4.4.27 Ivy, Hedera helix Summary Ivy is widespread throughout Britain and a component of mixed scrub communities. Being shade tolerant, it will ramble over and under stands of scrub. Where it compromises interest by suppressing regeneration of scrub and herbaceous flora, then management will be required. Distribution and status Ivy is a common plant throughout the whole of Britain and grows on all but the most acidic, very dry or waterlogged soil up to altitudes of 610 m. It is very tolerant of shade and will flourish in the darkest of closed canopy scrub. Identification Flowers: Sep–Nov; Fruit: Dec–Feb. Ivy will climb as well as sprawl over the floor. The stems have fine sucker-like roots that adhere well to any surface. The young stems are downy. The smooth glossy green leaves are darker above and have pale veins. The leaves of non-flowering stems have 3–5 triangular-shaped lobes. On flowering shoots, the leaves are oval to elliptical. Ivy on scree slope. Peter Wakely/English Nature The small greenish yellow flowers only form at the tips of shoots growing in well-lit conditions. The fruit is a small Value to wildlife globular black berry. Valuable to wildlife, for example: Invertebrates: Growth characteristics • 5 species recorded feeding. • Sucker–like roots enable it to attach to most horizontal and vertical substrates. • 2 species feeding exclusively. • Shoots from surface roots, cut and layered stems. • Valuable autumn nectar source. Palatability • A food plant of the Holly Blue butterfly. • Strongly favoured by sheep, especially rams, goats and deer (Roe & Fallow). Birds: • Late winter/early spring fruits eaten by birds. • In some situations, is taken in moderation by cattle. Feedback needed: Help us to develop these profiles • Largely ignored by equines and Rabbits. and Appendix 8.6 so we can update the future web-site version of this Handbook. Please use the feedback form. 4 111 4.4.27 Ivy Cont... Examples of management techniques to implement example objectives (Key: En = Enhance; M = Maintain; R = Reduce; Er = Eradicate) Objectives Management techniques Section 1 Enhance or maintain stands using livestock: En/M A Light browsing of the scrub edge in late spring where Ivy is a component may encourage 5.8.4 bushy growth and fruiting. 2 Enhance or maintain stands mechanically: En/M A Ivy layers and shoots from cut stems and surface roots. Where it is a component species 5.8.13 manage it within the rotation of the stand. If necessary, lightly trim after fruiting in late spring 5.9.4.1 to encourage bushy growth and flowering. Check for nesting birds and other fauna before 5.9.4.2 carrying out work. MBRemove or burn arisings as and where appropriate. 5.9.1/5.9.2 3 Reduce from priority habitats using livestock: RAChoose stock levels and breeds that preferentially target Ivy without damage to other species. 5.8.4 Monitor the effects and reduce/remove as necessary. On rocky crags where Ivy may suppresses rare Sorbus spp. use goats and Soay sheep to browse the Ivy. 4 Reduce or eradicate established scrub mechanically: Where Ivy is likely to suppress ground flora or regeneration then: R/Er A Hand pull or use weed pullers to clear young plants. 5.8.12, 5.9.4.1 R/Er B Prevent re-growth by levering/digging out roots using hand tools (spade, mattock, billhook 5.9.4.1, or root cutting chain saw). 5.9.4.2 R/Er C Clear using mechanical tools where conditions allow. On cliff ledges inaccessible to livestock, 5.8.6/5.8.13 use specialist contractors. 5.9.4.1, 5.9.4.2 5.9.4.3 R/Er D Caution: Cutting established Ivy at ground level on historic building remains/walls does not 5.8.6/5.8.13 guarantee death. It may exacerbate damage, forcing stems to survive by sending roots further 5.9.4.1, into cracks, crevices and weak mortar joints. Contact your local Historic Monuments Office. 5.9.4.2 5.9.4.3 5 Eradicate (re-)growth using herbicide: Er A Weed-wipe or spray in spring and summer using an appropriate herbicide. 5.8.16/5.9.2 NB: Specialist contractors are available to tackle the more inaccessible locations. 5.9.4.4 4 112 4.4.27 Ivy Cont... Herbicides that may be considered for use on Ivy Note: Prior to using any herbicide land managers must as at July 2003 comply with all legal requirements. Section 1, 2 and 3 of Ivy does not normally get mentioned as a species on ‘The Herbicide Handbook’ (HH) provides a summary. Figure 1, at the very beginning of the HH also provides a product labels. If not then it falls within the general ‘Decision tree’ to help you make the best choice of classification of a ‘woody weed’. herbicide for your situation whilst minimising harmful environmental effects. Waxy leaf coating makes adhesion of herbicide difficult – consider appropriate adjuvant. Herbicide (active ingredient name) Relevant situations for various named products HH Section Ammonium sulphamate Forestry trees and shrubs; amenity grass, established grass. Section 4.1.2: table 3 - target 2,4-D Amenity grass, established grass; grassland; conifer species and plantations & forestry; water or waterside areas. possible herbicides for their control. 2,4-D + dicamba + triclopyr Established grassland, forestry, non-crop areas. table 4 - key herbicides for use Fosamine-ammonium* Forestry, non-crop areas, waterside areas, conifer plantations on nature (off-label). conservation sites. Glyphosate Amenity grass & vegetation; forestry; conifers; non-crop Section 4.1.3: areas; fence lines; road verges. herbicide information Imazapyr* Farm buildings/yards; fence lines; forestry (site preparation); summary sheets. industrial sites; non-crop areas; railway tracks. Herbicides are listed Picloram Non-crop grass; non-crop areas. in alphabetical order. (2,4-D comes Triclopyr Established grassland; non-crop areas; forestry. under the letter ‘D’.) * Approvals for sale/supply of products containing these herbicides are to be revoked 25 07 03 and must be used by 31 12 03. Key sites • Cheddar Gorge, National Trust • Hunthouse Wood Contact: Helen Woodman, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust tel:01905 754919, e-mail: [email protected] Further reading Tillotson A & Chambers H (1996), Rope Works (Habitat management on dangerous slopes) ENACT vol 4 (4), 16 - 19. See end of chapter 4 113 4.4.27 Ivy Cont... 4 114 4.4.28 Juniper, Common Juniperus communis Summary Juniper is a long-lived, scarce coniferous shrub, with 3 sub-species. It is widely but patchily distributed, occurring in a range of soil and climatic conditions; in the uplands, coastal areas and on lowland calcareous soils. It has a complex ecology, which makes managing viable populations difficult. Because of its rarity management is aimed at conserving and increasing the extent of existing stands, diversification the stand age structure, and establishing new stands in its former range. Distribution and status Juniper is a Priority UKBAP Species. There are two, or possibly three, subspecies; Juniperus communis ssp communis, J. c ssp. nana, J. c ssp. hemisphaerica. and various intermediates. There are three main populations of Juniper in Britain: the southern chalk downs, limestone uplands in northern England, and the Caledonian pinewoods. Other populations occur, for example on sand dunes in northeast Scotland and in the west of Ireland. Little is known about the status of the rarer two Juniper. Peter Wakely/English Nature subspecies J. c. nana, which is confined to upland heaths in Snowdonia and north western Scotland, and J. c. Conservation measures for Juniper include designation of hemisphaerica, which is confined to the maritime cliffs of important habitats as SSSIs and SACs. Where Juniper Cornwall and Pembrokeshire. occurs outside of designated areas, working closely with land owners/managers can deliver conservation through Juniper has clearly declined and recent local extinctions grant aid schemes (e.g. Countryside Stewardship). have occurred. The larger stands of the NVC community H15, in which nana occurs, are estimated to total no Identification more than 805 ha, and there are less than 15 known Max age: 100, occasionally longer; Max height: 10 m; individual bushes of J .c. hemisphaerica in the wild in Flowers: May–Jun; Fruit formation: Sep–Oct; Ripens: 2nd or the UK. 3rd year. It is a component of early stage successional Juniper varies in growth habit from prostrate to upright. communities, and as such is dependent on open, It is slow growing, rarely reaching 10 m in height. The disturbed ground for seedling establishment. It is easily crown is pointed and twisted and develops a broad, dense shaded out by broadleaved scrub. Surviving stands are shape with many extending shoots. often old and of uniform age with poor seed productivity/viability. The bark is reddish-brown and shreds along the trunk. The spiny needles occur in groups of three on a pale Research is continuing into the status, ecology and brown shoot. The wood and foliage has an apple like requirements of Juniper. aroma. 4 115 4.4.28 Juniper Cont... Male and female flowers occur on separate trees, are • Goats if short of winter food strip bark from trunk and solitary and yellow. The fruit (cone) is first green, ripening stems, especially on larger bushes. to blue and then, after 2–3 years, becomes black. • Seedlings are prone to being pulled out when very J. c . nana has a more prostrate habit and is less prickly. small. The needles are ascending, ending suddenly in a contracted shorter point. The fruits are longer than they • Predation from Rabbits can occur especially during are broad. lying snow or in drought. Genetic analysis suggests subspecies • Small mammals and other livestock will also take J.