Section 2A: Biodiversity Audit

Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2a: Biodiversity Audit Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 1 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Introduction Biodiversity in East Hampshire is currently, and has been for centuries, extremely varied, due to the diverse geology and ancient history of natural and human processes occurring on the land. The district’s landscapes and the habitats and species they host are outlined in Section 1. Given below is a more detailed account of the extent, distribution and condition of the district’s biodiversity, using the best available knowledge. Habitats Shown below are maps of the district, showing each habitat type – these are derived from a county-wide programme to assess habitat types, using data held by Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre. Also at county-wide level are A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire’s Habitat Action Plans (HAPs) (www.hampshirebiodiversity.org.uk/vol-two.html ). These plans outline priority actions for each habitat type, which have been translated into district-level action in Section 3 through consultation with partners. • All mapped habitats correspond with the Priority Habitats in A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hampshire except: o Arable o Improved Grassland o Coniferous woodland o Urban The maps show that Hampshire’s priority habitats such as calcareous grassland are fragmented and small in area compared to agricultural and urban land uses, but that these fragments correspond to the familiar landscapes in the district such as chalk downland. Other habitat types, such as the mosaic of Wealden heathland and acidic grasslands in the north-east of the area, are larger and in closer proximity to each other. The problems of fragmentation and lack of management underpins the actions required for habitats in Section 3. Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 2 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 3 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 4 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 5 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 6 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 7 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 8 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Species Knowledge of the presence or absence of any species is never complete. Populations are dynamic: they fluctuate across the landscape, from year to year and decade to decade. Consequently, it is impossible to have a 100% accurate picture of the species in an area. Through the inspiration and example of Selborne’s Gilbert White and others, however, many have been inspired to record the wildlife that they observe. Decades of wildlife recording by amateur experts, professionals and ordinary people have led to a good idea of how the district’s species are distributed. Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre acts as a repository for species data gathered during its surveys; data is also gathered by Hampshire Wildlife Trust, a range of specialist species recording groups, government agencies, local authorities, local groups and individuals. Hampshire hosts hundreds of UKBAP and Hampshire BAP priority species, and East Hampshire contains a significant proportion of these. It is beyond the scope of this document to deal with every one of these species, but in some cases certain species are identified which indicate the wider health of a habitat; alternatively a whole group of species is identified, such as arable flora. Available species data has been used to identify ‘cluster’ sites in the district. If a site has a concentration of records for one or more UKBAP or Hampshire BAP priority species, it is shown in the maps below. Sometimes known as ‘flagship’ species – species which are distinctive but often rare or declining – these species are good indicators of the general ecological health of an area. Most of the clusters correspond closely with the areas of priority habitat mapped above, and with designated sites mapped overleaf. It is important to remember that these maps indicate recorder effort as much as they indicate true species distribution, but they are in themselves valuable tools in identifying areas of high biodiversity. Although most of the focus here is on rare or declining species found in East Hampshire, it is still very important to ensure that all species, such as familiar garden species, are looked after and recorded within the district - this will help to ensure that they do not become tomorrow’s rarities. Gardens and public spaces are important habitats for wildlife and its appreciation. There are many ways in which members of the public can get involved – for example by establishing a wildlife garden (see Section 2b for advice) or by taking part in the BBC’s campaigns such as Breathing Spaces (www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces/ ) Springwatch and Autumnwatch. Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 9 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 10 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 11 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 12 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire Whilst it is not currently feasible to produce similar maps for bird species, there are UKBAP and Hampshire BAP priority bird species in the district: • Nightjar • Woodlark • Dartford Warbler in the Wealden heathlands around Bordon • Skylark • Corn Bunting • Lapwing in the South Downs area surrounding Butser Hill • Bullfinch • Spotted Flycatcher • Nightingale in the hangers and woodlands near Alton and Selborne The distribution of invertebrates as a whole is not well known, although butterflies have been well studied. As there are so many species, it is hard to accurately identify clusters - there are, however, a number of ‘flagship’ species and rarities known in the district, including: • Cheese snail – in the chalk hanger woodlands • White-clawed crayfish – recorded in the River Rother • Stag beetle – in numerous woodlands • Mottled bee fly – in the heathlands of Woolmer Forest • Yellow meadow ant – essential to the ecology of sites like Catherington Down • Purple emperor butterfly – Alice Holt Forest • Brown hairstreak butterfly – at Noar Hill Although fungi are not well recorded in the district, the hanger woodlands around Selborne have been found to host the rare and spectacular Lion’s mane fungus and other rare species; agriculturally unimproved grasslands in the district also contain several species of rare waxcap fungi. The heathlands of the Weald, including Woolmer Forest and Bramshott & Ludshott Commons, provide an ideal habitat for the Nail fungus, a species for which Hampshire is globally significant. If ponies which have grazed the New Forest are introduced to these areas, there is a good chance that Nail fungus will establish a population in East Hampshire – possibly reversing a previous loss. Section 2: Biodiversity Data - 13 - Biodiversity Action Plan for East Hampshire The following table lists the UK BAP and / or Hampshire BAP priority species* recorded in East Hampshire district since records were available. The list indicates a large number of priority species recorded historically or more recently. It is important to note that some groups are not as well recorded as others – notably lower plants (including fungi) and invertebrates. GROUP SPECIES COMMON NAME (where given) Amphibians & Reptiles Anguis fragilis Slow Worm Amphibians & Reptiles Bufo bufo Common Toad Amphibians & Reptiles Bufo calamita Natterjack Toad Amphibians & Reptiles Coronella austriaca Smooth Snake Amphibians & Reptiles Lacerta agilis Sand Lizard Amphibians & Reptiles Lacerta vivipara Viviparous Lizard Amphibians & Reptiles Natrix natrix Grass Snake Amphibians & Reptiles Triturus cristatus Great Crested Newt Amphibians & Reptiles Triturus helveticus Palmate Newt Amphibians & Reptiles Triturus vulgaris Smooth Newt Amphibians & Reptiles Vipera beris Adder Birds Alauda arvensis Sky Lark Birds Carduelis cannabina Common Linnet Birds Falco subbuteo Eurasian Hobby Birds Locustella naevia Common Grasshopper Warbler Birds Muscicapa striata Spotted Flycatcher Birds Pyrrhula pyrrhula Common Bullfinch Birds Streptopelia turtur European Turtle Dove Birds Turdus philomelos Song Thrush Bryophytes Ctenidium molluscum Bryophytes Seligeria calycina Butterflies and Moths Eilema sororcula Orange Footman Butterflies and Moths Thecla betulae Brown Hairstreak Butterflies and Moths Satyrium w-album White Letter Hairstreak Butterflies and Moths Cupido minimus Small Blue Butterflies and Moths Plebejus argus Silver-studded Blue Butterflies and Moths Lysandra coridon Chalk-hill Blue Butterflies and Moths Lysandra bellargus Adonis Blue Butterflies and Moths Adscita statices Forester Butterflies and Moths Hamearis lucina Duke of Burgundy Fritillary Butterflies and Moths Apoda limacodes Festoon Butterflies and Moths Heterogenea asella Triangle Butterflies and Moths Apatura iris Purple Emperor Butterflies and Moths Boloria selene Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Butterflies and Moths Boloria euphrosyne Pearl Bordered Fritillary Butterflies and Moths Argynnis paphia Silver-washed Fritillary Butterflies and Moths Hydrelia sylvata Waved Carpet Butterflies and Moths Dyscia fagaria Grey Scalloped Bar Butterflies and Moths Cossus cossus Goat Moth Butterflies and Moths Hemaris tityus Narrow-bordered Bee Hawk Butterflies and Moths Hemaris fuciformis

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