A 50-Year Vision for the Wildlife and Natural Habitats of Hertfordshire A
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A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire A 50-year vision for the wildlife and natural habitats of Hertfordshire A Local Biodiversity Action Plan Prepared by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust April 1998 Revised and reprinted by the Biodiversity Partnership March 2006 www.hef.org.uk A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire Contents Page Foreword and acknowledgements i.i Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1-1.4 Chapter 2 Geology 2.1-2.2 Chapter 3 Habitat and species review and evaluation 3.1-3.15 Habitat action plans Chapter 4 Woodland 4.1-4.32 Chapter 5 Wetlands 5.1-5.29 Chapter 6 Heathland and acid grassland 6.1-6.20 Chapter 7 Neutral grassland 7.1-7.14 Chapter 8 Chalk grassland 8.1-8.12 Chapter 9 Farmland 9.1-9.22 Chapter 10 Urban 10.1-10.27 Species action plans Chapter 11 Water Vole 11.1-11.6 Chapter 12 Common Dormouse 12.1-12.7 Chapter 13 Natterer’s Bat 13.1-13.4 Chapter 14 Otter 14.1-14.4 Chapter 15 Tree Sparrow 15.1-15.4 Chapter 16 Bittern 16.1-16.6 Chapter 17 Stone-curlew 17.1-17.4 Chapter 18 Song Thrush 18.1-18.3 Chapter 19 Great Crested Newt 19.1-19.7 Chapter 20 Chalkhill Blue 20.1-20.4 Chapter 21 Grizzled Skipper 21.1-21.5 Chapter 22 Stag Beetle 22.1-22.3 Chapter 23 White-clawed Crayfish 23.1-23.4 Chapter 24 Great Pignut 24.1-24.4 Chapter 25 Cornflower 25.1 Chapter 26 River Water-dropwort 26.1-26.4 Chapter 27 Pasqueflower 27.1-27.4 Generic action plan Chapter 28 Generic actions 28.1-28.2 ii.i A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire The future Chapter 29 The way forward and implementation 29.1-29.4 Glossary, abbreviations and acronyms Chapter 30 Glossary, abbreviations and acronyms 30.1-30.9 Bibliography Chapter 31 Bibliography 31.1-31.2 Appendices Chapter 32 Appendix 1 – Unimproved grasslands in Hertfordshire 32.1 Appendix 2 – Habitat restoration potential 32.2 Appendix 3 – NVC communities 32.3 Appendix 4 – Criteria for habitat and species evaluation 32.11 List of tables 3.1 Evaluation of habitats within Hertfordshire 3.3 3.2 Evaluation of species within Hertfordshire 3.6 List of maps 3.1 Key biodiversity areas in Hertfordshire 3.14 4.1 Major ancient woodland complexes 4.23 5.1 A necklace of wetland habitats 5.21 6.1 Existing heathland sites in Hertfordshire 6.4 6.2 Core areas for heath and acid grassland restoration and re-creation in Hertfordshire 6.11 7.1 Distribution of key neutral grasslands and core areas 7.4 8.1 Distribution of key chalk grasslands and core areas 8.4 Additional Action Plans Chapter 33 Black-necked Grebe 33.1-33.4 Chapter 34 Purple Emperor 34.1-34.7 ii.ii A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire < Return to contents page Foreword In 1998, as Hertfordshire’s response to the national To help focus our activities during the next five years, biodiversity planning process, a 50-year vision for the the Biodiversity Action Plan is being relaunched by the wildlife and natural habitats of Hertfordshire was Hertfordshire Biodiversity Partnership to incorporate prepared on behalf of the Hertfordshire Environmental the revised habitat and species action plans. This Forum by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust. This relaunch is timely, given the imminence of the East of represented the first Biodiversity Action Plan for the England Plan, the increasing concerns about climate county and was one of the earliest to be produced in change and the need to seek biodiversity protection England. It identifies those habitats and species which and gain within new planning frameworks. It is are a priority for conservation action and provides a intended that this plan form the framework for action valuable source of information on the county’s natural by the Biodiversity Partners, local authorities, assets. businesses and the many voluntary groups associated with wildlife conservation across the County. In 2002, a Hertfordshire Biodiversity Officer was appointed and a review of the achievements against Judy Adams the targets identified within the action plans was undertaken. Progress was variable, with wetlands work Chair of the Biodiversity Partnership Group considerably advanced, whilst other plans were less (Hertfordshire Environmental Forum) successful. During 2005/06, a review of the original habitat and species action plans, focussing solely on March 2006 the objectives, targets and actions, was undertaken, led by the Biodiversity Officer and supported by the various leads of the species and habitat action plans. Additional species action plans were developed for Purple Emperor and Black-necked Grebe and an action plan for Traditional Orchards is nearing completion. www.hef.org.uk i.i A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire < Return to contents page Acknowledgements Particular thanks must go to Graham White, who For the design of the revised Biodiversity Action Plan, prepared the initial Biodiversity Action Plan on behalf photos were used with kind permission from: of the Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust in 1998 for the Hertfordshire Environmental Forum. At that time many Les Borg, Michael Clark, Alec Cooper, Joan Dixon, people contributed comments and ideas, in particular Clare Gray, Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Image colleagues from the Hertfordshire Biological Records Library, Tim Hill, Andrew Middleton, Peter Oakenfull, Centre, local authorities, nature conservation Darin Smith (Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust Image organisations, English Nature and the Environment Library), Peter Wakely/English Nature and Phil Vines. Agency, as well as a large number of individuals. As the bulk of the document remains unchanged, In addition, the work of many volunteer recorders over everyone who contributed to its production is thanked. the years, whose dedication and commitment has enabled us to appreciate and understand the county A large team of people were involved in revising the and its wildlife, is gratefully acknowledged. individual habitat and species action plans and thanks must go to the habitat and species working groups. Funding for the production of the revised Biodiversity Special thanks are due to the action plan leads: Action Plan was generously given by the Hertfordshire Environmental Forum (HEF). Tony Bradford, Joan Dixon, Jack Fearnside, Liz Goodyear, Graham Goodall, Martin Hicks, Pauline Holmes, Tim Hill, Jenny Jones, Ian Mather, Andrew Middleton, Ellie Minns, Andrew Palmer, Anita Parry, Sarah Postlethwaite, Jez Perkins, Jim Terry and Alison Washbrook. Designed by LTD Design Consultants, London i.ii A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire < Return to contents page 1 Introduction 1.1 What is biodiversity? ‘Biodiversity is all living things, from the tiny world enriches the quality of our lives through tourism, garden ant to the giant redwood tree. You will find leisure and daily contact with wildlife. The wild biodiversity everywhere, in window boxes and wild ancestors of many of our major crops such as wheat woods, roadsides and rain forests, snow fields and barley, provide genetic material which can provide and sea shore’ (Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group resistance to crop diseases and help reduce the need Report, 1995). for pesticides. Wetland habitats act as natural pollution filters, buffer the effects of flood and drought, and Biological diversity (biodiversity) is the variety of life. reduce soil erosion. Not only is it the whole range of plant and animal species but also the local variations found within these However, human activities continue to deplete species. biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate. In the UK we have lost over 100 species this century, with many Why is biodiversity important? more in danger of disappearing, especially at the local level. This is ultimately against our own interests. Our The intricate network of ecosystems, habitats and future requirements are uncertain. If we continue to species comprising biodiversity provides the support degrade what remains of our natural resources we will systems that sustain human existence. It provides dangerously reduce the planet’s capacity to support many of the essentials of life – oxygen, water, food, not only wildlife but also people. The maintenance of clothing, health and relaxation. This value extends biodiversity is a key test of our ability to maintain a from the spiritual benefits to be gained from contact healthy natural environment and long-term with nature, to the economic potential of wild species sustainability. for new sources of food or medicines. The natural 1.2 The convention on biological diversity The Rio de Janeiro ‘Earth Summit’ in 1992 was, in The UK Government published a UK Biodiversity part, a response to the growing awareness of the Action Plan in January 1994. Its stated aim is: importance of the global environment and a wide recognition of the continuing loss and damage. The ‘to conserve and enhance biological diversity within the United Kingdom was one of over 150 countries from UK’. around the world which signed the Convention on Biological Diversity. With each country required to At the launch of the Action Plan the Prime Minister produce a plan of action, this now provides the basis announced that a Biodiversity Steering Group would for international co-operation to maintain the world’s be established. This group, with representatives drawn biodiversity. Article 6a of the Convention requires from key statutory and non-statutory organisations, signatory countries to: would take the process forward. It published a detailed report, Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report, in ‘develop national policies, plans or programmes for the December 1995. This report was subsequently conservation and sustainable use of biological endorsed by the Government and now sets the scene diversity’. for future action. 1.1 A Biodiversity Action Plan for Hertfordshire < Return to contents page The UK Steering Group Report The report of the UK Biodiversity Steering Group sets The Report includes draft national action plans for 14 out a detailed approach to conserving biodiversity in key habitats and 116 of our most threatened species.