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Local Wildlife Sites Newsletter 2017

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Local Wildlife Sites Newsletter 2017 p E H H h T E o R T t F o P I O : H R M S Please keep an eye out for extraordinarily to help build resilience into our vulnerable D R i S n LOCAL WIL DLIFE SITES K E H O k O N low river levels! Winter aquifer recharge rivers is to build in habitat features, to create P L I R T o l E R i rates were particularly poor leading into and enhance shelter and refuge c A R e O L F , P O UT 2017, and we are on watch for fish in distress for fish as well as invertebrates . A C S O Mink l e A E T r L I r and dry reaches for the year ahead. t e W S t H I a L D L I F E w If you observe fish in distress, disconnected o ow u L s Climate change has always been a real reaches of river or have habitat enhance ment e s A newsle tter el concern for the future of our rivers, ideas please call the Environment Agency on p lev Trapping S NEWS FROM YOUR HERTFORDSHIRE LO CAL WI LDLIFE SITES PARTNERSHIP &$%' particularly in how they cope. One way 03708 506 506. and Mink Welcome... Police Unit to the 2017 Local Wildlife Sites newsletter. In this issue we are looking at rivers including the management of these habitats, The Lee Valley is a stronghold for As technology advances there are a The partnership the threats on our waterways water voles Arvicola amphibious but couple of pieces of equipment that aid and how we can ensure local unfortunately, as in other parts of the us in our efforts to monitor and trap This newsletter has been produced by county, they are still susceptible to mink. Firstly, a trail camera on site Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust on behalf wildlife thrives. of the Local Wildlife Sites Partnership, predation and possible extinction from monitors mammals, in particular otters. supported by funding from the Environment the area by American mink Neovision Footage from the camera has identified Agency and Herts County Council . What are Wildlife Sites? vision . the presence of mink and shown how Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) are they use the site resulting in more l sites of substantive nature l i H Lee Valley Regional Park Authority effective trapping. conservation value and although m i T (LVRPA) part-funds the Hertfordshire : l l i o they do not have any statutory t H o Water Vole Conservation & Non-Native We have also recently acquired a ‘Mink h m p i status, many are equal in quality T : Invasive Species Officer post, with Police’ unit; a waterproof, battery o River Mimram SSSI Project t The Wildlife Sites Partnership in Hertford shire to statutory Sites of Special o h the Environment Agency. This post has operated unit that sends out a message p includes Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust, Scientific Interest (SSSIs). enabled coordinated mink monitor ing via text or email to alert you when Hertfordshire Environmental Records Centre, What’s special about There are 15 main rivers in Hertford - of 7.3 ha and consists of a series of LWS compartment maps to confirm and trapping across Hertford shire, the trap is tripped. The box works by Hertfordshire Ecology, Natural England, There are more than 40,000 shire, many of which are rare chalk alluvial meadows and marshes border - that a complex habitat mosaic of alder which has afforded our water vole a magnet attached to the door of the the Countryside Management Service, Local Wildlife Sites in England wetland Local Wildlife Sites? Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, Chilterns overseen by 65 Local Sites rivers, though currently none of these ing the River Mimram, alder woodland, woodland, marsh grassland, swamp colonies a degree of protection. The trap being pulled off as the door AONB, the Forestry Commission and the receive any protection through legal as well as swamp and tall fen in the and fen, open water, neutral grassland Lee Valley is inter sected with numerous closes, the system will then notify you Environment Agency, and is coordinated systems, covering contrasting The term ‘wetland’ covers a diverse The majority of our wetlands are designation. The River Mimram is one wet areas near the lagoon. Despite and acid grassland is present. We were watercourses and lakes which present immediately. The unit sends out regular by Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust. landscapes in coastal, rural and range of habitats. Within Hertfordshire associated with the catchments of the of the finest examples of a chalk river in bordering the River Mimram the river also able to draw information from the challenges in terms of coverage of our update messages to show it is still urban situations. Hertfordshire alone this includes rivers, streams, River Lea and River Colne. The Lea the county, once known as the ‘Jewel is not included in the SSSI designation. LWS reports on the presence of mink control programme. active and operating correctly, and so currently has 1,575 habitat LWS. springs, watercress beds, ponds, lakes, Catchment has recently been of Hertfordshire ’, and for a number important species such as the locally requires a mobile sim card. It should, Registered address: Together with SSSIs, LWS reservoirs, sewage works, marshes, designated as a ‘Nature Improvement of years there have been calls from Walking the banks of the Mimram scarce Opposite-leaved Golden Currently LVRPA has 21 operational however, be remembered that when - Herts and Middlesex support locally and nationally fens, swamps, wet grassland and carr Area’ where a partnership of organis - Wildlife Trust, stakeholders to designate it as a Site from Tewinbury to Hertford it is clear Saxifrage. By combining this mink rafts. The rafts are monitored ever traps are active there should be threatened species and habitats. woodland. These wetlands are hugely ati ons, landowners and individuals Grebe House, are working together to increase of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). that areas of habitat found within the information with species data that regularly by both the ranger team and procedures in place for a swift dispatch St Michael’s Street, They play a critical role in important for both wildlife and people. volunteers and, when any presence St Albans, AL3 4SN biodiversity. The Lower Lea Valley is Despite this, the river remains Tewinbury SSSI are repeated in pockets is held by the Herts Environmental of any mink caught. The unit costs forming the building blocks of Many of the wetlands in Hertfordshire, of international importance to wildlife undesign ated due to Natural England’s along the river bank as far as the Record Centre, as well as their is noted, trapping commences. Over around £200 and we pay a small especially open water, have been 01727 858901 ecological networks and Living and has been designated as a ‘Special strict criteria that a river must meet eastern extent of Panshanger Park. Herts Ecological Network Mapping the past six years 92 mink have been monthly cost for the SIM card. inf [email protected] created by human activity, and all have Landscapes. Protection Area and Ramsar Site’. In before it’s even considered for design - With this in mind HMWT produced a information and additional data that caught and dispatched in Lee Valley Although our use of the unit has been www.hertswildlifetrust.org.uk been influenced by human activity to addition, many wetlands in Hertford - ation. This includes a require ment for report on the potential to expand the was provided by the Environment Park. The area around Fishers Green delayed, we anticipate that using this Registered in England: 816710 some degree. In many cases this is shire are of national importance and Tewinbury SSSI to include the areas and Hall Marsh Scrape is proving to Registered Charity: 239863 due to the range of benefits they have natural flow conditions – something Agency and HMWT’s Water Vole system will enable us to trap more have been designated as Sites of of Archers Green, Poplars Green and be a hotspot with 81 of the 92 mink provided – food, drinking water, power, which most of Hertfordshire’s chalk Project, we have been able to consistently in areas which have Special Scientific Interest. Many rivers fail to achieve due to the impact Panshanger Park where a mosaic of produce a robust report which argues caught in traps here. With such proven more difficult to check on a e transport and leisure opportunities – The Hertfordshire Local Wildlife Sites Partnership W Comments or wetlands of county importance are of ground water abstraction. similar habitats are linked together by the case for the designation of not excellent mink control in Hertfordshire daily basis, which can only have a as well as their natural purifying and does not necessarily identify with or hold nt to suggestions for classified as Local Wildlife Sites and the River Mimram wildlife corridor. just the River Mimram but also the the question has to be asked – where positive impact on the water vole themselves responsible for the views expressed wa flow regulating functions. future articles their interest, conservation and In an attempt to protect at least some surround ing habitats as a SSSI. This are these mink coming from? LVRPA population of the Lee Valley. by contributors, correspondents or advertisers. from hear are welcome. All types of wetland habitats – still or management are the focus of this of the River Mimram, HMWT has As all sites included in the report report has since been submitted to has discussed this with the Essex u! If you would moving – support a myriad of species newsletter.
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