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A Decade Beyond the Mid- Cornwall Moors LIFE Project

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A Decade Beyond the Mid- Cornwall Moors LIFE Project A decade beyond the Mid- Cornwall Moors LIFE project Philip Bowler – Senior Reserve Manager [email protected] An introduction to the Mid-Cornwall Moors An introduction to the Mid-Cornwall Moors • Upper flood plains of 7 catchments • Complex matrix of transitional habitats: wetland, heathland, fen, mire, woodland, streams and open pools. • Breney Common and Goss Moor and Tregoss Moor SAC designated for: – Northern Atlantic wet heaths with Erica tetralix – European dry heaths – Transition Mires and Quaking Bog – Euphydryas aurinia Landscape and landuse • Farmed landscape, small family livestock and diary farms and common land. • Long history of surface mineral extraction leading to dramatic changes in topography and hydrology • Large deep pools as a result of gravel extraction. • Agricultural and industrial abandonment in post war decades. • Regionally important infrastructure, highways, railways, power lines and power stations • Management for conservation beginning in 1987 (Goss Moor NNR). Euphydryas aurinia meta-population functioning and conservation management in Mid-Cornwall • Breeding colonies are unstable; over time some will be lost and new colonies will establish. The geographical core of the population shifts. • High landscape permeability is vital; individual habitat patches must be easily reached – most movements between 100 and 500m. • Breeding patches require abundant Succisa, varied sward structure and inter connection with other breeding patches – larger well connected patches are more likely to be occupied than small isolated areas. • Cattle grazing is most appropriate though hardy ponies are acceptable. It is advantageous if grazing can be tuned to allow for restoration or maintenance depending on the successional stage of the patch – appropriate infrastructure, suitable animals and willingness of the grazier. • Minimum viable meta-population size predicted to be 7l Ha, to achieve a 95% probability of persistence for 100 years for a network within a 4km by 4km area. Bulman 2001. Subsequent modelling, based on real landscapes suggest the minimum total area should range from 80 to 142 ha. The management paradox - to graze or not to graze? • E.aurinia seems to thrive best: – following the cessation of grazing – grazing at very low levels. • But prolonged abandonment (or very light grazing pressure) leads to succession and colony decline and loss, if repeated across the meta population extinction is inevitable. • However, colonies are very sensitive and declines can be caused by management aimed at checking succession. The Mid Cornwall Moors LIFE Project Restoration of the mid Cornwall Moors for E.aurinia : • improving the quality of E. aurinia breeding habitat across all the project sites. Re- established grazing on all project sites through long term grazing agreements, investment in infrastructure and livestock. • increasing the area of E. aurinia breeding habitat in favourable condition from 15 to 150 ha; Delivered an increase in breeding habitat in favourable condition from 15 hectares to 130 hectares though improved grazing management, scrub control and hydrological management. • improving connectivity between breeding patches within the SAC and between the component sites of the SAC; Considerable investment in scrub management and downgrading of a trunk road helped improve connectivity between and within project sites. Total project site area :1048 ha, Total area of potential E.aurinia habitat 330ha of which 150 ha is currently in suitable condition. Success of the LIFE Project The LIFE project focussed on reinstating management on long abandoned sites to improving habitat condition through restoration by grazing and scrub management. How successful has this approach been? • Longer term management has been secured but this is only sustainable through continued state support. • The habitat quality of breeding patches has improved • The amount of suitable habitat has increased • However, the number of colonies has declined and the population levels within remaining colonies has decreased. A very dramatic decline on Goss Moor, once the core of the population, where all colonies have disappeared. • A re-colonisation has occurred at Redmoor following the introduction of grazing • The meta-population has moved eastwards to Breney Common and Red Moor After LIFE The current status of E.aurinia within Mid-Cornwall highlights the challenge around restoring sites whilst avoiding disturbance. The LIFE project has helped conservationists to understand the importance of: • an interconnected landscape • a large habitat resource • patches at different stages of succession allowing the population to freely move within the landscape Today conservation priorities within Mid-Cornwall focus on: • Reversing the impacts of habitat fragmentation by increasing landscape permeability • Ensuring all available habitat patches are in optimal condition or within management regimes to achieve optimal condition • Monitoring the meta population to inform management; if necessary abandoning breeding sites and focussing effort on restoring / maintaining neighbouring sites to facilitate future colonisation. Landscape permeability - SSSI re-notification and extension 2017 6 SSSIs (1071 ha) combined and extended creating the Mid-Cornwall Moors SSSI (1657 ha). The new SSSI rationalised and clarified special interest features, 586 ha of new linkages and stepping stones were included to encompass key elements of the local ecological network, including areas of breeding habitat for E.aurinia. Landscape permeability – New links and stepping stones The new SSSI designation includes sections of the A30 road corridor • Partnership with Natural England, Highways England and the Eden Project to create new roadside habitat patches • Use of Succisa seed from Goss Moor NNR to create plug plants which have then been planted out into the road corridor Targeting agri-environment schemes to improve linkages through activities such as scrub control Landscape permeability – Linking Cornish populations of E. aurinia E. aurinia translocation from The Lizard peninsular to Goss Moor. • Use of potted Succisa plants to translocate eggs batches • Spring 2017 100 plants placed into donor colony • 8 plants confirmed with egg batches • Moved to recipient site and planted out, July 2017. • Autumn 2017 one larval web found in the recipient site • Spring 2018 confirmed breeding adults at recipient site • Autumn 2018, 5 larval webs confirmed at recipient site • Plans to repeat in 2019. Quality of habitat patches Focus of conservation effort within Mid- Cornwall Moors • Change of grazing regimes at Goss Moor NNR, introduction of Belted Galloway cattle and free ranging equine grazing. • Restoration of hydrological regimes through ditch blocking • Partnership working with Cornwall Butterfly Conservation to monitor breeding patches. • Natural England’s acquisition of Penrose Veor Farm, a 15 hectare farmstead adjacent to Goss Moor Beyond 2018 – Growing Goss, an ERDF proposal £1.3 million project building on the original LIFE project aiming to create an ecologically resilient landscape enhancing the ecosystem services and wildlife value of this post-industrial National Nature Reserve. Objectives are to: • Grow the natural capital of Goss Moor, create a naturally functioning wetland holding more and cleaner water • Sustainably improve 577 ha of protected habitats and build resilience for some of our most threatened species including E. aurinia • Improve public access and engagement opportunities on high quality green infrastructure helping people reconnect with their landscape and the wildlife within it. Thank you. Philip Bowler – Senior Reserve Manager [email protected].
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