Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan (Revised)

Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan

Second Review December 2007

1 Introduction

Maritime cliffs and slopes have been identified as a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. They comprise sloping to vertical surfaces on the coastline where a break of slope is formed by slippage and/or coastal erosion. There appears to be no generally accepted definition of the minimum height or angle of slope which constitutes a cliff, but the zone defined as cliff top should extend landward to at least the limit of maritime influence (i.e. limit of salt spray deposition). On the seaward side, the plan extends to the limit of the supralittoral zone and so includes the splash zone lichens and other species of this habitat.

They can broadly be classified as hard cliffs or soft cliffs, though there are intermediate types. Hard cliffs are vertical or steeply sloping, with crevices or ledges where plants can establish themselves and birds can find nest sites. They are formed of rocks which are relatively resistant to weathering, such as chalk. Soft cliffs are formed in less resistant rocks such as shales or in unconsolidated materials such as boulder clay. They are characterised by less steep slopes that gradually become vegetated. They are subject to frequent slumping and landslips, particularly where water percolates into the rock and reduces its effective shear strength.

Most cliffs form at the junction of land and sea, where groundwater-driven land slippage and/or erosion by the sea have created a break in slope, but on the Isle of Wight there is also an extensive landslip zone between St Catherine’s Point and Bonchurch which has an inner cliff 500m inland rising to 140m above sea level.

This HAP relates to the objectives and targets of the national HAP for maritime cliffs and slopes and places them in a local context. Nationally, maritime cliffs and slopes extend to around 4,060km but of this, as little as 400km is soft cliff. The cliffs and slopes on the south coast of the Isle of Wight form one of the longest lengths of naturally-developing soft cliffs on the British coastline (DEFRA SE Environment website). The south-facing cliffs and slopes are particularly important for their specialised and rich invertebrate fauna.

National targets for this habitat include • Increase the extent of maritime cliff and slope unaffected by coastal engineering/coast protection from 250km to 275km by 2015. • Increase the area of cliff-top semi-natural habitats by at least 500 ha (minimum) by 2015. • Achieve favourable or recovering condition for 1,500 km/30% of maritime cliff and

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slope including cliff-top vegetation, by 2010.

Restoration is taken to involve the removal of coastal protection structures to allow natural coastal processes to be reinstated and establishment of cliff top semi-natural habitat to provide a buffer zone for agricultural activities.

The local context

Maritime cliffs are some of the most dramatic and widely appreciated landscape features of the Isle of Wight. They are home to a rich and highly adapted diversity of wildlife, and provide unique opportunities to view extensive and spectacular geological exposures. They are a rich scientific and educational resource of national and international importance.

Maritime cliffs provide a constantly changing habitat depending on the degree of maritime exposure, substrate type, degree of slope and the time since the last cliff fall or slippage. Associated with this changing habitat is a huge diversity of plant and animal communities: pioneer plant communities colonising bare rock, communities of rock crevices and ledges, an amazing variety of grassland types, ponds, reed beds and other wetlands, scrub and woodland and, in places, even cliff face heathland and sand dunes.

The south coast of the Isle of Wight also contains extensive areas of undercliff, the more sheltered environment that develops between the outer sea-washed cliffs and an inner cliff line which forms the rear wall of this landslipped zone. It stretches between Blackgang and Bonchurch. Here, the habitat is extensive, partially urbanised and in parts dominated by secondary sycamore woodland. It has a distinctive sheltered, almost Mediterranean, climate. In most places, a maritime influence is apparent but may be reduced, particularly where the undercliff is wide.

All the maritime soft and hard rock cliffs of the Island and maritime influenced and actively slumping habitats of the undercliffs are considered in this Action Plan This plan does not include inland cliffs, such as those at Gatcliff, or artificial cliff habitats created by quarries.

2 Current Status

Physical Features of the Island’s maritime cliffs and slopes

Wealden and Lower Greensand Series rocks, their fossils and environments Cliffs on the southwest and southeast coast of the Island display internationally important exposures of these rocks. They are rich in dinosaur and other fossils. The Isle of Wight is the most important location in Europe for dinosaur fossils. These rocks and their fossils provide an unrivalled opportunity to study the environment of the Isle of Wight as it was 120 million years ago.

Chalk rocks The chalk cliffs at Culver and between Compton Bay and the Needles are of

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national importance for the study of the geological period in which the calcium- rich remains of microscopic marine plants were laid down on the floor of a deepening sea between 100 and 65 million years ago.

Tertiary rocks and their environments

The younger rocks to the north of the Island’s central chalk ridge are of international importance. They are best exposed in quarries and soft eroding cliffs, such as those at Hamstead and Bouldnor. These rock exposures provide an opportunity to understand the environment of the Island some 60-30 million years ago. The fossils found in these rocks are also of great interest and include those of mammals, reptiles, plants and insects.

The Landslip zone

The Undercliff landslide complex is a wide slumped skirt of land stretching for nearly 10km along the coast from Luccombe in thee east to Blackgang in the west and it is sheltered to the north by an inner cliff. It was activated as a consequence of aggressive coastal erosion following a rise in sea levels after the last Ice Age about 10000 years ago. It is south facing with a warm, humid environment. Historically it was a largely open grazed landscape interspersed with tumbled rocks and wooden pockets. The soils are complex being a jumble of calcareous soils and more acidic greensand and chert. Springs emerging from the greensand/gault boundary give rise to interesting streams. The mild climate provides suitable conditions for many alien species to become established. Buddleia has been an invasive species for many years and is threatening the open ground habitats at St Catherine’s Point, and the Downs above Ventnor have an extensive area of holm oak woodland.

Coastal processes

The ways in which the sea shapes the coastline (its geomorphology) can be studied more comprehensively in the Isle of Wight than in virtually any other part of England. Nowhere else is there such a range of coastal processes acting in such a comparatively small area. Geomorphology is notified SSSI feature for the coastline between Compton Chine and St Catherine’s Point. On the north of the Island are slumping cliffs, platforms cut in the beaches by fossil seas and more recent features such as estuaries, spits, shingle bars and reefs. On the south of the Island are landscape features such as the Isle of Wight monocline (the huge fold that buckled the Isle of Wight). On the south coast is the Undercliff (the largest urban landslide complex in northwest Europe) and smaller scale features such as the south coast ‘chines’, sea cliffs, caves and stacks.

Wildlife of the Island’s maritime cliffs and slopes

Maritime cliffs are a challenging environment for plants and animals; exposure to gale- force winds and salt spray, steep slopes with thin soils, frequent erosion and landslides, all shape unique and characteristic wildlife habitats. This exacting environment supports a number of species that have been identified as being of national or local importance to

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biodiversity. Appendix 1 gives details of these species. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. In some cases additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species: for example, UK Species Action Plans (UK SAP).

The habitats, which develop on the cliffs and slopes, are particularly varied. This variety can be partially explained by the very varied geology and hydrology of the Isle of Wight coast. Exposures range from acidic sands, through neutral clays and silt, to calcareous marls, limestones and chalk.

In places, water arises from cliff face springs and flushes but in most instances, it is the poorly draining impermeable clay and marl substrate and uneven surface of the slumping cliffs which traps surface water to form seasonally waterlogged conditions. At the other extreme, there are examples of strongly parched conditions on both sand and chalk substrates.

Further diversity is created by the differences in maritime exposure. In general, the south coast of the Island is subject to far greater degrees of maritime exposure, producing a range of typical maritime cliff grassland communities. By contrast, the more sheltered and much wider cliff zones found on the north of the Island often show very little maritime influence and extensive areas of woodland and scrub have developed on the most mature and stabilised coastal slopes.

The south-facing seacliffs and slopes frequently support rich and specialised plant and animal communities, many at the northern limit of their range. The combination of friable soils, hot substrates and open conditions maintained by cliff slippages offer a continuity of otherwise very restricted micro-habitats and these support many rare invertebrates which are confined to such sites. Water seeping out of the cliff face as springs and pools provide the wet muds required by many species of solitary bees and wasps for nest building, and also provide suitable conditions for a rich assemblage of other invertebrates and rare plants.

A survey of the soft cliff vegetation of the Island undertaken in 1996 and 1997 identified a total of 44 different vegetation communities. This total includes seven pioneer communities, several of which have yet to be described by the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), together with eight maritime vegetation communities, including maritime grassland and sand dune communities. Heathland and mire communities were also recorded locally. A wide diversity of more terrestrial grassland types was also identified, ranging from acid through neutral to calcareous communities. The survey also revealed the presence of a range of swamp and fen vegetation types and at least two open water aquatic communities in ponds. Woodland and scrub vegetation was also found to be very varied and include examples ranging from early successional scrub communities to ancient semi-natural woodland. Further vegetation surveys of some stretches of maritime cliff have been commissioned by English Nature (2002) and Isle of Wight Council (2000 onwards).

The flowering plants of the Island’s cliffs abound in rare species including the Early

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2007 Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan (Revised)

Gentian, Oxtongue Broomrape, Field Cow-wheat, Hoary Stock, Nottingham Catchfly and Curved Hard-grass.

Although often less conspicuous, the mosses, liverworts and lichens of the cliffs also include many rare and uncommon species of high biodiversity importance including the Triangular Pygmy Moss Acaulon triquetum , the Hemisphaeric Liverwort Reboulia hemisphaerica and the Scrambled Egg Lichen Fulgensia fulgens .

A survey of invertebrate life by Buglife in 2006 reached the conclusion that the Island’s maritime cliffs and slopes rank second in importance for their invertebrate assemblage to the West Dorset soft cliffs. Most of the cliffs in the UK are in the north and west where rock types and climatic conditions are very different from those found on the Isle of Wight and less able to support a wide variety of invertebrates

One of the most important groups of insects on the Island’s coast is the bees and wasps . Included in this group are nationally rare species such as the Large Mason Bee Osmia xanthomelana (although this species is now thought to be extinct on the Island), the mining bee Lasioglossum angusticeps , the Potter Flower Bee Anthophora retusa , the digger wasp Mimumesa atratina, the Black-headed Mason Wasp Odynerus melanocephalus and the Nomad Bee Nomada conjugens .

The beetle fauna of the cliffs is nationally important and includes such species as the Cliff Tiger Beetle Cylindera germanica , the ground beetle Drypta dentata , the rove beetle Bledius crassicollis , Chestnut Click Beetle Anostirus castaneus, and the weevils Baris analis, Mononychus punctumalbum and Cathormiocerus cocius .

The butterfly and moth fauna is also very rich and includes the Island’s own Glanville Fritillary Melitaea cinxia , a species found not naturally elsewhere in Britain. In addition the Island’s cliffs are home to several important moths including the Isle of Wight Wave Idaea humiliata , Six-belted Clearwing Bembecia scopigera , Dew Moth Setina irrorella , Square- spot Dart Euxoa obelisca grisea , Crescent Dart Agrotis trux lunigera and Beautiful Gothic Leucochlaena oditis .

Important populations of cliff nesting birds including Peregrine Falcon, Herring Gull, Cormorant, Shelduck, Guillemot, Raven and Shag are found on the chalk cliffs at the eastern and western extremities of the Island. Ponds, which can be transient in nature, are important for breeding amphibians such as the Great Crested Newt.

Current Extent

The Isle of Wight cliffs are a significant biological resource. The estimate of the total significantly ‘cliffed’ coastline around the Island is 62.4 km, of which 10.7 km is chalk cliff and 51.7km is soft cliff. However, those sites with the highest biodiversity of cliff- dependent species are restricted to southerly facing soft cliff slopes. More survey is needed to measure the extent of individual maritime vegetation types associated with the Island’s cliffs but estimates suggest they support some 34ha of maritime grassland and a

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total of 172 ha of coastal scrub.

Current Site Protection

Most of the Island’s undefended coastline has been notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its national geological and ecological significance of the chalk cliffs and landslips. A large proportion of these were included in the South Wight Maritime Special Area of Conservation (SAC), designated in accordance with the EU Habitats Directive. It is one of 15 examples of vegetated sea cliff selected for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network in the UK, and one of only six lengths of coastline identified as being of European importance for their representation of soft rock cliffs.

In 2004 the Hanvover Point to St Catherine’s Point SSSI was extended and renotified to form the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI, which resulted in a further 6km of sea- level maritime cliffs and slopes and 3km of inner maritime-influenced cliff being protected by SSSI designation.

There are also important stretches of maritime cliff that have been identified as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) by the Isle of Wight Council. The cliffs between Luccombe and Shanklin Chine have been identified by Natural England as further candidate SSSI.

Key sites for maritime cliff habitats on the Isle of Wight include:

Site Status Interest Type Defended/ Length undefended km Gurnard to SSSI Biological Sands and clays: soft and Undefended 4.36 Newtown and slumping geological Bouldnor and SSSI Geological Sands and clays: soft and Undefended 3.826 Hamstead Cliffs slumping Fort Victoria SSSI Geological Sands and clays: soft and Undefended 1.66 Colwell and slumping Defended 1.94 Totland Headon Warren SSSI, Biological Sands and clays: soft and Undefended 2.33 SAC and slumping geological Alum Bay SSSI, Geological Sands and clays; mostly Undefended 1.20 SAC vertical but some soft and slumping West High Down SSSI, Biological Chalk cliffs: hard, vertical Undefended 8.94 and the Needles SAC and Defended 0.10 to Freshwater geological Undefended 0.26 Bay The Needles Compton to SSSI, Biological Sands and clays: soft and Undefended 17.57 Blackgang part in and slumping with many SAC geological seepages Western SSSI and Biological Landslip debris; some Undefended 5.21 Undercliff SINC and vertical, others soft and Defended 1.89 geological slumping

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Eastern SINC Biological Landslip debris, mostly Defended 1.22 Undercliff and vertical some soft and geological slumping Bonchurch SSSI and Biological Landslip debris: some Undefended 0.99 Landslip SAC and vertical, others soft and geological slumping Luccombe Chine SINC Biological Sand and clays: some Undefended 1.75 and ledges to and vertical others soft and Shanklin Chine geological slumping with many seepages Shanklin to Lake part is Biological Vertical sandstone Defended 3.53 SINC and geological Yaverland to SSSI and Biological Sands and clays: mostly Undefended 1.53 Redcliff SAC and soft and slumping but geological Redcliff is vertical Culver Cliff SSSI and Biological Chalk cliffs: hard and Undefended 1.42 SAC and vertical geological Whitecliff Bay to SSSI Biological Soft and slumping Undefended 2.65 Bembridge and Defended 0.03 geological

3 Current factors influencing the habitat

The biodiversity of the Island’s cliffs is under increasing threat from a number of natural and human induced factors. There is a need to ensure effective management of the Island’s maritime cliffs in order to maintain and enhance their biodiversity value, and balance this with the requirements of coastal protection, agriculture and recreation and tourism.

Coastal protection

Since Victorian times, much of the Island’s development has been concentrated on the coast. This has lead to coast protection schemes being constructed to protect property. Such schemes interrupt natural coastal processes of erosion and slumping, sediment transport and deposition which are important for maintaining maritime cliff habitats. Many of the unique maritime habitats and species of the coast are dependent upon such processes, and soon decline once the cliff face becomes stabilised, as do the important geological exposures.

Many of the most rare and threatened plants and animals of maritime cliffs have a precarious existence, as the cycle of cliff fall followed by cliff stabilisation creates the mix of vegetation and bare rock they require. For these specialist cliff dwellers to survive they must have sufficiently large areas of cliff in suitable condition at any one time and in close enough proximity to each other for them to recolonise cliffs following a cliff fall. Isolation of colonies either through coastal stabilisation or increased rates of erosion may lead to range contraction or local extinction of species.

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Although some coastal habitats may persist behind coast defence schemes, the coastal processes that naturally sustain them have been removed. In some cases, coastal protection works can also result in increased rates of erosion on adjacent unprotected coastlines. This can further damage the delicate balance between rate of erosion and colonisation on which the ecology of the cliffs depends. The impact of coast protection schemes on the natural structure and function of the coast must therefore be considered, as this can have a significant effect on the nature conservation value of maritime cliffs. The challenge is to develop coast protection schemes that are economically justifiable, technically sound and environmentally sustainable.

Recreation and tourism

Tourism is vital to the Island’s economy. However, visitor pressure and recreation can also affect cliff vegetation through trampling and cause disturbance to nesting birds. Trampling can cause loss of plant species diversity, and new access paths can increase erosion or lead to demands for additional stabilisation works. It is important that these impacts are managed to maintain coastal habitats in good condition. Because this habitat exists as a relatively narrow strip of land and because very many people use it for recreation, it is subjected to a high concentration of use, which can damage biodiversity. Fossil collection can also cause damage if collectors climb on the cliffs and use hammers to collect material.

Agriculture

Cultivation of cliff-top vegetation has truncated the natural zonation between maritime and terrestrial vegetation and resulted in a loss of diversity. In places, arable land or improved pasture is not far from the cliff edge, whilst other clifftop uses, such as housing development and infrastructure, increase the demand for coastal protection. On the southwest coast, an agreement between landowners and Natural England is attempting to establish a 20m strip of semi-natural clifftop grassland along the coastline, the width being maintained as the cliff recedes.

Fertilising, reseeding and silage production on fields bordering cliffs, and the planting of arable crops as close as possible to the cliff edge narrows the band of semi-natural cliff vegetation and reduces the ecological functioning of the grassland. Plant species diversity is reduced, which also damages invertebrate habitats by reducing the amount of nectar and pollen available and the availability of nesting and overwintering sites.

Water abstraction for irrigation may also have effects on the biodiversity of chines.

Colonisation by non-native plants

Encroachment by invasive plants such as holm oak, buddleia or sycamore reduces the naturalness of coastal woodland and scrub, and in many cases, smothers less competitive native plant species. Encroachment of buddleia at St Catherine’s Point, for instance, threatens the survival of the Priority BAP liverwort, Green Blackwort Southbya nigrella .

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4 Current Initiatives for Maritime Cliffs on the Isle of Wight

Shoreline Management Plan (SMP) and Coastal Defence Strategy Studies Coastal Habitat Management Plans (ChAMPs) SCOPAC studies and initiatives IW Centre for the Coastal Environment (EU and government funded studies) IW Rights of Way Strategy Natural England Coastal Access Project Natural England SSSI survey and notification programme IW AONB Management Plan including Heritage Coast Plans

Annual survey of Glanville fritillary caterpillars by IWNHAS

Agri-Environment Scheme targets and incentives Twenty metre wide uncultivated buffer strips are being negotiated as part of agri environment schemes along the coastline from Compton Chine to St Catherine’s to lessen the impact of agriculture on the eroding cliff tops

National Trust management initiatives As a trial, the National Trust car park at Shippard’s Chine has been surfaced with new rubber crumb surface to provide additional car parking on grassed surfaces. This flexible and durable surface is inert and will not damage soil aeration pH or drainage.

Associated Plans within the Isle of Wight BAP Associated Habitat Action Plans in the Isle of Wight BAP will include:

· Unimproved neutral grassland · Acid grassland · Calcareous grassland · Lowland heath · Wetlands(fens, swamps and marshes

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2007 Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan (Revised)

Biodiversity Targets for Maritime Cliffs and Slopes on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain existing area of maritime cliff and slope habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change. Ensure the natural processes of erosion and slumping, sediment movement and deposition continue to operate on all areas of conservation interest, with appropriate regard to essential coastal protection of settlements. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and cliff and slope habitats. D Improve the knowledge of the maritime cliff resource by survey, research and monitoring, including understanding the relationship between fluvial and coastal processes and maritime cliff and slope vegetation E Increase public awareness and appreciation of maritime cliffs and slopes resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

Actions Lead Reporting 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 A1 Maintain the existing 51 km of free functioning maritime cliff and slope
resource (including cliff-top and slope habitat) IWC IWC

A2 Ensure no overall net loss of cliff and slope functionality as a result of coast
protection or engineering works. IWC IWC A3 Notify 8 km of maritime cliff meeting criteria for either biological or  NE NE geological/geomorphological SSSI A4 Ensure LDF policies do not allow development in areas at direct risk of IWC IWC  coastal processes. (planning) A5 For developments at long term risk, introduce LDF planning policy for time IWC IWC  limited consents or legal agreements to remove structures when the risk of (planning) loss through coastal processes becomes too great. B1 Increase the extent of maritime cliff and slope unaffected by coastal IWC IWC  engineering/ coast protection by 1km by 2015 B2 Permanently reduce the cover of buddleia on maritime cliffs and slope in the National  SSSI by 20% Trust C1 Provide 20 m buffer zone on maritime cliffs and slopes on 16 km of MCS NE  from St Catherine’s to Compton (32ha of cliff top semi-natural habitat) D1 Monitor populations of the Glanville fritillary annually to determine extent and IWNHAS IWC
distribution. D2 Ensure regular monitoring of BAP national priority invertebrates NE Buglife 

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D3 Instigate a research programme to assess the effectiveness of the 20m NE Buglife  buffer strip in terms of conserving the nature conservation interest D4 Monitor the effects of coast protection on biodiversity and nature IWC IWC
conservation value (coastal) E1 Liaise with user groups (e.g. hang-glider/para glider groups, rock climbers, AONB IWC
geologists/fossil hunters) to agree codes of conduct to ensure sustainable use of the maritime cliff environment including appropriate codes of conduct for geological field work

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society NE Natural England NT National Trust IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment

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References

Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report vol2 HMSO 1995

Biodiversity of South East England 1998 ed Debbie Wicks and Patrick Cloughley published by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Wildlife Trusts of South East England and the RSPB South East and Central Regions

Colenutt, S . (2000) Survey for Anostirus castaneus at Luccombe Chine, Isle of Wight. Report for Action for Invertebrates.

Colenutt, S. (2002) Invertebrate survey of Niton to St. Lawrence and Puckaster Cove to Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Report for English Nature.

Colenutt, S. (2004a) Castlehaven coast protection scheme environmental management plan. Report for the Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment.

Colenutt, S . (2004b) Castlehaven invertebrate and vegetation monitoring: 2003 baseline survey. Report for the Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment.

Colenutt, S . (2007) Ecological Surveys of the Isle of Wight Chines 2005: vegetation surveys. Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Peterborough.

Colenutt, S. & Wright, A. (2001) Invertebrate survey of proposed SSSI at Luccombe to Shanklin Chine, Isle of Wight. ECOSA report for English Nature.

Colenutt, S. & Wright, A . (2006) Ecological Surveys of the Isle of Wight Chines 2005: invertebrate surveys. Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Peterborough.

Colenutt, S. & Wright, A . (in prep) Ecological Surveys of the Southwest Isle of Wight Undercliffs 2006-2007: invertebrate surveys. Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Peterborough.

Collingridge, R. (2002) Isle of Wight Soft Cliff Survey: Hanover Point to St Catherine’s Point. Report for English Nature

Collingridge, R. (2002) Isle of Wight Soft Cliff Survey: St Catherine’s Point to Shanklin. Report for English Nature

Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile 76 1998 English Nature

Isle of Wight Sea Cliff Study 1997 unpublished report to the Isle of Wight Council

Restoring biodiversity to soft cliffs 2001 English Nature research report no 398 E M Lee, D Brunsden, H Roberts, S Jewell, R McInnes

UK Biodiversity Steering Group Tranche 2 Action Plans vol 5 1999 English Nature

Whitehouse A. T. Managing coastal soft cliffs for Invertebrates 2007 Buglife - the Invertebrate Conservation Trust, Peterborough

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5 Species associated with Maritime Cliffs and Slopes

Species associated with Maritime cliffs and slopes

Latin name English name BAP Other habitat Local Local abundance population trend BIRDS Alca torda Razorbill 3 Localised Decreasing Larus argentatus Herring gull 3 Built-up areas & gardens Localised Stable Phalacrocorax aristotelis Shag 3 Scarce Increading Tadorna tadorna Shelduck 3 Intertidal mudflats Localised Decreasing Uria aalge Guillemot 3 Coastal waters Scarce Increasing

REPTILES Vipera berus Adder 1 Lowland dry acid grassland Localised Unknown ANTS, BEES & WASPS Andrena pilipes A mining bee 3 Localised Unknown Anthophora retusa Potter Flower Bee 1 Rare Stable Long-horned Mining Eucera longicornis Bee 1 Scarce Unknown Lowland calcareous Lasioglossum angusticeps A mining bee 1 grassland Rare Unknown Mimumesa atratina A solitary wasp 3 Reedbeds Rare Unknown Mimumesa unicolor A Solitary wasp 3 Reedbeds Localised Stable Nomada conjungens A nomad bee 3 Rare Unknown Black-headed Mason- Odynerus melanocephalus wasp 1 Scarce Unknown Believed Osmia xanthomelana Large Mason Bee 1 extinct Tachysphex unicolor sens.str. A solitary wasp 3 Lowland heathland Scarce Unknown

BEETLES Agriotes sordidus A click beetle 3 Coastal vegetated shingle Rare Stable Anostirus castaneus Chestnut click beetle 1 Rare Unknown Baris analis A weevil 3 Rare Unknown Bembidion andreae A ground beetle 3 Rare Unknown Bledius crassicollis A rove beetle 3 Rare Unknown Cathormiocerus socius A weevil 3 Scarce Unknown Cicindela germanica Cliff tiger beetle 1 Localised Stable Dromius vectensis A ground beetle 1 Coastal vegetated shingle Rare Unknown Drypta dentata Chine beetle 3 Rare Unknown Elaphrus uliginosus A ground beetle 3 Rare Unknown Halobrecta princeps A rove beetle 3 Coastal vegetated shingle Scarce Unknown Heterocerus fusculus A mud-dwelling beetle 3 Rare Unknown Lytta vesicatoria Spanish Fly 3 Rare Unknown Medon pocofer A rove beetle 3 Coastal vegetated shingle Rare Unknown Lowland calcareous Meloe proscarabaeus Black Oil-beetle 1 grassland Localised Unknown Ophonus cordatus A ground beetle 3 Lowland calcareous Rare Unknown

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grassland Lowland calcareous Ophonus parallelus A ground beetle 3 grassland Rare Unknown Otiorhynchus ligustici A weevil 3 Rare Unknown Thinobius brevipennis A rove beetle 3 Rare Unknown

BUTTERFLIES Lowland calcareous Cupido minimus Small Blue 1 grassland Scarce Decreasing Lowland calcareous Melitaea cinxia Glanville Fritillary 1 grassland Localised Stable

CRICKETS & GRASSHOPPERS Ectobius lapponicus Dusky Cockroach 3 Mosaic Scarce Unknown Lowland calcareous Ectobius pallidus Tawny Cockroach 3 grassland Occasional Unknown Ectobius panzeri Lesser Cockroach 3 Lowland heathland Scarce Unknown Forficula lesnei Lesnes Earwig 3 Scarce Unknown Metrioptera roeselii Roesel's Bush-cricket 3 Saltmarsh Rare Increading Lowland mixed deciduous Nemobius sylvestris Wood Cricket 3 woodland Occasional Stable Lowland calcareous Platycleis albopunctata Grey Bush-cricket 3 grassland Occasional Stable Ceperoi's Tetrix ceperoi Groundhopper 3 Occasional Unknown

DRAGONFLIES & DAMSELFLIES Orthetrum coerulescens Keeled Skimmer 3 Localised Stable

FLIES Lowland mixed deciduous Bombylius discolor A beefly 1 woodland Common Stable Dicranomyia goritiensis A cranefly 3 Rare Unknown Dicranomyia lackschewitzi A Cranefly 3 Rare Unknown Thereva strigata A stilletto fly 3 Rare Unknown

MILLIPEDES Lowland mixed deciduous Trachysphaera lobata A Millipede 1 woodland Rare Unknown

MOLLUSCS Truncatellina callicratis A Snail 3 Rare Unknown

MOTHS Agrotis trux Crescent Dart 3 Occasional Stable Lowland calcareous Bembecia ichneumoniformis Six-belted Clearwing 3 grassland Localised Stable Cydia gemmiferana A Micro-moth 3 Rare Stable Cream-bordered Earias clorana Green Pea 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Localised Unknown

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Eudonia lineola Striped Grey 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Unknown Eupithecia millefoliata Yarrow Pug 3 Lowland meadows Common Increasing Euxoa obelisca grisea Square-spot Dart 3 Occasional Unknown Hadena albimacula White-spot 1 Rare Unknown Leucochlaena oditis Beautiful Gothic 3 Occasional Unknown Mecyna asinalis Madder Pearl Pyralid 3 Occasional Unknown Metzneria littorella A micro-moth 3 Localised Unknown Pempelia genistella Gorse Knot-horn 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Lowland calcareous Setina irrorella Dew Moth 3 grassland Localised Stable

SPIDERS Callilepis nocturna A ground spider 3 Rare Unknown Lowland mixed deciduous Episinus maculipes A Spider 3 woodland Scarce Unknown

TRUE BUGS Eurydema ornatum Red & Black Shieldbug 3 Mosaic Rare Unknown Saldula arenicola Sandy Shorebug 3 Scarce Unknown Tuponia brevirostris A Tamarisk bug 3 Rare Unknown

LICHENS Anaptychia runcinata A Lichen 3 Rare Decreasing "Scrambled-egg Lowland calcareous Fulgensia fulgens lichen" 1 grassland Scarce Stable

LIVERWORTS Anthoceros agrestis 'Field Hornwort' 3 Arable & horticultural Rare Decreasing Anthoceros punctatus A Hornwort 3 Rare Unknown Blasia pusilla 'Common Kettlewort' 3 Rare Stable Cephaloziella baumgartneri 'Chalk Threadwort' 1 Rare Stable Cephaloziella hampeana 'Hampe's Threadwort' 3 Coastal sand dunes Rare Unknown 'Roussetti's Lowland mixed deciduous Cololejeunea rossettiana Pouncewort' 3 woodland Rare Decreasing Lowland mixed deciduous Marchesinia mackaii 'MacKay's Pouncewort' 3 woodland Rare Decreasing Lowland mixed deciduous Phaeoceros laevis 'Smooth Hornwort' 3 woodland Rare Stable Lowland calcareous Porella obtusata 'Broad Scalewort' 3 grassland Rare Unknown 'Hemisphaeric Reboulia hemisphaerica Liverwort' 3 Rare Unknown Southbya nigrella Green Blackwort 1 Rare Unknown

MOSSES Triangular pygmy Lowland calcareous Acaulon triquetrum moss 1 grassland Rare Unknown Bryum canariense 'Canary Thread-moss' 3 Rare Unknown 'Compact Feather- Lowland mixed deciduous Believed Conardia compacta moss' 3 woodland extinct Hylocomium splendens 'Glittering Wood-moss' 3 Rare Decreasing Microbryum davallianum 'Smallest Pottia' 3 Arable & horticultural Rare Decreasing

15

Lowland mixed deciduous Mnium stellare 'Starry Thyme-moss' 3 woodland Rare Decreasing Philonotis marchica 'Bog Apple-moss' 1 Rare Decreasing Lowland calcareous Scorpiurium circinatum Curving feather-moss 3 grassland Localised Stable Tortula viridifolia 'Bristly Pottia' 3 Rare Decreasing

FERNS Asplenium marinum Sea Spleenwort 3 Rare Stable Equisetum x wilmotii Hybrid horsetail 3 Rare Stable Osmunda regalis Royal Fern 3 Lowland heathland Rare Decreasing

FLOWERING PLANTS Artemisia absinthium Wormwood 3 Rare Stable Lowland calcareous Astragalus glycyphyllos Wild Liquorice 3 grassland Rare Decreasing Berula erecta Lesser Water-parsnip 3 Fens Rare Unknown Lowland calcareous Brassica oleracea Wild Cabbage 3 grassland Rare Stable Centaurium erythraea var. Lowland calcareous capitatum Tufted Centaury 3 grassland Localised Stable Cochlearia officinalis Common Scurvy-grass 3 Rare Stable Epipactis palustris Marsh Helleborine 3 Lowland heathland Rare Decreasing Lowland calcareous Euphorbia portlandica Portland Spurge 3 grassland Rare Increasing Gastridium ventricosum Nit-grass 3 Arable & horticultural Rare Unknown Gymnadenia conopsea subsp. densiflora Marsh Fragrant Orchid 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Isolepis cernua Slender Club-rush 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Jasione montana Sheepsbit Scabious 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Unknown Juncus subnodulosus Blunt-flowered Rush 3 Fens Rare Unknown Marrubium vulgare White Horehound 3 Rare Stable Lowland calcareous Matthiola incana Hoary Stock 3 grassland Occasional Stable Lowland calcareous Melampyrum arvense Field Cow-wheat 3 grassland Rare Stable Orobanche artemisiae- campestris Oxtongue Broomrape 1 Rare Increasing Parapholis incurva Curved Hard-grass 3 Saltmarsh Scarce Increasing Parentucellia viscosa Yellow Bartsia 3 Lowland meadows Rare Decreasing Pilosella peleteriana A Hawkweed 3 Rare Stable Bulbous Meadow- Poa bulbosa grass 3 Coastal sand dunes Scarce Increasing Populus nigra subsp. betulifolia Black Poplar (native) 3 Rivers Rare Stable Salix repens Creeping Willow 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Silene nutans Nottingham Catchfly 3 Rare Stable Silene uniflora Sea Campion 3 Coastal sand dunes Scarce Stable Lowland calcareous Valerianella eriocarpa Hairy-fruited Cornsalad 3 grassland Rare Stable Lowland calcareous Vicia parviflora Slender Tare 3 grassland Rare Stable

16

1 = National BAP Priority species 3 = Local BAP species Habitats = National BAP Priority Habitat

17 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Second Review December 2008

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It was first produced in 2002 and reviewed in 2008.

Lowland calcareous grassland has been selected as an action plan habitat for the Isle of Wight to ensure that national objectives for this priority habitat identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues. The identification of lowland calcareous grassland as a priority habitat is based on the following factors:

1. Nationally 95% of chalk downland has been lost in the last 50 years and on the Isle of Wight 63% has been lost over the last 150 years - these trends highlight an urgent need to conserve those areas which remain, and to enhance or restore other areas of suitable habitat.

2. The enormous loss of habitat on the Island has been accompanied by fragmentation of the remaining sites particularly those in the east and central parts of the Island’s central chalk ridge.

3. Evidence from Natural England condition assessments on SSSIs and GIS Countryside and Environmental Stewardship Schemes suggests that 85% by area of the resource is in favourable or unfavourable/recovering condition. The previous best guess estimate of 57% (First edition of plan, 2002) was prior to a determined effort to get landowners into agri-environment schemes, particularly on SSSIs.

4. The Isle of Wight calcareous grasslands are one of the most important semi-natural habitats in the county and support 10 priority BAP species, 10 other species of national conservation concern, and 52 additional species of local concern. The actions for a number of these species are covered by this Habitat Action Plan whilst others may be covered by individual species action plans.

The England targets (2008) for this habitat are: • maintain the current extent of 38,687 ha by 2010 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 32,036 ha (82%) by 2015 • restore 726 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 8,426 ha by 2015

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan The South-east England targets (2008) for this habitat include: • maintain the current extent of 7,456ha (19% of the national resource) by 2010 • restore 693ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 1,592ha by 2015

The Isle of Wight targets (2008) for this habitat are: • maintain the current extent of 658ha by 2015 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 559ha (85%) by 2015 • re-establish 200ha by 2015

2 Current Status

Physical Features of the Island’s Lowland Calcareous Grassland

Description of Habitat

Chalk hills are a characteristic feature of the Isle of Wight landscape. Chalk forms the backbone of the Island extending from the famous chalk stacks of the Needles in the west to the chalk cliffs at Culver in the east. This ridge is by no means uniform along its length but widens out in the centre of the Island to form a plateau with associated combes and dry valleys around its edges. The highest range of chalk hills occurs at the southern tip of the Island - the eroded stump of a great mono-clinal chalk ridge that once spanned the Island from east to west. The strata in these southern chalk hills are almost horizontal and have eroded to form dramatic steep slopes, particularly on their southern side with more sheltered flowery chalk grassland meadows to the north.

Most of the Island’s chalk downs are capped with deposits of clay with flints or angular flint gravels and have acid soils that are in sharp contrast to the nearby calcareous chalk soils. These naturally support gorse scrub, acid grassland and heathland vegetation, which are described in the Acid Grassland and Heathland Habitat Action Plan.

Chalk grasslands occur in a variety of situations ranging from steep south facing slopes exposed to extremes of heat and maritime winds in the west of the Island, sheltered combes and dry valleys in the centre of the Island and humid north facing slopes such as those around Ashey and next to Bloodstone Copse in the east. The character and associated fauna of the grasslands varies in many subtle ways depending upon this range of exposure, slope, depth of soil and management history.

The majority of calcareous grassland on the Island occurs over the outcrops of chalk and is more commonly termed chalk grassland. In addition, there are smaller areas associated with outcrops of Bembridge limestone. Calcareous grassland on Bembridge Limestone is best developed around the former limestone quarries such as those at Prospect Quarry near Wellow. On the coast there are also many exposures of Bembridge marls on the maritime cliffs, which support calcareous grassland but these examples of the habitat are best considered under the Maritime Cliffs Habitat Action Plan. Inland of the coast there are also some calcareous grasslands associated with the Bembridge marls, such as those at Brickfields and Elmsworth Farm bordering Newtown Harbour.

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan However, these are small in extent, and are best considered as components of the larger complex of neutral grasslands of which they form a part - these are considered within the Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan.

There has been limited survey of the range and diversity of chalk grassland vegetation within the Isle of Wight. The most comprehensive survey was that undertaken in 1987 by the Nature Conservancy Council. This has never been published, although results of the survey have been obtained from Natural England. The survey recorded chalk grassland from a total of 46 sites extending to 906 hectares of the Island. A total of 440 hectares of calcareous grassland was surveyed from these sites with additional areas of scrub, heath, neutral and acid grassland also occurring. 12 of the sites visited were already SSSI and comprised 71% (701 ha) of the area surveyed.

The calcareous grassland was recorded using the National Vegetation Classification (NVC). A range of calcareous grassland types from a total of 80 samples was identified. The most frequently recorded community was the sheep’s fescue – meadow oat-grass community (CG2). This is typically very species-rich short springy grassland, dominated by fine-leaved grasses and low growing herbs such as salad burnet, thyme, rock rose, bird’s foot trefoil and small scabious. The nationally scarce early gentian is particularly associated with this grassland type, as are mats of horseshoe vetch, the larval food plant of the adonis and chalkhill blue butterflies. This grassland type tends to develop on shallow soils on steeper slopes and is widespread along the south face of the Island’s chalk downs.

On the steepest and most exposed slopes are also scattered examples of sheep’s fescue – carline thistle grassland (CG1). Nationally this is an uncommon calcareous grassland type limited to scattered sites on parched chalk and harder limestones around the southern and western coasts of England and Wales. It forms an extremely short and open turf, with patches of exposed rock and bare soil. Characteristic species include mouse-eared hawkweed, kidney vetch and the moss Weissia species.

By contrast in a few places on the deeper and more moisture retentive soils, examples of upright brome grassland occur (CG3). This is a relatively tall grassland type, which develops in generally less heavily grazed grasslands. It tends to be less species-rich than the other grassland types mentioned, although it still supports a wide range of chalk grassland species including thyme, rock rose, stemless thistle and field scabious.

Finally, in a few places examples of hairy oat-grass grassland (CG6) were also recorded by the survey. This grassland is dominated by red fescue with smaller amounts of hairy and meadow oat-grasses. It occurs most frequently on the deeper more moisture retentive soils where grazing pressure is low or has been absent for a period of time. Associated species are similar to the upright brome grassland and include salad burnet, ribwort plantain, thyme and lady’s bedstraw. Pyramidal orchids and cowslips can also be locally abundant in this grassland type.

The range of calcareous grassland types on the Island is similar to those found in Hampshire. However, the proportion of species rich CG2 grassland is far greater and that of CG3 and CG6 is correspondingly much reduced. The examples of the nationally uncommon CG1 grassland found on the Island are absent from Hampshire.

Current Extent

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan The Isle of Wight chalk and limestone outcrops cover an area of 4180 and 37 ha respectively. This has never supported continuous calcareous grassland as woodland, scrub and arable land have always formed an important part of the landscape. In addition, much of the chalk outcrop is capped with acid deposits that will not support calcareous grassland. The extent of calcareous grassland on the Island has been continuously changing since the first clearances of the primeval forest in the Mesolithic and early Bronze Age. These fluctuations in extent have been largely related to changes in the agricultural economy, with periods of high demand for cereals alternating with those for sheep and other livestock. Calcareous grassland was probably at its greatest extent in the 18 th and 19 th centuries when sheep and wool production dominated the agricultural economy, and shepherded sheep flocks would have roamed the chalk uplands of the Island.

An estimate of the area of chalk grassland on the Island in the mid 19th century has been made by Clive Chatters (Chatters, 1984). Using historic maps he estimated that the Isle of Wight contains some 2,314 hectares (5,718 acres) of chalk grassland in the 1850s. Taking into account the area of acid grassland and heath that occurred over the gravel capping the downs, the area of chalk grassland was probably nearer 1,780 ha at that time. The current area of calcareous grassland, including that over Bembridge Limestone, is estimated as 658 hectares plus 5 ha of limestone grassland. This suggests a loss of some 1,127 ha, a decline of 63% over the last 150 years. This catastrophic decline in the extent of calcareous grassland on the Island is of a much greater magnitude than any since the Roman occupation.

Legislation and Site Designation

There are 13 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) containing calcareous grassland and scrub on the Isle of Wight. These extend to a total of 870 ha and have 453 ha of calcareous grassland representing about 70% of the remaining calcareous grassland resource. The majority of this is in public ownership.

Four SSSI containing calcareous grassland have included within the Isle of Wight Downs Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and forms part of a European network of sites of importance for biodiversity to be called Natura 2000. The SAC has been selected for its populations of early gentian Gentianella anglica and representation of calcareous grassland habitat termed ‘semi-natural dry grassland and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates ( Festuco-Brometalia )’. The Isle of Wight has possibly the largest UK population of early gentian (Wilson, 1999) and is considered to be one of the best areas of calcareous grassland in the UK.

The 1987 survey of chalk grassland on the Isle of Wight identified a total of 5 additional sites that were considered of sufficient quality to merit notification as new SSSI or extensions to existing sites. Only one of these sites has since been notified.

Approximately 31 Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC), which contain chalk grassland habitat, have also been identified in the county. These extend to a further 450 ha, of which 186 ha are calcareous grassland.

Several areas of calcareous grassland are managed by the Isle of Wight Council. These include Shide Chalk Pit, Rew Down, Nansen Hill and Brading Down. Shide Chalk Pit and Nansen Hill are Local Nature Reserves.

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan There are no National Nature Reserves containing calcareous grassland on the Isle of Wight, although several areas have been identified as being of NNR quality and are listed in the Nature Conservation Review (NCR) (Ratcliffe, 1977).

Almost all of the calcareous grassland on the Isle of Wight is within the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.

Current Site Protection

The chalk grassland selected for inclusion in the SAC occurs in two distinct areas. In the west of the Island are three extensive SSSI, namely Headon Warren and West High Down, Compton Down and Mottistone Down that extend from the Needles eastwards along the chalk ridge. They contain examples of chalk grassland on southerly and north facing slopes together with large areas of heathland and chalk heath. Part of Ventnor Downs SSSI in the south of the Island has also been selected for inclusion in the SAC (although significant areas of high quality calcareous grassland habitat within this SSSI have been excluded).

In addition to these four internationally important SSSI, other SSSI of particular significance include the high quality calcareous grassland turf found within Calbourne Down SSSI where up to 40 species of plant have been recorded in a single metre square of turf. In the east of the Island, fine examples of chalk grassland are also found on Arreton Down and Bembridge Down where additional colonies of early gentian also occur together with populations of adonis blue, small blue and chalkhill blue butterfies.

SINCs containing generally smaller areas of high quality chalk grassland include the ramparts of Carisbrooke Castle, the grassland within Mount Joy cemetery near Newport and the steep north and east facing slopes of Ashey Down. Areas of calcareous grassland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight are shown in table 1.

Key sites for Lowland Calacareous Grassland on the Isle of Wight include:

SSSI Site Area ha 1

Arreton Down 29.77 Bembridge Down 56.25 Calbourne Down 15.4 Compton Down 196.25 Eagle Head and Bloodstone Copse 10.33 Garstons Down 20.3 Headon Warren and West High Down 276.25 Mottistone Down 31.44 Rew Down 23.5 Rowridge Valley 38.9 Ventnor Downs 162.6 Shide Quarry 4.8 Prospect Quarry 4.3 SINC name Area ha 1

Brading Down West 4.42 High Hat Reservoir 5.94 Shalcombe Down 1.34 Freshwater Bay Cliffs 3.32

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Calbourne Pumping Station 7.71 Carisbrooke Castle 16.28 Chillerton Down 28.1 Brighstone Down 21.42 Fore Down 17.36 Brading Down 32.99 Gallibury Fields 2.75 Ashey Chalkpit 2.26 Idlecombe Farm Down 8.37 Idlecombe Down 73.39 Bembridge Down 46.65 Knighton Down 14.32 Limerstone Down 21.19 Little Down 18.68 Mersley Chalk Pit 8.81 Arreton Down North 17.25 Mersley Down North 7.2 Mount Joy 3.73 Newbarn Down, Gatcombe 21.55 Northcourt Down 11.25 Pay Down 1.27 Pitts Farm Down 4.44 Ashey Down 10.03 Kern Down Chalkpit 4.42 St Catherine's Hill 5.94 St Martin's Down 1.34 Watcombe Down 3.32 1 = Area of SSSI or SINC including subsidiary habitats

3 Current factors influencing the habitat

The most important factors affecting the conservation of calcareous grassland relate to continued sustainable management through appropriate grazing systems and associated scrub management. These are reviewed in the Isle of Wight Grazing and Biodiversity Topic Action Plan and are summarised below.

Further loss of habitat

Much of the remaining calcareous grassland on the Isle of Wight is now within SSSI or other protection and as the agricultural economy has declined in recent years the threat to the remaining areas of the habitat from agricultural intensification has subsided. However, the threat from lack of management is a problem on some sites, especially small areas of calcareous grassland that are fragmented and isolated.

In addition, there has been a decline in beef cattle and decline of economically viable grazing with cattle generally; this could make it difficult to maintain appropriate grazing regimes on calcareous grasslands in the future.

Although loss of habitat through agricultural intensification may not be as significant a threat to calcareous grassland, the threat from various development pressures remains. This can include construction or maintenance of roads and tracks; recreational development, for instance for golf course creation or extension; and damage through other forms of recreational activity such as motorcycling and mountain biking. Management of these threats and pressures remains a significant factor in conserving the remaining calcareous grassland resource.

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan Financial incentives

Sufficient financial incentives are needed to encourage farmers and land managers to maintain and restore areas of calcareous grassland on the Isle of Wight. The Environmental Stewardship Schemes have provided valuable support for the restoration and creation of some calcareous grassland but the levels of payment available through this scheme may not be sufficient and may decline further in line with the general decline in agricultural incomes.

Environmental Stewardship payments are open for all landowners. In addition, Natural England may enter into management agreements with SSSI owners if the site is deemed to be in unfavourable condition.

In the wider countryside outside of these protected sites, there is a need to reverse the trend of habitat decline seen over the past 150 years. Whereas this should be encouraged throughout the Island, there are areas where the potential gains are likely to be greatest and where efforts and financial incentives should be targeted.

Alternative methods of providing a financial incentive also need to be considered and evaluated. This might include niche and brand marketing schemes.

The availability of a local slaughtering facility is likely to be critical to the success of local produce production and sale.

Availability of suitable stock and stock management expertise

Effective grazing of agriculturally unimproved calcareous grassland often requires specific breeds of cattle or sheep to maintain their nature conservation and biodiversity value. Certain farming systems are also likely to be more beneficial to biodiversity than others. For example, extensive beef rearing systems are likely to be preferable to modern dairy production.

Grazing and grassland management on low productivity habitats and the restoration of these habitats using livestock as a management tool is a specialist area of expertise. Whereas many farmers may have very valuable skills it may be that there is a specific need for training and provision of information to assist in developing these skills in this specialist area.

Public access

Much of the calcareous grassland on the Island has public access along foot paths and bridleways or more generally as open access. This can create a number of problems to livestock managers for example, gates being left open and from dog worrying of livestock. The public can also be seriously concerned by the prospect of walking in places where livestock are present. This can make it difficult to restore grazing to habitats if livestock have been absent for a number of years. These difficulties can be largely overcome with better public information and wardening but this requires considerable time and resources.

Weed growth and habitat stabilisation

The restoration of calcareous grassland often passes through a phase in which soil fertility and disturbance is sufficient to create ideal conditions for the growth of ‘weed’ species

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan with ragwort, creeping thistle and dock causing the most significant problems. As the grassland becomes re-established the weed species naturally decline, however, it is not generally acceptable to allow these high weed infestations to persist for the period it takes for the new equilibrium to establish, which might take five years or so. In the meantime, it is necessary to control these weed species with well-targeted herbicide use or by other means. This can be expensive and time consuming and often relies upon the use of specialised equipment such as ragwort pullers or weed wipers.

Habitat fragmentation and loss of ecological continuity

Many species, for example many of the chalk grassland butterflies require a minimum area of habitat in which to maintain sustainable populations and have poor powers of dispersal.

The natural restoration of a botanically species rich calcareous grassland sward is also dependent upon a nearby source of seed and plant propagules. The current state of habitat fragmentation may mean that intervention will be required to restore species diversity to such sites through the re-introduction of seed and other plant propagules from appropriate donor sites. These are likely to be the remaining SSSI and SINC that retain semi-natural vegetation, which makes their conservation even more critical for the future. Some of the Island’s cemeteries on chalk also retain species rich grassland from which wild flower seed could be harvested for restoration of calcareous grassland.

4 Current Initiatives

Site designation

The 1987 Nature Conservancy Council survey of chalk grassland identified five sites that appeared to be of SSSI quality. One of these, Calbourne Down, has subsequently been notified. However, there is clearly a need to ensure the remaining four sites are fully considered for additional notification. Notification of these five sites as SSSI would bring 85% of the Island’s chalk grassland into protective management.

The changes in the selection features for the Isle of Wight Downs SAC following the ‘moderation’ exercise have resulted in extensive areas of calcareous grassland (and associated lowland heathland) habitat being excluded from the SAC that are either within the same or adjacent SSSI to those selected for inclusion. This creates a number of anomalies that need to be resolved.

Purchase of additional reserves or properties

Given the poor state of the agricultural economy it is possible that further areas of calcareous grassland or more importantly, areas with the potential for restoration as calcareous grassland, will become available for purchase by nature conservation organisations. Further action to bring this land into management of nature conservation organisations needs to be planned and coordinated.

Habitat management

Lowland Calcareous Grassland is a target habitat for the CSS, administered by DEFRA through Natural England. This scheme provides payments for maintaining and enhancing

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan calcareous grassland habitat and arable reversion to calcareous grassland, although there is only a limited pool of funding which has to be prioritised.

An estimate of the condition of calcareous grassland SSSI and SINC on the Island has been undertaken by Natural England and the Isle of Wight Council. The details of this assessment are reviewed in the Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report (February 2002). In summary, the results of this assessment suggest that some 45% of sites are in favourable condition and 53% are in unfavourable condition with 2% in unknown condition. The situation is believed to have improved since then with a determined effort being made to get landowners into agri-environment schemes, particularly on SSSIs. Additional action is required to achieve favourable conservation condition on all calcareous grassland sites. Natural England have produced Site Management Statements for each SSSI landowner which define the nature conservation objectives and appropriate conservation management for each tenure unit and identify SSSI owner/occupier requirements to achieve management changes such as funding requirements and any Natural England action which is needed.

English Nature (now Natural England) together with Wight Wildlife (now H&IWWT) and SEEDA funded two projects aimed at identifying the potential for promoting agricultural systems that would result in the maintenance and restoration of calcareous grassland and other grazed habitats on the Island. In the 2002 HAP (first edition), a priority for a Grazing Officer was highlighted. This was superseded by the Living Landscapes Project where funding was obtained to work with and advise farmers and landowners. Since the original HAP, a niche market in locally sourced meat has developed and the Grazing Officer action has been dropped and a new action of supporting animal husbandry has been introduced.

The National Trust owns and manages the most extensive and important areas of chalk grassland on the Isle of Wight. They have management plans for all of their properties, which include grazing and scrub management prescriptions. Other management initiatives currently under way include: Restoration of grazing to Tennyson Down, reversion of arable land to chalk grassland at Easton Field, Freshwater, goat grazing on Ventnor Downs to control scrub, and a management plan for Freshwater Bay Golf Club to restore chalk grassland.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (H&IWWT) own and manage Arreton Down, the largest and most diverse area of chalk grassland on the eastern chalk ridge. This is managed as a nature reserve and is let to a local farmer to graze. H&IWWT also own a small area of chalk grassland associated with Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses where grazing with Hebridean sheep has been intoduced.

The Isle of Wight Council owns a number of important chalk grassland sites on the Island including Rew Down Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and Shide Chalk Pit LNR. Nansen Hill (part of Ventnor Downs SSSI) and Brading Down are also owned and managed by the Council to conserve their chalk grassland.

The revised AONB management plan will provide a vehicle with which to promote many of the objectives of this Habitat Action Plan.

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Survey, research and monitoring

Natural England have carried out an assessment of the condition of all SSSI on the Isle of Wight with a target of ensuring that 85% are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

The National Trust monitor chalk grassland butterfly populations on a number of their properties. They have also commissioned a number of invertebrate surveys of their properties in recent years.

A survey of early gentian populations on the Isle of Wight was undertaken for Wight Wildlife in 1995 with funding from English Nature (now Natural England).

Action for species

There are currently no specific actions planned for chalk grassland associated species, as at this stage it is believed that their requirements may be met through habitat action.

Associated Plans within the Isle of Wight BAP

Generic Habitat Action Plan

10 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan 5 Targets and Actions

Biodiversity targets for Lowland Calcareous Grassland on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain and restore existing area of lowland calcareous grassland habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of lowland calcareous grassland into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and lowland calcareous grassland habitats D Improve the knowledge of lowland calcareous grassland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of lowland calcareous grassland resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Currently, our datasets will not allow us to accurately measure separate maintenance and restoration targets and therefore our targets have been combined for this HAP. • Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Lowland Calcareous Grassland on the Isle of Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 Wight

A1/B1 Maintain and restore the existing extent of 658 ha of lowland calcareous NE IWC
grassland by 2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC
condition of 85% of lowland calcareous grassland by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight livestock NFU/ IWC
industry by 2010 CLA/ IWC C1 Increase the extent of lowland calcareous grassland on the Isle of Wight by NE IWC
re-establishing 200 ha of permanent grassland on chalk

Complete by  Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust CLA Country, land & Business Association NFU National Farmer’s Union

11 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

References

1. Blackwood, J.W. and Tubbs, C.R., 1970. A Quantitative Survey of Chalk Grassland in England. Biological Conservation, Volume 3, No.1

2. Brown, A.E. Burn, A.J. Hopkins, J.J. & Way, S.F., 1997. The Habitats Directive: selection of Special Areas of Conservation in the UK. Peterborough: JNCC Report No. 270.

3. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

4. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

5. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranch 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats . Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

6. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. 2002. Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report. Isle of Wight Council.

7. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999, The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives . Peterborough.

8. Hillier, S. H., Walton, D.W.H., and Wells, D. A. 1987 . Calcareous Grasslands - Ecology and Management Proceedings of a Joint British Ecological Society / Nature Conservancy Council Symposium

9. Wilson P J 1999 The distribution and status of Gentianella anglica (Pugsley) E Warb Plantlife report no 119

12 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Species associated with Lowland Calcareous Grassland

Species associated with Lowland calcareous grassland

Latin name English name BAP Other Habitat Local Local code Abundance Population Trend

Ants, Bees & Wasps Bombus humilis Brown-Banded Carder Bee 1 Lowland meadows Rare Unknown Lasioglossum angusticeps A mining bee 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Scarce Unknown Andrena marginata A mining bee 3 Rare Unknown

Beetles Harpalus cordatus A ground beetle 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Harpalus parallelus A ground beetle 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Meloe proscarabaeus Black Oil-beetle 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Unknown

Butterflies Cupido minimus Small Blue 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Scarce Decreasing Eynnis tages Dingy Skipper 1 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Localised Decreasing Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy 1 Rare Decreasing Hipparchia semele Grayling 1 Lowland heathland Scarce Decreasing Melitaea cinxia Glanville Fritillary 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Stable Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper 1 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Localised Decreasing Argynnis aglaia Dark Green Fritillary 3 Lowland heathland Occasional Stable Lysandra coridon Chalkhill Blue 3 Localised Stable

Crickets & Grasshoppers Ectobius pallidus Tawny Cockroach 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Occasional Unknown Platycleis albopunctata Grey Bush-cricket 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Occasional Stable Stripe-winged Stenobothrus lineatus Grasshopper 3 Scarce Unknown

Flies Asilus crabroniformis A robber fly 1 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Terellia vectensis A picture-winged fly 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Urophora spoliata A picture-winged fly 3 Rare Unknown

Moths Hemistola chrysoprasaria Small Emerald 1 Localised Unknown Scotopteryx bipunctaria cretata Chalk Carpet 1 Localised Decreasing Agrotis cinerea Light Feathered Rustic 3 Localised Stable Aporophyla australis pascuea Feathered Brindle 3 Localised Stable Bembecia scopigera Six-belted Clearwing 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Unknown Catarhoe rubidata Ruddy Carpet 3 Hedgerows Localised Unknown Dolicharthria punctalis Long-legged China-mark 3 Coastal vegetated shingle Scarce Unknown Mecyna flavalis flaviculalis Auriferous Pearl 3 Rare Unknown Microstega hyalinis Translucent Straw Belle 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown Nephopterix angustella Narrow-winged Knot-horn 3 Hedgerows Rare Unknown Phibalapteryx virgata Oblique Striped 3 Rare Decreasing Setina irrorella Dew Moth 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Stable

Spider Group Aceria schmardai An eriophid mite 3 Rare Unknown

13 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Calcareous Grassland Habitat Action Plan

True bugs Canthophorus impressus A shield bug 3 Rare Unknown Heterogaster artemisiae A ground bug 3 Rare Unknown Peritrechus gracilicornis A Lygaeid bug 3 Lowland meadows Rare Unknown

Fungi and Lichens Fulgensia fulgens "Scrambled-egg lichen" 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Scarce Stable Puccinia thesii Bastard Toadflax Rust 1 Rare Unknown

Liverworts Porella obtusata 'Broad Scalewort' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Ptilidium pulcherrimum 'Tree Fringewort' 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown

Mosses Acaulon triquetrum Triangular pygmy moss 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Bryum torquescens 'Twisting Thread-moss' 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Decreasing Eurhynchium schleicheri 'Twist-tip Feather-moss' 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Unknown Scorpiurium circinatum Curving feather-moss 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Stable Seligeria calcarea 'Chalk Rock-bristle' 3 Scarce Unknown

Flowering Plants Clinopodium acinos Basil Thyme 1 Rare Decreasing Dactylorhiza viridis Frog Orchid 1 Rare Decreasing Euphrasia pseudokerneri Chalk Eyebright 1 Scarce Stable Gentianella anglica Early Gentian 1 Occasional Stable Juniperus communis Juniper 1 Rare Stable Believed Neotinea ustulata Burnt Orchid 1 extinct Allium oleraceum Field Garlic 3 Rare Stable Anacamptis morio Green-winged Orchid 3 Lowland meadows Localised Stable Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Localised Increasing Arabis hirsuta Hairy Rockcress 3 Rare Stable Astragalus glycyphyllos Wild Liquorice 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Brassica oleracea Wild Cabbage 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable Carex humilis Dwarf Sedge 3 Rare Unknown Cerastium pumilum Dwarf Mouse-ear 3 Occasional Stable Cuscuta epithymum Dodder 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Erigeron acer Blue Fleabane 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Decreasing Euphorbia portlandica Portland Spurge 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Increasing Euphrasia tetraquetra An Eyebright 3 Scarce Unknown Filipendula vulgaris Dropwort 3 Rare Stable Gymnadenia conopsea ssp. conopsea Fragrant Orchid 3 Rare Decreasing Matthiola incana Hoary Stock 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Occasional Stable Melampyrum arvense Field Cow-wheat 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable Onobrychis vicifolia Sainfoin 3 Rare Unknown Orobanche purpurea Yarrow Broomrape 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Scarce Unknown Spiranthes spiralis Autumn Lady's-tresses 3 Built-up area and gardens Localised Stable Thesium humifusum Bastard Toadflax 3 Occasional Stable Valerianella eriocarpa Hairy-fruited Cornsalad 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable Vicia parviflora Slender Tare 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable

1 = National BAP Priority Species 3 = Local BAP Priority Species Habitats = National BAP Priority Habitats

14 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Second Review December 2008

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It was first produced in 2002 and reviewed in 2008.

Heathland and Acid grassland have both been identified as priority habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Because the extent of true lowland heath is restricted on the Island and because these two habitats tend to occur in close association and are subject to similar threats and conservation requirements, they have been combined within this single Habitat Action Plan for the Isle of Wight. The Action Plan seeks to ensure that national objectives for these two habitats are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues. The identification of heathland and acid grasslands as national and local priority habitats are based on the following factors:

1. Semi-natural lowland grassland, including acid grassland has declined by 97% in England and Wales over the last 50 years. It is estimated that there is some 30,000 ha of lowland acid grassland in Britain. 2. In England, only one sixth of the heathland present in 1800 now remains. The UK has some 58,000 ha of lowland heathland, of which the largest proportion (58%) is found in England. The UK has an important proportion (about 20%) of the international total of this habitat. 3. On the Isle of Wight, the decline in heathland and acid grassland is estimated to be in excess of 79% since 1850. 4. There is an estimated 70 ha (67 ha dry heath + 3 ha wet heath) of heathland and 122 ha of dry acid grassland remaining on the Isle of Wight. However, the extent of acid grassland probably needs to be re-assessed following further field survey. 5. The enormous loss of this habitat on the Isle of Wight has been accompanied by severe fragmentation, with many of the remaining areas of heathland and acid grassland being small and isolated. 6. Many of the remaining areas of heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight are not being managed optimally for nature conservation. A review of the condition of SSSI and SINC containing this habitat in 2001 suggested that 40% are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition, 40% are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition, and the remaining 20% of sites are of unknown condition. 7. Heathland and acid grasslands on the Isle of Wight provide habitat for many species of national or local importance including 5 national priority BAP species, together with 9 national and 46 species of local conservation concern.

The England targets (2008) for these habitats include:

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan lowland heathland : • maintain the current extent of 58,000 ha by 2010 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 34,086 ha by 2015 • re-establish 6,100 ha by 2015 lowland dry acid grassland : • maintain the current extent of 20,142 ha by 2010 • achieve favourable or recovery condition of 17,295 ha (86%) by 2015 • restore 285 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 276 ha by 2015

The South-east Regional targets (2008) for these habitats include: lowland heathland : • maintain the current extent of 17,464 ha by 2010 • re-establish 1,777 ha by 2015 lowland dry acid grassland : • maintain the current extent of 5,153 ha by 2010 • restore 151 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 112 ha by 2015

The Isle of Wight targets (2008) for these habitats combined are: • maintain the current extent of 192 ha of lowland heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 163 ha (85%) of lowland heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015 • restore 20 ha of degraded or neglected lowland heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015 • re-establish 90 ha of lowland heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015

2 Current Status

Physical Features of the Island’s Heathland and Acid Grassland

Description of Habitat

The national heathland Habitat Action Plan defines this habitat as being characterised by the presence of plants such as heather, dwarf gorse and cross-leaved heath and is generally found below 300 metres in altitude. Acid grassland occurs in a wide variety of different types, both in the UK and on the Isle of Wight.

The heathland on the Island has not been comprehensively surveyed to assess the range of National Vegetation Classification (NVC) communities that are present. However, most of the examples of dry heathland conform to the Ulex minor – Agrostis curtisii heath (H3) community, which is the typical dry heathland community of the Hampshire Basin and the New Forest. The fragments of heathland that occur on the clay soils of Parkhurst Forest

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan may be classified as Ulex minor – Calluna vulgaris (H2) heathland, whilst the wet heath that occurs in a few small and isolated patches may be assigned to the Erica tetralix – Sphagnum compactum community (M16).

The flora of dry heathland is typically species-poor but associated species commonly include patches of common gorse or bracken, whilst growing with the heathers and heathland grasses may be species such as the heath milkwort, heath pearlwort and tormentil together with mosses such as Polytrichum juniperinum and Campylopus introflexus . Wet heath, by contrast, can be much more diverse, especially in grazed examples. In addition to the cross-leaved heath and patches of sphagnum moss that are typical of the community, associated species include deer grass and purple moor-grass. A low growing spiny shrub known as petty whin also grows in this heathland type, but it has not been seen in recent years.

An unusual version of species-rich heathland also develops on acid clay soils in Parkhurst Forest and at Bouldnor, where heathers and dwarf gorse grow in a complex mosaic with species-rich neutral grassland. This form of heathland does not conform well to the NVC, but appears to be a southern version of heathland types found in Cornwall.

In other places, areas of heathland occur in a remarkable mosaic with chalk grassland where superficial deposits of clay or gravel cap the downs. In these relatively small areas, heathers and other acid loving plants grow with typical chalk grassland or calcicole species. This heathland type, known as chalk heath, is not described by the NVC but is well described in ‘Isle of Wight Chalk Heaths’ (Chatters, 1990)

Acid grassland types on the Island have also been poorly surveyed and little is known of the range of NVC communities present. Examples of both Festuca ovina - Agrostis capillaris – Rumex acetosella (U1) and Festuca ovina - Agrostis capillaris – Galium saxatile (U4) are known. Within these broad community types, there are also likely to be a number of sub-communities although these have yet to be identified. Elsewhere on the Island there are also interesting examples of bristle bent grassland, which conform to the Agrostis curtisii grassland community (U3). Examples of this can be found in many places on the Island such as Sandown Golf Course, Head Down near Whitwell and on Ventnor Downs.

Acid grassland also occurs in association with dense stands of bracken where it can support a number of woodland plants, most notably stands of bluebells. In terms of the NVC, this vegetation conforms to the bluebell sub-community of Pteridium aquilinum – Rubus fruticosus under scrub (W25a). However, the examples of this habitat on exposures of ferruginous sandstone that occur on the Island appear to have more in common with similar examples found on the cliffs of the south west of England and may not have been derived from woodland clearance as is commonly believed.

A number of priority species are associated with the heathland and acid grasslands of the Island. These include the Dartford warbler, stonechat, adders, mottled grasshopper, a number of uncommon bees and wasps and the moss Hylocomium splendens .

Distribution and Extent

The main concentrations of heathland on the Isle of Wight are now confined to the summit of Ventnor Downs and the outcrop of Tertiary and Pleistocene gravels known as Headon Hill in the west of the Island. Smaller fragments of the habitat occur where other deposits

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan of gravel occur such as on Bleak Down near Rookley or St George’s Down near Newport. Small patches of heathland also occur on both gravel and clay soils within Parkhurst Forest where it survives in forestry clearings and along rides. Other fragments of the habitat survive on the chalk downs within Brighstone Forest. Most of the remaining examples of heathland on the Island can be described as dry heath, and contrast with the few small examples of wet heath that can be found on Bleak Down and associated with acid peat deposits in the Medina and Eastern Yar valleys.

Acid grassland often occurs in association with dry heathland on the downs of the Island, particularly within Brighstone Forest and on Ventnor Downs. However, examples of acid grassland also occur in a number of other locations where there are sand or gravel deposits. This includes deposits of sand on the coast where acid grassland has developed on stabilised sand dunes such as those at St Helen’s Duver and the former intertidal sand flats now within the reclaimed Brading Marshes. Away from the coast, acid grassland also occurs on the outcrops of ferruginous sandstone that form low hills throughout the south of the Island.

The former extent of acid grassland on the Isle of Wight is virtually impossible to assess, given the complex mosaic it forms with heathland and scrub. The former area of heathland on the Island was calculated by Clive Chatters in his report to the IWCC in 1984. He calculated that there was some 729 hectares of heathland on the Island in 1850. This figure did not however include the extensive area of heathland and acid grassland that occurred on the chalk downs, particularly in the area of what is now Brighstone Forest and the gravel cap to the Ventnor Downs. Current estimates are that an area of 122 ha of dry acid grassland and 70 ha of heathland making a combined area of some 192 ha, representing a loss of at least 79% since 1850. In addition, there are a further 58.3 ha of bracken and bluebell stands.

Legislation and Site Designation

Much of the known area of heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight is included within SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and SINC (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation). Table 1 lists the main SSSI and SINC known to support heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight. Further assessment is required to identify what proportion of the habitat on the Island is protected by SSSI and SINC.

The largest and most important areas of heathland are owned and managed by the National Trust. Most of the acid grassland is however in private ownership. The Isle of Wight AONB includes several areas of heathland and acid grassland, particularly the examples associated with the chalk downs and the ridges of ferruginous sandstone found in the south of the Island.

Many small fragments of heathland and acid grassland and the greatest potential for habitat recreation and restoration exists within Parkhurst, Brighstone and Bouldnor Forests, which are managed by Forest Enterprise.

Summary of Important Sites

The largest areas of heathland remaining on the Isle of Wight are those within the National Trust owned Ventnor Downs SSSI and on Headon Hill within the Headon Warren and West High Downs SSSI. Both are well managed. Heathland was, however, once a common and widespread habitat on the Isle of Wight occurring extensively within

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan Parkhurst Forest and between Cranmore and Bouldnor in the north west of the Island before conversion to forestry plantations. Large areas of heathland also occurred in the north east of the Island between Wootton and Newport, but most of this has either been lost to agricultural improvement or forestry plantations. In the south of the Island, further extensive heathlands occurred on Blackpan Common near Sandown. Fragments of these heathlands still remain, with the largest and most intact being found within the forestry plantations managed by Forest Enterprise and on Sandown Golf Course.

Acid grassland is found over a wider number of sites with particularly good examples within Brading Marshes and within the stabilised dunes at St Helen’s. Other examples are found on the ridges of ferruginous sandstone that outcrop in the south of the Island such as on Row Down at Brighstone.

Table 1: Distribution and extent of heathland, acid grassland and bluebell/bracken stands on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha Comments Headon Warren and West High Down 262.9 Heathland in favourable condition Ventnor Downs 162.6 Heathland grazed and in favourable condition Brading Marshes to St Helen’s Ledges Small area of bluebells and bracken Area ha Subsidiary habitat SINC name St George’s Down 17.02 Semi natural- broadleaved woodland Row Down 13.32 Relict heath Dame Anthony’ s Common 9.86 Scrub Skinner’s Hill 10.74 Scrub Perreton Down 6.89 Woodland St Catherine’s Down 18.64 Calcareous grassland Ventnor Radio Station 12.57 Chalk heath Head Down 4.75 Scrub Heath Hill 1.14 Sandown Golf Course 45.84 Scrub, acid ponds Ningwood Common 16.84 Scrub Bleak Down 10.27 Scrub, pools Gore Down 23.03 Unimproved neutral grassland South Down 2.66 Sheard’s Scarp 2.32 Hollow Lane Chillerton 4.32 Grammar’s Common 17.72 Relic heathland Mottistone Common 60.82 Relic heathland, remnant chalk grassland

3 Current Factors affecting the habitat

Many of the factors affecting the conservation of heathland and acid grassland relate to continued sustainable management through appropriate grazing and mowing systems. These are reviewed in the Isle of Wight Grazing and Biodiversity Topic and apply equally to a range of grassland habitats, which are summarised below.

Further loss of habitat

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan Much of the remaining heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight is now within SSSI or other protection, and as the agricultural economy has declined in recent years, the threat to the remaining areas of the habitat from agricultural intensification has subsided. However, the threat from lack of management is a problem on some sites, especially those that are small and fragmented, or where bracken is able to colonise remaining areas of heathland and acid grassland. Although the threat to the habitat through agricultural intensification may have receded, it has not by any means disappeared.

The decline in numbers of cattle and in particular beef cattle, that has taken place on the Island in recent years may make it difficult to graze areas of heathland and acid grassland in the future.

There is also a threat from various development pressures. This can include development for housing or mineral extraction as well as recreational use, for example, motorcycle riding.

Management of these threats and pressures remains a significant factor in conserving the remaining heathland and acid grassland resource.

Financial incentives

Sufficient financial incentives are needed to encourage farmers and land managers to maintain and restore areas of heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight. The Environmental Stewardship Scheme has provided valuable support for the restoration and creation of some heathland and acid grassland, but the levels of payment available through this scheme may not be sufficient, and may decline further in line with the general decline in agricultural incomes.

Environmental Stewardship payments are available for all landowners. In addition, Natural England may enter into management agreements with SSSI owners if the site is deemed to be in unfavourable condition.

In the wider countryside outside of these protected sites, there is a need to reverse the trend of habitat decline seen over the past 150 years. Whereas this should be encouraged throughout the Island, there are areas where the potential gains are likely to be greatest, and where efforts and financial incentives should be targeted.

Alternative methods of providing a financial incentive also need to be considered and evaluated. This might include niche and brand marketing schemes.

The availability of a local slaughtering facility is likely to be critical to the success of local produce production and sale.

Availability of suitable stock and stock management expertise

Restoration of habitats with low productivity, for example heathland and acid grassland is likely to need specialist breeds that can thrive on this type of vegetation. It may also be necessary to ensure areas of better quality grassland are available to livestock grazing this habitat to ensure the economic viability of the farm system. Certain farming systems are also likely to be more beneficial to biodiversity than others. For example, extensive beef rearing systems are likely to be preferable to modern dairy production.

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Grazing and grassland management on low productivity habitats and the restoration of these habitats using livestock as a management tool is a specialist area of expertise. Whereas many farmers may have very valuable skills, it may be that there is a specific need for training and provision of information to assist in developing these skills in this specialist area.

Public access

Much of the heathland and acid grassland on the Island has public access along footpaths and bridleways, or more generally as open access. This can create a number of problems to livestock managers. Problems arise from gates being left open and from dog worrying of livestock. The public can also be seriously concerned by the prospect of walking in places where livestock are present. This can make it difficult to restore grazing if livestock have been absent for a number of years. These difficulties can be largely overcome with better public information and wardening but this requires considerable time and resources.

Weed growth and habitat stabilisation

The restoration of heathland and acid grassland often passes through a phase in which soil fertility and disturbance is sufficient to create ideal conditions for the growth of ‘weed’ species with ragwort, creeping thistle and dock causing the most significant problems. As the natural grassland or grazed habitat becomes re-established the weed species naturally decline, however, it is not generally acceptable to allow these high weed infestations to persist for the period it takes for the new equilibrium to establish, this might take five years or so. In the meantime, it is necessary to control these weed species with well-targeted herbicide use, or by other means. This can be expensive and time consuming and often relies upon the use of specialised equipment such as ragwort pullers or weed wipers.

Habitat fragmentation and loss of ecological continuity

Many species require a minimum area of habitat in which to maintain sustainable populations, this is particularly true for birds such as the nightjar and Dartford warbler. Other species have poor powers of dispersal and hence cannot colonise new habitats unless they are close or contiguous with existing habitats, for example some butterflies such as the grayling or small copper.

The natural recolonisation of heathland and acid grassland is also dependent upon a nearby source of seed and plant propagules. The current state of habitat fragmentation may mean that intervention will be required to restore these habitats through the re- introduction of seed and other plant propagules from appropriate donor sites. These are likely to be the remaining SSSI and SINC that retain semi-natural vegetation, which makes their conservation even more critical for the future.

Forestry plantations

Many of the remaining fragments of heathland and acid grassland remain within forestry plantations in particular Parkhurst Forest, Brighstone Forest and Bouldnor Plantation. These relict areas of habitat are difficult to manage within the context of a forestry plantation and are often too small to sustain a diverse heathland flora or fauna. However,

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan these forestry plantations offer the greatest potential for heathland restoration on the Isle of Wight. What is more they are state owned, and hence offer significant scope for heathland restoration and management through re-instating the extensive grazing systems these areas once supported. This is happening on Mottistone Common, where the National Trust and a private landowner have taken over the land from Forest Enterprise, removed the trees and are restoring the site to heathland.

4 Current Action

Site and Species Protection

Site designation SSSI, SAC There are currently no plans to notify new heathland or acid grassland sites as SSSI on the Isle of Wight, although Cranmore Common SSSI was notified in 2001. SINC identification is ongoing on the Island. Further heathland or acid grassland sites may be identified by the IW Council.

Purchase of additional reserves or properties It is possible that further areas of heathland and acid grassland or more importantly, areas with the potential for restoration as heathland and acid grassland, will become available for purchase by nature conservation organisations. Further action to bring this land into management by nature conservation organisations needs to be planned and coordinated.

Habitat management Lowland heathland and acid grassland is a target habitat for the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, administered by Natural England. This scheme provides payments for maintaining and enhancing lowland heathland and acid grassland and arable reversion to this habitat, although there is only a limited pool of funding for which spending has to be prioritised.

Not all the examples of this habitat on the Island are in good condition. Some are being colonised by scrub and bracken, and are ungrazed or inadequately grazed. An initial assessment of the condition of heathland and acid grassland has been made by Natural England and the IWC Ecology Officer, in discussion with the H&IWWT Officer. The details of this assessment are reviewed in the Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report (February 2002).

English Nature (now Natural England) together with Wight Wildlife (now H&IWWT) and SEEDA funded two projects aimed at identifying the potential for promoting agricultural systems that will result in the maintenance and restoration of heathland, acid grassland and other grazed habitats on the Island. This was superseded by the Living Landscapes Project where funding was obtained to work with and advise farmers and landowners. Since the original HAP, a niche market in locally sourced meat has developed and the Grazing Officer action has been dropped and a new action of supporting animal husbandry has been introduced.

The most extensive areas of heathland restoration have been undertaken by the National Trust and Wight Conservation at Mottistone Common.

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan The People’s Trust of Endangered Species owns a fragment of the former Lynn Common near Wootton. This currently supports a conifer plantation but the Trust is planning to gradually remove this to part restore the land to heathland.

Survey, research and monitoring

There is little survey research or monitoring of heathland and acid grassland on the Isle of Wight.

Natural England have carried out an assessment of the condition of all SSSI on the Isle of Wight with a target of ensuring that 95% are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

Nightjar and Dartford warbler populations on the Island have been monitored as part of the BTO national survey by the IW Ornithological Group and IW Natural History and Archaeological Society.

Action for species

Appendix 1 gives details of species on the Isle of Wight found primarily on heathland and acid grassland. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. In some cases, additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species: for example, UK Species Action Plans (UK SAP) and Butterfly Conservation Regional Action Plans (BC RAP).

Associated Plans within the Isle of Wight BAP

Generic Habitat Action Plan

.

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan 5 Targets and Actions

Biodiversity targets for Heathland and Acid Grassland on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain the existing area of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitats D Improve the knowledge of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Heathland and Acid Grassland on the Isle of Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 Wight

A1 Maintain the existing extent of 192 ha of heathland and dry acid grassland by NE IWC
2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC
condition of 85% of heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight livestock NFU/ IWC
industry by 2010 CLA/ IWC B1 Enhance and restore 20 ha of degraded or neglected heathland and dry acid NE IWC
grassland habitat by 2015 B2 Work with the Forestry Commission to develop plans for the restoration and H&IWWT IWC
re-creation of heathland and acid grassland by removal or reduction of / FC forestry plantations within target areas identified in the Grazing and Grassland management Topic Report C1 Increase the extent of lowland heathland and acid grassland by 90 ha, with NE IWC
emphasis on target areas identified in the Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Complete by  Ongoing start by

10 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2009 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust FC Forestry Commission

References

1. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile 2. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats 3. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats . Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group 4. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. 2002. Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report. Isle of Wight Council. 5. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999, The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives. Peterborough. 6. Sanderson, N.A. 2000. Review of extent of conservation interest and management of lowland acid grassland. English Nature, Peterborough.

11 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2009 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Species associated with Lowland Heathland and Acid Grassland

Species associated with Lowland dry acid grassland

Latin name English name BAP Other Habitat Local Local Abundance Population Trend

Reptiles Vipera berus Adder 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Unknown

True Bugs Megalonotus dilatatus A ground bug 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown Psammotettix albomarginatus A leafhopper 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown

Flowering Plants Chamaemelum nobile Chamomile 1 Rare Stable Scleranthus annuus Annual Knawel 1 Arable & horticultural Rare Decreasing Viola lactea Pale Dog Violet 1 Lowland meadows Rare Decreasing Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort 3 Lowland meadows Scarce Decreasing

Agrostis cutisii Bristle Bent 3 Lowland heathland Scarce Unknown Anacamptis pyramidalis Pyramidal Orchid 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Localised Increasing Erigeron acer Blue Fleabane 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Decreasing Euphrasia confusa An Eyebright 3 Rare Unknown

Filago minima Small Cudweed 3 Lowland heathland Rare Increasing Hypochaeris glabra Smooth Catsear 3 Coastal sand dunes Rare Unknown

Jasione montana Sheepsbit Scabious 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Lotus angustissimus Slender Birdsfoot Trefoil 3 Grazing marsh Rare Unknown Medicago polymorpha Toothed Medick 3 Arable and horticultural Scarce Increasing

Moenchia erecta Upright Chickweed 3 Coastal sand dunes Rare Decreasing Nardus stricta Mat-grass 3 Purple moorgrass & rush pasture Rare Unknown

Orobanche purpurea Yarrow Broomrape 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Scarce Unknown Orobanche rapum-genistae Greater Broomrape 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Unknown Thymus pulegioides Large Thyme 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Trifolium suffocatum Suffocated Clover 3 Coastal sand dunes Scarce Increasing Vicia lathyroides Spring Vetch 3 Coastal sand dunes Rare Decreasing Viola canina Heath Dog Violet 3 Rare Decreasing

Species associated with Lowland heathland

Latin name English name BAP Other Habitat Local Local Code Abundance Population Trend

Bird Caprimulgus europaeus Nightjar 1 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Localised Decreasing Sylvia undata Dartford warbler 3 Localised Increasing

12 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2009 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Reptile Lacerta vivipara Common Lizard 1 Lowland meadows Localised Decreasing

Ants, Bees & Wasps Cerceris ruficornis A Digger wasp 3 Rare Unknown Tachysphex unicolor s.s. A solitary wasp 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown

Butterflies Hipparchia semele Grayling 1 Lowland calcareous grassland Scarce Decreasing Argynnis aglaia Dark Green Fritillary 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Occasional Stable

Crickets & grasshoppers Ectobius panzeri Lesser Cockroach 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Scarce Unknown

Flies Pelecocera tricincta A hoverfly 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown Terellia vectensis A picture-winged fly 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown

Moths Acosmetia caliginosa Reddish Buff 1 Lowland meadows Rare Stable Heliothis maritima Shoulder-striped Clover 1 Rare Unknown Schrankia taenialis White-line Snout 1 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Localised Decreasing Elaphria venustula Rosy Marbled 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown Idaea sylvestraria Dotted Border Wave 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Scarce Unknown Pachycnemia hippocastanaria Horse Chestnut 3 Scarce Unknown Pempelia genistella Gorse Knot-horn 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Selidosema brunnearia scandinaviaria Bordered Grey 3 Rare Unknown

True bugs Aphrophora alpina A froghopper 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown

Liverworts Believed Mylia anomala 'Anomalous Flapwort' 3 Fens extinct

Mosses Leptodon smithii 'Prince-of-Wales Feather-moss' 3 Built-up areas & gardens Scarce Decreasing Pleurozium schreberi 'Red-stemmed Feather-moss' 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing

Ferns Osmunda regalis Royal Fern 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing

Flowering Plants Agrostis cutisii Bristle Bent 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Scarce Unknown Anagallis minima Chaffweed 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown Cuscuta epithymum Dodder 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown Epipactis palustris Marsh Helleborine 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Erica tetralix Cross-leaved Heath 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Filago minima Small Cudweed 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Increasing Filago vulgaris Common Cudweed 3 Arable & horticultural Rare Increasing Believed 3 Genista anglica Petty Whin Fens extinct Believed 3 Juncus squarrosus Heath Rush Fen, marsh and swamp extinct

13 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2009 Heathland and Acid Grassland Habitat Action Plan

Lythrum portula Water Purslane 3 Rivers & streams Scarce Decreasing Sagina subulata Heath Pearlwort 3 Rare Stable Thymus pulegioides Large Thyme 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Unknown Vaccinium myrtilus Bilberry 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Decreasing

1 = National BAP Priority Species 3 = Local BAP Priority Species Habitats = National BAP Priority Habitats

14 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2009 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

Second Review December 2008

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It was first produced in 2002 and reviewed in 2008.

Lowland meadows have been selected as a habitat action plan for the Isle of Wight to ensure that national objectives for this priority habitat identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues. The identification of lowland meadows as a national priority habitat is based on the following factors:

1. It is estimated that by 1984 semi-natural lowland grassland had declined by 97% in England and Wales over the previous 50 years to approximately 0.2 million hectares. Losses have continued during the 1980s and 1990s and have been recorded at 2-10% per annum in some parts of England. Loss has been almost entirely due to increased use of fertiliser and herbicide to increase agricultural production.

2. On the Isle of Wight, it is likely that there has been a similar decline in this habitat although no specific estimates have been made. The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment identifies a total of 223 ha of unimproved and 249 ha of semi- improved neutral grassland on the Island. The definition of neutral grassland in this plan combines these two grassland categories, making a total of 472 ha of neutral grassland. This is probably an underestimate of the actual area of the habitat as it is likely that some isolated meadows remain to be discovered.

The loss of lowland meadow habitat on the Island has been accompanied by severe fragmentation, with most of the remaining sites being less than a few hectares in area.

Many of the remaining sites are not being managed ideally. A review of the condition of SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight made in 2001 suggested that 60% were in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition, 27% were in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition and the remaining 13% of sites were of unknown condition. There is considered to have been an improvement on this situation as a result of the effort made to encourage landowners to enter agri-environment schemes, particularly on SSSIs.

3. Lowland meadows on the Isle of Wight provide habitat for many species of national or local importance including six national priority BAP species together 23 national and 22 species of local conservation concern.

The England targets (2008) for this habitat are: • maintain the current extent of 7,282 ha by 2010 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 6,078 ha (84%) by 2015

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

• restore 481 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 256 ha by 2015

The South-east targets (2008) for this habitat include: • maintain the current extent of 4,981 ha by 2010 • restore 877 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 475 ha by 2015

The Isle of Wight targets (2008) for this habitat are: • maintain the current extent of 223 ha by 2015 • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 198 ha (85%) by 2015 • restore 249 ha of degraded or neglected habitat by 2015 • re-establish 30 ha by 2015

2 Current Status

Physical Features of the Island’s Lowland Meadows

Description of habitat

The national Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan is wide-ranging in its definition of the habitat, and includes most forms of agriculturally unimproved grassland on neutral soils across the enclosed lowland landscapes of the UK. Even on the Isle of Wight, there is considerable variation within this broad group of grasslands, relating to soil type and other environmental conditions. The main concentrations of lowland meadows are found in the north of the Island, associated with the poorly-draining clay and marl soils of the Hamstead Beds, Bembridge Marls, Osborne and Headon Beds and Bagshot Beds. In the south of the Island much smaller fragmented examples of lowland meadows occur, associated with the upper and lower greensand exposures of much older Cretaceous rocks. These meadows occasionally form small complexes of fields, separated by species-rich hedges and patches of ancient woodland. It is this mosaic of habitats that are of particular biodiversity importance.

In terms of the National Vegetation Classification (NVC), only one community of grassland type conforms to this habitat on the Island, termed the Cynosurus cristatus – Centaurea nigra grassland (MG5) in which crested dog’s tail grass and black knapweed are constant species. Meadow grasses typically dominate the sward, often fine leaved fescues and bents, with Yorkshire fog, meadow foxtail and sweet vernal grass also commonly occurring. In addition to the black knapweed, other herbaceous plants commonly include bird’s foot trefoil, ox-eye daisy, ribwort plantain, meadow vetchling and red clover. Sedges are also common, with the bluey leaves of glaucous sedge being the most frequent. The low shrubby dyer’s greenweed is also a typical plant of this grassland type on the Island where it has been given the local name of wood wax. Two members of the orchid family, the green winged orchid and autumn lady’s tresses are also characteristic of these meadows. On the more calcareous marl soils, plants more typical of chalk grassland can also occur including fairy flax, hairy violet, yellow wort and quaking grass. On more acid soils, devil’s bit scabious, saw wort and sneezewort can often be found.

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

On water-logged, heavy clay soils, gleying of surface horizons over a long period of time leads to changes in the vegetation, with acid tolerant grasses and heathers replacing the neutral grassland species. This process can be seen on the heavily gleyed clay soils between Cranmore and Bouldnor and within Parkhurst Forest where heathers, purple moor-grass, lousewort and heath dog-violet occur in a mixture with the neutral grassland species. These ‘clay heaths’ are difficult to classify in terms of the NVC, but in some respects they are similar to the species-rich heaths of Cornwall in which grassland species and heathers occur in close association. This habitat is also difficult to classify in terms of the biodiversity action plan, and will be referred to in both the lowland meadows and acid grassland and heathland habitat action plans in recognition of this.

Some neutral grasslands have been managed as permanent pasture or hay meadow for many decades, but may have been treated with limited amounts of artificial fertiliser or farmyard manure. These grasslands are often termed semi-improved. They are composed of a diversity of wild unsown grassland species but tend to have a reduced species diversity when compared to the truly unimproved grassland. These most unimproved of semi-improved grasslands are also included in this habitat action plan.

Hay meadows and pastures

Most of the lowland meadows on the Isle of Wight have been managed not only to provide pasture on which livestock can graze, but also to provide a crop of grass to be mown for hay. Mown grasslands provide a very different habitat to pasture. Hay crops are usually cut in mid summer; the meadows are then left to re-grow and are normally grazed in late summer and early autumn. As the hay grows, the tall grassland provides a very different habitat for insects, small mammals and nesting birds to that found in pastures grazed at this time of year. The removal of the hay crop marks a dramatic change in the habitat, leaving the open short sward of the mown field. Despite this, the meadow plants and animals are well adapted to cope with this rapid change in the habitat. Moreover, the hay produced is important to maintain the grazing livestock system through the winter months. The removal of hay depletes the soil of plant nutrients and over time the grassland productivity declines. This may increase plant species diversity but in the long term may make the hay meadow un-economic to cut. It is likely that most hay meadows were treated with farmyard manure to restore fertility following hay cutting.

3 Distribution and Extent

The former extent of lowland meadow on the Isle of Wight is impossible to estimate as this has fluctuated considerably over the last few centuries as the extent of heathland, woodland and wood pasture has changed and as agricultural practices have slowly improved. From the end of the 19 th century until the middle of the 20 th century, lowland meadows would have been a widespread and common habitat across much of the Isle of Wight, and in particular, on the heavier clay soils of the north of the Island. That is not to say that this grassland was all permanent. It is clear from the Tithe Maps of the mid 19 th century and from conversations with farmers who farmed on the Island before the Second World War, that much of the enclosed landscape of the Island was ploughed on an irregular basis. Arable crops were taken for a few years before being returned to pasture as part of a small scale, mixed farming system. A botanically diverse sward appears to have become re-established soon after cultivation, presumably from the soil seed bank

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan and relict grassland left around field edges. This can be seen in many areas of the Island where there is evidence of recent cultivation in fields that now support neutral grassland. Artificial fertiliser was not widely used in the first half of the 20 th century and soil fertility was never raised to the levels possible today; herbicide was also unavailable. The low soil fertility and lack of herbicide use were probably the most important factors in allowing species diversity to re-establish. However, farmyard manure was used extensively as well as blood and bone meal. Marl dug from marl pits was also spread on fields to maintain fertility, particularly before arable cropping or mowing for hay.

Botanically diverse neutral grassland was therefore a significant component of the Island’s landscape until the mid 20 th century although this was not necessarily permanent grassland, and much of it was treated with organic fertilisers to maintain or improve soil fertility. Only where soils were particularly heavy and poorly drained is it likely that permanent agriculturally unimproved grassland developed. In these locations, there was probably increased soil acidity and poor drainage creating transitions and mosaics with acid grassland and heathland as can be seen around Bouldnor and Cranmore and within Parkhurst Forest.

The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment identifies a total of 223 ha of unimproved and 249 ha of semi-improved neutral grassland on the Island. The definition of neutral grassland in this plan combines these two grassland categories making a total of 472 ha of neutral grassland. This is probably an underestimate of the actual area of the habitat as it is likely that some isolated meadows remain to be discovered.

Legislation and Site Designation

Much of the known area of lowland meadow on the Isle of Wight is included within SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and SINC (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation). Table 1 lists all the SSSI and SINC known to support lowland meadows on the Isle of Wight. Further assessment is required to determine what proportion of the habitat on the Island is protected by SSSI and SINC.

The lowland meadows within Hart’s Farm are included within the Newtown Harbour National Nature Reserve and are managed by the National Trust.

Some of the lowland meadows around Newtown Harbour are also included in the Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area (SPA), in recognition of their value for feeding and roosting waders and wildfowl.

The Isle of Wight AONB includes several areas of lowland meadow, particularly within the Hamstead Heritage Coast, including the clay heaths of the recently notified Cranmore Common SSSI.

Summary of Important Sites

The largest extent and greatest range of lowland meadow types are found around the Newtown Harbour in the north west of the Isle of Wight. The Newtown Harbour SSSI includes the most important area of species-rich lowland meadow to be found on the Island. The most species-rich meadows in the SSSI are found within the MOD/SERFCA firing ranges at Jersey Camp, whilst the mixture of grazed pasture and hay meadows found around the village of Newtown is also very diverse. To the east of the SSSI are the extensive grasslands of Lambsleaze and Elmsworth Farms. These grasslands are semi-

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan improved although some still contain frequent dyer’s greenweed and, more locally, green winged orchids. However, it is the extent of these grasslands that is most important, as it enables them to support large populations of species such as brown hare, grey partridge and skylark.

To the west of Newtown Harbour SSSI, and in a few meadows in private ownership to the south, there are examples of neutral, tending to acid, grassland in which saw-wort, devils- bit scabious and lousewort can be found on more gleyed clay soils.

On the Brickfields peninsula, now owned and managed by the National Trust, are some fine examples of almost calcareous grassland developed over Bembridge Marls. In this relatively small area of grassland, calcareous grassland species such as fairy flax, hairy violet and agrimony occur.

Away from Newtown Harbour, other examples of lowland meadows occur at Wydcombe Farm in the south of the Island, around the fringes of Bembridge airport in the east of the Island and East Cowes cemetery and grounds of Osborne House in the north.

Many other, often small fragments of lowland meadow can be found throughout much of the Island, with churchyards and cemeteries being particularly important.

Table 1: Distribution and extent of lowland meadow sites within SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area of site Subsidiary habitat (ha )1 Locks Farm Meadow 2.3 Newtown Harbour 170 ha 2 Hedges, ponds, woodland, transitions to saltmarsh and mudflat. SINC name Area ha 3 Subsidiary habitat Staplers Heath 8.4 Ancient hedgerows, semi-improved meadows Barnsley Farm 5.5 Scrub, acid grassland, broad-leaved woodland Newchurch Marshes 28.88 Scrub, marshy grassland Landguard Manor Meadow 1.2 Bartlett's Green Farm 4.33 Semi-improved grassland, wet grasslands, and scrub. Ashey Cemetery 0.6 Brading Churchyard 0.96 Walls Cowes Cemetery 7.31 East Cowes Cemetery 1.33 Calcareous grassland Fort Warden Fields 4.83 Westhill Meadow, Norton 0.44 Standen Heath 6.68 Wet woodland Nodes Point Meadow 2.31 Shalfleet Churchyard 6.64 Pond, hedges, walls Swanmore Meadows 8.79 Alverstone Marshes East 60.74 Scrub Osborne Park 37.76 Semi-improved grasslands Cracknells meadow, Yarmouth 0.45 Calbourne Meadows 10.51 Moon's Hill 3.56 Lock's Farm 27.62 Arable Wroxall Meadow South 10.41 Godshill Park 28.22 Broad-leaved woodlands, ponds, arable

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

Werrar Meadow 2.05 Hart's Farm Lower Meadows 8.7 Heathfield Meadows 31.61 Saltmarsh, reedswamp, broad-leaved woodland Gore Down 11.48 Unimproved neutral and maritime grassland; rocky outcrops, scrub Appuldurcombe Down 94.59 Acid grasslands, rock outcrops, broad-leaved woodland 1 = Estimated area of habitat within the SSSI 2 = The area of neutral grassland within Newtown Harbour is believed to be an under estimate. Neutral grassland occurs within the following parts of the SSSI: Harts Farm Meadows, Jersey Camp firing range (incl. Robin wood), Lambslease Farm, Elmsworth Farm, Lower Hamstead Farm, Creek Farm, Fleetlands Farm 3 = Area of SINC including subsidiary habitats

4 Current Factors affecting the habitat

The most important factors affecting the conservation of lowland meadows relate to continued sustainable management through appropriate grazing and mowing systems. These were reviewed in the Isle of Wight Grazing and Biodiversity Topic Report (February 2002) and apply equally to a range of grassland habitats and are summarised below.

Further loss of habitat

The largest extent of remaining lowland meadow on the Isle of Wight is now within SSSI or other protection and as the agricultural economy has declined in recent years the threat to the remaining areas of the habitat from agricultural intensification has subsided. However, the threat from lack of management is a problem on some sites, especially small meadows that are fragmented and isolated.

Although the threat to the habitat through agricultural intensification may have receded, it has by no means disappeared. Small meadows that have escaped agricultural improvement may be under threat from inappropriate management such as horse paddocks where over-grazing and application of herbicide and fertiliser can lead to loss of species diversity. There has also been a decline in the numbers of cattle on the Island in recent years, in particular numbers of beef cattle, which are the most appropriate for grazing these meadows.

There is also a threat from various development pressures, including development for housing or industrial use, as well as road and bridge construction.

Management of these threats and pressures remains a significant factor in conserving the remaining lowland meadow resource.

Financial incentives

Sufficient financial incentives are needed to encourage farmers and land managers to maintain and restore areas of lowland meadow on the Isle of Wight. The Environmental Stewardship Scheme has provided valuable support for the restoration and creation of some lowland meadows, but the levels of payment available through this scheme may not be sufficient, and may decline further in line with the general decline in agricultural incomes.

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

Environmental Stewardship payments are open to all landowners. In addition, Natural England may enter into management agreements with SSSI owners if the site is deemed to be in unfavourable condition.

In the wider countryside, outside of these protected sites, there is a need to reverse the trend of habitat decline seen over the past 150 years. Whereas this should be encouraged throughout the Island, there are areas where the potential gains are likely to be greatest, and where efforts and financial incentives should be targeted.

Alternative methods of providing a financial incentive also need to be considered and evaluated. This might include niche and brand marketing schemes. The availability of a local slaughtering facility is likely to be critical to the success of local produce production and sale.

Availability of suitable stock and stock management expertise

Effective management of lowland meadows may require specific breeds of cattle or sheep to maintain their nature and biodiversity value. Certain farming systems are also likely to be more beneficial to biodiversity than others. For example extensive cattle rearing systems are likely to be preferable to modern intensive dairy production.

Lowland meadows often occur as a component of mixed farming systems that might include some areas of arable and downland as well as the meadows. Traditionally, some of the meadows may have been ploughed on a long rotation and mown or grazed to create hay meadows or pasture. Due to the very small area of habitat now remaining, it is no longer possible to treat the resource with this rotational management. However, such mixed farming systems are very rich in biodiversity and, if possible, should be restored in parts of the Island.

Grazing and grassland management on low productivity habitats and the restoration of these habitats using livestock as a management tool is a specialist area of expertise. Whereas many farmers may have very valuable skills, it may be that there is a specific need for training and provision of information to assist in developing skills in this specialist area.

Weed growth and habitat stabilisation

The restoration of lowland meadows often passes through a phase in which soil fertility and disturbance is sufficient to create ideal conditions for the growth of ‘weed’ species with ragwort, creeping thistle and dock causing the most significant problems. As the soil fertility declines and semi-natural grassland becomes re-established, the weed species naturally decline. However, it might take five years or so for the new equilibrium to establish. It is generally unacceptable to allow these high weed infestations to persist for this length of time. It may therefore be necessary to control these weed species with well- targeted herbicide use or by other means. This can be expensive and time consuming, and often relies on the use of specialised equipment such as ragwort pullers or weed wipers.

Hydrology

Where agriculturally unimproved grassland has developed on particularly heavy and poorly drained soils it is important to maintain and, where necessary, improve or restore

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan the hydrology to its historic regime. In some instance, abstraction within the catchment may be having damaging impacts.

Habitat fragmentation and loss of ecological continuity

Many species of lowland meadows have poor powers of dispersal, so that once isolated from other meadows, they become vulnerable to chance extinction. Perhaps more importantly, it is difficult, if not impossible for these species to re-colonise new habitats, even if the correct conditions have been created for them. It is interesting, for example, that soil fertility on some formerly improved grasslands can be significantly reduced through more than a decade of no fertiliser use, but a diverse flora will not have re- established itself. By contrast where a good supply of wild meadow seeds are available – either in the soil seed bank or in adjacent meadows, then a diverse flora can re-establish itself within 5 years of being ploughed and re-seeded.

The current state of habitat fragmentation may mean that intervention will be required to restore species diversity to lowland meadows, through the re-introduction of seed and other plant propagules from appropriate donor sites. These are likely to be the remaining SSSI and SINC, which retain semi-natural vegetation, which makes their conservation even more critical for the future.

Many of the Island’s cemeteries also contain small areas of botanically rich meadow grassland from which seed could be harvested for use in restoration project

4 Current Initiatives

Site designation

There are currently no plans to notify new lowland meadow sites as SSSI on the Isle of Wight. Although English Nature has approval from their Council to notify Staplers Copse and adjacent meadow as a SSSI, it appears there are no plans to implement this notification.

SINC identification is ongoing on the Island. Further lowland meadow SINCs may be identified by the IW Council.

Natural England has a number of agreements (under Section 15 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act) on lowland meadow sites, all of which are SSSI.

Purchase of additional reserves or properties

Given the poor state of the agricultural economy, it is possible that further areas of lowland meadow or more importantly, areas with the potential for restoration as lowland meadow, will become available for purchase by nature conservation organisations. Further action to bring this land into management of nature conservation organisations needs to be planned and coordinated.

Habitat management

Old Meadows and Pastures are a target habitat for the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, administered by Natural England. This scheme provides payments for

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan maintaining and enhancing Old Meadows and Pastures and arable reversion to this habitat, although there is only a limited pool of funding and funding has to be prioritised.

Not all the examples are in good condition. Some are being colonised by scrub and are ungrazed or inadequately grazed. Others are treated with excessive amounts of fertiliser or inappropriately mown. An initial assessment of the condition of the neutral grasslands was made by Natural England, and the IWC Ecology Officer in discussion with the H&IWT Officer. The details of this assessment are reviewed in the Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report (February 2002).

In the 2002 HAP (first edition), a priority for a Grazing Officer was highlighted. This was superseded by the Living Landscapes Project where funding was obtained to work with and advise farmers and landowners. Since the original HAP, a niche market in locally sourced meat has developed and therefore the Grazing Officer action has been dropped and a new action of supporting animal husbandry has been introduced.

In the 2002 HAP (first edition), priorities for a meadow seed/propagule harvesting project to regulate and facilitate the collection of seed from suitably selected sites for introduction to appropriate donor sites, and an associated database were highlighted. Experience has shown that the small demand for local provenance hay seed can easily be met from current resources. As a result of this, the action from the original HAP has been dropped.

In 2001, the People’s Trust for Endangered Species purchased an area of some 50 hectares of agriculturally improved meadows at Briddlesford adjacent to Wootton Creek. 30 hectares of agriculturally unimproved lowland meadows are being converted and managed as permanent pasture or hay meadow.

The MOD/SERFCA have agreed a management plan with Natural England over the meadows at Newtown Rifle Ranges

Survey, research and monitoring

Natural England have carried out an assessment of the condition of all SSSI on the Isle of Wight with a target of ensuring that 85% are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

The Environment Agency is working with BAP partners to identify, survey and, where necessary, help restore lowland meadow sites which are dependent upon appropriate hydrological regimes.

The IW Natural History and Archaeological Society undertook a survey of the lowland meadows at Wydcombe Farm during 2000.

Action for species

Appendix 1 gives details of species on the Isle of Wight found primarily in lowland meadows. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. In some cases, additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species: for example, UK Species Action Plans (UK SAP) and Butterfly Conservation Regional Action Plans (BC RAP).

Associated Plans within the Isle of Wight BAP Generic Habitat Action Plan

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan 5 Targets and Actions

Biodiversity targets for Lowland Meadows on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain existing area of lowland meadows habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of lowland meadows into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and lowland meadows habitats D Improve the knowledge of lowland meadows resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of lowland meadows resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Lowland Meadows on the Isle of Wight Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020

A1 Maintain the existing extent of 223 ha of unimproved lowland meadows by NE IWC
2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC
condition of 85% of unimproved lowland meadows by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight livestock NFU IWC
industry by 2010 CLA IWC B1 Enhance and restore the extent of 249 ha semi-improved lowland meadows NE IWC
by 2015 B2 Assess whether Environment Agency consents and operations are having EA EA
impacts upon poorly-drained lowland meadows. C1 Increase the extent of semi-improved lowland meadows by 30 ha by 2015 NE IWC

Complete by  Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust EA Environment Agency CLA Countryside Land & Business Association NFU National Farmers Union

10 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan References

1. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

2. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

3. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranch 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats . Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

4. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. 2002. Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report. Isle of Wight Council.

5. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999, The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives . Peterborough.

11 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

Species associated with Lowland Meadows

Species associated with Lowland meadows

Latin name English name Other Habitat Local Local BAP Abundance Population code Trend

Mammal Lepus europaeus Brown Hare 1 Improved grassland Common Stable

Birds Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit (wintering) 1 Mudflats Localised Stable Lymnocryptes minimus Jack snipe (wintering) 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Localised Unknown Tringa totanus Redshank 3 Mudflats Localised Decreasing

Reptiles Anguis fragilis Slow-worm 1 Built-up areas & gardens Common Stable Lacerta vivipara Common Lizard 1 Lowland heathland Localised Decreasing Natrix natrix Grass Snake 1 Built-up areas & gardens Common Unknown

Ants, Bees & Wasps Bombus humilis Brown-Banded Carder Bee 1 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown

Butterflies Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 1 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Decreasing Ochlodes sylvanus Large Skipper 3 Boundary and linear features Common Decreasing

Moths Acosmetia caliginosa Reddish Buff 1 Lowland heathland Rare Stable Eupithecia millefoliata Yarrow Pug 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Common Increasing

Spider Group Argiope bruennichi Wasp Spider 3 Built-up areas & gardens Occasional Increasing Believed 3 Aulonia albimana A Wolf Spider extinct

Pardosa paludicola A Wolf Spider 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Unknown

True Bugs Lygus pratensis A ground bug 3 Hedgerows Rare Unknown Peritrechus gracilicornis A Lygaeid bug 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown

Fungi Microglossum olivaceum An earthtongue 1 Rare Unknown Hygrocybe calyptraeformis Pink Waxcap 3 Rare Unknown

Flowering Plants Viola lactea Pale Dog Violet 1 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Decreasing Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Scarce Decreasing Anacamptis morio Green-winged Orchid 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Localised Stable Cirsium dissectum Meadow Thistle 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Crocus vernus Spring Crocus 3 Rare Decreasing

12 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Lowland Meadows Habitat Action Plan

Lysimachia nummularia Creeping Jenny 3 Scarce Decreasing Parentucellia viscosa Yellow Bartsia 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Platanthera chlorantha Greater Butterfly Orchid 3 Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Rare Decreasing Triglochin palustre Marsh Arrowgrass 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Decreasing Valeriana dioica Marsh Valerian 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing

1 = National BAP Priority Species 3 = Local BAP Priority Species Habitats = National BAP Priority Habitats

13 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008

Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

A report to the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Steering Group

February 2002

Jonathan Cox Associates Fig House Poles Lane Lymington Hampshire SO41 8AB Tel./Fax: 01590 671166 Email: [email protected] Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Contents 1 Introduction ...... 3

2 The ecology of grazed habitats...... 3 2.1 History of grazed habitats in Britain...... 3 2.2 Early man and domestic animals ...... 4 2.3 Enclosure and development of compartmentalised grazing systems...... 4 3 Effects of grazing and grassland management on the ecosystem...... 5

4 Range and variation in grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight...... 6 4.1 Agriculturally improved grassland...... 6 4.2 Neutral grassland ...... 7 4.3 Calcareous grassland...... 8 4.4 Heathland and acid grassland...... 9 4.5 Fen, mire and marshland ...... 9 4.6 Coastal grazing marshes and saltmarshes ...... 10 4.7 Wood pasture and parkland ...... 11 5 National and international importance of grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight...... 12

6 Extent and condition of grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight ...... 13 6.1 Neutral Grassland ...... 13 6.2 Calcareous Grassland...... 15 6.3 Fen, mire and marshland ...... 17 6.4 Coastal Grazing Marshes and Saltmarshes ...... 19 6.5 Wood pasture and parkland ...... 20 6.6 Summary of condition of grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight 21 7 Current action...... 22

8 Identification of issues...... 22 8.1 Financial incentives...... 23 8.2 Availability of suitable stock and stock management expertise ...... 23 8.3 Public access ...... 23 8.4 Weed growth and habitat stabilisation...... 24 8.5 Habitat fragmentation and loss of ecological continuity...... 24 8.6 Implications of Foot and Mouth ...... 24 8.7 A forum for considering the issues ...... 24 9 Potential for biodiversity gains ...... 25 9.1 Regions of the Isle of Wight with highest potential for grassland and grazed habitat restoration ...... 25 9.2 Coastal grazing marsh and saltmarsh...... 27 9.3 Wood pasture and parkland ...... 28

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

10 References ...... 28

Appendix 1 Condition assessment tables for calcareous grassland SSSI ...... 30

1 Introduction

The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group have identified a number of habitats on the Island for which specific Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) are required. The extent, distribution and special features of these habitats have been described in the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment (published by the Steering Group in July 2000). As an initial step the Steering Group proposed that calcareous grassland and wetland HAPs should be taken forward in tandem, as many of the issues relating to grazing and grassland management are common to both.

Taking an issue led approach to the preparation of these HAPs also provides an opportunity to consider how grazing and grassland management might relate to other HAPs. Such an approach would also inform a number of related HAPs and provide a mechanism by which common issues can be integrated across them. This has a number of potential advantages in both the preparation and implementation of the subsequent HAPs.

HAPs identified by the Steering Group in the Biodiversity Audit and Assessment in which grazing and grassland management are likely to be important are:

1. Unimproved Neutral Grassland 2. Calcareous Grassland 3. Acid Grassland 4. Lowland Heath 5. Grazing Marsh 6. Wetlands (fens, swamps and marshes) 7. Saltmarsh 8. Parkland and pasture woodland

It was agreed by the Steering Group that a Topic Report should be prepared for Grazing and Grassland Management Issues. This could be used to feed into the production of the HAPs listed above.

2 The ecology of grazed habitats

2.1 History of grazed habitats in Britain Some 7 – 8,000 years ago, woodland developed to cover much of Britain, as the climate ameliorated in the wake of the last glaciation. Along with the re- establishment of woodland over the land surface was the re-colonisation of the country with a varied wild mammal fauna, including many species that are now extinct. This fauna included carnivores such as the wild bear and wolf, together with many large herbivores including wild cattle – the now extinct aurochs, wild horses, red deer and wild boar. The Island’s special mammal species such as the red squirrel, dormouse and woodland bats would have colonised the Island at this time.

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

The wild mammal fauna would have had a significant influence on the distribution and character of this primeval woodland. It now seems probable that considerable areas of Britain were in fact maintained as open grassland and heathland by wild grazing animals, with particularly large areas of open habitat being maintained along river valleys, on the steeper slopes and thinner soils. This pattern of open grassland and heathland dispersed within grazed woodlands can still be found in parts of the New Forest and was clearly the pattern of habitats found in Parkhurst Forest before its enclosure in the 19th century.

2.2 Early man and domestic animals The colonisation of Britain by mesolithic farmers consolidated this pattern of natural clearings and glades within the primeval forest. Temporary areas of cultivation were established but the fertility of these would soon have been exhausted requiring new areas to be bought under cultivation. It is likely that these shifting areas of cultivation would have followed the clearings and glades originally created by wild herbivore grazing. Early farmers would have domesticated livestock to graze these natural clearings and would have enlarged them through de-forestation to create larger areas for livestock to graze. They would also have hunted the wild herbivore herds, which soon declined in number with wild cattle and horses probably becoming extinct in Britain by the Bronze Age.

The first farmers would have managed their stock by herding animals across unenclosed landscapes, perhaps bringing them into folds for protection at night. This system is still perpetuated in many parts of the world including parts of Europe, and continued in Britain well into the first half of the 20th century. The movement of stock across the landscape under the control of the herder would have replicated many of the impacts of the wild herbivores that had by now become largely extinct.

Although wild cattle and horses were probably hunted to extinction, wild deer seem to have survived through the prehistoric age. Later they were maintained within parks and hunting forests to provide sport for the nobility. These were often areas of near natural landscape in which the mix of woodland and open grazed habitats of the primeval forest had been retained and often on the poorer soils. The New Forest and Forest of Bere in Hampshire and Parkhurst Forest on the Isle of Wight (which once extended from the Medina to Calbourne) were established in this way. Within these forests the woodland and intervening open areas were grazed both by the deer and by the local residents of the area (the commoners) who were given rights to release their stock into the forest. Again, the commoners’ cattle, ponies and other livestock would have perpetuated the effects of grazing animals on the landscape of the primeval wild herbivores they replaced.

2.3 Enclosure and development of compartmentalised grazing systems Hedged fields formed from clearings in woodland occur over much of the west and south west of Britain. These so called assart fields have hedges composed of a diversity of woodland trees and shrubs that represent relicts of the former woodland cover from which they were formed. Elsewhere in lowland Britain, the medieval system of open strip field cultivation and herded livestock on common land was not replaced by hedged fields until the late 18th and early 19th century, as a result of the Enclosure Acts. The movement to enclosure of fields and the loss of open common grazing resulted in the development of what is often referred to as traditional mixed farming systems. Fields were generally cultivated on rotation, with farmyard manure

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report and other organic fertilisers used to maintain fertility. Some variation in this pattern of cultivation was likely to have been evident with wetter fields on heavier soils remaining longer under permanent pasture, and lighter better-draining fields being returned more readily to arable. Despite enclosure, extensive areas of open grazing remained, on both the chalk downs and the heathlands and moors (a term used on the Isle of Wight to describe the wet flood plain pastures of the river valleys).

The proportion of land under cultivation also varied considerably, depending on the economic circumstances of the time, with periods of war being responsible for increased cultivation of more marginal land. The return of arable to pasture to restore fertility was, however, nearly always required. The reversion to pasture would probably have allowed rapid re-colonisation of wild grassland species from both the soil seed bank and adjacent fields and a diverse flora would soon have re- established itself. Many parts of the Island’s countryside were managed with this form of mixed agricultural system throughout the 19th and first half of the 20th century. Although more intensive than the open grazing systems of hunting forest and common land this mixed farming system created a enormously diverse landscape which was rich in biodiversity. It also retained ecological niches for much of the wildlife of the open forest clearings, maintained by the wild herbivores grazing the prehistoric forest from which it had evolved.

3 Effects of grazing and grassland management on the ecosystem

Grazing animals have several important effects on the vegetation on which they feed. The removal of the biomass of vegetation by grazing and browsing prevents the natural succession to tall rank grassland and the colonisation of scrub and eventually the development of woodland. Under most circumstances, grazing of grassland creates a stable mix of bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) grasses, sedges, rushes, herbaceous plants and/or dwarf shrubs, with nutrients being naturally re-cycled by fungi and soil organisms to maintain soil fertility. In woodland, browsing has a significant influence on tree and shrub regeneration and the species composition of the shrub and ground layers.

The pattern of grazing also creates a varied vegetation structure of tall and short grassland and heathland that is of vital importance for many invertebrates, ground nesting birds and small mammals. Grazed woodland develops a very characteristic structure with the development of a browse line, sparse open shrub layer, and grazing -tolerant ground flora. Browsed scrub such as gorse is also structurally more varied providing a range of habitat for birds and insects.

Trampling by livestock produces localised micro-habitats where other specialised plants and insects occur. They include the diminutive mouse tail, a nationally scarce plant of gateways, and specialist plants of heathland such as chaff weed, sundews and allseed. On the chalk downs the specific micro-climate around stock paths creates the ideal conditions for certain insect species, such as the Adonis blue butterfly.

Animal dung is an important habitat for many species. A large biomass of insects feed on dung including several rare and uncommon species such as the hornet robber-fly. Dung also provides habitat for many fungi, which in turn also attract their

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report own invertebrate fauna. The invertebrate biomass of dung is also of considerable importance to many other species including birds, and in particular, bats. Dung beetles can form up to 90% of the diet of larger bats such as the serotine and noctule at certain times of year.

4 Range and variation in grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight

4.1 Agriculturally improved grassland Today, most agricultural grassland in lowland Britain has been created by sowing of grass seed mixes, and subsequent treatment with artificial fertilisers and herbicides. This sort of agriculturally improved grassland can occur over a wide range of soil type, from that occurring on chalk downland through to clays and marls, and sandy soils. The influence of soil type is masked in all these circumstances by the effects of seeding, fertilising and application of herbicide and the resultant grassland is of little intrinsic value to biodiversity.

Agriculturally improved grassland is however an extreme. Quite often, agricultural grasslands can be termed semi-improved. In these grasslands, the influence of sowing and application of fertiliser and herbicide is limited and allows some of the natural mix of wild grassland plants to show. On neutral clay and marl soils, this semi-improved grassland is often characterised by the presence of grasses such as Yorkshire fog, crested dog’s tail and clovers. On wet or seasonally flooded soils in the river valleys, rush-dominated pasture develops with characteristic clumps of rush scattered across a grassland dominated by creeping bent grass, Yorkshire fog and creeping buttercup. If grassland remains un-ploughed and un-treated with herbicide or fertiliser for many years, there is a slow transition back to an unimproved or semi- natural state. Such grasslands can become quite species-rich and in terms of productivity, are similar to unimproved grassland. However, a lack of near-by sources of seed and other propagules and possibly other influences seems to prevent these grasslands developing the diversity of plants found in unimproved grassland for many years. Some semi-improved grassland can be of considerable botanical diversity and have high nature conservation value. Extensive grasslands of this sort can be seen around Newtown Harbour and the head of the Eastern Yar valley around Whitwell. Where semi-improved neutral grassland can be assigned to the MG5 Cynosurus cristatus-Centaurea nigra grassland of the National Vegetation Classification, it will be considered as a component of the ‘neutral grasslands’ habitat described in more detail below. Similarly, if semi-improved calcareous grassland can be assigned to one of the calcicolous grassland communities and semi-improved acid grassland to one of the calcifugous communities of the NVC these should also be considered as components of the habitats listed below.

Agricultural improvement tends to reduce the natural diversity of grassland plants and generally creates a much less diverse grassland in which the variation created by differences in soil and other environmental conditions is reduced and eventually lost. The following descriptions of grassland types refer to agriculturally unimproved grasslands and grazed habitats. These are vegetation types that consist of wild (unsown) plants that have not been significantly affected by the application of artificial fertiliser or herbicide.

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report 4.2 Neutral grassland The term neutral grassland is used to describe grassland that develops on more or less neutral soils. Within this broad group of grasslands there is a considerable variation relating to soil type and other environmental conditions. Meadow grasses dominate the sward, typically fescues, crested dog’s tail, Yorkshire fog, common bent and sweet vernal grass. Herbaceous plants include black knapweed, bird’s foot trefoil, ox-eye daisy, ribwort plantain, meadow vetchling and red clover. Sedges are also common with the bluey leaves of glaucous sedge being the most frequent. The low shrubby dyer’s greenweed is also a typical plant of this grassland type on the Island, as are two members of the orchid family, the green winged orchid and autumn lady’s-tresses. On the more calcareous marl soils, plants more typical of chalk grassland can also occur including fairy flax, hairy violet, yellow wort and quaking grass. By contrast, on more acid soils, devil’s bit scabious, saw wort and sneeze wort can often be found.

On water-logged, heavy clay soils, gleying of surface horizons over a long period of time leads to changes in the vegetation, with acid tolerant grasses and heathers replacing the neutral grassland species. This process can be seen on the heavily gleyed clay soils between Cranmore and Bouldnor and within Parkhurst Forest where heathers, purple moor-grass, lousewort and heath dog-violet occur in a mixture with the neutral grassland species.

Hay meadows and pastures Much of the neutral grassland on the Isle of Wight has been managed not only to provide pasture on which livestock can graze, but also to provide a crop of grass to be mown for hay. Mown grasslands provide a very different habitat to pasture. Hay crops are usually cut in mid summer; the meadows are then left to regrow and are normally grazed in late summer and early autumn. As the hay grows, the tall grassland provides habitat for insects, small mammals and nesting birds that contrasts with that found in pastures grazed at this time of year. The removal of the hay crop marks a dramatic change in the habitat leaving the open short grass of the mown field. Despite this, the meadow plants and animals are well adapted to cope this rapid change in habitat. Moreover, the hay produced is important to maintain the grazing livestock system through the winter months. The removal of hay depletes the soil of plant nutrients and over time the grassland productivity declines. This may increase plant species diversity, but may also make the hay meadow un-economic to cut. In traditional water meadows, this loss of plant nutrients was made up by irrigation with nutrient-rich river water. The narrow flood plains and generally poor acid soils found in most of the Island’s river valleys were not suitable for irrigation as water meadows. However, it is likely that most hay meadows were treated with farmyard manure to restore fertility following hay cutting.

Neutral grassland, whether it is managed as hay meadow or pasture, is included within the Unimproved Neutral Grasslands habitat identified in the Isle of Wight Biodiversity audit and assessment. Lowland Hay Meadows are a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Also included in this habitat are the most unimproved of the semi-improved grasslands. Most of these have been managed as permanent pasture or hay meadow for many decades, but may have been treated with limited amounts of artificial fertiliser or farmyard manure. They are composed of wild unsown grassland species but tend to have reduced species diversity when compared to the truly unimproved grassland.

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Key species of neutral grassland (Incorporating unimproved neutral grassland and lowland hay meadows) Mammals: Brown hare Birds: Grey partridge, skylark, barn owl Reptiles: Adder, grass snake, common lizard Insects: Reddish buff moth, small pearl bordered fritillary, marbled white, long-winged conehead

4.3 Calcareous grassland The dramatic landscape features formed by the Island’s chalk downs support a distinctive type of grassland. The thin soils that develop over the chalk downs are rich in calcium but poor in plant nutrients. The grassland they support is characteristically dominated by fescue grasses, although in places upright brome can also be abundant. Chalk grassland is renowned for its great diversity of plants. It is common for over 30 species of plant to occur within each square metre of chalk grassland with species such as wild thyme, salad burnet, rock rose and small scabious being particularly frequent.

A wide range of chalk grassland types occur on the Island depending on the degree of exposure, aspect and depth of soil. On the steep south facing slopes of many downs, a very short open sward develops which is dominated by sheep’s fescue and glaucous sedge, commonly with mats of horseshoe vetch, the diminutive squinancywort and the internationally important early gentian (a species endemic to Britain and one of the few plants listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive to occur in the UK).

On slightly deeper soils, the sward becomes more closed with red fescue being particularly abundant along with typical chalk grassland species such as wild thyme, rock rose, salad burnet, bee orchids and pyramidal orchids creating what many might think of as typical chalk grassland.

On the deeper soils, red fescue often dominates along with upright brome forming a tall chalk grassland in which species such as cowslip, field scabious, ox-eye daisy and orchids such as the fragrant orchid and common spotted orchid.

The Island is also remarkable in having areas of flint gravel and clay with flints capping many of the downs. The combination of these more acid soils and the chalk creates an unusual mix of heathland and chalk grassland plants, referred to as chalk heath. Some fine examples of this can be found on Mottistone Down, Brook Down and Tennyson Down.

Calcareous grassland also occurs in association with a few small outcrops of Bembridge Limestone across the north of the Island. These small outcrops support a flora very similar to that found on the chalk downs. Many of these examples of calcareous grassland are too small to graze with livestock, and occur within quarries or as isolated patches of grassland within scrub. Further areas of calcareous grassland occur on the Island’s soft rock cliffs where calcareous marls and clays may be stable enough to support a grassland very similar to chalk grassland. Although the tendency of these soils to be very wet during the winter and their disturbed nature gives them a distinctive character, they support many of the typical species of chalk grassland including fairy flax, wild thyme, yellow wort and salad burnet. Livestock

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report does not normally graze these calcareous grasslands, but rabbits frequently maintain them as small lawns on the cliff face.

Lowland calcareous grassland is a priority habitat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Key species of calcareous grassland Mammals: Brown hare Birds: Skylark, grey partridge, linnet*, Dartford warbler* (* = associated with gorse scrub on calcareous grassland) Butterflies and moths: Adonis blue, chalkhill blue, small blue, Duke of Burgundy, chalk carpet, bordered gothic, feathered brindle, auriferous pearl. Grasshoppers and crickets: Stripe winged grasshopper, great green bush cricket Flowering plant:-Early gentian, bunt tip orchid, bastard-toadflax, dwarf chickweed, dropwort Lichens: Fulgensia fulgens, Squamarina cartilaginea

4.4 Heathland and acid grassland On the gravel and sandy soils that occur on the caps of the downs and in places such as Headon Warren and outcrops of lower greensand, nutrient leaching from the soils’ surface leads to acid nutrient-poor soils developing. This results in more typical heathland developing with heather, bell heather and gorse dominating the vegetation along, with heathland grasses such as the bristle bent. Lowland Heathland is identified as a priority habitat on the Isle of Wight in the Island’s Biodiversity Audit and Assessment and is listed as a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan

On acidic sandy soils and where heathland has been heavily grazed or disturbed, an acid grassland develops. This is normally dominated by sheep’s fescue and common bent grass often with sheep’s sorrel and a number of low growing herbaceous plants such common cat’s ear and a range of diminutive clover species. This sort of acid grassland is highly drought prone, and by mid summer can become parched and brown. Acid grasslands of this sort frequently occur in association with heathlands but can also form quite extensive areas away from the typical heather dominated heathlands particularly on the lower greensand outcrops and along rides in Brighstone Forest. Lowland dry acid grassland is a priority habitat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and is identified within the Island’s biodiversity audit and assessment.

Key species of heathland and acid grassland Birds: Dartford warbler, linnet, stonechat Reptiles: Adder, common lizard Insects: Mottled grasshopper, slender ground hopper, grayling butterfly, small copper butterfly, solitary bees and wasps Flowering plants: mat grass, knawel, suffocated clover, spring vetch, heath dog violet, yarrow broomrape, greater broomrape, chamomile.

4.5 Fen, mire and marshland Peat accumulates where soils are poorly draining, such as along the river valleys and around springs and seepages. This can support a variety of interesting mire or bog vegetation with many sedges and mosses and sometimes, insectivorous plants such as the round-leaved sundew. Some of the meadows around Alverstone in the Eastern Yar valley and the spring fed seepages of Bohemia Bog are particularly good

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report examples of this sort of acid mire vegetation. Where the peaty soils are flushed with lime or nutrient-enriched water plants like bog bean, marsh cinquefoil and bottle sedge can occur. This can be seen at several places along the eastern Yar and Medina Valley, for example Cridmore Bog near Chillerton. This sort of vegetation is often called Transition Mire. In other places, a fen meadow flora develops, with characteristic tussocks of yellow flag iris growing with marsh marigolds, meadow sweet, greater pond sedge and southern marsh orchids, in amongst clumps of rush and patches of wet grassland. These fen meadows are now relatively few and far between but can still be found scattered along the Island’s river valleys. This range of grazed wetland habitat types has been classified as ‘marshland’ or ‘grazing marsh’ within the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment.

The mire and fen meadows of the Island fall mostly within a broad category of habitat termed Flood plain and coastal grazing marsh within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Key species of mire and fen Birds: Snipe, lapwing, redshank Reptiles: Adder, grass snake Insects: Hornet robber-fly, Desmoulin’s whorl snail Flowering plants: Common sundew, marsh violet, lousewort, pale butterwort, blunt- flowered rush, white sedge, carnation sedge, common cotton grass, bog asphodel, marsh helleborine

4.6 Coastal grazing marshes and saltmarshes Around the coast of the Island are several places where freshwater marshes grade into saline influenced saltmarshes behind a sea wall or embankment. The largest example of such coastal grazing marshes is found between Bembridge and Brading, although there are also good examples along the Yar estuary and the Gurnard Luck. In the marshes nearest the sea, the wet grassland is dominated by creeping bent grass growing with many saltmarsh species such as saltmarsh rush, sea arrowgrass, sea milkwort, and sea spurrey. The ditches draining the marshes are often choked with sea club rush and the glaucuous bulrush. In slightly less salt influenced grasslands, other plants with a typically coastal distribution are found such as the hairy buttercup, strawberry clover, slender spike-rush and divided sedge.

In other places, saltmarshes show a natural transition to adjacent neutral grassland with no sea walls or embankments separating them. Fine examples of this rare transition can be seen around much of Newtown Harbour. Here, grazing livestock can roam from grassland to saltmarsh. The transition in vegetation type is much more condensed than that found in the embanked coastal grazing marshes but includes a wide range of coastal plants growing at slightly different elevations in relation to the high tide line. The grazed upper saltmarshes are also rich in many saltmarsh plants with the drifts of sea pink or thrift flowering in late spring that are replaced by the deep purple of the sea lavender later in the summer.

Coastal grazing marshes are included within the Flood plain and coastal grazing marsh habitat within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. Saltmarshes are a separate priority habitat within the UK BAP.

Key species of coastal grazing marsh and saltmarsh Birds: Redshank, lapwing

10 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Insects: Roesel’s bush cricket, long-winged conehead, wasp spider Flowering plants: Bulbous foxtail, divided sedge, slender spike rush, lesser water- plantain, tubular water-dropwort, small cord-grass

4.7 Wood pasture and parkland A distinctive form of woodland is termed wood pasture. This woodland type represents something of a paradox in that it has been managed to provide both grazing for livestock, and timber from trees. The presence of trees, however, reduces the value of the grazing whilst grazing animals retard the regeneration of trees. Despite this intrinsic conflict, wood pasture is thought by many to represent the closest link with the primeval forests that once covered much of lowland Britain in prehistoric times. It is characterised by a mix of ancient trees, abundant dead and decaying wood, glades and clearings of grassland and heathland and patches of thorn and holly scrub that may develop in gaps created by fallen trees and on the edges of glades. The grassland and heathland that develops in wood pasture glades is similar to that described above as neutral grassland, acid grassland, heathland, calcareous grassland, mire and fen. The associated woodland is also similar in species composition to ungrazed woodland although the understorey is typically very sparse and open and composed of grazing tolerant shrubs such as holly. The woodland ground flora is also modified by grazing, with species intolerant of grazing and trampling such as bluebells and wood anemones being marginalized, and grasses and mosses dominating.

Wood pastures were managed as hunting reserves for kings and nobles for many centuries; these hunting forests or chases were maintained primarily for the deer and other game they supported. However, the local residents or commoners were given rights to graze their livestock and to collect fallen and dead wood, providing this did not interfere with the management of the game. These common rights were jealously guarded and often tied to certain properties associated with the forest or chase. The Isle of Wight once contained at least two royal forests, Parkhurst Forest in the north west of the Island and Borthwood Forest in the south east (both were once far larger than the areas referred to by these names today). Relicts of their former wood pasture management can still be seen in both areas of the Island.

Parkland is a modified form of wood pasture. In some instances, parks were created as ornamental landscapes associated with important houses. The origin of parks is however very varied. In some instances, parks were formed from agricultural landscapes with hedgerow trees being retained as scattered trees through open grassland. In some instances, ancient wood pastures have been converted to parkland whilst in others parks have been created by planting of often-exotic tree species such as horse chestnut or cedar. A feature of all parks is however the mix of open grassland and scattered ancient trees.

Parkland and wood pasture is identified as an important habitat within the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment and Wood-pasture and parkland is identified as a priority habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Key species of wood pasture and parkland include:- Mammals: Bechstein’s bat, noctule bat, natterer’s bat Birds: Barn owl, spotted flycatcher, redstart, wood warbler, nightjar and many tree hole and crevice nesting birds

11 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Insects: Beetles, flies and other insects dependent upon dead wood and ancient trees Lichens: Many species of lichen that grow on the trunks of ancient trees in this habitat Fungi: Ganoderma applanatum

5 National and international importance of grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight

Livestock grazing and management is vital to the conservation of at least five broad habitat types on the Isle of Wight. These have grouped together in the previous description as:

• Neutral Grassland • Calcareous Grassland • Acid Grassland and Heathland • Fen, mire and marshland • Coastal Grazing Marshes and Saltmarshes • Wood pasture and parkland

The importance of these habitats to the Isle of Wight has been identified in the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment, although they have been described under a slightly different set of titles. Similarly, the UK Biodiversity Action Plan has identified a number of priority habitats, which also have slightly different names but equate to the descriptions used in this report. At the international level, a number of grazed habitats are considered of European importance being listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. These are habitats which are threatened within Europe and require special conservation measures to maintain and where appropriate restore them to a favourable conservation status.

Table 1 provides a summary of the different titles given to these habitats on the Isle of Wight, within the UK BAP and where appropriate the EU Habitats Directive.

Table 1: Relationships between grazed habitat types with the IW and UK BAP Habitats and EU Habitats Directive

Grazed Habitats IW BAP Habitat Names UK BAP Habitat Names EU Habitats Directive; Annex I Habitat Names Neutral Grassland Unimproved Neutral Lowland Meadows None of the IW Neutral Grassland Grasslands conform to Annex I habitat types Calcareous Grassland Calcareous Grassland Lowland Calcareous Semi-natural dry Grassland grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuca- Brometalia) Acid Grassland and Acid Grassland Lowland Acid Grassland None of the IW Acid Heathland Grassland conforms to Annex I habitat types Lowland Heathland Lowland Heathland Dry heaths (all sub-types) Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix Fen, mire and marshland Grazing Marsh Coastal and Flood Plain Molinia meadows on Grazing Marsh chalk and clay (Eu- Molinion) Wetlands: Fens, Swamps Transition mires and

12 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Grazed Habitats IW BAP Habitat Names UK BAP Habitat Names EU Habitats Directive; Annex I Habitat Names and Marshes quaking bogs Fens None of the IW Fens conform to Annex I habitat types Coastal Grazing Marshes Grazing Marsh Coastal and Flood Plain Some coastal grazing and Saltmarshes Grazing Marsh marshes have elements of Atlantic saltmeadow habitat Salt Marsh Coastal Saltmarsh Atlantic saltmeadow Spartina swards Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand Wood pasture and Parkland and Pasture Wood-pasture and Old acidophilous oak parkland Woodland parkland woods with Quercus robur on sandy plains

6 Extent and condition of grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight

The extent of grassland and grazed habitats in each SSSI or SINC has not been possible to determine in every case, hence the following assessments often reproduce the total area of the SSSI or SINC of which the identified habitat is a major component.

The assessment of SSSI condition has been made by English Nature against condition targets defined by them. The condition tables for calcareous grassland are reproduced in appendix 1. Condition of SINCs has been determined through discussion with the IW County Ecologist and the Wight Wildlife Officer, and is not the result of any fieldwork or site visits. These condition assessments should therefore be seen as provisional.

6.1 Neutral Grassland The former extent of neutral grassland on the Isle of Wight is impossible to estimate as this has fluctuated considerably over the last few centuries as the extent of heathland, woodland and wood pasture has changed and as agricultural practices have slowly improved. From the end of the 19th century, through until the middle of the 20th century, neutral grassland would have been a widespread and common habitat across much of the Isle of Wight, and in particular the heavier clay soils of the north of the Island. That is not to say that this grassland was all permanent. It is clear from the Tithe Maps of the mid 19th century, and from conversations with farmers who farmed on the Island before the Second World War, that much of the enclosed landscape of the Island was ploughed on an irregular basis. Arable crops were taken for a few years before being returned to pasture as part of a small scale, mixed farming system. A botanically diverse sward appears to have become re- established soon after cultivation, presumably from the soil seed bank and relict grassland left around field edges. This can be seen in many areas of the Island where there is evidence of recent cultivation in fields that now support neutral grassland. Artificial fertiliser was not widely used in the first half of the 20th century and soil fertility was never raised to the levels possible today; herbicide was also unavailable. The low soil fertility and lack of herbicide use were probably the most important factors in allowing species diversity to re-establish. However, farmyard

13 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report manure was used extensively as well as blood and bone meal, and marl dug from marl pits was spread on fields to maintain fertility, particularly before arable cropping or mowing for hay.

Botanically diverse neutral grassland was therefore a significant component of the Island’s landscape until the mid 20th century although this was not necessarily permanent grassland, and much of it was treated with organic fertilisers to maintain or improve soil fertility. Only where soils were particularly heavy and poorly drained is it likely that permanent agriculturally unimproved grassland developed. In these locations, there was probably increased soil acidity and poor drainage, creating transitions and mosaics with acid grassland and heathland as can be seen around Bouldnor and Cranmore and within Parkhurst Forest.

The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment identifies a total of 151 ha of unimproved and 185 ha of semi-improved neutral grassland on the Island. The definition of neutral grassland in this plan combines these two grassland categories making a total of 336 ha of neutral grassland. This is probably an underestimate of the actual area of the habitat as it is likely that some isolated meadows remain undiscovered. Much of the known area of neutral grassland is included within SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) and SINC (Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation). Table 2 lists all the SSSI and SINC known to support neutral grassland on the Isle of Wight. Not all the examples of neutral grassland are in good condition. Some are being colonised by scrub and are ungrazed or inadequately grazed. Others are treated with excessive amounts of fertiliser or inappropriately mown.

Table 2: Extent and condition of neutral grassland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

Condition1 SSSI name Area ha2 Subsidiary habitat 1. Locks Farm Meadow 2.3 F 2. Newtown Harbour 170 ha3 F? Hedges, ponds, woodland, transitions to saltmarsh and mudflat.

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 3. Staplers Heath 8.4 F? Ancient hedgerows, semi-improved meadows 4. Barnsley Farm 5.5 ? Scrub, acid grassland, broad-leaved woodland 5. Newchurch Marshes 28.88 ? Scrub, marshy grassland 6. Landguard Manor 1.2 U Meadow 7. Bartlett's Green Farm 4.33 F Semi-improved grassland, wet grasslands, and scrub. 8. Ashey Cemetery 0.6 F 9. Brading Churchyard 0.96 F? Walls 10. Cowes Cemetery 7.31 F 11. East Cowes Cemetery 1.33 F Calcareous grassland 12. Fort Warden Fields 4.83 U 13. Westhill Meadow, 0.44 F Norton 14. Standen Heath 6.68 U Wet woodland 15. Nodes Point Meadow 2.31 F 16. Shalfleet Churchyard 6.64 ? Pond, hedges, walls 17. Swanmore Meadows 8.79 U 18. Alverstone Marshes 60.74 U? Scrub East 19. Osborne Park 37.76 U? Semi-improved grasslands

14 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 20. Cracknells meadow, 0.45 F Yarmouth 21. Calbourne Meadows 10.51 F? 22. Moon's Hill 3.56 U 23. Lock's Farm 27.62 F? Arable 24. Wroxall Meadow South 10.41 F? 25. Godshill Park 28.22 ? Broad-leaved woodlands, ponds, arable 26. Werrar Meadow 2.05 F? 27. Hart's Farm Lower 8.7 F Meadows 28. Heathfield Meadows 31.61 U Saltmarsh, reedswamp, broad-leaved woodland 29. Gore Down 11.48 F? Unimproved neutral and maritime grassland; rocky outcrops, scrub 30. Appuldurcombe Down 94.59 F? acid grasslands, rock outcrops, broad-leaved woodland 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Estimated area of habitat within the SSSI 3 = The area of neutral grassland within Newtown Harbour is believed to be an under estimate. Neutral grassland occurs within the following parts of the SSSI:- Harts Farm Meadows, Jersey Camp firing range (incl. Robin wood), Lambslease Farm, Elmsworth Farm, Lower Hamstead Farm, Creek Farm, Fleetlands Farm 4 = Area of SINC including subsidiary habitats

Of the 30 sites listed in Table 2, 60% are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition (F and F?). 27% are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition (U or U?). The remaining 13% of sites are of unknown condition.

6.2 Calcareous Grassland The former extent of calcareous grassland on the chalk was estimated by Chatters in his draft report to the Isle of Wight County Council in 1984. He estimated a mid 19th century area of grassland over chalk extending to some 2,314 hectares (5,718 acres). The current area of calcareous grassland, including that over Bembridge Limestone, is estimated in the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment as 673 hectares, a loss of some 1,641 hectares and a decline by 71%. This however is probably an over–estimate as the area of grassland over chalk estimated for 1850 included the acid grassland and heathland vegetation growing on the chalk downs, including that now within Brighstone Forest and on Ventnor Downs.

The current extent of SSSI and SINC containing calcareous grassland and its condition on the Isle of Wight is given in Table 3. This is based upon the same assessment process made for neutral grassland. Sites in unfavourable condition are either ungrazed or inappropriately grazed, are being invaded by scrub or have other inappropriate management such as golf course management on Compton Down.

Table 3: Extent and condition of calcareous grassland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Comments 1. Arreton Down 29.77 F 2. Bembridge Down 56.25 F 3. Calbourne Down 15.4 U In appropriate grazing and lack of scrub control result in unfavourable condition

15 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Comments 4. Compton Down 196.25 U Lack of grazing and golf course management create unfavourable condition 5. Eagle Head and 10.33 F Ancient woodland occupies the majority of the site Bloodstone Copse with only a small area of calcareous grassland present 6. Garstons Down 20.3 F 7. Headon Warren and 276.25 F? Much of Tennyson Down not grazed West High Down 8. Mottistone Down 31.44 F? 9. Rew Down 23.5 F? Part of site in golf course in unfavourable condition 10. Rowridge Valley 38.9 U Small area of calcareous grassland associated with ancient woodland 11. Ventnor Downs 162.6 F 12. Shide Quarry 4.8 U 13. Prospect Quarry 4.3 U Quarry is important geological site 14. Brading Down West 4.42 U 15. High Hat Reservoir 5.94 F 16. Shalcombe Down 1.34 U Plantation woodland 17. Freshwater Bay Cliffs 3.32 F Chalk cliffs, Rocky shore 18. Calbourne Pumping 7.71 F Scrub Station 19. Carisbrooke Castle 16.28 U? 20. Chillerton Down 28.1 F Quarry 21. Brighstone Down 21.42 U? Scrub 22. Fore Down 17.36 U 23. Brading Down 32.99 U Semi-natural broadleaved woodland, scrub 24. Gallibury Fields 2.75 F 25. Ashey Chalkpit 2.26 U 26. Idlecombe Farm 8.37 F Scrub and secondary woodland Down 27. Idlecombe Down 73.39 U Lowland heath, Plantation woodland 28. Bembridge Down 46.65 F Semi-natural broadleaved woodland; acid grassland 29. Knighton Down 14.32 F Scrub 30. Limerstone Down 21.19 U Scrub 31. Little Down 18.68 ? 32. Mersley Chalk Pit 8.81 U Scrub 33. Arreton Down North 17.25 U? Scrub and secondary woodland 34. Mersley Down North 7.2 F Ancient woodland, plantation woodland 35. Mount Joy 3.73 F 36. Newbarn Down, 21.55 U Semi-natural ancient woodland, scrub Gatcombe 37. Northcourt Down 11.25 F? Scrub 38. Pay Down 1.27 U? 39. Pitts Farm Down 4.44 F? 40. Ashey Down 10.03 U Scrub 41. Kern Down Chalkpit 3.46 U? 42. St Catherine's Hill 11.55 U 43. St Martin's Down 12.21 U 44. Watcombe Down 10.46 U Scrub 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Area of SSSI or SINC including subsidiary habitats

Of the 44 sites listed in Table 3, 45% are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition (F and F?). 53% are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition (U or U?). The remaining 2% of sites are of unknown condition.

16 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Acid Grassland and Heathland The former extent of acid grassland on the Isle of Wight is virtually impossible to assess given the complex mosaic it forms with heathland and scrub. The former area of heathland on the Island was calculated by Chatters in his report to the IWCC in 1984. He calculated that there was some 729 hectares of heathland on the Island in 1850. This figure did not however include the extensive area of heathland and acid grassland that occurred on the chalk downs, particularly in the area of what are now Brighstone Forest and the gravel cap to the Ventnor Downs. The IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment estimates an area of 92ha of acid grassland and 64 ha of heathland making a combined area of some 156 ha. If we assume that much of the 729 ha of heathland in 1850 also include acid grassland, the remaining total of 156 ha of these two habitats represents a loss of over 79% since 1850.

The current extent of acid grassland and heathland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight is given in Table 4. An assessment of the condition of this is also given, based upon the same assessment process made for neutral and calcareous grassland. Sites in unfavourable condition are either ungrazed or inappropriately grazed or are being invaded by scrub.

Table 4: Extent and condition of acid grassland and heathland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Comments 1. Headon Warren and West 262.9 F Heathland in favourable condition High Down 2. Ventnor Downs 162.6 F Heathland grazed and in favourable condition 3. St George's Down East 6.97 U Semi-natural broadleaved woodland 4. Row Down 13.32 U Relict heath 5. Dame Anthony’ s Common 9.86 U Scrub 6. Skinner's Hill 10.74 ? Scrub 7. Perreton Down 6.89 F Woodland 8. St Catherine's Down 18.64 F Calcareous grassland 9. Ventnor Radio Station 12.57 ? Chalk heath 10. Head Down 4.75 U Scrub 11. Heath Hill 1.14 F? 12. Sandown Golf Course 45.84 F? Scrub, acid pond 13. Ningwood common 16.84 U Scrub 14. Bleak Down 10.27 U Acid grassland, scrub, pools 15. St George’s Down West & 10.05 ? Acid grassland North 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Area of SSSI or SINC including other habitats. The area of chalk grassland and other habitats in the two SSSI listed is considerably larger than the area of acid grassland and heathland.

Of the 15sites listed in Table 4, 40% are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition (F and F?). 40% are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition (U or U?). The remaining 20% of sites are of unknown condition.

6.3 Fen, mire and marshland The former extent of fen, mire and marshland habitat on the Isle of Wight is not known. However, from historical accounts it would appear that these habitats were once widespread in the valleys of the Western Yar, Medina and Eastern Yar. In Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report addition, there are records of several mire habitats associated with spring line seepages such as that at Cockleton Farm, Gurnard and Colwell Heath. Further areas of mire vegetation are reported to have developed in the old mineral workings on Bleak Down. All these sites have now been lost. In addition to a decline in the extent of acid mire habitat, there has also been a change in the flora of those mires that remain. This is most clearly seen at Cridmore Bog. In the past Cridmore Bog contained insectivorous plants such as sundew and acid mire species such as bog asphodel. Both these species are now thought to be extinct at this site and the habitat has changed from acid mire to transitional mire. This habitat is no less interesting than the one it has replaced and is probably due to changes in water quality in the river Medina.

Although avoiding destruction, other fen and mire sites have been lost due to changes in management. When these habitats are ungrazed they revert to reed bed, swamp and scrub. The reed beds that form are however of generally poor quality and do not provide good habitat for specialist reed bed associated birds.

True grazed fen is now probably extinct on the Isle of Wight although it occurred in the past at a few places such as Colwell Heath and Afton Marsh, Freshwater. Colwell Heath is now destroyed whilst the fen vegetation in Afton Marsh has reverted to reed bed and scrub habitat. Despite this, relicts of the fen flora re-emerge following reed cutting. Much larger areas of fen meadow occur on the Island although much of this is semi- improved and species poor. The best areas occur in the eastern Yar Valley around Alverstone. Other potentially important areas occur in the Medina Valley, although these are frequently un-grazed and are rapidly losing their biodiversity value. Fen meadow has been included within the definition of ‘marshy grassland’ within the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment, whilst the more species poor agriculturally improved and species poor flood plain grasslands have been included within the ‘grazing marsh’ habitat.

The current extent of acid mire habitat was not measured as part of the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment, which included it within a wider category of fen and marshy grassland. The area of remaining ‘fen’ was estimated as 6.3ha with an additional area of some 81ha of marshy grassland and 36 ha of abandoned grazing marsh, some of which may have characteristics of fen meadow or acid mire vegetation. The total area of flood plain and coastal grazing marsh is much larger extending to some 525ha.

Table 5: Extent and condition of fen, mire and marshland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Subsidiary habitat 1. Alverstone Marshes 83.8 U Swamp, woodland, and carr 2. Brading Marshes to St 488.5 U Coastal gazing marsh Helens Ledges 3. Cridmore Bog 14.4 U 4. The Wilderness 12.59 ? Wet woodland

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 5. River Medina: Shide 1.94 F River 6. River Medina: Shide to 6.68 F Rivers and streams Blackwater

18 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 7. Brading Marshes North 32.95 ? 8. Lukely Brook 1.38 F River 9. Munsley Bog (Gt 8.46 U Willow carr Budbridge) 10. Kennerley Heath (Gt 16.01 U? Budbridge) 11. Wydcombe Estate 24.47 U Woodland, acidic grassland 12. Bohemia Bog 3.34 F acid grassland 13. Upper Dolcoppice 15.022 ? Ancient semi-natural woodland, acid grassland 14. Moor Farm 12.82 U 15. Roud (Upper Yar 4.48 U wet grassland and scrub valley) 16. Scotland Farm (Upper 14.73 U Carr woodland Yar valley) 17. Nettlestone Marshes 7.12 F? Unimproved neutral grassland 18. Great Budbridge 15.15 U? flower-rich meadows, and scrub 19. Morton Marsh 6.79 ? 20. Sandown Levels 17.49 U Reedbeds 21. Pope's Farm Marsh 2.09 F 22. Compton Grange 5.3 U Marsh 23. Perreton Marsh 14.33 F? acid grassland, woodland 24. Sudmoor Dyke 17.79 U? withybeds, herb-rich pasture and ditches 25. Plaish Water Meadows 9.46 F Stream 26. Compton Marsh 8.81 F maritime grassland 27. Redway 12 U semi-natural woodland 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Area of SSSI or SINC including other habitats.

Of the 27 sites listed in Table 5, only one third (33%) are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition (F and F?). The majority of sites (52%) are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition (U or U?). The remaining 15% of sites are of unknown condition.

6.4 Coastal Grazing Marshes and Saltmarshes Coastal grazing marshes on the Island are mostly an artefact of relatively recent changes to the management of the coast. The most extensive area of the habitat is within Brading Marshes, which was formed from intertidal habitats at the end of the 19th century. A large area of grazing marsh also existed in Newtown Harbour until the sea wall was breached in the 1950s, returning it to an intertidal state. As a consequence, there has been little overall change in the extent of coastal grazing marsh on the Island over the last 150 years, with if anything a slight increase in the area of habitat.

Some areas of saltmarsh on the Island have been grazed in the past by cattle and sheep, particularly those around Newtown Harbour, where they support extensive areas of high-level mixed saltmarsh vegetation. Changes in agricultural practice have reduced or removed grazing from some the Newtown Harbour saltmarshes. The implications of this on their vegetation and structure of the marshes and their biodiversity has not been assessed, but could well be detrimental to upper saltmarsh species. Elsewhere on the Island, saltmarshes have not been grazed in recent decades although they may have been in the past.

19 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

Coastal grazing marsh was not measured separately as part of the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment but was included within the 525ha of ‘grazing marsh’ habitat, which includes both flood plain and coastal grazing marsh. The flood plain grazing marsh habitat is mostly agriculturally improved or semi-improved wet grassland and is included within the fen, mire and marshland habitat. The total area of saltmarsh on the Isle of Wight is estimated as 159 ha. However, much of this has not been traditionally grazed and only areas around Newtown Harbour have been grazed in recent decades.

Table 6: Extent and condition of coastal grazing marsh and grazed saltmarsh SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Subsidiary habitat 1. Brading Marshes 488.5 U Fen meadow and marshy grassland 2. Newtown Harbour 618.2 F? Neutral grassland, intertidal flats 3. Yar Estuary 98.9 F? 4. Ryde Sands 403.3 F? Ancient woodland and intertidal flats

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 5. Gurnard Marsh 7.86 U 6. Thorley Meadows 9.52 ? 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Area of SSSI or SINC including other habitats.

Of the 6 sites listed in Table 6, three (50%) are in favourable condition or believed to be in favourable condition (F and F?). A further two (33%) are in unfavourable condition or believed to be in unfavourable condition (U or U?). The remaining site is of unknown condition (17%).

6.5 Wood pasture and parkland Wood pasture was once a widespread habitat on the Isle of Wight with extensive areas in the north west of the Island extending from Parkhurst Forest to Calbourne. Relicts of this survive within the remnants of Parkhurst Forest and within Northpark Copse SSSI. In the south east of the Island were further extensive areas of wood pasture including America Wood, Borthwood Copse and Apse Castle Wood. None of these former wood pastures are now grazed by livestock.

Changes in the historic extent of parkland on the Island have not been assessed. This is problematic as the area of parkland has changed in response to changing fashion and agricultural practices. Some of the best preserved parkland habitat is now within Osborne Park, Nunwell Park and Appuldurcombe Park. However, the biodiversity value of these parks has not been fully assessed, although they are known to retain some ancient trees and areas of associated unimproved or semi- improved neutral and acid grassland.

Table 7: Extent and condition of wood pasture and parkland SSSI and SINC on the Isle of Wight

SSSI name Area ha2 Condition1 Subsidiary habitat 1. Parkhurst Forest 183.46 U Relict heathland rides and clearings 2. America Wood 21.4 U Marshy grassland

20 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

3. Northpark Copse U

SINC name Area ha4 Condition Subsidiary habitat 4. Apse Castle Wood U 5. Nunwell Park 74.98 U Chalk grassland 6. Appludurcombe Park U Acid grassland 1 = Condition assessed as being favourable (F) or unfavourable (U). Sites for which there is some doubt over the assessment or are unknown are marked ? 2 = Area of SSSI or SINC including other habitats.

All the former wood pasture and parkland habitats on the Isle of Wight are currently in unfavourable condition, either due to inappropriate grazing and arable cultivation or absence of grazing.

6.6 Summary of condition of grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight The information in tables 2–7 has been summarised in table 8 to provide an overview of the current status of semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight.

Table 8: Summary condition of SSSI and SINC containing semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight

Grazing habitat type Number of Number of % Sites in % Sites in % Sites of SSSI SINC favourable unfavourable unknown condition condition condition Neutral Grassland 2 28 60 27 3 Calcareous grassland 13 31 45 53 2 Acid grassland and 2 8 40 40 20 heathland Fen, mire and marsh 4 23 33 52 15 Coastal grazing marsh and 4 2 50 33 17 grazed saltmarsh Wood pasture and parkland 3 3 0 100 0 Total 28 95 39 52 9

Table 8 shows that just over half the grassland and grazed habitats on the Island are in unfavourable condition (52%). Of poorest quality are the areas of wood pasture and parkland, all of which are in unfavourable condition. Neutral grassland sites tend to be in the best condition (60% in favourable condition). Calcareous grassland, acid grassland and heath and coastal grazing marshes all have about half the sites in favourable condition (40 - 50% of sites). Only 33% of the fens, mires and marshland sites are in favourable condition.

Reasons for sites being in unfavourable condition are reviewed in more detail in section 8. These include lack of grazing leading to scrub invasion, over–grazing and inappropriate use of fertiliser and herbicide.

21 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic 7 Current action

English Nature have been set a target to ensure that 90% of land within SSSI is in favourable condition by 2010. To achieve this target, all SSSI are currently undergoing condition assessment against their conservation objectives. English Nature will then be required to ensure sites in unfavourable condition are bought into favourable condition. This may include provision of funding through management agreements.

The recent Countryside and Rights of Way Act, 2001 (CROW Act) also requires public authorities to ensure all SSSI in their ownership are bought into favourable condition. This will apply to sites owned by the Isle of Wight Council and Forest Enterprise.

A number of initiatives to restore grazing to sites have been undertaken in recent years. These have included:

• National Trust projects to restore grazing to heathland and calcareous grassland on Ventnor Downs • Restoration of grazing to heathland and calcareous grassland on Mottistone Down and Mottistone Common (National Trust and Wight Conservation) • Restoration of grazing to Rowborough and Idlecombe Down (Wight Conservation) • Restoration and recreation of neutral and calcareous grassland on Wroxall Downs (Wight Conservation) • Wight Wildlife funding to assist with top-up payments to the Countryside Stewardship Scheme to promote calcareous grassland restoration and recreation in the east of the Island.

English Nature is currently developing an Isle of Wight grazing project. This will seek to:

• Help farmers and landowners market products of extensive stock grazing regimes through branding and other initiatives. • Provide funding to assist farmers to re-introduce grazing to existing semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats. • Provide a market-led incentive to farmers and landowners to increase the area of semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight.

8 Identification of issues

The value to biodiversity of the remaining semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight is immense. It is estimated that over half of these habitats are in unfavourable condition leading to a loss of biodiversity. This section of the report seeks to identify the potential implications of this situation on nature and biodiversity conservation on the Island. It cannot hope to provide the answers to the issues raised, but it is hoped this report will be able to identify a range of mechanisms by which these issues can be tackled. These can be taken forward in more detail, within the individual Habitat Action Plans and the other projects such as the IW Grazing Animals Project. Looking to the future, a number of potential targets for habitat restoration and re-creation are have been identified.

22 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic 8.1 Financial incentives The most important factor that is common to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity to all grassland and grazed habitats will be the financial incentives. The value of current schemes such as Countryside Stewardship in achieving this objective need to be considered and current short-falls need to be identified. On SSSI, it may be that English Nature will need to provide additional assistance to land owners and managers. In the wider countryside outside of these protected sites, there is a need to reverse the trend of habitat decline seen over the past 150 years. Whereas this should be encouraged throughout the Island, there are areas where the potential gains are likely to be greatest and where efforts and financial incentives should be targeted.

Alternative methods of providing a financial incentive also need to be considered and evaluated. This might include niche and brand marketing schemes being considered through the proposed IW Grazing Animal Project.

The availability of a local slaughtering facility may also be critical to the success of local produce production and sale.

There is a strong link between biodiversity conservation and tourism. The potential profitability of conserving biodiversity for the rural economy needs to be promoted to farmers.

8.2 Availability of suitable stock and stock management expertise Different habitat types and different situations require different stock types to graze them effectively to restore or maintain their nature and biodiversity value. For example, restoration of habitats with low productivity, for example heathland or chalk grassland is likely to need specialist breeds that can thrive on this type of vegetation. Restoration of other habitats, for example neutral grassland can be achieved by grazing with more commercial breeds of livestock. However, it may be necessary to ensure areas of better quality grassland are available to these stocks to ensure the economic viability of the farm system. Certain farming systems are also likely to be more beneficial to biodiversity than others. For example, extensive beef rearing systems are likely to be preferable to modern dairy production.

Grazing and grassland management on low productivity habitats and the restoration of these habitats using livestock as a management tool is a specialist area of expertise. Whereas many farmers may have very valuable skills, it may be that there is a specific need for training and provision of information to assist in developing skills in this specialist area.

8.3 Public access Much of the grassland and grazed habitats of the Island has public access along foot paths and bridleways or more generally as open access. This can create a number of problems to livestock managers, from gates being left open and from dog worrying of livestock. The public can also be seriously concerned by the prospect of walking in places where livestock are present. This can make it difficult to restore grazing to habitats if livestock have been absent for a number of years. These difficulties can be largely overcome with better public information and wardening, but this requires considerable time and resources.

23 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic 8.4 Weed growth and habitat stabilisation The restoration of grassland and grazed habitats often passes through a phase in which soil fertility and disturbance is sufficient to create ideal conditions for the growth of ‘weed’ species with ragwort, creeping thistle and dock causing the most significant problems. As the natural grassland or grazed habitat becomes re- established the weed species naturally decline. However, it is not generally acceptable to allow these high weed infestations to persist for the period it takes for the new equilibrium to establish, as this might take five years or so. In the meantime, it is necessary to control these weed species with well-targeted herbicide use or by other means. This can be expensive and time consuming and often relies upon the use of specialised equipment such as ragwort pullers or weed wipers.

8.5 Habitat fragmentation and loss of ecological continuity Many species require a minimum area of habitat in which to maintain sustainable populations, this is particularly true for birds such as barn owl, skylark and nightjar.

Other species have poor powers of dispersal and hence cannot colonise new habitats unless they are close or contiguous with existing habitats, for example some chalk grassland butterflies such as the Adonis blue.

As has been mentioned, the natural recolonisation of grassland and grazed habitats with a more botanically species-rich sward is also dependent upon a nearby source of seed and plant propagules. The current state of habitat fragmentation may mean that intervention will be required to restore species diversity to such sites through the re-introduction of seed and other plant propagules from appropriate donor sites. These are likely to be the remaining SSSI and SINC, which retain semi-natural vegetation and makes their conservation even more critical for the future.

8.6 Implications of Foot and Mouth We are yet to see how the foot and mouth outbreak will affect farming and grazing livestock management on the Island. There may be positive as well as negative implications for promoting better management of grassland and grazed habitats for nature conservation. These might include:

• It may become difficult to obtain suitable stock and there may be a further decline in the numbers of people with suitable stock management expertise. • There may be greater impetus behind developing local slaughter facilities and • There may be more government initiatives to assist local agricultural production and environmentally friendly farming

It will be important that farmers and nature conservation land managers give clear and unambiguous advice to government on the requirements for the future of livestock farming on the Isle of Wight.

8.7 A forum for considering the issues It is suggested that a forum needs to be set up which would include organisations and individuals with an interest in developing more biodiverse grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight. This might include organisations such as the National Trust, National Farmers Union and Wildlife Trust, together with individual farmers. The Forum would enable members to share experience, exchange ideas and expertise. The Isle of Wight Woodland Forum has shown the value of such an

24 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic approach. As a first stage in the development of the Forum, a short newsletter could be produced for wide circulation that sets out the purpose and objectives of the Forum. This would aim to encourage interested organisations and individuals to attend an evening meeting. The meeting would aim to expand on the ideas in the newsletter and draw on specific experience from a similar project elsewhere in England using a guest speaker.

Ideas and reaction from the Forum could be taken forward through to the development of the individual HAPs. In this respect, the proposed grazing and grassland forum would act in a similar way to the Woodland Forum in that the forum will act as an umbrella group in which to consider common issues relating to a number of habitats.

9 Potential for biodiversity gains

There is huge potential to achieve biodiversity gains from restoration of grassland and grazed habitats on the Isle of Wight. For instance, there are large areas of semi- improved neutral grassland in the north of the Island that could be reverted to more diverse species-rich unimproved grassland with appropriate management and incentives. There are also potentially significant areas of calcareous grassland, acid grassland, heathland and grazing marsh that could be restored. Restoration of biodiverse grassland and grazed habitats would also lead to reductions in habitat fragmentation and consequent improvement in species dispersal.

An initial appraisal has been undertaken to identify those areas or regions of the Isle of Wight that might bring the greatest biodiversity gains from the recreation of semi- natural grassland and grazed habitats. This has been based upon an assessment of the current distribution of remaining semi-natural habitats, the distribution of different farming systems being practised on the Island and the potential of existing grassland and other habitats to revert to a semi-natural state.

9.1 Regions of the Isle of Wight with highest potential for grassland and grazed habitat restoration

Neutral grassland Three regions of the Island are considered offer the most potential for biodiversity gains from neutral grassland restoration and recreation as follows:-

• North west Isle of Wight • North east Isle of Wight • Upper Eastern Yar Valley

The north west Isle of Wight region extends from Cranmore in the west to Parkhurst Forest in the east and is bounded by the coast in the north and the main Newport to Yarmouth road in the south. It embraces the extensive neutral grasslands that survive around Newtown Harbour together with the grass heaths of Cranmore. The farming systems in this part of the Island still rely on livestock farming of permanent pasture with a mix of dairy, beef and some sheep enterprise. Providing there are sufficient incentives, there is considerable potential for these

25 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic types of enterprise to incorporate areas of low intensity, extensive grassland management within their farming systems.

In the north east of the Island there are fewer areas of remaining unimproved neutral grassland although several small meadows occur within the catchments of Palmers Brook and Wootton Creek. These include Wootton Common, Staplers Heath, meadows associated with Kittenocks Copse and meadows and species rich verges around Littletown south of Wootton. The farming systems in this part of the Island are also based on livestock rearing with a mix of dairy, beef and sheep farming associated with permanent pasture.

The third target region is the complex of neutral grasslands in the upper eastern Yar Valley centred on Wydecome. This comparatively small region of the Island is bounded by the chalk downs and upper greensand ridge to the south and west and by the wetlands of the Yar Valley to the north. It has a diverse countryside of small hedged fields that could be restored to more species rich neutral grassland.

Calcareous grassland Two regions of the Isle of Wight seem most appropriate to target for calcareous grassland re-creation.

• Eastern chalk ridge • Central chalk plateau

The eastern chalk ridge extends from Newport to Culver Down. It includes many fragments of chalk grassland including relatively extensive areas on Arreton Down, Brading Down and Bembridge Down. There is much potential to link these and many smaller isolated fragments of calcareous grassland by chalk grassland re-creation schemes both on the southern and northern slopes of the chalk ridge. A decline in stock farming systems to the south of the chalk ridge in particular may hinder chalk grassland restoration in this part of the Island.

The central chalk plateau of the Island between Chillerton and Gatcombe in the east and the Calbourne to Brightstone road in the west has seen the greatest destruction of chalk grassland and associated acid grassland and heath over the last 150 years (an estimated 790ha or 52% of all chalk grassland loss on the Island over this period1). Many fragments of these habitats remain both along rides and in clearings within the plantations of Brighstone Forest and on the steep slopes of the plateau. Farming systems in this part of the Island still rely on sheep rearing and other livestock enterprises and have potential for adopting more extensive grassland management systems.

Acid grassland and heath Four areas of the Island offer the greatest potential for heathland and acid grassland restoration.

• Parkhurst Forest • Brighstone Forest • Headon Warren • Bleak Down

1 This includes acid grassland and heathland occurring on the chalk downs

26 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Parkhurst Forest still retains much heathland vegetation along its rides. Heathland also rapidly re-colonises forestry clearings, particularly in the south of the Forest. There is much potential to increase this area and link it with the restoration of wood pasture in the north of the Forest. This would have wide biodiversity benefits for both habitats. The Forest is also state owned and part is notified as SSSI. Restoration of favourable condition within the SSSI may require restoration of grazing to the wood pasture, which could be linked with heathland and acid grassland restoration in the Parkhurst Forest SINC.

Brighstone Forest falls within the central chalk plateau described under calcareous grassland section. The re-creation of heathland and acid grassland within the forestry plantations of this region of the Island could be combined with the recreation of calcareous grassland. It would also have considerable archaeological and landscape conservation benefits.

Headon Warren once extended over a considerably larger area of land on its southern side, and linked with neutral and acid grassland to the chalk ridge of Tennyson Down. Agricultural intensification resulted in the destruction of much of the heathland between Headon Warren and the B3322 and the acid grasslands between this and the Down. The entire area is owned by the National Trust and has much potential for acid grassland and heathland re-creation.

Bleak Down was the richest area of heathland on the Island until the 1960s. In the 19th century heathland extended from Bleak Down to the west to link with the Wilderness and Cridmore Bog. Heathland vegetation in this part of the Island is now restricted to a few relicts but there is much potential to recreate heathland on the restored surface of the rubbish tips that have destroyed the area. This could be linked with the valley mires of Cridmore Bog and the Wilderness to the west and the seepage mire of Bohemia Bog to the north. Heathland and acid grassland re- creation in this part of the Island is perhaps the most difficult given the current land- use patterns but the gains are potentially highly significant.

Fen, mire and marshland There is an urgent need to improve the management of existing fen, mire and marshland sites to return them to favourable condition. In addition, there is huge potential to restore other wetlands on the Island that have become invaded with scrub or other smothering vegetation. There is also considerable potential to further increase the area of these habitats particularly in the Eastern Yar valley upstream of Alverstone to Whitwell. This section of the valley already contains many fragments of marshland and mire vegetation that could be extended and linked to form more contiguous habitats. The agricultural systems in this part of the Island are often based on arable farming and hence it is difficult to link these often-narrow valley habitats with adjacent better quality grazing land. This forms a significant constraint to the restoration of these habitats.

9.2 Coastal grazing marsh and saltmarsh Although there is a need to restore condition to many grazing marshes and possibly some saltmarshes through appropriate grazing management there is no requirement for re-creation of these habitats.

27 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic 9.3 Wood pasture and parkland There are two priority areas of wood pasture restoration and re-creation on the Island, as follows:

• Parkhurst Forest • America Wood

Parkhurst Forest has already been mentioned as a prime region of the Island for heathland re-creation. It also offers the greatest potential on the Isle of Wight for wood pasture restoration. It retains many features of its former wood pasture ecology including a rich epiphytic lichen flora, dead wood invertebrate fauna and bat fauna. Wood pasture is sufficiently intact within this site to need restoration and not re-creation.

America Wood is unfortunately rather small and isolated from adjacent areas of former wood pasture, such as Apse Castle Wood and Borthwood Copse. This region of the Island does however have potential for wood pasture re-creation although this would require considerable financial incentive and agreement between landowners.

In addition to the restoration of wood pasture there is also much potential for parkland recreation and restoration. The prime candidate would be Nunwell Park; this retains the best collection of ancient trees on the Island. These are set within a parkland of improved pasture and arable. Studies have shown the long-term detrimental impact of this form of farming on the maintenance of ancient trees. There is much potential in this region of the Island to restore and re-create parkland. Other areas of the Island also support parklands of potential biodiversity importance although these probably need greater evaluation. Interesting areas include Osborne Park, Appuldurcombe Park and relict parkland associated with the former Fern Hill House at Wootton.

10 References

1. A Crofts, and R G Jefferson (eds) 1999. The Lowland Grassland Management Handbook (Second Edition), English Nature & The Wildlife Trusts,

2. Blackwood, J.W. and Tubbs, C.R., 1970. A Quantitative Survey of Chalk Grassland in England. Biological Conservation, Volume 3, No.1

3. Chatters, C. 1990. Isle of Wight Chalk Heaths. Proceedings of the I.W. Natural History and Archaeological Society, Vol. 10. p71.

4. Chatters, C. 1984. The Downs and Heaths of the Isle of Wight. Unpublished report to the Isle of Wight Council

5. Chatters, C. 1991. A Brief Ecological History of Parkhurst Forest Isle of Wight. Proceedings of the I.W. Natural History and Archaeological Society, Vol. 11. p43.

6. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

7. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

28 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

8. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

9. Hillier, S. H., Walton, D.W.H., and Wells, D. A. 1987. Calcareous Grasslands - Ecology and Management Proceedings of a Joint British Ecological Society / Nature Conservancy Council Symposium

10. Hopkins, A. & Wainwright, J. 1987. The changing extent and conservation interest of lowland grassland in England and Wales: a review of grassland surveys 1930- ’84, Biological Conservation, Volume 40, 281-300,

11. Jefferson, R. G. & Robertson, H. J. 1996. Lowland Grassland: Wildlife Value and Conservation Status. English Nature Research Reports No 169, English Nature, Peterborough.

12. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999, The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives. Peterborough.

29 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Appendix 1 Condition assessment tables for calcareous grassland SSSI

Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia). CG1 sub-type attribute table

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2)

Unimproved CG1 *Extent Total area (ha), mapped in relation to a site- No reduction in area and any Recoverable reduction = calcareous grassland specific reference level to be determined, in consequent fragmentation unfavourable; non-recoverable period May -June. without prior consent reduction = partially destroyed.

*Sward composition: Record % cover of lichen species, in period Cover greater than 5% Lichen species are an cover of lichens. May -June. important part of the assemblage. Cover outside target indicates heavy disturbance eg trampling, competition from vascular plants or possibly the effects of atmospheric deposition.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency of positive indicator At least two species/taxa Choice of species related to positive indicator species in period May- June. frequent plus at least four NVC type and restriction to species species/taxa occasional unimproved grassland, Acinos arvensis (Clinopodium acinos), throughout the sward. considered satisfactory when Anthyllis vulneraria, Arenaria serpyllifolia, inside target. Among possible Carlina vulgaris, Centaurium erythraea, species that could be used, Galium verum, Helianthemum choice further restricted by nummularium, hoary-leaved Helianthemum ease of identification, visibility spp. (H. apenninum or H. canum (=H. in recording period. oelandicum)), Leontodon hispidus/L. saxatilis, Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus, Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella), Sanguisorba minor, Scabiosa columbaria, Scilla spp., Sedum spp., Thymus spp., Trinia glauca.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of No species/taxa more than Invasive species chosen to negative indicator negative indicator species. Record in occasional throughout the indicate problems of

30 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2) species period May-June. sward or singly or together eutrophication and disturbance more than 5% cover from various sources when Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, coarse outside target e.g. poaching, grasses eg Holcus lanatus. stock feeding.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of all No more than 5% cover. Invasive species outside target negative indicator tree and scrub species including woody shows that habitat is not being species climbers, considered together, in period managed sufficiently e.g. May-June. NB If scrub/tree species are under-grazed. more than occasional throughout the sward but less than 5% cover, they are soon likely to become a problem if grazing levels are not sufficient or if scrub control is not being carried out.

Sward composition: Record frequency of negative indicator Senecio jacobaea no more than Frequency outside target negative indicator species in period May-June. occasional throughout the indicates management species Senecio jacobaea. sward problems e.g. over-grazing and trampling.

Sward structure: Record sward height in period May-June. Sward 5 cms or less. Outside target indicates average height insufficient removal of biomass through grazing.

Sward structure: Record cover of litter where in a more or Total extent no more than 25% Outside target indicates litter less continuous layer, distributed either in of the sward biomass removal is insufficient patches or in one larger area, in period e.g. under-grazed. May-June.

Sward structure: bare Record extent of bare ground (not rock) 5 - 20% Outside target indicates ground distributed through the sward, visible management problems e.g. without disturbing the vegetation, in period under-grazing, trampling. May-June.

Sward structure: Record extent of localized bare ground No more than 0.05 ha ie Outside target indicates rabbit localized bare around rabbit warrens. approximately 20x20 metres grazing and disturbance levels ground are too high.

31 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia). CG2 sub-type attribute table

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2)

Unimproved CG2 *Extent Total area (ha), mapped in relation to a site- No reduction in area and any Recoverable reduction = calcareous grassland specific reference level to be determined , consequent fragmentation unfavourable; non-recoverable in period May-July. without prior consent reduction = partially destroyed. Excludes bare ground associated with rabbit warrens (see below).

*Sward composition: Record the frequency of positive indicator At least four species/taxa Choice of species related to positive indicator species in period May- July. frequent plus at least three NVC type and restriction to species species/taxa occasional unimproved grassland, Anthyllis vulneraria, Asperula cynanchica, throughout the sward. considered satisfactory when Campanula glomerata, Cirsium acaule, inside target. Among possible Filipendula vulgaris, Gentianella spp., species that could be used, Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis choice further restricted by ease comosa, Leontodon hispidus/L. saxatilis, of identification, visibility in Leucanthemum vulgare, Linum recording period. catharticum, Lotus corniculatus, Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella), Plantago media, Polygala spp., Primula veris, Sanguisorba minor, Scabiosa columbaria, Serratula tinctoria, Succisa pratensis, Thymus spp.

*Sward composition: Proportion of non-Graminae (“herbs”), in 40-90% Low proportion outside target grass/herb ratio period May -July. indicates eutrophication, usually from fertilisers, or insufficient removal of biomass, leading to dominance by grasses.

*Sward composition: Record % cover of Brachypodium Neither species at more than Outside target indicates negative indicator pinnatum and Bromopsis erecta, in period 10% cover insufficient removal of biomass species May-July. e.g. under-grazing.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of No species/taxa more than Invasive species chosen to negative indicator negative indicator species. Record in occasional throughout the indicate problems of species period May-July. sward or singly or together eutrophication and disturbance more than 5% cover from various sources when

32 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2) Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Rumex outside target e.g. poaching, crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Senecio stock feeding. jacobaea, Urtica dioica.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of all No more than 5% cover. Invasive species outside target negative indicator tree and scrub species excluding Juniperus shows that habitat is not being species communis, considered together, in period managed sufficiently eg under- May-July. NB If scrub/tree species are grazed. more than occasional throughout the sward but less than 5% cover, they are soon likely to become a problem if grazing levels are not sufficient or if scrub control is not being carried out.

Sward structure: Record sward height in period May-July. Sward 2-10 cm. Outside target indicates average height insufficient grazing or over- grazing.

Sward structure: Record cover of litter where in a more or Total extent no more than Outside target indicates biomass litter less continuous layer, distributed either in 25% of the sward removal is insufficient e.g. patches or in one larger area, in period under-grazed. May-July.

Sward structure: bare Record extent of bare ground (not rock) No more than 10%. Outside target indicates ground distributed through the sward, visible management problems e.g. without disturbing the vegetation, in period over-grazing. May-July.

Sward structure: Record extent of localized bare ground No more than 0.05 ha ie Outside target indicates rabbit localized bare around rabbit warrens. approximately 20x20 metres grazing and disturbance levels ground are too high.

33 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Semi-natural dry grasslands and scrubland facies on calcareous substrates (Festuco-Brometalia). CG3, 4, 5 sub-types attribute table

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2)

Unimproved CG3,4,5 *Extent Total area (ha), mapped in relation to a site- No reduction in area and any Recoverable reduction = calcareous grassland specific reference level to be determined, in consequent fragmentation unfavourable; non- period May-July. without prior consent recoverable reduction = partially destroyed. Excludes bare ground associated with rabbit warrens (see below).

*Sward composition: Record the frequency of positive indicator Bromopsis erecta (if CG3) or Choice of species related to positive indicator species in period May- July. Brachypodium pinnatum (if NVC type and restriction to species CG4 ), or both (if CG5) unimproved grassland, Brachypodium pinnatum, Bromopsis frequent plus at least two considered satisfactory when erecta. species/taxa frequent and four inside target. Among Anthyllis vulneraria, Asperula cynanchica, species/taxa occasional possible species that could be Campanula glomerata, Cirsium acaule, throughout the sward used, choice further restricted Filipendula vulgaris, Galium verum, by ease of identification, Gentianella spp., Helianthemum visibility in recording period. nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa, Leontodon hispidus/L. saxatilis, Leucanthemum vulgare, Linum catharticum, Lotus corniculatus, Pilosella officinarum (Hieracium pilosella), Plantago media, Polygala spp., Primula veris, Sanguisorba minor, Scabiosa columbaria, Succisa pratensis, Thymus spp..

*Sward composition: Proportion of non-Graminae (“herbs”), in 40-90% Low proportion outside target grass/herb ratio period May -July. indicates eutrophication, usually from fertilisers, or insufficient removal of biomass, leading to dominance by grasses.

*Sward composition: CG3 only: Record % cover of No more than 10% cover Outside target indicates negative indicator Brachypodium pinnatum, in period May- insufficient removal of

34 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Grazing and Grassland Management Topic

Operational Feature Criteria Feature Attribute Measure Target Comments (= ENSIS level 1) (=ENSIS level 2) species July. biomass e.g. under-grazing.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of No species/taxa more than Invasive species chosen to negative indicator negative indicator species. Record in occasional throughout the indicate problems of species period May-July. sward or singly or together eutrophication and more than 5% cover disturbance from various Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Rumex sources when outside target crispus, Rumex obtusifolius, Senecio eg poaching, stock feeding. jacobaea, Urtica dioica.

*Sward composition: Record the frequency and % cover of all No more than 5% cover. Invasive species outside negative indicator tree and scrub species excluding Juniperus target shows that habitat is species communis, considered together, in period not being managed May-July. NB If scrub/tree species are sufficiently e.g. under-grazed. more than occasional throughout the sward but less than 5% cover, they are soon likely to become a problem if grazing levels are not sufficient or if scrub control is not being carried out.

Sward structure: Record sward height in period May-July. Sward 2-15 cm. Outside target indicates average height insufficient grazing or over- grazing.

Sward structure: Record cover of litter where in a more or Total extent no more than 25% Outside target indicates litter less continuous layer, distributed either in of the sward biomass removal is patches or in one larger area, in period insufficient e.g. under-grazed. May-July.

Sward structure: bare Record extent of bare ground (not rock) No more than 10%. Outside target indicates ground distributed through the sward, visible management problems e.g. without disturbing the vegetation, in period over-grazing. May-July.

Sward structure: Record extent of localized bare ground No more than 0.05 ha i.e. Outside target indicates rabbit localized bare around rabbit warrens. approximately 20x20 metres grazing and disturbance levels ground are too high.

35 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight February 2002 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

Second Review January 2011

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It was reviewed in 2010.

Wetlands have been selected as an action plan habitat for the Isle of Wight to ensure national objectives for wetland habitats identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues.

This action plan embraces a number of wetland habitats that are identified as individual habitats types within the UK BAP together with the requirements of some key priority BAP species.

These are summarised in table 1:

Table 1: Relationship between Isle of Wight wetland habitats and UK BAP habitats

Habitat type UK BAP Status Distribution on the IW Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh Priority Widespread in river flood plains Reedbeds Priority The most extensive reed beds occur in the Eastern and Western Yar valleys with smaller areas frequent along other streams and ditches Fens (previously lowland fens) Priority Local occurrence Ponds Priority Good examples of this habitat are uncommon on the Island Rivers Priority On current understanding we do not believe that we have any rivers that would qualify as priority BAP habitat Species Water Vole Priority Strong Island populations in absence of feral mink but some evidence of decline. Great Crested Newt Priority Localised and very restricted extant population

Wet woodlands are also identified as a priority habitat in the UK BAP. It is intended that actions for the conservation of this habitat will be taken forward through the IW woodlands habitat action plan although they frequently occur in association with other wetland habitats identified in this action plan.

Wetland habitats occur in association with other important habitats. There are transitions from coastal and floodplain grazing marsh to habitats such as saltmarsh and saline lagoons. These are considered in the Estuaries HAP. They also occur on coastal cliffs and slopes around the Island. Actions needed to conserve these have been included in the Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan.

The identification of wetland habitats as a priority for action on the Isle of Wight is based on the following factors:

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

1. The wetlands of the Island contain examples of a number of priority habitat types identified by the UK BAP.

2. Although no assessment of the magnitude of wetland habitat loss on the Island has been made, reference to historic accounts suggests there has been a widespread and significant loss of wetland biodiversity over the past century. This has included significant loss of habitat from rivers and flood plains through land drainage and agricultural improvement together with losses due to scrub, woodland and reed invasion and changes due to nutrient enrichment.

3. An assessment of the condition of the remaining wetland habitat indicates that many of the remaining wetland sites are in poor condition. This is due to problems of water level control, lack of an appropriate grazing or mowing regime and factors associated with water quality and quantity.

4. Wetland habitats on the Isle of Wight provide habitat for many species of national or local importance. Ten species are UK BAP priority species and a further 97 species of local conservation concern including Daubenton’s bat are also associated with the Island’s wetland habitats.

The UK national biodiversity targets were revised in 2006. They cover the period 1998 – 2015. It has proved difficult to translate these to local BAP creation targets. The Island’s small scale landscape does not lend itself to large extents of any one habitat type; a mosaic of wetland habitats is more in keeping with the Island’s landscape and likely to provide the greatest biodiversity gains. However, this does mean that specialist species that require large extents of habitat are not likely to be well catered for on the Island. For example more than 75% of the reedbeds are less than 2ha in area and there is no history of specialists such as bittern, bearded tit or marsh harrier having established viable populations on the Island.

COASTAL FLOODPLAIN & GRAZING MARSH

England targets (2008) include:

• Achieve favourable or recovering condition of 76,500 ha by 2015 • Maintain the current extent of 170,000 ha • Restore 7,500 ha by 2015 • Re-establish 1,250 ha by 2015

South-east England targets:

• Maintain the current extent of 32,000 ha floodplain & grazing marsh • Restore and re-establish 1,900 ha by 2026

Isle of Wight targets (2010):

• Maintain the current extent and improve the condition of approximately 558 ha of floodplain & grazing marsh

REEDBEDS

England targets (2008) include:

• Achieve favourable or recovering condition of 4,680 ha (90%) by 2015 • Maintain the current extent of 5,200 ha • Re-establish 1,900 ha by 2015 2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

South-east England targets:

• Maintain the current extent of 700 ha • Restore and re-establish 1,900 ha of reedbeds & fens (combined) by 2026

Isle of Wight targets (2010):

• Maintain the current extent and improve the condition of approximately 152ha reedbeds • Create 20ha of additional reedbed habitat (RSPB target on their reserve)

FENS

England targets (2008) include:

• Achieve favourable or recovering condition of 7,200 ha (90%) by 2015 • Maintain the current extent of 8,000 ha • Initiate the restoration of 1,500 ha by 2015

South-east England targets:

• Maintain 200 fen sites • Restore and re-establish 1,900 ha of reedbeds & fens (combined) by 2026

Isle of Wight targets (2010):

• Maintain the current extent and improve the condition of approximately 87 ha of fen habitat

PONDS

England targets (2008) include:

• Achieve favourable condition of 2015 flagship ponds • Maintain the net number of 4,300 high quality pond sites • Create 7,950 new ponds of high quality potential

South-east England targets for Ponds have not yet been set. However, twelve Important Areas for Ponds (IAPs) have been identified within the Environment Agency’s Southern Region. None of these were selected from the Isle of Wight.

Isle of Wight targets (2010) Ponds have not been mapped and no targets have been set

RIVERS – National targets have yet to be set

WATER VOLE

England targets (2006) are:

• Maintain the current range of 582 occupied 10km squares • Increase the range by 52 10km squares by 2015

South-east England targets for Water Vole have not been set

Isle of Wight targets (2010) are:

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

• Maintain the current extent of the population within each of the catchments where they are recorded and improve the habitat to link up fragmented populations (Currently recorded from 7x10km squares).

GREAT CRESTED NEWT

England targets (2006) include:

• Increase the range by 37 10km squares by 2015 • Increase the number of occupied ponds from 88,000 to 123,200 by 2015 • Increase the number of ponds with a habitat suitability index of >0.7 from 52,800 to 73,920 by 2015

South-east England targets for Great Crested Newt have not been set However, Important Areas for Ponds (IAPs) have been identified within the Environment Agency Southern Region and these include a large Wealden Great Crested Newt IAP.

Isle of Wight targets (2010) are:

• Maintain the current extent of the population and maintain and restore the habitat so as to maintain viable populations (currently recorded from 4x10km squares)

2 Current Status

Description of the habitat

The wetland habitats considered in this action plan tend to be associated with rivers and their flood plains, or with springs and seepage lines. They are varied in character, but all depend on adequate water supplies of appropriate quality to maintain the specialist groups of plants and animals they have associated with them.

Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh

The most extensive wetland habitat on the Island is coastal and flood plain grazing marsh. The Isle of Wight biodiversity audit and assessment 1 estimated that this habitat covered some 561 hectares. The dataset was revised in 2010 for the national inventory and the most recent estimate is 558 ha It is defined as periodically flooded pasture or meadow with ditches, containing brackish or fresh water that maintain the water levels. The ditches can be especially rich in plants and invertebrates. Almost all areas are grazed and some are cut for hay or silage. Not all of the grassland in flood plains and coastal grazing marshes is semi-natural, and much has been agriculturally improved. The improved areas that are influenced by saline intrusion are characteristically much more botanically diverse than freshwater examples further inland along the river valleys.

Fens

Fens, as defined by the UK BAP are peatlands that receive water and nutrients from the soil, rock and ground water as well as from rainfall. They can be described as ‘poor fens’ or ‘rich fens’. Poor fens receive their water from acid, base poor rocks such as sandstone, whilst rich fens are

1 Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group. 2000. Wildlife of the Isle of Wight: An Audit and Assessment of its Biodiversity. Isle of Wight Council. 2 Common Standards Monitoring Guidance for Lowland Wetland Habitats. August 2004. JNCC

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan associated with water derived from base enriched calcareous rocks such as chalk. Fen vegetation is characteristically short, with a high proportion of sedges and mosses. In poor fens, bog mosses Sphagnum spp. predominate, whilst rich fens have carpets of ‘brown mosses’. Fens are now rare on the Isle of Wight, with only small isolated examples surviving. Poor fens on the Island are fed with nutrient poor acid water arising from springs and seepages either on hill sides such as Bohemia Bog, or at the edge of flood plains, such as Munsley Bog. Rich fen habitats were once widespread within Freshwater Marshes although much of this has now been transformed into reed bed. Other small examples of rich fen occur along spring lines flushes associated with the chalk, such as Compton Marsh or as cliff face flushes, such as those on Headon Warren and at Luccombe Chine (these are included within the Maritime Cliff and Slopes HAP).

For the purposes of constructing a national inventory of wetland habitats, Natural England has produced guidelines for mapping lowland fen habitat following JNCC guidance 2. Natural England’s habitat definition statement v1.3 states that ‘Reedbeds are a component/subset of Fens and may be mapped in both inventories. Small areas of reed may be included in parcels of fen, but larger areas of reedbeds should be mapped in the Fen inventory as reedbed ’to allow the reedbed constituent of the fen inventory to be separated out’.

NVC communities mapped under the broad lowland fen category are: M1-M14, M19-M21, M27- M38; M22 and M24 in soligenous fens; and all S communities apart from S4 and S26. Under this wider definition, wetland habitats that fall within this category include areas of tall eutrophic fen and single species swamps such as greater pond-sedge Carex riparia , reed canary grass Phalaris arundinacea or in brackish situations sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus . Using this definition the Island has approximately 89 ha of habitat mapped which is either ‘definitely the habitat’ or ‘habitat is present within the area’. Some forms of soft rush dominated pasture may also be included within this category of habitat type where it is generally referred to as marsh. Fen, marsh and swamp habitats are often derived from the degradation of other wetland habitats due to a lack of appropriate management or a reduction in water table or water quality. Despite this they can still provide good habitat for a number of wetland birds and animals and can be restored through reintroduction of grazing and cutting and changes in water level management to produce more varied and bio-diverse habitats.

Reed bed

Nationally, extensive reed beds can provide important habitat for a number of specialist breeding birds, such as the marsh harrier or bittern and a number of uncommon invertebrate species. The total area mapped is 151 ha but only about 25% is in blocks greater in area than 2 ha. However, the Island’s reed beds have mostly evolved due to a lack of management of other wetland habitats within the flood plains and tributaries of the Eastern and Western Yar valleys. In the Western Yar, the reed beds between Freshwater Causeway and Freshwater Gate occur over former fen habitats. The reed is generally of good quality and supports populations of a number of typical reed nesting birds such as reed and sedge warblers. In the east of the Island, reed beds are best developed within Brading Marshes where they are often fed with brackish water. Where associated with willow scrub these reed beds support populations of the nationally rare Cetti’s warbler. In the Yar Estuary and at King’s Quay reed beds occur as part of a natural transition to saltmarsh habitat with the reed beds being tidally inundated. Further reed beds occur on the spring fed slopes of the Islands soft rock cliffs. These cliff face reed beds are described in the Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan.

Ponds

Ponds are an important freshwater habitat and play a key role in maintaining biodiversity at the landscape level. However, they are vulnerable to environmental degradation and there is evidence that, at a national level, pond quality is declining. The pond resource on the Island is inadequately known but includes farm ponds, transitory ponds developed on actively slumping ground and garden ponds. This Plan considers the more natural ponds. Garden ponds can be important in

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan sustaining populations of some key species, such as amphibians, but their management and survival are not linked to countryside land management. The Environment Agency has commissioned a report (2009) with Pond Conservation, to identify Important Areas for Ponds (IAPs) in the Southern Region according to national criteria and using available data. They identified 12 areas for IAP status and additionally one great crested newt IAP. Ponds on the Island failed to meet the recognised criteria based upon available data. The principle of IAPs would seem to be appropriate to adopt for the Island but these areas would be proposed at a county level rather than a regional or national level. The criteria relevant to the Island would be • Criterion 2 Species of high conservation importance . • Criterion 3 Exceptionally assemblages of key biotic groups at a county level • Criterion 4 Ponds of high ecological quality

Rivers and streams

The Island has numerous small rivers and streams. The largest are the Eastern Yar and Medina. Although rising from the chalk in the south of the Island, these rivers run for most of their length through the heavily cultivated sandy soils of the lower greensand. The Island’s main rivers are biologically impoverished, due to a combination of factors including damaged structure, caused by drainage engineering; poor water quality resulting from suspended sediment .and possibly including high levels of phosphate; and low flows, resulting from abstraction, Smaller rivers that drain from gravel aquifers over the Tertiary clays in the north of the Island are less heavily modified by drainage engineering, but they suffer from water quality problems associated with natural seasonal low flows and locally due to waste water discharges and agricultural run-off. Despite this, some sections of these streams are quite natural, especially where they flow through ancient woodlands such as the Palmer’s Brook through Fattingpark Copse and Brocks Copse. Other Island streams are short and drain rapidly to the south coast forming deep ravines or chines as they cut down through the steep coastal cliffs on this side of the Island. Again, many of these streams drain heavily cultivated agricultural landscapes and have poor water quality and impoverished in stream and bankside habitats.

Wetland Species

The Island’s wetlands are home to a rich diversity of plant and animal species including ten species that have been identified as priority species within the UK BAP. Water vole Arvicola terrestris, Brent goose Branta bernicla, Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus, great crested newt Triturus cristatus, European eel Anguilla Anguilla, hornet robber fly Asilus crabroniformis, Desmoulin’s whorl snail Vertigo moulinsiana, pillwort Pilularia globulifera, divided sedge Carex divisa, tubular water dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa

Water voles (Arvicola terrestris) are one of the most important wetland species on the Island. They remain widespread across the Island despite dramatic national declines. The apparent absence of feral American mink on the Island may be a very significant factor in the maintenance of water vole populations. Daubenton’s bats (Myotis daubentonii) are also associated with wetland corridors.

Two priority invertebrate species are associated with the Island’s wetlands. The Desmoulin’s whorl snail, Vertigo moulinsiana , occurs in tall fen vegetation and has been recorded at Freshwater Marshes. This species is also listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive in recognition of its threatened status throughout Europe. The other priority invertebrate found in the Island’s wetlands is the hornet robber-fly Asilus crabroniformis . This species is not an exclusive wetland species, but is associated with extensively grazed grasslands where the adult flies lay their eggs on the dung of cattle and other grazing livestock. Use of ivermectin and related pesticides to control livestock parasites and loss of extensively grazed semi-natural grasslands is believed to present the main threat to this species.

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The only wetland priority bird species to occur on the Island is the reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniculus) . This species is still breeding in suitable scrub and wetland habitats across the Island with particular concentrations in the Eastern Yar valley, Freshwater Marshes, Newtown Harbour and Thorness Bay.

Limited numbers of Brown/Sea trout (Salmo trutta) and eel (Anguilla anguilla) have been recorded in the Island’s rivers following electric fishing surveys undertaken by the Environment Agency.

Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) is believed to be an uncommon and highly localised species on the Island with a small number of metapopulations

Distribution and Extent The total extent of wetland habitats on the Island has been mapped as part of the Isle of Wight biodiversity audit and assessment. The results of this are summarised in table 2.

Table 2: Extent of wetland habitats on the Isle of Wight

Wetland habitat types Area Reed bed 152 ha Fens 89 ha Marshy grassland 73 ha Wet heathland 0.4 ha Wet woodland 180 ha Coastal and flood plain grazing marsh 558 ha Total 1050.4 ha

Legislation and Site Designation

Most of the coastal wetlands along the Solent shore of the Island have been included within the Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar Site. Ramsar Sites are wetlands of International Importance. The Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar Site has been listed for, amongst other things, its particularly good representation of wetland habitats characteristic of the Atlantic biogeographic region. This includes the extensive grazing marshes, reed beds and associated marshy grasslands within Brading Marshes and the areas of swamp and reed bed within Kings Quay Shore SSSI and at Thorness Bay. In the west of the Island the grazing marshes and swamps of the Thorley Brook and Barnfield Stream are also included in the Ramsar Site as part of the Yar Estuary SSSI.

As well as the coastal wetlands mentioned above, a large proportion of wetland habitat on the Island has been notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or designated as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC). A summary of wetland habitats present within the main SSSI and SINC on the Island is summarised in tables 3 and 4.

Table 3: Distribution of wetland habitat (ha) within main SSSI Site Name Coastal & Marshy Reedbed Fen Wet Floodplain Grassland Woodland Grazing marsh Cridmore Bog 11 The Wilderness 4.6 7.8 Kings Quay Shore 1.6 2.7 Ryde Sands 5.6 2.7 Freshwater Marsh 13 0.5 2.8 Brading Marshes 190* 17.4 24.8 Alverstone Marshes 0.8 7 9 11 Medina Estuary 1.9 2.7 ** 1

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Thorness Bay 9.7 Yar Estuary 30 35 2 Total 225.6 18.2 95.7 27.8 27.3 * not all in SSSI ** includes 1.34 ha of sea-clubrush swamp

Table 4: Distribution and condition of wetland SINC’s Area Name Code SINC criteria ha Management Other habitats

5a 5b 6a 6c Thorley Meadows C008A Y 12.19 Woodland, grassland, Lee Copse C012A Y 16.48 WGS heathland Bouldnor Copse C013A Y 80.73 FDP Woodland, grassland ELS/Residents Caul Bourne C034A Y 0.66 plan Sudmoor Dyke C037A Y 5.42 HLS Sudmoor Dyke C037B Y 6.89 HLS Sudmoor Dyke C037C Y 2.03 HLS Sudmoor Dyke C037D Y 3.27 ELS Thorley Copse C063A Y 9.49 ELS Woodland 195.2 Woodland, grassland, Parkhurst Forest C070E Y 3 FDP heathland Plaish Meadows C072A Y Y 9.35 Advice Grassland Wolverton Marsh C085A Y Y 11.12 WGS/CSS Woodland WGS/ELS/Surve Wydcombe Estate C096A Y 30.74 y Woodland, grassland Upper Dolcoppice C097A Y 15.41 survey Woodland, grassland Appuldurcombe Down:Godshill Park C102B Y 28.19 ELS Woodland Bleak Down C105A Y 4.91 HLS Heathland Upper Yar Valley:Scotland Farm C106A Y Y 14.68 Survey Woodland Upper Yar Valley:Roud C106B Y 4.45 Bottom's Copse, Godshill C108A Y 4.04 Woodland Great Budbridge C113A Y 15.22 HLS/CSS Woodland Great Budbridge:Kennerley Heath C113B Y 15.90 Survey Great Budbridge:Munsley Bog C113C Y 8.77 Y Woodland Moor Farm C114A Y 12.50 HLS Redway Farm C115A Y Y 12.05 Advice Woodland Gatcombe Withybed C119A Y 41.45 WGS Woodland River Medina:Shide Blackwater C121A Y 6.87 HLS Woodland Standen Heath C125A Y 5.72 Woodland Lynch Copse C149A Y 8.69 WGS Woodland Newchurch Marshes NW C151A Y 7.79 ELS Newchurch Marshes NE C151B Y 4.51 CSS Woodland Newchurch Marshes SW C151C Y 8.83 CSS Youngwoods Copse:Brett's Meadow C155A Y 6.54 Woodland, grassland Alverstone Marshes East C156B Y 1.97 Advice Woodland

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Alverstone Mead C156C Y Y 45.71 CSS Woodland Moon's Hill C162A Y 3.70 Grassland Nettlestone Marsh C170A Y 7.20 Grassland Compton Grange C184A Y Y 5.27 CSS Shalfleet Churchyard C192A Y 0.67 Grassland Buddle Brook C193A Y 5.06 Woodland Stag Lane Pond C198A Y 0.35 Carisbrooke Castle:Kent's Mill C203A Y 2.23 Advice Woodland Carisbrooke Waterworks Pond C204A Y 0.61 Y River Medina:Shide C205A Y Y 1.96 Y Woodland Lukely Brook:south C206A Y 0.84 NI Woodland Lukely Brook:north C206B Y 0.59 NI Woodland Bohemia Bog C207A Y 3.37 Y Marshcombe Copse C228A Y 6.19 WGS/HLS Woodland Morton Marsh C229A Y Y 6.84 Perreton Down and Marsh C250B Y 11.92 ELS Woodland, grassland Barton Withybed C255A Y 8.83 Woodland Ninham Withybed C255B Y 12.04 Woodland Landguard Manor Farm Meadow C257B Y 1.00 Grassland Woodland, grassland, Sandown Golf Course C261A Y Y 35.29 heathland Sandown Golf Course:Scotchell's Brook C261B Y Y 8.78 Woodland Sandown Levels C262A Y 17.88 Advice Pope's Farm Marsh C263A Y 2.07 CSS Brading Marshes North C265A Y Y 32.74 Wroxall Meadow South C277A Y 1.04 Grassland Kitbridge Meadows C279A Y Y 52.33 Y Grassland Padmore Fields, Whippingham C280A Y 4.42 Woodland, grassland High Grange Marsh C288A Y 0.64

SINC Criteria 5a Areas of open freshwater (e.g. lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, ditches) which support a significant assemblage of aquatic flora and fauna 5b Reed swamps, fens, flushes, seepages, springs inundation grasslands etc that support a significant assemblage of flora and fauna characteristic of unimproved and waterlogged (seasonal or permanent) conditions 6a Any site which supports a viable population of one or more species protected under the Habitats Regulations or listed in schedules 1, 5 or 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as revised and amended) or in Red Data books of Britain and Ireland 6c Any site that supports a significant proportion of the Island population or contributes significantly to the range on the Island of a national BAP priority species or a local BAP species which could be at risk because of very small populations, recent rapid decline or habitat loss or change,

Management: ELS Entry Level Stewardship; HLS Higher Level Stewardship; CSS Countryside Stewardship; WGS Woodland Grant Scheme; Y management plan; Advice: given within 5 years: Survey within 5 years; NI Non-intervention site

Summary of Important Sites

The most extensive wetland habitats on the Island are found within the Eastern Yar Valley. These include the internationally important wetlands of Brading Marshes SSSI that form part of the Solent and Southampton Water Ramsar Site. Brading Marshes are of comparatively recent origin, having being claimed from the sea at the end of the 19 th century. They comprise extensive areas of

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan coastal and flood plain grazing marsh, together with smaller areas of marshy grassland, swamp and reed bed. They display excellent transitions from freshwater to saline wetlands including saltmarsh and saline lagoons together with associated areas of neutral grassland, acid grassland, woodland and scrub. Brading Marshes are important for overwintering wildfowl including wigeon, teal and brent geese as well as breeding reed bed species such as Cetti’s warbler and reed bunting. The system of ditches and dykes that drain the marshes also supports a rich aquatic invertebrate fauna.

Further up the Eastern Yar Valley are the wetlands of Alverstone Marshes. The river Yar runs through the marshes and has been much modified by dredging, straightening and other drainage engineering. The wetland habitats in the Marshes are now hydrologically divorced from the river, and are largely dependent upon water arising from springs and seepages that emerge at the edge of the flood plain and smaller tributary streams such as Hill Heath Drain. Some excellent wetland habitats remain in the marshes, including areas of fen meadow and purple moor-grass and rush pasture in which species such as marsh cinquefoil Potentilla palustris , bog-bean Menyanthes trifoliata and marsh violet Viola palustris can all be found. Other areas of the marsh have been damaged by drainage and support degraded reed beds or have been abandoned and reverted to greater pond-sedge Carex riparia swamp.

The Wilderness and Cridmore Bog SSSIs are located at the head of the Medina Valley. These two SSSI represent the relicts of a once extensive complex of heathland and acid wetland in this part of the Island. They retain some species rich examples of fen and rush pasture with abundant bottle sedge Carex rostrata and marsh cinquefoil (Potentilla palustris) forming a fen vegetation type described by the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) as Carex rostrata – Potentilla palustris tall herb fen (S27). This fen type is rarely found in the lowlands of England. Changes in water quality in the river Medina and past drainage engineering have altered the habitats found in these two SSSIs, with species associated with nutrient poor acid wetlands such as the insectivorous sundews Drosera spp. becoming extinct. Some species of wet heath and poor fen such as the bog myrtle Myrica gale , do however survive.

The Eastern Yar Valley near Rookley contains some of the most important areas of acid wetland habitat remaining on the Island. Bohemia Bog is a small wetland fed by acid base poor water arising from a spring line at the foot of a small hill south east of Rookley. The habitats present in this site are remarkable both in the Island and regional context and include examples of Narthecium ossifragum – Sphagnum papillosum valley mire (M21) which grades into a fine example Molinia caerulea – Cirsium dissectum fen meadow (M24). The flora of Bohemia Bog is very rich and includes good populations of the insectivorous species such as round leaved sundew Drosera rotundifolia and pale butterwort Pinguicula lusitanica . This is the only site on the Island were these two species occur.

The west of the Island also has some important wetlands. Freshwater Marshes at the head of the Western Yar Valley was once one of the most important fens in either Hampshire or the Isle of Wight. However, drainage work and encroachment of common reed and scrub has resulted in the loss of some of the most exacting fen species recorded from these marshes in the past. Despite this, the site still has a rich fen flora, including the uncommon marsh fern Thelypteris palustris , marsh orchids Dactylorhiza praetermissa and lesser water-parsnip Berula erecta . The reed beds attract populations of reed nesting birds including reed, sedge and Cetti’s warblers. The river Yar that runs through the site has been deepened for drainage purposes in the past and as with many wetlands on the Island, the marsh is maintained by springs and seepages that flow across the marshes from the edge of the flood plain to the river.

Further down the Yar Valley towards the sea are some good examples of coastal grazing marsh along the Thorley Brook and Barnfield Streams. These show well developed transitions from fresh to brackish water conditions and in winter attract a range of wildfowl including wigeon, teal and shoveler. The flora of these marshes includes a number of uncommon and nationally scarce plant species including divided sedge Carex divisa , marsh mallow Althaea officinalis and bulbous foxtail Alopecurus bulbosus .

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Important transitions from swamp and reed bed to saltmarsh can also be found along the small stream valley that flows into Thorness Bay. Many of the nationally scarce plants found in the Thorley Brook and Barnfield Stream valleys can also be found in the marshes at Thorness Bay.

The Island also has some important spring fed fens occurring at the foot of the chalk downs. These are often small and isolated but support a rich fen flora including marsh orchids, marsh marigold Caltha palustris , bog pimpernel Anagallis tenella and brown sedge Carex disticha . Compton Marsh, situated on the cliff top above Compton Bay is perhaps the best developed of these spring fed fens although they also occur in Brading Marshes and on the north side of Tennyson Down at Moons Hill.

Farmland on MOD land on the eastern banks of the Newtown Estuary has the largest surviving collection of unmodified field ponds. They support the most important metapopulation of great crested newts on the Island and a number of nationally and locally scarce macrophytes. Farm ponds at Kitbridge, alongside the Gunville Stream, Newport, support the second most important Island great crested newt metapopulation.

Historically, the Island’s streams and rivers have had an impoverished flora and fauna. Many species that are characteristic of mainland rivers, such as minnow, crayfish, most stoneflies and water-crowfoots, are not native on the Island. The Island’s streams and rivers have been badly degraded through drainage works and regular dredging. The resultant straightened river courses flow along a channel sunken deeply below the level of the adjacent flood plain and lacking the in channel features of pools, riffles, bars and shoals associated with more natural rivers. As a consequence, the aquatic flora of the Island’s rivers is very poor or in many places totally absent and it is rarely able to achieve its full potential. It is ironic that the richest aquatic flora on the river Medina has been recorded from the canalised concrete lined sections at Blackwater where a combination of weirs and the stable substrate provided by the concrete channel has improved habitat conditions. Despite these problems, some sections of more natural river do retain a diverse flora and fauna. The best of these are perhaps the upper reaches of the Caul Bourne, the Gunville Stream and Lukely Brook near Newport and the small streams flowing though ancient woodlands in the north-east of the Island such as the Palmer’s Brook and Blackbridge Brook.

3 Current Factors affecting the habitat Drainage engineering and flood alleviation

The Island’s rivers and wetlands have suffered from a long period of intensive land drainage activity. This has resulted in several important consequences for wetland biodiversity:

1 Rivers have often become divorced from the function of their flood plains so that wetland habitats that remain on the flood plains are maintained by springs and seepages arising at the edge of the flood plain. For most of the year, the river acts simply as a drain to remove this water supply. 2 River channels have often become uniform in structure and lack in channel features such as pool and riffle sequences, meanders, bars and shoals. They are also deeply incised below the level of the flood plain so draining the wetland habitats that remain upon it. 3 The lower greensand that forms the bed of the Medina and Eastern Yar along much of their course is unstable and provides a poor substrate for rooting aquatic plants apart from those tolerant of silty conditions such as bur-reed Sparganium erectum which often chokes the river channel. It may be that, in a natural state, these rivers had a more gravelly bed composed of greensand concretions that have been removed through dredging. 4 Steep stream sides prevent the development of much marginal vegetation apart from occasional dense stands of stinging nettle, bitter-sweet Solanium dulcamara and coarse grasses such as false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius.

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5 Water travels from source to sea through the river system very rapidly, resulting in flash flooding in the lower reaches of the river and increased sediment load as a result of erosion of the banks. In the upper reaches, the watercourses and associated wetlands drain rapidly and are prone to drying out.

In other instances, drainage systems have been installed to improve agricultural production. The most significant of these is within Alverstone Marshes, where a drainage culvert actually passes under the river bed, so draining the flood plain fen and reed beds below the level of the river.

There is an urgent need to restore river channels to re-integrate them with their flood plains and restore biological function. This might include restoration of cut-off meanders, raising of bed levels and recreation of in-channel features. There is also a need to restore wetlands in the upper reaches of river systems to reduce flash flows and reduce problems of low flows. Some indication of the degree to which biological diversity has been affected by the combination of river engineering and water quality could be obtained by comparing largely unmodified ‘near natural’ sections of streams with those within the main river network. These often small sections of stream can still support a rich invertebrate fauna, and be used to set targets for the restoration of those streams and rivers that have been degraded.

Water quality

Rivers of the Isle of Wight are regularly monitored by the Environment Agency to look at trends in chemical and biological quality, assess compliance with environmental legislation and plan improvement work as required . The implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) in 2003 has changed the way the Environment Agency monitors water bodies. The principal objective of the Directive is “to achieve good status in all waters by 2015 and to ensure that status does not deteriorate in any waters”. To accomplish this, the Directive has introduced a more structured and integrated approach. Statutory standards are set for both biological and chemical parameters, alongside assessments of flow and physical modification. Monitoring estuaries, coastal waters, and lakes has continued but in a more routine and balanced way than previously.

Water quality is reduced by nutrient enrichment, the main sources of which are from treated sewage effluent and agricultural activities. There is a need for better understanding of the effects of nutrients in the water environment and how different chemical states of a nutrient interact. For example: the balance between different forms of phosphate and how river conditions impact on these.

The past two decades have seen improvements in water quality on the Isle of Wight. A major improvement scheme to waste water treatment works has diverted the majority of sewage effluent on the Island to Sandown for treatment prior to discharge via a long outfall into the Solent. This has significantly improved the quality of the Solent along the north coast of the Island, and the improvement works have now been extended to the River Medina since flows from Fairlee Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) have also been diverted to Sandown WWTW from 2010

A number of the larger WWTW and some of the smaller ones have been targeted with higher treatment to reduce the level of nutrients discharged. These have been progressed to protect particularly sensitive waters such as designations under the Habitats Directive and the Sensitive Area (Eutrophic) designations of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The WFD will also make the requirement for lower nutrient levels more widespread than previously, where there is evidence of ecological damage.

Other forms of pollution are associated with agriculture, and include diffuse sources of phosphate, nitrate and pesticides, as well as silt and sediment eroded from fields and leakage from silage effluent. These diffuse sources of pollution can be difficult to control and require catchment based land management strategies and advice to farmers if they are to be resolved. The Environment

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Agency has been involved in the Government's Catchment Sensitive Farming initiative. Again, further work under the WFD will be required in relevant catchments.

Water quality has an important influence on the aquatic flora and fauna found within the river channels, and any remaining wetlands that are irrigated by river water. In addition, silt and sediment loads in rivers can be high, especially during times of high rainfall. This problem is made even more acute on the Medina and Eastern Yar, where much of the river catchment is located over the intensively farmed sandy soils of the lower greensand. Water quality in the summer months is further exacerbated by low flows.

Low flows and water abstraction

The Eastern Yar is very heavily affected by abstraction both for public water supply and agricultural purposes. At times this can cause the river to almost stop flowing below the Sandown Water Works abstraction point at Burnt House weir where 90% of the flow can be directed to the public water supply. Further upstream, abstraction for agricultural irrigation also has an effect on river flows during the summer months. Low summer flows in the Eastern Yar, combined with the effects of river engineering and poor water quality result in highly impoverished lower reaches of the river. The River Medina is also used for abstraction both for agriculture and public water supply although the impacts of these abstractions on the biodiversity of the river and its wetlands are less apparent.

The Lukely Brook upstream of Carisbrooke is also influenced by water abstraction. This is collected from under the Plaish Water Meadows via a collecting main, which feeds Carisbrooke pumping station and from the Bowcombe Pumping Station. The effects of this abstraction on the flora and fauna of the meadows and the Lukely Brook have not been properly investigated, although it is probable that during dry summer months this abstraction will have a significant impact upon these wetlands.

In many of the river valleys, irrigation reservoirs have been constructed. These were initially intended to provide winter flood storage to irrigate farmland in the summer. However, subsequent investigation by the Environment Agency has demonstrated that many of these reservoirs in sensitive wetland habitats are in fact fed with ground water during the summer, and hence abstraction during the summer could affect adjacent wetland habitats. As a consequence, new abstraction licences have been issued by the Environment Agency to minimise the impact of these reservoirs on adjacent wetlands. In some instances, the reservoirs themselves have developed to provide wetland habitats of high biodiversity value.

The impacts of abstraction from the chalk and lower greensand aquifers on wetland biodiversity have not been properly investigated. A network of boreholes has been installed throughout the lower greensand in the Medina Valley to augment flows in the Eastern Yar for abstraction at Burnt House. The data from monitoring boreholes have not shown any impact upon wetland habitats in this part of the Island but are not yet conclusive. The Minimum Residual Flow could be modified to protect Brading Marshes and the lower Eastern Yar, but there would be a severe impact on the reliability of the Public Water Supply.

Abstraction for trickle irrigation, particularly of horticultural crops, is not subject to abstraction licences. This allows significant quantities of water to be abstracted without control or monitoring. There are current proposals (2010) to phase in licence requirements for trickle irrigation.

Lack of management

The river valleys of the Island were once part of the mixed farming system that maintained stock grazing with hay production and arable farming. The wetlands of the river valleys or ‘Moors’ as they are termed locally, provided summer grazing for livestock and lush hay meadows. With changes in agriculture over recent decades, it has become uneconomic to graze the wet Moors

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan which have now become isolated within the intensively farmed landscape of the river catchments. This has resulted in changes in the vegetation and associated fauna of these wetlands, with coarse swamp vegetation dominated by single species replacing the varied and species rich flora that would have been present when grazed. Abandonment of agricultural use has also resulted in former ditches and drains becoming derelict. The loss of these open water habitats has also reduced biodiversity but more importantly, the lack of drainage makes some parts of the flood plain impossible to graze or mow. Restoration of wetland management may therefore require some careful restoration of the drainage system and in the future, cyclical management of its vegetation. In other places where deep drainage ditches have been created within wetlands, such as those within Alverstone Marshes, drying of the wetland has allowed scrub and woodland to invade and replace the wetland habitats. The presence of this scrub and secondary woodland can provide valuable wildlife habitat but it must be maintained in balance with the more open habitats to sustain biodiversity.

Fragmentation and isolation

The spring fed wetlands that remain in good condition are often isolated from other wetlands due to the localised nature of the water source they depend upon. These small sites are highly vulnerable to changes in ground water levels and quality, and to changes in land management. Other wetland sites are isolated in an intensively farmed agricultural landscape. This makes them vulnerable to the effects of agricultural pollution from pesticides, fertiliser and silt run-off. It can also make it difficult to restore or maintain an appropriate grazing regime on these wetlands. Other wetland habitats need to be of a minimum size to support certain specialist species, for example reed beds and flood plain grasslands need to be of a minimum size to support certain breeding birds. Where these habitats occur in small fragmented patches, their value to biodiversity can be significantly increased by linking them into larger areas.

Sea level rise

Sea level rise predictions calculate that there could be up to 50cm rise in the next 50 years. This will place many coastal and flood plain grazing marshes and their associated wetland habitats under threat of saline inundation. Wetlands that could be radically changed because of sea level rise include Brading Marshes; the marshes of Thorley Brook, Barnfield Stream and between Freshwater Causeway and Afton Road; Nettlestone Marsh and Seaview Duver; Wootton Mill Pond; Thorness Marsh; and Gurnard Marsh.To prevent these coastal marshes becoming inundated with the sea would require significant expenditure on flood defence, which would in turn exacerbate problems of coastal squeeze and fluvial flooding due to increasing loss of flood storage capacity. The only long-term sustainable solution is to allow coastal habitats to migrate inland in line with rising sea levels, so reverting these wetlands to intertidal habitats. However, this needs to be carried out in a controlled manner. As a consequence, fresh and brackish water marsh habitats may be lost unless they also can be allowed to migrate inland. This will have implications for land-use, and appropriate policies and financial incentives will need to be developed to encourage landowners and managers to accept such change.

Fisheries The Environment Agency has carried out a series of surveys of Island fish populations between 1980 and 2007 and made an assessment of fish passage issues on the Medina in 2009. Some rivers and streams are known to support fish populations of nature conservation importance such as the bullhead and brook lamprey. Others are also thought to support populations of migratory fish. Some, such as the sea trout, migrate to the sea from spawning sites at the head of the river; others, such as the dace, may migrate within the river from headwaters to lower reaches. The construction of weirs on many rivers to maintain water levels or assist with abstraction can pose a significant barrier to the passage of migratory fish. In rivers and streams known to support populations of migratory fish, steps should be taken to either remove the obstruction or provide suitable fish passes.

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan 4 Current Action

Site and Species Protection

Site designation

There are currently no plans to notify new wetland sites as SSSI on the Isle of Wight.

The eastern part of Alverstone Marshes was de-notified under the CROW Act 2000. Despite fragmentation of the remaining wetland habitat resulting from land drainage, agricultural intensification and landfill operations, the site still contains the features for which it was originally notified.

Identification of Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation is ongoing on the Island. The most recent SINCs to be proposed which have wetland features are Kitbridge Meadows, Padmore Farm Fields and High Grange Marsh. Further wetland SINCs may be identified by the IW Council.

Purchase of additional reserves or properties

Given the poor state of the agricultural economy, it is possible that further areas of wetland or areas with the potential for restoration to wetland, will become available for purchase by nature conservation organisations. Further action to purchase wetlands by nature conservation organisations needs to be planned and coordinated.

Habitat management

Some wetland habitats (reed beds and swamp) are easier to create than others. Creation of new wetland habitats should not be at the expense of other existing high value wetland habitats.

Wetlands are a target habitat for High Level Stewardship (HLS), administered by DEFRA through Natural England. This scheme provides payments for maintaining and enhancing wetland habitats, although there is only a limited pool of funding and funding has to be prioritised.

The Eastern Yar Project, funded by Island 2000 Trust and the Environment Agency, has provided assistance to farmers and landowners in the Yar Valley to apply for funding for wetland restoration through the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS). Advice is also given by the Wildlife Trust to landowners to reduce run-off of silt and chemicals from arable land in the Yar Valley catchment, including assistance with applications to revert arable land to permanent pasture.

The RSPB have purchased most of Brading Marshes SSSI and adjoining flood plain land and are undertaking extensive habitat management and water level control to restore and enhance wetland habitats within the marshes.

The Eastern Yar Fluvial and Coastal Strategy will be seeking to restore over dredged and engineered sections of the river in conjunction with providing flood storage in the flood plain. It will also consider the implications of sea level rise and the future management of Brading Marshes and Bembridge Harbour.

The Environment Agency has also been implementing the Newport Rivers Project, which seeks to work with developers in the urban area to restore rivers such as the Lukely Brook and Medina as they flow through the urban areas of the town. This includes removal of concrete channels, restoration of in-channel features and management of bankside habitats to enhance biodiversity. A new fish pass has also been installed on the Lukely Brook to assist the passage of migratory fish to its headwaters.

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

Survey, research and monitoring

The Environment Agency undertakes regular biological and chemical sampling of watercourses throughout the Island, which provides a valuable indication of the quality of aquatic habitats.

A repeat survey of water vole populations on the Island, carried out in 2008, updating information from previous surveys, have been carried out by the Wildlife Trust with funding from EA.

Natural England have undertaken site quality monitoring of all wetland SSSI on the Island in recent years and aim to ensure that 95% of all sites are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

In 1996, the Environment Agency commissioned the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to undertake a River Corridor Survey of all the Island’s main rivers. The results of this survey have been compared with an earlier survey undertaken by Southern Water Authority and the Trust in 1984. These surveys show the impoverished nature of the Island’s water courses and reveal little improvement in the situation between the two surveys.

Action for species

Appendix 1 gives details of species on the Isle of Wight found primarily in wetland habitats. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. In some cases, additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species.

The water vole is a particularly important National BAP priority species for the Island, in the absence of mink and otter. The Isle of Wight has always been a stronghold for water voles, and the 2008 survey has shown that although the number of watercourses exhibiting water voles remains the same, overall the number of survey sections with water vole activity has decreased compared with all previous full surveys. If this continuing trend persists, further isolated communities of water voles will become prevalent, and more and more localised extinctions are likely to occur. Appropriate bank side management is particularly important to sustain water vole populations and allow them to spread. Flood plain areas where water courses regularly overtop their banks, such as in the lower reaches of the Eastern Yar, are unlikely to sustain core populations of water voles.

Action through policy and legislation

Much of the south of the Island was included with a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone (NVZ) in 2002. A NVZ Action Programme will be starting within this area from the 19 December 2002. This places limits on the quantity of nitrogenous fertiliser applied to farmland and restricts the time of year when this might be applied. It also controls the way in which nitrogen is applied to the land to limit the potential for run-off and ground water contamination. There are also rules concerning the storage of slurry and a requirement to keep records of fertiliser application. As most nitrogenous fertiliser is applied in combination with phosphate the NVZ Action Programme is also likely to reduce the impact of other nutrients on wetland biodiversity .

The objectives of the Water Framework directive are

• Preventing deterioration in the status of water bodies. • Aim to achieve “good” ecological status and good surface water chemical status in water bodies by 2015. • Achieve good ecological potential for waterbodies that are designated as artificial or heavily modified by fulfilling all mitigation measures

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan 5 Targets and Actions

The following table lists the actions required to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. Each action has been assigned to one or more Key Partners. Key Partners are those organisations that are expected to take responsibility for the delivery of the actions assigned to them, according to the targets set in this Plan. Other organisations may also be involved in the delivery of action and they have been indicated in the Others column.

Biodiversity Targets for Wetland Habitats on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain existing area of wetlands habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of wetlands into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and wetlands D Improve the knowledge of wetlands resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of wetlands resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

Biodiversity Actions for Wetlands on the Isle of Wight Lead Reporting 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2020

A1 Maintain the current extent of wetland habitats (as mapped by All IWC
GIS 2010) by 2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management and water level control to All IWC
achieve favourable or recovering condition or recovering condition of 85% of all wetland habitats within designated sites by 2015 A3 Maintain the current extent of the population of water voles EA EA
 within each of the catchments where they are recorded and improve the habitat to link up fragmented populations, as demonstrated by quinquennial Isle of Wight water vole surveys A4 Maintain the current extent of the population of great crested All IWC
newts and maintain and restore the habitat so as to maintain viable populations B1 Increase the area of reed swamp on Brading Marshes from RSPB IWC  11ha to >30ha by 2020 B2 Promote wetland habitat continuity by restoring degraded All IWC  wetland habitats on 10 sites by 2015 B3 Ensure consented abstraction licences do not compromise river EA EA
 catchment functionality. This will be implemented through the

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

EA Restoring Sustainable Abstraction (RSA) Programme B4 Create 25 new ponds in vicinity of existing pond complexes by H&IWWT IWC  2013 B5 Carry out improvements to sites where eel migration issues EA EA  have been identified. Priority will be given to structures on the River Medina & Eastern Yar B6 Actively contribute to improving rivers and wetlands, aiming to All EA




 achieve good status under the Water Framework Directive. B7 Through the Environment Agency’s Better Rivers Programme, EA EA  seek to restore one third of the Island’s degraded rivers by 020 under the SE River Basin Management Plan C1 Reduce the effects of agricultural run-off through the Catchment EA/H&IWWT EA/HIWWT  Sensitive Farming initiative by 2013 C2 Report on length of farmland buffers of water courses created HIWWT  through the Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiative C3 Explore opportunities to create large scale flood plain restoration EA IWC
to cater for integrated approaches to land management D1 Identify locally important pond areas using evidence base and HIWWT IWC  modelling tools D2 Assess effectiveness of River Medina eel passes EA EA
 D3 Monitor fisheries populations on E. Yar (2 sites) as part of the EA EA  National Fisheries Monitoring programme D4 Ensure systematic collection and collation of existing and new All EA/IWC





data on non native plant species. Promote active control where appropriate E1 Seek opportunities to increase public awareness and All NEnt appreciation of wetlands by participating in events such as Riverfest

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council NT National Trust NEnt Natural Enterprise

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan References

1. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Committee. 2000. Wildlife of the Isle of Wight and Audit and Assessment of its Biodiversity. Isle of Wight Council

2. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

3. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

4. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

5. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. 2002. Grassland and Grazed Habitats Topic Report. Isle of Wight Council.

6. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999. The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives. Peterborough.

7. Wiltshire BAP – Rivers, Streams and Associated Habitats.

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

Species associated with wetland habitats

Local population Latin English BAP Primary habitat Subsidiary habitat Abundance trend

Mammals Arvicola terrestris Water vole 1 Rivers Fen, marsh and swamp Localised Decreasing Myotis daubentonii Daubenton's Bat 3 Mosaic Rivers Localised Unknown

Birds Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge warbler 3 Reedbeds Fen, marsh and swamp Localised (bird) Decreasing Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed warbler 3 Reedbeds Fen, marsh and swamp Common Stable Eutrophic standing Alcedo atthis Kingfisher 3 Rivers waters Scarce Stable Eutrophic standing Anas strepera Gadwall (wintering) 3 waters Intertidal mudflats Localised Stable Eutrophic standing Aythya ferina Pochard 3 waters Coastal waters Localised (bird) Decreasing Brent goose Branta bernicla (wintering) 1 Saltmarsh Grazing marsh Common Increasing Cettia cetti Cetti's warbler 3 Reedbeds Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Increasing Emberiza schoeniclus Reed bunting 1 Reedbeds Fen, marsh and swamp Localised (bird) Stable Lymnocryptes minimus Jack snipe (wintering) 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Lowland meadows Localised (bird) Stable Rallus aquaticus Water rail 3 Reedbeds Fen, marsh and swamp Localised (bird) Stable

Amphibians Eutrophic standing Bufo bufo Common Toad 3 waters Built-up areas & gardens Localised Stable Eutrophic standing Rana temporaria Common Frog 3 waters Built-up areas & gardens Localised Stable Triturus cristatus Great Crested Newt 1 Mosaic Eutrophic standing waters Localised Unknown

Fish Eutrophic standing Anguilla anguilla European Eel 1 waters Seas Common Stable Cottus gobio Bullhead 3 Rivers Occasional Stable Lampetra planeri Brook Lamprey 3 Rivers Scarce Unknown

Ants bees and wasps Maritime cliffs & Mimumesa atratina A solitary wasp 3 slopes Reedbeds Rare Unknown Maritime cliffs & Mimumesa unicolor A solitary wasp 3 slopes Reedbeds Localised Stable

Dragonflies and damselflies Eutrophic standing Brachytron pratense Hairy Dragonfly 3 waters Scarce Increasing Calopteryx virgo Beautiful Demoiselle 3 Rivers Localised Stable Golden-ringed Cordulegaster boltonii Dragonfly 3 Rivers Occasional Unknown Eutrophic standing Erythromma najas Red-eyed Damselfly 3 waters Scarce Increasing Eutrophic standing Lestes sponsa Emerald Damselfly 3 waters Scarce Stable Eutrophic standing Libellula depressa Broad-bodied Chaser 3 waters Localised Unknown

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

Eutrophic standing Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Chaser 3 waters Rare Unknown

Flies Lowland calcareous Asilus crabroniformis A robber fly 1 grassland Fen, marsh and swamp Occasional Unknown

Molluscs Vertigo moulinsiana A snail 1 Fen, marsh and swamp Reedbeds Rare Unknown

Moths Apamea oblonga Crescent Striped 3 Saltmarsh Fens Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Archanara sparganii Webb's Wainscot 3 Fen, marsh and swamp waters Occasional Unknown Chilodes maritimus Silky Wainscot 3 Reedbeds Occasional Unknown Cream-bordered Earias clorana Green Pea 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Maritime cliffs & slopes Localised Unknown Hypenodes humidalis Marsh Oblique-barred 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Simyra albovenosa Reed Dagger 3 Reedbeds Rare Unknown

True bugs Macrosteles fieberi A leafhopper 3 Saltmarsh Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Microvelia pygmaea A semi-aquatic bug 3 waters Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Paralimnus phragmitis A leafhopper 3 Saltmarsh Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown

Liverworts Cephalozia macrostachya 'Pincerwort' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Cladopodiella fluitans 'Bog Notchwort' 3 Fens Believed extinct Mylia anomala 'Anomalous Flapwort' 3 Fens Lowland heathland Believed extinct Riccardia latifrons 'Bog Germanderwort' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Eutrophic standing Riccia fluitans Floating Crystalwort 3 waters Rare Decreasing

Mosses Campylopus pyriformis 'Azorean Swan-neck var. azoricus Moss' 3 Fens Fen, marsh and swamp Believed extinct Cinclidotus fontinaloides Smaller lattice moss 3 Rivers Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Drepanocladus aduncus ''Kneiff's Hook-moss' 3 waters Coastal sand dunes Rare Unknown

Plagiothecium ruthei 'Swamp Silk-moss' 3 Wet woodland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing

'Red-stemmed Pleurozium schreberi Feather-moss' 3 Lowland heathland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing 'Crookneck Nodding- Pohlia camptotrachela moss' 3 Fens Believed extinct Rhynchostegiella 'Curve-stalked curviseta Feather-moss' 3 Rivers Scarce Unknown Sphagnum capillifolium 'Red bog moss' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Sphagnum cuspidatum 'Feathery bog moss' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Sphagnum fallax 'Flat-topped bog moss' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Sphagnum papillosum 'Papillose bog moss' 3 Fens Rare Decreasing

Ferns Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail 3 Wet woodland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Oreopteris limbosperma Lemon-scented Fern 3 Wet woodland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Pilularia globulifera Pillwort 1 Eutrophic standing Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

waters Thelypteris palustris Marsh Fern 3 Wet woodland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing

Flowering plants Alopecurus aequalis Orange Foxtail 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Alopecurus bulbosus Bulbous Foxtail 3 Grazing marsh Saltmarsh Scarce Stable Eutrophic standing Apium inundatum Lesser Marshwort 3 waters Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Baldellia ranunculoides Lesser Water-plantain 3 Fen, marsh and swamp waters Rare Unknown Berula erecta Lesser Water-parsnip 3 Fens Maritimr cliff & slopes Rare Unknown Carex curta White Sedge 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Carex divisa Divided Sedge 1 Saltmarsh Grazing marsh Occasional Stable Carex pseudocyperus Cyperus sedge 3 Fens Reedbeds Rare Unknown Carex rostrata Bottle Sedge 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Carex viridula subsp. Long-stalked Yellow brachyrrhyncha Sedge 3 Fens Rare Unknown Cirsium dissectum Meadow Thistle 3 Lowland meadows Fens Rare Decreasing Eutrophic standing Cyperus longus Galingale 3 Fen, marsh and swamp waters Believed extinct Drosera rotundifolia Common Sundew 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Many-stalked Spike- Eleocharis multicaulis rush 3 Fens Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Eleocharis uniglumis Slender Spike-rush 3 Fen, marsh and swamp waters Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Eleogiton fluitans Floating Club-rush 3 waters Rare Decreasing Erica tetralix Cross-leaved Heath 3 Lowland heathland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Eriophorum angustifolium Common Cottongrass 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Genista anglica Petty Whin 3 Lowland heathland Fens Believed extinct Glyceria declinata Small Sweet-grass 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Glyceria notata Plicate Sweet-grass 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Opposite-leaved Groenlandia densa Pondweed 3 Rivers Rare Unknown Gymnadenia conopsea Maritime cliffs & subsp. densiflora Marsh Fragrant Orchid 3 slopes Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Eutrophic standing Hippuris vulgaris Marestail 3 waters Rare Decreasing Isolepis cernua Slender Club-rush 3 Maritimr cliff & slopes Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Juncus squarrosus Heath Rush 3 Lowland heathland Fen, marsh and swamp Believed extinct Juncus subnodulosus Blunt-flowered Rush 3 Fens Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Eutrophic standing Lemna gibba Fat Duckweed 3 waters Rare Decreasing Slender Birdsfoot Lowland dry acid Lotus angustissimus Trefoil 3 grassland Grazing marsh Rare Unknown Lythrum portula Water Purslane 3 Lowland heathland Rivers Scarce Decreasing Menyanthes trifoliata Bogbean 3 Fens Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Decreasing Myosotis secunda Creeping Forgetmenot 3 Rivers Rare Unknown Myrica gale Bog Myrtle 3 Wet woodland Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Myriophyllum Eutrophic standing alterniflorum Alternate Water Milfoil 3 waters Rare Unknown Lowland dry acid Purple moorgrass & rush Nardus stricta Mat-grass 3 grassland pasture Rare Unknown Narthecium ossifragum Bog Asphodel 3 Fens Rare Decreasing Tubular Water Eutrophic standing Oenanthe fistulosa Dropwort 1 waters Grazing marsh Rare Decreasing Pinguicula lusitanica Pale Butterwort 3 Fens Rare Unknown Populus nigra subsp . betulifolia Black Poplar (native) 3 Rivers Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Wetlands Habitat Action Plan

Potamogeton Blunt-leaved Eutrophic standing obtusifolius Pondweed 3 waters Rare Unknown Potamogeton Eutrophic standing polygonifolius Bog Pondweed 3 waters Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Decreasing Brackish Water- Ranunculus baudotii crowfoot 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Localised Unknown Ranunculus lingua Greater Spearwort 3 Fens Reedbeds Rare Decreasing Eutrophic standing Rumex hydrolapathum Water Dock 3 waters Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Unknown Salix repens Creeping Willow 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Eutrophic standing Spirodela polyrhiza Greater Duckweed 3 waters Rare Decreasing Triglochin palustre Marsh Arrowgrass 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Lowland meadows Scarce Decreasing Valeriana dioica Marsh Valerian 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Lowland meadows Rare Decreasing Viola palustris Marsh Violet 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Wet woodland Scarce Decreasing

1 = National BAP Priority Species 3 = Local BAP Priority species Habitats = National BAP Priority Habitats

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2011 Woodland Habitat Action Plan Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Woodland Habitat Action Plan

Second Review August 2009

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It was first produced in 2003 and reviewed in 2009.

The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) identifies a total of six native woodland types as priority habitats, of which three can be found on the Isle of Wight, namely:

• lowland mixed deciduous woodland • wet woodland • wood-pasture and parkland

The Government’s Policy for towards woodland and trees is contained within the document, Keepers of Time: A Statement of Policy for England’s Ancient and Native Woodland (2004).

The Delivery Plan for the Government’s Strategy, ‘England Trees, Woods and Forests, Delivery Plan 2008-2012, includes many goals which should conserve and enhance woodland biodiversity:

• maintenance and appropriate enhancement of biodiversity in all woodlands • protection and expansion of our ancient and semi-natural woodlands • creation of new native woodlands and encouraging the planting of site-native trees and broadleaved woodlands more generally • research into methods of assessing and enhancing biodiversity in woodlands;

The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment (IW BAP Steering Group 2000) identifies three woodland types of importance to biodiversity on the Isle of Wight namely:

• semi-natural broadleaved woodland (including ancient semi-natural woodland, recent secondary woodland and wet woods) • parkland and pasture woodland • plantation woodland

This action plan seeks to ensure that national objectives for woodland biodiversity conservation identified in the UK BAP and UK ETWF Delivery Plan are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues. To develop objectives and actions for the range of national and local woodland biodiversity priorities the Island’s woodlands can be divided into four categories:

• Ancient semi-natural woodland

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan • Ancient replanted woodland (planted ancient woodland sites or PAWS) (including conifer plantations and non site-native broadleaves) • Recent semi-natural woodland • Recent plantation woodland

The identification of these categories of woodland types for biodiversity action on the Isle of Wight is based upon the following factors:

1. Ancient woodlands are of greatest value to woodland biodiversity. A total of 1,617 hectares of ancient woodland remains on the Island. However, 717 hectares of this (44%) has been converted to plantations of non-native or non-indigenous species that significantly reduces the biodiversity value of these woods.

2. A further area of at least 84 ha of ancient woodland has been destroyed over the past century, mostly through clearance to agriculture but also to urban expansion and mineral extraction. There has been no further loss of ancient woodland sites within the last ten years.

3. Much of the remaining 900 ha of ancient semi-natural woodland, approximately 64% is in a management scheme. Although this does not mean that these are all in active management currently, this is a significant advance on the situation when the first edition of this HAP was written.

4. Parkland and wood-pasture is a priority UK BAP habitat. The Nunwell Estate is the largest surviving area of wood pasture but it has suffered from years of inappropriate management and much of its integrity has been lost. The Island contains several examples of former wood pastures. However, these have not been grazed for well over one hundred years and they would require extensive restoration to bring back their specialist habitat structure and the biodiversity this supports.

5. At least 1960 ha of more recent secondary woodland has developed on the Island over the past 400 years. These also require appropriate management to enhance their value to biodiversity, but many will now be in management schemes. Some of these are species-rich woodlands.

6. There are at least 455 ha of recent conifer and broadleaved plantation woodland on the Isle of Wight. Most of this has been established within the last century on former heathland and semi-natural grassland habitats that were of much greater biodiversity value. These plantations have developed new value for biodiversity in particular for red squirrels and some birds such as the long-eared owl but often at the expense of more valuable habitats which they have replaced. Nevertheless, many of these woods have rides which support vegetation communities and species reflecting their historic land use. Within the Forestry Estate, the Forest Design Plans recognise these non- woodland nature conservation interests and attempt to consider them within their management programmes.

7. Some of the Island’s woodlands are small and isolated, making populations of rare and endangered woodland mammals as well as other woodland species vulnerable to local extinction and genetic isolation.

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan National Targets (2008) for native woodland habitat include:

• achieve favourable or recovering condition of 375,000 ha (65%) by 2015 • restore 36,000 ha of PAWS* woodland by 2015 • expand the current woodland resource by 53,000 ha by 2015 • maintain the current extent of 251,000 ha of ancient woodland • ensure no net loss of native woodland

* PAWS – planted ancient woodland sites

National Targets (2008) for lowland wood pasture and parkland habitat include:

• achieve favourable or recovering condition of 4,200 sites (65% of resource) by 2015 • restore 400 sites of derelict wood pasture & parkland by 2015 • expand 120 sites by 2015 to help reverse fragmentation • maintain the current extent of 6,000 ha by 2010

The South-east targets (2008) for native woodland have been set at:

• achieve favourable or recovering condition of 53,222 ha by 2015 • restore 16,816 ha of PAWS woodland by 2015 • expand the current woodland resource by 8,659 ha by 2015 • maintain the current extent of 87,502 ha of ancient woodland • ensure no net loss of native woodland (152,575 ha)

For lowland wood pasture and parkland habitat include:

• achieve favourable or recovery condition of 271 sites (68% of resource) by 2015 • restore 40 sites of derelict wood pasture & parkland by 2015 • expand 10 sites by 2015 to help reverse fragmentation • maintain the current extent of 398 sites

It is widely recognised that these are very provisional figures. Currently, the woodland resource in the UK is inadequately known and information about its condition is also very patchy. It has been argued that, until the extent and condition of the resource is better understood, it is premature to set meaningful targets. These arguments apply nationally, regionally and locally. Consequently, in revising the Isle of Wight Woodland HAP, only a few targets have been set, namely those which can be measured and are considered realistic and achievable. This is contrary to the approach taken with all the other HAP revisions and reflects our very inadequate understanding of the woodland resource.

Isle of Wight targets The following targets are proposed:

• maintain the current extent of ancient woodland (currently estimated as 1,637 ha) • achieve favourable or recovering condition of 662 ha 1 of native woodland by 2010 • commence restoration of 530 ha (75%) of PAWS woodland by 2015 • commence the production of 1000 m 3 /year of wood products to wood fuel markets by 2015

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan • address fragmentation by expanding the current woodland resource by 260 ha by 2015 • commence restoration of 1 site of derelict wood pasture/parkland by 2015 • carry out survey work to quantify the wet woodland resource

The starting date for reporting is 2000. It will also be possible to report upon activity within the Forestry estate and number /area of (private woodlands) within grant schemes.

2 Current Status

Description of Habitat

Ancient woodland

Ancient woodlands are those that have been continuously wooded for at least the last 400 years. Some of these woods are of great antiquity and may have remained as woodland since the end of the last Ice Age – these are often termed primary woods. More recent ancient woods have developed at various times through history, with phases of woodland expansion associated with agricultural decline, for example at the end of the Roman occupation.

Semi-natural woodlands are those composed of a mix of native tree and shrub species that have been perpetuated through natural regeneration. However, the proportions of individual species, the size and age of the trees and the resultant structure of these woods have been greatly influenced by a long history of human intervention and management. Some woods have been managed to produce a continual supply of small diameter wood from coppicing whilst others have been managed to produce larger diameter timber. Wood pastures are woodlands in which timber production is managed along with livestock grazing. These different woodland management systems create different habitats and support a different range of biodiversity.

The varied geology of the Isle of Wight supports a wide range of ancient woodland types and further diversifies the wildlife of the Island’s woodlands. The heavy clay soils, such as those in the north of the Island support, the most extensive and varied ancient woodlands. These are fundamentally oak woods, but within this general description is a great variety. On the more acid soils, such as those within Parkhurst Forest and Briddlesford Copse, sessile oak woodland predominates although frequently with an abundance of beech. In these woods the ground flora and even the shrub layer is naturally impoverished and includes an abundance of bracken, together with more specialist species including sedges, heathers and mosses. On more neutral soils, the woodland canopy is dominated by pedunculate oak, often with birches and an understorey of hazel. The ground flora can be dominated by carpets of bluebell together with wood anemone, pignut and sometimes wild daffodils. As the soils become more calcareous in nature, then ash and field maple occur together with other shrubs such as spindle. The ground flora also changes and includes an abundance of primroses, barren strawberry and forget-me-not. Along streams

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan and in valley bottoms are the most calcareous clay woods. Wych elm is a feature of these wet woodlands, although many have suffered from Dutch elm disease. The ground flora can be very rich and includes species such as dog’s mercury, wild garlic or ramsons and in some places, the green hellebore can be found.

On the chalk downs the woods tend to be dominated by ash, sometimes with a scatter of pedunculate oak over a dense understorey of hazel coppice - once cut to make hurdles in which to fold the sheep grazing the adjacent downland. These chalk woods have much in common with the calcareous clay woods in the north of the Island, but the better draining soils support a range of other plants such as nettle-leaved bellflower, columbine and the parasitic toothwort.

The Lower Greensand soils in the centre and south of the Island have relatively few ancient woodlands. Those that occur tend to be on relatively well draining sandy soils and support a slightly acidic flora dominated by pedunculate oak and birch with an understorey of hazel. The ground flora is typically dominated by bluebell, bracken and bramble sometimes with species such as great wood-rush.

A small number of very interesting ancient woods occur on the steep Upper Greensand exposures that outcrop at the foot of the chalk downs. Cliff Copse near Wroxall is a good example where a mix of woodland types occurs, ranging from wet woodland flushed with highly calcareous spring water to beech and whitebeam woodland on the better draining greensand exposures.

In many ancient woodlands, these natural mixes of native trees, shrubs and ground flora plants, and the other wildlife that depends upon them, have been displaced through the planting of non-native or inappropriate species including conifers or non-indigenous broadleaves such as sycamore, red oak and sweet chestnut or the creation of dense beech plantations.

As has been mentioned the best preserved and most extensive wood pasture on the Island is within Parkhurst Forest. However, other good examples of this priority UK BAP habitat occur at America Wood and Apse Castle Wood near Shanklin, Borthwood Copse near Alverstone, North Park Copse at Calbourne and Rowridge Copse.

Wet woodland is also a native woodland type listed as a priority habitat in the UK BAP. This includes both ancient and more recent woodlands. Wet woodlands are mostly dominated by alder and willows and occur on wet peaty soils in river valleys. Extensive areas of ancient and more recent alder woodland occur in the valley of the Medina at Gatcombe, with smaller areas at Alverstone, Freshwater Marshes and along the valley of the Scotchells Brook. These are often characterised by large clumps of tussock sedge and, in spring, carpets of marsh marigold. There are also some good examples of wet oak woodland such as the Wilderness Wood near Rookley.

The other native woodland type listed as a priority habitat in the UK BAP is beech woodland. Ancient semi-natural beech woods are not that common on the Island and tend to occur in complex mosaics with other woodland types. Beech woodland occurs in two distinctive types. On more acid soils it grows with oaks and the distinction between ‘oak woodland’ and ‘beech woodland’ can be difficult to make. The best examples of these mixed beech woods on acid soils occur in the former wood pasture of Parkhurst Forest, where they display characteristics very similar to the beech woods in the New

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan Forest. Beech also grows on calcareous soils such as the chalk and Upper Greensand. Small areas of probably ancient calcareous beech wood occur in Cliff Copse near Shanklin.

Recent semi-natural woodlands

These are woods less than 400 years old that have developed largely through natural regeneration. They occur over a range of soil types on the Island, and often have features in common with nearby ancient semi-natural woodlands, especially where the recent woodland is connected to the ancient woodland. However, in most of these woods, the ground flora is noticeably more impoverished than in the adjacent ancient woodland and normally lacks the specialist ancient woodland species such as bluebell, wood anemone or wild service tree. Glades and clearings in these woods often contain relicts of the former grassland or heathland habitats from which they have derived.

A remarkable and extensive area of recent secondary woodland has developed on the steep chalk slopes above Ventnor. Although composed of non-native holm oak this wood is semi-natural in that it has developed through natural regeneration over the last century. It is also becoming gradually more diverse as other plant species native to the Mediterranean have colonised it, either from introductions or naturally.

The Undercliff between Ventnor and St Lawrence supports extensive areas of secondary woodland that has become established on the jumble of chalk and Upper Greensand that has fallen from the inner cliff. These woods are formed from a diverse mix of native species such as ash, wych elm and field maple and non-native introduced species such as beech, horse chestnut, sycamore and holm oak. These were introduced into the Undercliff by the Victorians but have subsequently become naturalised. The resultant woodlands have a unique atmosphere with a luxuriant ground flora dominated by ivy and an abundance of ferns.

Some good examples of the priority wet woodland habitat on the Isle of Wight occur as more recent secondary woodlands. These have often developed from former withy beds where willow was traditionally grown for basket weaving. In addition to the extensive area of recent secondary woodland within Gatcombe Withybed are those at Ninham (Apse Heath) and Horringford Withybed at Newchurch. The Wilderness at Cridmore is an unusual example of wet oak and alder woodland that has developed over peaty soils in the Medina valley.

Plantations

Plantation woodland has been established on ancient woodland sites where it displaces the native woodland flora and fauna. Extensive plantations have also been created over the past century on former open habitats such as heathland and chalk grassland. These plantations are composed of a mix of conifer and broadleaved species. The conifer plantations include a wide range of species including Corsican pine, Scots pine, Monterey pine, western red cedar, larch, grand fir and Norway spruce. Some of these conifers, particularly the Scots pine, are important food trees for red squirrels but others are of little or no value for squirrels. Other plantations are composed of broadleaved species. These include native species such as beech and ash, as well as a wide range of non-native species such as sycamore. Apart from their value for red squirrels, the conifer plantations created on former open habitats on the Island have little intrinsic biodiversity value

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan although they are used by some birds such as the common crossbill that are not found in other woodland types. However, where clearings and glades have been created and where rides are wide something of the original open ground habitat is able to re-establish itself. These relatively small and often temporary patches of grassland and heathland within the plantations can be of considerable biodiversity value.

Whereas beech woodland is a priority UK BAP habitat, the plantations of beech created over the last century on the chalk downs, such as Westover Plantation near Calbourne, currently lack the structure and species diversity associated with native beech woodlands. However, in time these plantations are likely to assume a more natural structure and species composition, although this could take many centuries.

Distribution and Extent

The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment records a total woodland area of some 3,474 ha of the Isle of Wight. However, the Forestry Commission census of woodland identifies a larger area of some 4,490 ha of woodland (>2 ha.) on the Island. Of the 3,474 ha of woodland identified in the Biodiversity Audit and Assessment, 1,614 ha (46%) is ancient woodland, although only 900 ha of the ancient woodland on the Island remains in a semi-natural state with much having being converted to conifer or non-native broadleaved plantations. The remaining 1,860 ha of woodland is recent, most having been planted in the last 100 years on former open habitats. However, some 228 ha of this recent woodland is semi-natural in origin, having arisen from natural regeneration within the last 400 years.

Ancient woodland tends to be concentrated on the heavier clay soils in the north of the Island where the largest and most diverse areas of ancient semi-natural woodland survive. Further areas of ancient woodland occur on the steep chalk slopes of the downs both along the central chalk ridge of the Island and around Wroxall and Ventnor in the south. The central Lower Greensand vale of the Island is relatively poor in ancient woodland but has some notable examples on steeper slopes around Shanklin and on wet clay soils and along river valleys as at Kingston.

Former wood pastures occur in areas of the Island once set aside as hunting forests. They occur both on the heavy clay soils and gravels in the north west of the Island between the Medina and Newtown estuaries and on the more freely draining Lower Greensand soils in the south east between Newchurch and Shanklin.

Wet woodlands can be both ancient and more recent in origin and occur often as narrow or linear woodlands along water courses. The river valleys of the Medina and Eastern Yar and their tributaries support the best examples of wet woodland on the Isle of Wight.

The largest of the recent plantation woodlands is often referred to as Brighstone Forest which extends along the chalk ridge from Brook in the west to Shorwell in the east. Other forestry plantations on former open grassland and heathland habitats occur at Wilmingham, Bouldnor and Hamstead and in the southern part of Parkhurst Forest.

Recent semi-natural woodlands have developed on former meadows around Newtown, for example Walters Copse. They have also become established on chalk downland for instance the woodland and scrub on the north side of Tennyson Down. Perhaps the

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan largest extent of recent semi-natural woodland is in the Undercliff between St Lawrence and Ventnor.

Unlike other habitats considered in the Island’s BAP, there is now more woodland on the Isle of Wight than there has been at any time in the last few hundred years. However, there has been a decline in the extent and quality of the most important woodlands for biodiversity – the ancient semi-natural woods. Some 84 ha of these have been destroyed in the last century alone whilst a much larger proportion (44%) has been converted to plantations of non-native or inappropriate species.

Legislation and Site Designation

A comprehensive review of all ancient woodlands on the Isle of Wight was undertaken by the Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) in 1981 resulting in a Provisional Inventory of Ancient Woodland (1987). This identified the most important ancient woodland sites and resulted in the notification of a number of woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). These were selected to ensure the best examples of all the ancient woodland types on the Island were given statutory protection. The largest and most diverse site to be notified is Briddlesford Copses SSSI between Wootton Bridge and Havenstreet. The northern part of Parkhurst Forest has also been notified as a SSSI as an example of former pasture woodland. On the chalk downs woodlands have been notified in the Rowridge Valley near Calbourne and at Eagle Head and Bloodstone Copse at Ashey. On the sandy Lower Greensand soils in the south of the Island, America Woods has been notified as a SSSI whilst the best example of Upper Greensand ancient woodland is at Great Wood and Cliff Copse near Shanklin.

A number of more recent semi-natural woodlands have also been included within SSSI, for example Walters Copse at Newtown is within Newtown Harbour SSSI and forms part of the National Nature Reserve. Parts of the Undercliff woodland are included in Bonchurch Landslips SSSI and the Hanover Point to St Catherine’s Point SSSI whilst secondary woodland SSSI on the chalk include those on Tennyson Down and the holm oak woods on Ventnor Downs.

Many woodlands on the Island are managed as nature reserves and some have been declared Local Nature Reserves by the Isle of Wight Council. Eagle Head and Bloodstone Copses and Swanpond Copse (near Ryde) are both ancient woodlands that are managed as nature reserves by Wight Wildlife. Atkies Copse , near Ningwood is leased by the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society. Much of the Briddlesford Copses SSSI has been purchased by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species is also managed as a nature reserve. Dickson’s Copse at Dodnor is an ancient woodland that forms part of the Dodnor Creek Local Nature Reserve.

Those ancient and semi-natural woodlands that have not been notified as SSSI have generally been recorded as Sites of Importance to Nature Conservation (SINC) within the IW UDP. However, the Provisional Inventory considered woods in excess of 2ha and there are many woods which would qualify but fall below this threshold.

Certain trees and woodlands are also given protection from felling through Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). A felling licence is also required from the Forestry

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan Commission to fell all but a minimal volume of timber above a certain diameter at any one time.

Summary of Important Sites

Briddlesford Copses SSSI is the most important ancient woodland site on the Isle of Wight. This SSSI includes fine examples of a wide range of woodland types ranging from highly calcareous stream side wet woodland with wych elm and green hellebore through neutral oak – ash and oak – birch woodland with bluebell, wild daffodil, wood anemone and the nationally scarce narrow-leaved lungwort. On the most acid soils within the SSSI are areas of sessile oak woodland. The woods are of great importance for woodland mammals and include populations of red squirrel, dormouse, Bechstein’s bat and barbastelle bat. The invertebrate fauna of the SSSI is also very rich and includes many ancient woodland specialist species.

Parkhurst Forest SSSI incorporates the former wood pasture in the north of the Forest. This comprises a mix of beech and sessile oak woodland that shows many features in common with the ancient and ornamental wood pastures of the New Forest.

On the chalk, important ancient woodlands occur within the Rowridge Valley where they support the only known population of the wood calamint in Britain. Other important ancient chalk woods include the extensive complex of copses including Tolt Copse, Long Copse and Short Copse above the village of Gatcombe, Eaglehead and Bloodstone Copses near Ashey and in the south of the Island, Wroxall Copse and Rew Copse.

The estuary edge and cliff face woods on the north coast of the Island are also particularly interesting and show unusual transitions from ancient woodland to saltmarsh and intertidal mudflat. Good examples occur around King’s Quay near Wootton, at Town Copse within Newtown Harbour, Salterns Wood near Yarmouth and Fishbourne Copse near Binstead. These coastal woodlands are also characterised by an abundance of wild service trees, narrow-leaved lungwort and other ancient woodland indicator plants.

Some remarkable ancient woodlands occur on the Upper Greensand exposures particularly near Shanklin where Greatwood and Cliff Copses occur. These support a range of woodland types ranging from wet flushed woodland dominated by ash and wych elm to dry ash maple woodland and areas of beech woodland. Cliff Copse is also characterised by the presence of ancient whitebeams that grow from crevices in the near vertical Greensand exposures.

America Wood on the Lower Greensand is also a former wood pasture and comprises a mix of mature oaks and an abundance of birch. The ground flora is dominated by a dense growth of bracken and bramble but includes some interesting areas dominated by great wood rush. Other good examples of Lower Greensand woodland occur in Lynch Copse near Newchurch and Alverstone Lynch at Alverstone. These steeply sloping oak woods on the edge of the flood plain show fine transitions to wet woodland and marsh.

The Island has a number of important wet woods including the extensive complex of woodland known at Gatcombe Withybed. Other important wet woodlands include Ninham Withybed, Horringford Withybed, Dungewood Withybed and The Wilderness.

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

Table 1: Distribution and extent of ancient woodland within SSSI

Site name Ancient Woodland Ancient Woodland Plantation

Alverstone Marsh 0.60 America Wood 14.53 Bouldnor and Hamstead 3.27 3.19 Brading Marshes/St Helens Ledges 8.52 Briddlesford Copse 83.87 50.61 Eaglehead/Bloodstone Copse 6.75 Greatwood/Cliff Copse 12.33 Kings Quay Shore 18.08 Medina estuary 3.72 Newtown Harbour 18.44 Northpark Copse 9.38 Parkhurst Forest 103.42 60.74 Priory Woods Rowridge Valley 19.20 Ryde Sands/Wootton Creek 12.33 Thorness Bay 3.34 Ventnor Downs 3.24

Total area 321.03 114.53

Table 2: Distribution and extent of ancient woodland within SINCs

SINC SINC name Ancient Ancient Woodland number Woodland Plantation 3 Saltern Wood 9.07 4 Mill Copse 5.75 5 Clavell's Copse 2.20 6 Wilmingham Plantation 0.90 12.65 7 Horseground Copse 3.08 9 Tapnell Furze 7.20 12 Lee Copse 8.82 13 Bouldnor Copse 8.56 19 Brook House Wood 5.90 20 Cooks Copse 0.89 21 Nunney's Wood 7.82 25 Woodside Copse 1.50 SINC SINC name Ancient Ancient Woodland number woodland Plantation 29 Fleetlands Copse 2.73 31 Yatland Copse 1.54 32 Flatbrooks/Pound Copse 1.07 33 Crainges 4.59 35 Westover Copse 4.35 38 Chessell Copse 3.05 44 Little Down 4.21 45 Pump Copse 3.27 46 Rushcroft Copse 6.29 49 Cats Copse 2.29

10 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

50 Hummet Wood 1.58 1.81 52 Burnt Wood 29.51 55 Long Copse Calbourne 3.61 57 Round Copse 2.27 4.06 58 Bulls Wood 7.94 59 Apesdown Copse 7.87 61 Bunts Hill Copse 7.76 62 Thorness Wood 3.34 63 Thorley Copse 4.10 64 Rolls Bridge Copse 4.85 65 Rolls Farm Wood 1.00 66 Whitehouse Copse 2.58 68 Chalkclose Copse 11.49 70 Parkhurst Forest 11.79 35.15 71 Alvington Manor chalkpit 1.44 75 Mudless Copse/High Wood 19.19 16.69 77 Idlecombe Down 5.46 78 Plaish Copse 2.55 79 Barchams Copse 3.08 80 Dukem Copse 12.07 81 Westridge Copse 4.66 12.66 82 Lorden Copse 7.12 84 Newbarn Down 16.01 85 Wolverton Marsh 4.55 87 Dungewood Withy 2.60 88 Sheard's Copse 4.44 89 Kingston Copse 9.25 92 Billingham Manor 3.14 93 Gotten Copse 2.05 97 Upper Dolcoppice 2.00 101 Rew Copse 8.87 102 Appuldurcombe 4.74 103 Sainham Copse 2.43 106 Upper Yar valley 2.61 108 Bottoms Copse 2.53 110 Ramsdown Copse 1.53 119 Gatcombe Withybed 5.16 120 Marvel Copse 3.17 124 Standen Copse 2.56 125 Standen Heath 0.54 126 Combley Great Wood 37.16 SINC SINC name Ancient Ancient Woodland number woodland Plantation 127 Staplers Heath/Copse 19.61 128 Quarr Old Abbey 1.25 129 Brocks/Woodhouse Copse 9.28 26.88 131 Wallishill Copse 4.42 132 Osborne Estate 12.73 71.41 133 Puckers Copse 8.89 2.56 134 Firestone Copse 1.61 53.53 135 Staynes Copse 1.61 137 Stroud Wood 3.59 139 Rowlands Wood 46.69

11 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

140 Ramcroft Copse 5.63 58.25 142 Backet's Copse 7.68 143 Mersley Down North 2.22 145 Fry's Copse 0.89 147 Knighton West Wood 7.76 148 Knighton East Wood 1.50 11.12 149 Lynch Copse 6.38 154 Hornhill Copse 1.56 155 Youngwoods Copse 3.66 156 Alverstone Marsh 4.27 164 Broadley Copse 4.51 165 Peakyclose Copse 22.93 Angels Copse/Swanpond 167 Copse 6.44 168 Whitefield Woods 2.08 61.35 172 Hill Farm Copse 2.81 7.23 173 Spring Copse 5.90 174 Eight Acre Copse 3.84 175 Centurion's Copse 1.67 177 Bembridge Down 2.11 178 Breaches Copse 2.16 180 Apse Castle Wood 2.92 181 Pennyfeathers 0.16 182 Quarr Wood 6.20 185 Newbarn Copse 2.60 3.16 189 Stroud Coppice 1.43 195 Ridge Copse 10.85 196 Great Werrar Wood 16.09 199 Little Werrar Wood 4.54 201 Blackbush Copse 3.04 208 Woodslade Copse 1.62 209 Pondclose Copse 1.81 211 Ryde House Grounds 3.47 217 Cothey Bottom Copse 7.81 218 Lushington Copse 6.78 219 Quarrel's Copse 8.87 222 New Copse 7.69 223 Ashlake Copse 4.17 224 Steyne Wood 11.79 227 Longlands Copse 1.80 228 Marshcombe Copse 4.50 SINC SINC name Ancient Ancient Woodland number woodland Plantation 230 Heathfield Copse 3.96 232 Springhill Copse 10.77 234 Princes Esplanade 1.74 237 Ruffins Copse 14.79 238 Wards Copse 2.36 240 Calving Close Copse 4.70 2.75 Shamblers Copse/Cowes 241 Cemetery 5.60 242 Waterclose Copse 7.30 244 Wroxall Copse 8.28 252 Hungerberry Copse 4.95

12 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

254 Bullen Cross Wood 1.63 255 Barton/Ninham Withybed 2.86 260 Borthwood Copse 21.77 266 Dodnor Creek 1.45 268 Whitefield Farm Copse 2.17 270 Rowdown Copse 3.94 275 Fattingpark Copse 18.66

Totals 592.39 598.80

3 Current Factors affecting the habitat Woodland management for biodiversity

Unlike many other habitats, woodland does not need to be managed to stay as woodland – it developed and maintained itself as woodland for thousands of years prior to any human influence. However, the primeval deciduous forests of Britain have been radically reduced in extent over the last four thousand years or so leaving only remnants of woodland. These fragments of a once much more extensive habitat have been managed for many centuries. This created a much greater concentration of woodland micro- habitats than would naturally have existed. The decline in traditional woodland management practices and the development of modern forestry techniques over the past century has seen a decline in the biodiversity of many ancient woodlands due to a combination of either no management or inappropriate management. One of the greatest challenges facing woodland biodiversity is to develop modern forestry techniques that can deliver biodiversity gains.

The greatest factor affecting woodland biodiversity on the Isle of Wight is therefore promoting appropriate woodland management. In all ancient woodlands as well as all recent semi-natural woodlands this needs to have the following broad objectives:-

1. Maintain and restore semi-natural woodland composed of native and indigenous trees and shrubs of local provenance 2. Develop a diverse woodland age structure comprising a mosaic of seedling and saplings, thicket and pole stage, mature, over-mature and senile trees. 3. Perpetuate open glade conditions within all but the smallest woodlands (<1 ha) 4. Enhance connectivity, both between and within woodland on the island by reconnecting isolated woodland fragments and linking open space within individual woodland blocks.

Achieving these objectives will be dependent on a number of additional factors; these are described further below.

Markets and marketing

In the past there was a demand for woodland products produced by traditional woodland management – typically coppice with standards management. This produced a continual supply of small diameter wood, as well as larger diameter timber. The decline in coppice management in the latter half of the 20 th century has left the former coppice woodlands derelict and in need of restoration. Meanwhile, the skills needed to manage coppice and

13 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan create coppice products such as wattle hurdles have been all but lost. Despite this there appears to be a demand for such coppice products on the Island, and in theory there is no reason why a proportion of former coppiced woodlands could not be bought back into commercial coppice production. If this is to happen, a significant input of training and coppice restoration is needed to bring these former coppices back into commercial production and to develop the skilled work-force necessary to manage them.

Coppice management is not however going to be financially viable in probably the majority of formerly coppiced ancient woodlands unless other markets can be developed. Some coppice in nature reserves will be maintained solely for nature conservation purposes, other areas might be maintained for shooting but most are likely to remain unmanaged unless other woodland products can be obtained from them. To achieve this change, management systems need to be developed that produce good quality timber to meet local needs. Conversion of former coppice with standards woodland to create productive high forest native woodland presents a significant challenge.

Restoration of planted ancient woodlands

It would be desirable to restore much of the extensive area of ancient woodland that has been converted to plantations to native woodland. The type of woodland these plantations are restored to and the type of woodland produce that they will eventually generate needs careful consideration and planning. Such a move will also result in changes to the habitat of red squirrels that could cause a reduction in population size and density. However, such changes need to be balanced against the biodiversity gains, in particular for the other equally important woodland mammals such as the dormouse and the internationally threatened woodland bats. PAWS restoration is a gradual process of which the removal of non-native species is the first stage.

Fragmentation

Although there is more woodland on the Island than there has been for centuries, the most important ancient and semi-natural woods tend to be small and often isolated from each other. Woodland plants and animals, in particular the nationally and internationally important assemblage of woodland mammals that the Island’s woods support, are more likely to thrive in extensive areas of uninterrupted habitat. Indeed, for some species a minimum area of suitable woodland is required to sustain their population. The Forestry Commission have provided substantial funding to resolve this issue for the Island’s woodland through the JIGSAW Challenge fund.

Genetic integrity and naturalness

The ancient semi-natural woodlands of the Island have evolved and developed over many thousands of years through natural regeneration, and in some instances, planting. However, up until the 19 th century planting would have been undertaken almost exclusively with seed collected from Isle of Wight woodlands: for example, there is evidence of Napoleonic planting of oak in Parkhurst. The genetic make-up of the Island’s woodlands has therefore been maintained and allowed to evolve over thousands of years to reflect the specific environmental conditions of the Isle of Wight. The distribution of trees, shrubs and ground flora plants also shows endless variation in relation to soil types, slope and past management practices. Planting trees from stock derived outside of the

14 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan Island and often outside of the UK reduces the important genetic integrity of the Islands ancient woodlands and if undertaken un-sympathetically results in the creation of even aged regularly spaced stands of trees that do not respect the natural variation found in unplanted woodland. If we are to restore planted ancient woodlands to a semi-natural state, create more new woodland or improve the timber production value of former coppice with standards woodlands there will be a need to plant more trees. Ideally this should be with local provenance trees planted in ways that follow changes in soil type and which reflect natural patterns of woodland growth.

Inappropriate management practices

Some woodland management practices damage the biodiversity value of woodland. Factors include excessive tidying of woodland worksites, burning of wood waste and leaving no dead wood. Extraction of timber along wet unmade rides during the winter can cause long term damage to the ride flora and drainage. Siting of pheasant release pens in sensitive areas of woodland and excessive pheasant stocking, strawing of rides and even planting of game crops within woods can all cause damage to their biodiversity.

Adjacent land-use

Woodland biodiversity is also affected by the management and use of the land around them. Intensive arable cultivation around woods can lead to problems of spray drift, drainage and nutrient run-off. Removal or bad management of hedges linking woods can also damage woodland biodiversity. The growth of urban development around or adjacent to woods can lead to damage of woodland biodiversity from vandalism, trampling, encroachment of gardens into the wood and predation and disturbance of woodland mammals and birds by pets, particularly cats. The management of road verges bordering woodlands can also have an impact upon their biodiversity.

Wet woodland

Factors affecting wet woodland are rather different from those affecting other woodland types. True, unmodified flood plain woodland does not occur, although some small wet woodland patches are relatively unmodified. The extent and distribution of wet woodland has been partly mapped but the variation in character of this priority BAP habitat on the Isle of Wight is imperfectly understood. In terms of its vegetation, it includes most alder and willow woodlands but it also includes wet ash-maple woodland within the flood plains of streams and rivers and associated with hill side flushes. Wet woodlands often occur as part of larger woodland complexes which are dominated by dry woodland types which again makes it difficult to assess the extent of wet woodland without further survey. Willow carr has often arisen through lack of management of marshland and is often of lower biodiversity value than the habitat which it replaced.

Wet woods were mostly managed in the past, although many have undergone a long period without any woodland management. However, they are also vulnerable to changes in wetness and water quality. This can result from land drainage, water abstraction for irrigation or public water supply and declines in water quality.

An important feature of the water courses through many wet woods is their relatively natural character comprising complex meanders, pool and riffle sequences and debris

15 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan dams. The fauna of these woodland streams is however poorly recorded but could provide a valuable barometer of stream quality and condition both within the wet woodland and beyond.

Further loss of habitat Woodland and in particular ancient woodland must be given a high degree of protection both from destruction for agriculture and development. However, the threat of further losses, often as small scale incursions into woodlands, remains. This incremental loss of woodland needs to be strongly resisted and necessary planning and other policies implemented to prevent further loss.

3 Current Action Site and Species Protection

Site designation SSSI, SAC

The Briddlesford Copses SSSI has been identified as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) to conserve the population of Bechstein’s bat it supports. Bechstein’s bats are listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive and are one of a number of nationally and internationally rare and endangered mammal species that occur within Isle of Wight woodlands.

Staplers Copse, the chalk copses above Gatcombe village and Gatcombe Withybeds have all been considered for SSSI notification in the past although there are currently no plans to notify these woodlands as new SSSI.

Most, if not all semi-natural woodlands and many ancient replanted woods have been identified as SINC in the IW UDP. There is a constant programme of updating and designating new SINC which might include further woodlands in the future.

Purchase of additional reserves or properties

Further areas of woodland, particularly ancient semi-natural woodland, will become available for purchase by nature conservation organisations. Further action to bring this land into management by nature conservation organisations needs to be planned and coordinated.

Habitat management

Management of the Forestry Commission estate is guided by Forest Design Plans, which reconcile issues of productivity, conservation and recreation. The Isle of Wight Forest Design Plan was confirmed in 2007.

The Forestry Commission are encouraging appropriate management of privately owned woodlands and new planting through grant aid and advice through a suite of tailored grants under the England Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS). The Isle of Wight has also been fortunate to have available to it funding through the JIGSAW Challenge fund. This provides generous grant support for the creation of new native woodlands that link and

16 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan extend existing ancient semi-natural woodlands. Qualifying applicants are required to enter competitive bids for the available funding each year.

The Forest Enterprise division of the Forestry Commission is committed to the restoration to a semi-natural state of all the planted ancient woodlands on the Isle of Wight in its management, and the enhancement of biodiversity within more recent plantations through the creation of open space and restoration of grassland and heathland habitats. Forest Enterprise is also in discussion with Natural England and others over the potential restoration of grazed wood pasture to part of Parkhurst Forest.

America Wood is owned and managed by the Woodland Trust to enhance biodiversity and provide opportunities for informal recreation.

An area of around 130 hectares of the Briddlesford Copses SSSI is owned and managed by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species to maintain and enhance the value of these woodlands for biodiversity and the important assemblage of native woodland mammals in particular.

The National Trust own a number of important ancient and more recent secondary woodlands on the Island where they undertake a programme of woodland management including coppice restoration and ride management.

The Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust manage the semi-natural ancient woods of Swanpond Copse and Eaglehead & Bloodstone Copses as nature reserves. The Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeology Society leases and manages Atkies Copse near Shalfleet.

The Isle of Wight Council own and manage Dickson’s Copse at Dodnor, Bonchurch Landslip and a range of more recent secondary woods.

Mill Copse near Yarmouth is an ancient woodland near Yarmouth that is owned and managed by Wight Nature Fund. Management has included the gradual removal of conifer plantations to restore native woodland.

The Environment Agency is will seek to improve and restore wet woodlands on the Isle of Wight through restoration of natural drainage systems and removal of culverts and other artificial drains.

The Isle of Wight Woodland Forum serves as a forum for the dissemination of information about woodland management and biodiversity and serves as a sounding board for ideas and information.

Survey, research and monitoring

Natural England carry out condition assessments of all SSSIs on the Isle of Wight with a target of ensuring that 95% are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010.

The PTES have commissioned a range of surveys of specialist groups of woodland dependent species within the Briddlesford Copses SSSI that have revealed a rich and diverse fauna including an important assemblage of ancient woodland indicator species.

17 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

PTES has also funded a long-term programme of dormouse monitoring at Briddlesford to assess the impact of different woodland management techniques on dormouse populations.

A programme of bat trapping and subsequent radio tracking in woods across the Island has revealed the presence of an important bat fauna including significant populations of Bechstein’s bat and Barbastelle bat.

A programme of red squirrel monitoring within Isle of Wight woodlands is being undertaken by volunteers for the Wight Squirrel Project.

Action for species

Appendix 1 gives details species on the Isle of Wight found primarily in woodland. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. Individual Species Action Plans (SAPs) have been prepared for red squirrels and rare woodland bats.

In some cases, additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species: for example, UK Species Action Plans (UK SAP) and Butterfly Conservation Regional Action Plans (BC RAP).

The National Trust undertakes a rolling programme of species survey including several butterfly monitoring transects within their woodlands.

Forest Enterprise has also funded a number of species surveys including lichen surveys in Parkhurst Forest and has involvement with the reddish buff moth re-establishment project at Parkhurst and Bouldnor Forests.

Target Setting

Target setting has proved to be particularly challenging for the Woodland HAP for the following reasons: • The true extent of the resource has not been quantified • The impacts of management on biodiversity on a wood by wood basis is not known, eg timber extraction can be extremely damaging to ground flora • Regional targets have yet to be set • The Forestry Commission are market and resource led and do not report to targets • It is impossible to quantify the extent of new planting which is desirable on biodiversity grounds

18 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan 5 Targets and Actions

The following table lists the actions required to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. Each action has been assigned to one or more Key Partners. Key Partners are those organisations that are expected to take responsibility for the delivery of the actions assigned to them, according to the targets set in this Plan. Other organisations may also be involved in the delivery of action and they have been indicated in the Others column.

Biodiversity Targets for Woodlands on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain the extent of ancient woodland, together with all woodland of high environmental value. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of semi-natural woodland, with an emphasis on restoring the condition of ancient woodland sites to semi-natural condition (PAWS). Maximise biodiversity throughout the entire woodland resource (Including recent semi-natural woodland and plantation) C Expand and link ancient woodlands through natural regeneration and new broad-leaved planting where appropriate. D Improve the knowledge of native woodland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of native woodland resulting in a positive management of these habitats

A1 Maintain the extent of ancient woodland, together with all woodland of high environmental value. B1 Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of semi-natural woodland, with an emphasis on restoring the condition of ancient woodland sites to semi-natural condition (PAWS). B2 Maximise biodiversity throughout the entire woodland resource (Including recent semi- natural woodland and plantation) B3 Develop markets for woodland produce to ensure that resource management is economically sustainable C1 Expand and link ancient woodlands through natural regeneration and new broad- leaved planting where appropriate. D Improve the knowledge of native woodland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of native woodland resulting in a positive management of these habitats

• Currently, our datasets will not allow us to accurately quantify the full extent of the woodland resources, or their condition • Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Woodland on Lead Reporting 2009 2010 2015 the Isle of Wight

A1 Maintain the current extent of ancient FC IWC
woodland (currently estimated as around 1,640ha)

19 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan B1 Achieve favourable condition or recovering NE IWC  condition of 662 ha of native woodland by 2010 B2 Commence restoration of 530 ha of PAWS FC IWC
woodland by 2015 B3 Commence the production of 1000 m 3 /year IWC  of wood products to wood fuel markets by 2015 B4 Commence restoration of one site of IWC
derelict wood pasture/parkland by 2015 C1 Address fragmentation by expanding the FC IWC  current woodland resource by 260 ha by 2015

D1 Carry out survey work to assess the EA IWC  condition and extent of the wet woodland resource D2 Carry out survey work to update the FC IWC  Provisional Ancient Woodland Inventory D3 Use the Histree Trail records, IW Ancient IWC IWC  /E Tree Survey and UK Ancient Tree Hunt 1 initiative to develop a participatory approach to establishing a web based list of concentrations of notable trees

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty IWC Isle of Wight Council Planning Services Unit (Planning) H&IWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal NE Natural England (Coastal) Environment IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside NT National Trust Section

20 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan References

1. Forestry Commission, 2004. Keepers of Time: A Statement of Policy for England’s Ancient & Native Woodland http://www.forestry.gov.uk/Keepersoftime

2. Forestry Commission, 2008. A Delivery Plan for the England’s Trees, Woodlands & Forests Strategy http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-7DYC7Z

3. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

4. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

5. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats . Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

6. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. 2000. Wildlife of the Isle of Wight; an audit and assessment of biodiversity . Isle of Wight Council

7. Spencer, J. Cox, J. and Chatters, C. 1987. The Isle of Wight Ancient Woodland Inventory . Nature Conservancy Council

8. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999. The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives . Peterborough.

9. Spencer, J. 2002. Ancient Woodland on the Forestry Commission Estate in England . Forest Enterprise.

10. The UK Forestry Standard: Government’s Approach to Sustainable Forestry . Forestry Commission. 1998.

21 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

Species associated with Lowland mixed deciduous woodland Latin name English name BAP Other habitat Local abundance Local population trend Mammal Muscardinus avellanarius Dormouse 1 Boundary and linear features Common Stable Nyctalus noctula Noctule 1 Mosaic Occasional Decreasing Boundary and linear features, conifer Sciurus vulgaris Red Squirrel 1 plantation Common Increasing Myotis nattereri Natterer's Bat 3 Mosaic Occasional Unknown Bird

Turdus philomelos Song thrush 1 Built-up areas & gardens Common Decreasing Falco subbuteo Hobby 3 Rare Increading Luscinia megarhynchos Nightingale 3 Mosaic Localised Decreasing Muscicapa striata Spotted flycatcher 3 Built-up areas & gardens Scarce Decreasing Parus palustris Marsh tit 3 Localised Decreasing Phylloscopus trochilus Willow warbler 3 Boundary and linear features Localised Decreasing Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch 3 Arable & horticultural Localised Stable Scolopax rusticola Woodcock 3 Localised Stable Sitta europaea Nuthatch 3 Built-up areas & gardens Rare Unknown Streptopelia turtur Turtle dove 3 Hedgerows Scarce Decreasing Strix aluco Tawny Owl 3 Built-up areas & gardens Rare Increasing Sturnus vulgaris Common Starling 3 Built-up areas & gardens Common Decreasing Sylvia borin Garden warbler 3 Localised Decreasing Ants Bees & Wasps Formica rufa Red Wood Ant 3 Occasional Unknown Beetles Microrhagus pygmaeus A false click beetle 3 Wood pasture & parkland Rare Unknown Butterflies Boloria euphrosyne Pearl-bordered Fritillary 1 Rare Decreasing Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary 1 Lowland meadows Rare Decreasing Erynnis tages Dingy Skipper 1 Lowland calcareous grassland Localised Decreasing Limenitis camilla White Admiral 1 Localised Stable Pyrgus malvae Grizzled Skipper 1 Lowland calcareous grassland Localised Decreasing Satyrium w-album White Letter Hairstreak 1 Boundary and linear features Scarce Decreasing Argynnis paphia Silver-washed Fritillary 3 Occasional Unknown Cricket and grasshoppers Nemobius sylvestris Wood Cricket 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Occasional Stable Flies Bombylius discolor A beefly 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Common Stable Chetostoma curvinerve A picture-winged fly 3 Scarce Unknown Metasyrphus nitens A hover-fly 3 Rare Unknown Pelecocera tricincta A hoverfly 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Volucella inflata A hover-fly 3 Localised Stable Millipedes Trachysphaera lobata A Millipede 1 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Unknown Moths Pechipogo strigilata Common Fan-foot 1 Scarce Decreasing Apoda limacodes Festoon 3 Scarce Unknown Archiearis notha Light Orange Underwing 3 Scarce Unknown Atolmis rubricollis Red-necked Footman 3 Occasional Unknown Cepphis advenaria Little Thorn 3 Built-up areas & gardens Common Unknown

22 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

Conistra rubiginea Dotted Chestnut 3 Occasional Increasing Elaphria venustula Rosy Marbled 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Idaea sylvestraria Dotted Border Wave 3 Lowland heathland Scarce Unknown Meganola strigula Small Black Arches 3 Occasional Stable Mompha sturnipennella A micro-moth 3 Rare Unknown Paratalanta hyalinis Translucent Straw Belle 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown Schrankia taenialis White-line Snout 3 Lowland heathland Localised Decreasing Synanthedon vespiformis Yellow-legged Clearwing 3 Rare Stable Spiders Episinus maculipes A Spider 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Scarce Unknown Pardosa paludicola A Wolf Spider 3 Lowland meadows Rare Unknown True bugs Aneurus avenius A bark bug 3 Scarce Unknown Aphrophora alpina A froghopper 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Calligypona reyi A Leafhopper 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Unknown Megalonotus dilatatus A ground bug 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Unknown Psammotettix albomarginatus A leafhopper 3 Lowland dry acid grassland Rare Unknown Fungus Sarcosphaera coronaria Violet Crowncup 1 Rare Stable Amanita ovoidea 3 Rare Stable Boletus satanas Satan's Bolete 3 Rare Unknown Cortinarius violaceus 3 Coniferous woodland Rare Unknown Creolophus cirrhatus 3 Rare Unknown Ramariopsis crocea 3 Coniferous woodland Rare Unknown Sparassis brevipes 3 Coniferous woodland Rare Unknown Lichen Cryptolechia carneolutea A lichen 1 Rare Decreasing Usnea articulata A lichen 1 Boundary and linear features Scarce Decreasing Usnea florida A Lichen 1 Rare Unknown Wadeana dendrographa A lichen 1 Rare Stable Lobaria pulmonaria "Tree Lungwort" 3 Rare Decreasing Liverwort Cololejeunea rossettiana 'Roussetti's Pouncewort' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Lophocolea fragrans 'Fragrant Crestwort' 3 Rare Decreasing Marchesinia mackaii 'MacKay's Pouncewort' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Phaeoceros laevis 'Smooth Hornwort' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Stable Ptilidium pulcherrimum 'Tree Fringewort' 3 Lowland calcareous grassland Rare Unknown Scapania nemorea 'Grove Earwort' 3 Believed extinct Moss Calliergonella lindbergii 'Lindberg's Plait-moss' 3 Rare Unknown Conardia compacta 'Compact Feather-moss' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Believed extinct Ephemerum minutissimum 'Minute Earth-moss' 3 Arable & horticultural Rare Unknown Herzogiella seligeri ''Silesian Feather-moss' 3 Rare Unknown Leucodon sciuroides 'Squirrel-tail Moss' 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Decreasing Mnium stellare 'Starry Thyme-moss' 3 Maritime cliffs & slopes Rare Decreasing Orthotrichum striatum 'Shaw's Bristle-moss' 3 Rare Unknown Pohlia lescuriana 'Pretty Nodding-moss' 3 Rare Unknown Pterogonium gracile 'Birds-foot Wing-moss' 3 Rare Unknown Syntrichia papillosa 'Marble Screw-moss' 3 Built-up areas & gardens Rare Unknown Flowering Plant Cephalanthera damasonium White Helleborine 1 Rare Unknown Clinopodium menthifolium Wood Calamint 1 Rare Decreasing Monotropa hypopitys Yellow Birdsnest 1 Rare Unknown Anagallis minima Chaffweed 3 Lowland heathland Rare Unknown Arum italicum subsp. neglectum Italian Lords and Ladies 3 Occasional Stable

23 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009 Woodland Habitat Action Plan

Atropa belladonna Deadly Nightshade 3 Rare Unknown Epipactis phyllanthes Green-flowered Helleborine 3 Rare Unknown Epipactis purpurata Violet Helleborine 3 Believed extinct Helleborus viridis Green Hellebore 3 Rare Decreasing Neottia nidus-avis Birdsnest Orchid 3 Rare Unknown Platanthera chlorantha Greater Butterfly Orchid 3 Lowland meadows Rare Decreasing Pulmonaria longifolia Narrow-leaved Lungwort 3 Scarce Unknown Rubus salteri A Bramble 3 Localised Stable Sedum telephium Orpine 3 Boundary and linear features Rare Decreasing Tilia cordata Small-leaved Lime 3 Hedgerows Rare Stable Vaccinium myrtillus Bilberry 3 Lowland heathland Rare Decreasing

Species associated with wet woodland Moth Cossus cossus Goat Moth 1 Rare Unknown Moss Plagiothecium ruthei 'Swamp Silk-moss' 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Fern Dryopteris carthusiana Narrow Buckler-fern 3 Scarce Decreasing Equisetum sylvaticum Wood Horsetail 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Oreopteris limbosperma Lemon-scented Fern 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Unknown Thelypteris palustris Marsh Fern 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Flowering plant Myrica gale Bog Myrtle 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Rare Decreasing Viola palustris Marsh Violet 3 Fen, marsh and swamp Scarce Decreasing

Species associated with Wood pasture & parkland Lichen Anaptychia ciliaris subsp. ciliaris A lichen 1 Boundary and linear features Rare Decreasing Enterographa sorediata A lichen 1 Rare Unknown Beetle Lucanus cervus Stag beetle 1 Built-up areas & gardens Rare Unknown Lowland mixed deciduous Microrhagus pygmaeus A false click beetle 3 woodland Rare Unknown

Species associated with conifer plantation Mammal Boundary and linear features, Lowland mixed deciduous Sciurus vulgaris Red Squirrel 1 woodland Common Increasing Bird Caprimulgus europaeus Nightjar 1 Lowland heathland Localised Decreasing Fungus Lowland mixed deciduous Cortinarius violaceus 3 woodland Rare Unknown Lowland mixed deciduous Ramariopsis crocea 3 woodland Rare Unknown Lowland mixed deciduous Sparassis brevipes 3 woodland Rare Unknown

1 = National BAP Priority Species 3 = Local BAP Priority Species Habitats = National BAP Priority habitats

24 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight August 2009

Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

1 Introduction

This Biodiversity Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It covers a ten-year period from 2004 – 2014, with a review in 2009.

1.1 What is farmland? Farmland is not defined as a habitat in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) but contains a mosaic of different habitat types which collectively can be of high biodiversity and nature conservation importance. A total of four broad habitat types identified in the UK BAP are found predominantly on farmland:-

• Arable and horticulture • Improved grassland • Boundary and linear features • Standing open water

These broad habitat types contain two priority habitats;

• Ancient and species rich hedgerows • Cereal field margins

The broad habitat types and in particular the cereal field margin habitat support a number of national priority BAP species and species of national conservation concern as well as others listed as nationally rare and scarce. In all a total of 27 species of flowering plant have been identified from arable and horticultural habitats that fall into one of these three categories; these are listed in appendix 1.

Arable and horticultural habitats and in particular cereal field margins provide an important habitat for a number of plant species, however, farmland is of far greater value to biodiversity and supports populations of many other species including birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles, insects and several other important plant species associated with other farmland habitats.

Whereas many of these other species may be largely associated with a specific farmland habitat, such as farm ponds or hedgerows, it is the mosaic of different farmland habitats and the wider functioning of the farm that is most important for their survival. Because of this, it is not possible to develop a conventional ‘Habitat Action Plan’ for farmland as it is not a single habitat but a mosaic of different habitats. Many of these are continually changing both in time and space in response to the pattern of farm management.

Farms can also contain many other habitats of importance for biodiversity including lowland meadows, calcareous grasslands, floodplain grazing marshes and reedbeds. Whereas the conservation of these habitats can depend upon farming activity, these habitats have been considered in separate habitat action plans.

1.2 Approach to developing farmland habitat actions Given the difficulty in taking the conventional habitat action plan approach to farmland biodiversity it was agreed by the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership to take a more species lead approach to developing farmland biodiversity actions. This is based upon the identification of a number of

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

‘flagship’ or indicator species that are likely to be associated with biologically rich farmland landscapes. These include a diversity of groups ranging from birds and mammals to flowering and lower plants which are associated with a wide range of farmland micro-habitats and features. The farmland biodiversity action plan for the Isle of Wight therefore seeks to identify the ecological requirements of this selection of species and seeking to ensure that farm management systems and farming practices are developed which will sustain them.

It must also be appreciated that farmland biodiversity is normally a by-product of the traditional objective of farming, which is food production. Hence, actions to conserve farmland biodiversity must take into account the economic viability of farm businesses whilst seeking to promote farming systems and practices which encourage biodiversity. The biodiversity associated with farmland will not normally be confined to a specific place at any one time but will change in response to farming practices through the year and from year to year. This is in contrast to other habitat action plans where actions relate to specific sites or places where a permanent and often long established habitat occurs, for example heathland, ancient woodland or rivers and wetlands.

The identification of farmland habitats as a priority for action on the Isle of Wight is based on the following factors:

• Farmland wildlife has undergone dramatic declines in diversity and abundance in recent decades largely as a consequence of agricultural policy and subsidies leading to intensification of farming practices • Farming is necessary for the conservation of biodiversity on the Isle of Wight both within typical farmland and semi-natural grassland and grazed habitats not normally considered as farmland • Farming is undergoing an economic crisis that threatens the viability of the future viability of agriculture • There is a growing demand for food that is produced in an environmentally friendly way • Changes in farm support and policy at a national and international level are likely to have profound effects on the ways in which farmland on the Isle of Wight is managed in the future.

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

2 Current Status

2.1 Description of the habitat The farmland habitats identified in this plan can be termed ‘farmland’ but this farmland does not exist in isolation and there are clearly links between conventionally farmed land and remaining areas of semi-natural vegetation, such as neutral meadows, chalk and acid grassland and several types of wetland. These habitats are dependent upon livestock1 grazing or the mowing of hay and silage to conserve their biodiversity. The farmland biodiversity action plan for the Isle of Wight therefore has links to a number of specific Habitat Action Plans for the Island, in particular:-

• Lowland Meadows HAP • Heathland and Acid Grassland HAP • Calcareous Grassland HAP • Wetland HAP • Maritime Cliffs HAP • Woodland HAP

However, there are a number of specific farmland habitats that are covered by this Action Plan. While the following descriptions provide an indication of the range of wildlife associated with each of these, it must be emphasised that these habitats and those listed above, function collectively to create what might be termed the fabric of the countryside and the biodiversity this supports.

2.1.1 Arable farmland including cereal field margins Humans have been cultivating the Isle of Wight to produce food for more than six thousand years. Unlike their predecessors the people that lived on the Island between about 4500 and 2500 BC were not merely hunters and gatherers but were expert farmers growing crops (mainly cereals), herding cattle, sheep and goats and keeping pigs. They had the use of the plough by about 3000 BC and made flint tools for reaping crops and hoeing fields. The cultivated landscapes these early farmers created supported many plants and animals that were already present on the Island, perhaps on the cliffs or other naturally disturbed ground. Other plants were probably bought to the Island with the cereal seeds introduced from the Mediterranean by the first farmers. These plants are unable to withstand shade and have poor powers of competition and would not survive without cultivation.

Historically there has been a constant battle between farmers and the wildlife that inhabits their crops. At times, the wild plants and animals have threatened the crop and farmers’ survival and have been termed pests or weeds. In more recent years, the farmer has had the upper hand with improved methods of seed cleaning, crop management and widespread use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides, so there is now little space for wildlife to co-exist with farmers’ crops. The plants most dependent upon cultivation are now very rare and include species such as corn cockle and corn flower. Despite declines in many of the specialist plants and animals traditionally associated with arable crops some 2000 species of invertebrate are still commonly found in cereal fields (UK BAP Cereal Field Margin HAP). Overall some 300 species of plants can occur in arable fields including several species of conservation concern that have undergone enormous national declines in distribution and abundance (UK BAP Cereal Field Margin HAP).

The Isle of Wight is fortunate in having farmland that still contains many of these nationally rare and scarce plants of cultivation such as the nationally rare field cow-wheat Melampyrum arvense and Martin’s ramping fumitory Fumaria reuteri and nationally scarce broadleaved spurge Euphorbia

1 Most grazing livestock on the Isle of Wight are cattle and sheep but the term is used in this plan to refer to all domesticated grazing animals on farms including horses and ponies.

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

platyphyllos, small-flowered catchfly Silene gallica. In all a total of 26 plant species of national conservation concern have been identified form cultivated land on the Island.

Extensive open fields under arable cultivation can provide critically important habitat for farmland birds such as skylark and lapwing. The way in which these fields are managed is however of vital importance with spring sown crops, summer fallows, winter stubbles and micro-habitats such as beetle banks all adding significantly to their value of farmland birds and other wildlife.

The Island is fortunate in having farmland that still supports good populations of farmland birds such as the skylark and yellow-hammer, which are amongst the most rapidly declining birds in Britain. Other ‘red list’ birds of high conservation concern such as the corn bunting, turtle dove and grey partridge can also be found on the Island but their numbers have declined over recent years and they are now confined to small and increasingly isolated populations.

Whereas the variety of plants and animals associated with cultivation can occur anywhere within the crop particular emphasis has been placed on the conservation of these species around the edges of the cultivated field known as the field margin. The management of this field margin to benefit wildlife has been the subject of considerable research and various financial incentives have been introduced to encourage farmers to manage their cereal field margins to encourage the plants and animals traditionally associated with arable cultivation. Cereal field margins can be managed in several ways; they may be cultivated but not cropped and managed simply as a ‘wildlife strip’ around the edge of the field, they may be managed as a ‘conservation headland’ in which a crop is sown but managed with reduced inputs of fertiliser and pesticide. These two treatments can also be combined or in some instances, a game crop can be sown in the field margin to provide seed for game and other wildlife together with cultivated ground of value to a range of plants and animals.

Management of farmland for game rearing and shooting has a very significant influence on the landscape and biodiversity of the Island. Letting of land for shooting can play an important part in supporting farm income and therefore how the farm is managed. Game rearing, farming and biodiversity can be integrated with mutual benefits.

2.1.2 Boundary and linear features including hedgerows The farmed landscape is divided up into fields by hedges, fences and ditches and crossed by a network of tracks and lanes also bounded by hedges, fences and ditches. Associated with these boundaries features are often strips of uncultivated tall grassland and other vegetation that forms verges or margins to ditches or hedge banks. The combination of these boundary and linear features not only provides valuable habitat for a range of farmland wildlife but they can also act as important wildlife corridors helping species to move between more extensive habitats such as woodlands.

Hedges have developed in a number of different ways. Some have been planted in recent centuries at the time of the common enclosures. These often rectilinear hedges are generally species poor consisting mainly of hawthorn Crataegus monogyna. Despite this, they can still provide good habitat for nesting birds and have an important landscape function. Ancient hedges are generally those that were in existence before the Enclosure Acts (1720 – 1840). Some of the oldest hedges were planted to mark parishes or other historic boundaries and are mentioned in Anglo-Saxon charters over a thousand years old. The most ancient hedges are thought to be the relicts of woodland from which fields have been cleared. These so called assart hedges contain a mix of trees and shrubs similar to those found in ancient woodlands. Ancient hedges, whether they were originally planted or not, tend to be richest in tree and shrub species. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan defines ‘species rich’ hedges as those that contain an average of more than 5 native woody species in a 30 metre length.

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

Hedges are an important wildlife habitat in their own right. They are a primary habitat for at least 47 species of conservation concern in the UK including many rapidly declining farmland birds including linnet, yellow hammer, whitethroat, bullfinch and turtle dove. They are especially important for butterflies and moths, bats, dormice and also red squirrels. Indeed, hedges are the most significant wildlife habitat over large stretches of lowland UK and are an essential refuge for a great many woodland and farmland plants and animals.

Increasing farm mechanisation and efficiency necessitated the creation of larger fields and the consequent removal of hedges. Hedges have also been removed to increase the area of cultivated land and to remove a source of farmland pests and crop diseases. Other hedges that have not been physically removed have been badly managed through frequent trimming which seriously degrades their value for wildlife and eventually leads to their death. In places, arable cultivation has taken place right to the edge of the field, destroying hedge banks and associated grassy margins and damaging the roots of hedgerow trees and shrubs.

Nationally there has been a drastic loss of hedgerows since 1945 through both removal and neglect. Between 1984 and 1990 the net loss of hedgerow length in England was estimated as 21%. Figures on the loss of hedgerows on the Island are not currently available although it would seem that the factors that have diminished the national hedgerow resource are also operating here and there is no reason to believe that the magnitude of destruction should be less than that seen nationally.

2.1.3 Improved grassland Improved grasslands are those that have been sown with a mix of agricultural grasses, mostly perennial rye-grass Lolium perenne and are maintained with the regular application of fertilisers (either organic or inorganic) and are often treated with herbicide. These improved grasslands generally replace the natural mix of wild grasses and other plants and can occur on a wide range of soil types ranging from wet to dry and occur on clays, sands and chalk. Improved grassland is therefore of little intrinsic biodiversity value, however, where it occurs in a mosaic with other farmland habitats it is used by a variety of animals that are of high biodiversity value. For example, brown hare is found in greatest numbers in areas of mixed farmland containing a mosaic of arable, grassland, hedges and small woods. Where it is grazed by livestock, improved grassland can also be rich in invertebrates, particularly those associated with animal dung. These can provide an important food source for many animals including bats and badgers and a wide variety of birds. Soil invertebrates in some improved grassland can also be important for over-wintering birds such as song thrush and lapwing, especially in damp areas of the field. Improved grassland can also be important in maintaining the economic viability of farm enterprises which in turn enables other habitats of greater intrinsic biodiversity value to be grazed by livestock or mown in ways which conserves that biodiversity.

Improved grassland can also be used to graze ponies and horses. Such pony ‘paddocks’ are becoming an increasingly significant feature of the Island’s landscape. They can be of value to biodiversity but intensive use of pony paddocks can create tightly grazed and heavily trampled grasslands of little nature conservation value.

Over time, improved grassland can revert to a semi-improved state if fertiliser and herbicide applications are reduced or stopped. The resulting grassland is likely to remain botanically species poor but soil and other invertebrate diversity may increase. These species poor semi-improved grasslands are also included in this action plan.

Improved grassland is not a threatened habitat on the Island and its extent has increased greatly over the last 50 years. There is no need to adopt actions to conserve this habitat but it is important to be aware of its contribution to the viability and functioning of farm businesses and its use by a range of farmland wildlife.

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

2.1.4 Farm ponds and reservoirs Areas of standing open water are an important component of agricultural landscapes. In the past ponds were created for several reasons, many were made to provide water for livestock. In the 19th century ponds were used to provide a source of water to power steam engines. Ponds were also created from old brick works or to provide fish or attract wildfowl. In recent decades reservoirs have been constructed on many farms to provide a store of water to irrigate crops. All of these areas of open water can be valuable to wildlife, both intrinsically and as a component of the wider habitat mosaic that is collectively termed farmland. Farm ponds can be particularly important for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts in particular the internationally endangered great crested newt. Ponds and reservoirs also support a range of plants and invertebrates – the most conspicuous of these being the dragonflies and damselflies. Larger ponds and irrigation reservoirs can be important for wetland birds with reed bed and fen nesting species such as sedge warblers and reed buntings around their margins as well as species of more open water such as little grebe, tufted duck and coot. Despite popular belief, ponds that dry out, either partly or completely, during the summer can also be important for wildlife. The muddy margins of these ponds provide important feeding habitat for birds such as lapwing as well as an important micro-habitat for some specialist plant species. Ponds that dry out also tend to lack fish, which makes them more attractive to amphibians, in particular the great crested newt.

Nowadays, livestock are generally provided with piped water in troughs and steam engines are no longer part of the normal agricultural scene. As a consequence farm ponds have lost much of their original purpose and many have been lost, either through natural succession to dense scrub and woodland or by active infilling. In other instances, the pasture in which farm ponds were once created has been converted to arable leaving them isolated within a sea of intensively cultivated crops or improved grassland and subject to pollution from fertiliser run-off. Intensive stock grazing around farm ponds can also lead to excessive trampling and grazing of the pond edges also leading to loss of biodiversity.

The Environment Agency have estimated that some 63% of ponds (approximately 500,000) have been lost in England and Wales over the last one hundred years. In Britain as a whole ponds are still being lost at the rate of 1% per year. There is no information on the scale of loss of farm ponds on the Isle of Wight but it is likely that the losses have been significant.

2.2 Farmland flagship or indicator species To develop actions for the conservation of farmland biodiversity on the Island it has been agreed by the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Steering Group to take a species led approach. This is based upon the identification of a group of plants and animals that are associated with a farmland landscape rich in biodiversity. They have been selected to represent a diversity of farmland micro-habitats or farming systems so that if measures are taken to meet the ecological needs of these species, many others are likely to benefit. Most of the species are identified as species of concern on the Isle of Wight in the IW Biodiversity Audit and Assessment. Others may not currently be of conservation concern but are good indicators of important farmland micro-habitats or biologically rich farmland landscapes. For each species or group of species, the main features of their habitat requirements or the main factors affecting their conservation have been identified in the following tables.

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2.2.1 Farmland birds

Grey partridge Short grass with longer grass and hedgerows nearby. Mixed cereal and pasture fields with thick hedges and wide field margins. Barn owl Nesting sites – holes in trees, or undisturbed buildings such as barns and outbuildings. Hunts in areas of rough grassland with good populations of rodents – especially voles, field edges, the edges of watercourses and grass strips alongside woods Lapwing Breeds on farmland, especially among crops sown in spring which are adjacent to grazed pasture and bare land. Turtle dove Nests in dense scrub and over-grown hedges. Feeds on seeds particularly those of arable weeds. Song thrush Mixed farmland with hedges and scrub, invertebrate rich grassland, spring sown cereals, summer fallow and winter stubble Whitethroat Sunny open areas with bushes, brambles and nettles and other cover for nesting, including hedges and scrub Skylark Arable and grassland particularly spring sown cereals with significant areas of bare ground. Bullfinch Associated with tall spreading hedges with abundant fruit, seed and buds. Linnet Nests in scattered scrub or hedges with out-growths, wintering on seed rich stubble, fallow or set-aside. Young fed on seeds including oil-seed rape. Yellow hammer Similar habitat to linnet but young fed on invertebrates particularly in hedges and tall grassy vegetation. Cirl bunting Mixed farmland with mature hedgerows or scrub, low intensity grassland and weedy cereal stubble fields – all occurring in close proximity. Corn bunting Nests in margins of arable fields, particularly of barley, next to boundary features. Over winters in seed rich stubble or fallow fields. Goldfinch Likes trees and bushes with areas of tall weeds nearby, in winter forms into flocks which range over places with plenty of thistles, burdock and teasels

2.2.2 Farmland mammals

Brown hare Likes ‘patchwork quilt’ farmland with mix of game crops, hedgerows and small woodlands arable crops and grassland. Bats Diverse landscape with sheltered insect rich habitats (pastures, haymeadows, marshes, hedgerows) to feed and mature trees, buildings to roost Dormouse and Red squirrel Large mature hedges with diversity of shrub and tree species, linking woodlands (refer to Woodland HAP and Red Squirrel SAP for management of other elements of their habitat requirements).

2.2.3 Amphibians

Common frog, common toad, Farm ponds free of stocked fish, with associated tall vegetation, newts logs or other places of shelter

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2.2.4 Vascular plants Arable fields and cultivated areas Lesser Snapdragon Factors causing their decline include:- Prickly Poppy • Increased use of herbicides and fertilisers, Rough Poppy • Development of highly competitive crop varieties, Corn Buttercup • Destruction of field-edge refuges, Small-flowered Catchfly • Early crop harvests (ie around mid-July), Night-flowered Catchfly • Demise of traditional crop rotations, Spreading Hedge Parsley • Abandonment of marginal farmland and associated Narrow-fruited Corn Salad loss of ground disturbance Broad-fruited Corn Salad Green Field Speedwell Corn Chamomile Lesser Quaking-grass Cornflower Broad-leaved Spurge Dung heaps Oak-leaved Goosefoot Change in farming practice in particular loss of traditional farmyard Upright Goosefoot dung-heaps Poached gateways and cattle tracks Mousetail Fertile broken ground which may be seasonally inundated and subject to trampling and compaction, particularly rutted and poached ground of tracks and gateways

2.2.5 Insects Hedges and nettle beds Brown hairstreak butterfly Blackthorn scrub and hedges Cloaked Carpet moth Edges of woodland and hedges Narrow-winged knot-horn Hedges/woods with spindle moth Comma, painted lady, small Nettle beds and areas of tall herb vegetation with nettles and tortoiseshell, red admiral, abundant nectar sources and peacock butterflies Rough grassland Marbled white Tall grassland including red fescue cut or grazed infrequently, nectar sources with abundant purple flowers (thistles, knapweeds, scabious) Meadow brown Open grasslands and hay meadows Ringlet Tall grassland, mainly in damp situations in partial shade where grasses are lush, nectar sources include bramble and wild privet Small heath Fine grasses, especially in dry well drained situations where the sward is short Gatekeeper Tall grassland close to hedges, trees or scrub Ponds, reservoirs and ditches Brown Hawker Shallow ponds, reservoirs and ditches with abundant marginal Hairy Dragonfly vegetation such as reed and reed mace as well as aquatic Four-spotted Chaser macrophytes with floating leaves. Avoiding ponds stocked with Red-veined Darter fish. Ruddy Darter Variable Damselfly

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Small Red-eyed Damselfly Emerald Damselfly

2.3 Distribution and Extent

2.3.1 Habitats Information on the extent of farmland habitats on the Island have been obtained from the Agricultural Census returns published by Defra. In 2002 there was a total of 24,231 hectares of farmland on the Isle of Wight and 610 registered farm holdings2. To provide an indication of trends in farm land-use on the Island between 2000 and 2002, the areas of the main farming land-use types have been summarised in table1.

Table 1: Main farming land-uses on the Isle of Wight (2000-2002) Land-use Area (ha) 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 Rough grazing 1,640 1,799 1,055 1,307 1,569 Permanent grass 8,801 9,075 8,934 9,474 8,492 Temporary grass 3,146 2,348 2,284 2,214 2,380 Wheat 5,505 4,393 5,424 3,796 4,975 Winter barley 1,369 1,061 327 337 394 Spring barley 704 438 358 922 429 Oats 247 262 127 273 311 Set aside - 1,466 1226 1874 1299 21,412 20,842 17,451 17,983 17,469 Total farmland 26,240 25,858 24,847 25,544 24,231

The figures in table 1 are illustrated in figure 1. Although some caution is needed in interpreting this data, in summary it shows:-

1. A significant decline in the total area of farmland from 26,240 ha in 1990 to 24,231 ha in 2002. 2. A decline in the area of rough grazing from 1,640 ha – 1,055 ha between 1990 and 2000 and a subsequent recovery in the area of rough grazing to 1,569 ha between 2000 and 2002. 3. No appreciable change in the area of permanent grassland since 1990. 4. A slight overall decline in the area of temporary grassland since 1990 but this masks an almost constant area of temporary grassland since 1995. 5. A slight overall decline in the area of wheat although there has been considerable annual variation 6. A significant decline in the area of winter barley (reduced by 60% over 12 years) and a slight overall decline in the area of spring barley although this masks an unexplained sudden increase in the area of spring barley in 2001. 7. An increase in the area of oats from 247 ha – 311 ha. 8. No significant overall change in the area of set-aside.

2 The number of registered farm holdings does not necessarily equate to the number of farms and may include a number of small landowners for whom farm income is not significant.

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Figure 1

Isle of Wight Farm Land-use Change (1990-2002)

10,000

9,000

8,000

7,000

6,000 1990

a) 1995 h ( 5,000 2000 ea 2001 Ar 4,000 2002

3,000

2,000

1,000

0 Rough grazing Permanent Temporary Wheat Winter barley Spring barley Oats Set aside grass grass Land-use

The most startling features of these statistics are the overall decline in farmland and the relatively stable nature of farm land-use on the Island since 1990. The recovery in the area of rough grazing since 2000 is to be welcomed as this is likely to be of benefit to biodiversity. The slight overall decline in the area of wheat and the significant decline in area of winter barley does not appear to have been balanced by an increase in the area of any one particular land-use and can probably be accounted for in the decline in the total area of farmland.

The decline in the total area of farmland is however balanced by an increase in the number of registered farm holdings which have risen from 557 in 2000 to 610 in 2002. However, the increase in number of holdings is a reflection of changes in farm size with a reduction in the number of large farms (>100 ha) from 60 to 56 and an increase in the numbers of small farms (<5ha) from 237 to 318 in the same period (The changes in number and size of registered farm holdings shown in the census returns may be due in part to the movement restrictions introduced following the foot and mouth outbreak in 2001 and may not reflect any real change in farm type).

Although the area of grassland (rough, permanent and temporary) has not changed significantly since 1995 there have been some significant changes in livestock. These are summarised in table 2.

Table 2: Changes in livestock numbers on the Isle of Wight (2000-2001) 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002 Total sheep 35,406 36,565 35,083 33,096 30,738 Total cattle 23,087 20,025 16,981 17,073 14,839 Dairy cattle 7,311 5,650 4,636 4,741 4,333

This shows a general decline in the numbers of livestock with a particularly significant decline in the numbers of sheep between 2000 and 2002 and a less significant longer term decline in numbers of cattle and dairy cattle in particular.

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These changes are illustrated in figure 2

Figure 2

Changes in livestock on the Isle of Wight (1995-2002)

40,000

35,000

30,000

25,000

total sheep 20,000 total cattle dairy

15,000

10,000

5,000

0 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002

The decline in numbers of livestock is reflected in changes in the numbers of farm type with a significant decline in numbers of dairy farms and general crop farms since 1990 and a significant increase in the numbers of farms described as ‘other’ and those with cattle and sheep as shown in table 3.

Table 3: Changes in farm type on the Isle of Wight (numbers of farms) 1990 1995 2000 2001 2002

Farm type - Other 87 130 201 228 270

Farm type - Mixed 33 35 34 44 37 Farm type - Cattle and Sheep 146 136 152 156 162

Farm type - Dairy 87 68 49 48 46

Farm type - Pigs & Poultry 15 8 16 15 15

Farm type - Horticulture 55 40 47 45 48 Farm type - General Cropping 27 20 14 14 14

Farm type - Cereals 57 50 60 55 53

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It is difficult to draw overall conclusions for biodiversity from the farming statistics for the Isle of Wight. The overall decline in numbers of livestock might be of concern if there were insufficient numbers of animals to graze habitats of biodiversity value. However, there would appear to have been a significant increase in the numbers of small farms in recent years and in particular the numbers of cattle and sheep farms and those described as ‘other’ farm types. This could be having a positive effect on biodiversity by providing a more mixed farm landscape but could equally reflect the growth in farm diversification and decline of traditional farm types. The reduction in the overall area of registered farmland could also be a cause for concern. This might be due to an increase in the area of pony paddocks, but in the absence of any evidence to identify what this land has been used for it is not possible to draw any conclusions.

2.4 Legislation and Site Designation Unlike other habitats of importance for biodiversity, there have been no nature reserves or sites created specifically for farmland habitats or species on the Isle of Wight. However, despite this there are a number of SSSI and nature reserves on the Island that contain farmland habitats.

The Newtown Harbour SSSI contains some extensive areas of farmland owned both by the National Trust and the MoD. Farmland is also included in the Compton Chine to Steephill Cove SSSI where it forms a buffer strip inland of the cliff edge along much of its length. Brading Marshes SSSI also contains farmland habitats.

Lake Allotments SSSI has been notified to protect its population of the nationally rare Martin’s ramping fumitory Fumaria reuteri. This SSSI also contains a number of other uncommon weeds of cultivation such as the purple fumitory Fumaria purpurea. St Lawrence Bank SSSI has also been notified to conserve its population of the nationally rare field cow-wheat Melampyrum arvense. This SSSI is also managed by Wight Wildlife as a nature reserve.

The largest non-statutory nature reserve containing farmland is perhaps that owned by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species at Briddlesford near Wootton Bridge. This contains some 50 hectares of grassland and arable farmland with intervening species rich hedges that are managed for nature conservation.

The National Trust owns a significant area of farmland on the Isle of Wight and with their recently adopted policies on agriculture are seeking to maximise biodiversity from this farmland by working with its tenant farmers.

Brading Marshes SSSI is dealt with principally under the Wetland Habitat Action Plan, but it also contains areas of farmland habitat which are owned and managed by the RSPB.

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3 Current Factors affecting the habitat

3.1 Introduction The biodiversity of farmland is affected by a range of farming practices such as the use of pesticides and fertilisers, methods of hedge trimming and cultivation techniques as well as other factors beyond the scope of this action plan, such as climate change. However, these farming practices are a direct result of wider factors that drive the economics of land use and farm management and it is these that this plan addresses as the principal factors affecting the habitat. This does not imply that farming methods are not important and Actions proposed in section 6 that are addressed at these.

3.2 Markets, prices and economics The most important factor effecting farmland biodiversity is the economics of farming which in turn is driven by the Common Agriculturally Policy (CAP). In the recent past, guaranteed prices for agricultural produce encouraged farm intensification and production leading to a decline in much farm biodiversity. In particular changes in arable farming practices including intensive use of fertiliser and pesticides, a shift to autumn sowing and loss of over-wintered stubbles and a reduction in rotation of cereal crops with other land-uses (grass leys, fallow) has lead to the loss of many weed species of cultivation and declines in many typical farmland bird populations.

In recent years the price for agricultural produce has declined and farm incomes have collapsed as a consequence. However, this has not led to a significant reverse in the intensity of farm management as farmers have had to strive harder to farm as efficiently as possible.

If farm incomes continue to decline farmers may no longer be able to continue farming. If farmland is simply abandoned, there would be a loss of much farmland biodiversity as scrub and woodland replace open farmland landscapes. The economics of farming therefore need to be such that farmers can maintain viable farm businesses. However, it is also important that the restoration and conservation of farmland biodiversity is a precondition of economically viable farming methods. A number of mechanisms have been considered that might improve the viability of farming on the Isle of Wight. This might include improved marketing of local produce to local consumers including holiday makers. The provision of a local slaughtering facility may also assist in this process as will the growth of farmers markets. However, more radical measures are probably also required to improve farm incomes for Island farmers.

Defra currently has three project based funding schemes that are potentially of value to farmers – the Rural Enterprise Scheme, Vocational Training Scheme and Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme.

3.3 Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy Reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) that were agreed in June 2003 are likely to have far reaching and hopefully beneficial effects for farmland biodiversity on the Isle of Wight.

In principle all the major farm subsidies will be replaced by a new single payment, which Member States will be able to introduce from January 2005. Decoupling, the process of breaking the link between subsidies and production, should greatly simplify the CAP. In February 2004, the government announced how the new reforms will be put into effect. The announcement stated that:- • England will decouple fully in 2005 and move towards a flat rate Single Farm Payment (SFP) to farmers. • Only farmers active in 2005 will qualify for payment, • There will be an eight year transition period to a flat rate,

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• England will be split into two regions – land in severely disadvantaged areas or the less favoured areas and all other land in England. • Different flat rates will apply in these regions. • No use of National Envelopes in England, • Payments will depend on farmers meeting ‘cross compliance’ conditions – government will consult on these standards soon and work to ensure they are implemented effectively and proportionately, with minimum bureaucracy.

It is not clear how the new single payment will be calculated, but in making the announcement, the Minister stated that she wished to avoid the situation where subsidy was allocated solely on the basis of past activities.

However, English Nature have highlighted that the SFP itself will not deliver any benefits for wildlife in the countryside because it is not an environmental payment. They call on the Government to reaffirm its commitment to further CAP reform that will deliver environmental benefits by moving money from the SFP into rural development and agri-environment schemes.

English Nature state that such a progressive shift in support is essential to reward farmers for managing and restoring the habitats and wildlife of the English countryside and help farming adjust to a more competitive market environment.

In commenting on the Government’s announcement, English Nature’s Chief Executive, Dr Andy Brown said: “If last years’ historic CAP deal is to deliver urgently needed improvements in the rural environment then it is essential that the Government follows up today’s announcement by attaching robust environmental conditions to the £1.7 billion that will be paid to farmers in 2005. We are extremely disappointed that the Government appears to have closed the door on using the so called National Envelopes to fund new environmental schemes in England. There will undoubtedly be negative environmental consequences from de-coupling and it is essential the Government has the mechanisms and resources to address these.”

3.4 Agri-environment Schemes The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) administers a number of schemes which fund farming practices that conserve the environment. The most significant scheme operating on the Isle of Wight is the Countryside Stewardship Scheme (CSS). This provides incentive payments to encourage extensive low input agricultural farming methods as well as providing payments for the restoration and maintenance of hedges, ponds and other farm habitats. In 2002 the CSS also introduced a series of arable options. These encourage farmers to manage arable crops in ways that increase their value for biodiversity for example the creation of conservation headlands, provision of winter stubbles and spring fallows.

The agri-environment schemes operated by Defra are currently being reviewed and it is likely that there will be substantial changes to these in the future. A new Entry Level Scheme (ELS) is also being rolled out in 2005 which will provide encouragement for farmers to incorporate environmental management into their normal farming practice. This type of change has been termed ‘broad and shallow’ i.e. small changes over a large area that will collectively help farmland species at a landscape scale.

3.5 Organic farming Farming without the use of artificial fertilisers or pesticides to produce organic food can have significant benefits for biodiversity. Defra provide advice to farmers wishing to convert from conventional farming to organic farming methods and offer financial assistance to support farmers through the transitional period before organic certification and the higher premium paid for organic

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produce is obtained. The growth in demand for organic produce and attempts to increase the sale of locally produced food through local markets could encourage an expansion in organic farming on the Isle of Wight. However, most recent increases in organic food sales have been met by imports.

3.6 Genetically modified food

The Government’s field trials - assessing strains of herbicide-tolerant maize, sugar beet and oilseed rape - have now ended and the results were published in September 2003. These showed that growing conventional beet and spring rape was better for many groups of wildlife than growing GM herbicide-tolerant beet and spring rape. In contrast, growing GM herbicide-tolerant maize was better for many groups of wildlife than conventional maize. As a consequence of these results the RSPB has called for a ban on the use of GM beet and spring rape and further research into GM maize.

Some commercial growing of GM crops is to be permitted. However, because the field trials only include specific crops, Defra has also carried out a public debate on the wider issues around GM technology to help inform the Government’s final decision.

Genetically modified crops have the potential to provide significant benefits for farmland wildlife, especially if their use results in better targeted agrochemicals with a lower impact on biodiversity. However, it should also be recognised, that they have the potential to cause harm. Important questions remain unanswered about the safety and desirability of GM, and its effects on environment, local and national economies, consumer choice and human health.

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4 Current Action

4.1 Policy 1 Changes in the CAP referred to in section 3 will have far reaching and hopefully beneficial effects for farmland biodiversity.

2 The National Trust is one of the largest owners of farmland on the Isle of Wight. Nationally the Trust invested an extra £1.7m in 2002 on a range of initiatives helping its farm tenants build a viable future across the Trust’s 245,000 ha of farmland it owns nationally. These include:

• Developing Whole Farm Plans, • Encouraging its tenants to enter Agri-environment Schemes such as CSS. • Providing free advice on environmentally friendly farming • Working to improve farm viability through entering new markets and provide capital investment grants to support such enterprises. • Supporting the growth of local and regional food economies • Providing its tenants with expert independent advice on organic conversion, including business planning and help with attaining certification

3 The Isle of Wight AONB management Plan (2004 – 2009) was published in April 2004. It contains several policies which seek to promote farming that helps sustain the landscape character and biodiversity of the AONB.

4 Historic landscape character (HLC) areas have been defined by the County Archaeology and Historic Environment Centre, funded by English Heritage. These HLC areas have been defined using the technique of historic landscape character analysis. A closely allied technique of landscape character assessment is used within the AONB. The role of the AONB is to use landscape character assessment and to take account of historic landscape character analysis to describe the special qualities of the AONB. This would include features within the landscape – ponds, woods, hedges, tracks, biodiversity, historic environment, geology, land-use etc. Following this there is the need to ensure the conservation and enhancement of these features through specific management schemes.

4.2 Marketing 1 The Isle of Wight farmers market has been established to help increase the sale of local produce on the Island and so increase profitability of farm produce on the Island. Much of the produce for sale at the farmers market is also produced in ways which benefit biodiversity and the natural environment.

2 The Island 2000 Trust is seeking to help farming that promotes biodiversity through:-

• The development of new products which reflect the character of the Island • Marketing of Island products. • Development of Green Labelling Scheme. • Development of local food industry including I.O.W. Farmers and Producers Market

3 The Countryside Agency launched its ‘Eat the View’ initiative in July 2000. It aims to help people make the links between the products they buy and the countryside they cherish. By improving the commercial viability of environmentally sound land management they are seeking to support both rural communities and maintain the traditional character of the English countryside.

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‘Eat the View’ is a five year programme with the following key objectives and outcomes:

• increased consumer awareness of the links between what people buy and the countryside they value; • increased demand for locally and regionally distinctive products from sustainable systems; • improved marketing for producers, development of supply chain partnerships, accreditation and product branding; • enhanced marketing for producers and growers that promotes the character, diversity and environmental value of the landscape.

4 The Wye Valley AONB organised a conference in September 2003 entitled ‘Better School Dinners’ - a conference on procuring local food in schools in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire. This conference was organised to:-

• Hear how one food producer in Gloucestershire is providing local food to over 100 local schools • Learn what can and can't be done to localise food procurement within the law • Discuss what you can do to get more local food into local schools • Discuss how producers can overcome barriers to supplying local schools

SEEDA have also identified public procurement of food as one of the ten key recommendations in its delivery plan for sustainable farming and food. However, the IW AONB Management Plan has not identified this as a priority.

4.3 Habitat management The People’s Trust for Endangered Species has entered part of its nature reserve at Briddlesford into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme including an area managed under the ‘arable options’. In the first year the arable land managed under the Scheme contained an abundance of nationally scarce and uncommon arable weeds including broadleaved spurge, small quaking grass and corn marigold. A new farm pond has also been created as part of the CSS scheme.

The RSPB is undertaking an exciting project to encourage the cirl bunting to re-colonise the Isle of Wight as part of the national species recovery programme (joint funded by English Nature). It is working with land owners to secure appropriate low intensity farm management in target areas of the Island.

4.4 Survey, research and monitoring 1 In 2002 a survey of breeding farmland birds was commissioned by the Island 2000 Trust of the coastal farmland along the Military Road between Niton and Compton. This revealed strong populations of skylark (132 territories), linnet (86 territories) and yellow-hammer (65 territories) as well as five territories of corn bunting and three of grey partridge. These results suggest that the farming landscape of this part of the Island is rich in farmland birds but some species, such as the grey partridge and corn bunting, are not doing well.

2 In 2002 Wight Wildlife undertook a survey of brown hare on the Isle of Wight. This has shown good populations of brown hare in several parts of the Island, particularly where there are extensive areas of mixed farmland.

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5 Objectives and Targets

The overall aim of this Action Plan is to protect and enhance biodiversity of farmland. This broad aim translates into the specific objectives set out below. Where feasible, objectives have been allocated targets against which achievement can be measured. The ‘Proposed Action’ table in section 6 identifies the action to be taken to meet these objectives.

Objectives Proposed Actions A Promote actions that support a viable farming economy on the Isle 1, 2 of Wight in which the conservation of farm biodiversity is an integral component B Maintain and where appropriate restore populations of key farmland 3, 4, 6 -10 species on the Isle of Wight C Maintain and promote farming systems that conserve the historic 3, 4, 6 -10, 14, landscape character of the Island 16, 17 D Improve knowledge of farmland habitats and their associated 5, 11 - 17 species E Communicate with and provide information to farmers and the 18 - 21 farming industry, statutory and voluntary organisations and the general public that increase the awareness of farming and farm biodiversity

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6 Proposed Action

The following table lists the actions required to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. Each action has been assigned to one or more Key Partners. Key Partners are those organisations that are expected to take responsibility for the delivery of the actions assigned to them, according to the targets set in this Plan. Other organisations may also be involved in the delivery of action and they have been indicated in the Others column.

Key to symbols in Action Table:

To be completed by the indicated year. Work can commence at any time before the due date, at the discretion of the key partner. Design or production of a plan/strategy to be completed by this year and then followed by its implementation. ¨ To start by the indicated year and usually followed by ongoing work. A start arrow in year 2002 can indicate a new action or a new impetus to existing work. Work that has already begun and is ongoing.

Key to Organisations in Action Table IWC = Isle of Wight Council, EN = English Nature, Defra = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, EA = Environment Agency, WW = Wight Wildlife, HIWWT = Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, NT = National Trust, CLA = Country Land and Business Association, NFU = National Farmers Union, I2K = Island 2000 Trust, RSPB = Royal Society for Protection of Birds

DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS ACTION OBJ. Key Others 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 Partner Support farming for biodiversity 1. Promote branding and marketing initiatives that I2K EN, A support the sale of Island farm produce in NFU, particular that which enhances farmland IWC, biodiversity AONB 2. Support the development of a slaughtering NFU EN, A facility on the Island NFU, IWC, AONB

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DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS ACTION OBJ. Key Others 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 Partner Habitat Management, Incentive Schemes and Other Resources 3. Promote the Countryside Stewardship Scheme Defra ALL B, C or 'Environmental Stewardship' scheme to farmers and landowners in particular the new Entry Level scheme options. 4. Use demonstration farms to highlight the value B, C of the CSS and how it can be integrated into Defra ALL economically viable farming systems 5. Collate research information on management of IWC ALL D farmland for flagship species

6. Liaise with local Defra officers to target agri- B, C environment schemes for priority species. IWC ALL 7. Lobby government and Defra to implement the NFU/ B, C recommendations of the Curry Report in full and IWC/ ALL in particular increase funding for agri- RSPB environment schemes 8. Prevent further loss of hedgerows through IWC WW B, C dereliction or destruction

9. Prevent further loss of farm ponds through IWC WW/ B, C dereliction or destruction EA 10. Work with farmers and farm advisors to prepare IWC, B, C whole farm audits for Entry Level and Higher Defra, RSPB, Level agri-environment schemes. WW FWAG, AONB 11. Audit available data on the population size and IWC WW D distribution of farmland flagship species EN, RSPB

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DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS ACTION OBJ. Survey, Research and Monitoring 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 12. Identify gaps in knowledge on farmland flagship IWC WW, D species and promote/undertake additional RSPB survey where necessary 13. Develop and then implement a monitoring and IWC NT C,D reporting programme for farmland flagship WW species EN, RSPB, I2K 14. Audit the extent, distribution and condition of IWC WW D hedgerows and in particular species rich hedgerows on the Island 15. Identify farmland features associated with IWC AC C, D historic landscape character AONB 16. Develop management objectives to conserve IWC AC C, D and enhance these features AONB 17. Prepare management profiles for groups of IWC, EN, D farmland flagship species to help guide the RSPB preparation of farm management plans and applications for Entry Level and Higher Level agri-environment schemes

Communication and Publicity 18. Improve availability of agri-environment advice IWC/ EN/ E to farmers through provision of farm advisors Defra IWC, RSPB, AONB 19. Provide more seminars and briefings on Defra/ IWC, E management of farmland for biodiversity WW NFU, including hedgerow management, pond creation CLA, and management, grassland and crop AONB, management etc. I2K

21 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS ACTION OBJ. Key Others 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 Partner 20. Publicise importance of farmland for biodiversity WW IWC, E through production of articles, farm walks and NFU, visits, talks to community groups etc CLA, AONB, Island 2000, RSPB 21. Increase awareness of habitat requirements of WW/ IWC/ E farmland birds and other groups of farmland Island NFU/ flagship species through articles, training days, 2000/ CLA farm visits and talks RSPB

22 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Farmland Biodiversity Action Plan

7 Sources of Information

1. Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Committee. 2000. Wildlife of the Isle of Wight and Audit and Assessment of its Biodiversity. Isle of Wight Council

2. English Nature, 1998. Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile

3. English Nature, 1998. UK BAP Targets By Natural Area - 10 Terrestrial Habitats

4. Department of the Environment, 1998, UK Biodiversity Group Tranch 2 Action Plans. Volume II – terrestrial and freshwater habitats. Peterborough: English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group

5. Defra, 2003. Entry Level Agri-Environment Scheme Pilot, Scheme Guidance Booklet.

6. The National Trust. 2001. A National Farm Advisory Service: delivering integrated business and environmental advice. Briefing Note 1. December 2001.

7. The National Trust. 2001. A proposed model for delivering an entry-level agri-environment scheme. Briefing Note 2. December 2001.

8. Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1999, The implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives. Peterborough.

9. Defra. 2003. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform. Summary of agreement of 26 June 2003. http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/capreform/agreement-summary.htm

23 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight May 2004 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight Species associated with Farmland Habitats Farmland Action Plan May 2004

Latin name English name Group BAP Rarity Primary habitat Secondary habitat status Lepus europaeus Brown Hare Mammal 1 LOWLAND MEADOWS LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLAND Muscardinus avellanarius Dormouse Mammal 1 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Sciurus vulgaris Red Squirrel Mammal 1 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Anguis fragilis Slow-worm Reptile 2 Arable & horticultural LOWLAND MEADOWS Natrix natrix Grass Snake Reptile 2 LOWLAND MEADOWS ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Acrocephalus Sedge warbler Bird 2 REEDBEDS ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH schoenobaenus HEDGEROWS Alauda arvensis Skylark Bird 1 Improved grassland Arable and horticultural Aythya fuligula Tufted duck Bird 2 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Carduelis cannabina Linnet Bird 1 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Arable & horticultural Carduelis chloris Greenfinch Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Built-up areas and gardens Emberiza citrinella Yellowhammer Bird 2 Boundary and linear features Arable & horticultural Milaria calandra Corn bunting Bird 1 Arable & horticultural Boundary and linear features Numenius arquata Curlew (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Improved grassland Parus major Great tit Bird 2 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Perdix perdix Grey partridge Bird 1 Arable & horticultural ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Pluvialis apricaria Golden plover (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Improved grassland Prunella modularis Dunnock Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Built-up areas and gardens Pyrrhula pyrrhula Bullfinch Bird 1 Broad-leaved mixed woodland Arable & horticultural Streptopelia turtur Turtle dove Bird 1 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Sylvia communis Whitethroat Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Sylvia curruca Lesser whitethroat Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Turdus ilacus Redwing (wintering) Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS LOWLAND MEADOWS Turdus pilaris Fieldfare (wintering) Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS LOWLAND MEADOWS Vanellus vanellus Lapwing Bird 2 MUDFLATS Improved grassland Harpalus cupreus A ground beetle Beetle 3 EN Arable & horticultural Thecla betulae Brown Hairstreak Butterfly 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Aeshna grandis Brown Hawker Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS

24 Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1= National Priority Species 2=Species of National Conservation Concern 3= Species of Local conservation Concern Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight Species associated with Farmland Habitats Farmland Action Plan May 2004

Latin name English name Group BAP Rarity Primary habitat Secondary habitat status Brachytron pratense Hairy Dragonfly Damselflies and dragonflies EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Calopteryx virgo Beautiful Demoiselle Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Rivers & streams Coenagrion pulchellum Variable Damselfly Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Cordulegaster boltonii Golden-ringed Dragonfly Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Rivers & streams Erythromma viridulum Small Red-eyed Damselfly Damselflies and dragonflies p 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Lestes sponsa Emerald Damselfly Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Libellula quadrimaculata Four-spotted Chaser Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Sympetrum fonscolombei Red-veined Darter Damselflies and dragonflies p 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Sympetrum sanguineum Ruddy Darter Damselflies and dragonflies 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Rivers & streams Catarhoe rubidata Ruddy Carpet Moth 3 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Eudonia lineola Striped Grey Moth 3 Boundary and linear features MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Euphyia biangulata Cloaked Carpet Moth 3 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Eupithecia plumbeolata Lead-coloured Pug Moth 3 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Nephopteryx angustella Narrow-winged Knot-horn Moth 3 Boundary and linear features LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLAND Synanthedon tipuliformis Currant Clearwing Moth 3 Arable & horticultural Microvelia pygmaea A semi-aquatic bug True bug 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Fen marsh and swamp Trichochermes walkeri A jumping plant louse True bug 3 Boundary and linear features Xerocomus leonis Fungus 3 Boundary and linear features Broad-leaved mixed woodland Anaptychia ciliaris A lichen Lichens 3 WOOD PASTURE & PARKLAND ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Bacidia incompta A lichen Lichens 2 VU Boundary and linear features Physcia tribacioides Southern Grey Physcia Lichens 2 EN Boundary and linear features Usnea articulata A lichen Lichens 3 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Anthoceros agrestis 'Field Hornwort' Liverworts 3 LOWLAND MEADOWS Arable & horticultural Riccia fluitans Floating Crystalwort Liverworts 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Riccia glauca Glaucous Crystalwort' Liverworts 3 Arable & horticultural Riccia sorocarpa Common Crystalwort Liverworts 3 Arable & horticultural Bryum ruderale 'Pea Bryum' Mosses 3 Arable & horticultural Boundary and linear features Chenia leptophylla Vectis-moss Mosses 3 Arable & horticultural Drepanocladus aduncus ''Kneiff's Hook-moss' Mosses 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS

25 Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1= National Priority Species 2=Species of National Conservation Concern 3= Species of Local conservation Concern Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight Species associated with Farmland Habitats Farmland Action Plan May 2004

Latin name English name Group BAP Rarity Primary habitat Secondary habitat status Ephemerum serratum v. 'Minute Earth-moss' Mosses 3 Arable & horticultural Broad-leaved mixed woodland minutissimum Microbryum davillianum 'Smallest Pottia' Mosses 3 Arable & horticultural Microbryum floerkeanum 'Floerke's Phascum' Mosses 3 LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS Arable & horticultural Pohlia lutescens 'Yellow Thread-moss' Mosses 3 Boundary and linear features Rivers & streams Anthemis arvensis Corn Chamomile Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Briza minor Lesser Quaking-grass Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Callitriche hamatula Intermediate Water Starwort Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Callitriche obtusangula Blunt-fruited Water Starwort Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Callitriche platycarpa Various-leaved Water Starwort Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Centaurea cyanus Cornflower Flowering plant 1 EN Arable & horticultural Chenopodium glaucum Oak-leaved Goosefoot Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Chenopodium urbicum Upright Goosefoot Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Euphorbia platyphyllos Broad-leaved Spurge Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Filago vulgaris Common Cudweed Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural LOWLAND HEATHLAND Fumaria bastardii Tall Ramping-fumitory Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Fumaria purpurea Purple Ramping-fumitory Flowering plant 1 Arable & horticultural Fumaria reuteri Martin's Ramping-fumitory Flowering plant 2 EN Arable & horticultural Fumaria vaillantii Few-flowered Fumitory Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Glyceria maxima Reed Sweet-grass Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Hippuris vulgaris Marestail Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Lemna gibba Fat Duckweed Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Melampyrum arvense Field cow-wheat Flowering plant Misopates orontium Lesser Snapdragon Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Myriophyllum alterniflorum Alternate Water Milfoil Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Nuphar lutea* Yellow Water-lily Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Oenanthe fistulosa Tubular Water Dropwort Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Grazing marsh Orobanche rapum-genistae Greater Broomrape Flowering plant 2 Boundary and linear features LOWLAND DRY ACID GRASSLAND Papaver argemone Prickly Poppy Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Papaver hybridum Rough Poppy Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Potamogeton polygonifolius Bog Pondweed Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Fen marsh and swamp Ranunculus arvensis Corn Buttercup Flowering plant 2 Arable & horticultural Ranunculus trichophyllus Thread-leaved Water-crowfoot Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS

26 Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1= National Priority Species 2=Species of National Conservation Concern 3= Species of Local conservation Concern Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight Species associated with Farmland Habitats Farmland Action Plan May 2004

Latin name English name Group BAP Rarity Primary habitat Secondary habitat status Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Flowering plant 3 Boundary and linear features LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLAND Rorippa sylvestris Creeping Yellowcress Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Rumex hydrolapathum Water Dock Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Fen marsh and swamp Sambucus ebulus Dwarf Elder Flowering plant 3 Boundary and linear features Scleranthus annuus Annual Knawel Flowering plant 3 LOWLAND DRY ACID GRASSLAND Arable & horticultural Silene gallica Small-flowered Catchfly Flowering plant 1 Arable & horticultural Silene noctiflora Night-flowered Catchfly Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Silybum marianum Milk Thistle Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLAND Spirodela polyrhiza Greater Duckweed Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Stellaria neglecta Greater Chickweed Flowering plant 3 Boundary and linear features Broad-leaved mixed woodland Stratiotes aloides Water Soldier Flowering plant 3 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Tilia cordata Small-leaved Lime Flowering plant 3 Broad-leaved mixed woodland ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Torilis arvensis Spreading Hedge Parsley Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Trifolium arvense Haresfoot Clover Flowering plant 3 COASTAL SAND DUNES Arable & horticultural Valerianella dentata Narrow-fruited Corn Salad Flowering plant 2 Arable & horticultural Valerianella rimosa Broad-fruited Corn Salad Flowering plant 1 EN Arable & horticultural Verbascum nigrum Dark Mullein Flowering plant 3 Boundary and linear features Veronica agrestis Green Field Speedwell Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural

27 Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1= National Priority Species 2=Species of National Conservation Concern 3= Species of Local conservation Concern Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight Species associated with Farmland Habitats Farmland Action Plan May 2004

Species requiring a mosaic of habitats which includes farmed land

Latin Name English name Group BAP status Rarity Barbastella barbestellus Barbastelle Mammal 1 Eptesicus serotinus Serotine Mammal 2 Myotis bechsteinii Bechstein's Bat Mammal 1 Myotis daubentonii Daubenton's Bat Mammal 2 Myotis mystacinus Whiskered Bat Mammal 2 Myotis nattereri Natterer's Bat Mammal 2 Nyctalus noctula Noctule Mammal 2 Pipistrellus nathusii Nathusius's Pipistrelle Mammal 3 Pipistrellus pipistrellus Pipistrelle Bat Mammal 1 Plecotus auritus Brown Long-eared Bat Mammal 2 Plecotus austriacus Grey Long-eared Bat Mammal 2 Rhinolophus ferrumequinum Greater Horseshoe Bat Mammal 1 Carduelis carduelis Goldfinch Bird 2 Motacilla alba Pied wagtail Bird 2 Tyto alba Barn owl Bird 2 Bufo bufo Common Toad Amphibian 2 Rana temporaria Common Frog Amphibian 2 Triturus cristatus Great Crested Newt Amphibian 1 Triturus helveticus Palmate Newt Amphibian 2 Triturus vulgaris Smooth Newt Amphibian 2 Aleucis distinctata Sloe Carpet Moth 3 Cynaeda dentalis Starry Brindled Pearl Moth 3 Chaetostoma curvinerve A picture-winged fly True fly p3 RDB 2 Stratiomys potamida A soldier fly True fly 3

28 Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1= National Priority Species 2=Species of National Conservation Concern 3= Species of Local conservation Concern Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

1 Introduction

This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared through consultation with a range of organisations and specialists within the Isle of Wight BAP partnership. It covers a ten-year period from 2004 – 2014, with a review in 2009.

This action plan embraces a number of estuarine and coastal habitats that are identified as individual habitats types within the UK BAP. The plan will assist in ensuring that national objectives for coastal and estuarine habitats identified under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan are translated into effective action on the Island, taking into account local issues. The habitats occur in the major estuaries and along the Solent coastline; they are summarised in Table 1.

Table 1: Relationship between Isle of Wight estuarine habitats and UK BAP habitats

Habitat type UK BAP status Distribution on IW Saltmarsh Priority habitat In all estuaries; particularly extensive in Newtown and Yar estuaries, Mudflats Priority habitat Extensive in all estuaries, and along Solent shore Coastal Vegetated shingle Priority habitat At the mouth of the Eastern Yar and Newtown and along Solent shore. Small amount within Medina estuary Coastal Sand dune Priority habitat Small areas at the mouth of both the Western and Eastern Yar estuaries; relict sand dune near Ryde Canoe Lake Reedbed Priority habitat Present in all estuaries but Newtown Club rush swamp Broad habitat Mostly in Medina estuary Sheltered muddy gravels Priority habitat Small areas within estuaries and along Solent shore Sand flats At the mouths of estuaries and along the Solent shore Seagrass Beds Priority habitat Not mapped but important areas found on the north shore and at Bembridge Ledges Saline lagoons Priority habitat Eight sites on the Island with important examples found at Bembridge, Yarmouth and Newtown Quay.

The Solent coastline is notable for its unusual oceanographic, geological and biogeographic characteristics. The Island provides shelter and protection to the Hampshire coastline and the unusual double tides of the Solent area contribute to the special character of the intertidal. The Solent coastal habitats are ecologically rich and diverse, with a very large number and exceptionally wide range of regionally, nationally and internationally important habitats, communities and species populations. This diversity of coastal habitats and species arises partly because the Solent lies on the transition between the warm ‘Lusitanian’ waters of the western Channel and the cold ‘Boreal’ waters of the Eastern Channel. This results in the presence of marine flora and fauna characteristic of both provinces, with several species at the edge of their British geographical distribution. The southern location in Britain also means that some maritime species characteristic of warmer regions of Europe can maintain a foothold in the coastal zone, alongside species more characteristic of northerly climes. Its position close to the centre of the European flyway for many waterbirds and wildfowl encourages up to 150,000 waterfowl to make use of its estuaries while on migration and

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

during the winter months. Additionally, the complex nature of the coastal zone is of particular importance to species that utilise a range of coastal habitats at different times of the tidal cycle, day and year, and for different parts of their life cycle.

The Isle of Wight Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan encompasses not only the estuaries of the north coast of the Island, but also the coastal and intertidal habitats which between them are essential components of the same single, highly interdependent, ecological system. This coastal system, comprising a network of estuaries and the Solent itself, extends to the adjacent counties of Hampshire and West Sussex. When planning for biodiversity on the coast, it is essential to consider these adjacent counties. Most of the Island’s estuaries are intertidal harbours that are partially closed by sand and shingle spits at their mouths. They are characterised by low freshwater inflow, and many have large areas of saltmarsh and extensive sand and mud tidal flats with eelgrass beds exposed in the intertidal zone at low tide. Extensive areas of coastal wet grassland, reclaimed from saltmarsh and intertidal hundreds of years ago, creating vast areas of coastal grazing marsh, still occur in some areas behind sea walls, principally in parts of the Western Yar and the entirety of the formerly tidal Eastern Yar. Several estuaries still support natural transitions to terrestrial habitats, now an unusual feature in southern Britain. In addition to contributing towards a single inter-dependent ecological unit, each estuary is individually of high biodiversity value and of great value as a functioning estuarine ecosystem.

The coastal habitats described in this plan are each part of a complex and dynamic natural coastal system. These habitats are individually important for biodiversity conservation but the intimate mixture and the transitions between them and adjacent terrestrial habitats are also of particular importance for many species. Maintaining these transitions between habitats and, where possible, reinstating them is a high priority. The conservation of estuarine habitats is further complicated by the consequences of natural processes and changes in our climate and sea levels. These processes mean that the future of estuarine habitats is to a certain extent uncertain. Maintaining the capability of the coastal system to respond to dynamic changes is an important objective. Changes may lead to an increase in the extent of one habitat and a resultant decrease in the extent of an adjacent habitat in the short term. Such changes should only be accepted where they are the result of natural processes and so long as site integrity and function are not adversely impacted. Covey & Laffoley (2002) have identified a number of common threats to estuaries around the English coastline, many of which are likely to be relevant to the Solent estuarine ecosystem. These are as follows: 1. Coastal habitat is still being lost to development. Past development and hard coastal defences are fragmenting naturally mobile coastal habitats and their wildlife. Only a handful of dune systems are not impacted by development, leisure facilities or artificial sea defences.

2. Saltmarsh habitats, trapped between rising sea-levels and fixed seawalls, are being lost rapidly to ‘coastal squeeze’. The loss of saltmarsh nationally is currently estimated at around 100ha each year.

3. Most of Europe’s vegetated shingle occurs in England and today, nearly 50% of designated vegetated shingle habitat is in unfavourable condition as a result of poor coastal management and from activities that damage the fragile plant communities.

4. Managed realignment should be the main approach to accommodating saltmarshes and mudflats in the face of rising sea-levels. However, current flood management is failing to offset current losses and only 150ha of new coastal habitat has been created in the last 10 years, falling far short of the national BAP target of 140ha per year.

5. Present agricultural policy is having a double impact. It affects the ability to manage some coastal habitats such as saltmarsh and cliff-top grassland with appropriate grazing levels and it is also causing deterioration in marine water quality due to nutrient run off from

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

agricultural land. Since 1984, nitrogen inputs to the seas around the UK have increased by around 20%.

6. Fishing has taken so many fish out of the seas that the basic structure of marine food chains has altered and is degrading and the rate of deterioration has reportedly increased since the 1980s.

7. Heavy metals and other pollutants introduced into the marine environment are difficult to remove, especially when they become persistent in sediments or animal tissues (bioaccumulation). New, man-made chemicals, discharged into the marine environment over the last century, are now known to disrupt reproductive processes of fish, such as flounders in estuaries.

8. Eutrophication, the over-enrichment of the maritime environment leads to excessive growth of algae and often, reduced oxygen content of the water.

9. Dredging for aggregates as a source of raw materials for construction modifies sediment supply around the coast. Also dredging in harbours and ports to keep channels open, and to meet the demand for larger vessels alters the dynamics of estuaries.

The Solent Coastal Habitat Management Plan (CHaMPS) (Bray and Cottle, 2003) has identified a number of threats within the Solent. It concludes the following:

1) Continuing erosion of foreshores and die-back and erosion of cordgrass (Spartina) saltmarsh will leave upper foreshores, cliffs and coastal defences increasingly exposed. The coastal defences will contribute to widespread ‘coastal squeeze’ of foreshores and saltmarshes as sea- levels rise. This will be particularly pronounced along the Hampshire mainland coastline.

2) Between 58% and 75% of existing saltmarsh will be lost by 2100 due to coastal squeeze, with many existing areas becoming replaced by mudflats. Losses are predicted to be unevenly distributed and be most severe along the West Solent mainland coast and within the larger mainland harbours. Within the smaller estuaries, such as at Newtown, saltmarshes are anticipated to persist, and hence their relative importance is likely to increase over time.

3) Short-term increases in mudflats occurring at the expense of saltmarsh could be beneficial in terms of providing additional bird feeding areas. However, mudflats gained would be at a lower elevation than saltmarsh lost and therefore the effective intertidal area at half tide and above will be reduced.

4) The majority of vegetated shingle sites are likely to be maintained at approximately their present extent or increase slightly.

5) Few changes are predicted to areas of designated coastal grazing marsh provide that, under present strategic coastal defence policies, the majority would continue to be protected by defences. However, coastal grazing marsh is considered to be one of the most threatened habitats in the Solent. Realignment of coastal defences would result in loss of coastal grazing marsh habitat but could provide opportunities for creation of new estuarine habitats. The Eastern Yar valley provides the greatest opportunity (up to 600ha) within the Solent area but rapid coastal realignment would extinguish the nationally and internationally important freshwater and brackish habitats and species that have colonised the floodplain during the 130 years since reclamation. Therefore, it would be essential to secure significant belts of floodplain land upstream from the SSSI/SPA/Ramsar to facilitate the creation of new grazing marsh habitats, which would be a requirement for any unavoidable losses of land covered by these designations. Coastal realignment of such sites as the Eastern Yar, therefore, would require substantial resources and many decades (50-100 years) to enable these non-intertidal habitats and species to establish further up the flood plain. The effectiveness of creating new coastal grazing marsh habitat has yet to be tested.

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

Estuarine habitats often occur in association with other important habitats. In particular, there are often transitions from coastal saltmarsh to coastal and flood plain grazing marsh. The latter are considered in a Wetlands Habitat Action Plan.

2 Current Status

2.1 Description of the habitat Estuaries and their associated habitats are a very important feature of the Isle of Wight’s coastal biodiversity. They are varied in character, but all depend on a balance between sediment supply, the input of fresh and saline water and the tidal regime to maintain the specialist groups of plants and animals associated with them. For the purposes of the Solent Coastal HAP the habitats are described under the following headings: coastal saltmarsh, mudflats, coastal vegetated shingle, coastal sand dunes, seagrass beds and saline lagoons.

2.1.1 Coastal saltmarsh These are intertidal or tidally-influenced vegetated habitats that develop along soft, sheltered coasts with shallow shores, generally within estuaries. They are a transition habitat between the intertidal mudflats and sand, and the coastal hinterland which may be grazing marshes, dunes or shingle or woodland. The habitat as described excludes sea couch dominated, species-poor high saltmarsh. Rather rarely on the Island’s coastline, saltmarsh may be truncated by the presence of sea walls.

Saltmarshes are confined along the Island’s Solent coastline to comparatively small estuaries. They form a key component of the Solent and Southampton Waters SPA and candidate Maritime SAC. There are calculated to be 159.3 hectares of vegetated saltmarsh habitat on the Island (Table 2). This represents around 3.6 % of the Southeast regional resource. 80% of the Island resource is concentrated in two sites, the Western Yar Estuary and Newtown Harbour. The Medina Estuary and Bembridge Harbour in contrast have lost much of their semi-natural saltmarshes to a combination of factors including reclamation, increasing demand for recreational boating facilities, development of water-side industries and homes, and the natural processes of erosion leading to coastal squeeze.

Mixed saltmarsh is a particularly valuable resource and those in the Solent are notable for their concentration of nationally scarce flowering plant species. Although many saltmarshes in the Solent are considered to be of recent origin (generally less than 120 years old), some on the Island, principally in parts of the Newtown estuary, are believed to be much older, and they are not dominated by common cord-grass (Spartina anglica). The native, small cord-grass (S. maritima) is a component of mixed salt marshes in the Newtown estuary, its only remaining location on the south coast of England. However, the 17 hectares which have developed at Newtown since the breach of the sea wall in 1954 are more typical of the cord grass swards of the Solent coast. The Island’s saltmarshes contribute to the international importance of the Solent as an important resource for wading birds and wildfowl. They act as high tide refuges for birds feeding on adjacent mudflats, as breeding sites for waders and gulls and as a source of food for passerine birds particularly in autumn and winter. In winter they may also be used as feeding grounds for Brent geese, teal and wigeon. Areas with high structural and plant diversity, particularly where freshwater seepages provide a transition from fresh to brackish conditions, can be important for invertebrates.

Saltmarshes play an important role in binding-up sediments, including contaminants. They also help to attenuate the action of waves within the estuary. The intimate relationship between saltmarsh vegetation and other coastal habitats such as shingle structures, sand dunes and intertidal flats means that they need to be considered as a functional unit.

2.1.2 Mudflats Intertidal mudflats are sedimentary habitats created by deposition in low energy coastal environments, particularly estuaries and sheltered bays. They are not vegetated by flowering plants, apart from the eelgrass beds occurring along very sheltered stretches of coast. There are

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some 275 hectares of mudflats within Island estuaries, representing just 0.14% of the national resource (Table 2). Additionally, 103 hectares of intertidal mudflats and 450 hectares of intertidal sandflats have been identified along the north coast of the Island, outside of the estuaries. The largest extent of intertidal sediments in the Solent is found along the sheltered north-eastern shore of the Island, between Fishbourne and Horestone Point. This is the only major zone of sediment accumulation within the coastal cell stretching from Selsey Bill to Portland. Sediment accretion is believed to be derived from erosional processes on the south coast of the Island, although Ryde Sands may also be supplied from the Solent. At low tide, a particularly wide range of sediments are exposed over this stretch of coastline, grading from the fine estuary muds of Wootton Creek, through cobbles and boulders at Pelhamfield to the extensive sandflats at Ryde, which reach a maximum width of almost 2 km.

Intertidal flats are extremely productive biologically and they can be characterised in terms of their benthic fauna and their ability to support internationally important populations of wildfowl and waders as winter feeding grounds. Typically, twelve species of wildfowl and twenty species of wader regularly use the Island’s estuaries. Holme & Bishop (1980) split the sedimentary shore communities of the Solent and Southampton Water into five main types: crustacean-polychaete, sandmason worm, lugworm, carpet shell and furrow shell. The modern biotope classifications now used subdivide these communities further, and their use needs to be extended throughout the Solent. Mudflats are characterised by high biological productivity and abundance of organisms, but low diversity with few rare species. They are also important nursery areas for flatfish. Sheltered muddy gravel habitats can be extremely species rich, especially in fully marine conditions, because the complex nature of the substratum supports a high diversity of both infauna and epifauna.

2.1.3 Coastal vegetated shingle Approximately 1/3 of the coastline of the UK is fringed by a shingle or sand/shingle beach but much of this is devoid of vegetation. Sites where drift line vegetation does occur may have vegetative cover one year but not another. Therefore, although widespread in terms of total area, sites where this habitat is persistent are rare. Vegetation will establish on shingle beaches when the structure is stable and there is a matrix of finer material such as sand or silt. The extent and location of the vegetation depends upon the naturally occurring processes of erosion and accretion of the substrate. Mobility is an over-riding consideration and colonising species are able to withstand periodic disturbance, which may involve the total removal of the surface by storms.

The seaward edge of coastal vegetated shingle supports a particularly distinctive if sparse flora including sea kale, sea knotweed and yellow horned poppy. Certain invertebrate species are dependent upon shingle vegetation. There is a small but important group of Red Data Book beetles dependent upon undisturbed shingle beaches with seaweed; they probably also require adjoining low clay cliffs into which they can escape. Birds, including ringed plover and oystercatcher, use shingle as breeding and roosting sites. Common terns currently breeding on artificial rafts in the Newtown estuary have the potential to use nearby shingle beaches for breeding.

Coastal vegetated shingle is a nationally rare habitat. Although there are a few shingle areas on the Island’s coast and they are of limited extent, several sites are considered to be of regional importance for their representation of southern vegetation communities. There is an estimated 33ha of vegetated shingle on the Island’s coast.

Sites are restricted to the north coast and are contained within SSSIs and within the Solent and Southampton Waters cSAC. The best examples are the spits at the entrance of Newtown Harbour. Other sites occur at Wootton Creek and King’s Quay and the foreshores at Thorness Bay and Quarr are examples of shingle barriers.

2.1.4 Coastal sand dunes These are windblown sand formations that may be stable or shifting, together with their associated slacks, grassland and scrub. Sand dunes are a scarce resource on the Island’s coast and indeed along much of the English Channel coast. There is an estimated 15.4 hectares, representing around 2% of the south-east resource (Table 2). The majority of the South-east resource is

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accounted for by the major dune system of Sandwich Bay. However, St Helen’s Duver is considered to be of regional importance, because of the scarcity of this habitat on the South Coast. There are examples of spit dunes on the sandy promontories at the entrance to Bembridge Harbour and the Western Yar together with a sand dune community on the banks of Ryde Canoe Lake. The seaward edges of these dunes are artificially constrained and as a result, much of the habitat is stabilised. However, there is a small but important example of a dynamic dune system in its early, mobile phase at the mouth of Bembridge Harbour. A small, but remarkable perched sand dune occurs on a cliff top at Ladder Chine on the south-west coast and this is addressed in the Maritime Cliffs HAP.

Sand dunes provide a unique habitat for a rich community of highly specialised plant and animal species. St Helen’s Duver is the best local example; it supports the richest concentration of flowering plants per area of anywhere on the Island. With the increase in mild winters and warm, dry summers many plant and animal species characteristic of sandy soils are showing increases in populations and ranges. Sea buckthorn dune scrub is present on the spit dunes at the entrance to Bembridge Harbour.

The Island’s scarce sand dune resource is currently under considerable pressure from recreational activities. At Bembridge Point, Bembridge Harbour Improvements Company carry out mineral extraction on the sandflats, dunes and subtidal area. This may be having an impact on the dune forming processes at the mouth of Bembridge Harbour.

2.1.5 Reed bed Extensive reed beds are present in all estuaries on the Isle of Wight except Newtown. They are described more fully in the Wetlands Habitat Action Plan and in the case of the cliff face reed beds, by the Maritime Cliffs and Slopes Habitat Action Plan.

Substantial reed bed does, however, occur as part of a natural transition from saltmarsh habitat and in the upper reaches of estuaries as tidal influence is gradually reduced.

2.1.6 Club rush swamp In brackish situations sea club-rush Bolboschoenus maritimus forms swamp vegetation. This is present on the Medina estuary, at Thorness Bay and from Brading Marshes to St Helens ledges. It is very fragmented on the Island and under threat from pollution and sedimentation as a result of intensive agricultural activity on the river edge.

Wetland habitats that fall within this category include areas of tall fen and marsh that occur on permanently wet ground, mostly within river valleys. These are covered in the Wetlands Habitat Action Plan.

2.1.7 Seagrass Beds Intertidal sediments along the north coast of the Island can also support beds of three species of seagrass and these extend into the subtidal. All three species are nationally scarce and, additionally, extensive seagrass beds are highly productive because organic material released from decaying grass provides an important nutrient source for marine ecosystems.

Seagrass beds develop in intertidal and shallow subtidal areas on sands and muds. They may be found in marine inlets and bays but also in other areas such as lagoons and channels. The root systems of seagrass species stabilise and encourage accretion of the sediment on which they grow. These plants are an important source of organic matter, and provide shelter and attachment sites for other plants and animals, allowing interesting marine communities to develop. Infaunal communities within seagrass beds include some species not found in adjacent areas, with a number of sedentary species of plant and animal typically found attached to the leaves and free- living species occurring within the beds. Seagrass beds also support a large number of burrowing invertebrates, provide an important nursery and feeding ground for many fish species and a valuable food source for internationally important populations of waterfowl, particularly Brent Geese and Wigeon.

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The Isle of Wight’s seagrass resource has not yet been mapped but seagrass beds are largely on the north coast, including some at Bembridge Ledges. These extend into the sublittoral and are included within the Solent Maritime candidate SAC.

2.1.8 Saline Lagoons Saline lagoons are pond- or lake-like, virtually tideless, shallow brackish or saline bodies of water separated or partly separated from the sea by a beach, spit or seawall, which allows only limited influx of seawater. They can retain various levels of salt producing brackish, saline or hyper saline water. Saline lagoons are a nationally rare habitat and a ‘priority habitat type’ under the Habitats Directive. They are one of the rarest habitats in the UK, where there are only about 360, occupying an area of no more than 5,200 hectares. In England, they are largely confined to the south and east coasts, where they are relatively transient features. The Solent and Poole Harbour area supports one of the highest densities of coastal saline lagoons in England. Between 1750 and 1900 (and probably earlier than this) many lagoons in the Solent area were used as saltpans for the commercial production of salt. Along the Isle of Wight’s northern coastline, 8.5 hectares of saline lagoons have been identified. Although this is a small extent and a tiny proportion of the south-east resource, it includes some nationally important examples. The total figure does not include the 15 hectares of Wootton Millpond; this may be considered as a saline lagoon, or a partially tidal estuarine inlet.

All the Island’s lagoons are included within Sites of Special Scientific Interest and due to their ‘priority’ status, 12 of the lagoons in the Solent region have been included within the Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoon Special Area of Conservation. The Yar Bridge Lagoon is not included in the Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons SAC but lies within the Solent Maritime candidate SAC, for which saline lagoons are also a feature, and in the Solent and Southampton Water SPA and Ramsar site.

There are only a limited number of plants and animals able to tolerate the extreme conditions found within saline lagoons; but they include a significant number of specialists, which are not, or rarely, found elsewhere. Lagoons possess a characteristic invertebrate fauna that shows little regional variation, even within Europe. In Britain, several of these species are very rare and are protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. These include the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, recorded, at high densities in the Yar Bridge Lagoon and Bembridge lagoon, and the lagoon sand shrimp Gammarus insensibilis found at Newtown and Bembridge.

True lagoons support only three types of aquatic vegetation – stands of green algae, sea-grasses and similar plants, and occasionally stoneworts. The foxtail stonewort Lamprothamnium papulosum, which occurs in the Bembridge Harbour lagoon, is protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981. However, much of the area of lagoon beds is bare sediment, devoid of vegetation. Natural lagoons are very rare; most of those in the Solent are formed from sluiced ponds or inlets. Despite their highly modified nature or artificial origins, these saline lagoons still provide a similar habitat to that of natural lagoons, with a comparable range of specialised species.

2.1.9 High Tide Roosts High tide roosts are not so much a habitat type as an area used by waterbirds as a safe refuge at high tide. Undisturbed upper saltmarsh and coastal shingle are important high tide roosts but, in addition, some fields adjoining the Solent coast and offering uninterrupted sight-lines serve as high tide roosts for waders and waterfowl. They are an essential component of the land required by these species to maintain the Solent SPA in favourable condition.

2.2 Estuarine Species The Island’s estuaries and associated habitats are home to a rich diversity of plant and animal species of national or local importance. Ten species are listed within the UK BAP as being of national priority, 40 of national conservation concern and 81 of local conservation concern (see Table 2).

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One priority mollusc species associated with the Island’s estuaries is the native oyster Ostrea edulis found on sheltered muddy gravels. The Solent is one of the few places in the United Kingdom where natural beds of native oysters occur.

The nationally rare (Red Data Book) looping snail Truncatella subcylindrica is recorded on the eastern side of the northern face of the Freshwater causeway bridge at the levels of high water springs and above, and also at Kings Quay (Light and Killeen 2000)

Mediterranean Gull and Common Tern, SPA qualifying species, breed in Newtown estuary. The only national priority breeding bird species to occur on the Island’s estuaries and associated habitats is the reed bunting.

Table 2: Status of estuarine species Group\Priority 1 2 National 3 Local National Conservation Conservation priority Concern Concern Mammals 1* Birds 1 30 1 Fish 1 Ants Bees and 1 Wasps Beetles 3 8 Crickets 1 Crustaceans 1 Flies 3 Moths 1 11 Mollusc 2 3 3 Millipedes 1 Sea anemone 1 1 Sea mat 1 Sponge 1 True bugs 6 Worms 1 1 Flowering 3 43 plants Stonewort 1 TOTAL 10 40 81

* Otter is a vagrant species at Newtown 2.3 Distribution and Extent The total extent of most of the Island’s estuarine and associated habitats has been mapped as part of the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Audit and Assessment (IWC, 2000). The results of this are summarised in Table 3

Table 3: Extent of estuarine habitats on the Isle of Wight BAP habitat type Area (ha) Within estuaries Along Solent shore Salt marsh 159 157.8 1.2 Mudflats 379 270.19 99.46 Sand flats 459.9 0 459.9 Coastal Vegetated shingle 4.06 2.63 1.43 Coastal Sand Dune 15.36 15.36 0 Reedbed (in estuaries) 32.03 32.03 - Club rush swamp 5.46 5.46 0 Sheltered muddy gravels not mapped present present Seagrass Beds not mapped ? present Saline Lagoons 8.47 present -

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2.4 Legislation and Site Designation The Island’s estuaries are all contained within the Solent European Marine Site that incorporates important species and habitats throughout the Solent. The site incorporates the Solent Maritime candidate Special Area of Conservation, Solent and Southampton Water Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site, Chichester and Langstone Harbours Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site and Portsmouth Harbour Special Protection Area and Ramsar Site.

A large proportion of estuarine habitat on the Island has been notified as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or designated through the Unitary Development Plan as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC).

A summary of estuarine and associated habitats present within the main SSSI and SINC on the Island is summarised in tables 4 and 5.

Table 4: Distribution of estuarine habitat within SSSIs

Site name Saltmarsh Mudflats Sand Coastal Coastal Reedbed Club Sheltered Saline Seagrass flats vegetated sand rush muddy lagoons beds shingle dune swamp gravels Yar estuary 43.82 28.87 0 0 0.6 6.63 0 0.43 Newtown 81.98 159.35 50.48 2.15 0 0.65 Harbour Medina 4.33 61.37 0 0.01 0 0.69 2.79 present 0 estuary Kings Quay 4.73 18.72 29.37 0.28 0 2.39 0 present shore Ryde Sands 0.23 79.66 303.26 0.69 0 1.97 0 1.71 present and Wootton (Seaview Creek Duver) Briddlesford 5.71 0 0 0 0 0 Copse Brading 12.29 18.59 49.77 0.10 14.67 10.54 0.26 5.68 Marshes to St Helens Ledges Thorness Bay 1.18 0 0.47 0 2.92 1.71 present 0 Bouldnor and 0 0 11.70 0 0 0 present Hamstead Cliffs

Table 5: Distribution of estuarine habitats in SINCs

SINC number SINC name Area ha Principal habitat Subsidiary habitat 199 Little Werrar Wood 5.33 Woodland saltmarsh 0.50 242 Waterclose Copse 9.97 Woodland saltmarsh 0.64 221 The Old Mill Pond Wootton 14.30 Open water mud 10.48 saltmarsh 0.16 200 Heathfield Meadows 31.61 Semi-improved saltmarsh 1.94 grassland 214 Ryde Canoe Lake 1.83 Open water sand dune 0.09 132 Osborne Estate 199.89 Semi- improved vegetated shingle 0.36 grassland and Sand flats 4.32; woodland Seagrass beds 233 Shrape Muds 7 Sandflats Seagrass beds

Additionally there are small fragments of saltmarsh habitat in the Medina Estuary that lie outside any designated site.

2.5 Summary of Important Sites Most coastal and estuarine habitats of biodiversity importance are covered by Site of Special Scientific Interest designation down to the mean low water mark. One exception to this is the

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subtidal species of Zostera that generally lies outside the SSSI designation, although some populations fall within the boundary of the candidate Solent European Marine Site, which incorporates ‘mud and sand banks not covered by seawater at low tide’ as one of its features of interest.

The Solent and Southampton SPA (which includes a complex of sites in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight) is of European and national importance for breeding gulls and terns and wintering waterfowl (supporting a mean of over 20,000 wildfowl and nearly 30,000 waders). All of these areas are also Ramsar sites designated as ‘Wetlands of International Importance especially as Wildfowl Habitat’.

A large proportion of the Island’s northern coast falls within the Solent Maritime candidate Special Area of Conservation designated under the EC Habitats and Species Directive. This is designated for the following habitats of European importance: Atlantic salt meadows (perennial saltmarsh vegetation, for which this is one of the best areas in the United Kingdom); Cord Grass (Spartina) swards; mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide; Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand; Sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time; and Annual vegetation of drift lines. There is also a Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons SAC which contains some of the Island’s Saline Lagoons and areas of brackish ditches with lagoonal communities inside coastal wet grassland.

The network of European designations within the Solent region are collectively known as the Solent European Marine Sites and a management plan is currently being drawn up to ensure the activities that take place within them are managed appropriately.

3 Current Factors affecting the habitat The estuarine system is subject to a high degree of natural change but is particularly interdependent. In assessing the importance of issues relating to estuaries, the combined impact of activities also needs to be considered.

Many estuarine and coastal habitats face similar threats. Below are a number of generic factors with specific details of those habitats particularly at risk.

3.1 Rising Sea Level and Coastal Squeeze

Rising sea level poses a significant threat to the Island’s coastal and estuarine habitats. Studies suggest that the effect on the Isle of Wight will be particularly pronounced due to the combination of climate change and gradual sinking of land in the region caused by isostatic movements since the last ice age.

The CHaMPs study suggested a rise of 2mm per year rising to 6.5mm / year over the next 50 years (Bray and Cottle, 2003) The SCOPAC study suggests a rise of mean sea level of 54cm and a rise of extreme sea level (incorporating a 1:50 year surge of 84cm by 2080s (Hosking and Moore, 2001). A trend towards increased storm frequency is also anticipated.

Although the scale of these trends is still uncertain, the overall result of this relative sea level rise is the landward movement of both low water and high water marks. ‘Coastal squeeze’ is a process by which the intertidal habitats are forced landward by higher tides but are unable to move inland to compensate and are ‘squeezed out’ of existence. This may occur where hard structures such as coastal defence, urban developments, cultivated land or other maritime land use limit the inland development of coastal habitats above the high water mark. On a natural coastline, in the absence of such barriers, it would be possible for the whole of the intertidal area to move inland providing opportunities for the growth of saltmarshes higher on the coast and development of a broader and more stable intertidal area. It is likely that if a programme of managed retreat or coastal realignment is not implemented, much of the Solent’s saltmarsh resource will be lost over the next few decades.

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Sea level rise and coastal squeeze will cause further pressures on existing and potential saline lagoons through flooding, percolation and infiltration and by reducing the area of the low-lying coastal fringe habitats that are suitable for their establishment. There may also be increasing pressures for reinforcement of seawalls or managed retreat at the expense of existing lagoons.

The habitats covered in this HAP are amongst those most badly affected by coastal squeeze, although the issue is also covered by the Habitat Action Plans for Maritime Cliffs and Wetlands. The Island is predicted to see a loss of intertidal habitats in the future and this is likely to be preceded by an increase in the area of intertidal mudflats.

Managed retreat or managed realignment is seen as the only sustainable solution to sea level rise but this may result in the loss of brackish or freshwater habitats if they are not also able or allowed to migrate inland. Options for managed retreat are restricted by the large amount of coastal land that has been developed for industry or housing and is of too high an economic value to be abandoned. Decision-makers and landowners must decide, within provisions of the Habitats Regulations, whether valuable semi-natural habitats (particularly coastal wet grassland and saline lagoon) should be sacrificed for the re-establishment of saltmarsh, when it proves impossible to move all coastal and transitional habitats inland. Implementation of such a project would be subject to the satisfactory outcome of a feasibility study, the ability to gain control of necessary land and adequate finance being available.

3.2 Sediment Supply

The balance between erosion and accretion of coastal habitats is determined primarily by the local sediment budget. This may be affected by coast protection works, or by changes in estuary morphology caused by land claim, dredging of shipping channels and flood defence works. Such changes may occur over tens or hundreds of years following the activities that originally caused them.

The health and ongoing development of coastal sediment features depend on a continuing supply of new sediment, usually from eroding coastlines and river sources further up the coast.

Very few sand dune systems are in overall equilibrium, the majority in the UK are eroding as a result of insufficient sand supply. Such changes may be cyclical, not only seasonally but also annually and over longer periods of time. Replenishment of shingle may occur sporadically as a response to storm events rather than continuously.

Human activities can lead to materials being released for ‘natural’ replenishment. Management techniques such as beach recharge may be successful, and may even be used to re-circulate material sustainably within a dynamic coastal cell. Mechanical re-profiling is unlikely to be successful in the long term, as it does not address the need to supply new material.

The size of the Island’s sand dune resource means that large-scale restoration techniques are often inappropriate. Smaller scale management techniques such as replanting of stabilising grasses are likely to be more effective.

Ways of using dredged material beneficially for habitat recreation are being explored, and such requirement is now often included under the terms of dredging licences, although it is yet to be proved effective in the Solent.

3.3 Water quality Water quality can have a significant impact on coastal and estuarine habitats, particularly those in enclosed areas. The Island’s tidal and estuarine waters are generally of good quality but there are a number of factors that affect it.

Pollution from agricultural and urban run-off, anti-fouling chemicals and sewage and industrial discharges (historic and present) has affected water and habitat quality.

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The Medina is the only one of the Island’s estuaries that supports major industrial use and the only one with a significant treated sewage input, from the Fairlee treatment works.

Water quality is monitored by the Environment Agency to look at trends in chemical and biological quality. The past decade has seen a general improvement in water quality on the Island. Of the 88 km total length of monitored rivers, 27 km has shown a significant improvement over the period whilst only 2 km has decreased in quality. Stretches of water courses with decreased water quality are likely to be investigated by the Environment Agency from 2003/2004 onwards.

Other forms of pollution are associated with agriculture, and include diffuse sources of phosphate, nitrate and pesticides, as well as silt and sediment eroded from fields and leakage of silage effluent. These diffuse sources of pollution can be difficult to control, and require catchment-based land management strategies and advice to farmers if they are to be resolved.

The ‘SeaClean Wight’ project undertaken by Southern Water, which includes secondary treatment, has resulted in a significant improvement in the quality of discharge into coastal waters. The input of a large number of unconsented septic tank discharges and storm overflow systems has yet to be comprehensively addressed although the Environment Agency is tackling this on an environmental risk basis as resources become available.

In the past much of the pollution was from point sources and there has been significant improvement in the identification and improvement of the quality of the discharge. Non-point sources such as from atmospheric pollution, and agricultural run-off and industrial leachate are now considered to be a more significant source of pollution and a more difficult to reduce.

There have been high nutrient levels indicated by monitoring in the Solent Area. Excessive plant growth (anoxic events and blooms of nuisance algae) can be a consequence of nutrient enrichment. Green algae are important primary producers in estuaries but in conditions of high nutrient levels they can form dense, smothering mats on mudflats, which can lead to highly anaerobic conditions in the underlying mud and to changes in the biomass and composition of benthic fauna. This increase has implications for the fish and birds that feed on the benthic fauna but too few nutrients will affect some bird populations that thrive on the artificially high biomass.

There is increasing concern that algal mats of Enteromorpha spp, are remaining on the mudflats for a longer time and are becoming more expansive. Although subject to seasonal variations, a gradual increase over a number of years may be due to increased nutrients in the water and the extent of change should be monitored.

The Solent is an important waterway for oil tankers and other shipping and tankers from the major ports of Southampton, Portsmouth and the oil refinery in Southampton Water. Spills could occur from all shipping, including the ferry traffic to and from the Island. Each Harbour Authority has a contingency plan in place to deal with such an event and there is an agreement between authorities to assist each other.

Hormone-disrupting chemicals can be a chronic problem for estuary life, the impact of which is not fully quantified. One useful indicator species of such contamination is the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus. A report in 1994 found good evidence to suggest that tributyl tin from the recreational craft in the Solent area is responsible for the elimination of dog-whelks from around the Isle of Wight which had been observed by Herbert, (1988). The results of surveys from around the Island’s coast in May 1992 showed that the Medina estuary had the highest concentrations of TBT (10.5 ng Sn l- 1). Significant contamination was also detected along the north-east coast between Bembridge Harbour and Cowes, and in the Western Solent near Yarmouth (Langston et al 1994).). Some degree of recovery has been documented by further survey work (Bray and Herbert 1998).

Mudflats, seagrass and their associated species are particularly vulnerable to pollution incidents such as oil spills, to sewage and industrial discharges and to the input of tributyltin and other antifoulants. The long history of such activities has left a legacy of heavily polluted sediments.

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Seagrasses are known to accumulate tributyl tin and possibly other metals and organic pollutants and may pass these on to grazers such as brent geese. These and other substances may reduce nitrogen fixation and affect the viability of these plants (Hampshire County Council, 2001). Water quality is also affected by the factors outlined in the following five sections.

3.4 Recreational Pressure

Increasing recreational pressure on the coast has probably the greatest impact on biodiversity.

The Solent coast is a major centre for recreational yachting and the coastline and harbours of the Isle of Wight are extremely popular, particularly in the main season from April to September and during Cowes week in August. This intensity of use may increase pollution as discharge from boats includes sewage and ‘grey’ water possibly containing detergents and engine emissions. It may also increase the incidence of marine litter.

As well as monitoring, one of the steps necessary to improve water quality is to tackle it at the source and through a combination of education and provision of facilities. In doing so the potential increase in damage from these sources could be reduced. Marinas and harbours are being encouraged to provide appropriate facilities as part of the ‘Greener marinas’ project. Environmental codes of practice are being developed by organisations such as the RYA.

Other recreational activities such as walking, kayaking and angling can cause damage to habitats such as saltmarsh, mudflats and vegetated shingle due to trampling and the introduction of synthetic materials and results in disturbance to nesting, feeding and roosting birds. The litter left behind after angling competitions has been identified as an issue on the Medina Estuary.

The increasing recreational pressure at Norton Spit is thought to have a major impact on the SSSI. English Nature and Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners are working together to develop a Site Management Statement that will allow recreational use but minimise the impact it has on the site.

3.5 Changing land use and management

Changes in land use, land claim and coastal defence works have all had a major impact on coastal biodiversity over hundreds of years. Some of these activities have resulted in the development or extension of habitats such as the expansion of saltmarshes after the creation of the breakwater at Yarmouth Harbour. Many habitats that have increased in area in this way are now considered to be of considerable importance for the species they support.

The construction of artificial coastal works along many sections of coast has stabilised cliffs and prevented flooding and erosion of low-lying land above the high water mark. Some of these activities have reduced the supply of sediments from the land that would feed other parts of the coastal system, particularly saltmarshes and intertidal mudflats.

The processes which lead to the natural development of some types of lagoons tend to be inhibited by human activities. The formation of new lagoons will not keep pace with the process of lagoon loss. The main factors affecting the habitat are natural succession, infilling, sea level rise, pollution and the repair of flap-valves.

In the past, land claim was primarily for agricultural purposes and salt production. In the Solent it is estimated that 3,655 ha of saltmarshes and mudflats have been embanked, 90% of this between 1600 and 1900 (Hampshire County Council, 2001). More recently arable intensification, land claim, recreational, urban, port and industrial developments have resulted in habitat loss.

Losses of intertidal and coastal habitats on the Island are directly as a result of development or land claim or the consequence of a change in the flow of water or supply of sediment. In a study carried out on the Western Yar in 1999 (Pethick, 1999) it is suggested that current changes in estuarine habitats are a consequence of changes to the shape of the harbour as the estuary tries

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to regain its equilibrium. A report by ABPMer (February 2003) concluded that the saltmarshes have undergone relatively little change.

On the Island, land reclamation has taken place over a number of previous tip sites. This has lead to uncertainty about the contents of the old tips and their suitability for development. There is also concern about pollutants leaching out of the site into the watercourse. The Western Yar has seen significant land claim on two former tip sites, one on each bank. The Medina has seen more development related to maritime industries and is under considerable pressure to cope with the increasing demand for recreational use alongside a need for regeneration of industrial sites.

The Medina Valley is the focus of a development strategy (‘Cowes Waterfront’) to encourage investment and appropriate use of the allocated sites that are available for redevelopment.

3.6 Dredging and dumping

Capital and maintenance dredging of shipping channels, berthing areas such as marinas and marine aggregate dredging can disrupt natural coastal sediment processes, including the movement of sediment between intertidal and subtidal areas. This disruption of natural processes is exacerbated when capital and maintenance dredgings are dumped outside the Solent and unable to return to feed coastal processes there.

Sediment supply to estuaries is important in maintaining the balance of habitats they support. It is likely to be an increasingly important issue as an increased supply of sediment may help to partially counter-act the effects of sea level rise on estuarine and coastal habitats.

One way that dredging might be used to achieve this aim is to keep the dredged material within the estuarine system through some kind of alternative or beneficial use. This may take the form of bed levelling, intertidal recharge or recreation of habitats for example but there are a number of issues that arise from this approach. A number of studies are underway on the Island to look into the possibility of using dredged material in an alternative manner.

3.7 Fisheries and Bait collection

A number of recreational and commercial fisheries activities may cause physical disturbance on coastal habitats and have a direct impact on the species they support. Trampling, bait collection, bivalve dredging, the use of mobile fishing gear, shoreline species collection and anchoring have all been reported to cause habitat damage.

There is relatively little data on fish populations in the Island’s estuaries and what information there is has not been collated despite the importance of estuaries as nurseries for commercially important fish species. The Environment Agency recently carried out a study into fish populations in the Medina Estuary and the Medina Valley Centre keep records of species found there. The Medina estuary is believed to have a rich diversity of fish species and is particularly important as a nursery area for juvenile bass.

Some of the Island’s estuaries support the passage of migratory fish. Sea trout are known to frequent the Medina during their migration to and from fresh water. Little or no information is available concerning the distribution and health of migratory fish populations.

There are no major commercial fisheries operating in the estuaries themselves at present but a thriving Oyster fishery is present in the Solent and oyster fishing may return to the Medina when the condition of the oysters is fit for consumption.

14 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

3.8 Non-native and Introduced Species

The large volume of shipping in the Solent means it is susceptible to the introduction of non-native species from ballast water or anchor lines. Wireweed (Sargassum muticum) is an invasive species from the Pacific that appeared on the Isle of Wight in 1973, having spread to Britain from France. Wireweed is thought to have been transported to the Solent entangled on anchors or anchor lines. It competes with native species such as seagrass and is considered a nuisance in harbours, beaches and shallow waters.

The other major source of introductions is through the deliberate translocation of species for mariculture. The only instance of this on the Island is the use of Newtown estuary for cleansing clams reared in Southampton Waters. This is a relatively low-intensity operation. In Hampshire notable examples of mariculture include commercially -harvested species such as the American clam Mercenaria mercenaria and Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Some species may have been unintentionally introduced with these such as the soft clam Mya arenaria, slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata, and Japanese or Korean seasquirt Styela clava, all of which now dominate some native benthic communities on the Hampshire coast.

Deliberate introductions of non-native species are in violation of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, if undertaken without a licence, because of the damage that introductions may cause to native flora, fauna and habitats. Non-native species may have such fast growth rates, resilience to disease and to local predators that they have the potential to out-compete local species (fast-growing Wireweed, for example, could potentially shade out Zostera beds and displace native algae). If hybridisation occurs between introduced and native species, this may also lead to the loss of the latter if the hybrid is invasive.

4 Current Action

4.1 Site and Species Protection Most of the important habitats on the Isle of Wight’s Solent coastline are covered by Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designation. Much of it, particularly the estuaries, saltmarsh, lagoonal habitats and those areas of importance for bird populations, receives additional protection under existing or proposed international designations as Special Protection Area, Ramsar Site or Special Area of Conservation. Much of the Newtown estuary has also been designated as a National Nature Reserve

4.1.1 Site designation There are currently no plans to notify new estuarine sites as SSSI or SINC on the Isle of Wight.

4.1.2 Habitat management

There are limited opportunities to recreate coastal and estuarine habitats throughout the Solent and suitable areas are likely to come under increasing pressure as mitigation / compensation is sought for habitats lost to development. These areas are also under pressure from natural change such as sea level rise. It is likely that coastal and estuarine habitats will be lost due to coastal squeeze but in the short term those remaining can be managed and possibly enhanced to delay the loss. There will need to be some debate over the creation of new coastal and estuarine habitats if their creation would be detrimental to other existing habitats.

At Newtown an area of shingle bank has been fenced off to allow the vegetation to regenerate.

Some coastal habitats are a target habitat for the Environmental Stewardship Scheme, administered by Defra through the Rural Development Service (RDS). This scheme provides payments for maintaining and enhancing wetland habitats, although it is a competitive scheme and funding has to be prioritised. At Thorness Bay, a scheme for recreation of intertidal habitat through

15 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

managed retreat has been agreed with Defra, and a Stewardship agreement has been signed. Work is scheduled to start in the spring of 2004.

The forthcoming Eastern Yar Fluvial and Coastal Strategy will consider the implications of sea level rise and the future management of Brading Marshes and Bembridge Harbour.

More details of relevant habitat management can be found in the Wetlands Habitat Action Plan.

4.2 Survey, research and monitoring

Regular monthly counts of wildfowl, waders, gulls and certain other wetland birds have taken place as part of the British Trust for Ornithology’s Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) since 1969. The sites watched within the area covered by this Habitat Action Plan are:

Western Yar, Newtown, Medina, and Brading Harbour (including Brading/Bembridge Marsh), Ryde East Sands and Wootton Creek.

Despite the large number of regional coastal management initiatives in and around the Solent there is still a need for detailed local surveys, research and monitoring. There has been an increase in recent years in the number of studies undertaken on estuaries, particularly on the Medina. This has largely been through requirements for development proposals so that the statutory authorities can assess the possible impact when carrying out appropriate assessments and granting consents. Consequently the studies tend to focus on specific areas rather than on the estuary as a whole.

The Isle of Wight Estuaries Project also aims to encourage or facilitate the gathering of more information regarding the Island’s estuaries. A number of studies are currently (2003) underway on the Medina Estuary relating to sustainable use, bird use and the impact of swinging moorings. Monitoring of the saltmarsh in the Western Yar is also proposed as part of Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners’ sustainable dredging plan.

In 2002 the Environment Agency commissioned the consultancy Atkins to investigate the Isle of Wight’s SAC saline lagoons in order to establish the potential impacts of the Environment Agency’s consented discharges on the lagoons. In 2003, the Environment Agency commissioned a Solent- wide study of the current biological character of saline lagoons.

English Nature have undertaken site quality monitoring of all coastal SSSI on the Island in recent years and aim to ensure that 95% of all sites are in favourable or recovering condition by 2010. A CASI survey is also underway to provide baseline data on the extent of coastal habitats.

The Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment is involved in a strategic monitoring programme that is being funded by Defra along the whole of south-east England, covering all aspects of the coast.

Most of the actions contained within this plan should include an element of surveying, research or monitoring to ensure that the action is required, appropriate and successful.

4.3 Action for species Appendix 1 gives details of species on the Isle of Wight found primarily in coastal and estuarine habitats. Action proposed in this Plan will be the principal means of conserving most of these species. In some cases, additional action plans and programmes will also contribute to conserving priority species.

16 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

4.4 Action through policy and legislation

There are a large number of national and regional initiatives and programmes that have an influence on the management of the Isle of Wight’s coast. Many of these look at issues and actions throughout the Solent and the coasts of Hampshire, West Sussex and Dorset. They range from local planning policy to the management of the Solent European Marine Sites.

The Standing Committee on Problems Associated with the Coastline (SCOPAC), comprising the coastal local authorities of West Sussex, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Dorset aims to integrate initiatives at county planning level. The Solent Forum has brought together all national and local statutory bodies, user groups, academia, industry and the main voluntary organisations (over 60 organisations) in order to develop a common strategy (through consensus) for the management and conservation of the Solent. The Solent Forum is setting up a Solent Nature Conservation Group to co-ordinate action for biodiversity in the Solent. Co-ordination and integration of coastal management issues across the region is an essential element of the future of the Isle of Wight’s coastal habitats.

Solent European Marine Sites (SEMS) Management Scheme The European Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (generally known as the Habitats Directive) requires the maintenance or restoration of natural habitats and species of European interest at favourable conservation status. The identification and management of a network of sites of European importance (SACs and SPAs), known as Natura 2000 sites, is one of the main vehicles for achieving this. The Directive includes special provisions for European Marine Sites (SACs and SPAs which include areas of sea), particularly the production of a management scheme.

The Solent European Marine Site (SEMS) includes the Solent Maritime candidate SAC, the Solent and Southampton Water SPA, Portsmouth Harbour SPA, and Chichester and Langstone Harbours SPA. A Management Group of Relevant Authorities is currently preparing a management scheme for the Site. This will outline measures required to achieve the favourable conservation status of the Site by considering the impacts of current activities and their management. Plans and projects that require a license or permission from a competent authority will be assessed on a case-by-case basis through Habitats Regulations 48-50 and the requirement for appropriate assessments.

The management scheme will build on English Nature’s Regulation 33 Advice on conservation objectives and operations that may cause deterioration and disturbance to habitats and species (English Nature, 2001) and will identify issues that need to be addressed by the Relevant Authorities to ensure the conservation status of the SEMS is maintained.

The Statutory SEMS Management Scheme will link into other current initiatives in the area including the Coastal Habitat Action Plans of the counties concerned.

Coastal Habitat Management Plans (CHaMPs) ChaMPs, launched in April 2000, are intended to “resolve situations where predictable changes to the coastline make it impractical or unsuitable to maintain all the components of a European or other international site in situ, and to meet their conservation objective, such as dynamic coasts where habitats are no longer able to respond to sea level rise”.

The CHaMPS guidelines aim to develop a strategic approach to the holistic management of flood risk and internationally important wildlife sites. They may be applied to coastal sites of international nature conservation importance (SPAs and SACs) threatened by rising sea levels and coastal squeeze or to areas immediately adjacent to European or international sites.

The Project will seek opportunities for mitigation of net losses that are likely due to coastal defence actions. The aim is to maintain or protect in situ in the first instance and only to mitigate elsewhere where losses still persist or are otherwise likely. Habitats included are vegetated shingle, sand dune, saltmarsh, coastal grazing marsh, mudflat and saline lagoons.

17 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

The Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment has commissioned an Environmental Mitigation Strategy. This will identify potential sites for realignment around the coast and estuaries of the Island. The key aims and purpose of this study are to identify appropriate and realistic sites that will allow the Isle of Wight Centre for the Coastal Environment to put forward technical and environmentally sustainable solutions to shoreline management and coastal development.

The Environment Agency, English Nature and Hampshire County Council are developing a similar project on the Hampshire mainland, looking at habitat creation sites, and developing the CHaMP further.

The Centre for the Coastal Environment has commissioned a Coastal Evolution Study using overlays of current and historic aerial photographs. This will enable very precise measurements of coastal change to be measured using GIS.

Shoreline Management Plans (SMP) Shoreline Management Plans cover a stretch of coastline and take account of the natural coastal sediment circulation cells. They address factors such as the geological structure of the coast, the natural processes which influence it, the land use in the area, development plans and the flood and erosion risks along the coast. The SMP proposes a strategy for the future approach to managing the coast in terms of holding the line, managed realignment or doing nothing. It looks ahead for up to fifty years but is subject to a five yearly review. The Isle of Wight SMP was completed in 1997, but its review has been delayed while guidance from Defra is awaited. It is hoped that Round two will commence in autumn 2004 and it is anticipated that the new SMP will have an increased regard for CHaMPS and Coastal Mitigation Studies and will consider a longer (100 year) timescale.

Coastal Defence Strategy Studies The coastal defence strategies stem from the SMP and look in more detail at the coastline of the Isle of Wight, its current sea defences and the best approach for each section of coastline in the future. Such studies are now in progress for the whole of the Isle of Wight coast and also the Eastern Yar valley where a combined coastal and fluvial strategy is being developed between the Environment Agency and the Coastal Defence authority.

Estuary Management Plans Estuary Management Plans were prepared for the Medina Estuary and the Western Yar Estuary in 1997 and 1998 respectively. Although originally part of a national initiative, these plans were developed through extensive consultation with local stakeholders. Many of the actions and objectives contained in the plans are administered and implemented by the Isle of Wight Estuaries Project. This is a partnership project between statutory authorities and the Harbour Commissions. The north-east coast study proposes an allocation of funding for an estuary management plan for Wootton Creek. Bembridge Harbour would also benefit from a Management Plan.

AONB Management Plan Large sections of the Island’s northern coastline and estuaries lie within the AONB. The management and protection of AONBs has been strengthened by the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. The Act confers a duty on all Local Authorities with AONB within their area to formulate, adopt and publish an AONB Management Plan setting out their policies for the area and for carrying out their functions in relation to it. The Act has also placed a duty on all public bodies and statutory undertakers to ‘have regard’ to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the AONB, when exercising or performing their functions in relation to, or so as to affect an AONB. Areas of key coastal and estuarine habitat on the Island are contained within AONB designation. The AONB Unit seek to encourage a partnership approach to the conservation and enhancement of the AONB.

18 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan 5 Objectives and Targets

These objectives are in line with national, regional and Solent-wide objectives and targets for coastal habitats. In order to ensure that actions are in line with and monitored across the Solent, progress on the actions will be fed into the Solent Nature Conservation Group, organised by the Solent Forum.

Objectives Proposed Actions A Maintain and enhance the present extent of estuarine and 1 – 12, 16 - 18 associated habitats.

B Encourage relevant authorities to seek opportunities for further 4, 6 –9, 18 estuarine habitat creation, in line with national targets and other Habitat Action Plans in the Solent area. Work with other authorities in the Solent area to identify possible areas of mitigation for sea level rise and help to maintain the integrity of the coastal system.

C Ensure the requirements of Isle of Wight estuarine BAP species 13 – 15, 17 - 20 are met and their populations maintained and where possible augmented through appropriate management.

D Improve knowledge of estuarine and associated habitats on the 21 - 28 Island through survey research and monitoring and encourage the integration of this research and monitoring with similar work for relevant coastal management plans.

E Communication, awareness and promotion: Promote the 28 - 32 importance of estuaries and their habitats, the associated species and the threats to them to key sectors including statutory and voluntary organisations, coastal industries and user groups, landowners, community groups and the public to promote awareness of coastal habitats.

19 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan 6 Proposed Action

The following table lists the actions required to achieve the objectives set out in this plan. Each action has been assigned to one or more Key Partners. Key Partners are those organisations that are expected to take responsibility for the delivery of the actions assigned to them, according to the targets set in this Plan. Other organisations may also be involved in the delivery of action and they have been indicated in the ‘Others’ column.

Key to symbols in Action Table:

To be completed by the indicated year. Work can commence at any time before the due date, at the discretion of the key partner. Design or production of a plan/strategy to be completed by this year and then followed by its implementation. ¨ To start by the indicated year and usually followed by ongoing work. A start arrow in year 2004 can indicate a new action or a new impetus to existing work. Work that has already begun and is ongoing.

Key to Organisations in Action Table IWC = Isle of Wight Council, EA = Environment Agency, EN = English Nature, Defra = Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, WW = Wight Wildlife, HIWWT = Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, WNF = Wight Nature Fund, NT = National Trust, CLA = Country Land and Business Association, NFU = National Farmers Union, RSPB, I2KT = Island 2000 Trust, AONB = IW AONB Project, SW = Southern Water, FWAG Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group IWC CCE = Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment

ACTION DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS OBJ. Key Partner Others 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 Habitat Protection 1 Review the selection of SSSI to ensure all relevant EN ALL ¨ A sites are designated. 2 Ensure that all suitable habitats that meet SINC criteria IWC WW A are identified.

20 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

ACTION DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS OBJ. Key Partner Others 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2014 3 Support the review of the shoreline management plan IWC CCE Steering A to ensure that the habitats are afforded adequate Group consideration and protection. members

4 Seek to acquire existing and potential sites adjacent to HIWWT/ WNF A, B estuaries for nature conservation management, RSPB/ particularly those that will facilitate habitat change to NT accommodate sea level rise

5 Seek to safeguard all estuarine habitats from IWC/ EN, WW A development through forward planning and Harbour development control. Authorities/ Marine Consents Unit 6 Take opportunities to work with developers to promote IWC/EA/ I2KT, A, B habitat restoration and creation EN WW Habitat Management, Incentive Schemes and Other Resources 7 Review all SSSI supporting estuarine habitats and EN All public A, B ensure 95% by area are under favourable and service bodies appropriate management by 2010 8 Seek favourable and appropriate management of 75% WW, Defra, ALL A, B of SINCs that support estuarine habitats. I2KT 9 Review extent and condition of SINCs bordering IWC WW A, B estuaries to assess progress towards objectives

10 Produce estuary management plans for Wootton Estuaries Others ¨ A Creek and Bembridge Harbour Partnership 11 Review Medina estuary management plans every five Estuaries A years Partnership 12 Review Western Yar estuary management plan every Estuaries A five years Partnership

21 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

ACTION DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS OBJ. Key Partner Others 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2013

13 Develop and incorporate management requirements EN/ Defra ALL C for priority estuarine habitats and/or species and incorporate them when developing, revising and/or updating incentive schemes. 14 Review the potential for modifying agri-environment Defra EA/EN/ C objectives to include control of soil erosion and diffuse WW/ pollution in estuaries RSPB 15 Encourage further uptake of agri-environment Defra WW/ I2KT C schemes in support of above actions and objectives.

16 Develop sustainable dredging strategies for the Harbour Estuaries A estuaries including approaches to beneficial use. Authorities, partnership EN 17 Work with Southern Water plc and others to reduce EA SW A, C the impact of waste water discharges to estuaries in particular the impact of nutrients 18 Promote the appropriate and beneficial management DEFRA, WW/ A, B. C of land adjacent to estuaries, particularly where this Land-owners I2KT/IWC/EN/ creates mosaics of bio-diverse habitats FWAG Species Action 19 Review status and distribution of fish populations in IW EA C estuaries and develop strategy to conserve, restore and enhance native fish populations 20 Seek to reduce or remove obstructions to fish EA C migration where migratory fish populations are known to survive Survey, Research and Monitoring 21 Produce a survey strategy for estuarine habitats to EN WW D complement actions within this HAP. IWC

22 Implement a rolling re survey programme for estuarine IWC NT D SINCs WW EN ¨

22 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

ACTION DELIVERY BY YEAR MEETS OBJ. Key Partner Others 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2013

23 Continue current monitoring programmes, to EN, EA D determine the condition of SAC lagoons and to monitor the impacts 24 Collate information on uptake of wetland and Defra WW/ EN D waterside land options in the vicinity of estuaries (water level, fen, reed bed, ditch management) of agri- environment schemes 25 Monitor level of nutrient inputs of estuaries and assess SW/EN D relative contribution of point and diffuse discharges as EA Defra part of Review of Consents under the Habitats Land-owners Directive 26 Produce reports on results of fish population EA D monitoring in IW estuaries with special reference to ¨ BAP and migratory species 27 Set up a working group to assess impact of WW ALL ¨ D recreational activities on estuarine habitats and species Communication and Publicity 28 Support and work with the Solent Forum Nature IWC ALL D, E Conservation Group to ensure a Solent-wide approach is taken in the HAP 29 Compile an index of information sources and guidance HIWWT/ E on good management practices for estuarine habitats Estuaries and associated priority species Project 30 Promote the ecology and conservation requirements of WW IWC/ NFU/ E estuarine habitats and associated priority species, Defra CLA/ ¨ particularly amongst farmers, landowners and their RSPB advisors. 31 Raise awareness of incentive schemes and projects WW E relevant to the management of land adjacent to Defra ALL estuaries 32 Increase public awareness of the Island’s estuaries, by Estuaries E production of promotional material and encouragement Project/ ALL of public access to appropriate sites. Include I2KT/ community involvement and flagship species AONB/RSPB

23 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004 Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan 7 Sources of Information

ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd. (2003) Assessment of Estuary Processes and maintenance Dredging in Yarmouth Harbour. Report for Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners.

Bray, M. and Cottle, R., (2003). The Solent Coastal Habitat Management Plan, Volume 1. Peterborough, Royal Haskoning.

Bray, S. and Herbert, R.J.H. (1998). A Reassessment of Populations of the Dog-Whelk (Nucella lapillus) on the Isle of Wight following legislation restricting the use of TBT Antifouling paints. Proceedings of the Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society. Vol.14. (23 – 40).

Covey, R. & Laffoley, D.d'A. (2002). Maritime State of Nature Report for England: getting onto an even keel. Peterborough, English Nature.

Department of the Environment, (1999). UK Biodiversity Group Tranche 2 Action Plans. Volume V – maritime species and habitats. Peterborough, English Nature on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Group.

English Nature, (1998). Isle of Wight Natural Area Profile. Peterborough, English Nature.

English Nature, (2001). Solent European Marine Site: English Nature’s advice given under Regulation 33 (2) of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. Peterborough, English Nature.

Hampshire County Council, (2001). Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire: Volume Two. (September 2001). Winchester, Hampshire County Council.

Herbert, R. J. H. (1989) A survey of the dog-whelk Nucella lapillus (L.) around the coast of the Isle of Wight. Proc. Isle Wight nat Hist. Soc. 8(3): 15-21

Holme, N.A.and Bishop G.M.(1980) Survey of the littoral zone of the coast of Great Britain no. 5. Report on the sediment shores of Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Hosking, A and Moore, R. (2001). Futurecoast. Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change; report for SCOPAC by Halcrow Ltd. Swindon, SCOPAC.

Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan Isle of Wight Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Committee. (2000). Wildlife of the Isle of Wight: an Audit and Assessment of its Biodiversity. Newport, Isle of Wight Council.

Isle of Wight Biodiversity Partnership. (2003). Wetlands Habitat Action Plan. Newport, Isle of Wight Council.

Isle of Wight Council, (2001). Isle of Wight Unitary Development Plan 1996 – 2011 (adopted May 2001). Newport, Isle of Wight Council.

Joint Nature Conservation Committee, (1999). The Implementation of Common Standards for Monitoring and Conservation Objectives. Peterborough, JNCC.

Langston W. J., Bryan, G.W., Burt, E. R., and Gibbs, P.E. (1994) Assessing the impact of tin and TBT in estuaries and coastal regions. Functional Ecology, 4: 433-443

Light, J.M. & Killeen, I.J. 2000. Truncatella subcylindrica (Mollusca: Prosobranchia) in the Solent Area: its distribution, status, and conservation. In Collins, M. & Ansell, K. (eds.) Solent Science - A Review. Elsevier Science BV, Amsterdam. 295-298.

Pethick, J.P., (1999). The Western Yar: a preliminary sediment budget. Report to Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners. Coastal Geomorphology Partnership, Department of Marine Science and Coastal Management, University of Newcastle Upon Tyne.

Species associated with estuarine habitats Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight March 2004

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

MUDFLATS

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME Group BAP_STATUS Rarity Other habitats Anas crecca Teal (wintering) Bird 2 Grazing marsh Anas penelope Wigeon (wintering) Bird 2 Improved grassland Anas strepera Gadwall (wintering) Bird 2 EUTROPHIC STANDING WATERS Calidris alpina Dunlin (wintering) Bird 2 SALTMARSH Calidris canutus Knot (wintering) Bird 2 SALTMARSH Charadrius hiaticula Ringed plover (wintering) Bird 2 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Egretta garzetta Little egret Bird 2 Broad-leaved mixed woodland Haematopus ostralegus Oystercatcher Bird 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Limosa limosa Black-tailed godwit (wintering) Bird 2 LOWLAND MEADOWS Numenius arquata Curlew (wintering) Bird 2 Improved grassland Pluvialis apricaria Golden plover (wintering) Bird 2 Improved grassland Pluvialis squatarola Grey plover (wintering) Bird 2 SALTMARSH Tadorna tadorna Shelduck Bird 2 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Tringa totanus Redshank Bird 2 LOWLAND MEADOWS Vanellus vanellus Lapwing Bird 2 Improved grassland

SALTMARSHES

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_Status Rarity Other habitat Anas acuta Pintail (wintering) Bird 2 Coastal waters Anas penelope Wigeon (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Branta bernicla Brent goose (wintering) Bird 2 Grazing marsh Calidris alpina Dunlin (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Calidris canutus Knot (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Cygnus olor Mute swan Bird 2 Fen marsh and swamp Larus melanocephalus Mediterranean gull Bird 2 Littoral sediment

1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_Status Rarity Other habitat Limosa lapponica Bar-tailed godwit (wintering) Bird 2 Littoral sediment Numenius arquata Curlew (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Pluvialis apricaria Golden plover (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Pluvialis squatarola Grey plover (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Anisodactylus poeciloides A ground beetle Beetle 1 pRDB Metrioptera roeselii Roesel's Bush-cricket Crickets and 3 Grasshoppers Atylotus latistriatus A horsefly Flies p 3 Haematopa grandis A fly Flies p 3 Myopites eximia A gall-fly Flies 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Trachysphaera lobata A millipede Millipedes 2 COASTAL SAND DUNES Apamea oblonga Crescent Striped Moth 3 FENS Mythimna favicolor Mathew's Wainscot Moth 2 Scopula emutaria Rosy Wave Moth 3 Aphrodes aestuarinus A leafhopper True bug 3 Macrosteles fieberi A leafhopper True bug 3 Fen marsh and swamp Oliarus leporinus A froghopper True bug 3 Paralimnus phragmitis A leafhopper True bug 3 Fen marsh and swamp Alopecurus bulbosus Bulbous Foxtail Flowering plant 3 Grazing marsh Althaea officinalis Marsh Mallow Flowering plant 3 Bupleurum tenuissimum Slender Hare's-ear Flowering plant 3 Carex divisa Divided Sedge Flowering plant 3 Grazing marsh Carex extensa Long-bracted Sedge Flowering plant 3 Frankenia laevis Sea-heath Flowering plant 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Inula crithmoides Golden Samphire Flowering plant 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Limonium humile Lax-flowered Sea Lavender Flowering plant 3 Parapholis incurva Curved Hard-grass Flowering plant 3 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Puccinellia distans Reflexed Saltmarsh-grass Flowering plant 3 Puccinellia rupestris Stiff Saltmarsh-grass Flowering plant 3 Salicornia pusilla One-flowered Glasswort Flowering plant 3

1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_Status Rarity Other habitat Sarcocornia perennis Perennial Glasswort Flowering plant 3 Seriphidium maritimum Sea Wormwood Flowering plant 3 Spartina maritima Small Cord-grass Flowering plant 3 Spartina x townsendii Townsend's Cord-grass Flowering plant 3

COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_Status Rarity Other habitat Charadrius hiaticula Ringed plover (wintering) Bird 2 MUDFLATS Haematopus ostralegus Oystercatcher Bird 3 MUDFLATS Sterna albifrons Little tern Bird 2 Coastal waters Sterna hirundo Common tern Bird 2 Coastal waters Agriotes sordidus A click beetle Beetle 3 pRDB Apion matricela A weevil Beetle 3 EN Dromius vectensis A ground beetle Beetle 3 pRDB MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Halobrecta princeps A rove beetle Beetle 3 RDB 1 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Medon pocoferus A rove beetle Beetle 3 RDB 1 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Medon ripicola A rove beetle Beetle 3 COASTAL SAND DUNES Myopites eximia A gall-fly Flies 3 SALTMARSH Dolicharthria punctalis Long-legged China-mark Moth 3 LOWLAND CALCAREOUS GRASSLANDS Synaphe punctalis Long-legged Tabby Moth 3 COASTAL SAND DUNES Crambe maritima Sea Kale Flowering plant 3 Frankenia laevis Sea-heath Flowering plant 3 SALTMARSH Hyoscyamus niger Henbane Flowering plant 3 COASTAL SAND DUNES Inula crithmoides Golden Samphire Flowering plant 3 SALTMARSH Lactuca virosa Great Lettuce Flowering plant 3 Built-up areas and gardens Polygonum maritimum Sea Knotgrass Flowering plant 2 EN Polygonum oxyspermum Ray's Knotgrass Flowering plant 3 Salsola kali Prickly Saltwort Flowering plant 3

1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

SAND DUNES

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_STATUS RARITY Other habitat Drypta dentata A ground beetle Beetle 3 RDB1 Harpalus cordatus A ground beetle Beetle 1 pRDB Medon ripicola A rove beetle Beetle 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Trachysphaera lobata A Millipede Millipedes 2 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Agrotis ripae Sand Dart Moth 3 Eupithecia millefoliata Yarrow Pug Moth 3 Mythimna litoralis Shore Wainscot Moth 3 Phibalapteryx virgata Oblique Striped Moth 3 Synaphe punctalis Long-legged Tabby Moth 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Trigonotylus psammaecolor A mirid bug True bug 3 Tuponia carayoni A capsid bug True bug 3 VU Anisantha diandra* Great Brome Flowering plant 3 Anthriscus caucalis Bur Chervil Flowering plant 3 Calystegia soldanella Sea Bindweed Flowering plant 3 Dianthus deltoides Maiden Pink Flowering plant 3 Elytrigia juncea Sand Couch Flowering plant 3 Eryngium maritimum Sea Holly Flowering plant 3 Euphorbia paralias Sea Spurge Flowering plant 3 Hyoscyamus niger Henbane Flowering plant 3 COASTAL VEGETATED SHINGLE Hypochaeris glabra Smooth Catsear Flowering plant 2 Moenchia erecta Upright Chickweed Flowering plant 3 LOWLAND DRY ACID GRASSLAND Phleum arenarium Sand Cat's-tail Flowering plant 3 1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

LATIN_NAME ENGLISH_NAME CLASS BAP_STATUS RARITY Other habitat Poa bulbosa Bulbous meadow grass Flowering plant 3 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Scilla autumnalis Autumn Squill Flowering plant 3 Silene uniflora Sea Campion Flowering plant 3 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Trifolium arvense Haresfoot Clover Flowering plant 3 Arable & horticultural Trifolium glomeratum Clustered Clover Flowering plant 3 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES Trifolium suffocatum Suffocated Clover Flowering plant 3 LOWLAND DRY ACID GRASSLAND Vulpia ciliata ssp. ambigua Bearded Fescue Flowering plant 3 Vulpia fasciculata Dune Fescue Flowering plant 3

REEDBEDS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Sedge warbler Bird 2 ANCIENT AND/OR SPP RICH HEDGEROWS Acrocephalus scirpaceus Reed warbler Bird 2 Fen marsh and swamp Cettia cetti Cetti's warbler Bird 2 Fen marsh and swamp Emberiza schoeniclus Reed bunting Bird 1 Fen marsh and swamp Rallus aquaticus Water rail Bird 2 Fen marsh and swamp Psen atratinus A solitary wasp Ants, Bees and Wasps P3 RDB 2 MARITIME CLIFFS & SLOPES ♦ Vertigo moulinsiana A snail Mollusc 1 RDB 3 FENS ♦ Chilodes maritimus Silky Wainscot Moth 3 Simyra albovenosa Reed Dagger Moth 3 Carex pseudocyperus Cyperus sedge Flowering plant 3 FENS ♦ Ranunculus lingua Greater Spearwort Flowering plant 3 FENS ♦

SHELTERED MUDDY GRAVELS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Arenaria interpres Turnstone Bird 2 Littoral rock 1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Ostrea edulis Native oyster Mollusc 1 SEAGRASS BEDS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Zostera marina Eel grass Flowering Plant 2 Z. angustifolia Narrow-leaved eel grass Flowering Plant 3 Z. noltii Dwarf eel-grass Flowering Plant 3

SALINE LAGOONS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Paracymus aeneus A water beetle Beetle 1 Gammarus insensiblis Lagoon sand shrimp Crustacean 1 Cerastoderma glaucum Lagoon cockle Mollusca 3 Hydrobia ventrosa Lagoon snail Mollusc 2 Nematostella vectensis Starlet sea anemone Sea anemone group 1 Alkmaria romijni Tentacled worm Worm 2 Ruppia cirrhosa Spiral tasselweed Flowering Plant 3 Lamprothamnion papulosum Foxtail stonewort Stonewort 1

LITTORAL AND INSHORE SEDIMENTS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Habitat Calidris maritima Sanderling (Wintering) Bird 2 Littoral sediment Chlamys varia Variable scallop Mollusc 3 Inshore sediment Suberites massa A sponge Sponge 3 Inshore sediment Maxmulleria lankesteri A spoon worm Worm 3 Inshore sediment

SUPRALITTORAL, LITTORAL AND INSHORE ROCK

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Habitat Truncatella subcylindrica Looping snail Mollusc 2 Nucella lapillus Dog whelk Mollusc 2 Littoral rock Aeolidiella alderi Sea slug Mollusc 3 Littoral rock Amathia provoti Sea mat Sea mat 3 Littoral rock 1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Solent Coastal Habitat Action Plan Isozanthus sulcatus An anemone Sea anemone group 3 Inshore sediment

COASTAL WATERS

Latin Name English Name Group BAP Status Rarity Other habitat Bucephala clangula Goldeneye (Wintering) Bird 2 Podiceps auritus Slavonian grebe (Wintering) Bird 2 Phalacrocorax carbo Cormorant Bird 2 MARITIME CLIFFS AND SLOPES ♦ Pomatoschistus minutus Sand goby Fish 2 Inshore sediment

1= National BAP Priority species 2= Species of National Conservation Concern 3 = Species of Local Conservation Concern Habitats in CAPITALS are Priority Habitats in the UK biodiversity Action Plan indicates the primary habitat of a species

Community Natural Environment Plan

Isle of Wight

Community Natural Environment Action Plan A plan to engage the general public in biodiversity and geological conservation

Introduction engage those not directly involved in land management, as that is not their primary This Action Plan has been prepared function. Different groups of people, each through consultation with a range of with their own experience and organisations and specialists within the Isle understanding, require different of Wight BAP partnership. It covers a ten- approaches to develop their involvement in year period from 2005 – 2015, with a biodiversity. The actions proposed by a review in 2010. This plan sets out the Community Natural Environment Action importance and benefits of the natural Plan can provide opportunity for the environment, and proposes actions to involvement of individuals, special interest enhance community and individual groups and communities to learn more participation. about their surroundings and indeed to bring about change for the better A series of action plans covering the major habitat types on the Island has been 2. There are a variety of habitats, falling produced in the period 2002- 2004, and under the category of ‘built up areas and some species plans are also in gardens’ which have a significant area on preparation. the Island, which have not been included to date. There is considerable potential for However, basing action plans entirely on developing the wildlife value of such areas priority habitats and species has serious and so assisting the Island’s natural shortcomings for several reasons. environment.

1. There is a need to engage decision 3. There is a need for businesses and makers and the general public with issues developers to understand that related to the natural environment. incorporating measures to protect and Biodiversity Action Plans are seen as an encourage the natural environment on integral part of local Community Strategies. sites, and to limit the environmental impact The Isle of Wight Community Strategy of their operations is sound economic ‘Island Futures’ is being developed by the sense as well as being best practice. Such Local Strategic Partnership. It is divided in considerations need to be in the initial to seven themes; the natural environment planning for maximum effect. The falls principally within the ‘Attractive Island’ approach to new proposed development theme, although it has a bearing on many on land at Pan on the outskirts of Newport of the other themes. The encouragement is attempting to address these issues of a better understanding and greater involvement by people in the management 4. There are habitats which have a and protection of wildlife and earth heritage significant recreational use, and are valued is an aim shared by the Isle of Wight for their contribution to the overall quality of AONB Management Plan. life on the Island. Public open spaces such as parks and beaches come into this The topic of education and awareness category. (communications and publicity) is part of all the individual habitat action plans, but 5. The contribution of the Island’s natural these plans are principally produced by heritage of wildlife, landscape and geology and directed at the technical and to quality of life, social inclusion and as the professional user. The plans may fail to

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan backdrop for the tourist industry is not Various groups whose activities will have always fully appreciated. an impact on the natural environment can be identified within the local community There is no doubt that the environment is and further afield: greatly valued by local residents (Isle of Landowners Land managers and Farmers Wight Cultural Strategy survey 2003). It is Forestry Commission, English Nature, difficult to qualify in economic terms the Environment Agency, Wildlife Trusts, benefits which a healthy functioning natural National Trust, RSPB and similar bodies world provides and it is often taken for The Isle of Wight Council, both Council granted that there will be wildlife and Departments and Elected members landscape as the backdrop to our daily Schools/formal education lives. Local business users including developers of new sites The Isle of Wight is home to a rich diversity Tourism businesses of plants, animals and geology set within Utilities and the Home Office (Prisons) striking and varied landscapes. This Community sites/activities diversity in the natural environment makes Recreation and leisure groups the Island a better place to live, work and Conservation/natural history organisations visit. We can all help to protect and care for the natural environment. Current status of Habitats, Species and Sites The benefits of the natural environment include Geology underpins the Island’s landscape Nature for nature’s sake The natural and biodiversity. It is a conspicuous world is a never-ending source of element in coastal habitats and also in inspiration, wonder and fascination. active and abandoned quarries inland. It is the subject of the local Geodiversity Action A natural source of wealth and jobs Our Plan. stunning local scenery and wildlife are big draws for our visitors, and underpin the The Isle of Wight Biodiversity Steering tourist industry. Equally they enhance our Group have produced Habitat Action Plans quality and enjoyment of life. for all the priority terrestrial and intertidal habitats which occur on the Island. These A life support system renewing the include Maritime Cliffs and Slopes, quality of the air, soil and water and Wetlands, Chalk Grasslands, Heathland providing natural flood and sea defence and Acid Grassland, Lowland Meadows, systems Estuarine habitats such as Mudflats and Saltmarshes, Farmland, Wetlands and A store of natural knowledge Discovering Woodlands. more about nature is a life-long experience, and an on-going source of However, there are also many habitats interest which occur in closer proximity to the majority of people which are also important A prescription for good health Contact for nature. with nature is good for you - relaxation, exercise, just stopping to appreciate a Habitats additional to those covered flower, a bird, a butterfly, a sunset, a fossil in existing Habitat Action Plans on a beach…. The principal additional habitats include Common ground for communities • Built-up areas and gardens Nature is a catalyst for community action - • Boundary and linear features anyone can join in and make a difference • Arable and horticultural to their surroundings • Eutrophic standing waters

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

• Rocky shores Lichens Roccella phycopsis, a distinctive rare lichen, is found on the church walls of They are to be found in several Medieval churches. • Domestic gardens, including walls and hedges Insects Stag Beetle, discovered • Allotments occasionally breeding in rotting wood in • Public open spaces, including parks gardens on the north side of the Island, is a and village greens very distinctive species. • Churchyards and cemeteries • Road verges, public rights of way, A considerable variety of Dragonflies and and cycleway routes Damselflies can be found in garden ponds • School grounds and playing fields Butterflies and day flying moths which • Beaches which are adjacent to have not been identified on the Species towns and villages Audit but are distinctive and attractive

species such as Holly Blue, Peacock, The area covered by Council-managed Small Tortoiseshell, Hummingbird Hawk- parks is 180 ha, and school grounds moth and Silver-Y. account for another 110ha. There are also allotments in a number of Island towns. In Reptiles Slow-worms are commonly found addition there are more than 50,000 in gardens. Wall Lizards are a special houses with some garden surrounding feature of old walls in Ventnor them which could amount to as much as

5000ha of land. Birds Song Thrush, Bullfinch, Spotted

Flycatcher, and wintering Fieldfare and There will also be other habitats such as Redwing are important BAP birds which ancient and species rich hedgerows and can be found in gardens. Buildings are lowland meadows found in these areas, essential nest sites for declining House but which are principally covered by other Martin, Swallow, Swift, House Sparrow and Action Plans. Starling.

Sites currently designated as local nature Amphibia Garden ponds are important reserves are covered by habitat action breeding sites for frogs, toads and newts. plans, but the emphasis on their community use justifies their inclusion here Bats Bat roosts of several species are not also. uncommon in older and modern buildings.

The land area covered by each of these Other mammals Gardens are important can only be an approximate measure but it sites for Hedgehogs and sometimes for is significant in terms of the whole land Badgers. Red Squirrels may use garden area of the Island trees as a corridor for dispersal.

Species In addition, Ancient Trees are important

features of many villages and some towns. Examples of special species in built up Some work has been done to identify them areas include and catalogue their value as landscape

features and for the wildlife they support. Plants Several types of Fumitory at Lake allotments, including one found nowhere else in Britain. Rue leaved saxifrage - on Important sites old walls at Quarr Abbey, and on the roof of St James’s church, Yarmouth. There are many sites around the Island which are significant to local people, and they are enjoyed for their opportunities for informal recreation as well as their wildlife

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan and landscape value. Many are managed for additional housing. This frequently by large national organisations such as the causes conflict with the local community as Forestry Commission, (for example these sites are often valued locally, not Parkhurst and Brighstone Forests); the least for their value for wildlife. Habitats National Trust e.g. the West Wight Downs have been lost particularly on the rural- and the downs to the north of Ventnor; the urban fringe as settlements have Woodland Trust (America Wood); People’s expanded. Trust for Endangered Species (much of the Briddlesford Estate); RSPB (a large part of The draft Planning Policy Statement 9: Brading Marshes). Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (September 2004) gives current guidance Some are council owned and managed on planning issues. The Government has sites; others are managed by local groups, also recently issued a draft circular on including town councils and area forums, Biodiversity and Geological Conservation; wildlife organisations either alone or in Statutory obligations and their impact conjunction with IW Council Countryside within the planning system. When these Section, BTCV or Island 2000 Trust. documents are finalised, they will provide (Appendix 1). an important framework for conservation of biodiversity and geodiversity within the In addition many churchyards and planning process. cemeteries include defined areas managed for wildlife and many school grounds have Council owned or managed land habitat creation schemes which are used as social spaces and areas to support • Local Nature Reserves. The curriculum work. purpose of Local Nature Reserves is to provide an opportunity for local people to come into contact with, Current factors and action affecting and appreciate wildlife and geology habitats, species and sites in an informal way. There are five Local Nature Reserves at present Policy (see Appendix 1). They are declared by the local authority on Sites can be designated as European land which they own or lease, under sites, SSSIs or SINCs as a consequence Section 21 of the National Parks of their habitat and wildlife. These are and Access to the Countryside Act largely outside the development 1949. envelopes, and will be covered by other Action Plans. Some may also be • Parks. The Green Flag Scheme is designated as Local Nature Reserves (see being considered by the Parks and below). Beaches department of the Isle of Wight Council as a way forward for The definition of open spaces within managing parks. settlements in the Unitary Development Plan is given as ”Land or water ……. • Road verges. Subject to road having informal or formal recreation value safety considerations, it has been or general amenity value whether public or possible to identify a number of private (but excluding gardens of special verges which have valued residential properties)”. Open spaces may floristic interest, and agree a be publicly or privately owned. Village mowing schedule with the greens and allotments provide additional Highways Department which allows open space. for flowering and seeding.

There can be pressure to use undeveloped • Public Rights of Way network and sites (including large gardens) within towns cycleways – linear routes through

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

the countryside can often act as rapidly on the Island, it has the potential to important wildlife corridors and become a nuisance. Himalayan Balsam unimproved habitats within has very recently colonised a stretch of the intensively farmed areas. Eastern Yar from a single introduced site upstream. • Cemeteries. A number of cemeteries have areas identified for Recreational interests their wildlife interest, and have The environment is the setting for many conservation areas types of recreation, both for individuals and for groups. It may be quiet and informal or • School grounds. Wildlife areas have organised for large groups. The purpose been developed in a number of of a number of groups is to study the schools in conjunction with the wildlife, or to manage land for wildlife Contract Management Unit; BTCV benefit. Peoples’ Places awards have been made for some projects. The Council manages land as parks, playing fields and open space, as well as Nature Reserves cemeteries. Each of these has particular In addition to Local Nature Reserves, there objectives related to the primary purpose of are a number of reserves managed by the the site, but the inclusion of objectives Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust, related to the natural environment within Wight Nature Fund, People’s Trust for the management plan is both feasible and Endangered Species, RSPB and National desirable. Trust. There is a need for businesses and Non-native and introduced species developers to understand that incorporating measures to protect and The presence of Red Squirrels on the encourage the natural environment on Island is something which is greatly valued sites, and to limit the environmental impact by the residents and tourists and they are of their operations is sound economic frequent visitors to gardens. A major factor sense as well as being best practice. Such in maintaining this population is the considerations need to be in the initial continuing absence of introduced grey planning for maximum effect. The new squirrels; there are regular reminders of development at Pan on the outskirts of need to report any possible sightings of Newport is attempting to address these grey squirrels. These are checked by the issues Wight Squirrel project. A contingency plan detailing action to be taken has been Angling clubs manage reservoirs for their published in the Red Squirrel Species sport, but may have the secondary aim of Action Plan. encouraging wildlife.

The current fashion for water features in Bait collectors dig in some areas of the gardens can result in the introduction of foreshore. This is unlikely to be problem invasive, non-native plants, such as Parrot although intensive commercial bait digging Feather and New Zealand Pigmy-weed may well be. (Crassula helmsii), which can subsequently spread to other water bodies and become Associated with recreational access are a nuisance, smothering native plants. issues such as erosion of footpaths, fly Goldfish are often introduced into garden tipping, litter, vandalism and dog fouling. ponds (and released into the wild) but this Although most of these are relatively minor is incompatible with their use as amphibian in scale they are eyesores and require breeding sites. remedial work. The resources needed to clear up and repair damage are then not Japanese Knotweed occurs in urban available for improvements to sites. situations, and although it has not spread

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

The current interest in gardening and in Education particular incorporating space for wildlife has much potential for promoting the Fort Victoria offers a schools’ programme natural environment for its own sake as as well as opportunities for informal well as providing an interest and recreation. educational benefits. Construction of garden ponds and other water features is Branstone Farm offers a schools’ popular and events such as ‘The Big programme related to farming, countryside Garden Birdwatch’ have encouraged issues and wildlife. people to feed birds and put up bird boxes. There are various community gardening Ventnor Botanic Garden runs courses for initiatives on the Island including New Leaf the general public and informed enthusiast. IW and Growing with Plants. Geology is interpreted at the Dinosaur Isle Community projects Museum at Sandown. It offers schools’ and general public education programmes. A number of community projects exist, where local groups have been set up to Various field study centres run courses in look after specific areas in a environmental studies, geography and neighbourhood ecology for schools, and activities in local schools. The Friends of Ryde Cemetery group is making a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund for an ambitious programme of works to Action for species and habitats enhance the cemetery environment for the organised by voluntary groups community, heritage and wildlife. There is a good network of specialist Play Lane Millennium Green involves a recorders, associated with groups such as local group on the outskirts of Ryde the Isle of Wight Natural History and charged with managing a piece of urban- Archaeological Society, Isle of Wight fringe countryside which is owned by their Ornithological Group, and RSPB and local Trust. branches of national organisations.

Rosemary Village Green, also on the The Wight Squirrel Project has a survey outskirts of Ryde, has a local community programme in various woods across the group which are keen to see the site Island. Members of the public are managed in a sympathetic manner. encouraged to report sightings of red squirrels, and any suspected occurrences Batts Copse Improvement Group is a local of grey squirrels. community group with interest in the management of a LNR on the outskirts of Public participation in surveys has been Shanklin. encouraged in recent years by asking for sightings of easily identifiable species such Growing with Plants is a small gardening as marbled white butterflies and project working with residents in sheltered kingfishers. housing. The Pond warden Scheme run by the New Leaf IW based at Pell Lane Footprint Trust and sponsored by Southern allotments, Ryde, and Quarr Abbey, Water and BTCV has attracted 20 - 30 encourages the development of gardening participants per year over the last 5 years, techniques using organic methods. and has enabled interested individuals to become more proficient in looking after their own ponds, or to assist with ponds on publicly owned land.

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

Conservation management tasks are The Gift to Nature Scheme, run by Island carried out by a number of volunteer 2000 Trust invites visitors to make conservation groups, including Island contributions to specific projects to benefit Conservation Volunteers, BTCV Green wildlife. Schemes completed include Gym, and groups associated with particular building a wall for wall lizards in Ventnor, a sites. red squirrel viewing hide in Parkhurst Forest and a wetland walk at Sandown.

Objectives and targets

All these objectives and targets are aimed a raising public awareness of the natural environment and promoting opportunities for involvement of individuals, groups and communities.

A Communication and Publicity is seen as crucial to the success of this plan, and will form the majority of the action in 2005

A booklet highlighting the importance and relevance of biodiversity to all sectors of the community will be produced, aimed at decision makers in public and community life. It will centre on the six points listed on page two of this document. It is seen as the way the Partnership can encourage a greater understanding of the conservation of the natural environment, and engage a wider audience in the delivery of action for biodiversity. A launch event will be planned for the summer. Each section will contain details of how biodiversity relates to the interest area of the target group together, with details of specific projects which are already occurring, ways of developing projects and links to the community strategy

In addition a communications strategy will be drawn up for Steering Group members’ use to include

• notes on setting communications objectives • the key messages to be included in all Partnership communications • a checklist of potential target audiences for Partnership communications • methods of communication for reaching target audiences • notes on the evaluation and monitoring of communications • case studies to illustrate the selection of mechanisms appropriate to specific target audiences

B Habitat protection, management and monitoring

All publicly owned and managed land to have biodiversity objectives in each management plan for each site. Encourage privately owned land to have action for biodiversity management, access, recording, linked to elements in other action plans).

C Species Action, including survey, research and monitoring

Raise awareness of nationally and locally important species and encourage individuals to take action to assist their survival. Encourage groups and individuals to record certain key species.

Many of the actions listed below already ongoing in terms of action for species and habitats. It is proposed that in 2006, the situation will be reviewed and the list below used to draw out specific actions and projects for the following years

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

Ongoing* and Proposed Actions

Policy framework Lead partner * Link to Community strategy, LSP, LDF and other policy documents IWC and strategies Produce local planning guidance for biodiversity and development IWC CS * Ensure UDP/LDF policies support biodiversity action IWC Habitat and geological site protection and management Set up a Forum to consider the development of action plans for WW additional habitats identified in this document * Promote the production of management plans including natural IWC CS environment objectives for publicly owned land * Promote good practice of the management of rural highways for the IWC Highways natural environment /Planning Liaison Group * Encourage the incorporation of natural environment considerations IWC/WW/AONB into community based plans such as Parish Plans, Market Towns Initiatives, Village Design Statements etc * Promote council managed Local Nature Reserves IWC CS * Encourage local businesses to become involved with natural Island 2000, WW environment projects Green Island Awards (GIA) * Promote Friends of Sites organisations eg. Ryde Cemetery IWC Non technical guides for Habitat and Species action plans IWC CS * Production of natural environment newsletter IWC CS * Promotion of joint activities between groups All Encourage individual involvement in natural environment projects Co-ordinate and promote volunteer conservation tasks * Training to be available for those wishing to increase their expertise WW/AONB Education and awareness raising * Promote regular publicity in Wight Insight & Finest Landscapes IWC CS/AONB * Annual natural environment event, with review of progress IW BAP SG * Public species surveys, one per year; promote involvement in WW/RSPB/IWC national surveys Produce annual report of progress towards BAP targets and publish IW BAP SG on Internet * Produce a calendar of Countryside walks and events IWC CS * Contribute to national natural environment events All

Sources of information

Wildlife of the Isle of Wight IW BAP Audit 2000 Life Support - incorporating biodiversity into Community Strategies Defra 2004 Revealing the value of nature English Nature 2002 Local Nature Reserves - places for people and wildlife English Nature 2000 A space for nature - Nature is good for you! English Nature 1996 Natural Communities - The contribution that wildlife can make to Community Strategies English Nature, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts

8 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 Community Natural Environment Plan

Appendix 1 Examples of important sites managed by the local authority and local groups

Site Managed by Afton Marshes LNR IW Council (Countryside Section) Alverstone Mead Wight Nature Fund Appley Park IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Arreton Down Hants & IW Wildlife Trust Atkies Copse IWNHAS Bembridge Ledges IW Council Benstead Marsh, Alverstone Friends of the Earth Bouldnor viewpoint car park IW Council (Countryside Section) Brading Butterfly walk Brading Town Council Brading Chalk pit Brading Town Council Brading Down IW Council (Countryside Section) Brett’s Meadow Wight Nature Fund Church Litten IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Dodnor Creek LNR IW Council (Countryside Section) Eaglehead Copse Hants & IW Wildlife Trust Fort Victoria Country Park IW Council (Countryside Section) Fort Warden Fields IW Council (Countryside Section) Golden Hill IW Council (Countryside Section) Green at Gurnard IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Lake allotments IW Council (Wight Leisure) Mill Copse Wight Nature Fund Moor Green Road reservoir Cowes Community Partnership Mornington Woods IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Mount Joy Cemetery IW Council (Bereavement Services) Nansen Hill IW Council (Countryside Section) Pelham Woods Wight Nature Fund Princes Green Cowes IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Rew Down and Watcombe Bottom LNR IW Council (Countryside Section) Rosemary Village Green Local management committee Ryde Cemetery IW Council (Bereavement Services) Ryde Sands IW Council (Parks and Beaches) Seaview Duver (Alan Hersey reserve) IW Council (Centre for the Coastal Environment) Shide Chalk Pit LNR IW Council (Countryside Section) Sibden Hill and Batts Copse LNR IW Council (Countryside Section) St Lawrence Bank Hants & IW Wildlife Trust Swanpond Copse Hants & IW Wildlife Trust The Landslip IW Council (Countryside Section) Towngate Pond Newport Newport Forum Turville’s Field Totland Parish Council Yarmouth Common Yarmouth Town Council Yarmouth Green Yarmouth Harbour Commissioners Youngwoods Copse Wight Nature Fund

9 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight January 2005 IW BAP Targets & Actions

This document contains all the Targets and Actions from each of the Isle of Wight Biodiversity Habitat Action Plans.

Biodiversity Targets for Maritime Cliffs and Slopes on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain existing area of maritime cliff and slope habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change. Ensure the natural processes of erosion and slumping, sediment movement and deposition continue to operate on all areas of conservation interest, with appropriate regard to essential coastal protection of settlements. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and cliff and slope habitats. D Improve the knowledge of the maritime cliff resource by survey, research and monitoring, including understanding the relationship between fluvial and coastal processes and maritime cliff and slope vegetation E Increase public awareness and appreciation of maritime cliffs and slopes resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

Biodiversity Actions for Maritime Cliffs and Slopes on the Lead Reporting 2007 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 Isle of Wight

A1 Maintain the existing 51 km of free functioning maritime cliff and slope
resource (including cliff-top and slope habitat) IWC IWC

A2 Ensure no overall net loss of cliff and slope functionality as a result of
coast protection or engineering works. IWC IWC A3 Notify 8 km of maritime cliff meeting criteria for either biological or  NE NE geological/geomorphological SSSI A4 Ensure LDF policies do not allow development in areas at direct risk of IWC IWC  coastal processes. (planning) A5 For developments at long term risk, introduce LDF planning policy for IWC IWC  time limited consents or legal agreements to remove structures when (planning) the risk of loss through coastal processes becomes too great. B1 Increase the extent of maritime cliff and slope unaffected by coastal IWC IWC  engineering/ coast protection by 1km by 2015 B2 Permanently reduce the cover of buddleia on maritime cliffs and slope National  in the SSSI by 20% Trust C1 Provide 20 m buffer zone on maritime cliffs and slopes on 16 km of NE  MCS from St Catherine’s to Compton (32ha of cliff top semi-natural habitat)

1 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 D1 Monitor populations of the Glanville fritillary annually to determine IWNHAS IWC
extent and distribution. D2 Ensure regular monitoring of BAP national priority invertebrates NE Buglife  D3 Instigate a research programme to assess the effectiveness of the 20m NE Buglife  buffer strip in terms of conserving the nature conservation interest D4 Monitor the effects of coast protection on biodiversity and nature IWC IWC
conservation value (coastal) E1 Liaise with user groups (e.g. hang-glider/para glider groups, rock AONB IWC
climbers, geologists/fossil hunters) to agree codes of conduct to ensure sustainable use of the maritime cliff environment including appropriate codes of conduct for geological field work

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services NE Natural England IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NT National Trust

Biodiversity targets for Heathland and Acid Grassland on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain the existing area of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland habitats D Improve the knowledge of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of Heathland and Dry Acid Grassland resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

2 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Biodiversity Actions for Heathland and Acid Grassland on the Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 Isle of Wight

A1 Maintain the existing extent of 192 ha of heathland and dry acid NE IWC  grassland by 2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC  condition of 85% of heathland and dry acid grassland by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight NFU/ IWC  livestock industry by 2010 CLA/ IWC B1 Enhance and restore 20 ha of degraded or neglected heathland and dry NE IWC  acid grassland habitat by 2015 B2 Work with the Forestry Commission to develop plans for the restoration H&IWWT/ IWC  and re-creation of heathland and acid grassland by removal or reduction FC of forestry plantations within target areas identified in the Grazing and Grassland management Topic Report C1 Increase the extent of lowland heathland and acid grassland by 90 ha, NE IWC  with emphasis on target areas identified in the Grazing and Grassland Management Topic Report

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC Isle of Wight Council Planning Services (Planning) H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust FC Forestry Commission

Biodiversity targets for Lowland Calcareous Grassland on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain and restore existing area of lowland calcareous grassland habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of lowland calcareous grassland into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth

3 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and lowland calcareous grassland habitats D Improve the knowledge of lowland calcareous grassland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of lowland calcareous grassland resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Currently, our datasets will not allow us to accurately measure separate maintenance and restoration targets and therefore our targets have been combined for this HAP. • Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Lowland Calcareous Grassland on Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 the Isle of Wight

A1/B1 Maintain and restore the existing extent of 658 ha of lowland NE IWC  calcareous grassland by 2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC  condition of 85% of lowland calcareous grassland by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight NFU/ IWC  livestock industry by 2010 CLA/ IWC C1 Increase the extent of lowland calcareous grassland on the Isle of NE IWC  Wight by re-establishing 200 ha of permanent grassland on chalk

 Complete by
Ongoing start b y

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust CLA Country, land & Business Association NFU National Farmer’s Union

4 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Biodiversity targets for Lowland Meadows on the Isle of Wight

A Maintain existing area of lowland meadows habitat for its wildlife and earth science interest with no net loss, subject to natural change. B Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of lowland meadows into habitat and/or exposures of high wildlife and earth science value C Establish buffer zone habitats between intensively-managed agricultural land and lowland meadows habitats D Improve the knowledge of lowland meadows resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of lowland meadows resulting in a more positive management of this habitat

• Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Lowland Meadows on the Isle of Lead Reporting 2008 2009 2010 2015 2020 Wight

A1 Maintain the existing extent of 223 ha of unimproved lowland NE IWC  meadows by 2015 A2 Ensure appropriate management to achieve favourable or recovering NE IWC  condition of 85% of unimproved lowland meadows by 2015 A3 Achieve a slaughter house/incinerator to support the Isle of Wight NFU IWC  livestock industry by 2010 CLA IWC B1 Enhance and restore the extent of 249 ha semi-improved lowland NE IWC  meadows by 2015 B2 Assess whether Environment Agency consents and operations are EA EA  having impacts upon poorly-drained lowland meadows. C1 Increase the extent of semi-improved lowland meadows by 30 ha by NE IWC  2015

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC (Planning) Isle of Wight Council Planning Services H&IWWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust EA Environment Agency CLA Countryside Land & Business Association NFU National Farmers Union

5 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 Biodiversity targets for Woodlands on the Isle of Wight

A1 Maintain the extent of ancient woodland, together with all woodland of high environmental value. B1 Enhance and restore degraded or neglected areas of semi-natural woodland, with an emphasis on restoring the condition of ancient woodland sites to semi-natural condition (PAWS). B2 Maximise biodiversity throughout the entire woodland resource (Including recent semi-natural woodland and plantation) B3 Develop markets for woodland produce to ensure that resource management is economically sustainable C1 Expand and link ancient woodlands through natural regeneration and new broad-leaved planting where appropriate. D Improve the knowledge of native woodland resource by survey, research and monitoring E Increase public awareness and appreciation of native woodland resulting in a positive management of these habitats

• Currently, our datasets will not allow us to accurately quantify the full extent of the woodland resources, or their condition • Actions D and E are covered by the Generic Action Plan

Biodiversity Actions for Woodland on Lead Reporting 2009 2010 2015 the Isle of Wight

A1 Maintain the current extent of ancient woodland FC IWC
(currently estimated as around 1,640ha) B1 Achieve favourable condition or recovering NE IWC  condition of 662 ha of native woodland by 2010 B2 Commence restoration of 530 ha of PAWS FC IWC
woodland by 2015 B3 Commence the production of 1000 m 3 /year of IWC  wood products to wood fuel markets by 2015 B4 Commence restoration of one site of derelict IWC
wood pasture/parkland by 2015 C1 Address fragmentation by expanding the FC IWC  current woodland resource by 260 ha by 2015

6 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008 D1 Carry out survey work to assess the condition EA IWC  and extent of the wet woodland resource D2 Carry out survey work to update the Provisional FC IWC  Ancient Woodland Inventory D3/E1 Use the Histree Trail records, IW Ancient Tree IWC IWC  Survey and UK Ancient Tree Hunt initiative to develop a participatory approach to establishing a web based list of concentrations of notable trees

 Complete by
Ongoing start by

KEY TO ORGANISATIONS

AONB Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Unit IWC Isle of Wight Council Planning Services (Planning) H&IWT Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust IWNHAS Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society IWC (Coastal) Isle of Wight Council Centre for the Coastal Environment NE Natural England IWC Isle of Wight Council Parks and Countryside Section NT National Trust

We are currently reviewing our Biodiversity targets for: • Wetlands • Solent Coastal • Farmlands

7 Biodiversity Action Plan for the Isle of Wight December 2008