deciduous Parkland Hedgerows Gardens. Oak Monitor moth quercinaria Woodland insect - Epirrhoe Calcareous Galium Carpet Rare Monitor moth galiata Grassland Caterpillars feed insect - Eulithis Fairly on Ribes species. The Spinach Monitor moth mellinata common Gardens and allotments Wide range of Open Mosaic herbaceous food Habitats on insect - Euxoa Fairly plants. Found in Garden Dart Previously Monitor moth nigricans common gardens, Developed allotments, waste Land ground. Lowland Mixed insect - Graphiphora Double Dart Common Deciduous Hedgerows Lowland Fen Gardens Monitor moth augur Woodland Hemistola Lowland Mixed insect - Gardens and chrysoprasari Small Emerald Rather local Hedgerows Deciduous Monitor moth scrub a Woodland

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Open Mosaic Habitats on insect - Hepialus Ghost Moth Common Previously Monitor moth humuli Developed Land Open Mosaic Feeds on grasses Habitats on insect - Hoplodrina Lowland such as cock’s- The Rustic Common Previously Monitor moth blanda Meadows foot and tall Developed fescue. Land Open Mosaic Habitats on insect - Hydraecia Rosy Rustic Common Previously Gardens Monitor moth micacea Developed Land Lowland Mixed insect - Brindled Lycia hirtaria Common Deciduous Hedgerows Scrub Monitor moth Beauty Woodland Gardens and insect - Macaria allotments – V-moth Local Monitor moth wauaria feeds on Ribes species. Open Mosaic Lowland Mixed Habitats on insect - Malacosoma Fairly The Lackey Hedgerows Deciduous Previously Gardens Monitor moth neustria common Woodland Developed Land insect - Melanchra Dot Moth Common Hedgerows Gardens Monitor moth persicariae Open Mosaic Habitats on insect - Melanchra Fairly Broom Moth Previously Monitor moth pisi common Developed Land Lowland Mixed insect - Melanthia Pretty Chalk Local Deciduous Hedgerows scrub Monitor moth procellata Carpet Woodland

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Lowland insect - Mesoligia All calcareous Rosy Minor Local Calcareous Monitor moth literosa habitats Grassland Shoulder- insect - Mythimna Fairly Floodplain Lowland striped Lowland Fens Gardens Monitor moth comma common Grazing Marsh Meadows Wainscot insect - Orthonama Oblique Floodplain Rare Lowland Fens Wet Woodland Monitor moth vittata Carpet Grazing Marsh insect - Orthosia Powdered Floodplain Common Wet Woodland Gardens Monitor moth gracilis Quaker Grazing Marsh Lowland Mixed insect - Pechipogo Common Fan- Deciduous Oak Monitor moth strigilata foot Woodland Open Mosaic Habitats on insect - Pelurga Dark Spinach Local Previously Monitor moth comitata Developed Land Perizoma insect - Calcareous albulata Grass Rivulet Local Monitor moth Grassland albulata insect - Polia Pale Shining Rare Monitor moth bombycina Brown Lowland Mixed insect - Rheumaptera Argent and Requires birch Unknown Deciduous Monitor moth hastata sable regeneration. Woodland Short grazed Lowland insect - Scotopteryx areas with bare Chalk Carpet Unknown Calcareous Monitor moth bipunctaria ground. Feed on Grassland trefoils & clovers. Open Mosaic Lowland Habitats on insect - Scotopteryx Shaded Common Calcareous Hedgerows Previously Monitor moth chenopodiata Broad-bar Grassland Developed Land

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Feeds on wide variety of Lowland Mixed insect - Spilosoma Lowland herbaceous White Ermine Common Hedgerows Deciduous Monitor moth lubricipeda Meadows plants and trees Woodland in various habitats. Feeds on wide variety of Lowland Mixed insect - Spilosoma Lowland herbaceous Buff Ermine Common Deciduous Hedgerows Monitor moth luteum Meadows plants and trees Woodland in various habitats. Open Mosaic Habitats on Lowland Dry Lowland insect - Tholera Lowland Hedge Rustic Local Previously Acid Calcareous Gardens Monitor moth cespitis Meadows Developed Grassland Grassland Land Lowland Mixed Lowland Wood insect - Tholera Feathered Fairly Lowland Gardens. Rough Deciduous Pasture and Monitor moth decimalis Gothic common Meadows grassland. Woodland Parkland insect - Timandra Floodplain Damp, herb-rich Blood-vein Common Lowland Fens Monitor moth comae Grazing Marsh places Lowland Mixed insect - Trichiura Fairly Lowland Pale Eggar Deciduous Hedgerows Gardens Monitor moth crataegi common Heathland Woodland Lowland Mixed insect - Trichopteryx Barred Tooth- Rare Hedgerows Deciduous Scrub Monitor moth polycommata striped Woodland Open Mosaic Habitats on insect - Tyria The Cinnabar Common Previously Ragwort Monitor moth jacobaeae Developed Land Open Mosaic Feeds on field Lowland Lowland Dry insect - Four-Spotted Habitats on bindweed. Prefers Tyta luctuosa Very Rare Calcareous Acid Unknown Monitor moth Moth Previously south-facing Grassland Grassland Developed banks, dry

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Land ground, sparse vegetation. Lowland Mixed Lowland Wood insect - Watsonalla Oak Hook-tip Common Deciduous Hedgerows Pasture and Gardens. Oak Monitor moth binaria Woodland Parkland Lowland Mixed insect - Xanthia Dusky-lemon Local Deciduous Hedgerows Elm Monitor moth gilvago Sallow Woodland insect - Xanthia The Sallow Common Monitor moth icteritia Dark-barred insect - Xanthorhoe Twin-spot Common Monitor moth ferrugata Carpet Lowland Mixed insect - Xestia Neglected Lowland Rare Deciduous Monitor moth castanea Rustic Heathland Woodland Caterpillars feed Lowland insect - Blepharita Lowland on wide range of Dark Brocade Local Calcareous Lowland Fens Monitor moth adusta Heathland herbaceous Grassland plants and trees. Scopula insect - marginepunct Mullein Wave Very Local Rivers Monitor moth ata insect - Xestia Heath Rustic Rare Heathland Monitor moth agathina Lowland Mixed insect - Asteroscopus The Sprawler Common Deciduous Monitor moth sphinx Woodland Depressed (or Pseudanodon mollusc compressed) Rivers Monitor ta complanata river mussel Barnwell Eutrophic terrestrial Arvicola Brook, Water Vole Rivers Standing Ponds See action plan SAP mammal terrestris Croughton, Waters Swanspool

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Brook.

Lowland Mixed terrestrial Barbastella Barbastelle Maintain standing Deciduous HAP mammal barbastellus Bat deadwood Woodland West terrestrial Erinaceus European Various Monitor mammal europaeus Hedgehog Lowland Mixed terrestrial Lepus Lowland Brown Hare Deciduous Monitor mammal europaeus Meadows Woodland Eutrophic terrestrial Lutra lutra Otter Rivers Standing See action plan Widespread SAP mammal Waters terrestrial Micromys Harvest Lowland Arable Reedbeds No Action mammal minutus Mouse Meadows Woodland Lowland Mixed Requires actively in terrestrial Muscardinus Dormouse Hedgerows Deciduous managed hazel Rockingha HAP mammal avellanarius Woodland coppice. m Forest area. Lowland Mixed terrestrial Mustela Polecat Deciduous Monitor mammal putorius Woodland Lowland Mixed Lowland Wood terrestrial Nyctalus Noctule Deciduous Pasture and Monitor mammal noctula Woodland Parkland terrestrial Pipistrellus Soprano Various Monitor mammal pygmaeus Pipistrelle Lowland Mixed Lowland Wood terrestrial Plecotus Brown long- Deciduous Pasture and Monitor mammal auritus eared bat Woodland Parkland

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Lowland Well-drained flowering Astragalus Purple Milk- Collyweston Very Rare Calcareous limestone HAP plant danicus vetch Quarries Grassland grasslands Marshy fields flowering Blysmus Floodplain should be cut for Flat-sedge Very Rare Bulwick HAP plant compressus Grazing Marsh hay and the aftermath grazed. Grazing of grass Lowland flowering Carex Rare spring- layer on infertile Harlestone Very Rare Calcareous HAP plant ericetorum sedge soils over chalk or Firs Grassland limestone. Woodford Cephalanther Lowland Mixed flowering White Woodlands on Shrubbery, a Very Rare Deciduous HAP plant Helleborine calcareous soil. Ashton damasonium Woodland Wold Croughton Lowland area, flowering Clinopodium Old quarries and Basil Thyme Rare Calcareous Collyweston Monitor plant acinos railway lines Grassland , Twywell, Old Sulehay Lowland Requires dry, flowering Dactylorhiza Hardwick Frog Orchid Very Rare Calcareous well-grazed HAP plant viridis Meadow Grassland grassland. Open Mosaic Requires Habitats on Lowland flowering Galeopsis Red hemp- disturbed ground Very Rare Arable Previously Calcareous Rothwell Monitor plant angustifolia nettle over calcareous Developed Grassland substrates. Land Requires short Nene Valley turf in areas flowering Mentha Floodplain (var. erecta Pennyroyal Very Rare disturbed by HAP plant pulegium Grazing Marsh – not grazing, trampling native?) or vehicles. Apethorpe Lowland Mixed Saprophytic, in flowering Monotropa Yellow Bird's- Woods, Rare Deciduous shrubby beech HAP plant hypopitys nest Wakerley Woodland and pine woods. Woods

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Great Doddington marsh, flowering Oenanthe Tubular Water- Lowland Floodplain Seasonally Rare Lowland Fens Welland No Action plant fistulosa dropwort Meadows Grazing Marsh flooded grassland Valley, Harringwort h Meadow

Preserve open Wakerley Lowland Mixed woodland on Woods, flowering Ophrys Fly Orchid Rare Deciduous calcareous soil Collyweston HAP plant insectifera Woodland and prevent scrub , Easton encroachment. Hornstocks

Grows particularly in grazed abandoned Orchis Lowland flowering chalkpits and anthropophor Man Orchid Very Rare Calcareous Collyweston HAP plant limestone a Grassland quarries, usually at the foot of slopes. Retain wet ditches and canals, prevent Eutrophic Nene and flowering Potamogeton Grass-wrack eutrophication, Local Rivers Standing Grand HAP plant compressus Pondweed monitor effects of Waters Union Canal boat traffic and associated pollution. Sywell Country flowering Ranunculus Corn Waste ground on Rare Arable Park, Monitor plant arvensis Buttercup clays and chalk. Brampton Valley Way Scandix Prefers heavy Boddington flowering Shepherd's pecten- Very Rare Arable calcareous soils Reservoir, HAP plant Needle veneris that dry out in Raunds

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

summer. Reduce use of chemicals & retain field edge refuges. Open Mosaic Habitats on Prefers sandy Earls Barton flowering Scleranthus Annual Knawel Rare Previously areas such as old sand HAP plant annuus Developed disused sand pits. pits Land Keep water in ditches open by occasional clearance with a flowering Sium Greater Water Marsh and bucket excavator Welland Rare HAP plant latifolium Parsnip Swamp or scythe. Prevent and Nene growth of carr and do not allow heavy grazing or frequent cutting. Salcey Forest, flowering Stellaria Marsh Lowland Floodplain Very Rare Lowland Fens Trafford Monitor plant palustris Stitchwort Meadows Grazing Marsh Bridge Marsh

Local BAP Species

These species are not UK Priority species but have local significance within Northamptonshire. A brief description of each species follows.

Scientific Common Northants Management Action Taxon Associated Habitats Key Sites Name Name Status Considerations Category

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Byfield, Churchyards Sensitive Helmdon, Physcia Found in 4 lichen A lichen (Ironstone management of Moreton Monitor clementii churchyards headstones) graveyards Pinkney & Sulgrave Provision of long Lowland Dry Acid Bird Tyto alba Barn owl Recovering Lowland Meadows Rough Grasslands term nesting Nene Valley Monitor Grassland opportunities Lowland Mixed Management to Satyrium Black Rockingha Butterfly Breeding Deciduous Hedgerows retain blackthorn HAP pruni hairstreak m Forest Woodland scrub Protection of Populus nigra Flowering existing trees, subsp. Black poplar Declining Hedgerows Scattered HAP plant plant females, Betuifolia remove hybrids Protection of Flowering Ulmus plotii Plot’s elm Very rare Hedgerows suckering trees in Laxton HAP plant hedgerows insect - Lowland Mixed Management of beetle Ernoporus Lime bark Easton Very rare Deciduous old coppice of HAP (Coleopter tiliae [panzer] beetle Hornstocks Woodland small-leaved lime a) Luscinia Lowland Mixed Coppice Rockingha Bird megarhyncho Nightingale Breeding Deciduous HAP management m Forest s Woodland

Triturus Management of Yardley Amphibian Palmate newt Rare Ponds HAP helveticus breeding ponds Chase

A lichen; Physcia clementii A nationally scarce lichen recorded in 4 churchyard sites in Northamptonshire (5 specimens, all sterile). Survival is reliant on suitable management of graveyards. Recently classified as near threatened on the GB red list (species which occur in 15 or fewer hectads). Ivan Pedley (County Recorder) recommends that it remains on the LBAP as there are only 5 records in the County and they are under threat from insensitive graveyard management. One site is being preserved thanks to local parish and lottery funding.

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

Barn Owl; Tyto alba Sharp fall in numbers in past decades but population now increasing. RSPB amber status; moderate (25-49% decline in breeding range in past 25 years). The UK population increased from 4000 breeding pairs (late1990s) to 6000 in 2007 (Paddy Jackson). In Northamptonshire the population has increased by 100% between 2000 (50 breeding pairs) and 2007 (100 breeding pairs); slightly better than national population. However the Northamptonshire population is hugely reliant on conservation efforts with over 80% of breeding occurring in artificial nesting boxes. Creation of field margins and foraging habitat through agri-environment schemes is also very important.

Black hairstreak; Satyrium pruni Found exclusively in blackthorn thickets in a small part of East Midlands. Was a species of conservation concern but no longer listed. Found in 45 sites nationally and 13 of these sites are in Northamptonshire, which is a significant part of the population. Further population increases reliant on suitable habitat management and creation.

Black Poplar; Populus nigra subsp. betuifolia Britain’s rarest native timber tree. UK population of 2-3000. Currently only seven known trees within Northamptonshire therefore must still be considered a BAP priority species (Rob Wilson; county recorder). No change in the last eight years except that the tree in East Carlton Park was not known before 2003, although it is a well established tree. However, a number of the trees must be heading towards the end of their natural life. As female black poplars are very rare they general only reproduce by an old tree falling over and seeding which could create an interesting conservation problem. It is rare because it is essentially a hedgerow tree and while never common in the county it has probably diminished with hedgerow removal and the planting of cultivar poplars. Unless there is any threat to the few existing trees it is probably not particularly conservation dependant. As one of Britain's 'rarest and most distinctive native trees' (Oliver Rackham) the local population is undoubtedly of importance nationally although there are counties with much more suitable habitat and a larger number of examples. GB red list: Lower risk-least concern Northamptonshire Red data book- declining species

Plots elm; Ulmus plotii Only found within the midlands. A subspecies of elm; Found in 2 sites in Northamptonshire out of 50 in country (old BAP). This species is very rare with only a couple of examples of this tree known within the county, all other examples having succumbed to Dutch Elm disease.although some former trees may survive as regenerating suckers. There is only one known mature tree surviving. Recent years (post Dutch Elm disease) have shown little change although suckering trees do need to be investigated and recorded. This is made doubly difficult by the many different interpretations of what constitutes an Elm species. As a hedgerow tree it probably is conservation dependant as suckering growth will no doubt be regularly lopped off with the flail as hedges are trimmed. As few mature trees remain and the East Midlands is the only area of the country where it naturally occurs even the small Northamptonshire population must be very important in a national context.

Lime bark beetle; Ernoporus tiliae [panzer]

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Appendix 3: BAP Species

GB red data book; endangered. NBN gateway shows records in 11 sites in Great Britain, one of which is Eastern Hornstocks SSSI in Northamptonshire. Reliant on dead wood management. Population improved nationally due to surveying efforts Was a UKBAP species; Removed as ‘Ecological requirements known. Status and distribution information adequate in England and Wales. More research needed on sites that are being actively managed for E. tiliae. There is no formal monitoring of these sites’ Tony Drane (county recorder); “Eastern Hornstocks is an important ‘island’ population between 2 habitats. Dependant on the coppicing of the small-leaved lime woodlands of which there are just fragments left. Maintained range since previous BAP but no expansion and is conservation dependant. Important national population as potential linkage along the limestone band.”

Nightingale; Luscinia megarhynchos RSBP Amber species; 6, 700 breeding males. moderate (25-49% decline in breeding range in past 25 years). Northamptonshire at the northern limit of distribution. 26 records in the County since 2002. Population fairly reliant on coppicing. Stable numbers but unlikely to expand range without help. Thinly distributed in Northants, stronghold on Glapthorn Cow Pastures and Compton estate. National decline. Strongly reliant on conservation efforts. Northants on edge of distribution but small population, therefore important in terms of future viability (Bob Bullock).

Palmate Newt; Triturus helveticus Widely distributed across UK. Rare in East Midlands. Few in Northamptonshire. 7 records in the County since 2002. Conservation dependant as any breeding ponds for this species will need to be managed correctly including silt removal, deepening of pond sites when needed and scrub and tree removal around pond edges. A few recent discoveries. The Northamptonshire Palmate Newt populations are important in a national context as the Palmate Newt is a rare or absent species in the Midlands and East Anglia. Rarer in Northamptonshire than GCN.

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