Biodiversity Action Plan Highlights 2009
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Biodiversity Action Plan highlights 2009 Welcome to the second newsletter of the HEF Biodiversity Partnership Group highlighting some of the key achievements of the partnership over the past year. Inside you can find out more about the work we are doing to conserve and enhance Hertfordshire’s biodiversity – more specifically, our progress with implementing the Hertfordshire Biodiversity Action Plan, a few examples of biodiversity projects being delivered by partners across the county and an update on some of the projects we first mentioned last year. A global target to significantly reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 was agreed by nearly 200 countries back in 2002. Despite all the good work that is taking place, biodiversity continues to be threatened at both a local and global scale. In recognition of this and to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity for both our health and our wealth, the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2010 as the International Year of Biodiversity. This is planned to align with the next conference of the Convention on Biological Diversity in October 2010 when governments will set new targets and steps needed to address biodiversity loss. Woodland Creation Project River Water-dropwort At Heartwood Forest near St Albans, site for the A survey of River Water-dropwort was undertaken in largest continuous new native forest in England, the the autumn of 2008, a follow up on a 2003-2004 Woodland Trust have been busy finalising plans to survey to identify its distribution in Hertfordshire. plant 600,000 native broadleaf trees to buffer The re-survey programme, looking at sites where and enhance 44 acres of fragmented ancient the plant was previously known, confirmed that semi-natural woodland and provide 858 acres of River Water-dropwort is still present at all the sites free public access. A detailed Environmental where it occurred in the last survey, all be it with Assessment has been completed and tree planting some variation in abundance and distribution. started in November 2009 – ambitious plans this winter are to plant 90,000 trees, all with volunteers. As well as hosting a Heartwood Forest Festival and numerous children’s Woodland Discovery Days, Photo: Inspecting bugs and beasties in Forest Photo: River Water-dropwort in the lower River Ash the site has been used for Forest Schools where © Barry Tranter 5 and 6 year olds have been learning about Schools © Alistair Crosby nature in the outdoors. Securing semi-natural woodlands in Purple Emperor perpetuity Hertfordshire County Council has produced, Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust were successful subject to approval, a new management plan in securing funds to purchase Balls Wood, a 145 for Broxbourne and Bencroft Woods. The acre semi-natural ancient wood near Hertford. With implementation of the plan will amongst other 209 species of higher plants now recorded, it is things safeguard the foodplant essential for the already a very biodiverse wood. Gobions Wood, a caterpillar of this butterfly. Whilst sightings of the 45 acre site, is also in the ownership of the Wildlife rare Purple Emperor during 2009 were sporadic, Trust, with thanks to the Gobions Woodland Trust. most known sites across the county were surveyed Protecting our ancient woodlands from loss and the butterfly observed. Butterfly Conservation continues to be a crucial part of the Hertfordshire have reported further sightings from new areas Biodiversity Action Plan. across the south and west of the county continue. Photo: Balls Wood official opening © Clare Gray. Photo: Male Purple Emperor at Broxbourne Woods National Nature Reserve © Laurence Drummond Action for orchards in Hertfordshire Hertfordshire Orchard Initiative (HOI) have had another busy year promoting and encouraging a Grizzled Skipper grater appreciation of Hertfordshire’s orchard and Partnerships formed with landowners around the fruit growing heritage through giving talks and areas of the county where the Grizzled Skipper Highlights Highlights orchard guided walks, holding orchard open days, exists/could exist, continue and are strengthening, providing juicing demonstrations and displays at ensuring that expansion sites for the species are events such as Farmers Markets and Country Fairs appropriately managed. All known sites where and by holding an extensive programme of events Grizzled Skipper occurs have been surveyed and throughout October promoting ‘Apple Day’. recorded. Numbers at Waterford Heath are stable The Rivers Nursery Site and Orchard Group were and on several occasions in 2009 high numbers awarded an Awards for All grant last year to carry were recorded. Good numbers were also recorded out an oral history project on Rivers Orchard and its at Frogmore Pit. A number of public events have heritage which has been published in a book ‘Rivers been held at sites including Waterford Pit, Tring Nursery of Sawbridgeworth: The Art of Practical Park and Aldbury Nowers. Photo: Grizzled Skipper at Waterford Heath Pomology’ by Elizabeth Waugh. Photo: Apple juicing at an event © HOI © Andrew Middleton Farmland Habitat Action Plan update Tree Sparrow Matt Perry of the Countryside Management In Hertfordshire the Tree Sparrow has undergone a Service and Jon and Sarah Birchall from Pilkington severe decline during the past 25 years, a decline Farms received the 2009 Chilterns Environment which has been mirrored nationally. Locally, a nest Award at a ceremony in November. A significant box scheme for the only known breeding colonies of change in farm practices targets declining species Tree Sparrow continues in the St Albans area, as does and important habitats highlighted in the county’s the provision of feeding stations over the winter Biodiversity Action Plan. Considerable lengths of period. Implemented by the Herts Bird Club, this and hedgerow and areas of grassy margins, spring-sown systematic monitoring since the mid 1990's, has crops and unsown areas provide for insects and provided essential intelligence about the species, birds such as Corn Bunting, Yellowhammer, and opportunities to improve numbers. Additional Lapwing, Grey Partridge and Linnet. The farm funding from HEF will ensure this programme can protects its ancient trees, old boundaries, burial continue to run over the next 5 years. sites and other archaeological features and also Habitat Habitat conserves rare breed animals. Photo: Tree Sparrow habitat © Jim Terry Species Photo: Matt Perry and Jon Birchall with their award © Countryside Management Service Some news from the district and borough councils Water Buffalo on Pishiobury Plans underway at Oxhey Woods Water Buffalo are carrying out the task of restoring an area Three Rivers District Council owns many superb old of species-rich wet grassland and tall fen to the north-east woodlands, the largest of which is Oxhey Woods. Working of the main parkland, just to the south of Sawbridgeworth. with the Countryside Management Service, Three Rivers In the past the fen area has been cut and lifted by District Council’s contractor has begun to clear large areas volunteers. of overgrown Rhododendron and Laurel. A grant from the Pishiobury’s historic parkland is owned and managed Forestry Commission’s Woodland Grant Scheme has by East Herts Council. The Council is working with the supported the work which is part of a 5 year management Countryside Management Service to restore this Wildlife Site plan. The main elements are control of the invasive that is one of a series of jewels found along the River Stort. non-native species, opening up and widening the main rides, The conservation of the site is supported by Natural England surfacing footpaths, improving the car parks and entrances through a Countryside Stewardship Scheme. and installing new signs. Watford Parish Conservation Volunteers and Countryside Photo: Water buffalo at Pishiobury Park © Countryside Management Service volunteers will help with some of the Management Service work. To kick off the volunteer activity, staff from the Leisure and Community Services Department of Three Rivers District Wildlife can bank on the Countryside Council spent a team-building day in the woods cutting Management Service vegetation back along some of the paths. The Countryside Management Service secured over Photo: Rhododendron clearance in Oxhey Woods £45,000 in grants and worked in partnership to improve a © Countryside Management Service section of the River Chess in Rickmansworth for wildlife and to protect a neighbouring lake. National Nature Reserve Sabey’s Pool, owned by British Waterways with fishing Broxbourne and Bencroft Woods form an integral part of rights leased to the West Hampstead Angling Club, was Hertfordshire’s only National Nature Reserve (NNR). The divided from the River Chess by an ugly and wildlife Countryside Management Service have been working on behalf of unfriendly fish screen comprising galvanised steel owners, Hertfordshire County Council, to prepare a vision and corrugated sheeting driven into the lake bed. Concerns management plan for the two woodlands that will accord with the over the integrity of this structure prompted the wider conservation aspirations for the NNR whilst ensuring that Environment Agency to contact the Countryside visitors understand what is planned and continue to enjoy the Management Service to draw together a proposal for recreational opportunities provided by this wonderful area. The replacement. The existing structure was replaced with a 4 Countryside Management Service has worked