people and nature - making connections SUMMER 2020 NEWS The steps to nature's recovery 2050 Plan and Nature Recovery Networks

Imagine a birds-eye view over the the River Thames and its tributaries – landscape-scale conservation. The Oxfordshire landscape, at the century’s passing over cranes and white storks Environment Bill currently going through halfway point. It is probably looking that have taken up residence among Parliament will require local authorities more wooded, and there are more groups of Exmoor ponies and English to map their local networks and prepare houses and more wind turbines. Electric longhorn cattle. Maybebluebells have recovery strategies. Following last cars and trucks are quietly trundling spread out from the year’s ‘Colchester along the roads. But will there be more last surviving patches Declaration’, Areas of wildlife? of ancient forest into For a positive future vision Outstanding Natural Envisioning this future, perhaps naturally regenerating “ of a nature-rich landscape Beauty (AONBs) have you can make out a succession of woodlands. And people to start taking shape, action made a commitment are out and about beaver dams along the many streams to reverse the long-term loss to do likewise that are now flanked by the alders and enjoying natural parks (landscapesforlife.org.uk). willows planted in the 2020s to help with thriving wildlife, of nature will be needed So, there is now slow floodwaters? Curlews may be just a short walk from significant momentum flying over floodplain grasslands beside their homes. ” to make this happen. Back to the present. For such a Over recent months, Wild Oxfordshire positive future vision of a wildlife- has been supporting our nature rich landscape to start taking shape conservation community in starting to “on the ground”, there needs to be a develop a coherent Nature Recovery big investment in nature as part of a Network at the county scale and ensuring commitment to tackling the twin global it is an integral part of the Oxfordshire emergencies of climate change and 2050 Plan(oxfordshireplan.org). biodiversity loss. Action to reverse the Biodiversity is one of the key issues this long-term loss of nature will be needed developing plan is seeking to address. It from many sectors, with strategic aims to provide a framework to enable direction from the government’s 25 an ambitious and consistent approach to Year Environment Plan. A critical part nature recovery across the six authorities of this plan – and in the county. The current stage of one of six key developing a nature recovery map for the areas for action plan is the culmination of many months of – is the rapid work. Building on the “bigger, better, and development of a more joined up” principles established Nature Recovery by the Lawton Report, Making Space for Network, which Nature, the draft map identifies three will both provide zones: our core existing wildlife habitats; new habitat a recovery zone; and the wider landscape. and link existing Our existing Conservation Target Areas protected (CTAs) sit within the recovery zone. This sites through mapping is a work in progress and will be developed further once full guidance is available from the government on how local authorities need to prepare these plans. One of the key questions to emerge from our mapping work concerns the balance that will need to be struck between the Nature Recovery Network being seen as either a zone of opportunity to restore nature or an area that needs protecting ... continued on p4 ...

Singe Wood © Wychwood Project; RSPB Otmoor © Eleanor Bentall/rspb-images.com; Little Wittenham © Clare Mowbray Wild Oxfordshire News – Summer 2020 1 Water champions of the Surveying water quality in the Evenlode catchment

The landscape of the River Evenlode (freshwaterwatch.thewaterhub.org) catchment is one of the finest in were described. An indoor session Oxfordshire, forming part of the was followed by a hands-on practical AONB and the ancient Royal demonstration to ensure that we all Hunting Forest of Wychwood. Yet, the knew what was required. river habitats in the catchment have My two survey sites are very near been damaged and degraded by years the top of the catchment, on the Four of channel modifications and pollution. Shires Brook near Moreton-in-Marsh. Wootton Jubilee Fields © Roselle Chapman The Evenlode Catchment Partnership One lies just off the A44 close to the (ECP), hosted and coordinated by Wild remarkable Four Shire Stone, the other Oxfordshire’s Ann Berkeley, aims to is around 1 km downstream of both bring about targeted improvements to Moreton-in-Marsh sewage treatment the river’s environment. I’m all for that! works and a thriving beef farm. So when, in spring 2019, I heard about Both of my sites have regularly shown Grassland the chance to become a “Catchment moderate to high levels of nitrates and Champion” for the ECP I jumped at it. phosphates. This is clearly disappointing Since April 2019, the Catchment for sites found so high up in the catchment. champions Champions have been undertaking The survey methodology doesn’t let me monthly surveys of nitrates, phosphates pinpoint the source of the pollution, but and water turbidity at more than 20 pollution there is. When the overall project of Wootton sites in the catchment. We aim to is reviewed, I really hope that the data I’ve Tackling the growth of Tor understand where particular water collected will help to stimulate effective quality problems arise and what might action. If part of that includes more grass on chalk grasslands be done to tackle them. We started investigation and surveys, count me in! with a training day at Combe Mill in Wootton Jubilee Fields is a fabulous March, when the reasons for the survey Frank Lucas CEnv, MCIEEM, site overlooking the confluence of the and the straightforward methodology Facilitating Nature Rivers Glyme and Dorn, which supports lowland wet meadow, dry calcareous grassland, woodland and scrub habitats. The area is a Local Wildlife Site (LWS) in the Glyme and Dorn Conservation Target Area (CTA) and is currently in Higher Level Stewardship. It is managed, through grazing, for a diversity of wildlife, while also allowing public access. In recent years, tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum) coverage has increased on a bank of lowland calcareous grassland on the site that is rich in wildflowers such as orchids, lady’s bedstraw, fairy flax, salad burnet, cowslip, 1 2 and field scabious. Early in 2020, Wild Oxfordshire and the Evenlode Catchment collecting water sample checking water turbidity Partnership (ECP) brought partners preparing water sample comparing nutrient levels together to discuss best practice and share experiences of managing tor-grass. Tor-grass is a highly invasive and unpalatable grass. It forms dense mats of 3 4 large tussocks, which are impenetrable to more delicate flowers and grasses. It increases soil fertility by efficiently capturing nutrients via an extensive rhizome system and releasing them into the soil as the large amounts of litter it produces decays. Tor-grass is looking like a strong “most likely to succeed” candidate in Oxfordshire’s plant yearbook. Therefore, a robust River sampling images © Frank Lucas River sampling images © Frank

2 Wild Oxfordshire News – Summer 2020 Garden bee champions Creating Bee Healthy gardens at GP practices

Last autumn, new Bee Healthy gardens species foraging in their gardens. To were created at doctors’ surgeries. help, each site has an interpretation Three GP practices planted gardens board featuring our seven most for bumblebees as part of the Bee common bumble bee species. As Healthy Project. Staff, patients and local bumble bees can be tricky to identify, volunteers prepared the ground and we also provided some training. In came together to plant a wonderful March, we brought together volunteers range of plants rich in nectar and pollen from each site with the Science Manager to provide welcoming gardens for of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust people and bees. to run through the fundamentals of The Bee Healthy borders included bumble bee identification. around 15 plant species, such as the The Bee Healthy project is a summer-flowering herbs marjoram, partnership between the Trust for management strategy is vital if we wish hyssop and catmint. Plants were Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE), to conserve our remaining calcareous purchased from local nurseries that Wild Oxfordshire and the Centre for grasslands. provide assurance that they have not Sustainable Healthcare. It has been A variety of studies have explored been treated with neonicotinoids – funded by TOE, the Postcode Local Trust potential methods for the control of insecticides that pose a high risk to (a grant-giving charity funded by players tor-grass control, including mechanical bees. of People’s Postcode Lottery), and cutting, grazing, herbicides, the As the borders mature and start to Smiths of Bletchington. introduction of yellow rattle (Rhinanthus flower, we hope that staff and patients minor), and burning. The current thinking at the health centres will take on the Roselle Chapman, is that the best way to control tor-grass monitoring and recording of the bee Community Ecologist is through targeted cutting and grazing. Cattle or ponies are preferable because sheep tend not to eat tor-grass, except the very youngest shoots. In addition, trampling from heavier stock breaks open and weakens the tussocks. Tor-grass is most palatable in the spring when it is just starting to shoot, so this is the best time to get cattle on it. However, intensive grazing in May should not be carried out every year as this would graze out all the wildflowers too.

Tor grass is highly invasive Planting a bee garden, Witney “ and forms dense mats which GP Surgery © Roselle Chapman are impenetrable to more Helping delicate flowers and grasses ” pollinators at home Cutting can also be a useful way of Learn to identify pollinators Record your findings controlling tor-grass, if the site is not Many organisations, like the Record your findings for your personal grazed. Cutting should be done twice a 1 Bumblebee Conservation Trust, 2 interest or to send to your local records year (May and September), targeting the have fantastic web-based centre (TVERC in Oxfordshire). This can tor-grass, avoiding anthills and leaving the training materials that you can help to build up a picture of the species more diverse areas uncut for pollinating print off or watch to help you in your county. You could also take part in insects and for the flowers to set seed. identify the different pollinators. the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme. A combination of a May cut followed by sheep grazing later in the year can Plant for pollinators in your garden Improve your local habitats also be successful. Any arisings should Provide food for bees and other insect For advice on managing habitats be removed to avoid enriching the site 3 pollinators in your garden by using 4 on your local patch, in your parish further. nectar- and pollen-rich plants and trees. or even in your churchyard, get Choose species that flower from February in touch with our Community Roselle Chapman, to October. Ecologist, Roselle Chapman. Community Ecologist For links to information on helping pollinators visit www.wildoxfordshire.org.uk

Wild Oxfordshire News – Summer 2020 3 Nature’s recovery continued from Update front page ... from Wild from development. In practise, the map Oxfordshire will need to achieve both – some areas will offer great opportunity, while others • Wild Oxfordshire welcomes will need strong protection. What is Camilla Burrow as our new also clear is that the Nature Recovery Director and Sophie Cunnington as Network approach does not change Research Assistant on the Yellow the current level of site protection. Wagtail Project. This is important to remember as some designated sites will inevitably sit outside Yellow wagtail © Mike Pollard • The summer Conservation Target the broad recovery zones mapped. Areas (CTA) Leads meeting was The timely publication of a Nature kindly hosted by the Berrycroft Networks Evidence Handbook by Hub in the Berkshire Downs Natural England will help shape our Escarpment CTA. More than 20 approach to this all-important task. partners provided feedback on the One of the handbook’s findings is new CTA maps at the meeting. particularly relevant: “a need to develop • Rewilding Chief Executive, a number of Large Nature Areas Rebecca Wrigley, delivered a (c. 5-12,000 ha) that will provide visionary Annual Lecture to more centres from which wildlife will brim than 30 member organisations, over into the countryside”. Dorset AONB triggering a discussion about the are already showing the way with a Sally Ann future of our countryside. new partnership-based Purbeck Heaths Spence led a field trip for • Roselle has been promoting 3,331-ha “Super” National Nature the CTA leads Reserve. Have we got an area that fits meeting © pollinators and improving habitats the bill in Oxfordshire? Ray Valley and Clare Mowbray by giving a talk to a local group’s Bernwood Forest maybe? ‘virtual AGM‘ and providing advice The development of Oxfordshire’s and materials. She has helped 12 Nature Recovery Network is overseen by groups, including Claypits Allotments the county’s Biodiversity Advisory Group, and Faringdon Town Council. with extra support from a Steering • Bird monitoring is up and running Group chaired by Wild Oxfordshire. in the Evenlode. Six volunteer bird Mapping work is led by Thames Valley surveyors have been recruited Environmental Records Centre (TVERC). and trained, and transects set up around Milton-under-Wychwood. Mike Pollard, Chair of Oxfordshire NRN steering group • The effects of theNatural Flood Management measures of water storage and tree planting can be clearly seen in three short drone flights thanks to contact us Bumblebee © Roselle Chapman Evenlode Catchment Partnership, Environment Agency and Atkins. Little Wittenham Office: 01865 407034 The flights can be accessed via our Camilla Burrow, Director website or directly on YouTube. [email protected] • The first virtual Oxfordshire Ann Berkeley, Project Coordinator Catchment Catchup Conference for [email protected] all seven catchment partnerships Clare Mowbray, Communications Officer to share learning was held in May. [email protected] Roselle Chapman, Community Ecologist THANK YOU to all our supporters, [email protected] funders, trustees and volunteers Sophie Cunnington, Yellow Wagtail that make our work possible. Research Assistant This newsletter is kindly sponsored by [email protected] Worton Kitchen Gardens. Online shop

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