CYNGOR CEFN GWLAD CYMRU COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES CORE MANAGEMENT PLAN INCLUDING CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES FOR MYNYDD HELYGAIN / HALKYN MOUNTAIN SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION SAC EU Code: UK0030163 Version: Final Date: March 2008 (Minor map edit, February 2013) Approved by: Tim Jones, 12 th March 2008 More detailed maps of management units can be provided on request. A Welsh version of all or part of this document can be made available on request. CONTENTS Preface: Purpose of this document 1. Vision for the Site 2. Site Description 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan 2.2 Outline Description 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management 2.4 Management Units 3. The Special Features 3.1 Confirmation of Special Features 3.2 Special Features and Management Units 4. Conservation Objectives Background to Conservation Objectives 4.1 Conservation Objective for Feature 1: Calaminarian grassland of the Violetalia calaminariae type 4.2 Conservation Objective for Feature 2: European dry heath 4.3 Conservation Objective for Feature 3: Semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates 4.4 Conservation Objective for Feature 4: Molinia meadows on calcareous peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) 4.5 Conservation Objective for Feature 5: Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) 5. Assessment of Conservation Status and Management Requirements: 5.1 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 1: Calaminarian grassland of the Violetalia calaminariae type 5.2 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 2: European dry heath 5.3 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 3: Semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates 5.4 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 4: Molinia meadows on calcareous peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae) 5.5 Conservation Status and Management Requirements of Feature 5: Great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) 6. Action Plan: Summary 7. Glossary 2 PREFACE This document provides the main elements of CCW’s management plan for the site named. It sets out what needs to be achieved on the site, the results of monitoring and advice on the action required. This document is made available through CCW’s web site and may be revised in response to changing circumstances or new information. This is a technical document that supplements summary information on the web site. One of the key functions of this document is to provide CCW’s statement of the Conservation Objectives for the relevant Natura 2000 site. This is required to implement the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, as amended (Section 4). As a matter of Welsh Assembly Government Policy, the provisions of those regulations are also to be applied to Ramsar sites in Wales. 3 1. VISION FOR THE SITE This is a descriptive overview of what needs to be achieved for conservation on the site. It brings together and summarises the Conservation Objectives (part 4) into a single, integrated statement about the site. The short unimproved herb rich calcareous grassland, which occurs over the limestone bedrock, will be managed through a sympathetic grazing regime, which ensures the retention of floristic interest. Where opportunities present, management should aim to increase the extent of this habitat. Characteristic grass species in the sward will include sheep’s fescue, crested hair grass and meadow oat grass along with broadleaved herbs such as carline thistle, bird’s-foot trefoil, common rock rose and wild thyme. This habitat should also continue to support the locally scarce moonwort, adder’s tongue fern, autumn gentian and stemless thistle that reaches the northern limits of its range in western Britain on this site. The wetter areas of the common, should support rush pasture, fen meadow, acid purple moor- grass pasture and sedge-dominated flushes. These areas will again be maintained by a sympathetic grazing regime preferably comprising heavy livestock. An adequate water table level will be necessary to sustain the vegetation in these areas, which will be dominated by a mixture of wetland species to include purple moor grass, rushes, short sedges, meadowsweet and marsh valerian. Base-enriched areas should continue to support base-rich flush and fen- meadow vegetation with a population of the locally uncommon broad-leaved cotton grass. The wetland areas should be maintained as a mosaic of tussocky vegetation interspersed with shorter grasses and herbs, and more open flush zones. The areas of dry dwarf shrub heath on the site will be characterised by a dense canopy of low growing western gorse shrubs interspersed with ericaceous shrubs such as bell heather and ling heather. Currently, western gorse dominates in many stands to the detriment of ericoid species. Management should aim to weaken the dominance of western gorse within this habitat and encourage the spread of ericoid species. The heath land would benefit from a reduction in grazing pressure in the autumn months. The site also supports the largest areas of heavy metal tolerant (calaminarian) grassland in Wales. This is specifically associated with old mine spoil in areas formerly used for the mining of heavy metals such as lead and zinc. This habitat should be maintained as a short open sward supporting a prominent suite of lichens and mosses along with sheep’s fescue and the nationally scarce plant spring sandwort. When succession to a more grassy sward threatens the condition of this habitat, it may be necessary to disturb these areas to re-start succession, and encourage establishment by moss and lichen species typical of the more open sward. The site should continue to support at least 200 adult great crested newts as identified by torch surveys in the spring. Great crested newt breeding and display ponds across the site will be restored to a condition whereby they support sufficient open water and aquatic macrophytes to support the great crested newt population. Alien aquatic plant species such as New Zealand stonecrop (Crassula helmsii) will be controlled within ponds on the site with the ultimate aim to eradicate it from the site. 4 2. SITE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Area and Designations Covered by this Plan Grid reference (Halkyn Mountain): SJ1955, 7188 Unitary authority: Flintshire Area (hectares): 610.36 Designations covered: Halkyn Common and Holywell Grasslands SSSI Herward Smithy SSSI Holywell Common and Halkyn Mountain Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS): Pen yr Henblas RIGS Aberdo – Bryn Mawr RIGS Rhes y Cae RIGS County Wildlife Sites Common Land Unit 11 Open Access Land (CROW) Detailed maps of the designated sites are available through CCW’s web site: http://www.ccw.gov.uk/interactive-maps/protected-areas-map.aspx A summary map showing the coverage of this document is available on the web site. 2.2 Outline Description The majority of the site is located 4km to the northwest of Mold in Flintshire, and lies at between 100-300m. The site comprises predominantly common land situated on an elongated plateau of Lower Carboniferous Limestone which trends north-south, with the Dee Estuary to the east and the Clwydian Hills to the west. The site supports many former mineral workings including metalliferous mine spoil tips along with small chert and limestone quarries. Three large quarries currently operate on Halkyn Common, two of which are included within Halkyn Common and Holywell Grasslands SSSI for their mineral interest. The relict industrial landscape supports a mosaic of calcareous grasslands, bracken and dry heath with localised heavy metal tolerant vegetation developed on old metal mine spoil. In places where surface drainage is impeded small areas of rush pasture, wet heath, marshy grasslands and fen communities can be found. The disused quarries and pits throughout the site contain numerous small pools, which support one of the largest known breeding populations of the great crested newt ( Triturus cristatus) in Wales along with an assemblage of other more widespread amphibian species. At the northern end of the plateau, along the west facing slope, a series of base-rich springs feed a small base-rich flush and associated fen- meadow. Two outlying areas of Halkyn Mountain SAC supporting significant stands of calaminarian grassland over old lead workings are to be found near the town of Holywell. The first area known locally as the Gowdal lies just to the west of Holywell town centre and the other, Herward Smithy comprises a small enclosure lying 2km to the southeast of Holywell. 5 2.3 Outline of Past and Current Management Common land that forms the vast majority of the site has traditionally been managed for grazing livestock on a year round basis. The majority of grazing rights over the common are for sheep. Grazing rights also exist for cattle, goats, horses and poultry. Stands of heath land, scrub, bracken and acid grassland have traditionally been burnt to try to extend the areas of grassland for grazing. Recent years have seen a decline in the number of active graziers. The distribution of grazing pressure across the site is not uniform; consequently some core areas see high stocking levels whilst some of the more peripheral areas of the common remain ungrazed. Current management is through year round grazing by sheep and the odd tethered pony. Practical conservation management on the site such as bracken / scrub control is currently carried out by graziers within their own hefts. The Halkyn Common Ranger and volunteers or contractors carry out practical management across the remainder of the site. The common is a registered urban common and designated open access land with a right of access on foot for recreation. Dog walking and horse riding across the common are popular activities. At the northern end of the site, adjacent to the village of Brynford, there is an area of the common that is leased and managed as a golf course.