The State of Staffordshire’s Nature 2016 Summary Report Registered charity no 259558 Limited company no 959609 www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk 01889 880100 @StaffsWildlife @StaffsWildlife @StaffsEcology Working for a Living Landscape1 Contents Key terms used throughout the report 4 Headline findings 5 Introduction 6-7 River Dane at Three Shires Head Bluebell woodland Jackson's Coppice and Marsh Nature Reserve What wildlife does for us 8 Nick Mott Victoria Liu Victoria Liu How you can help Staffordshire’s wildlife to flourish 9 Key messages for Local Authorities 10 From towering crags to ancient woodlands and heather-clad moorlands Key messages for your area 11 to flower-rich meadows, Staffordshire’s surprising array of habitats The State of Staffordshire's habitats 12 makes it a gloriously diverse county for wildlife. Born and bred in Woodland and trees 14 Stafford, and being the place where I learnt my ‘naturalist’s trade’, Grassland 15 has resulted in what I suspect is now a life-long bond with this most Lowland heathland 16 underrated of counties. So deep do my roots penetrate into this county’s Moorland 17 soil that this resulted in me being asked to become Vice-President of Wetland 18 Staffordshire Wildlife Trust in 2016. Built environment 19 Farmland 20 Ensuring the county continues to punch above its Although vast, the picture needs to be firstly looked weight in terms of biological diversity is probably at on a county-wide level before any decisions can be The State of Staffordshire's species 21 the most challenging job for the local conservation made on where the Trust and other organisations must Invertebrates 22 community, which is why I’m so delighted with the focus both their efforts and limited financial reserves publication of the ‘State of Staffordshire’s Nature’ for the maximum effect. I urge anyone who reads Invertebrates – Butterflies and Moths 23 report. For 12 months, a dedicated team have this report to take a moment to think how they might been investigating the state of the county’s nature, be able to either help or continue their support. Fish 24 by both looking at differing landscapes, and Amphibians and Reptiles 25 populations of the key species they hold, such as If it inspires a few Trust members to either create the otter or the now threatened lapwing. a wildlife haven in their garden, or encourages farmers Birds 26 to continue working with SWT staff on the best Inevitably the findings are like a ‘curate’s egg’ - or management practices for wildlife, then it will have Mammals 27 good in parts. While some conservation initiatives been worth all the effort. So please read, absorb Plants 28 have been an unqualified success, the continued and feel empowered to help in any way you can - disappearance of prime habitat is a constant worry, your county needs you! Fungi 29 resulting in the ‘Sword of Damocles’ hanging over Why is nature changing? 30 a number of already threatened species such as Mike Dilger the adder, water vole and hazel dormouse to name Naturalist, TV Presenter What needs to happen 30-31 just a few. and Writer Information on partnership & Acknowledgements 32-33 Methods & References 34-35 Main photo: Fen Meadow Rudyard - Victoria Brooks. Water vole - Nick Mott. Lapwing - Darin Smith. Green tiger beetle - Victoria Liu - Victoria beetle tiger Smith. Green Darin - Lapwing Mott. - Nick vole Water Brooks. - Victoria Rudyard Meadow Fen Main photo: 2 www.staffs-wildlife.org.uk @StaffsWildlife @StaffsWildlife @StaffsEcology 3 Key terms used throughout the report Headline findings 2015 - 2016 BIODIVERSITY OFFSETTING PROTECTED SPECIES n Over 23,582 hectares (8.7%) of Staffordshire is n There are also conservation success stories, with Biodiversity offsetting is used where mitigation These are the species protected by European and covered by a nature conservation or geological targeted actions leading to increasing populations of impacts on habitats is not possible on a UK legislation including the EU Birds and Habitats designation, of which 3.2% is designated with Site of species such as otter, polecat and the logjammer development site. Habitats are created elsewhere Directives, the Conservation of Habitats and Species of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) status and 4.4% hoverfly, showing that positive change is possible. by legal agreement. Defra has approved a system Regulations 2010, the Wildlife and Countryside Act is classed with Local Wildlife Site status. of calculation to ensure impacts are fully mitigated. 1981 and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. n Many important species have been recorded in n There are many and varied threats to Staffordshire’s Staffordshire and are faring well in the county, nature, with loss of habitats affecting all species including dingy skipper and great crested newt. CITIZEN SCIENCE SITE OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST (SSSI) groups. Habitat condition is also a major concern: Staffordshire also holds important populations of The collection and analysis of data relating to the SSSI is a statutory designation placed on an area — Just 32% of Staffordshire’s geological fish including Atlantic salmon, brown trout and natural world by members of the general public, of land that is considered to be of special interest at and nature conservation SSSIs are in European eel and birds such as nightjar, woodlark typically as part of a collaborative project with the national level for its fauna, flora, geological or a Favourable condition and only 45% of and willow tit. Some of Staffordshire’s nationally professional scientists. geomorphological features. Consent is required from Local Wildlife Sites are under appropriate rare plant species include floating water-plantain, Natural England for any activity that may affect the conservation management. yellow bird’s-nest and frog orchid. habitats, species or geological features of an SSSI. ECOLOGICAL NETWORKS — Only 5% of Staffordshire’s waterbodies n To ensure the survival of Staffordshire’s wildlife, A way of thinking about landscapes and how we are classified as being in Good Overall new habitats need to be created and all our habitats can create linkages between key wildlife areas to CONDITION STATUS OF SSSIs Status with 46% classed as either in Poor need to be larger, in a better condition, and be benefit habitats and species. Ecological networks The condition of SSSIs in England is assessed by or Bad Overall Status. better connected within landscapes to facilitate are created by identifying opportunities to connect Natural England. There are six reportable condition species movement. habitats through the provision of corridors, categories: Favourable; Unfavourable Recovering; n Over 9,800 species have been recorded in Staffordshire, stepping stones and buffer zones. Unfavourable No Change; Unfavourable Declining; including invertebrates, fish, birds, mammals, n As well as its inherent value, wildlife and habitats Part Destroyed and Destroyed. Favourable and amphibians, reptiles, fungi and vascular plants. provide important ‘ecosystem services’ that benefit Unfavourable Recovering are most frequently Of these, 501 are classed as Priority Species and 205 us all. The capital value of ecosystems to society ECOSYSTEM SERVICES referred to within this document, and are defined are legally protected. in Staffordshire is at least £7.19 billion, with the These are the services provided to society by the by Natural England: services provided by the ecosystems worth at least n environment. They include food production, carbon Based on expert knowledge and the best available £111 million per year. — Favourable: The designated feature(s) data we have found that many species in storage in soils and vegetation, flood alleviation by within a unit are being adequately water storage in wetlands, and the spiritual value Staffordshire are declining, including water vole, n There are hundreds of individuals and many conserved and the results from monitoring hazel dormouse and a number of invertebrate of natural landscapes. demonstrate that the feature(s) in the unit organisations working passionately to help species, such as the small heath butterfly and Staffordshire’s wildlife. They contribute their are meeting all the mandatory site specific white-clawed crayfish. monitoring targets. A unit can only be time, money and expertise to benefit wildlife GOOD OVERALL STATUS considered favourable when all the component conservation in many different ways such as An assessment of the biological quality of UK designated features are favourable. through volunteering, recording, monitoring and watercourses based on standards set in accordance undertaking practical conservation works on with the Water Framework Directive and other — Unfavourable Recovering: Often known the ground. EU water directives. simply as 'recovering'. Units/features are not yet fully conserved but all the necessary management mechanisms are in place. Water vole LOCAL WILDLIFE SITES At least one of the designated feature(s) Derek Crawley / Sites that are of county importance for the mandatory attributes are not meeting their Staffordshire Mammal Group conservation of wildlife. They are identified and targets. Provided that the recovery work selected for containing exemplar habitats and species. is sustained, the unit/feature will reach favourable condition in time. NATURAL FLOOD MANAGEMENT Natural flood management is the alteration, SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE SYSTEMS (SuDS) restoration or use of landscape features, working SuDS are a natural approach to managing surface with natural