The RSPB

UK Headquarters The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 680551

Northern Ireland Headquarters Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT Tel: 028 9049 1547

Scotland Headquarters 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh EH12 9DH Tel 0131 317 4104

Wales Headquarters Sutherland House, Castlebridge, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB Tel: 029 2035 3000 www.rspb.org.uk

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

We belong to BirdLife International, the global BirdLife INTERNATIONAL partnership of bird conservation organisations. RSPB RESERVES 2012

As a charity, the RSPB is dependent on the goodwill and financial support of people like you. Please visit www.rspb.org.uk/supporting or call 01767 680551 to find out more.

Front cover: Red-necked phalarope by Steve Knell (rspb-images.com) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England & Wales no. 207076, no. SC037654 120-1639-11-12 Yell Ramna Stacks & Gruney

Mousa Loch of Spiggie

Noup Cliffs North Hill Birsay Moors The Loons and Loch of Banks Onziebust Marwick Head Brodgar Cottasgarth & Rendall Moss Hobbister Durness Head Eilean Hoan Broubster Leans Loch na Muilne Forsinard Flows

Priest Island Troup Head Vallay Edderton Sands Balranald Nigg and Udale Bays Ardmore Culbin Sands Fairy Glen Meikle Loch Eileanan Dubha Ballinlaggan Abernethy The Crannach

Fowlsheugh The Reef Loch of Kinnordy

Skinflats Tay Colonsay Vane Farm Oronsay Inner Clyde Fannyside Smaull Farm Inchmickery /Ardnave Baron’s Haugh Horse Island Bogside Flats Aird’s Moss Rathlin Coquet Island Lough Foyle Ken-Dee Marshes Wood of Cree Kirkconnell Merse Crook of Baldoon Campfield Marsh Larne Lough Islands Mersehead Geltsdale Belfast Lough Lower Lough Erne Islands Portmore Lough & Scar Rocks Saltholme Haweswater St Bees Head Aghatirourke Strangford Bay & Sandy Island Lyth Valley Hodbarrow Leighton Moss & Morecambe Bay Bempton Cliffs Carlingford Lough Islands

Hesketh Out Marsh Fairburn Ings Marshside Read’s Island Blacktoft Sands The Skerries Dove Stone Tetney Marshes Valley Wetlands VDearnealley – Old Moor and Bolton Ings South Stack Cliffs Dee Estuary Beckingham Marshes Conwy Eastern Moors Malltraeth Marsh Langford Lowfields Morfa Dinlle Coombes & Churnet Valleys Freiston Shore Titchwell Marsh Lake Vyrnwy Frampton Marsh Snettisham Sutton Fen Mawddach Woodlands Middleton Lakes Mid Yare Valley Nene Washes Berney Marshes & Breydon Water Ynys-hir Sandwell Valley Ouse W ashes Lakenheath Fen Ouse Fen (Hanson-RSPB project) Dingle Marshes Carngafallt Minsmere Fen Drayton Lakes Snape North Warren Gwenffrwd/Dinas The Lodge Fowlmere Havergate Island & Boyton Marshes Stour Estuary Wolves & Ramsey Woods Ramsey Island HighnamWoods Old Hall Marshes Otmoor Wallasea Island Grassholm Cwm Clydach Nagshead Rye Meads South Essex Marshes Church Wood Cliffe Pools Newport Wetlands Northward Hill Winterbourne Downs Rainham Marshes Nor Marsh & Motney Hill Shorne Marshes Great Bells Farm Normanton Down Seasalter Levels Elmley HamWall Farnham Heath Harty Marshes Chapel Wood Barfold Copse Tudeley Marshes Lydden Valley Greylake Blean Woods Isley Marsh West Sedgemoor Woods Broadwater Warren Garston Wood Dungeness ForeWood Aylesbeare Common Adur Estuary Lewes Brooks Exe Estuary Arne Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wildbrooks Labrador Bay Bracklesham Bay Radipole Lake Wareham Pilsey Island Lodmoor Meadows Langstone Harbour Hayle Estuary Brading Marshes Grange Heath Marazion Marsh Stoborough Heath

Locations of RSPB reserves Featured reserves 1

RSPB Reserves 2012 A review of our work

COMPILED BY MALCOLM AUSDEN AND JO GILBERT Contents

Our vision 3

Introduction 5

Reserves and wildlife – a review of 2011 7 Progress towards bird species targets 8 Wildlife discoveries 12 Land acquisition 14 Condition of RSPB-managed SSSIs/ASSIs 15

Saving nature 17 Re-introducing lost species to RSPB nature reserves 18 Farming with nature 22 Management of reedbeds for bitterns and other wildlife 24 Lusty More island – restoration management for curlews in Fermanagh 28 Our amazing reserves 32 Meet some of our special species 36 Increasing the breeding success of lowland wet grassland waders using predator exclusion fences 40 Re-wetting Wolves Wood 44 Managing coastal erosion – the Titchwell Coastal Change Project 46 What future for our wintering geese? 50

Working in Partnership 55 Reversing habitat loss at Dove Stone – from bare peat to a green recovery 56 The Strathspey Wader Futurescape 60

Reserves and people – a review of 2011 65 People on reserves in 2011 66 Access to Nature – the South Essex People and Wildlife Programme 70 Springwatch at Ynys-hir 74 Nature Counts 78 The economic benefits of nature reserves 82

Supporting partners around the world 87 The Gola Rainforest: Sierra Leone’s first Rainforest National Park 88

Thank you to our supporters 92 2 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Stone-curlews continue to increase on habitat created for them at Winterbourne Downs and Minsmere. RSPB RESERVES 2012 3

Our vision

Our vision is to help achieve a wildlife-rich future by doubling the area of land managed as RSPB nature reserves by 2030; protecting our most special places for birds and all wildlife; and redressing past losses through habitat restoration and creation.

Our reserves will be wonderful places, rich in wildlife, where everyone can enjoy, learn about and be inspired by the wealth of nature. Working with neighbouring landowners, we will help enhance the quality of the surrounding countryside through our Futurescapes programme.

Increasingly, we will focus on restoring land of low ecological interest to that of high quality. We set challenging targets, but more is needed given the size of the task facing all of us. 4 RSPB RESERVES 2012 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Our new nature reserve at Middleton Lakes – a place for people to connect with nature. INTRODUCTION 5

Introduction Saving Nature

Over the centuries, humans have Another site where we have been , and having the right training altered our natural environment restoring nature is at The Lodge – the to do so. beyond all recognition: woodlands RSPB’s UK headquarters. The Lodge have been felled, heathlands protects remnant heath, once part of a We are clear that there are people ploughed or afforested and much larger sweep of heathland along who wish to learn, and the creation wetlands drained. And with these the Greensand Ridge of Bedfordshire of identification guides, whether in changes, our collective memory of and Cambridgeshire. In recent years, print or on-line, has done much to what our natural environment was we have removed 44 hectares of support this. But the emphasis on like fades too. Each succeeding conifers and spread heather seed. It is ecosystem processes, rather than generation tends to accept “their” incredibly rewarding to see heather more traditional approaches to botany time as a baseline against which steadily colonising the restored area. and zoology, mean that access to further change is benchmarked. formal learning is declining. We have The two sites are connected in been delighted to play a small role in As a conservation body, the RSPB’s rather a special way. Middleton is an trying to address this skills gap role can be captured quite simply as important place in the ecological through "Nature Counts", a Heritage trying to create a world richer in history of Britain, as Middleton Hall Lottery Fund (HLF) supported project wildlife, and wanting our children to was home to Francis Willughby and under which we are supporting 12 inherit the environment in a better state John Ray, who produced the first ecologists over three years to work than we found it. So we will protect the truly scientific attempt at plant with RSPB ecologists to develop their best of our natural environment, but we classification. Ray’s Cambridge taxonomic and identification skills, also want to restore what we have lost. Catalogue of plants, published in focusing on more difficult, under- We conserve wildlife for its own sake, 1660 and researched whilst he was a recorded groups of species. We hope and for our benefit, by providing Fellow at Trinity College, describes the result will add to a new ecosystem services that we all the botany of a now largely lost generation of ecologists, better accept from the natural environment, landscape, including the Lower equipped to help us understand and knowingly or not. These include clean Greensand ridge. He gives a vivid contribute to the conservation of a water, carbon storage, food, flood insight into what we might aim for as rapidly changing world, as well as defence and natural space to enjoy, to part of the restoration: for example, helping the RSPB to manage name but a few. shepherd’s cress Teesdalia reserves better in the short-term. nudicaulis, found "in a sandy lay near During 2011, we were pleased to open the windmills beyond Gamlingay our new reserve at Middleton Lakes, towards Sandy", is now only present near Tamworth on the north-east edge in a few small colonies. It would be of the Birmingham conurbation. In this good to see its former abundance area of wetland remodelled from old restored. Lamb’s succory Arnoseris gravel workings, we are putting minima, is now extinct and would something back into an area which has require reintroduction, probably to suffered huge ecological loss. Over areas of disturbed ground. Gwyn Williams time, we hope that Middleton will Head of Reserves & Protected Areas become a gateway site for people to We now take the ability to identify connect with nature; to enjoy, learn the plants and animals around us for and, on their return home, perhaps granted. But this obviously depends commit to taking individual actions to on successive generations wanting Martin Harper benefit nature. to learn how to identify plants and Director of Conservation 6 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

RSPB nature reserves support about 7% of the UK breeding population of hen harriers. RSPB RESERVES 2012 7

Reserves and wildlife a review of 2011

There are several strategic aims within the RSPB’s Reserves Conservation Strategy: • We have set ambitious targets for key bird species: to increase the populations of 15 species and maintain population of 11 others. • To ensure that wildlife thrives on our reserves, we aim to maintain rare and scarce species of plants, fungi and animals and to enhance numbers of some of the most threatened species. • We will continue to create important new habitats on existing reserves and to acquire further land where this helps us to conserve priority species and habitats. • For those areas of reserves designated as Sites and Areas of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs and ASSIs) where the RSPB is responsible for delivery of Favourable Condition, our aim is that all are classified as in Favourable Condition or Unfavourable-Recovering Condition.

This chapter reports on progress made towards these aims during 2011. 8 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Numbers of black grouse have almost doubled on RSPB nature reserves since 2005.

Progress towards bird species targets

We aim to maintain the populations of Species making good progress compares with 38 in 2010, and 18 in 11 key bird species at or above their towards achieving their 2012 2009. Numbers of lekking male black 2005 levels on reserves. Ambitious “increase” targets grouse also increased from 10 to 19 targets have been set to increase Four species are currently on track to at Lake Vyrnwy. populations of a further 15 key species achieve their 2012 increase targets: breeding on our reserves by 2012 bittern, black grouse, crane, and Cranes nested successfully at (see table, page 11). stone-curlew. Lakenheath Fen for the third year running. There were two pairs and Figures for 2011 show mixed Numbers of booming bitterns on these fledged one young. A pair of progress, with populations of a reserves continued to increase, with cranes bred for the second year range of species declining on RSPB our strategy of creating reedbed for running at the Nene Washes, and nature reserves in 2011, probably for bitterns and other species away from again fledged one young. Of the 21 a variety of reasons. Four species vulnerable coastal areas continuing to cranes released into the Somerset are making good progress towards pay off. The increase was particularly Levels in 2011, 18 survived their first achieving their ambitious increase pleasing, especially given the severity winter. A further 17 have been targets, and eleven species are of the previous winter. At released in 2011, and these two age expected to maintain their existing (see page 26), there were 10 booming groups are interacting well together. numbers on reserves. Seven bitterns and seven nests (eight species appear unlikely to achieve boomers and eight nests in 2010). Numbers of breeding stone-curlews their existing targets on reserves, At Lakenheath Fen, there were seven continued to increase at with an additional two species boomers and seven or eight nests Winterbourne Downs, and on the likely to fail to colonise, or (six boomers and five nests in 2010). acid grassland created at Minsmere. re-colonise, RSPB reserves. The There were 13 pairs of stone- remaining two priority species are Black grouse also increased, despite curlews breeding at these two sites not monitored regularly on RSPB the winter conditions. At Geltsdale, in 2011, compared with just two nature reserves. there were 45 lekking males. This pairs in 2005. RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 9

Species making good progress young on the whole loch. This bodes be used to maintain isolated core towards achieving their 2012 well for 2012. breeding populations of lapwings in “maintain” targets areas where their numbers have Eleven priority species are expected Numbers of lapwings, redshanks collapsed in the surrounding to achieve their 2012 Reserves and snipe breeding on our lowland countryside (pages 40-43). Conservation Strategy “maintain” wet grassland reserves declined for Numbers of spotted crakes were targets: Slavonian grebe, common a second year running. Some of particularly low in 2011, but numbers scoter, hen harrier, spotted crake, these declines were probably at arriving in the UK are known to often corncrake, black-tailed godwit least in part due to the dry weather fluctuate greatly from year to year. (limosa race), whimbrel, woodlark, conditions in spring, and might also chough and, on lowland wet be the result of a second hard Total numbers of choughs breeding grassland, redshank and lapwing. winter reducing overwinter survival. on RSPB reserves have only Some of these remain on track Numbers of breeding black-tailed declined slightly since 2005, but overall, despite recent declines. godwits remained fairly stable at the have shown a large decline at The Nene Washes RSPB Reserve (43 in Oa, from seven pairs in 2006 to just Slavonian grebes are maintaining 2011, compared to 44 in 2010). two in 2011 (but with another two their numbers on the RSPB reserve Efforts to maintain wet grassland- pairs nesting just off the reserve). at Loch Ruthven, but have declined breeding waders in the countryside A key problem for these choughs is on the rest of the loch. Numbers of outside nature reserves, through our low first year survival. A project is Slavonian grebes increased on the Futurescapes programme, are underway to look at foraging and loch as a whole in 2011. Slavonian described on pages 60-63. These food preferences during the post- grebes had a good breeding season contrast with the more extreme fledging period. at Loch Ruthven in 2011, raising 11 interventions that are now having to

Common scoters breeding on RSPB reserves have remained fairly stable since 2005. Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com) Hamblin Mark 10 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011

Species making unsatisfactory Numbers of male red-necked There were 40 lekking male progress towards achieving phalaropes on the RSPB’s managed capercaillie at Abernethy, up from 31 their 2012 “maintain” targets mires on Fetlar remained the same last year. This increase follows good Seven species are currently not on as in 2010 (eight males). This follows productivity in 2010, when 23 chicks track to achieve their 2012 “maintain” two years of increases following the were recorded from 25 hens. targets: snipe (on lowland wet clearance of existing pools, and Productivity was lower in 2011 (12 grassland), red-necked phalarope, creation of new pools in these mires, chicks recorded from 34 hens). capercaillie, little tern, nightjar, prior to the 2009 breeding season. Dartford warbler and golden oriole. Numbers of returning males to the Little terns declined slightly on An additional two species, cirl UK are thought to be determined to a RSPB nature reserves in 2011, and bunting and black-necked grebe, large extent by off-site factors related productivity was generally low at their have failed to achieve our target of, to conditions at sea in their (as yet main RSPB sites. This low productivity respectively, colonising and re- unknown) wintering grounds. Despite was due principally to predation and/or colonising RSPB nature reserves this, we still need to maintain good storms washing out nests. The long- (although single pairs of black-necked habitat conditions for them on our term prospects for little terns in the UK grebes have bred for single years at nature reserves, so that returning appear poor, unless improvements to three sites during the five years). birds can breed successfully. their breeding sites can be made on a large scale. This species has suffered a long-term decline in Britain, explained

Dartford warblers declined on some RSPB nature (rspb-images.com) Hall Ben by low breeding productivity. Pressure reserves in 2011, almost certainly due to the hard winter. on breeding little terns is likely to increase further, as a result of sea-level rise, and possibly increases in recreational use of coastal areas.

Numbers of Dartford warblers breeding on RSPB reserves declined sharply in 2011, due to reductions in numbers at Arne (from 52 pairs in 2010, to 17 pairs in 2011) and Aylesbeare Common (from 13 pairs in 2010 to three pairs in 2011), both no doubt caused by the prolonged cold period during the previous winter. Numbers of Dartford warblers remained fairly stable at other RSPB sites.

The decline in numbers and likely imminent extinction of breeding golden orioles in the UK (Lakenheath Fen has probably been their only regular breeding site in the UK), mirrors their decline on the near-Continent. There is nothing to suggest that it is due to changes in the extent or quality of breeding habitat in the UK. RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 11

Populations of priority bird species on RSPB reserves present in 2005 In some cases the population on the entire RSPB reserve network is higher than this, because birds on land acquired since 2005 have not been included in this table. Species 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 target Slavonian grebe 223 44232 Black-necked grebe 010 10015 Bittern (booming males) 18 19 20 26 29 34 37 34 Common scoter 11 14 10 10 12 11 11 11 Hen harrier (nests)* 53 --43 56 47 48 59 Black grouse (lekking males) 104 151 189 174 141 169 195 170 Capercaillie (lekking males) 48 39 47 41 32 31 40 60 Spotted crake (calling males) 10 13 14 12 12 10 5 10 Corncrake (calling males) 242 266 294 240 289 246 245 330 Crane 001-2 22333 Stone-curlew 77610 12 17** 20** 20 Lapwing (on lowland wet grassland) 1,311 1,366 1,392 1,458 1,500 1,402 1,249 1,650 Snipe (drumming males on lowland wet grassland) 542 579 495 565 568 507 357 700 Black-tailed godwit race limosa 46 50 43 43 43 45 44 46 Whimbrel 10 - >8 8-8-10 Redshank (on lowland wet grassland) 1,070 1,128 1,180 1,196 1,192 1,178 1,057 1,300 Red-necked phalarope (males) 18 12 8611 13 11 18 Little tern 191 127 137 113 122 122 106 191 Nightjar*** 71 75 68 65 59 63 60 71 Woodlark*** 38 51 53 50 50 33 33 38 Dartford warbler*** 139 108 c 125 c 147 c 85 100 59 165 Crested tit c 200 ------c 200 Golden oriole 223 220-1 04 Chough 31 34 37 34 33 32 29 40 Scottish crossbill (individuals) ---23 ---- Cirl bunting 000 00001

Note: Figures are pairs except where stated otherwise. * The original target has been revised because of changes in recording area at one of their key sites, Forsinard Flows. ** Includes two females, which both laid in the same nest, and which we have counted as separate “pairs”. *** The original target has been revised because one of the sites at which they breed, Avon Heath, is no longer an RSPB reserve, and because of changes in recording at North Warren. Steve Knell (rspb-images.com) Knell Steve Slavonian grebes enjoyed a good breeding season at Loch Ruthven in 2011, but their status as a breeding species in the UK remains precarious. 12 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 Mark Gurney Mark Discovery of a new site for the Omophron limbatum was one of the highlights of 2011.

Wildlife discoveries

In 2011, RSPB ecologists discovered One of the RSPB's Nature Counts inquisitor on Holy Island in a a population of the beetle Omophron trainees (see page 78) made a very heathland habitat. We shall look for limbatum in a new area of East unexpected discovery at South Stack it again in 2012. Anglia. This is one of the rare Cliffs. The beetle, Calosoma inquisitor, found at the margins of pools at known as the caterpillar-hunter, is The trainees in Scotland, Clare Dungeness. For many years Rye associated with ancient woodlands. Rickerby and Ndurie Abah, found Harbour and Dungeness were long It is a scarce and spectacular beetle, a new colony of Orthotrichum thought to be the only British but it has been lost from a number obtusifolium at Insh Marshes. This localities for this species, but several of its former sites. Colin Lucas found rare moss is found on tree trunks new sites were found in Breckland in one walking across the maritime in eastern Scotland. It was lost from and Suffolk in the first few heathland at South Stack, several England more than a hundred years years of the 2000s. It seems that kilometres from the nearest sizeable ago, but it has recently been found Omophron limbatum has colonised wood. Calosoma inquisitor does not in a few places in , so it Britain at least twice, because the seem to have been recorded from might be recolonising. beetles in East Anglia are darker and Anglesey before; the nearest more extensively marked than those locations in the provisional atlas of Genetic analysis of tooth fungi from in Kent and Sussex. The beetles at ground beetles are on the Welsh Abernethy has confirmed two new the new site match those from mainland. So if this was a wanderer species for Britain. In 2010, Breckland, so they are likely to have it was very lost indeed, but there is mycologists Martyn Ainsworth and come from the same source. the exciting possibility that there is Alan Lucas collected some a resident population of Calosoma specimens with the help of former RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 13 Mark Gurney Mark

One of the mystery tooth fungi at Abernethy has been identified as Hydnellum cumulatum, a new species for Britain.

site manager Stewart Taylor, who has 2,025 species, of which more than a list. Also new to Insh Marshes, and to mapped the distribution of tooth third had not been recorded before. Scotland, was the conformist, a fungi at the reserve every autumn for Several species were added to the spring-flying moth found by Matthew the last five years (see RSPB county list, and among the additions Deans and Paul Bryant. This extremely Reserves 2009). The results of their to the reserve list were 45 rare or rare species used to be resident in analysis of these confusing fungi scarce species, including a new moth, South Wales, but it has recently been show that Hydnellum cumulatum and the square-spotted clay; a distinctive recorded only as a vagrant in Britain. Hydnellum gracilipes grow in several dead-wood beetle Tomoxia Matthew and Paul also found Kentish places at Abernethy and in nearby bucephala; and Theridion pinastri, a glory, Rannoch sprawler and sword- pinewoods. Several other collections handsome spider associated with grass on the reserve. from Abernethy are still being heaths and open woods. analysed, and they appear to include More than 15,200 native species have some undescribed species, so there Five-spot ladybird Coccinella now been found on RSPB reserves; should be more new records to quinquepunctata is known from a just under one third (32%) of all UK report in future. number of places in the Spey Valley. land and freshwater wildlife. We look Steve Wilkinson, a long-term volunteer after many threatened species, from In 2011 the BTO staff and the RSPB at Insh Marshes, set out to try to find sand-dwelling beetles on the sea staff challenged each other to find as it on the reserve in April 2011. His shore to rare sedges on the top of many species as possible on their search was successful, and he added Cairn Gorm. You can help us by telling headquarters nature reserves. Here this unusual ladybird, which lives reserve staff if you find anything at The Lodge we found and identified among river shingle, to the reserve unusual when you visit our reserves. 14 RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 Ben Hall (rspb-images.com) Hall Ben

Land acquisition

During 2010/11, the Society acquired 8,446 hectares to add to its land holding. This area comprised four new nature reserves totalling 6,658 ha (78.8% of the total) and the extension of 13 reserves (21.2% of the total).

On 1 April 2011, the RSPB managed 141,833 ha at 211 reserves, of which 57% is owned, with the remainder leased or under management agreement. The new reserves were:

I Great Bells Farm, Isle of Sheppey, Kent (lowland wet grassland restoration in partnership with the Environment Agency) I Dove Stone, Greater Manchester (upland heath in partnership with United Utilities – see pages 56–59) I Eastern Moors, Derbyshire (upland heath and woodland in partnership with the National Trust and Peak District National Park) I The Crannach, Deeside (upland heath and Caledonian pinewood)

At Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire, the first transfer of land from Hanson to the RSPB occurred and significant extensions were added to Wallasea Island, Essex; Dearne Valley, South Yorkshire; Saltholme, Cleveland, and at Forsinard Flows, .

Our supporters In 2010/11, we received £1,234,300 in grants for land acquisition. A number of these were from private donations, particularly at Forsinard Flows, Highlands, and Wallasea Island, Essex. We are grateful to all our supporters – Our new nature reserve at Dove Stone in Greater Manchester, a comprehensive list and managed in partnership with United Utilities. acknowledgement is published in the RSPB 2010–11 Annual Review. RESERVES AND WILDLIFE – A REVIEW OF 2011 15 Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) Gomersall Chris

RSPB nature reserves support approximately 700,000 wintering and passage waders and wildfowl, including large numbers of knots and dunlins.

Condition of RSPB-managed SSSIs and ASSIs

Almost three-quarters of the land We do not have recent data on the holdings in Scotland, as well as a managed by the RSPB is designated condition of RSPB-managed SSSIs in more widespread attribution of as SSSI/ASSI (Site/Area of Special Scotland. As of April 2010 (for which Unfavourable Condition of bird Scientific Interest), reflecting the high the most recent data are available), of features to influences with no value of the RSPB’s reserve network. 802 features assessed, 660 (82.3%) “on-site” remedy. Taking this into were assessed as being in Favourable account, 95% of the features for In England, 93.4% of the area of or Unfavourable-Recovering Condition. which there are considered to be on- SSSIs managed by the RSPB is in The 142 features assessed as being site remedies are now in Favourable Favourable Condition or Unfavourable- in Unfavourable-Declining or Condition. Recovering Condition. Remedies have Unfavourable-No-Change include a been agreed with Natural England for large number not in RSPB Information on the condition of 99.996% of the area of SSSI land management control. This reflects, in RSPB-managed units in Wales and which is in Unfavourable Condition, particular, the large number of Northern Ireland is not available and for which the RSPB is breeding seabird SSSI and SPA from the statutory conservation responsible for its management. features on the RSPB’s reserve organisations. Roseate tern by Chris Gomersall and heath fritillary by Jackie Cooper (both rspb-images.com). Ground beetle by Roy Anderson. Fen orchid, ant-lion and fungus by Mark Gurney.Mark by fungus and orchid,FenRoyant-lion by Anderson. beetle Ground rspb-images.com). Jackie(both by Cooper fritillary heath and Gomersall Chris by tern Roseate

16

Just a few of the many fabulous species for which RSPB nature reserves support a large proportion of their UK population. Clockwise from top left: roseate tern, heath fritillary, the ground beetle Badister meridionalis, fen orchid, ant-lion, and the fungus Stereopsis vitellina. RSPB RESERVES 2012 17

Saving nature

An amazing variety of birds, plants, animals and fungi depend on RSPB nature reserves for their survival, particularly species with small UK populations that have specialised requirements. Over the last half century, RSPB reserves have played an important part in preventing the extinction of several UK breeding birds, such as marsh harriers and Dartford warblers, and have greatly aided the recovery of others, such as bitterns, avocets and corncrakes. Increasingly, we are managing habitats for other wildlife and are focusing attention on rare and threatened species with important populations on our reserves, and those threatened through loss of habitat elsewhere. 18 Ellen Rotheray Ellen

The pine hoverfly is arguably the most endangered hoverfly in the UK.

Reintroducing lost species to RSPB nature reserves

The RSPB’s role in reintroduction projects for birds is widely recognised, but fewer people are aware of our work translocating other animals and plants to our reserves. As translocation of species has become more widely regarded as a valuable tool for conservation, so the number of translocation projects on RSPB nature reserves has increased.

JANE SEARS, BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS OFFICER SAVING NATURE 19 I. MacGowan I.

As long ago as the early 1980s, pinewoods in Strathspey since the natterjack toads were translocated to 1990s. It was previously known from The Lodge and Minsmere nature eight sites including the RSPB’s reserves, and in the 1990s we Abernethy reserve, where it was last helped establish a silver-studded blue recorded in 1982. The species is colony at Aldingham Walks in Suffolk. saproxylic or “rot-loving”, requiring Now we are helping to secure the wet decay in holes naturally found in future for some of the UK’s most dead and decaying trees, or within threatened species. By providing the stumps of trees cut for forestry. continuity of suitable habitat It is thought to have declined due to conditions, our reserves can help changes in forestry practices, and a maintain and enhance existing lack of over-mature, senescent or populations of vulnerable species dead trees in Scottish native that are confined to very few sites, pinewoods. Slots are cut into pine stumps to or help restore populations of provide extra breeding habitat for species that have gone extinct Since 1999, the RSPB has been pine hoverflies. in the UK. working with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Malloch We consider that reintroduction Society to increase populations at the of three years of releases at should be used judiciously and two known sites, and to provide Rothiemurchus Estate, and then in should never be a substitute for suitable habitat at neighbouring sites, 2010 and 2011 to the RSPB’s conserving species through habitat including Abernethy, hoping that the Abernethy reserve. Each year at conservation at their existing sites, hoverfly would expand its range Abernethy, through our “deadwood or encouraging natural colonisation naturally through dispersion. Having creation programme”, a few plantation of suitable alternative sites. studied the hoverfly’s ecological pines will be felled and stumps cut to requirements, we found that by provide continuity of habitat for the We recognise the opportunity that cutting slots in cut stumps and filling hoverfly, and to benefit other species habitat creation schemes provide to them with wood chips, we could too. After three years of releases, restore species to their former increase the amount of breeding larvae will be monitored annually in ranges, or to provide alternative sites habitat available (see photograph). the hope that a self-sustaining when their existing habitat is Although the population at one of the population of the pine hoverfly will threatened through changes, such as sites increased, after five years none become established. sea level rise. All of our projects are of the neighbouring sites had been carried out in partnership with other colonised, so reintroduction was organisations, and proposals are considered necessary. assessed against IUCN guidance. The female pine Rotheray Ellen In 2007, the pine hoverfly was hoverfly has a The following three cases illustrate included in SNH’s Species Action lighter tail than our approach to wildlife translocation Framework (SAF) with a target to the red-tailed male projects. “achieve an increase in range to five (shown opposite). sites by 2012”. Captive breeding of a Pine hoverfly – an unwilling saproxylic hoverfly had not been colonist attempted before, so a technique The pine hoverfly Blera fallax is was developed by Ellie Rotheray, a arguably the most endangered PhD student at Stirling University. hoverfly in the UK, having been Reintroductions to historic sites confined to just two Scottish native commenced in 2009, with the first 20 SAVING NATURE RowanEdwards

Male field crickets call from their “sun-beds” of warm bare ground.

Field cricket – new homes on emergency measures were called for, ongoing reintroductions to several recreated heathland so a programme of reintroductions others to increase connectivity In the early 1990s the endangered commenced, supported by Natural between the sites. field cricket, Gryllus campestris, a England’s Species Recovery flightless “true cricket”, numbered Programme. Since then, populations We are contributing to this programme fewer than 100 individuals in the UK, have been established at four sites through heathland recreation work at all present at one site in West Sussex. within the species’ historic range in two of our reserves; Pulborough With very limited dispersal powers, southern England, and there are Brooks in Sussex and Farnham Heath in Surrey. By removing trees from the former heathland, we are restoring the

Jane Sears (RSPB) Sears Jane type of conditions the field cricket Once released, requires for burrowing and foraging: the field crickets quickly dig warm, tussocky grasslands with light burrows. soil and up to 50% bare ground. Field cricket nymphs were released in 2010 and 2011, and adult calling males were heard at both sites during 2011. Further releases will be made to suitable habitat in adjacent areas to extend the occupied range at each site, and the habitat will be managed to retain the early successional conditions. SAVING NATURE 21 Nikki Gammans Nikki

Short-haired bumblebee – benefiting other declining bees Restoring species that have gone extinct in a country is never easy, especially when the life-cycle of the source population is six months out of sync with the season where it is being re-introduced, and on the other side of the world! That was the challenge facing us when we joined with Natural England, Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Hymettus in an ambitious programme to restore a native population of the short-haired bumblebee Bombus subterraneus to the UK. Once widespread across the south of England, occurring as far north as Humberside, the short-haired bumblebee suffered a major decline from the 1960s onwards and was Short-haired bees are to return to the UK after an declared extinct in the UK in 2000. Its absence of nearly 25 years. decline was almost certainly the result of the loss of the species-rich grassland on which it depends. It was last recorded near the RSPB’s than attempt to return bees of UK become more threatened and Dungeness reserve in 1988, but a origin. Subject to satisfactory disease fragmented, and vulnerable to the population of UK origin survives in screening, we anticipate the first impacts of climate change. We need New Zealand, where it was introduced release of queen bees at the RSPB’s to learn from past and current in 1895 to pollinate red clover. Dungeness reserve in spring 2012. experience, and develop the expertise to ensure the greatest chances of The project has assisted in the In future, we anticipate an increasing their success. creation and restoration of more than need for translocations as populations 550 ha of flower-rich habitat within the Dungeness and Romney Marsh area.

This includes 4 ha of arable reversion A farm day event to learn about bumblebees. Gammans Nikki on the RSPB’s Dungeness reserve, which has benefited other declining bumblebee species, such as the shrill carder bee Bombus sylvarum and the large garden bumblebee Bombus ruderatus, recorded there for the first time in 2010. Two attempts to captive breed the bee in New Zealand were unsuccessful, and a genetic study suggested high levels of inbreeding. The decision was therefore made to source the bees from Sweden, rather 22 Malcolm Ausden

Many of our reserves, as here at West Sedgemoor, provide grazing for local farmers’ livestock.

Farming with nature

If asked, most people will say that the RSPB’s involvement in farming is confined to advising farmers and landowners on the management of their land for birds and other wildlife, or carrying out bird surveys on their land. This is far from the truth, however – yes, the advisory function is a big part of our work, but the Society is also very much involved with farming by letting land to farmers, and farming on its own account alongside, and with, nature.

IAN BAKER, HEAD OF LAND AGENCY SAVING NATURE 23 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

The RSPB manages more than In 2011, there were 350 farmers with 140,000 ha of land for nature 640 agreements with the Society, conservation, a significant proportion farming more than 23,000 ha on our of which depends on agricultural nature reserves across the UK. management, particularly grazing by Agreements vary from terms of one sheep and cattle. We carry out farming grazing season to five year tenancies, at a large scale, working within the and are drawn up according to the boundaries of the EU Single Farm circumstances and needs of the Payment and agri-environment reserve. In all cases, we try to ensure schemes. Our farmed estate is varied, the farmer and the RSPB benefit from and we take on different roles to suit the EU Single Farm Payment and local circumstances. agri-environment schemes. Indeed RSPB also carries out agri-environment grant is essential large-scale, in-house We carry out in-hand farming, to help support the costs of farming operations, such involving managing our own livestock, management, especially in keeping as here at Loch Gruinart. at a number of reserves where it Natura 2000 sites in favourable makes sense both economically condition. This also requires the RSPB and ecologically. Practical farming to meet the rigorous requirements experience is therefore important of cross compliance (meeting certain as it helps inform our approach statutory and management through agricultural policy to matters conditions) across all its reserves in such as Common Agricultural Policy order to receive that money. Sites Farming and (CAP) reform. and livestock are regularly inspected Natura 2000 sites by government agencies to ensure We also let out large areas of land to these standards are met. In places, our farming activities local graziers. Sometimes a take place within, and are shepherding service is provided either Latterly, the RSPB has become more essential to the management of by skilled RSPB staff or local farmers. involved in the management of large “Natura 2000” sites – Special This is the most cost-efficient way of scale farming operations, for example Protection Areas and Special managing vegetation on reserves, and at Lake Vyrnwy for the last 15 years, Areas of Conservation which are avoids the Society investing in but more recently at Dove Stone, on the most important sites in livestock at a high capital cost. the moors in north west Derbyshire, Europe for wildlife. and at Haweswater, in the Lake To help tailor the sometimes unusual District. These schemes are managed Within these areas, management demands of nature conservation with in conjunction with public utility practices are required to maintain commercial farming, the RSPB has companies who have a legal (or where necessary to restore) developed incentivised tenancies. requirement to meet EU targets on the value of the habitats that they These offer a rebate from the agreed water quality at the lowest cost protect. The protection afforded to rent upon delivery of features commercially. The work at Dove Stone these special places does not beneficial for nature conservation. is described on page 56. prevent their ongoing agricultural These features can be a specified use. But it does ensure that these grass height, or the application of special places are managed with farmyard manure. wildlife in mind, and provides a focus for both partnerships and funding to deliver innovative agricultural management. 24 David Kjaer (rspb-images.com) Kjaer David

A view across the reedbed at Ham Wall towards Glastonbury Tor.

Management of reedbeds for bitterns and other wildlife

Although well known for their bird life, reedbeds also support a wide variety of invertebrates, including rare and specialised species dependent on reed. They also provide important refuges for water voles from mink predation. The RSPB is working closely with others to develop and promote reedbed management for all of its special wildlife interest.

MATT SELF, RESERVES ECOLOGIST; STEVE HUGHES, SITE MANAGER, HAM WALL; JANE SEARS, BIODIVERSITY PROJECTS OFFICER SAVING NATURE 25 Richard(rspb-images.com) Revels

Reedbed is a rare habitat with only There were 10 booming an estimated 6,600 ha in the UK. bitterns at Ham Wall in Since the RSPB leased its first 2011, just one fewer than reedbed at Minsmere in 1947, we the total number of have majored on restoring and booming bitterns in the re-creating reedbeds and now whole of the UK in 1997. manage approximately 1,600 ha of the habitat.

Much of the reedbed creation and management has been led by the requirements of bitterns. Despite targeted management work through the 1990s, bittern numbers declined to a low of only 11 boomers at just seven sites in 1997. This led to a re-energised campaign of reedbed restoration and re-creation with other organisations and agencies, helped by EC LIFE-Nature and informed by detailed research work on the behaviour and requirements of bitterns. The results have been favourable with an impressive increase in bittern numbers.

Numbers of booming bitterns in 2011 10 Ham Wall Lakenheath Fen The graph shows the increase in 8 numbers of booming bitterns since the start of reedbed creation, at Ham 6 Wall in 1994, and at Lakenheath Fen in 1996. These, and other reedbeds, 4 have been created to compensate for the loss of coastal freshwater

Number of boomers 2 reedbeds due to rising sea levels. Of the 12 RSPB sites with bittern nests 0 in 2011, five (with 12 nests) are at risk of imminent coastal flooding. Inland 199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011 reedbeds, such as at Ham Wall and Year Lakenheath Fen, will become increasingly important.

26 SAVING NATURE Steve Hughes Steve

The Softrak cutter in action, cutting and removing reed.

Creation and management of proved to be ideal fish habitat, and An alternative to this traditional cut- reedbed at Ham Wall the very wet reedbeds have turned and-remove process is also being One of the key sites for bitterns is out to be very resistant to the trialled at Ham Wall, aiming to Ham Wall. This was created from accumulation of litter and debris, and “rejuvenate” a block of reed by former peat extraction areas in the the succession process. Rudd were lowering water levels, undertaking Somerset Levels, starting in 1994, introduced to the site to increase an initial cut, then introducing hardy and is one of the best examples of food availability, and they have cattle (Highlands) to the developing how a degraded industrial site can be thrived. More recently, an eel pass grass sward. The first rejuvenated turned into good wildlife habitat. In (provided by the Environment block is due to be re-flooded in 2012. 18 years, the site has expanded to Agency) has been installed to allow 230 ha, of which at least 153 ha is a access to the reedbeds from the Work at Ham Wall started in 1994, diverse mix of reed, mixed swamp separate main drain nearby. but it took until 2003 for the first and inundation communities, pools booming bittern to be heard. No and ditches. It is often difficult to keep up with the nesting attempts took place until scale of reed management at large 2008, when there were two boomers Ham Wall was acquired in phases, as reedbed sites, and with the disposal and two nests. Since then numbers peat extraction was completed in of arisings from reed cutting. Ham have increased greatly, to 10 each block of around 20 ha. The mix Wall has managed particularly large boomers and seven nests in 2011. of vertical banks and deep pools was areas of reed, typically over 5 ha per re-worked with diggers to create a year, and has developed innovative Bringing Reedbeds to Life network of channels, open water approaches to these problems. Much An understanding of reedbed design bodies and reed blocks. With deep of this has been tackled with a and management for birds has been voids and relatively little material to specialised low ground pressure flail developed over many years, but there rework, most areas have more open harvester (based on a “Softrak” is less information on the water and more deeply-flooded reed platform), supplying “pods” which requirements of other wildlife. than in a typical reedbed. This has turn cut reed into garden compost. Within the RSPB and Natural England SAVING NATURE 27

(NE) Bringing Reedbeds to Life As a relatively new restoration site frogs and smooth newts were project, a range of taxa and their on degraded peat excavations, it was recorded even within pure reed. microhabitats were surveyed in detail expected that Ham Wall would have a at Norfolk Wildlife Trust’s Hickling poorer fauna than the mature and All parts of the hydrological gradient Broad, NE’s Stodmarsh National long-established reedbeds at Hickling within reedbeds have biodiversity Nature Reserve (NNR) and the Broad and Stodmarsh. However, a and conservation value, and dynamic RSPB’s Ham Wall reserve, to respectable 552 species of management that maintains a range improve our understanding of the invertebrate were identified at Ham of successional stages is key to value of reedbeds and develop Wall. This was similar to the numbers maintaining a high diversity of suitable management recorded at the other sites. Numbers wetland species. We have also recommendations. The importance of wetland specialists and reedbed demonstrated the value of re-created of dry areas within reedbeds for specialists (those dependent on reed, reedbeds for a range of species in invertebrate diversity was reared from reed or only found in addition to bitterns. Combined with re-confirmed, but the value of wet, reedbed habitats) were also similar at an extensive programme of reedbed early successional reedbed for the three sites. Seventeen Nationally auditing and the provision of advice, specialist invertebrates was also Rare or Nationally Scarce flies were it is hoped this work will result in demonstrated. Seasonally flooded recorded at Ham Wall. Two are a coherent strategy for reedbed pools were important for common classed as Vulnerable (the ornate conservation for the next decade. frogs, and well vegetated ditches brigadier soldierfly Odontomyia ornata were important for smooth newts. and the hoverfly Sphaerophoria loewi) Thanks to: Water voles and mink were found to and one Near-Threatened (the EC LIFE-Nature for funding reedbed be co-existing at all the sites, dancefly Poecilobothrus ducalis), creation work, and to NE for reinforcing the belief that reedbeds together with eight UK BAP species supporting the Bringing Reedbeds to provide refuges for water voles of moths. Ham Wall also supported Life project, via the Countdown 2010 from mink predation. good numbers of common and marsh Biodiversity Action Fund. Matt SelfMatt Reed re-growing in the rejuvenation areas following lowering of water levels and cutting. The vigour of the re-growth is further reduced by grazing. 28 RSPB RESERVES 2011 Steve Round (rspb-images.com) Round Steve

The once widespread curlew is now confined to a small number of islands and wetland sites in Fermanagh.

Lusty More Island – restoration management for curlews in Fermanagh

The Lower Lough Erne Islands Reserve in County Fermanagh is the RSPB’s most westerly reserve and comprises 39 islands in the UK’s third largest freshwater lake. It is home to an important population of breeding waders, and targeted management over the past 11 years has reversed declines in breeding lapwings and redshanks. Work is currently underway on the largest of the islands to benefit the curlew, a species in rapid decline as a breeding bird across the whole of Ireland.

BRAD ROBSON, FERMANAGH AREA MANAGER SAVING NATURE 29 Licence number 1548, May 2012May 1548, number Licence PropertyServices,and Land Copyright, Crown ©

The curlew is familiar to many people, having been a widespread breeding species in both meadows and bogs. However, this distinctive wader is in serious trouble on its Irish breeding grounds, both in the north and south. In 2011, BirdWatch Ireland, the BirdLife partner in the Republic of Ireland (ROI), estimated the breeding population of curlews in ROI to be fewer than 200 The removal of field boundary trees and encroaching scrub will create pairs. In Northern Ireland, the breeding a large open centre to the island suitable for breeding curlews and free population was estimated at 5–6,000 from disturbance. pairs in 1986–87 (Partridge 1988). By 2000, this population had decreased most varied. More than 230 species The open grassland of the interior is by 60% across both key breeding of vascular plant have been recorded hidden from the lough by an wader sites and the countryside including cowbane and purging encircling belt of oak and ash outside these areas (Stanbury et al. buckthorn. The woodland is home to woodland, making the meadows 2000). Although there is not a more several species of fungi found unattractive to breeding lapwings and recent estimate, evidence suggests nowhere else in Ireland; marsh redshanks. However, up to three that the population is now at a critically fritillary has been recorded and otters pairs of curlews and five pairs of low level. The breeding population on are regularly seen along the shore. It snipe have bred on the island for the reserve has declined from 57 pairs is owned by Fermanagh District many years. Curlew productivity has in 1994 but has remained stable at Council and the RSPB manages it in been poor, with young only fledging 34–35 pairs since 2007. partnership with a local farmer. It is a in two of the past 14 years of wonderful example of a low input monitoring. The dense woodland and Lusty More Island is, at 38 ha, the grazing system benefiting a wide close proximity to a neighbouring largest island on the reserve, and the variety of wildlife. island, where foxes regularly take

Redshanks do not breed on Lusty More although targeted management on (rspb-images.com) KennedyRay other reserve islands has increased the population from 23 to 52 pairs. 30 SAVING NATURE Brad Robson Brad Brad Robson Brad

Exposed limestone and shallow soils By 2010 nesting habitat for curlews and at the eastern end of the island are rich snipe had deteriorated due to scrub in vascular plants and invertebrates. encroachment and rush infestation.

food handed out from a restaurant, and from Fermanagh District Council 2010 and, where appropriate, stumps have hampered efforts at control. to remove 2 ha of invasive alder, birch have been painted with glyphosate and blackthorn scrub from the immediately after felling to minimise An aerial photograph from 1969 island’s meadows, to flail a further 2 re-growth. All felling has been done shows the island at a time when the ha of bramble and gorse and to using chainsaws, with cut materials then owner had cleared trees after remove 2 km of field boundary trees stacked close to existing woodland, many years of abandonment, in an to recreate nearly 20 ha of removed or burnt where appropriate. attempt to revive the working farm. unimpeded open meadows. A 20-minute boat journey from the However, this project ran into mainland has added to the logistical difficulties and after the initial work it Work began in October 2011, with complexity of the operation; the was abandoned to a low level of local contractors flailing bramble and RSPB cot, usually used to transport cattle grazing and consequently gorse using low ground pressure livestock, has been used to transport scrub re-invaded the edges of the machinery to minimise the impact on machinery and materials. meadows. In 2011, funds were the sward and soils. The standing secured from SWARD through the trees were all injected with undiluted With habitat restoration nearing NI Rural Development Programme glyphosate by reserve staff in autumn completion, the second phase of the project will begin in August 2012. A 2 km solar-powered electric predator-

Brad Robson Brad proof fence will be erected around the meadows to exclude foxes. On the reserve’s Rabbit Island, curlews breed at a density of 1.2 pairs per hectare. Lusty More is quite different from that site but it is hoped that following restoration, and in the absence of fox predation, it could support 10 pairs of breeding curlews and an increased breeding snipe population. If a productive population becomes established, then young curlews could repopulate some of the other islands and mainland sites around Lower Lough Erne, bringing the bubbling sounds of spring to a The wet meadows with naturally undulating topography generate soft much wider audience once more. ground Weconditions manage and our aWestern large amount Atlantic of oakwoods invertebrate for prey throughout the breeding season. pied flycatchers and other summer migrants. SAVING NATURE 31 Brad Robson Brad

Low density cattle grazing from April to December creates suitable conditions for both nesting curlews and a high diversity of flowering plants.

Thanks to: This project has been supported by SWARD through the NI Rural Development Programme, Fermanagh District Council and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.

References Partridge JK. (1988). Breeding waders in Northern Ireland. RSPB Conservation Review 2:69-71. Stanbury A, O’Brien M and Donaghy A. (2000). Trends in breeding wader populations in key areas within Northern Ireland between 1986 and 2000. Irish Birds, 6, 513-526. 32 Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com) Hamblin Mark

Numbers of hen harriers have recovered well, with RSPB nature reserves currently holding a third of the Orkney population.

Our amazing Orkney reserves

Orkney is a very special place, containing high densities of breeding hen harriers, amazing seabird colonies and , and still hosting good numbers of farmland birds. In this article we describe some of the special features of the birdlife of Orkney, and what we are doing to help maintain its unique bird life – crucial for an area where so many of the visitors come to enjoy the natural environment.

ANDY KNIGHT, ORKNEY RESERVES MANAGER SAVING NATURE 33

The RSPB manages 13 nature Management of the RSPB’s nature reserves on Orkney reserves on Orkney, covering 8,439 ha. About a third of the area of our nature reserves is open to grazing. Our reserves The majority of their area comprises support five common grazings, and 21 grazing lets. This arrangement provides upland heath and montane habitat, benefits to local farmers and contractors (see also the article on pages 22–23). together with smaller areas of marginal and agriculturally improved In terms of management of all of these habitats, there has been a general farmland, wetland and a range of move towards more of a landscape scale approach. It has become increasingly coastal habitats. Our nature reserves important to incorporate management on nature reserves with advisory and contain 41 known archaeological advocacy work outside reserves. Reserve boundaries blur more into the features, including six Scheduled countryside outside these days – this applies to management of moorland, Ancient Monuments. arable, farmland and wetland habitats. Management for corncrakes, waders and songbirds is all combined into integrated farmland bird management. In ornithological terms, Orkney is perhaps best known for its hen For farmland and wetland habitats, agri-environment agreements have been harriers (as well as Eddie Balfour who important in supporting grazing of hard to graze wader habitats, the use of studied hen harriers on Orkney in the specialist cutting equipment, and delayed mowing for corncrakes. 1950s) and seabirds. Harrier numbers declined from their 1970s heyday to just 30 territories in the early 1990s. grazing reduced the area of ranker on hill land, has resulted in a stunning This prompted an RSPB-sponsored grassland in which the voles live. Bad recovery of hen harriers back to the study into the causes of this decline. weather in spring also has a negative levels seen in the 1970s. In 2011, there The study linked the decline of hen impact and accounted for annual were 103 sites occupied by hen harriers to low availability of their main variations in productivity. A harriers on Orkney, 37 of which were prey, Orkney voles, in late winter and combination of reserve management, on RSPB nature reserves. early spring. This low food availability the Natura 2000 Hen Harrier Scheme was itself correlated with high and agri-environment schemes The situation regarding seabirds numbers of sheep, whose intensive encouraging reduced sheep stocking remains of high concern. For example,

Numbers of hen harrier apparently occupied territories on the RSPB’s Orkney West Mainland reserves

30

25

20

15

10 occupied territories

Number of apparently Number of apparently 5

0

19951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011 Year 34 SAVING NATURE

numbers of seabirds at Marwick Head Tracking bonxies on Hoy have declined by 53% since Seabird 2000, and by a further 22% since The movements and foraging behaviour of great 2006. The situation has vividly struck skuas – also known as “bonxies” – are being home to fieldworkers, who now visit tracked on Hoy by Helen Wade, from North productivity monitoring plots that no Highland College – University of the Highlands and Islands. The aim of this longer have any birds in them. Despite research is to increase our understanding of the potential effects of marine these declines, the seabird spectacles renewable energy developments on this species. at Noup Cliffs, Marwick Head and Copinsay still remain impressive. The Initial findings show that during the breeding season some individuals spectacle at Noup Cliffs is heightened undertake foraging trips of more than 1,300 km, travelling farther north than by its burgeoning gannet population. the Faroe Islands. The average foraging trip, however, was 85 km, with birds Gannets first bred in 2000 and there making trips to the coast and down to the Moray . are now 600 nests. Puffins, black Mark Sisson (rspb-images.com) guillemots (tysties), great skuas and red-throated divers have not suffered Continuing FAME the big declines or fluxes of the other seabirds. Research is being carried out FAME – Future of the Atlantic Marine Environment – to increase our understanding of is a project to monitor and track seabirds across the seabird feeding behaviour to help western seaboard of Europe, in order to help us identify the location of important understand their feeding behaviour. seabird feeding areas, and the potential effects of marine renewable We had a really successful year tagging seabirds in Orkney in 2011. This energy developments (see boxes). allowed us to see if the long journeys that some birds were making in 2010 were unusual. In 2011, some birds again travelled long distances to find Orkney is also becoming one of those suitable feeding areas, as did their neighbours on Fair Isle. ever decreasing places where farmland birds (perhaps still taken for granted by us locally) are a feature for

Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy Movements of breeding razorbills from Orkney in 2010 (left) and 2011 (right). visitors, with large numbers of curlews, lapwings and skylarks, birds once regarded as typical of many areas of farmland on the mainland. RSPB sites contribute significantly to this, achieving wader densities of two pairs per hectare on wetland habitats such as at the Loons, and one pair per hectare on farmland mosaic habitats such as at Onziebust. Most reserve wader populations have increased or remained stable, but moorland- breeding curlews are showing signs of a decline. The reasons for this are unclear, but we are focusing on adjusting our grazing, cutting and Further details of FAME can be found in RSPB Reserves 2011 or at burning management to try to ensure www.rspb.org.uk/FAME. that we cater for their requirements. SAVING NATURE 35

RSPB nature reserves on Orkney Thanks to: Tracking of bonxies was funded by the Marine Renewable Energy and the Environment (MaREE) project, European Regional Development Fund, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Scottish Funding Council, British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). FAME is 65% funded by the European Regional Development Fund Atlantic Area Transnational Programme. Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2012.

Orkney Reserve Snippets Hoy – 3,962 ha of mountain and moor, home to Britain’s Mainland Moors (Birsay Moors, Hobbister and Rendall most northerly native woodland. A new (to Orkney) UKBAP Moss and Cottascarth) – for the best views of nesting solitary bee species, the tormentil mining bee Andrena red-throated divers, and the core of the hen harrier tarsata was found this year, and has since been evaluated population. as one of the largest aggregations now known in the UK. Mill Dam – a jewel of a wetland, with our favourite hide Brodgar – surrounds the famous stone circle, the Ring of providing an almost aerial view over the reserve. Great at Brodgar, part of the Heart of Orkney World any time of the year. Heritage Site. A great short walk with skylarks and farmland waders for company. An easy place to see the North Hill on Papa Westray – a coastal heath supporting rare great yellow bumble bee in August. skuas and the enigmatic Scottish primrose.

The Loons – a great wetland with great views of wetland Trumland – a hearty walk rewards with stunning views birds all year round, brilliant for water rails in the early across Orkney between ducking bonxies. Autumn. Onziebust – principally managed for corncrakes, this reserve Marwick and Noup – the classic seabird cities in the most surprises most people with its abundance of farmland magnificent of seascapes. waders, skylarks and botanically species-rich meadows. 36 Tim Strudwick Tim

The mason wasp Odynerus simillimus is a globally rare species found on RSPB nature reserves. It catches larvae and brings them down its chimney.

Meet some of our special species

RSPB nature reserves are home to more than 15,000 species. Here are some of the rarest, found in only a few places in Britain. From high mountain tops to coastal marshes, our nature reserves are important refuges for these plants, animals, and fungi. Some may be the last survivors from ancient times, living archaeology that can tell us about our past. Others may be the vanguard of lost species that are trying to return. Although some seem always to have been rare, others have now retreated to nature reserves as their habitat has been lost from the countryside.

MARK GURNEY, RESERVES ECOLOGIST SAVING NATURE 37 Mark Gurney Mark

From Scotland to the Himalayas with only one stop Joergensen’s notchwort Anastrophyllum joergensenii lives under heather on boulder covered slopes at Abernethy. It is a rare species, found at a few other places in the Cairngorms and north-west Scotland. Its nearest neighbours are across the on a mountain in the rugged Fjordlands of southern Norway, but the only other populations of this liverwort are thousands of miles away in the majestic peaks of the Himalayas. Issler’s Clubmoss Diphasiastrum issleri : a living relic from prehistory? Traveller in time or space? Issler's clubmoss Diphasiastrum issleri is an enigma. It is of hybrid years old, and he was rewarded with had been neglected for many years, origin, and while one of its ancestors, a day off school to show the plant to but it is now mown and grazed to Alpine clubmoss Diphasiastrum the doyen of British botany a couple provide suitable conditions for the alpinum is a common plant in the of years later. Viper's-grass still grows viper's-grass, which has even spread uplands of Britain, the other, in the field at our Wareham Meadows out into some of the neighbouring Diphasiastrum complanatum, has reserve, which has the only large fields since the RSPB started never been found here. How can two population of this species in England. managing them. plants that have never met leave their Prior to our involvement, the meadow progeny growing in a steep valley at our Abernethy reserve in Scotland? Perhaps fine spores have been carried on the wind across the sea Our nature reserve at Wareham Meadows supports the only large from one of the areas where colony of Viper's-grass in England. Diphasiastrum issleri grows on the continent with both its parents. Or perhaps Diphasiastrum complanatum once grew in Scotland but became extinct as the climate and landscape changed, leaving its genes in Issler's clubmoss as a time capsule and the only reminder that it was ever here.

Snake in the grass Despite its English name, viper's- grass Scorzonera humilis is a member of the daisy family, with Mark Gurney Mark yellow flowers like a dandelion. Noel Sandwith added this plant to the British flora when he was only 12 38 SAVING NATURE Mark Gurney Mark

Transatlantic survivor A few years ago, RSPB staff on the Inner Hebrides found a northern parula. This vagrant warbler from North America lingered for five days, but there is another American species here that has stayed a lot longer. Irish lady's-tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana is widespread in Canada and the USA, but its only appearances on this side of the Atlantic are in Ireland and the west of Britain. It is a plant of wet pastures in the Hebrides, with populations on RSPB reserves on Coll, Tiree, and Islay. This orchid has been with us for at least two hundred years, but it sometimes seems to be almost as transient as a vagrant bird, appearing at a site for a few years and then not being seen again.

Cherry sticker The weevil auratus was long thought extinct in Britain. The eminent coleopterist Canon Fowler wrote “I know of no record in recent years” in the last volume of his work on British and Irish beetles in 1891. Nigel Cuming rediscovered this striking weevil in Essex 165 years after its last appearance in Britain. It is now known from several sites around Colchester, including our Old Hall Marshes reserve, where it is one of several scarce species associated with blackthorn hedges. It lays its eggs in the soft stone of unripe fruits, including cherries and apricots in warmer parts of the world, where it has been called the “cherry sticker”.

Little Miss Muffet Despite its name, It is not only nursery rhyme Irish Lady's-tresses is really characters who have a liking for an American species. tuffets. One of Britain's rarest beetles seems particularly fond of tufts of SAVING NATURE 39 Mark Gurney Mark

The weevil was feared extinct in Britain.

grass on RSPB nature reserves. The Well-stocked larder pretender might not be the true royal black-and-red Badister meridionalis is RSPB reserves in eastern England are bolete, but it is still a rare and found in only four or five locations proving to be good areas for the beautiful species, and is one of the and two of these are RSPB reserves: mason wasp Odynerus simillimus. This many special fungi at Tudeley Woods. Otmoor and West Sedgemoor. is an elusive , known in Britain Studies commissioned by the RSPB only from Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex, A new hope suggest that this ground beetle and it is very rare in the rest of One of the RSPB's wardens, Joan spends the summer on bare mud Europe. The adult wasp hunts for Childs, spent a summer visiting around the edges of seasonal pools, weevil larvae, which it paralyses and reserves and recording hoverflies. Her and retreats to tussocks of grass in brings back to its nest. The nest is a most exciting find was Chrysotoxum the winter. Tussocks are important burrow with a small chimney at its octomaculatum at Arne. This boldly over-wintering sites for many entrance, and it can be stocked with a patterned species has always been invertebrates on our wet grassland dozen or so weevil larvae, which are rare, and it has declined so much that sites, as they provide shelter from the food of the developing wasp it was feared extinct in Britain. Joan's freezing temperatures and rising larvae. Suitable nesting sites are rare records were a welcome sign that water levels. in the wetland habitat of this wasp, so there may still be hope for this we have created some banks for it at species, which seems to be Something old, something new one of our reserves. associated with dry heathland edges. The small dotted footman is one of the rarest of the rare moths at Sutton The pretender Cleaning out the drains Fen. It was found in the Norfolk The royal bolete is a suitable name for The freshwater snail Valvata Broads in 1961, and this is still the Boletus regius, a stately mushroom macrostoma is found at four RSPB only area where this moth breeds in whose garish red caps set it apart reserves. It has declined in Britain and Britain. Many of the threatened from the commoner species. We is threatened in other European species at Sutton Fen are associated used to think that the royal bolete was countries too, so it is good to know with early stages of new growth after found in a few places in southern that it is still thriving at West reed has been cut, but some, England, but close examination has Sedgemoor. It likes shallow, unshaded including small dotted footman, are revealed an imposter: most of the ditches, which are noted for their rich more associated with older reedbeds. reports of Boletus regius in fact refer mollusc fauna. These can become We are managing the reserve to to a look-alike species, Boletus shaded and choked with vegetation, provide a range of habitats from open pseudoregius. This fungus has been so to keep the ideal conditions for the water to wet woodland so that there given the apt English name of the snails, we clear parts of the ditches are suitable conditions for all the pretender, like the Stuart princes who when they get overgrown. special wildlife at this site. claimed royal titles in the 1700s. The 40 George McCarthy(rspb-images.com) George

Redshanks conceal their nests in long vegetation. We still have very little information on nest survival and breeding productivity of redshanks.

Increasing the breeding success of lowland wet grassland waders using predator exclusion fences

On some areas of lowland wet grassland, there is strong evidence that nest predation by foxes and some other generalist mammalian predators is reducing lapwing productivity to levels that are too low for them to maintain a stable population. In this article, we describe the use of fencing to increase breeding success of lapwings and other lowland wet grassland waders.

GRAHAM HIRONS, CHIEF ECOLOGIST SAVING NATURE 41 Graham White The combination predator exclusion fence at Otmoor.

The problem lapwing nests (eg Bolton et al 2007), Lapwing, redshank and snipe were but it is difficult to maintain fox formerly familiar and widespread densities low enough to achieve even species in lowland England and Wales, the minimum level of productivity breeding commonly in areas of wet required (ie that sufficient to maintain grassland. Driven largely by habitat the population). Predator exclusion loss and deterioration due to drainage fences offer the possibility of both and agricultural intensification there increasing productivity and reducing electric fences because their lowest were large population declines in all the need for lethal control of foxes. electric wire is set higher off the three species (lapwing 38%, snipe ground and is less vulnerable to being 61% and redshank 29%) between Predator exclusion fences shorted out by touching vegetation. surveys in 1982 and 2002 (Wilson et There are 10 lowland wet grassland Their predicted lifespan is also much al 2005). The declines were reserves owned or managed by the longer (possibly more than 20 years). accompanied by significant range RSPB with predator exclusion fences. contractions and these species are The areas fenced range in size from Permanent fencing will restrict the now confined mainly to relatively few 3.5–76 ha and comprise 6–100% of movement of other mammals, sites, the majority of which are nature the reserve’s wet grassland area. The particularly hares. One option is to reserves or other protected areas fences are designed to exclude foxes keep the electricity on all year, so that managed specifically to provide and badgers but not stoats. predatory mammals do not become suitable habitat for them. The accustomed to passing through it conservation of breeding wet There are two distinct types of fences. without receiving a shock, but to leave grassland waders in lowland Britain, at One is electric fencing (either gates open outside the wader least in the short term, will depend temporary or semi-permanent) breeding season so that mammals can upon the successful management of comprising alternate live and earth pass into and out of the fenced area. the remaining important sites. This is wire strands at 5–10 cm intervals up to Temporary electric fencing is the only in contrast to large areas of northern the standard stock fence height of option where the fence cannot be left Britain where breeding waders remain 1.1 m. Animals receive an electric out all year, for example in areas prone a feature of the countryside and there shock if they try to pass through the to deep winter flooding. is still hope that other conservation fence. The other is a combination mechanisms will help retain their fence that provides a physical barrier How well do the fences work? numbers and distribution. against predators (8 cm mesh livestock The survival of lapwing nests to netting 1.25 m tall, buried 25 cm into hatching within fenced areas has been Predation on nests and chicks the ground) and gives them an electric on average 74%, more than double Evidence from nest cameras show shock if they try to climb up or over it that in unfenced areas. This is that foxes are the most important via an offset electric wire at c 65 cm considerably higher than the 45–50% predator of lapwing nests at the above ground level, with two further nest survival estimated to be required majority of lowland wet grasslands at live wires at 10–20 cm intervals above to maintain a stable population of which predation has been studied (see the fence. The main advantage of lapwings (see Ausden et al 2009). This Ausden et al., 2009). Badgers and electric strand fences is their lower high level of nest survival is particularly hedgehogs can also be important nest cost, typically £3.50 per m; their main encouraging, especially given that the predators at some sites. On many disadvantage is their higher reserves chosen initially for fence RSPB reserves predation reduces maintenance requirement and their installation were those where lapwing lapwing productivity to below the level shorter lifespan (c 10 years). nest survival (and overall productivity) needed for population maintenance Combination fences are far more had been consistently low. We do not (0.6–0.8 chicks per pair). Experimental expensive (c £12–£15 per m), semi- know the effects of anti-predator studies have shown that reducing fox permanent structures but they have far fences on the survival of redshank or abundance can increase the survival of lower maintenance requirements than snipe nests. 42 SAVING NATURE

Once hatched, chicks still remain hedgehogs. However, the use of from declining on the network of vulnerable to predation, including by predator exclusion fencing, sometimes reserves still supporting viable raptors, especially in years when combined with fox control before the populations and helping to increase alternative prey such as small wader breeding season, has proved their productivity to levels enabling mammals are less abundant. successful at increasing lapwing birds to be exported to surrounding Furthermore, chicks can pass through productivity to levels higher than that areas of suitable habitat sustained by the fence into areas unprotected from required to maintain a stable agri-environment schemes. fox predation. However, lapwing population. This combination of productivity increased from an average measures is also likely to benefit other References of 0.2 chicks fledged per pair before, to wader species. Ausden, M, Bolton, M, Butcher, N, an average of 0.9 chicks fledged per Hoccom, DG, Smart, J & Williams, G. pair after fences had been installed, The largest area so far enclosed by a (2009) Predation of breeding waders even though at many sites only a single fence on an RSPB reserve is on lowland wet grassland – is it a proportion of the suitable breeding 50 ha. Fencing larger areas would cost problem? British Wildlife 21: 29-38. wader habitat was fenced (see box). less per unit area of land fenced, and As lapwings require an annual would enable more feeding habitat to Bolton, M, Tyler, G, Smith, K and productivity of 0.6–0.8 fledged young be enclosed within the fenced area. Bamford, R. (2007) The impact of per pair to maintain their population, These advantages should be set predator control on lapwing Vanellus this level of productivity on reserves against the practicalities of fencing vanellus breeding success on wet would allow lapwings to increase larger areas, and the increased grassland nature reserves. Journal of and/or re-colonise other areas of difficulty of removing any foxes that Applied Ecology 44: 534-544. suitable habitat away from the reserve. do breach the fence. Wilson, AM, Vickery, JA, Langston, The future The use of fencing is especially suited RHW, Smallshire, D, Wotton, S and Predator exclusion fencing is a cost- to increasing the productivity of high Vanhinsbergh, D. (2005) Changes in effective means of reducing, but not density, core breeding populations of the numbers of breeding waders on eliminating, predation; no type of waders. In the short-term in lowland lowland wet grasslands in England fencing will ever be 100% effective at Britain, fences are likely to play a vital and Wales between 1982 and 2002. excluding foxes, badgers or role in preventing breeding waders Bird Study 52: 55-69.

Are fences cost effective? Assuming a 20 year lifespan for a combination fence and 10 year lifespan for a strand fence, the cost per year of fencing 50 ha would be £2,100 (at £15/m) and £1,300 (at £3.50/m) respectively without adding in the cost of routine maintenance. The higher maintenance requirement for strand fences would probably mean that the annual costs are more similar. Furthermore, there is increasing evidence that nest survival is higher within combination fences than strand fences (Malpas et al in prep), so their cost effectiveness is probably roughly equivalent.

How does the cost of fencing compare with employing a marksman to shoot foxes at night? Assuming two sessions per week for 18 weeks from mid-February to mid-June at a cost of £100 per session, the rough cost of controlling foxes over a 250–300 ha of lowland wet grassland would be £3,600. However, at Berney in 2011, to achieve the same overall level of lapwing productivity as the fenced sites (average 0.9 chicks per pair), required 51 night sessions from January to June at a cost of £6,250 (assuming a cost of £35/hour). Therefore, even undertaking additional limited night shooting at sites with a predator exclusion fence at a cost of c £1,200, the cost of a fencing regime to reduce the impacts of large mammal predation would compare favourably with fox control based on shooting alone. SAVING NATURE 43 Nigel Blake (rspb-images.com) Blake Nigel

The use of predator exclusion fencing at the RSPB’s Otmoor reserve Lapwing numbers and productivity remained low at Otmoor even after the introduction of fox control in 2008.

In 2010, 14% of the wet grassland area was enclosed by a predator exclusion fence. Since then lapwing productivity has been satisfactory and numbers have increased over the reserve as a whole. In the first spring after the fence was erected many lapwings laid their first clutches outside the fenced area, but then re- laid replacement clutches within the fence after their first clutches were predated. In 2011, a higher proportion of lapwings laid their first clutches within the fenced area. Even though raptor predation on lapwing chicks was observed in 2011, the overall productivity of 1.45 chicks fledged per pair would still be sufficient to allow the lapwing population to increase and eventually re-colonise suitable habitat off the reserve managed under agri-environment schemes.

Number of breeding lapwings at Otmoor Lapwing productivity at Otmoor 100 1.6 80 1.4 1.2 60 1.0 0.8 40 0.6 20 0.4 0.2 Population (pairs) Population 0 (number of Productivity per pair) fledged chicks 0.0 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Year Year

44 Mark Nowers Mark

One of the re-wetted ditches at Wolves Wood in May 2012.

Re-wetting Wolves Wood

Wolves Wood in Suffolk used to be a rather wet wood, but it has been partially drained to help improve conditions for removal of coppice products, and is also now surrounded by drained arable land. In East Anglia, spring 2010 and spring 2011 were both exceptionally dry, and the trend towards drier conditions in spring and summer is projected to continue as the climate warms. We are therefore now blocking the artificial drains in Wolves Wood, to reduce this additional pressure on the site's plants and animals.

MARK NOWERS, WARDEN, STOUR ESTUARY; MATT SELF, RESERVES ECOLOGIST; GRAHAM WHITE, SENIOR WETLANDS ECOLOGIST SAVING NATURE 45 Liz Cutting Liz

Wolves Wood is an ancient Suffolk affecting the abundance of invertebrate woodland RSPB reserve, which has prey for some bird species. Work has been well known for its nightingales taken place recently to reverse the and other woodland wildlife, much of drainage effects in the wood, with We hope that numbers of nightingales will increase which is linked with traditional coppice encouraging early results. following re-wetting of the wood. management. The wood has an impressive ground flora, including The wood lies on the upper part of a herb paris and violet helleborine, and a broad ridge, which historically would amber or green according to their number of characteristic wet have had poor drainage. This is often capacity to remove water from key woodland species. the reason for the persistence of East parts of the wood. This was used to Anglian woodlands in an otherwise identify the most effective locations for The site is a 37 ha SSSI primary intensively farmed landscape. Several low dams in the ditches, aiming to ancient woodland, in existence since factors have probably contributed to achieve the greatest drainage reversal at least the 12th Century, and has not drying out of the woodland: with the fewest bunds. been completely cleared of trees in recorded historical times (from around I In the past, a number of internal In autumn 2010, a mini-digger was 1600 onwards). It has a long history of drainage ditches have been created used to extract clay from shallow pits management and exploitation, most to improve ground conditions close to the dam locations, but which notably for coppice, the products around the coppice coupes for were not connected to the ditches, so being used for early building work (the workers and carts. These ditches as to reduce the risk of deep seepage body of the panels between timber have been maintained over the into the chalk below. Sixteen dams frames), and also fencing, basket years, and in more recent times were installed, each of which making, horticulture, and tool handles. were even cleared out in an incorporated a 300 mm right-angle Demand for coppice products has attempt to retain surface water bend overflow pipe set close the base. declined steadily over the 20th features for the benefit of The pipes serve the dual purpose of Century, with the shift of workers to invertebrates. allowing storm overflow without cities and wartime losses, to the overtopping the dams, which would extent that only small areas are now I The wood is surrounded by arable scour and erode, and enable ditches to managed this way, mostly by land with a modern drainage be drained as needed in areas where conservation organisations. Coppice infrastructure, some of which coppicing may be carried out in future. management has been reinstated and drains into a deepened perimeter Vehicle access is important for efficient continued by the RSPB since the drain, which speeds water away coppice work, but can be difficult in wood was purchased in 1972, with from the site. wet conditions. Around four dams around 1.5 ha of the wood cut each were installed per day, at a total cost year, a total of 25 ha in the total cycle. I Deer browsing has opened up the of approximately £2,500. understorey, reduced regeneration, Despite the continuation of coppicing, and this has probably increased the Initial observations in early 2011 numbers of nightingales declined from penetration of drying wind and suggested that the ditches were up to 23 pairs in the 1980s to fewer sun. A programme of culling has holding water well, although than five from 2003 onwards. Other been taking place to reduce this exceptionally dry conditions in late birds in the wood have also declined: pressure. winter and spring resulted in eventual song thrushes from peaks of more drying. Nightingales have increased than 40 in the early 1980s to fewer Initial work was undertaken in 2009–10 from three territories in 2010, to six in than five now, and willow warbler to assess the soils and drainage in the 2011, and nine in 2012. Monitoring from 60 to almost none. It has been wood. The ditches were surveyed to work will continue over the coming suspected that the wood has been determine gradient and cross section, seasons, and the results will guide drying out in summer, possibly and their significance was graded red, similar projects at other woodlands. 46 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

“Little bit more... little bit more... STOP... back a bit... back a bit...”

Managing coastal erosion – the Titchwell Coastal Change Project

Since 1973, the RSPB has been working hard to ensure Titchwell Marsh remains an amazing place for wildlife. In recognition of the richness of the site, it is designated as an SSSI, and is part of the Natura 2000 network of sites, protecting wildlife habitats across Europe. But since 1996, the reserve has been under increasing pressure from coastal erosion and the future of the freshwater habitats was uncertain.

ROBERT COLEMAN, SENIOR SITES MANAGER – TITCHWELL AND SNETTISHAM RESERVES; HELEN DEAVIN, PROJECT MANAGER, EASTERN ENGLAND SAVING NATURE 47

The reserve Between 1974 and 1982, Norman Sills, Andy Thompson the warden at Titchwell Marsh, built new sea walls and added to existing ones, to exclude seawater from certain areas, whilst capturing the fresh water from the abundant springs which rise from the chalk to the south of the reserve. Since then, these freshwater and brackish habitats at Titchwell Marsh have grown to support significant populations of a wide range of breeding, wintering and passage bird species and there are Bearded tits rely on the freshwater habitats at currently 1,557 species of animals and Titchwell for continued breeding success. plants recorded from the site. These freshwater and brackish habitats also now hold important populations of copyright Crown Environment2010 Agency breeding bitterns, avocets, marsh harriers, bearded tits and ringed plovers. Wintering species include dark-bellied brent goose, pintail, wigeon and a significant wader roost which uses the islands on the brackish during hide tides. Other important wildlife includes nationally important populations of water vole, important assemblages of reedbed moth species and internationally important plant communities.

The problem Figure 1: Coastal erosion between 1946 (left) and 2010 (right). On 19 February 1996, a large surge tide threatened to flood much of the Norfolk coast. Titchwell was lucky and escaped the worst of the flooding. It If this erosion was allowed to natural processes gave confidence to was this event that caused concern continue, the northern sea defence the decision of providing protection to for the RSPB. Could Titchwell be would eventually fail, flooding the the key freshwater habitats, through protected from the threat of salt freshwater habitats to the south and the construction of a new sea wall water inundation, or was the destroying much of the special and and realignment of the brackish recreation of reed beds further inland legally protected features of the site. marsh (Figure 2). To avoid disturbance the solution? The problem was to breeding and wintering birds, confirmed to be rapid coastal erosion The solution construction work was carried out for at the site. The overall loss in the Early in the planning process, a study three months each year (between previous 65 years amounted to over of coastal processes demonstrated August and October), over a period of 200 m (Figure 1). that the rapid erosion was shifting three years. westward. The understanding of the 48 SAVING NATURE

5

3

4 6

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1 Mike Page Mike

Figure 2: Relative position of key features at Titchwell Marsh, 2010.

Key features shown above: provide protection for the new sea 6 – the breach defence and be great habitat for In September 2011, a breach created 1 – the grazing meadow (outside wildlife. in the old sea wall, linking to an SSSI but within the reserve) existing tidal creek in the saltmarsh Before the start of the project, this 4 – the new Parrinder wall east of the reserve, allowed the sea was simply a damp grazing meadow. During 2009 and 2010, the existing into the brackish marsh. In time this In 2009, material was excavated from Parrinder wall was raised and will revert to saltmarsh. here to build up the new sea strengthened and the new wall is defences and the resultant hole has now the northern sea defence. Much 7 – the fresh marsh been landscaped to provide an extra of the material used to strengthen Fresh marsh habitat was restored 2.2 ha of wet reedbed. the wall was excavated from the and mitigation for the loss of grazing meadow along the southern breeding avocets and roosting wader 2 – the west bank edge of the reserve (1). Finally a habitat was created. A new water This bank protects the freshwater bespoke wildlife viewing facility was control regime was enabled through marsh and reedbed from tidal flooding. installed, with specially designed new the installation of a new sluice on the However, the bank was weak so, in window openings. freshwater marsh. 2010, we raised and strengthened the bank, widening and resurfacing the 5 – the north wall The result footpath in the process. This sea defence is coming under I Improved avocet breeding with a increasing pressure as the dunes record 80 pairs on newly created 3 – the realignment area erode southwards. It is already islands within the fresh marsh. Following the breach in 2011, the showing signs of erosion. It was not I Continued successful breeding of brackish marsh will gradually return to feasible to strengthen this wall and bitterns. saltmarsh. The new saltmarsh will we will let it erode naturally. I Increased bird usage on the SAVING NATURE 49 Adam Rowlands Adam

Figure 3: The breach took less than a day but changed the reserve forever.

freshwater marsh following the be short. A combination of coastal rehabilitation work. erosion and rising sea levels could I Better control of water levels for culminate in the inundation of the vegetation control and bird usage. reserve with saltwater, dramatically I Improved public footpath path changing its wildlife interest. The access and viewing. Coastal Change Project has proven I 2.2 ha of new reedbed habitat that through adaptation and working landscaped from the area of site with natural processes we can secure won material for seawall creation. a positive future for some of our I New viewing facility within the coastal freshwater sites, and maintain sea defence (Parrinder hide). a great site for wildlife and people.

We have also provided some shingle Thanks to: areas in the final year’s work, to The EU LIFE + Nature Fund, WREN, encourage little terns and ringed SITA Trust and the Marine plovers to breed. The development of Communities Fund, for their new saltmarsh should provide contributions to funding the project. breeding habitat for redshank, and also provide protection for our new Thanks also to the Climate Proof sea wall. Areas partnership for funding towards the hide, via the European Regional In the mid-late nineties, there were Development Fund (ERDF) through concerns that the future for the Interreg IVB North Sea Region freshwater species at Titchwell would Programme 2007–2013. 50 David (rspb-images.com) Tipling

Pink-footed geese arriving to roost at Snettisham, Norfolk.

What future for our wintering geese?

Skeins of geese stretching across a cold morning sky provide some of the most evocative sights and sounds of winter, and RSPB nature reserves are some of the very best places to experience these. After decades of increase, thanks to a range of conservation efforts, at least some populations of Arctic-breeding geese and other wildfowl now face a less certain future.

MALCOLM AUSDEN, PRINCIPAL ECOLOGIST SAVING NATURE 51

The increase in populations of most Arctic-breeding birds is linked to the Greenland white-fronted geese in of the Arctic breeding geese and of cycling of lemming-dominated rodent Iceland has been in place since 2006, many other species of wildfowl has assemblages in the Arctic. When in response to this decline. The RSPB been one of the great conservation rodent numbers are increasing, Arctic will continue to work in partnership success stories. Reduced hunting foxes and other predators to ensure that the conditions these pressure, provision of safe, legally- concentrate on eating rodents, and birds meet in their Scottish and Irish protected roost sites and, for some birds tend to have high breeding wintering grounds are as optimal as species, increased winter food, have productivity. When rodent numbers possible, ensuring that the population resulted in some dramatic recoveries are falling, predators feed more on is as robust as it can be to face in the populations of many species. eggs and chicks, and birds tend to pressures elsewhere. RSPB and other nature reserves have have low breeding productivity. played an important role. In particular, Rodent cycling has largely ceased What does the future hold for these RSPB nature reserves in south-west around the Arctic, almost certainly and other wildfowl, which rely so Scotland support a high proportion of due to changes in winter weather much on the UK’s network of the world population of three types and snow conditions. The lack of protected areas? A recent study of goose (see page 52). productive breeding seasons predicts that the UK will remain experienced by some Arctic-breeding climatically suitable to support large In Scotland, Local Goose birds might be at least in part due to numbers of wintering wildfowl, Management Schemes have been the lack of peak rodent years. although the species composition of particularly successfully in reducing waterbirds at individual sites will conflicts between conservation and Other factors are thought to be inevitably change (Pearce-Higgins et the practical and economic interest of responsible for the steep decline in al, 2011). It is therefore important that farmers and crofters (see page 53). the world population of Greenland we continue to maintain optimal Unfortunately, funding for these white-fronted geese between conditions inside and outside the schemes has recently been cut. 1998–99 and 2006–07. The first is UK’s network of protected areas for shooting of Greenland white-fronts our internationally important Numbers of European white-fronted on their staging areas in Iceland. The populations of wintering wildfowl, to geese, Greenland white-fronted second is increased competition on help maximise their overwinter geese, and dark-bellied brent geese their breeding grounds with Canada survival. As we have seen, it is also wintering in the UK have been geese, which expanded their important to maintain a network of declining in recent years. The decline breeding range from Canada to West suitable sites for wildfowl and other in numbers of European white-fronts Greenland in the late 1980s and early migratory waterbirds throughout their is thought to be due to birds not 1990s. A voluntary ban on shooting entire migratory cycle. having to migrate as far west as the UK to avoid harsh winter conditions on the Continent. The reduction in the UK wintering population of dark- bellied brent geese since the early 1990s (from which there has since been a slight recovery), coincided with a decline in their entire world RSPB nature reserves population. This took place during a support a high sustained period of low breeding proportion of the world productivity. populations of Greenland and Svalbard The breeding success of dark-bellied barnacle geese in

brent geese and of a suite of other Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) winter. 52 SAVING NATURE Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Greenland white-fronted geese

Crossing the Greenland Ice Cap The migration of Greenland white-fronted geese (shown Greenland Ice Cap. They then stage in Iceland, before above) is particularly amazing. The barnacle and pink- all moving on to winter in Britain and Ireland. footed geese which visit the UK from Greenland all nest on its eastern side. But Greenland white-fronts breed in Greenland white-fronts have unusually long-lasting West Greenland. This means that the first migratory family relationships. Flocks typically comprise extended journey of young Greenland white-fronts is a 600–700 km families, and offspring have been recorded spending up crossing east across the foreboding 2,500 m high to nine winters with one or more of their parents.

Destination South-west Scotland South-west Scotland also supports a large proportion of South-west Scotland hosts populations of geese from a the world population of Greenland white-fronted geese – wide arc around the Arctic, with RSPB nature reserves in most of the world population winters on Islay and at this region supporting a high proportion of the world Wexford Slobs in Ireland. Loch Gruinart supports about population of several races of goose. The summed 6% of the world population, with smaller numbers also maximum counts of Svalbard barnacle geese at found at several other RSPB nature reserves, notably The Mersehead, Kirkonnell Merse, and Campfield Marsh on Reef and Ken-Dee Marshes. the English side of the Solway, are equal to about 80% of its world population. Loch Gruinart supports about The only regular wintering flock of taiga bean geese in 40% of the world population of Greenland barnacle Scotland roosts at the RSPB’s Fannyside nature reserve. geese, with Coll, Oronsay and The Reef also hosting The only other regular wintering flock of taiga bean geese significant numbers. in the UK is at Mid Yare RSPB Reserve in Norfolk. SAVING NATURE 53

Local Goose Management schemes in Scotland References Populations of migratory and resident wild geese have increased over recent Pearce-Higgins JW, Johnston A, Ausden decades. This, and an intensification of their use of agricultural land for feeding M, Dodd A, Newson SE, Ockendon N, – often in response to intensification of agricultural management – has led to Thaxter CB, Bradbury RB, Jiguet F and localised but sometimes serious conflict between geese and farming, Thomas CD (2011). Final Report to the particularly in Scotland. Since the early 1990s, a Scottish national goose group, Climate Change Impacts on Avian chaired by Scottish Government officials and on which the RSPB sits, has Interests of Protected Area Networks advised on the operation of Local Goose Management schemes in seven (CHAINSPAN) Steering Group. Defra Ref: locations across Scotland. WC0750/CR0440.

These schemes offer affected farmers payments to support management techniques that alleviate the conflicts and facilitate scaring to protect crops. Though maintaining a balance between the conservation interests of the geese, the economic and practical interests of farmers and crofters, and securing value for the public purse has been challenging and complex, overall these schemes have been successful in alleviating tensions.

The RSPB’s nature reserves, for example at Loch of Strathbeg and Loch Gruinart, provide refuge areas for the birds, and our advocacy seeks to maintain the conservation status of the populations concerned. The schemes were reviewed in 2011 and, in response to recession and budget deficit, funding has been significantly reduced across schemes. We are active in maintaining the schemes successes whilst keeping public expenditure focused on areas where the highest conservation priority outcomes can be secured, either through direct benefit to priority goose species such as the Greenland white-fronted goose, or through protecting High Nature Value farming areas, such as the machairs of the Uists and Tiree. Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy RSPB reserves support about 36% of the UK’s wintering pink-footed geese. 54 Ian Hughes, Dove Stone volunteer Stone Dove Hughes, Ian RSPB RESERVES 2012 55

Working in Partnership

Our management of nature reserves is made possible through a large number of partnerships. These range from partnerships with other conservation NGOs, statutory bodies and private companies, to relationships with farming tenants and local communities.

In recent years, we have developed bigger and bigger partnerships, such as our joint nature reserve at Eastern Moors, Greater Manchester with the National Trust, and our work with United Utilities at Dove Stone in the Peak District. Partnership working with statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency has enabled us to add value to habitat creation schemes, for example the creation of reedbed at Snape in Suffolk, and of intertidal habitat at Medmerry in Sussex. 56 RSPB RESERVES 2011 Andy Kelvin, CPP Cavendish Press Cavendish CPP Kelvin, Andy

Bare peat at Dove Stone December 2007, with heather brash about to be spread.

Reversing habitat loss at Dove Stone – from bare peat to a green recovery

In 2010, the RSPB formed a new partnership with United Utilities at Dove Stone in the Peak District, which builds on the earlier work of the Sustainable Catchment Management Project. Improving water quality, carbon stewardship and biodiversity are key objectives of a landscape-scale approach to habitat restoration. In this article we will look at some of the early signs of changes in water quality and ask how two of the blanket bog’s key birds, golden plover and dunlin, are responding to changes at Dove Stone.

ED LAWRANCE, UNITED UTILITIES WILDLIFE AND CONSERVATION OFFICER; DAVE O’HARA, PEAK DISTRICT SITE MANAGER, DOVE STONE WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP 57 Ed Lawrance Ed

The same view as on the opposite page, in June 2010.

The uplands of Britain provide more Blanket bog – a globally rare moorland is the legacy of two than 70% of our drinking water, one of habitat centuries of pollution from the a suite of vital eco-system services, Blanket bog is an internationally rare industrial north-west, compounded by including carbon storage and habitat; the estimated 23,000 sq km inappropriate vegetation burning and sequestration. In Northern England, in the UK representing around 15% sheep grazing. The desolate bleakness United Utilities, working with the of the global area. Around 9.5% of of the higher areas of the Peak District RSPB, has implemented The the UK’s land area is dominated by blanket bogs is legend, particularly for Sustainable Catchment Management blanket/raised mire, reflecting the areas such as Black Hill at Dove Stone Project (SCaMP) over a number of climatic suitability of our uplands for that are crossed by the Pennine Way. upland water catchments. In the Peak blanket bog development. Blanket Many Pennine Way walkers, most District, an innovative programme of bogs form the largest areas of semi- notably Wainwright, commented on conservation management has natural habitat found in the UK. the gloom of these eroding peatlands. included water table restoration and re- Contrast this with healthy peatlands; a vegetation work on some of the most Blanket bogs of the South subtle richness of green, red and damaged blanket bogs in the UK. Pennines and Peak District – a orange Sphagnum mosses and home story of historic degradation to fascinating flora such as the Extensive bare peat and eroding carnivorous sundew.

Sphagnum, two species growing together on bog… 58 WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP

Restoration management include stream discharge, water table, involved, such as winter mortality The ongoing landscape-scale rainfall and temperature. and wider population changes, it is restoration is happening on a likely that these birds will have breathtaking scale; hundreds of The first reports were published in benefited from the early stages of hectares of once bare peat have been Spring 2010 and can be found at vegetation recovery, higher water successfully re-vegetated by the http://www.unitedutilities.com/Document tables and increased surface application of heather brash, grass s/scamp4.pdf. Early results show a wetness. Cranefly (Tipulid) seed, and a programme of lime and small but significant reduction in POC emergences are the key food supply fertiliser application. Grazing has been after the re-vegetation work, for growing wader chicks on blanket reduced or excluded to allow indicating a reduced loss of carbon bog, with one species, Tipula vegetation recovery. Thousands of from the land. There was also a small subnodicornis, often accounting for heather bale or stone gully blocks rise in water table within the peat 75% of the above-ground have been installed to help reverse body. However, there has been no invertebrate biomass. Research has processes of erosion and raise water statistically significant reduction in shown that re-vegetated ground tables. We are also starting to develop DOC as yet. We expected the water retains moisture and wetter peat techniques for re-introducing quality response to the land supports higher Tipulid numbers. Sphagnum mosses – the building management changes to be slow With re-vegetation combined with blocks of blanket peat. within these systems. Therefore the the water table restoration projects, monitoring is being continued until there has been a clear increase in Monitoring the effects on 2015 and more reports will be made wet peat on site. Just as importantly, water quality available on the United Utilities restoration of the water table United Utilities’ main priority is the website. increases the resilience of both the quality of raw water coming off the peatland and the Tipulid populations catchment, and the influence of Golden plover and dunlin – to periods of summer drought. catchment management on water population change of two key quality. Therefore, at the start of the waders A more detailed, three-year monitoring SCaMP programme they employed There has been a comprehensive trial is underway to assess golden Penny Anderson Associates to programme of moorland bird plover productivity, following the monitor key changes in hydrology and monitoring over the period of progress of individual pairs. The first vegetation. Of most concern from restoration, including a 12 sq km year of this saw 10 monitored pairs of these eroded Peak District bogs is moorland sample, initially surveyed golden plovers all fledge young Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) and every second year and now annually. Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC). The challenge for the future DOC is particularly expensive to treat Despite a drop in 2011, since 2005 Active blanket bog with Sphagnum and monitoring changes in the there has been a moderate increase mosses forming new peat is our long- ‘colour’ of water running off the peat in golden plovers. Dunlin have shown term aim. Innovative methods for the has been a focus for the hydrology a steady increase (see graph). introduction of Sphagnum are being monitoring. Other measurements Whilst a range of factors might be trialled currently. Detailed monitoring will allow us to understand how water LaurieCampbell (rspb-images.com) quality and key bird populations respond to this recovery in the moorland ecosystem.

Restoration should eventually lead to re-establishment of Sphagnum mosses and accumulation of peat. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP 59 Chris Gomersall (rspb-images.com) Gomersall Chris

80 Golden plover The graph shows the sum of the 70 Dunlin maximum number of golden 60 plovers and dunlins recorded in 50 each of 12 1 sq km survey plots. 40 30

individuals recorded 20 Maximum number of 10 0 2005 2007 2009 2010 2011 Year 60 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Strathspey still supports good numbers of breeding snipe.

The Strathspey Wader Futurescape

To hear the haunting calls of peewits, curlews and redshanks on a May morning has become a rare thing in most parts of modern Britain. Their decline has been one of the most serious in bird conservation over the last 40 years. In many parts of England and Wales, this experience can now only be found on managed nature reserves. But in some parts of Scotland, these birds are still widespread and part of the farmed landscape. The question is, how to keep it that way?

PETE MAYHEW, SENIOR CONSERVATION MANAGER, NORTH SCOTLAND; KAREN SUTCLIFFE, SITE MANAGER, INSH MARSHES; BRIDGET ENGLAND, ADVISORY OFFICER, NORTH SCOTLAND WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP 61 John Bridges (rspb-images.com) Bridges John

Waders in Strathspey have fared worst, while oystercatchers The importance of Strathspey in and curlews have been more stable. Northern Scotland for breeding Snipe, surprisingly, have shown an waders was only fully recognised in increase over the last five years. The 2000, when the first co-ordinated cause of these declines is not fully survey of the whole area was understood, but probably involves undertaken. This survey covered recent changes in farming regimes approximately 50 sites over an area and, possibly predation in some areas. of 9,000 ha along 130 km of the River Spey and its tributaries. The Reserves at the heart findings surprised even those who At the heart of the wader population had set up the survey – there were are two RSPB reserves, Insh some 3,000 pairs of breeding Marshes and Ballinlaggan. These two waders. Of these, 2,700 pairs were wetland sites currently support 350 associated with farmland (lapwings, pairs of waders. In the same way snipe, curlews, redshanks and that the wider Strathspey population oystercatchers). Strathspey was the has undergone declines, so has the most important area for breeding reserve population, although at 12% waders on the mainland of the UK. over the last 10 years the declines We hope to halt the decline of are far less severe. The management breeding lapwings in the Futurescape. Why is it so good? regimes have remained relatively Several factors combine to provide unchanged over the same period. superb conditions for large numbers Water levels cannot be controlled due waders on these nature reserves. The of breeding waders: the extensive to the natural flooding regime, but in second, which we favour, takes the semi-natural floodplain system a normal year the site is relatively view that if we do not look after the stretching over 130 km; the fairly low wet throughout the breeding season. wider population, then the reserve intensity mixed farming system, Site staff have been increasing the population may continue declining as which has created a mosaic of stocking levels through an well. The RSPB believes that wildlife- habitats, including grazed and mown incentivisation scheme which is run rich habitat should be accessible to grasslands, wetlands and cropped with our five graziers. Over the last people in the countryside, and not just fields; and the cool climate with a five years, this has resulted in more confined to nature reserves. These are short and late growing season, which livestock on site, which, along with the principles behind the RSPB’s means intensification seen within topping with a flail and the use of a Futurescapes projects, running other farming systems in the south is specialist Softrak machine for cutting throughout the UK. They define a limited in Strathspey. In particular, very wet areas, has lead to improved wider area of countryside, often low temperatures in spring delay sward conditions for waders across surrounding a nature reserve or grass growth, enabling waders such the site. Removal of 15 ha of scrub designated site, where conservation as lapwings to fledge chicks before has also created more suitable areas work can be targeted to help create silage is harvested in July/August. for nesting waders. more resilient populations of threatened species. But what is the However, subsequent surveys in 2005 The Futurescape most effective way to go about and 2010 showed that the wader The fact that a quarter of the wader conserving this wider population? populations were seriously declining. population in Strathspey is on nature Between 2000 and 2005, numbers fell reserves could result in one of two We felt that a combination of very by a deeply worrying 27%, with a approaches to wader conservation. The targeted advice, with follow-up further decline of 19% between 2005 first would be to focus all of our effort monitoring, along with assistance into and 2010. Lapwings and redshanks into maintaining good conditions for the Scottish Rural Development 62 WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP RSPB

An aerial view across Insh Marshes toward Loch Insh.

Programme (SRDP – the agri- Strathspey Wetlands and Waders Partnership with farmers environment scheme in Scotland) Initiative (SWWI). This is a The partnership is, in part, informed might provide the right combination to partnership between the RSPB, by a management agreement the deliver good wader management. The Scottish Natural Heritage, RSPB had entered into at Balliefurth model was a bit like lots of “light Cairngorms National Park Authority, Farm near Nethybridge. This touch” nature reserves on a grand Scottish Agricultural College, partnership has enabled the RSPB to scale. The wardens are the farmers, independent advisors and Strathspey support the work a local farmer but they need money and sound farmers. All signed up to the principal carries out for waders. Alistair advice that doesn’t just come and go. aim of safeguarding the wetland Maclennan’s family has been farming habitats, and halting the decline of at Balliefurth for 50 years, and his So in early 2009 we set up the the wader population. farm supports one of the largest populations of lapwings and redshanks in Strathspey. Conservation 1200 Changes in numbers of waders work is at the heart of his farming 1000 breeding on farmland in Strathspey operations, and Alistair has between 2000 and 2010 demonstrated that economically 800 2000 viable farming is possible alongside managing land for waders. So, the job 600 2005 was to transfer Alistair’s experience to 400 2010 other farms in Strathspey. Number of pairs 200 First, we had to ensure that farmers 0 were aware of the issues, so a fair bit Snipe Curlew of time went into raising the profile Lapwing Redshank of the Strathspey waders and the Oystercatcher Species threats to them. This was not just WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP 63

The boundary of the Strathspey Wader Futurescape

about the farmers. Agency staff who receives a feedback leaflet, and a farm SWWI is investigating a variety of make decisions on SRDP applications visit to discuss positive wader research options. These include also had to be brought up to speed management. Once a plan is agreed, it assessing the effect of predation and on these issues. Deciding where to can be converted into an application to of control of generalist predators on start work was a combination of the SRDP. This is a skilled job as the productivity of breeding waders, finding open doors, but also targeting system is not simple. Due to the investigating overwintering survival of where the best wader populations partnership approach, we have had a waders, and researching historical remained. Encouraging waders to re- high success rate in SRDP changes in land management and their expand into previously occupied applications. To date, 46 applications likely effects on breeding waders. areas will be for another stage of the covering 2,250 ha have been project. The key part of the project is submitted. The SWWI has also We do not know yet whether the getting to know the farmer, how he received funding to purchase topping recent declines can be halted, and or she manages their land, where the equipment for free loan to farmers, widespread wader populations can waders are on his or her land, and and is investigating other land be retained in Strathspey. But the how they are best safeguarded. management delivery mechanisms. level of support for the project from all quarters really does make this One of the key outputs of survey work In addition to delivering positive land objective seem achievable. is that every land manager involved management through SRDP, the 64 Eleanor Bentall (rspb-images.com) Bentall Eleanor RSPB RESERVES 2012 65

Reserves and people a review of 2011 The growth of the RSPB nature reserve network and the appeal of the reserves to visitors go hand in hand. As we have increased the land that we have taken into conservation management we have, at the same time, extended the opportunity for people to visit our reserves. Inspired by their visit, many people go on to provide the moral, financial and voluntary support necessary to acquire and manage new sites – a virtuous circle which is good for both people and wildlife.

By 2012, we want to extend opportunities for people to be connected with nature – our nature reserves will represent the best manifestation of this ideal, welcoming 2.2 million visits per year.

Our aim is that on leaving an RSPB reserve, visitors will feel they have had a special and enjoyable time. We want them to have a high quality experience, in which they have connected with birds, other wildlife and the natural environment, and consequently feel more committed to their conservation.

Our progress towards these objectives during 2011 is reported in the following chapter. 66 Jesper Mattias (rspb-images.com) MattiasJesper

Even traditional favourites, such as pond dipping, provide children with a chance to experience nature directly, in a way that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.

People on reserves in 2011

I joined the RSPB at Radipole, at seven years old, whilst on holiday in Weymouth. By the time I was a teenager, I’d been to many national parks and almost every part of the English and Welsh coastlines on family holidays. My interest in wildlife was sparked by these early visits to RSPB nature reserves. Our reserves remain as important now as they did then in exciting today’s children, who, like me, hold a lifetime interest waiting to be ignited.

BRYAN BLAND, HEAD OF PEOPLE ENGAGEMENT RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 67 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Dee developments Burton Mere Wetlands, on the Dee Estuary between England and Wales, is a unique landscape with newly- restored reedbeds, fenland and farmland. A new reception hide, “wader scrape”, trails, car park and toilets have brought this fabulous reserve’s visitor facilities right up to scratch.

Saltholme sensations Saltholme on Teesside has been a hit with people and birds from the start: five years on, a special “Welly Season” series of events attracted more families and people new to birds and wildlife watching, giving the nature Our superb reserve at Saltholme continues to provide great and accessible wildlife in an area of reserve even greater people-appeal. past environmental damage and deprivation.

Play and learn at Fairburn Fairburn Ings is a long-established reserve but with a bit of time, money, effort and imagination even old

favourites can be freshened up. (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy Themed wildlife play structures, a large swing and a bug hotel have gone down really well with families.

Dove Stone Dove Stone is the northern gateway to the Peak District National Park. Walking, climbing, running, playing, cycling and even sailing: if you're into adrenalin-pumping activity or simply want to chill out surrounded by amazing wildlife, streams, waterfalls and woodland, then Dove Stone is a must. We had a live interpretation day to train teenagers in live interpretation techniques, as part of their community outreach project. Balancing noisy enjoyment Middleton Lakes opens with potential disturbance is After four years converting 160 ha of usually quite simple: and to see quarry pits and surrounding land into children enjoying our nature a fantastic wetland, the new reserves is a great bonus. 68 RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 Uwe Stoneman & Stoneman Uwe Vicky Turnbull

Work at Vane Farm has included some heavy engineering: expensive and radical, but well worth it for the improved experience for visitors.

Middleton Lakes reserve opened in Minsmere magic Vane Farm 2011. Three viewing platforms, a Minsmere in Suffolk is one of the We're turning this into a bigger, viewing screen and an innovative RSPB’s premier nature reserves for better, flatter, wetter reserve. A natural play meadow, offering children watching wildlife and enjoying the refurbished visitor centre and an the chance to explore nature in an countryside. It has been a long-term improved network of paths help give unrestrained, hands-on manner, make aspiration to widen the appeal of the better access to its wildlife. The name the reserve a great place for people reserve to new visitors and in has changed to Loch Leven, to help of all ages and experience. particular families. In 2011, after five put us on the tourism map for this years of planning, the reserve was part of Scotland. successful in various funding applications and grants, enabling an Baron’s Haugh Children can explore an exciting programme of work to begin Volunteers made a big difference, artificial sand martin in late 2011. The 33-year old Island helping to remove invasive non-native bank in the Wild Zone Mere hide has been replaced with a plants such as Japanese knotweed, at Minsmere. more spacious and accessible hide. Himalayan balsam and rhododendron, At the visitor centre, a new reception which had been smothering out area allows more space to welcome native wildlife and damaging river visitors. An exciting new Wild Zone banks. With money from Scottish and Wildwood Adventure area allows Natural Heritage and the Community families and school children to enjoy Volunteer Fund (through Central and explore Minsmere, with a range Scotland Forest Trust) we recruited

Ian Barthorpe Ian of structures and spaces to 28 volunteers between April and encourage outdoor play and nature October, and trained them to use discovery. This is teamed with a new, specialised equipment. purpose built Discovery Centre. RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 69 Adam Rowlands Adam

Families and school groups can learn about Minsmere while having fun in the Wild Zone.

Crook of Baldoon On the boardwalk

At this, our newest south-west In Northern Ireland, we have a splendid RichardBosworth Scotland reserve warden, Paul Tarling new, easily accessible boardwalk at set up a series of walks for visitors Portmore Lough. This helps everyone and local people throughout the year, get to the wetland area and hide to see mostly at high tides to see the best the breeding wading birds and wintering wildlife spectacle. Volunteers help wildfowl. A fabulous viewing platform Paul at the reserve, and at our new has been installed, too, giving amazing osprey project in the nearby Wigtown panoramic views of the reserve. County Building. Girlguiding Cymru on Mull of Galloway reserves in Wales As with many reserves, the Mull of RSPB Cymru celebrated its centenary in Galloway saw fewer visitors in 2011 but 2011. As part of the celebrations a the visitor centre was overhauled partnership was formed with Girlguiding during the last two seasons, with Cymru. Guides across Wales took part in completely new interpretation and special centenary projects such as information. This has been extremely “Operation Tawny Owl”, aimed to get all well received, particularly by families, members of Girlguiding Cymru to enjoy a who now stay longer, talk more to our visit to an RSPB reserve, to take part in staff and enjoy the new nature table, a activities, learn about wildlife and get display showing the diving depths of experience of conservation work. This seabirds, a floor map, bird microphones included vast numbers of guides camping Brownies watching wildlife at Newport and a life-size gannet model. overnight on RSPB Cymru reserves! Wetlands National Nature Reserve. 70 Hannah Chisholm Hannah

A Wildlife Explorer enjoying being outside in South Essex!

Access to Nature – the South Essex People and Wildlife Programme

Essex – the very word can conjure up dramatically different images in people’s minds. For you, is Essex the home of the Lakeside Shopping Centre, Boy Racers and Essex Girl jokes? Or is it the county that inspired JA Baker’s The Peregrine, with a wild and beautiful coastline rich in birds?

STEVE ROWLAND, PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER, EASTERN ENGLAND; KATE BLINCOE, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER, EASTERN ENGLAND RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 71

Essex is certainly heavily populated with its fair share of social challenges. The South Essex Marshes sit within the RSPB’s Greater Thames Futurescape, which covers more than 1,000 square km. With the creation of a suite of reserves, we are transforming the area and a landscape that was previously inaccessible has been opened up for people to discover and enjoy. Hannah Chisholm Hannah

The South Essex People and Wildlife Programme aims to put the local Tiff with Little Owls (under 5’s club). They meet twice a month community back in touch with its and Tiff, a group leader, plans and leads themed sessions. landscape and wildlife. It is the largest urban community outreach project the RSPB has ever undertaken. genuine improvement in the quality from Natural England through Access Of course, it is undeniably of many lives. to Nature (as part of the BIG Lottery impressive that we have so far made Fund’s Changing Spaces contact with more than 100,000 How have we done this? Well, Programme), and also by £239,168 of people from all kinds of backgrounds money always helps and the European funding (from the Interreg and age ranges. However, what is extensive package of funding IVA 2 Seas cross border programme). really worth shouting about is the awarded to the project has given us Not forgetting the vital 10% match way this has provided not just the freedom to be innovative. The funding from our members. fleeting moments of contact, but project is supported by £500,000 Hannah Chisholm Hannah

Warden Days offer teenagers a chance to learn practical skills, out on the reserve. We are oversubscribed and currently taking bookings two months ahead. 72 RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 Hannah Chisholm Hannah

When we first met Tiff, she had little belief in her own abilities and she was unemployed. Having dedicated herself to caring for others she had never had the chance to pursue a career she truly wanted.

Tiff clearly had a real aptitude for inspiring children and we were keen to work with her to develop this. Thanks to our funding we were able to help Tiff achieve her Forest Schools Level Three exam, the equivalent of an A Level qualification. Tiff now volunteers for us in many capacities, including as a field teacher. As she told us, “Volunteering has really, really changed my life and now I am helping to change other people’s. It has Tiff in a tree doing her Forest Schools training, which tested my bravery but empowered helps children discover nature. me. It’s amazing.”

Elliott is blind. Initially very shy, he has We wanted to provide more their own vegetables in our wildlife blossomed through the opportunities opportunities for local people to learn garden. Nearby woodland has provided and support we have given. Elliott now about the natural environment and a magical setting for story time, helps to lead wildlife walks, picking out gain new skills. We set out to making musical instruments and birds by their songs and calls, and he develop a programme of lifelong playing hide-and-seek. also writes our volunteers’ newsletter learning benefiting 670 adults and assisted by voice recognition software. 4,600 children over the period of the Youth Nature Officers Now, with the increased confidence project. We’ve exceeded those We’ve employed five local teenagers a and self esteem that volunteering has targets already. year in just the sort of job many of us given him, he has taken the plunge would have dreamed of. They have the and moved into his own flat. Children have been an integral part of task of attracting more young people this work. We quickly realised that to the RSPB by planning, promoting The RSPB is doing some truly creative, just because we are here, it doesn’t and running their own events. They are adventurous and meaningful stuff in mean families will simply start currently working on a mini fringe South Essex. Local communities are visiting our fantastic reserves. We festival called “Step Up”. learning the value of the habitats on have needed to take our message to their doorstep, and we are improving young people. Here are two Volunteering has seen exciting results, lives. This is conservation at its most examples of how we’ve done it. too. It is here that we can truly exciting and sustainable. demonstrate the profound effect this Little Owls programme has had on people. I could This popular preschool club has seen give you many examples, but the one the children getting hands on; they’ve that moved me most was the story of learnt about farming and have grown Tiff and Elliott, her brother. RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW OF 2011 73 Hannah Chisholm Hannah

This popular pre-school club has seen children getting hands on experience of nature. 74 BBC

The Springwatch presenters Martin Hughes-Games, Chris Packham and Kate Humble.

Springwatch at Ynys-hir

BBC Springwatch 2011 saw the RSPB take a leading role in the popular BBC programme, with the shows coming live from our Ynys-hir nature reserve in Wales. The BBC’s decision to move the studio location from Norfolk was extremely well timed, as in 2011 the RSPB celebrated 100 years of its work in Wales.

RUSSELL JONES, WARDEN, YNYS-HIR RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 75 Bryan Bland Bryan

Hosting BBC Springwatch promised to be a great opportunity to showcase the RSPB’s efforts to save nature on our reserves and inspire more support for our work. It also enabled us to promote the spectacular and diverse 700 hectare RSPB Ynys-hir reserve, with its great variety of habitats, to almost 3 million viewers.

From the very beginning, good communication and co-operation between the BBC and the RSPB was essential. A project group was created within the RSPB with representatives from across the organisation to look at The presenters rehearsing ahead of a live broadcast. how to capitalise on the “Springwatch effect”, all staff at Ynys-hir and a large (and essential) group of volunteers reserve, in a neighbouring farmer’s everything was completed in time for were mobilised to help with the field. The distance between the main the live broadcasts. anticipated increase in visitors, and a “wildlife hubs”, the studio, and the member of staff was appointed to be Production Village itself meant that an On the reserve, to enhance the visitor the main “on the ground” contact ambitious technical rig was required. experience, some infrastructure work between both organisations. This included nearly 40 miles of fibre was also necessary. New signage optic cables, much of them buried was designed and erected, an Due to technical difficulties, the main underground. Both BBC staff and over-spill car-park built (with a “park Production Village was located off the outside consultants ensured that and ride” facility on offer for visitors

Inside the studio. Bryan Bland Bryan 76 RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 Bryan Bland Bryan

Springwatch studio: the former tractor shed is unrecognisable. With filming now over, plans are to use parts of the structure as an outdoor classroom for the reserve.

with mobility issues), new pathways reminder of the vagaries of the inspiring pieces. From Scotland to laid and five extra portaloos brought in British weather. Unexpected stars Skomer, and from Ynys-hir to Pitsea and placed in both car parks. were the writhing grass snakes on a landfill site, the series showed the compost heap, and the thousands of best of British wildlife in spring. The live studio was near the Visitor young toads emerging from the pool Centre with an existing tractor shed below the main car park. In the 2011/12 financial year, we have extensively modified by the BBC for increased our visitor numbers by this purpose. A number of wildlife hot For the viewers, the stars of the 30% and have easily surpassed our spots, away from the visitor trails, show, apart from the presenters, membership recruitment targets. The were chosen where cameras were were obvious: warblers, redstarts and benefits to the local community have set up for live web-cams. The BBC other snap-shots of the wildlife of also been substantial with the BBC also supplied a live video feed of its such a special place. For me though, production crew and the presenters webcams into the visitor centre. This the star was the habitat management staying in nearby accommodation. allowed visitors to feel part of the team at Ynys-hir, whose hard work “Springwatch experience” as most of and dedication ensured that there It was a fascinating and exciting the film locations/studios were was a wealth of wildlife for the period for all members of staff and inaccessible and off the visitor trails. camera teams to film. From wetland our wonderful team of volunteers and to woodlands, and from barn owls to we are all looking forward to the next The web-cams at nests provided pied flycatchers, almost everything series, again broadcast live from intimate views into the family life of a filmed was a result of careful Ynys-hir, in Spring 2012. number of species. Shots of wood hands-on habitat management. and grasshopper warblers, buzzards Thanks to: and barn owls were especially The programmes were broadcast live Dick Squires and his family for memorable, with the demise of both from 30 May to 16 June and were full helping with production of pied flycatcher broods a disappointing of spectacular, informative and Springwatch. RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 77 Malcolm Hunt (rspb-images.com) Hunt Malcolm Jesper Mattias (rspb-images.com) MattiasJesper

Stars of the show: thanks to the heronry camera, we were treated to wonderful footage of grey herons and their chicks. 78 Mark Gurney Mark

The Nature Counts trainees out in the field.

Nature Counts

In 2010, the RSPB was successful in gaining support from the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Skills for the Future programme. This new programme, Nature Counts, will provide 18 UK wide training placements over three years. It will teach people missing skills that are essential to safeguarding the future of the UK's natural heritage. Twelve of these placements will provide practical ecology experience for people who want to start a career in protecting some of our more overlooked wildlife. So far, four keen people have completed their nine month placements – identifying , lower plants, and fungi, and giving advice on their conservation.

MARK GURNEY, RESERVES ECOLOGIST RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 79

Each ecology trainee has attended I started in April, getting to know sedges, and rushes. I also attended courses, accompanied RSPB the common plants and how to key courses on management plans for ecologists as they work, and had a lot them out. In May, I attended my nature reserves, using the National of practice at surveying and first training course on habitat Vegetation Classification, and identifying their chosen group of surveys, which I was able to identifying mosses and liverworts. species. The funding runs for three practice a couple of weeks later years, so with four trainees each year, when I helped out with vegetation The last nine months were an we hope there will be twelve new surveys. While I was not doing opportunity for me to get trained naturalists who have the skills and surveys or attending training up so that I can find a career I have experience to begin their careers in courses, I spent my time in the field only dreamed about for many this important area of conservation. practicing my identification skills years. I can now identify many and trying to get my head around plants, and I can survey and Our first trainees were Clare Rickerby the many identification keys. monitor vegetation. This job has (mosses and liverworts), Ndurie Abah given me a great sense of (mosses, liverworts, and lichens), I wanted to spend as much time as achievement, and lots of Colin Lucas (beetles and other I could at reserves in Wales. I learnt confidence that I didn’t know I had. insects), and Phil Evans (vascular a lot from the staff at Ynys-hir, and For once in my life I can say that I plants). Two report on their training. helped them with survey work am extremely proud of who I work throughout the summer. I went to for and where I work. Phil Evans writes: find and count some of the scarce “I was one of the four people given plants on the reserves, such as I have spent my time alongside a fantastic opportunity to re-train wood bitter-vetch, South Stack some dedicated, knowledgeable to work in conservation. Right from fleawort, and elongated sedge. people who have treated me like a the start I wanted to make the best friend and have really made me of this opportunity and get My identification skills were feel special. This is why I have everything I could from the nine improving rapidly, thanks to a lot of enjoyed myself so much and why months. So what have I done? practice and a course on grasses, the nine months I spent training Phil Evans Phil

Phil Evans, who spent nine months developing his botanical skills. 80 RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 Clare RickerbyClare Ndurie Abah (middle), with Mark Lawley and Liz Kungu at Forsinard, learned how to identify mosses, liverworts and lichens. RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 81 Clare RickerbyClare

has felt like a week. I don’t think I’ve known a year to fly by so fast, and at the end of it I realise that the more I see, the less I know.”

Ndurie writes: “Last April, we started down an amazing road thanks to an opportunity with the RSPB. Our goal: delving into the murky waters of the identification of overlooked species.

Although based in Edinburgh, we have quartered the country from Sutherland to Bedfordshire, visiting more than 20 RSPB reserves. The RSPB ran courses on the identification of Sphagnum mosses, grasses, sedges and Ndurie discovered a new site for the rare moss Orthotrichum rushes, as well as management obtusifolium, which resulted in the re-routing of a power line. planning and vegetation surveys.

We were supported and Now that its location is known, helped in the campaign to re-route encouraged by working with other reserve staff will be able to protect the line, and the woodland will people too. Experts at the Royal it when they repair the path. At now not be felled. Botanic Gardens Edinburgh helped Glenborrodale we went to see enormously with field training and whether the plants had responded Our nine month stint with the identification of tricky specimens, to the removal of rhododendrons. RSPB has been a wonderful and we went on field trips with the We found an increase in species opportunity, and we have come British Bryological Scoiety and the diversity and cover, so it looks as into contact with a host of British Lichen Society. These were though the bryophytes are dedicated people. We encourage brilliant intensive training courses recovering. As the reserve is on the you to follow your own interests in where we were surrounded by species-rich west coast, it was also wildlife, even if it is only finding experts on all sides, and it was a great opportunity to see some out what you have growing in your always possible to find an lovely oceanic species. garden. With threats from so many enthusiastic teacher. directions, the more we know One of our surveys even helped about what species are out there, Armed with our new knowledge, save an RSPB reserve from being the better we can protect them. we headed out to look for mosses damaged by developers. The rare Happy hunting!” and liverworts on reserves around and protected Orthotrichum Scotland. On the stunning cliff top obtusifolium, which grows on Thanks to: reserve of , we aspen trees, was recorded at a new This project is supported by the recorded the distribution of the site at Insh Marshes. This area was National Lottery through the Heritage nationally scarce St Kilda hook- threatened by a proposal to build a Lottery Fund. moss Sanionia orthothecioides. power line, but our discovery 82 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Nature reserves are fun, and also provide jobs for local people.

The economic benefits of nature reserves

With 2 million annual visits from across the UK to RSPB reserves, it is clear that the unique experiences offered by these sites are in high demand. But the benefits delivered by the network are far more wide ranging. Under the intensifying glare of the economic spotlight, we set out to explore whether investments in conservation around the UK deliver for the economy, as well as for wildlife and people.

DOMINIC MOLLOY, ECONOMIST RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 83

With unemployment at a 17-year high Table 1: FTE jobs and spend supported by RSPB reserves in 2002 and 2009 and economic growth struggling to pick up following the recession, the Economic impact FTE Jobs supported Expenditure supported (£m) economy is understandably a major 2002 2009 2002 2009 current focus for national and local decision makers. It is therefore more Direct employment 308 553 4.1 11.1 important than ever to recognise the Employee spend 35 61 1.2 2.7 links between the environment and Reserve spend 101 110 2.7 7.9 the economy, and the variety of Grazing lets 234 143 - - benefits conservation delivers to RSPB and farming 678 867 8 21.7 people and communities. activities total Visitor spend 335 1,005 11.7 44.2 Whilst RSPB reserves are primarily Total 1,013 1,872 19.7 65.9 designed to perform crucial ecological functions – to conserve wildlife – they can also be seen as an economic investment, providing employment and I Visitor spending – Spending by around the impacts of visitor spending. income to local areas through a visitors in the local area attracted Economic assessments were carried number of means. In 2002, the RSPB by the reserve. out for these 10 sample reserves launched the first report in a series of individually, before aggregated work looking at the local economic The study used the most up to date estimates were made for the network benefits of our conservation work. RSPB and independent data, and as a whole. “RSPB Reserves and Local Economies collated visitor surveys that were 2002” found that the reserve network collected in 2009 and 2010 at 10 The report found that RSPB nature supported over 1,000 Full-Time sample reserves to inform estimates reserves supported an impressive Equivalent (FTE) jobs and almost £20 million of spending in local areas across the UK. Carolyn Merret (rspb-images.com) Merret Carolyn

In 2011 this study was repeated, using a different sample of reserves and an industry standard methodology which focused on five types of economic impact:

I Direct employment – RSPB employees on reserves. I Spending by employees and volunteers – Money spent in local areas by employees and volunteers. I Expenditure by reserves – Investments on site using local contractors. I Grazing lets – Areas of the reserve used for productive agricultural purposes. Visitors to reserves, such as here at Titchwell Marsh, also spend money in the area and thereby benefit the local economy. 84 RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 Mike Read (rspb-images.com) Read Mike

Dawn at Minsmere in Suffolk. This reserve supports the equivalent of 103 local full-time jobs. RSPB RESERVES AND PEOPLE – A REVIEW 0F 2011 85 Andy Hay (rspb-images.com) Hay Andy

Rathlin Island nature reserve supports Northern Ireland’s largest seabird colony, and the number of visitors to the island has trebled in the last 10 years.

1,872 FTE jobs and £66 million network is at the forefront of green The impacts, whilst perhaps less expenditure in local communities tourism, a significant growth sector striking at the national scale, across the UK, representing within the UK economy. nevertheless represent important increases of 87% and 235% sources of economic stimulus in the respectively since 2002. Amongst the findings were also some areas close to reserves. These are standout results from the individual sometimes small, rural and coastal One of the most eye-opening reserve studies, for example, Titchwell communities characterised by less messages to come out of the study Marsh (see pages 46–49) and prominent income and employment was the huge increase seen in Minsmere reserves supported an opportunities. Seen in this light, it is tourism, and its economic impacts, estimated 132 and 103 FTE jobs clear that there are great potential around RSPB reserves in recent years. respectively in their local areas. There gains to local communities from Between 2005 and 2009, domestic were also positive messages from a investing in conservation, with the tourism trips taken in the UK to the range of reserves across the UK, from opportunities to deliver for nature, natural environment increased by coastal and rural to urban fringe, people, and the economy. 10%, despite tourism as a whole illustrating that important economic declining by 9.2%. In this same period benefits can be gained from a variety For the full technical report including however, visits to RSPB reserves of conservation initiatives. methodology, or the summary glossy increased by a staggering 38%. This “Natural Foundations”, please visit illustrates how our conservation www.rspb.org.uk/localeconomies. 86 Caroline (rspb-images.com) Thomas

A woman holds a basket of cassava ready to be processed into garri, a local staple, in the village of Gbeworbu, Gola, Sierra Leone. RSPB RESERVES 2012 87

Supporting partners around the world

The RSPB is part of the BirdLife International partnership and works in more than 20 countries around the world and in the UK Overseas Territories. Our work involves building the capacity of other BirdLife Partners to become strong and independent nature conservation organisations, and a strong voice for nature in their countries. We also help them to set up, raise funds for and implement important projects in their own countries. We get involved with training the staff of our partner organisations in areas such as scientific research, management planning and management of protected areas. In this chapter, we describe just one example of the many international projects on which we are working. 88 Guy ShorrockGuy (rspb-images.com)

White-necked picathartes – Gola Rainforest is a world stronghold of this enigmatic bird.

The Gola Rainforest: Sierra Leone’s first Rainforest National Park

The RSPB has the opportunity to work in some of the most amazing places, not only in the UK but also worldwide. These include an international partnership for the conservation of the Gola Rainforest in Sierra Leone, as part of the RSPB’s Tropical Forest programme. The work carried out in this rainforest is unique due to the context, longevity and dedication of these partners.

NICOLAS TUBBS, TROPICAL FOREST CONSERVATION MANAGER SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 89 Caroline (rspb-images.com) Thomas

The Gola Rainforest is one of the Conservation of the rainforest largest remnants of the Upper directly benefits local Guinean Tropical Rainforest in West livelihoods. Here a woman Africa. It is the largest rainforest in holds a bag of garri in the Sierra Leone, where 327 bird species village of Gbeworbu. have been recorded, 14 of which face global risk of extinction, including the endangered rufous fishing-owl Scotopella ussheri and Gola malimbe Malimbus ballmanni. Of global conservation concern, and no doubt the most emblematic bird species there, is the white-necked picathartes Picathartes gymnocephalus. These bird species are only a few of those that drove the international recognition of this area as a global biodiversity hotspot.

For the last century, unsustainable mining and timber extraction have been serious threats to Gola’s biodiversity, and to the local communities that rely on the forest for their livelihoods. Sierra Leone is ranked as the seventh poorest country worldwide. The estimated 140,000 people living in Gola’s immediate surroundings could well be considered as the “poorest of the poor”.

Commercial logging arose as early as the 1930s, though the highest pressure from timber peaked in the 1980s. The 1990s’ civil war had major impacts in and around Gola, especially as the governance of minerals was long argued to be at the heart of the conflict.

The RSPB became involved in work at Gola more than 20-years ago with a rapid biodiversity survey. This indicated the importance and the unique value of this site, as well as the enormous threats that it faced, but also the great opportunities that 90 SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD Guy ShorrockGuy (rspb-images.com)

A shy shining-blue kingfisher perches briefly beside a stream.

existed to protect the forest. It then forest boundaries and running an elusive pygmy hippo Choeropsis led to an appeal to RSPB members environmental education programme. liberiensis, threatened with extinction for their support. In 1990, a From the time of a small-scale project and restricted to forests in this part partnership agreement was signed to the current large-scale programme, of Africa. Many endangered mammal between the Forestry Division of regular biodiversity surveys have species also live in Gola, including an the Sierra Leone Government, The been undertaken. The forest estimated 300 chimpanzees and Conservation Society of Sierra Leone biodiversity proved to have survived populations of 44 species of larger (National BirdLife Partner) and the relatively unscathed thanks to the mammals. However, the RSPB to manage sustainably more partners’ dedication, with for example development of the Gola region did than 71,000 hectares of the forest 518 butterfly species recorded to not survive as well as the (just under twice the size of the Isle date, three of which are new to biodiversity, and a significant part of Wight) by developing a science. Gola also holds one of the of our work has gone towards management plan, maintaining the most important populations of the supporting local communities. SUPPORTING PARTNERS AROUND THE WORLD 91

Through this collaboration, the local the provision of scholarships, and with neighbouring Liberia. In communities are building better lives more recently resulted in the December 2011, the President of for themselves as well as helping to construction of a district hospital. This Sierra Leone launched the Gola save the forest. collaboration is the key to the future Rainforest National Park, laying a sustainability of the park; the tremendous milestone in the 20-year Nonetheless, the management management of Gola Rainforest partnership. The creation of the needs to stay particularly vigilant, as National Park is focussing not only on National Park (only the second in the illegal logging and mining remain biodiversity conservation, but also country) is an impressive example of significant threats. These issues offer sustainable management and how a long -term vision, dedication the prospects of quick gains to a working to improve local livelihoods. and effort can have a positive impact handful of outsiders, whilst depriving at both site and landscape-scale. local communities from their rights The conservation of this rainforest, and their dues. The programme is the species it hosts, and the range of Thanks to: working with local communities services it supports and provides, The Global Conservation Fund initially continuously, so those living on the including mitigating climate change funded the large programme at Gola edge of the forest can benefit from through more than 13 million tonnes in 2002. Donors since contributing to its conservation and sustainable of carbon stored, were the catalyst increasing the work include the UK management. This close collaboration not only for the protection of this Government, through its Darwin with local communities has resulted rainforest itself, but also for the Initiative; the French Government, in major achievements. These range implementation of a landscape-scale through its Global Environment Fund; from building of roads and bridges, initiative covering over 2,500 sq km and the European Union. Guy ShorrockGuy (rspb-images.com)

One of the stunning dragonflies found in the Gola Rainforest. 92 Mark Hamblin (rspb-images.com) Hamblin Mark

Thank you to our supporters

Our conservation work on reserves has been made possible by a large number of people and organisations. We would like to thank our members, volunteers, individual and legacy donors, charitable trusts, business supporters, public bodies, non-governmental organisations, the statutory sector and government agencies for the support we have received. A comprehensive list of our funders and supporters for the financial years 2010–11 and 2011–12 can be found in the relevant RSPB Annual Review.

Join us If you would like to support the RSPB in working for a healthy environment for birds and wildlife to create a better world for us all, then please contact us at one of the addresses on the back cover. Yell Ramna Stacks & Gruney Fetlar

Mousa Loch of Spiggie Sumburgh Head

Noup Cliffs North Hill Birsay Moors Trumland The Loons and Loch of Banks Onziebust Mill Dam Marwick Head Brodgar Cottasgarth & Rendall Moss Copinsay Hoy Hobbister Durness Eilean Hoan Broubster Leans Loch na Muilne Forsinard Flows

Priest Island Troup Head Vallay Edderton Sands Balranald Nigg and Udale Bays Ardmore Culbin Sands Loch of Strathbeg Fairy Glen Loch Ruthven Meikle Loch Eileanan Dubha Corrimony Ballinlaggan Abernethy Insh Marshes The Crannach

Fowlsheugh Coll Glenborrodale The Reef Loch of Kinnordy

Skinflats Tay Inversnaid Colonsay Vane Farm Oronsay Inner Clyde Fidra Fannyside Smaull Farm Lochwinnoch Inchmickery Loch Gruinart/Ardnave Baron’s Haugh The Oa Horse Island Bogside Flats Aird’s Moss Rathlin Ailsa Craig Coquet Island Lough Foyle Ken-Dee Marshes Wood of Cree Kirkconnell Merse Crook of Baldoon Campfield Marsh Larne Lough Islands Mersehead Geltsdale Belfast Lough Lower Lough Erne Islands Portmore Lough Mull of Galloway & Scar Rocks Saltholme Haweswater St Bees Head Aghatirourke Strangford Bay & Sandy Island Lyth Valley Hodbarrow Leighton Moss & Morecambe Bay Bempton Cliffs Carlingford Lough Islands

Hesketh Out Marsh Fairburn Ings Marshside Read’s Island Blacktoft Sands The Skerries Dove Stone Tetney Marshes Valley Wetlands VDearnealley – Old Moor and Bolton Ings South Stack Cliffs Dee Estuary Beckingham Marshes Conwy Eastern Moors Malltraeth Marsh Langford Lowfields Morfa Dinlle Coombes & Churnet Valleys Freiston Shore Titchwell Marsh Lake Vyrnwy Frampton Marsh Snettisham Sutton Fen Mawddach Woodlands Middleton Lakes Mid Yare Valley Nene Washes Berney Marshes & Breydon Water Ynys-hir Sandwell Valley Ouse W ashes Lakenheath Fen Ouse Fen (Hanson-RSPB project) Dingle Marshes Carngafallt Minsmere Fen Drayton Lakes Snape North Warren Gwenffrwd/Dinas The Lodge Fowlmere Havergate Island & Boyton Marshes Stour Estuary Wolves & Ramsey Woods Ramsey Island HighnamWoods Old Hall Marshes Otmoor Wallasea Island Grassholm Cwm Clydach Nagshead Rye Meads South Essex Marshes Church Wood Cliffe Pools Newport Wetlands Northward Hill Winterbourne Downs Rainham Marshes Nor Marsh & Motney Hill Shorne Marshes Great Bells Farm Normanton Down Seasalter Levels Elmley HamWall Farnham Heath Harty Marshes Chapel Wood Barfold Copse Tudeley Marshes Lydden Valley Greylake Blean Woods Isley Marsh West Sedgemoor Woods Broadwater Warren Garston Wood Dungeness ForeWood Aylesbeare Common Adur Estuary Lewes Brooks Exe Estuary Arne Pulborough Brooks and Amberley Wildbrooks Labrador Bay Bracklesham Bay Radipole Lake Wareham Pilsey Island Lodmoor Meadows Langstone Harbour Hayle Estuary Brading Marshes Grange Heath Marazion Marsh Stoborough Heath

Locations of RSPB reserves Featured reserves The RSPB

UK Headquarters The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL Tel: 01767 680551

Northern Ireland Headquarters Belvoir Park Forest, Belfast BT8 7QT Tel: 028 9049 1547

Scotland Headquarters 2 Lochside View, Edinburgh Park, Edinburgh EH12 9DH Tel 0131 317 4104

Wales Headquarters Sutherland House, Castlebridge, Cowbridge Road East, Cardiff CF11 9AB Tel: 029 2035 3000 www.rspb.org.uk

The RSPB speaks out for birds and wildlife, tackling the problems that threaten our environment. Nature is amazing – help us keep it that way.

We belong to BirdLife International, the global BirdLife INTERNATIONAL partnership of bird conservation organisations. RSPB RESERVES 2012

As a charity, the RSPB is dependent on the goodwill and financial support of people like you. Please visit www.rspb.org.uk/supporting or call 01767 680551 to find out more.

Front cover: Red-necked phalarope by Steve Knell (rspb-images.com) The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a registered charity: England & Wales no. 207076, Scotland no. SC037654 120-1639-11-12