Monitoring Change in Priority Habitats, Priority Species and Designated Areas

AMR 2006/07: Appendix 2

For Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Reports

2006/7

Produced by

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

October 2007

Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife

The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups. AMR 2006/07: Appendix 2

Biodiversity Monitoring in Hampshire

Background

Local Planning Authorities are expected to monitor changes in priority habitats and species as a key component of their Local Development Framework (LDF), as set out in Core output Indicator No. 8:

Change in areas and populations of biodiversity importance, including: 1. change in priority habitats and species (by type); and 2. change in areas designated for their intrinsic environmental value including sites of international, national, regional or sub-regional significance.

PPS12 defines change in terms of impact of completed development, planning agreements and management programmes. Measurement should include additions and subtractions to biodiversity priority habitats (hectares) and numbers of priority species types.

The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) is the centre of reference for comprehensive information relating to biodiversity in Hampshire, working in partnership with both data users and data providers for public benefit. HBIC is able to monitor changes in area of designated sites and habitats by district/borough/unitary through the information it gathers and maintains on a Geographic Information System (GIS). HBIC can also provide information on species change across Hampshire for through the data it holds on MapMate & Recorder on behalf of its partner species groups and in consultation with them.

Primary points for consideration

1. Mapping change due to development : Currently it is extremely difficult to identify changes in habitat extent or species status that have occurred solely due to the impact of development, planning agreements etc., particularly within a given year. A GIS layer of the boundaries of all completed planning permissions from the previous year would be needed, which showed the actual footprint of each development. Additional information would also be needed for each completed development detailing impact of development, mitigation measures, or restoration/ re-creation opportunities in order to predict a net loss or gain in biodiversity. This more detailed approach is currently being developed by Hampshire County Council in association with the Hampshire BAP Local Authorities Forum. Meanwhile the statistics provided in this report form a baseline of current extent of BAP Priority habitats and species populations necessary to report on changes in future years. These statistics also service several Hampshire BAP indicators.

2. Mapping change in habitat extent : The full extent of priority habitats in Hampshire is not yet fully known. HBIC is working with its funding partners to improve information on Priority habitat extent and condition through the Hampshire Habitat Survey Programme and from other survey data that becomes available. This information is used by HBIC to maintain a GIS layer mapping the extent of priority habitats in Hampshire. For the moment it is likely that any future ‘gains’ in BAP habitat are due to more priority habitat being discovered than having been re- created.

As mentioned above it is difficult to assign any ‘loss’ of a BAP Priority habitat to either development or agricultural improvement/ neglect unless it is within a SINC which has been recently surveyed. Any such changes are then logged and the reason given. An added difficulty for this year is that HBIC, along with other records centres in the SE Region, have been asked to AMR 2006/07: Appendix 2 translate their habitat data into a new classification system called IHS (Integrated Habitat System). This has taken nearly a year to do, using consultants engaged by Natural England, and there is still much data to be ‘cleansed’ because the new system interprets some vegetation types differently to the old ‘Phase 1’ system. It is not a straightforward 1:1 relationship and the original survey data needs to be revisited for many habitat polygons. HBIC have decided therefore to continue using the Phase 1 system for reporting for this year and to make the ‘change’ next year. This means that the habitat figures for 2006-7 will hardly have changed as all editing has been put on hold since December 2006 when the translation started.

3. Revised UK List of Priority Habitats 2007 : In addition to future changes caused by IHS the Government has recently added a further 16 Priority habitats to the UK List. For Hampshire, this means including ‘Traditional Orchards’ and ‘Open mosaic habitats on previously developed land’, along with an expansion in scope and definition of ‘Hedgerows’, ‘Ponds’ and ‘Rivers’. The definitions are still being worked up so it will take some time before any data appears for the new Priority habitats relevant to Hampshire.

4. Mapping change in species populations : HBIC holds in excess of 1.5 million species records for Hampshire, a number that is increasing, particularly for large numbers of ‘ad hoc’ species records provided by the species groups, as opposed to repeat surveys targeted at particular species. Therefore, whilst it can be difficult to detect species trends at the County level, let alone at a district level a suite of 50 BAP species have been chosen for which there appears to be good data and for which there is wide geographic spread. See section 6. Again, there is also a revised UK BAP List of Priority Species; the number has increased from 577 to 1149 with 123 species from the old list now being excluded. The Hampshire BAP Priority List will shortly be reviewed but it is unlikely to lead to any changes to the 50 chosen species in the short term, if only for continuity of reporting.

5. Mapping change in site designations : Only changes in Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation extent & number have been observed and mapped during 2006/7. HBIC has responsibility for designating and monitoring SINCs and maintains an up to date GIS layer of all conservation designations in Hampshire.

6. Assessment of habitat condition : The condition of priority habitats is currently known for those habitats that fall within Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and for a random sample of SINCs that are surveyed in any one year. Natural England staff conduct condition assessments on SSSIs on a five year rolling programme with some assistance from HBIC. Information on the SSSI condition assessment is available on-line and has been summarised for 2006/7 in this report.

HBIC are currently trialing a condition assessment methodology for calcareous grassland SINCs within the North Wessex Downs AONB and will report on this in due course, as well as further developing the methodology for other habitats.

7. Source/date for habitat and designations data : is based on the HBIC GIS layers archived on the 31st March 2006 and the 31st March 2007.

8. The New Forest : The New Forest District is now treated as two separate entities: the New Forest National Park Authority (which includes a small part of Test Valley) and the remaining New Forest District..

A brief summary of trends is given at the end of each table.

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

1. Extent of BAP Priority habitats in Hampshire (as of 31st March 2007)

% Area Hampshire BAP Notes/Source (ha)/ total area to BDBC EBC EHDC FBC GBC HvBC HDC NFDC NF NPA PCC RBC SCC TVBC WCC Priority (Codes on HBIC Length low water (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Habitat GIS layer) in mark Hants (385,570 ha) Ancient No comprehensive information ------Hedgerows available Incomplete data. Figures only show ‘notable species’ Cereal SINCs on arable Field land where there is 31 0.008 0 0 7 0 0 0 5 1 0 0 0 0 18 1 Margins data - for rare arable plants or birds. Other areas may exist. Lowland Calcareous GL21/GL22 2,411 0.63 337 0 421 20 0 7 0 291 0 59 0 0 822 454 Grassland Lowland HL1/HL2/ Heathland/ HL3/GL11/AQ1 (includes wet/dry 14,336 3.72 42 21 804 2 30 53 464 76 12,460 0 229 4 118 12 Dry Acid heath, mosaics and Grassland valley mire) Lowland GL5/GL12. Some Meadows over-lap with 2697 0.70 304 192 163 109 45 91 288 233 322 18 7 12 389 523 and Rush Floodplain Grazing Pasture Marsh AQ5/ AQ6. Majority of water bodies Eutrophic mapped are Standing eutrophic. Areas 963 0.25 74 22 77 23 13 13 168 228 124 18 23 4 95 81 Waters1 will change as more field survey is undertaken

1 This definition will change in future years due to a new Priority Habitat of ‘Ponds’ (of high importance <2a) coming into being and Eutrophic Waters now being >2ha Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups.

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Area % BAP Notes/Source (ha)/ Hampshire BDBC EBC EHDC FBC GBC HvBC HDC NFDC NFNPA PCC RBC SCC TVBC WCC Priority (Codes on HBIC Length total area to (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Habitat GIS layer) in low water Hants mark (385570 ha) Fens and AQ2/AQ3/AQ4 610 0.16 26 16 4 73 11 2 11 55 71 11 1 5 183 141 Reedbeds Chalk Approx. figures 101 24 11 63 19 182 118 2 calculated from 632 km - 25 km 0 km 0 km 76 km 15km 0 km 0 km Rivers EA’s River GIS layer km km km km km km km GL1/GL3/GL5/GL12 /GL13 Figures calculated using Floodplain EA’s 2001 fluvial Grazing Floodplain GIS 7,176 1.86 721 265 349 161 19 3 557 1,135 799 0 40 17 2,025 1,085 Marsh layer. Some over- lap with Lowland Meadow/Rush Pasture. Coastal Grazing GL6 889 0.23 0 4 0 28 1 113 0 236 411 96 0 0 0 1 Marsh Coastal SS3 & SS4 1,695 0.44 0 35 0 48 56 581 0 171 556 239 0 6 0 2 Saltmarsh Maritime SS8 43 0.01 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 38 0 0 0 0 0 Cliff/Slope SS1 May be slight over-estimation – Mudflats includes some 3,771 0.98 0 128 0 262 80 1,202 0 445 606 930 0 114 0 6 sands & gravels. Saline AQ8 55 0.014 0 1 0 2 0 19 0 3 28 5 0 1 0 0 Lagoons Seagrass No current data ------Beds available. Sheltered Muddy No current data ------Gravels available.

2 For the Test, Itchen, Avon, Meon, Wey, Whitewater, Loddon, Lyde, & Hart Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups.

Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

% Area Hampshire BAP Notes/Source (ha)/ total area to BDBC EBC EHDC FBC GBC HvBC HDC NFDC NF NPA PCC RBC SCC TVBC WCC Priority (Codes on HBIC Length low water (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) Habitat GIS layer) in mark Hants (385570 ha ) Sublittoral No current data Sands & available. ------Gravels Coastal Vegetated SS5 268 0.070 0 6 0 17 51 49 0 23 82 31 0 8 0 0 Shingle Coastal Sand SS6 & SS7 73 0.0002 0 0 0 0 0 66 0 5 2 0 0 0 0 Dunes W1/W2/W3/W4. Lowland Includes Lowland Mixed Beech & Yew Woodland. Over- 47,421 12.30 7,533 864 6,852 684 130 362 3,193 1,929 11,311 33 442 445 6,863 6,780 Deciduous lap with pasture Woodland wood & wet woodland below No figures given for Lowland this habitat as UK Wood- definition has been Pasture tightened up and ------385 and further work is Parkland needed to identify habitat using IHS Areas are given for woods where HBIC Wet holds survey data . Other areas of Wet 1,741 0.45 411 172 175 49 9 72 110 43 273 0 6 19 151 256 Woodland Woodland exist that are yet to be surveyed.

Summary : The total extent of Priority habitat will not have changed over the past year due to a block on updating the habitat layer whilst it was being translated into the new “Integrated Habitat System” (IHS). Where there are individual changes this is due to the New Forest National Park coming into being and the New Forest District and Test Valley District ‘losing’ varying amount of Priority habitat, in the case of lowland heathland, 94% and 65% losses respectively.

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2. Nature Conservation Designations

% of Hampshire’s

total area to low BDBC EBC EHDC FBC GBC HvBD HDC NFDC NFNPA PCC RBC SCC TVBC WCC Designation Area (ha) water mark (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) in Hants (385570 ha) LNR 1,850 0.48 242 27 279 361 40 172 68 0.46 412 118 2 13 63 52 NNR 1,953 0.51 23 0 358 120 0 0 31 339 979 0 0 0 0 103 RAMSAR 36,982 9.59 0 184 0 540 165 2,444 0 1,629 30,131 1,707 0 108 52 23 SAC 36,697 9.52 0 298 1,539 203 4 2,285 0 614 30,223 542 0 20 788 182 SPA 41,780 10.84 0 184 1,752 527 161 2,444 2,099 1,626 30,101 1,707 451 108 599 23 SSSI 50,078 12.99 806 427 2,705 563 265 2,6902,696 2,569 31,702 1,787 471 216 1,869 1313 SINC 34,675 8.99 6,061 758 5957 588 326 855 1916 2,267 2,890 128 457 396 5,515 6,562

Summary: There has been no increase in statutory designations during 2006/7 save for LNRs which have increased by 3 - B&DBC have 2 new LNRs; The Mill Field (1 2ha) & Popley Ponds (1ha),and FBC has 1 new LNR; Kites Croft (17ha). The number of SINCs has increased by 89 overall, plus the 12 SINCs within Portsmouth have been incorporated into the monitoring statistics. See Table 5 for more details on SINCs TVBC & NFDC have reduced figures due to the presence of the New Forest National Park.

3. BAP Priority habitat areas within Designated Sites.

Extent of % of total BAP Priority area of BAP Habitat Habitat to BDBC EBC EHDC FBC GBC HvBC HDC NFDC NFNPA PCC RBC SCC TVBC WCC Designated Sites within low water (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) (ha) designated mark sites (ha) (84,136 ha) LNR/NNR/RAMSAR 34,501 41.0 678 378 1,487 507 212 2,011 1,126 4,596 21,954 1,294 174 177 1,437 971 /SAC/SPA/ SSSI SINC 21,194 25.1 4,158 579 3,256 428 139 395 1,397 985 1,778 62 279 242 3,805 3,690 Total 55,695 66.1 4,836957 4,743 935 351 2,4062,523 5,581 23,732 1,356 453 419 5,242 4,661

Summary : The amount of Priority Habitat designated as SINCs has increased from 65.7% to 66.1% (401ha) over 2006/7. The statutory sites have remained unchanged except for the 3 additional new LNRs – hence there is a small increase for Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council & Fareham. TVBC & NFDC have reduced figures due to the presence of the New Forest National Park.

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4. Condition of SSSIs

Data has been extracted from Natural England’s ENSIS database 31.03.2007 for 2006/7. SSSI total hectares/district differ slightly from HBIC figures because NE do not always assign a portion of an SSSI to a correct District when the majority of it occurs within another District e.g. Stanford Mill SSSI is down as wholly occurring in Berks. There may also be some differences in interpretation of boundaries at low water mark and across harbours. The HBIC data is a straightforward clip of the GIS layer.

UNFAVOURABLE UNFAVOURABLE NO UNFAVOURABLE NOT Grand FAVOURABLE RECOVERING CHANGE DECLINING PART DESTROYED DESTROYED ASSESSED Total Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area Area District name (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (%) (ha) (ha) Basingstoke & Deane 173.69 22.7% 451.14 58.9% 38.6 5.0% 100.75 13.1% 0.18 0.0% - - 0.6 764.96 East Hampshire 862.96 31.8% 1272.07 46.9% 104.11 3.8% 466.03 17.2% 5.83 0.2% - - - 2711.00 Eastleigh 255.62 53.2% 150.51 31.3% 53.05 11.1% 19.95 4.1% - - - - - 479.13 Fareham 522.06 92.5% 38.15 6.7% - - 4.45 0.7% - - - - - 564.66 Gosport 252.5 70.0% 59.79 16.6% 43.37 12.0% - - - - 4.46 1.2% - 360.12 Hart 308.12 11.8% 1203.7 45.9% 221.82 8.4% 878.24 33.5% 5.71 0.2% - - 4.33 2621.92 HAVANT 1622.13 50.3% 252.3 7.8% 195.93 6.1% 1152.11 35.8% - - - - - 3222.47 NEW FOREST 12259.09 35.9% 14700.09 43.1% 2413.46 7.1% 4582.61 13.4% - - 2.46 0.0% 162.48 34120.19 PORTSMOUTH 1129.16 93.9% 59.04 4.9% - - 12.3 1.0% - - 1.79 - 1202.29 RUSHMOOR 36.44 5.5% 618.25 93.1% 5.22 0.8% 4.42 0.6% - - - - - 664.33 SOUTHAMPTON 201.07 99.1% - - 1.76 0.9% ------202.83 TEST VALLEY 612.91 29.1% 836.8 39.7% 201.91 9.6% 454.22 21.6% 0.46 0.0% - - - 2106.3 WINCHESTER 680.54 53.5% 290.23 22.8% 124.96 9.8% 161.67 12.7% - - 15.38 1.2% - 1272.78 Grand Total 18916.29 37.6% 19932.07 39.6% 3404.19 6.8% 7836.75 15.6% 12.18 0.02% 24.09 0.05% 167.41 50292.98

Summary : Overall, the total area in favourable condition has declined very slightly whilst the total area which is unfavourable recovering has increased by 4.1%. Added together they comprise 77.2% of the total area compared to 73.8% in 2005/6. There have been no further losses since 2005/6. Areas shown in bold highlight successes and areas of concern for SSSIs in particular Districts.

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5. Changes to SINCs observed and recorded during 2006/7

Data extracted from HBIC SINC layer between 31.03.06 and 31.03.07 (changes to the previous year’s figures are shown in brackets for Hampshire as a whole) SINCS (31.03.2006) SINCS (31.03.2007) NEW SINCS AMENDED SINCS DELETED SINCS NET CHANGE % Area Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) Number Area (ha) change District name (ha) in area 535.666 Hampshire 3,663 34,161.63 3753 34675.34 92 (102) (428.88) 51 (52) -9.54 (10.24) 10 (11) -7.08 (-32.74) +82 (+96) 515.52 (+402.64) 1.5 (1.2) Basingstoke and Deane 737 5984.00 756 6060.59 19 65.81 8 10.78 0 0 19 76.59 0.6 East Hampshire 520 5945.86 526 5956.56 6 10.15 2 0.55 0 0 6 10.70 0.1 Eastleigh 132 755.96 133 758.40 1 1.79 3 0.65 0 0 1 2.44 11.7 Fareham 90 588.34 90 588.34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 - 0.1 Gosport 25 326.00 25 326.00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0 Hart 241 1890.32 249 1916.22 7 21.76 9 4.14 0 0 7 25.90 0 Havant 122 849.09 126 855.50 5 7.27 4 -0.86 0 0 5 6.41 0.1 New Forest (including NP) 558 5158.44 3.2 New Forest District 189 2266.89 0 0 0 0 1 1.55 -1 -1.55 0 New Forest National Park 370 2889.74 3 1.2 1 -0.35 1 1.12 2 -0.25 0 Portsmouth 12 127.61 12 127.61 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Rushmoor 33 485.58 36 456.71 3 18.88 2 -47.75 0 0 3 -28.87 - 0.02 Southampton 41 395.67 41 395.67 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 - 0.67 Test valley 537 5170.85 554 5515.11 21 326.10 12 21.81 4 -3.65 17 344.26 1.73 Winchester 623 6483.91 646 6562.00 27 82.70 10 1.49 4 -6.10 23 78.09 0.47

Summary 1: The 2006 totals have been revised to include the correct number & area of SINCs in Portsmouth 2: The decrease in area for Rushmoor is not habitat loss, but is due to better representation of Farnborough Airfield excluding runways and buildings 3: The "New SINC" discrepancy in the 2006-2007 totals for Hart(-1) & Havant(+1) is because of one site having the wrong district attribute in 31.3.06 layer 4 : The 4 losses in Test Valley = 2x2 merged sites + 1 deleted site (Fen built on in Andover) + 1 transferred (Eastland’s Meadow) to New Forest NPA 5: The 4 losses in Winchester = 2x2 merged sites in + 2 deleted sites (Inham’s Lane meadow deteriorated, plus loss of a sandpit for sand martins) 6. NFNP has gained 1 (Eastlands Meadow from TV) and lost one (Hinton Park acid grassland), plus two SINCs have been split into 4 as they now straddle the NP and District boundaries = +2 more SINCs. 7. NFDC has lost one (Bulls Copse Meadow is now a Business Park)

Also note that many of the amendments and deletions will relate to events which may have occurred many years before the sites were surveyed but were only recorded this year when recent survey data was evaluated. A separate spreadsheet chronicling every change to each SINC is available separately. Some Districts will appear to have experienced a greater number of changes to their SINCs than others. This is because they will have received a full review of their SINC schedule during the reporting period. Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups.

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6. Changes in BAP Priority Species : Explanatory note

One of the Key Objectives (1f) of the Hampshire Biodiversity Action plan is to “Ensure appropriate action for priority species”. The Headline Indicator for this objective is “Status of Priority Species in Hampshire”. The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) has been tasked with compiling data on status/distribution trends for a representative sample of 50 Hampshire BAP priority species.

What HBIC cannot do is attribute change in status of any of the 50 species to that defined in PPS12 in terms of impact of completed development, management programmes and planning agreements, unless specific information comes to light on a case-by-case basis. Most change will be due to ongoing changes in agricultural practice, climate or cumulative impact of urbanisation, recreation etc.

Priority Species

The 50 BAP species cover a broad range of taxonomic groups and are representative of the various habitat types present in Hampshire, covering both rural and urban areas, and with relevance to all local authorities.

There are 493 priority species listed in the Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan, but 69 of these are considered extinct, probably extinct or else vagrants. This leaves 424 species, including 150 that are also UK BAP priority species3. It is unrealistic to attempt to report on all of these, not least of which because there is insufficient knowledge on the status (and changing status) of many of them, and some have such restricted distribution (just one or two sites) that their relevance to the reporting process is fairly limited. However, it is considered realistic to draw up a representative list of 50 species to gain an overall assessment of change in priority species status in a regular and consistent way.

Following consultation in June 2006 with various statutory agencies, local authorities and major species recording groups in Hampshire, an agreed list of 50 BAP priority species was drawn up and is presented in Table 6A below. It comprises 12 vascular plants, 12 birds, 12 butterflies/ moths, 4 mammals, an amphibian, a reptile, a beetle, a bee, a dragonfly, a crustacean, a fly, a fungus, a grasshopper and a snail. The bias towards vascular plants, birds and Lepidoptera reflects the large data-sets that already exist for these groups and the ongoing programme of data acquisition in place. Furthermore, it is well documented that these groups are sensitive indicators of environmental change, and are being used as such by Government and various organisations.

Criteria for Selection

The criteria for selection of individual species and for the broad composition of the complete list was derived with the following conditions in mind: 1) Individual species must be on the Hampshire BAP list of 493 species. 2) The list of 50 species should be representative of a wide range of taxonomic groups. 3) The species list should be representative of UK BAP priority habitats in Hampshire. 4) Species chosen should have a reasonable distribution (i.e. not just 1-2 sites) 5) A significant proportion of species chosen should be found in each District. 6) Species chosen should be sensitive to change (+ve/-ve, planning, management, climatic, or other environmental drivers). 7) Species selected are primarily those for which good data exists and can be obtained either annually, or through periodic (e.g. 3 year/ 5 year) survey programme, OR species for which a programme could be initiated to obtain data on a regular basis.

3 Refers to the original UK Priority List and not the new list approved in 2007. It is likely that the 50 selected species will remain the same in the near future to ensure continuity Sharing information about Hampshire’s wildlife The Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre Partnership includes local authorities, government agencies, wildlife charities and biological recording groups. Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre

8) Where possible a good number of the selected species should be flagship species with wide public interest.

Status of Hampshire BAP Priority Species

For consistency, the status categories for each species used for annual reporting matches those already in use elsewhere, particularly by Defra for national reporting:

Increasing; Stable; Declining (slowing); Declining (continuing/accelerating) Fluctuating/ no clear trend; Lost (pre-BAP publication); Lost (since BAP publication) Unknown/insufficient data

From this the percentage of species in each of the categories is calculated – see Table 6A, and pie charts below.

The relevance of annual reporting on changing status of a species may seem questionable, since all species have annual fluctuations linked with the weather, population cycles and other factors. When considering annual reporting it is important to appreciate that although the reporting will be annually, the evaluation of change would be over a longer time period. A 5-10 year period would seem to be more useful, so that in practice the trend of a given species over the 5-10 year period up to the given year would be reported for that year. In cases where major surveys for a particular species are repeated in a comprehensive manner at say 5-year intervals rather than every year, the annually reported trend would be that based on the most recent complete survey, and kept at this trend in all subsequent years until the next comprehensive survey.

In 2006, through a process of consultation with the various species recording groups in Hampshire, the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) compiled a baseline set of statistics for change in status (1995-2005) for the 50 BAP species shown in Table 6A (penultimate column). This was included in the annual reporting document published in November 2006.

Having established a baseline it is now possible to assess change in status annually. For the year to 31 March 2007, the change in status of the 50 BAP priority species is reported for the period 1996-2006. The individuals contributing responses on behalf of particular recording groups are listed below, and the results are summarises in Table 6A (final column).

Contributors for Status Assessment of 50 BAP Species:

Amphibians & Reptiles (John Poland & Rachel Urwin, HARG); Bats (Chris & Mike Pawling, Stephanie West, Hampshire Bat Group); Birds (Glynne Evans & John Eyre, Hampshire Ornithological Society); Butterflies & Moths (David Green, Tim Norriss & Andy Barker, Butterfly Conservation); Dragonflies (Peter Allen, British Dragonfly Society); Flowering Plants (Tony Mundell & Martin Rand, BSBI), Fungi (Stuart Skeates, Hampshire Fungus Recording Group); Mammals (Jon Benge, Hampshire Mammal Group); Marine Species (Jolyon Chesworth, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust); Molluscs (June Chatfield, British Conchological Society), Stag Beetle (People’s Trust for Endangered Species).

TABLE 6A: LIST OF HAMPSHIRE BAP SPECIES (n = 50) FOR ANNUAL REPORTING

Scientific name Common name Group HBAP (Vol.2) Trend 1995-2005 Trend 1996-2006 2000 assessed August 2006 assessed June 2007 Triturus cristatus great crested newt Amphibians Decline Decline Decline Bombus humilis brown-banded carder Bees Decline Unknown Unknown bee Lucanus cervus stag beetle Beetles Decline Stable Stable Alauda arvensis skylark Birds Decline Decline* Decline* Branta bernicla dark-bellied brent Birds Stable Decline* Decline* bernicla goose Caprimulgus nightjar Birds Stable Increase Increase europaeus Lullula arborea woodlark Birds Increasing Increase Increase Luscinia nightingale Birds Decline Decline ? Decline** megarhynchos Milaria calandra corn bunting Birds Rapid Decline Decline** Decline** Perdix perdix grey partridge Birds Rapid Decline Decline** Decline? Pyrrhula pyrrhula bullfinch Birds Decline Stable Stable Streptopelia turtur turtle dove Birds Rapid Decline Decline** Decline? Sylvia undata Dartford warbler Birds Stable Increase Increase Tringa totanus redshank Birds Rapid DeclineDecline** Decline** Vanellus vanellus lapwing Birds Rapid DeclineStable Stable Argynnis paphia silver-washed fritillary Butterflies Stable Stable Stable Cupido minimus small blue Butterflies Rapid Decline Decline* Decline* Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy Butterflies Decline Decline** Decline** Hesperia comma silver-spotted skipper Butterflies Stable Increase Increase Lysandra coridon chalkhill blue Butterflies Decline Fluctuating Fluctuating Plebejus argus silver-studded blue Butterflies Decline Stable Stable Gammarus insensibilis lagoon sand shrimp Crustaceans Decline Unknown Unknown Coenagrion mercuriale southern damselfly Dragonflies Stable Stable Stable Asilus crabroniformis hornet robberfly Flies Decline Stable Stable Carex divisa divided sedge Flw Plants Stable Stable Stable Chamaemelum nobile chamomile Flw Plants Decline Stable Stable Epipactis phyllanthes green flowered Flw Plants Decline Stable Stable helleborine Gentiana marsh gentian Flw Plants Decline Stable Stable pneumonanthe Juniperus communis juniper Flw Plants Decline Decline* Decline* Lithospermum arvense corn gromwell Flw Plants Rapid Decline Decline* Decline* Orchis morio green-winged orchid Flw Plants Rapid Decline Decline* Decline* Pulicaria vulgaris small fleabane Flw Plants Stable Stable Stable Pulmonaria longifolia narrow leaved Flw Plants Decline Stable Stable lungwort Oenanthe fluviatilis river water-dropwort Flw Plants Rapid Decline Decline** Decline** Thesium humifusum bastard toadflax Flw Plants Decline Stable Stable Zostera marina eelgrass Flw Plants Decline Unknown Unknown Poronia punctata nail fungus Fungi Stable Stable Stable Gomphocerippus rufus rufous grasshopper Grasshopper Stable Unknown Unknown Arvicola terrestris water vole Mammals Rapid Decline Stable Stable Eptesicus serotinus Serotine bat Mammals Stable Decline* Decline** Lepus europaeus brown hare Mammals Decline Stable Stable Muscardinus dormouse Mammals Decline Stable Stable avellanarius Vertigo moulinsiana Desmoulin's whorl Molluscs Stable? Unknown Stable snail Apoda limacodes festoon Moths Decline Stable Increase Catocala promissa light crimson Moths Stable Stable Stable underwing Hemaris fuciformis broad-bordered bee Moths Decline Stable Stable hawk Hypena rostralis buttoned snout Moths Decline Increase Increase Minoa murinata drab looper Moths Decline Stable Stable Shargacucullia lychnitis striped lychnis Moths Stable Stable Stable Coronella austriaca smooth snake Reptiles Decline Stable Stable

Decline* = Decline (slowing) Decline** = Decline (continuing) Decline? = possibly stablising (at low level)

TABLE 6B : DISTRIBUTION OF HAMPSHIRE BAP SPECIES (n=50) FOR ANNUAL REPORTING

Note: ‘3’ means the particular species occurs in the District (post-1996), deduced from records held by HBIC and those received from the species groups. Where HBIC doesn’t hold data a qualitative assessment has been made.

Scientific name Common name Group B EH E F G Ht Hv ND NP P R S T W Triturus cristatus great crested newt Amphib 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 brown-banded carder Bombus humilis Bees 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 bee Lucanus cervus stag beetle Beetles 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Alauda arvensis skylark Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Branta bernicla bernicla dark-bellied brent goose Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Caprimulgus nightjar Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 europaeus Lullula arborea woodlark Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Luscinia megarhynchos nightingale Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Milaria calandra corn bunting Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Perdix perdix grey partridge Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Pyrrhula pyrrhula bullfinch Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Streptopelia turtur turtle dove Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Sylvia undata Dartford warbler Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Tringa totanus redshank Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Vanellus vanellus lapwing Birds 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Argynnis paphia silver-washed fritillary Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Cupido minimus small blue Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Hesperia comma silver-spotted skipper Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 Lysandra coridon chalkhill blue Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Plebejus argus silver-studded blue Butterflies 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Gammarus insensibilis lagoon sand shrimp Crustacea 3 3 3 Coenagrion mercuriale southern damselfly Dragonfly 3 3 3 3 3 Asilus crabroniformis hornet robberfly Flies 3 3 3 3 3 3 Carex divisa divided sedge Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 Chamaemelum nobile chamomile Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 green flowered Epipactis phyllanthes Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 3 helleborine Gentiana marsh gentian Flw Plants 3 3 3 pneumonanthe Juniperus communis juniper Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 3 Lithospermum arvense corn gromwell Flw Plants 3 3 3 Oenanthe fluviatilis river water-dropwort Flw Plants 3 Orchis morio green-winged orchid Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Pulicaria vulgaris small fleabane Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 Pulmonaria longifolia narrow leaved lungwort Flw Plants 3 Thesium humifusum bastard toadflax Flw Plants 3 3 3 3 3 3 Zostera marina eelgrass Flw Plants 3 3 3 Poronia punctata nail fungus Fungi Gomphocerippus rufus rufous grasshopper Grasshopper 3 3 3 Arvicola terrestris water vole Mammals 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Eptesicus serotinus Serotine bat Mammals 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Lepus europaeus brown hare Mammals 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Muscardinus dormouse Mammals 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 avellanarius Vertigo moulinsiana Desmoulin's whorl snail Molluscs 3 3 Apoda limacodes festoon Moths 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Catocala promissa light crimson underwing Moths 3 broad-bordered bee Hemaris fuciformis Moths 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 hawk Hypena rostralis buttoned snout Moths 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 Minoa murinata drab looper Moths 3 3 3 Shargacucullia lychnitis striped lychnis Moths 3 3 3 3 3 3 Coronella austriaca smooth snake Reptiles 3 3 3 TOTAL 33 34 21 24 16 32 27 35 37 19 21 19 39 36

B = Basingstoke & Deane, EH = East Hampshire, E = Eastleigh, F = Fareham, G = Gosport, Ht = Hart, Hv = Havant, ND = New Forest District, NP = New Forest NPA, P = Portsmouth, R = Rushmoor, S = Southampton, T = Test Valley, W = Winchester

Summary of trends for Hampshire’s representative 50 BAP priority species

1) As assessed in Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan (Vol.2) 2000

Increase Unknow n 2% 2% n=1 n=1

Stable 28% n=14

Decline 68% n=34

2) As assessed August 2006 3) As assessed June 2007 for trends 1995-2005. for trends 1996-2006

Unknow n Unknow n Increase Inc reas e 10% 8% 10% 12% n=5 n=4 n=5 n=6

Decline Dec line 30% 30% n=15 n=15 Stable Stable 48% 48% n=24 n=24 Fluctuating Fluctuating 2% 2% n=1 n=1

The last decade has seen rates of declines slowing for many of Hampshire’s BAP priority species. There are, however, concerns that “Stable” for some species means stabilised at low levels, i.e. the species had previously declined by a lot and has now levelled off at low levels, rather than been stable at a high (long-term sustainable) level. Since reporting in 2006 there have been few changes to the status assessment for the 50 BAP species used for annual reporting. The Nightingale is considered to have declined further, two other birds (Grey Partridge and Turtle Dove) may have stabilised but at low numbers. The only other species where a change in status has been recorded are Serotine Bat (decline continuing), Festoon (a moth) now increasing and Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail considered to be stable (previously “unknown” status). The number of the 50 BAP species present in each local authority area (Table 6B) has been revised slightly since last year, based on more complete data, and is not considered to reflect real change of any of the species in particular Districts.