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Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan

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Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan Earth Heritage Key associated species Bats Sand Martin Common Lizard Buckinghamshire has an interesting and varied geology, which has a defining influence on the ecological interest of the County. Many of the sites in Buckinghamshire are designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest or as Regionally Important Geological/Geomorphological sites. These sites can be equally important for the plant and animal life which they support. Specialist animals, including invertebrates, birds and bats use geological sites and management should take account of these species. Earth heritage sites offer excellent opportunities for education and for bringing together the interests of both geologists and ecologists. 1 Current status in UK Biological status 1.1 Great Britain has a varied geology. Rocks, fossils, minerals and landforms are important features of our natural heritage, acting as records of how Britain has evolved over hundreds of millions of years. 1.2 Geology dictates much of the resultant landscape and scenery as well as the flora and fauna above. There is a strong association between habitat type and geology. This may be linked to the control of geology on landscape, soil type or niches, which have a variety of ecological values. The ecological value of sites is generally greatest where the substrate is not exposed but exposed substrate can be important for some invertebrates, pioneer plant species and lower plants. 2 Current status in Buckinghamshire Cover and distribution 2.1 Geology contributes in no small way to the shape of the human landscape and has guided many of its uses from the earliest times. Flint and clays for brick-making, chalk quarrying and gravel extraction have all had significant effects on the County and its landscape. 2.2 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) include the best examples of geological features and landforms. Warren Farm, Stewkley SSSI 1 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan possesses the most northerly outcrop of the Portland and Purbeck Beds in England. The site is considered to be vital in the understanding of late Jurassic geology. Bolter End Sand Pit SSSI is a key site for Tertiary studies. This site provides evidence for the topographic development of southern England. Bugle Quarry SSSI near Stone, is of national and European importance as a Portlandian dinosaur site. Pitstone Quarry SSSI provides important information for the Pleistocene period, which may indicate a previously unrecorded interglacial. South Lodge Pit SSSI is the only exposed British example of late Santonian-early Campanian chalk phosphorite deposit. Paleontological interest exists at this fossil- rich site. Froghall Brickworks exposes Pleistocene Westland Green gravels deposited by the ancestral Thames. This is believed to be the only exposure of Westland Green Gravel in the Middle Thames area. Trends 2.3 Increased public awareness of earth science conservation has resulted from the national initiatives, taken forward at a local scale by local groups. 2.4 Sites of earth heritage importance share an important characteristic with sites of ecological importance - there are far fewer now than have existed in the past. Disused pits are increasingly infilled, particularly with landfill and geomorpological features can be lost through large scale development. 3 Current factors affecting status Industrial and residential developments 3.1 These can include mineral extraction and landfill. Recreation 3.2 Recreational and educational use must be carefully managed, particularly on softer substrates, to prevent erosion. Lack of management 3.3 This can lead to encroachment of vegetation and loss of exposures. Careful management of exposures is required to balance the needs of geology and ecology. 4 Current action Legal status 4.1 Nationally or internationally important sites are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), whilst those of regional or local importance, can be safeguarded as Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Sites (RIGS) and as Local Nature Reserves. 2 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan They are also protected through the planning system by the application of PPS9. 4.2 The network of RIGS is run on a voluntary basis by the Buckinghamshire Earth Heritage Group. The group promotes earth sciences and brings interest groups and individuals together. 4.3 The UK RIGS Group was set up in 1999 to co-ordinate the work of County RIGS and Earth Heritage Groups and to provide a national voice for the promotion of earth sciences. Management, research and guidance 4.4 The national RIGS scheme was promoted by English Nature (now Natural England) as a means to conserve geologically or geomorphologically important sites that are of regional value, excluding SSSIs. Within the County, earth science conservation initiatives are being translated into local action through the Buckinghamshire Earth Heritage Group (BEHG). 4.5 RIGS offer a non statutory means of conserving sites of importance for education and local historical and aesthetic value. 4.6 A provisional list for sites of importance at the regional and local level was compiled in 1992. These and new sites were surveyed in 1999 to determine RIGS status. Details of RIGS selected by the Earth Heritage Group are provided to local authorities to enable them to consider these sites in the planning and development control process. The survey identified sites which have potential use for educational purposes. BEHG aims to initiate dialogue with relevant site owners so that this potential can be realised. 4.7 Management of sites can be undertaken by the BEHG and site owners to conserve present sites and identify future RIGS. Landfill schemes can be designed to contour around a geological face with a retaining bund or reinforced earth wall for protection. Quarry and pit operations have and continue to provide the majority of important geological sites. Sensitive management after working can provide educational, scientific and recreational features. A vast majority of conservation and restoration schemes associated with earth heritage sites have modest implementation costs compared to the associated benefits. 5 Objectives 5.1 It is important that Habitat Action Plan objectives and actions are considered in conjunction with those in Generic Issues (see Chapter 6, Generic Issues). All Generic objectives and actions apply to each individual Habitat Action Plan. 3 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan 6. Biodiversity Opportunity Areas There are Geological SSSIs and RIGs in the following Biodiversity Opportunity Areas • Ashridge and Ivinghoe Beacon • Brill and Muswell Hill • Central Chilterns Chalk Rivers • Chiltern Escarpment • Colne Valley • Dunsmore Woodlands • Gomm Valley • Greensand Ridge • Hambleden and Wormsley Valleys • Milton Keynes City • Ouse Valley • Radnage Valley • South Bucks Heaths & Parklands • South Western Commons • Wendover Woodlands 4 Buckinghamshire & Milton Keynes Biodiversity Action Plan Earth Heritage Habitat Action Plan National Target Code Target Action Start End Action location Lead Other Orgs Target Baseline total EH1 Introduce management 2007 2010 to sites currently not managed but with educational potential EH1/1 Introduce management to sites 2007 2010 Bucks & MK BEHG AVDC CDC 10 0 currently not managed but with MKC SBDC sites educational potential WDC BCC NE EH1/2 Review and update RIGS survey every 2007 2008 Bucks & MK BEHG AVDC CDC 1 five years MKC SBDC survey WDC BCC NE EH1/3 Produce a Phase 2 survey for all earth 2007 2010 Bucks & MK BCC AVDC CDC 48 0 heritage sites to ensure nature MKC SBDC sites conservation is taken into account in WDC BCC EN management BEHG EH1/4 Seek the establishment of an Earth 2007 2010 Bucks & MK BEHG AVDC CDC 1 0 Heritage Development Officer for Bucks MKC SBDC Officer WDC BCC EN BEHG EH1/5 Promote the use of earth heritage sites 2007 2010 Bucks & MK BEHG AVDC CDC for research MKC SBDC WDC BCC EN BEHG 5 .
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