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Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan

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Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan Lowland Heathland Key associated species Adder Noctule Bilberry Round-leaved Sundew Bog Bush Cricket Serotine Bat Common Lizard Skylark Dartford Warbler Small Copper Green Ribbed Sedge Small Red Damselfly Heath Spotted Orchid Stonechat Hobby Tree Pipit Ling White Sedge Meadow Pipit Woodlark Nightjar Lowland heathland is characterised both by the presence of dwarf ericaceous species such as heather, gorse and cross-leaved heath and by the typical gently undulating landscape forms associated with it. It is generally found below 300 metres in altitude, on nutrient-poor mineral soils. Areas of high quality lowland heathland are not solely composed of vast tracts of heather. They have an ericaceous layer of varied height and structure, with areas of scattered trees and scrub, bare ground, gorse, wet heath, bogs and open water. Lowland heathland is generally considered to be anthropogenic in origin, a product of traditional pastoral activities and the exercising of commoners’ rights such as bracken collecting, turf cutting, grazing, and firewood collection. For the purposes of this document ‘heathland’ will refer to dry heath, wet heath and valley mires where they occur. 1 Current status in UK Biological status 1.1 The lowland heathland that occurs in the British Isles is of a type found (with regional variations) only along the western fringes of continental Europe. The oceanic climate, characterised by mild winters and relatively high rainfall throughout the year, favours the formation of heathland habitats if the required acidic and nutrient-poor substrates are present. The range of species found on these western European oceanic heathlands are unique and can often be very diverse. It is particularly notable for invertebrates, reptiles, birds, bryophytes and lichens. 1.2 Up until the mid-1800s the area of lowland heathland in the UK was still increasing. However, at about this time advances in agricultural 1 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan fertilisers and machinery turned the tide as heathland was converted for agricultural production. 1.3 Extensive tracts of heathland were agriculturally improved or planted for timber. Agricultural improvement and afforestation were joined by urbanisation, cessation of traditional management, mineral extraction and road building as the major causes of loss after 1945. 2 Current status in Buckinghamshire Cover and distribution 2.1 Britain supports approximately 44% of the remaining European heathland resource. In Buckinghamshire there is approx 66 ha of heathland distributed across six SSSIs and one Local Wildlife Site. (BCC habitat mapping 2008 (47ha) and Greensand Trust restoration / creation projects (19ha)) 2.2 Buckinghamshire does not support great expanses of lowland heathland, and thus many of the plants and animals of heathland communities are, and have probably always been, rare in the County. The majority of this habitat occurs at Stoke Common SSSI and Black Park SSSI on glacial gravels on London clay. Additional areas occur at Burnham Beeches and Littleworth Common in the south, and at Rammamere Heath on the Greensand outcrop on the Bucks-Beds border. Additionally, Coombe Hill and Moorend Common SSSIs are included in the Heathland Inventory (EN/RSPB 1996) due to the presence of heather and other calcifuges but they are not strictly heathland sites. 2.3 Outside the SSSIs there are no significant areas (>1 ha) of heathland remaining in Buckinghamshire. Heather, and its associates, occur as small isolated patches along woodland rides at a number of sites both in the south of the County and on the borders with Bedfordshire. Heather also occurs on the Chiltern clay caps, often on commons which are now dominated by bracken and/or secondary woodland. Trends 2.8 There has been a significant decrease in the areas of lowland heathland both nationally and internationally. In England 84% has been lost since 1800 (Natural England 2002). Percentages are not available for losses within Buckinghamshire. Losses have primarily been to plantation woodland, agricultural improvement, natural succession, mineral extraction and development. 3 Current factors affecting the habitat 2 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan Agricultural intensification 3.1 Losses have resulted through agricultural improvements and changes in management practice. These include conversion to arable and re- seeded pasture, use of fertilisers, herbicides and pesticides. Lack of perceived value 3.2 This results in neglect or to alternative land-use such as tree-planting and development. Lack of grazing 3.3 This results in scrub, gorse and bracken invasion causing heather to die and wet areas to dry out. Invasion by wind-born seeds 3.4 Tree species such as birch are brought in as seed, blown from adjacent forested areas. Past management 3.5 Local abundance of purple moor-grass and bracken can indicate past fires. Recreational pressure 3.6 Excessive recreational pressure leads to erosion and localised disturbance. Habitat fragmentation 3.7 Fragmentation of habitats leads to isolation of species and decline in ecological value. 4 Current action Legal status 4.1 All significant areas of lowland heath within Buckinghamshire are protected as SSSIs. Other areas of heath fall within non-statutory Local Wildlife Sites. 4.2 Various legislation regarding common land provides for a degree of protection from development, strengthened by AONB designation in the Chilterns. However, protection against agricultural change is less certain. Management, research and guidance 4.3 Lowland heathland was traditionally grazed and regularly used as common land where gorse, bracken, peat and heather were cut for fodder, fuel, bedding and thatch. Re-introducing grazing is the only sustainable long-term management method to provide the mosaic of vegetation which formerly existed. Alternative methods include cutting, burning (more usually on moorland, only occurring in Buckinghamshire 3 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan as a result of accidental or deliberate fires) and the inevitable scrub clearance. Bracken is often a problem and can be tackled by a number of means including cutting, rolling and chemical control. 4.4 Support for management of lowland heathland is available through Higher Level Environmental Stewardship Rammamere Heath is in the previous Countryside Stewardship Scheme and management has already increased the area of heather. 4.5 Grazing has been introduced at Black Park, Stoke Common and Burnham Beeches. 5 Objectives 5.1 It is important that Habitat Action Plan objectives and actions are considered in conjunction with those in Generic Issues (see Generic Issues). All Generic objectives and actions apply to each individual Habitat Action Plan. 5.2 The Lowland Heathland HAP will contribute to the following UK BAP Targets T1 Maintain the current extent of all existing lowland heathland. This targets represents no net loss of habitat. T2 Maintain the area of lowland heathland currently in favourable condition. T3 Improve the condition of lowland heathland on sites currently in unfavourable condition T4 Increase the extent of lowland heathland by 7,600 ha by 2015 T5 Increase the number of heathland patches over 30 ha from 10% of the total resource to 50% by 2030 6. Biodiversity Opportunity Areas Heathland may be a Priority Habitat in the following Biodiversity Opportunity Areas • Chiltern Escarpment • Greensand Ridge • South Bucks Heaths & Parklands • South Western Commons 4 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Heathland Habitat Action Plan National Target Code Target Action Start End Action location Lead Other Orgs Nume Baseline ric Units T1 - Maintain the current extent of LH1 Maintain extent of all existing lowland heathland - no heathlands net loss of habitat LH1/1 Target heathland sites in Local Wildlife 2007 2010 BMKB X ha Site prioritisation and selection process P LH1/2 Maintain extent of heathland sites in 2007 2010 Aylesbury Vale GST AVDC NE X ha Aylesbury Vale LH1/3 Maintain extent of heathland sites in 2007 2010 Milton Keynes GST MKC X ha Milton Keynes LH1/4 Maintain extent of heathland sites in 2007 2010 South Bucks TBC SBDC NE X ha South Bucks BCC T2 - Maintain the area of lowland LH2 Achieve condition of heathland in favourable condition. heathlands T3 - Restore to favourable condition the area of lowland heathland in unfavourable condition LH2/1 Encourage good management practice Aylesbury VAle GST AVDC NE X ha on the existing heathland in Aylesbury Vale LH2/2 Encourage good management practice 2007 2010 Milton Keynes GST MKC X ha on the existing heathland in Milton Keynes LH2/3 Encourage good management practice 2007 2010 South Bucks TBC SBDC NE X ha on the existing heathlandin South BCC Bucks T4 Increase the extent of lowland LH3 Restore heathland sites heathland T5 Increase the percentage by area of heathland resource within patches greater than xx ha in size LH3/1 Re-establish heathland in Aylesbury 2007 2010 Aylesbury Vale GST AVDC NE X ha Vale LH3/2 Re-establish heathland in Milton 2007 2010 Milton Keynes GST MKC X ha Keynes LH3/3 Re-establish heathland in South Bucks 2007 2010 South Bucks TBC SBDC NE X ha District. BCC 5 .
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