Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan

Appendix 26: Biodiversity Action Plan Summary Sawtry Internal Drainage Board

1 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan

Biodiversity Action Plan Summary for Sawtry Internal Drainage Board (342)

The actions listed in this appendix summarise Sawtry Internal Drainage Board’s Biodiversity Action Plan as a part of the larger Middle Level Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan has been prepared in accordance with the commitment in the Implementation Plan of the DEFRA Internal Drainage Board Review for IDBs to produce their own Biodiversity Action Plans by April, 2010. It also demonstrates the Board’s commitment to fulfilling its duty as a public body under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006 to conserve biodiversity. Many of the Board’s activities have benefits for biodiversity, not least its water level management and ditch maintenance work. This Biodiversity Action Plan will help the Board to maximise the biodiversity benefits of its activities and demonstrate its contribution to the Government’s UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets. The Board has adopted the Biodiversity Action Plan as one of its policies and is committed to its implementation. It will review the plan periodically and update it as appropriate.

……………………………………………………. Date ……………………………….

Anthony Darby Chairman of the Board

This Biodiversity Action Plan is a public statement by the Board of its biodiversity objectives and the methods by which it intends to achieve them. We would welcome appropriate involvement in the delivery of the Plan from interested organisations, companies, and individuals. You can contact us about this Biodiversity Action Plan by writing to the following address:

Sawtry Internal Drainage Board Middle Level Offices Dartford Road March Cambs PE15 8AF or by email: [email protected]

Further information is available on the Middle Level Commissioners’ website: http://www.middlelevel.gov.uk/ or from the Environmental Officer employed by the Board to advise on biodiversity matters: [email protected]

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Biodiversity Audit

Map The location map shows the drainage district, adopted drains, Middle Level main drains and any relevant designated sites and ditches of biodiversity interest.

Designated Sites • International sites: 1 o Woodwalton Fen (Ramsar, SAC) • National and local statutory sites: 1 o Woodwalton Fen (SSSI, NNR) • County Wildlife Sites : none o adjacent to Five Arches Pits East, Lady's Wood, Riddy Wood and Woodwalton RSV County Wildlife Sites • Scheduled monuments: 2 o Castle Hill Motte & Bailey castle o Sawtry Abbey

Habitats Key habitats for Sawtry IDB: • Drainage ditch • Reedbed • Fen • Open water

Species Key for Sawtry IDB: • Water vole • Otter • Bats • Kingfisher • Barn owl

Procedural Training and capital works are covered by a Procedural Action Plan.

Notes Water voles have been recorded on some of the IDB drains and at Woodwalton Fen, and will be assumed to be present when carrying out work. Otters use the Great Raveley Drain and probably also the Middle Level Catchwater Drain. A list of species recorded in the drainage district is provided at the end of this document. The list is restricted to BAP species and species listed under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981.

3 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan Location Map

4 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan

Drainage Ditch Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference Establish and maintain a management plan for routine Environmental Plan finalised and Annual after 1.1 2015 IDB operations incorporating Officer followed each year plan created key biodiversity features Look for opportunities to If re-profiling is Manage ditches for provide natural erosion Environmental carried out, 1 biodiversity as well as 1.2 protection such as marginal Ongoing Annual Officer opportunities for drainage plant ledges when re-profiling identified ditches Length of ditch with Provide natural erosion Annual if Environmental ledge / natural 1.3 protection as in 1.2 if Ongoing opportunities Officer vegetation opportunities available available revetment Identify ditches of Ensure appropriate Environmental conservation interest Specified in 2 2.2 management of ditches for Officer, Plantlife, Ongoing Annual and manage management plan priority species Wildlife Trust appropriately Refer private landowners to Support the Number of contacts the Environmental Officer for Environmental Environmental Officer received and advice on creating field Officer, Natural 3 in working with 3.1 Ongoing passed to Annual margin buffer zones and England, Wildlife landowners to benefit Environmental wildlife-friendly ditch Trust, FWAG wildlife in the district Officer management Report any sightings of non- Environmental native invasive species Officer, Reports to Control invasive immediately to the 4 4.1 Environment Ongoing Environmental Annual species Environmental Officer and Agency, Plantlife, Officer control as appropriate (see Wildlife Trust Appendix F for species list) 2015 with Plant black poplars to Identify suitable sites and Environmental Number of trees annual 5 increase existing 5.1 plant at least 2 young black 2015 Officer planted progress population poplars reports

5 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan Reedbed Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference Identify, assess and Wildlife Trust, Review of map any areas of Pass details of any known areas to MLC Natural England, reedbed 1 1.1 2012 2013 reedbed over 0.5ha Environmental Officer Environment areas carried in size Agency out

(a) Number of Manage the District adopted drains, where requests Wildlife Trust, In response Support appropriate possible, to assist private landowners who received 2 2.2 Environment Ongoing to reedbed creation wish to create areas of reedbed on their (b) Number of Agency approaches own land landowners assisted

Where reeds are present, commence mowing or cleansing work outside the bird Take conservation breeding season (7 th April – 15 th July). value of reedbed Reeds not cut Where reeds are growing in water be into account when Environmental during bird aware of the potential for late-nesting reed 3 planning and 3.2 Officer, Wildlife Ongoing nesting Annual warblers being present until late August carrying out ditch Trust, RSPB season and avoid mowing in that location. In and river exceptional circumstances where this is maintenance not possible, seek advice from the Environmental Officer.

Fen Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference

Identify, assess and Pass details of any known Wildlife Trust, Natural Review of potential 1 map areas of existing 1.1 areas to Environmental England, 2012 2013 fen areas carried out fen habitat Officer Environment Agency Support conservation Contribute to implementation Natural England, WLMP actions 3 measures for existing 3.1 of WLMP for Woodwalton Environment Agency, Ongoing implemented where Annual major fen sites Fen and Holme Fen Wildlife Trust within IDB’s control

6 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan Open Water Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference (a) Number of Local authorities, Consider pond creation as mitigation Amphibian & Reptile 1.1 mitigation when a ditch has Ongoing opportunities (b) Annual Conservation, Wildlife to be filled in or culverted Number of ponds Trust Promote the creation created of ponds, lakes and Environment Agency, 1 Support creation of flood Number of projects reservoirs in 1.2 Natural England, Ongoing Annual storage areas and reservoirs involved with appropriate areas Wildlife Trust, RSPB (a) Number of Assist private landowners Amphibian & Reptile information requests 1.3 with advice, information or Conservation, Wildlife Ongoing Annual (b) Number contacts as necessary Trust responded to Create a pool at an Look for opportunities appropriate ditch junction When to create open water when re-profiling (see the One pool 2 2.1 Environmental Officer 2010 created or habitat when Drainage Channel successfully created every 5 years managing ditches Biodiversity Manual, technique CL3))

Water Vole Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference Assume water voles are present when carrying out works (discuss special Measures Environmental Manage ditches 1.1 circumstances with the Environmental Ongoing incorporated in Annual Officer according to the law Officer) and follow the ADA water vole management plans 1 and to best practice mitigation guide for water vole Environmental Publicise good practice for rat control Good practice 1.2 Officer, Wildlife Ongoing Annual near drainage ditches publicised Trust

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(a) Opportunities Look for opportunities to add a Environmental identified 2.1 Ongoing Annual marginal shelf when re-profiling banks Officer (b) Measures Enhance drainage taken 2 ditch habitat to (a) Sites benefit water vole Consider using coir roll to stabilise Environmental considered 2.2 banks and provide marginal Ongoing Annual Officer (b) Measures vegetation taken Environmental Set up a survey programme to monitor Surveys carried 3.1 Officer, Wildlife 2010 Annual water vole populations out Monitor water vole Trust 3 populations Environmental Data sent via Provide data on water vole to the 3.2 Officer, CPBRC, Ongoing Environmental Annual relevant Biological Records Centres NBIS Officer annually (a) Number of Carry out mink control as part of the Control mink as Environmental trapping days 4 4.2 Middle Level programme and report all Ongoing Annual necessary Officer (b) Number of mink sightings to the Environmental Officer caught Otter Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference Identify and maintain existing key Sites identified and bushes and trees near Environmental 2012 and 1 Improve otter habitat 1.1 listed in Annual watercourses likely to be important Officer ongoing management plans for otters

Ensure any dead otters are reported to the Environmental Otters reported to Monitor otter Environment 2 2.3 Officer and transferred to the Ongoing Environmental Annual populations Agency Environment Agency for post Officer, if found mortem

Report incidents of suspected Reduce otter deaths illegal netting, trapping or fishing Environment related to eel and Incidents reported, 3 3.1 to the Environment Agency Agency, Angling Ongoing Annual crayfish trapping if discovered Fisheries Officers and the MLC Clubs & syndicates and road traffic Environmental Officer

8 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan Bats Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference 2015 with Put up at least 2 bat boxes Bat Conservation Number of bat annual 1.1 at appropriate sites, e.g. 2015 Trust boxes sited progress pumping stations report Improve habitat Pollard suitable trees to Number of trees 1 1.2 Ongoing Annual for bats provide bat roosts pollarded Identify potential sites for a Environmental As (a) Potential sites bat hibernaculum, e.g. in 1.3 Officer , Bat opportunities looked for (b) Site Annual disused buildings or Conservation Trust arise created tunnels (a) Number of Bat Conservation boxes monitored 2.1 Monitor bat boxes 2015 onwards Annual Trust (b) Number of Collect boxes used by bats 2 information on bat populations Environmental Data via Pass bat box information to 2.2 Officer, CPBRC, 2015 onwards Environmental Annual CPBRC and NBIS NBIS Officer annually

Kingfisher Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference 2015 with Provide at least 2 potential nest holes Environmental Number of nest sites annual 1.1 Ongoing in sheet pilings Officer provided progress Improve the quality of 1 report kingfisher habitat Leave kingfisher fishing perches Environmental Number of perch 1.2 where possible (e.g. occasional Ongoing Annual Officer sites left branch)

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Note sightings of potential breeding Collect records of Environmental Data sent via kingfisher and pass information to 2 kingfisher breeding 2.1 Officer, Ongoing Environmental Annual CPBRC and NBIS via the between March and July CPBRC, NBIS Officer annually Environmental Officer

Barn Owl Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference Put up at least 2 barn 2015 with Wildlife Conservation Number of nest boxes 1.1 owl nest boxes in 2015 annual Partnership provided suitable locations progress report Improve the 1 quality of barn Pollard suitable trees to owl habitat Number of trees 1.2 provide natural nest Environmental Officer Ongoing Annual pollarded sites

Monitor nest boxes for (a) Number of nest use. boxes checked by Have occupied boxes Wildlife Conservation Annual once 2.1 2015 licensed ringers checked for success by Partnership boxes installed (b) Number of nest Collect records licensed barn owl boxes used 2 of barn owl ringers. presence Pass barn owl box Environmental Officer, Data sent via Annual once 2.2 information to CPBRC Wildlife Conservation 2015 Environmental Officer boxes installed and NBIS Partnership, CPBRC, NBIS annually

10 Internal Drainage Board – Biodiversity Action Plan

Procedural Action Plan Target Action Target IDB Actions Partners Date Indicators Reporting Reference Reference (a) Number of Environmental Officer, courses held Establish programme of 1-day Provide training on IDB Wildlife Trust, Natural (b) Number of 1.1 courses for IDB staff and 2013 Annual BAP and conservation England, other Board members / members 1 management of drainage specialists staff attending channels for all relevant courses staff by 2013 Contractors Establish suitable training for Environmental Officer, 1.2 2013 attended training Annual contractors’ staff Contractors course Consult with the (a) Number of Take biodiversity into Environmental Officer and capital schemes account when planning choose the best possible undertaken 2 2.1 Environmental Officer Ongoing Annual and undertaking capital mitigation solutions for (b) Number of works biodiversity, e.g. fish-friendly schemes pumps commented on

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Species list for Sawtry IDB using data from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Biological Records Centre:

Designation Taxon Group Common Name Scientific Name UKBAP bird Common Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula UKBAP bird Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus Common Grasshopper UKBAP bird Warbler Locustella naevia UKBAP bird Common Linnet Carduelis cannabina UKBAP bird Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris UKBAP bird Corn Bunting Emberiza calandra UKBAP bird Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata UKBAP bird Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus UKBAP bird European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus UKBAP bird European Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur UKBAP bird Grey Partridge Perdix perdix UKBAP bird Hawfinch Coccothraustes coccothraustes UKBAP bird Hedge Accentor Prunella modularis UKBAP bird House Sparrow Passer domesticus UKBAP bird Lesser Redpoll Carduelis cabaret UKBAP bird Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor UKBAP bird Marsh Tit Poecile palustris UKBAP bird Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus UKBAP bird Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus UKBAP bird Sky Lark Alauda arvensis UKBAP bird Song Thrush Turdus philomelos UKBAP bird Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata UKBAP bird Tree Pipit Anthus trivialis UKBAP bird Tit Poecile montanus UKBAP bird Wood Warbler Phylloscopus sibilatrix UKBAP bird Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava UKBAP bird Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella UKBAP flowering plant Crested Cow-wheat Melampyrum cristatum UKBAP flowering plant Fen Violet Viola persicifolia UKBAP flowering plant Greater Water-parsnip Sium latifolium UKBAP flowering plant Three-Lobed Crowfoot Ranunculus tripartitus UKBAP flowering plant True Fox-sedge Carex vulpina UKBAP flowering plant Tubular Water-dropwort Oenanthe fistulosa UKBAP - butterfly Brown Hairstreak Thecla betulae UKBAP insect - butterfly Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus malvae UKBAP insect - butterfly Pearl-bordered Fritillary Boloria euphrosyne UKBAP insect - butterfly Small Heath Coenonympha pamphilus UKBAP insect - butterfly Wall Lasiommata megera UKBAP insect - butterfly White Admiral Limenitis camilla UKBAP insect - butterfly White-letter Hairstreak Satyrium w-album UKBAP insect - butterfly Wood White Leptidea sinapis UKBAP insect - Beaded Chestnut lychnidis UKBAP insect - moth Blood-Vein Timandra comae UKBAP insect - moth Brindled Beauty Lycia hirtaria UKBAP insect - moth Broom Moth Melanchra pisi UKBAP insect - moth Brown-spot Pinion Agrochola litura UKBAP insect - moth Buff Ermine Spilosoma luteum UKBAP insect - moth Centre-barred Sallow Atethmia centrago UKBAP insect - moth Cinnabar Tyria jacobaeae UKBAP insect - moth Dark-barred Twin-spot Xanthorhoe ferrugata

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Carpet UKBAP insect - moth Dot Moth Melanchra persicariae UKBAP insect - moth Double Dart Graphiphora augur UKBAP insect - moth Dusky Brocade Apamea remissa UKBAP insect - moth Dusky Thorn Ennomos fuscantaria UKBAP insect - moth Dusky-lemon Sallow gilvago UKBAP insect - moth False Mocha Cyclophora porata UKBAP insect - moth Feathered Gothic UKBAP insect - moth Figure of Eight Diloba caeruleocephala UKBAP insect - moth Flounced Chestnut Agrochola helvola UKBAP insect - moth Garden Dart Euxoa nigricans UKBAP insect - moth Garden Tiger Arctia caja UKBAP insect - moth Ghost Moth Hepialus humuli UKBAP insect - moth Green-brindled Crescent Allophyes oxyacanthae UKBAP insect - moth Grey Dagger Acronicta psi UKBAP insect - moth Hedge Rustic UKBAP insect - moth Lackey Malacosoma neustria UKBAP insect - moth Large Nutmeg Apamea anceps UKBAP insect - moth Latticed Heath Chiasmia clathrata UKBAP insect - moth Minor Shoulder-knot Brachylomia viminalis UKBAP insect - moth Mottled Rustic Caradrina morpheus UKBAP insect - moth Mouse Moth Amphipyra tragopoginis UKBAP insect - moth Hook-tip Watsonalla binaria UKBAP insect - moth Oak Hook-Tip Drepana binaria UKBAP insect - moth Oak Lutestring Cymatophorima diluta Cymatophorima diluta subsp. UKBAP insect - moth Oak Lutestring hartwiegi UKBAP insect - moth Oblique Carpet Orthonama vittata UKBAP insect - moth Pale Eggar Trichiura crataegi UKBAP insect - moth Pale Shining Brown Polia bombycina UKBAP insect - moth Powdered Quaker Orthosia gracilis UKBAP insect - moth Rosy Minor Mesoligia literosa UKBAP insect - moth Rosy Rustic Hydraecia micacea UKBAP insect - moth Rustic Hoplodrina blanda UKBAP insect - moth Sallow Xanthia icteritia UKBAP insect - moth September Thorn Ennomos erosaria UKBAP insect - moth Shaded Broad-bar Scotopteryx chenopodiata UKBAP insect - moth Shoulder-striped Wainscot Mythimna comma UKBAP insect - moth Small Emerald Hemistola chrysoprasaria UKBAP insect - moth Small Phoenix Ecliptopera silaceata UKBAP insect - moth Small Square-spot Diarsia rubi UKBAP insect - moth Sprawler Asteroscopus sphinx UKBAP insect - moth White Ermine Spilosoma lubricipeda UKBAP insect - moth White-spotted Pinion Cosmia diffinis terrestrial UKBAP mammal Brown Hare Lepus europaeus terrestrial UKBAP mammal Harvest Mouse Micromys minutus terrestrial UKBAP mammal Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius WCA Schedule 1 bird Barn Owl Tyto alba WCA Schedule 1 bird Bearded Tit Panurus biarmicus WCA Schedule 1 bird Bewick's Swan Cygnus columbianus WCA Schedule 1 bird Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros WCA Schedule 1 bird Brambling Fringilla montifringilla

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WCA Schedule 1 bird Cetti's Warbler Cettia cetti WCA Schedule 1 bird Common Crossbill Loxia curvirostra WCA Schedule 1 bird Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis WCA Schedule 1 bird Common Quail Coturnix coturnix WCA Schedule 1 bird Eurasian Dotterel Charadrius morinellus WCA Schedule 1 bird Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo WCA Schedule 1 bird Eurasian Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus WCA Schedule 1 bird Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla WCA Schedule 1 bird European Honey-buzzard Pernis apivorus WCA Schedule 1 bird Fieldfare Turdus pilaris WCA Schedule 1 bird Firecrest Regulus ignicapilla WCA Schedule 1 bird Garganey Anas querquedula WCA Schedule 1 bird Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris WCA Schedule 1 bird Greater Scaup Aythya marila WCA Schedule 1 bird Green Sandpiper Tringa ochropus WCA Schedule 1 bird Hen Harrier Circus cyaneus WCA Schedule 1 bird Hobby Falco subbuteo WCA Schedule 1 bird Merlin Falco columbarius WCA Schedule 1 bird Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis WCA Schedule 1 bird Osprey Pandion haliaetus WCA Schedule 1 bird Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus WCA Schedule 1 bird Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta WCA Schedule 1 bird Red Kite Milvus milvus WCA Schedule 1 bird Redwing Turdus iliacus WCA Schedule 1 bird Spotted Crake Porzana porzana WCA Schedule 1 bird Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus WCA Schedule 5 amphibian Great crested newt Triturus cristatus WCA Schedule 5 bat Barbastelle Barbastella barbastellus WCA Schedule 5 bat Bat unspecified Chiroptera WCA Schedule 5 bat Brown long-eared Bat Plecotus auritus WCA Schedule 5 bat Leisler's Bat Nyctalus leisleri WCA Schedule 5 bat Noctule Nyctalus noctula terrestrial WCA Schedule 5 mammal Otter Lutra lutra terrestrial WCA Schedule 5 mammal Water Vole Arvicola terrestris

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