Working for wildlife Wessex Water’s Partners Programme Phase 4 2010-2015

www.wessexwater.co.uk

1 Foreword

The region of south-west England covered by Wessex Water is one of the richest in the country for wildlife sites – whether for internationally important wetlands on the coast and inland, Sites of Special Scientific Interest or National Nature Reserves.

So the company has a significant responsibility to demonstrate its care of these critical areas for wildlife.

However, through its Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), Wessex Water has greatly exceeded its statutory duty to protect wildlife, by establishing and funding relationships with a wide range of partners since 1998.

This has helped improve the status of individual animal and plant species as well as the ecological quality of the land where they are located.

The company has been both generous and wise in sustaining a consistent, and increased, level of funding and commitment to the Wessex Water BAP, and the evidence for the success of the many projects will be found in the following pages.

In addition, the company has agreed to fund a further suite of biodiversity projects, for £400,000, to be implemented between 2015 and 2020.

Janet Barber Chair of Wessex Water Biodiversity Action Plan Steering Group

Front cover p hoto –Southern damselfly , Steven Falk Partners 2010-15

Wessex Water

Bristol

Chippenham Bath Weston-super-Mare

Wessex Chalk Streams project Biodiversity Action Minehead in Somerset Shepton Mallet

Bridgwater Salisbury Taunton South Wiltshire Somerset Floodplain Yeovil Farmland Bird & Catchment Woodland project Ringwood

Dorset Wild Rivers Bournemouth

Regional Dorchester BAP Science Iniǎaǎve Poole

Regional Weymouth Invertebrates, Springs & Seepages

1 Working in partnership for wildlife

Since 1998 our Partners Programme has been providing funding to conservation organisations Achieving more by working for projects contributing to our goal of conserving together and enhancing wildlife across our region. We believe that only by working together can we We have long recognised the value of a healthy achieve our overall environmental aims. natural environment and the services it can provide, but we also understand that the Many of the projects have demonstrated how challenges faced by wildlife and the environment working in partnership can extend and cannot be addressed by any single company, complement our own work and investment: organisation or piece of land alone. • we invest in improving treatment works to enhance water quality across the region to meet The Partners Programme is one element of our the target of good ecological status set by the Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), which draws on a Water Framework Directive (WFD). The river long tradition of wildlife conservation within the restoration, habitat enhancement and company. communication with stakeholders provided by the Dorset Wild Rivers and Wessex Chalk It complements and sits alongside our work in Stream projects complement our improvements managing our own land to benefit wildlife and to water quality by restoring the natural ensure we assess, minimise or mitigate the impact processes in rivers and streams, thus improving of our engineering and operational activities upon their resilience to water resource and water the environment. quality pressures. Without this, their status will not improve By bringing our own environmental work together with funding for expert conservation • the Dorset Wild Rivers project has become an organisations, we believe we have the best chance integral part of the catchment delivery of helping to meet the challenges faced by the framework which we assist by hosting environment and wildlife while delivering effective (alongside Dorset Wildlife Trust) the Stour and results on the ground that will stand the test of Poole Harbour Catchment Partnerships time.

The Partners Programme is one element of our Biodiversity Action Plan, which draws upon a long tradition of wildlife conservation within the company

Drypta dentata – Eype's Mouth, Dorset – Springs & Seepages for Invertebrates. Photo, Roger Key

2 Nectar rich crop planted to sustain insects and provide food for farmland bird chicks – South Wiltshire Farmland Bird project

• our water supply grid involved construction of large pipelines across some of the most Investing to succeed sensitive landscape and habitats in our region. Over the 2010-2015 period, we have invested Working with, and providing additional funding £350,000 in the 11 projects. However, the to, the South Wiltshire Farmland Bird project projects themselves have been able to raise a allowed us to come up with innovative solutions further £1,123,473 in additional funding, resulting to successfully mitigate the environmental in a total investment in the environment of impact that results from meeting the demand approximately £1.47m across the region. for public water supply • the training delivered by the BAP Science So, for every £1 invested by Wessex Water, an Initiative not only benefited staff from additional £3 has been brought into the projects to conservation groups across the region, but was enable them to deliver more benefits for the also attended by our own ecological teams. environment. Both this and the Biodiversity Action in Somerset project provided our environmental This report sets out the significant achievements teams with a crucial network of colleagues, delivered by the projects and their wider partners. helping us to deliver our own major biodiversity project for bugs, bats, birds and bees on our To find out more about the Partners Programme land. past and present or our environmental work, please visit www.wessexwater.co.uk or email [email protected]

3 Dorset Wild Rivers

Aims Dorset Wild Rivers is a major river and wetland restoration project, led by Dorset Wildlife Trust and Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW) focusing on the Frome and Piddle Valleys and the chalk stream tributaries of the River Stour.

The Dorset Wild Rivers partnership has worked closely with landowners, fishing and community groups to restore rivers for the benefit of fish and invertebrates, reducing agricultural run-off into the chalk streams and creating wetland habitats in the floodplains. New channel, fencing and woodland along the South Winterbourne

Achievements Saving species This work has directly benefited many species and The Dorset Wild Rivers (DWR) team have worked there has been a net increase in fish populations, with a wide partnership to deliver an amazing especially brown trout, in areas that have received number of improvements: river restoration.

• 14km of chalk stream restoration, including Monitoring before and after river restoration installing 30 log dams, nearly 1km of berms and projects have taken place indicated that the 200 large woody debris features (where wood is density of fish has increased by 50% on some placed in streams and rivers to improve the flow projects whilst salmon have been found spawning and shape of the stream channel and habitats in areas that have been enhanced. for fish and invertebrates) • 29.5 hectares of wet woodland planted – eight Habitat for white-clawed crayfish (one of our most hectares of wet woodland planted directly by threatened species) has also been increased, while the project together with a further 7.5 hectares the rare winterbourne mayfly, Paraleptophlebia by FWAG SW as part of the Wild Purbeck werneri , and the rare blackfly, Simulium latipes , Nature Improvement Area, and a further have increased their range on the South 14 hectares of wet woodland planted by Winterbourne as a result of the project’s landowners or other groups but designed by the intervention. project • 58 targeted farm visits resulting in 32 hectares Helping habitats of improved habitats created through Higher Level Stewardship schemes Chalk streams are an especially important habitat and are globally scarce. Wiltshire and Dorset have • 13 new scrapes and ponds created, benefiting some fine examples and the 14km of river invertebrates and birds restored by the project has linked up fragmented • 45km of river assessed for future projects areas of good condition chalk stream habitat, • 53 new riverfly monitors trained and supported including sections of the River Cerne, South Winterbourne, Dorchester Mill Stream, Sydling • more than 4,000 volunteer hours pulling Water, and on the main and side channels of the Himalayan balsam Frome and Piddle. • 5,500 wetland bird records created by more than 30 volunteers in the lower Frome Valley. Many of the projects have been within sections of these rivers which are not legally protected and have historically missed out on improvements. The

4 work has involved re-profiling river beds and catchment. This resulted in 7.5 hectares of banks to improve the river structure while woodland creation funded by the Woodland recreating natural features, such as placing tree Grant Scheme on this high risk land. trunks in the rivers to provide habitat and food for An example of joint delivery involved the creation invertebrates and fish. of wet woodland at Woodsford. In conjunction with the Environment Agency, the project Expanding woodland assessed a section of the River Frome for restoration and worked with the farm manager to Wet woodland habitats can offer many benefits, remove 700m of raised embankments which including slowing the flow of flood water and meant that the fields behind would be re- absorbing high winter flows and nutrients. The connected to the floodplain. project has been involved in planting wet woodland within the Poole Harbour catchment, The landowner agreed to take 15 hectares of land both by itself and by partnering with other out of arable production to be turned into a initiatives such as the Wild Purbeck Nature wetland, with the project designing a series of Improvement Area and the Environment Agency scrapes linked by ditches and surrounded by new, Frome Rehabilitation Plan. wet woodland.

Overall, the 29 hectares of newly planted Other habitats to have benefited include: woodland have helped to link up this highly • species rich wet grassland – the project has fragmented habitat: helped with re-seeding and grazing issues to improve 32 hectares of floodplain grassland and • eight hectares have been planted adjacent to fen, as well as working with landowners to existing County Wildlife Site wet woodlands in improve the management of nearly 6km of the upper Frome catchment on nine different ditches farms to expand this habitat • ponds and scrapes – 13 new ponds and scrapes • the Wild Purbeck woodland creation project has have been created by Dorset Wild Rivers with a funded woodland creation in the Poole Harbour further 45 ponds created or restored through catchment, targeting planting on intensive partnering with the Dorset Wildlife Trust pond arable land in free-draining soils to help reduce project. the overall nutrient (nitrate) loading in the

River restoration at Lewell Mill

5 Involving the community and farm management FWAG SW has been a partner in the project, providing land management advice on resource protection issues and biodiversity to contribute to the project’s objectives.

Overall, 40 farms were visited in the Poole Channel narrowing at Lewell Mill Harbour catchment, seven in the Stour catchment and nine in the West Dorset Coastal streams individuals. More than 4,000 hours’ work has been catchment. This resulted in: completed by project volunteers who have helped with river restoration and the management of • the reversion of 9.88 hectares of intensive invasive species such as Himalayan balsam. arable land in a cereal, oil seed rape and maize rotation to zero-input grassland to create Volunteers have also been trained to become species-rich acid grassland riverfly monitors and winter wetland bird • the restoration of 0.88 hectares of abandoned surveyors, resulting in thousands of new species fen habitat next to the Bere stream, reversion of records which help us to improve our 2.8 hectares of intensive arable land to a low understanding of habitats. input permanent grassland and restoration of 12 hectares of semi-improved grassland to provide 15.5 hectares of connected wetland and Partnership low-input habitat adjacent to two rivers Alongside the direct benefits to the environment, • whole farm advice and specialist nutrient our partnership with Dorset Wild Rivers has budgeting advice provided to the six most helped to: intensive farms in the Fleet catchment. This was • actively promote the catchment based approach to assess the overall nutrient loading in the and work with the catchment coordinators to catchment and the opportunities for exporting help implement agreed action plans in Poole and importing manures to help reduce the Harbour and the Stour quantity of artificial fertiliser used, which can affect the levels of nutrients in the Fleet • complement our work to improve water quality Lagoon. in the rivers by improving their habitats and ability to sustain species, which should allow us Dorset Wild Rivers has created a large number of all to achieve Water Framework Directive volunteer opportunities for communities and targets.

4,000 More than hours’ work has been completed by project volunteers

Scoping survey

Watch the work A short video showing the Dorset Wild Rivers project in action is available on our website.

6 South Wiltshire Farmland Bird project

• 100 tree sparrow nesting boxes checked Aims alongside 32 new nest boxes for owl, kestrel The South Wiltshire Farmland Bird project was and tree sparrow. one of four which comprise the South West Farmland Bird Initiative (SWFBI) and was led by the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural “I have found Beauty team. being involved By working with farmers to provide key year with the [SWFBI] round bird habitat, it set out to reverse the massive decline in numbers of six farmland bird project very species associated with arable land: rewarding...” • corn bunting a farmer from Mere, • grey partridge Wiltshire • lapwing • tree sparrow • turtle dove Working with farmers • yellow wagtail. The key element to the success of the project has The need for the project was highlighted by the been close working with farmers. 45% fall in bird numbers in the south west between 1970 and 1994, and a further 8% fall The project drew on Natural England’s between 1994 and 2007. Environmental Stewardship funding to deliver a combination of workshops and tailored advice to help farmers match the needs of birds and other Achievements wildlife with their own farm businesses.

The project has delivered a wide range of benefits Farmers were encouraged to adopt the Farmland to farmers and wildlife: Bird Package, an evidence-based group of • 147 farms have received one to one advice management options to deliver year-round habitat during 242 farm visits, covering an area of for the Arable 6 bird species. 24,000 hectares They were asked to deliver 7% of their arable land • 55 Environmental Stewardship applications as key farmland bird options to provide: were enhanced with specialist input covering a 10,500 hectare area of arable land • safe nesting habitat (particularly for ground • 1,003 hectares of habitat have been created for nesting birds like lapwing, corn bunting, grey farmland birds (also benefiting rare arable plants partridge) and brown hare), including habitat created • adequate summer insect food for chicks through mitigation funding associated with our water supply grid project • winter seed food for adults. • small grant funding to individual farmers The number of farmers involved and the area of resulting in: habitat created is testament to the successful relationships built up by the project. • new fencing and provision of water to fields to allow 32 hectares of chalk grassland “I have found being involved with the [SWFBI] grazing project very rewarding. Working with Tracy • one hectare of woodland restocked Adams, who has a practical and common sense approach and experience to give tried and tested • 350m of new hedgerow planting advice, has helped us to achieve a noticeable • 14 public walks and talks to more than 365 increase in birds on our farm, ” a farmer from people, with 233 farmers and landowners Mere, Wiltshire. attending special events

7 One farm recorded a total of 465 birds of 23 species. This included 47 corn bunting, 135 linnet and 147 yellowhammer, a species that continues to decline across the country.

Partnership In 2013 the project adviser began working with landowners affected by our water supply grid pipeline scheme, to carry out environmental improvements such as tree and hedgerow planting and pond restoration in areas affected by our construction works. Volunteer checking tree sparrow box This innovative partnership approach to delivering Saving species environmental mitigation has resulted in some significant benefits to all parties. The project Comprehensive scientific monitoring of six farms adviser’s working relationship with farmers has in each county participating in the wider South brought some excellent mitigation opportunities West Farmland Bird Initiative, and using the which would not have been realised if we had farmland bird package, is taking place between worked in a traditional way. We have also been 2010 and 2020; to date only the baseline surveys able to offset in part the impact of our works on have been completed. the environment while contributing to the wider goals of the project. There is evidence that by creating sufficient year round habitat tailored to target birds, population increases are achievable. Wild grey partridges at Award winning Cranborne Estate in Dorset increased from just a few pairs in 2009 to a total of 34 pairs in 2012 The project’s work was recognised in July 2015 (although predator control is part of their project when it was given the Bowland award by the and is not included in the farmland bird package). National Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (NAAONB) for: “the best project, Since 2014 the Big Farmland Bird Count, best practice or outstanding contribution to the organised by the Game & Wildlife Conservation wellbeing of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Trust, has involved farmers spending one hour in (AONBs)”. February counting birds on an area of their farm around two hectares in size.

Grey partridge

Tree sparrow Yellow wagtail

Watch the work – A short video showing the work of the South Wiltshire Farmland Bird project is available on our website.

8 Biodiversity Action in Somerset

training days on planting and managing Aims traditional orchards. South Somerset has one of The Somerset Biodiversity Partnership was set up the densest concentrations of orchards in the to bring environmental groups together to protect country. and enhance the natural environment of Somerset, its wildlife and geological assets for the benefit of present and future generations. Our funding was used to directly support: Our funding was initially used to support a project officer role to build capacity within the partnership • Somerset’s Big Beachwatch in 2011. The Big to co-ordinate biodiversity activity across Beachwatch is a means of raising awareness of Somerset and, latterly, to support local the impact of litter and pollution on marine conservation projects. habitats with a new audience. Nearly 90 people enjoyed rock pool rambles, sand dune/coastal guided walks and seaweed searches alongside Achievements cleaning litter from beaches The partnership’s wide membership was brought • three annual biodiversity days open to the wider together to help bid for funding, collaborate and Somerset biodiversity community. The first deliver key biodiversity projects across Somerset: concentrated on landscape scale working, the second encouraged the group to “Think big for • enhancing school grounds for wildlife. Led by biodiversity” and finally, in 2012, on how to Somerset County Council and Somerset Wildlife improve knowledge of Somerset’s wildlife Trust volunteers, 15 schools across the county • new or updated leaflets and communication to have received advice and reports on how to the wider public on the importance of increase the value of their grounds for wildlife biodiversity. and as learning resources • encouraging interest in fungi through the Wonderful Waxcaps recording project. Local projects 44 people have received expert training, Following changes in local and national funding resulting in nearly 300 new waxcap records and priorities, the Somerset Biodiversity across the county Partnership became part of Naturally Somerset – • Keeping South Somerset’s Orchards Alive. Somerset’s local nature partnership. Our funding Heritage Lottery Funding allowed the was then used to provide a small grants scheme to partnership to provide free advice and reports directly fund several projects across the county. on wildlife management for 40 orchard owners, education work with 10 local schools and

Big Beachwatch, Brean Down National Trust walk The Big Beachwatch is a means of raising awareness of the impact of litter and pollution on marine habitats

9 Fivehead flora training

Our funding has been used to buy equipment (such as malaise traps for flying invertebrates and portable water quality meters) to help the project record and identify invertebrates.

Bicknoller pilot hedgerow surveys Hedgerows play a vital role in our landscape and are important ecological corridors for many plant, animal and invertebrate species. The pilot study was made by Bristol University and the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty team to Upper Tone Himalayan balsam assess the condition of hedgerows within the removal project parish of Bicknoller as a way of testing a survey methodology using local volunteers. Our funding allowed Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW) to complete a The results from the 24 hedgerow surveys paint a project to control the extent of the non-native useful picture of the condition of hedges across invasive species Himalayan balsam, present along the parish while proving that the survey method is the Upper Tone river catchment above Clatworthy valid, but could be improved by additional training reservoir, using local volunteers. for volunteers.

Six kilometres of river were walked to record the location, presence, absence or extent of the Partnership species, with more than four kilometres found to The key role of the Somerset Biodiversity contain Himalayan balsam. Following local adverts, Partnership was to work as an active forum for 18 volunteers contributed more than 200 hours to sharing and co-ordinating environmental initiatives clear the species from 2.21km of watercourse, across its members. As an active member we followed by checks weeks later to remove any contributed to projects but were also able to place emerging regrowth. our own sites in Somerset in a much wider context.

Habitat suitability for bats This was particularly valuable as we were able to Habitat suitability indices are a way of evaluating link results from our five-year project to assess habitat availability compared to actual records of a several of our Somerset reservoir sites for their given species to predict the amount of habitat that wildlife potential with wider work underway in the might be available in the county. county. For example, by surveying our reservoirs for bats and feeding the results into the Our funding allowed Somerset County Council to Blackdown Hills Batscapes project. develop the indices for bats, which can be used both as a tool to calculate the potential impact of We were pleased to be able to fund the Upper new development and habitat loss, alongside Tone Himalayan Balsam project as it complements helping to determine suitable habitat mitigation. our own work to control the species on our land at Clatworthy reservoir. Life in a ditch For several years our conservation teams removed this invasive species from around the reservoir; The Life in a ditch project is a citizen science the project’s removal of the upstream source of initiative to establish a monitoring regime for the new seeds will hopefully form an effective longer rich invertebrate communities vital to the healthy term control method and reduce the potential functioning of the Somerset Levels and Moors spread of the species through the Tone catchment wetland ecosystems. by limiting the seed bank at the head of the catchment.

10 Wessex Chalk Streams project

Aims Examples include: • work on the Upper Avon near Figheldean along We began the Wessex Chalk Streams project with two other reaches further upstream to (WCSP) in 1999 and remain a principle partner to restore more than 2.5km of in-channel habitat Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, alongside Natural by narrowing the river, raising its bed and England, the Environment Agency and Wiltshire introducing woody debris while creating Fishery Association. associated floodplain wetlands. Parts were undertaken by specialist contractors, while on WCSP focuses on river enhancement and some stretches local volunteers delivered the management of the chalk stream River Avon work to improve the river. A fish survey system in Wiltshire, including its tributaries, the afterwards revealed that Atlantic salmon are Wylye, Nadder, Bourne, Till and Ebble. once again able to successfully gain access this high up in the catchment, as shown by 10 parr, The project promotes understanding and (young salmon), caught during the survey and conservation of the River Avon system (much of indicating the success of the long-term which is designated at a national and European restoration efforts along the river level for the importance of its wildlife) amongst the local community and river owners and users. • work on a different part of the River Avon and the adjacent Avon Valley Nature Reserve It provides a point of contact for many groups as upstream of Salisbury started in 2013 and has well as supporting and encouraging wildlife to date improved more than a kilometre of river, friendly river management and restoration by restored an important reedbed providing habitat working with landowners and river managers. for the rare Desmoulin’s whorl snail, reconnected the river to its floodplain and installed 500m of boardwalk to improve public Achievements access. Over the five years of funding, the project: • delivered 11 river restoration projects on the Involving the community Upper Avon and Wylye Dozens of site visits to landowners and river • renaturalised 7.5km of chalk stream and managers in the last five years have helped to restored floodplain features spread the knowledge about sympathetic management of the River Avon. • provided more than 75 advisory visits to private landowners and fishing clubs to encourage They have led to fallen trees being left in the river sympathetic management of the river instead of being cleared and have even kick • undertook many guided walks, talks and started full-blown river enhancement projects. representation at events to highlight the importance of water related issues and the River Avon.

Helping habitats WCSP is one of the main delivery initiatives for habitat improvements prioritised by the River Avon Restoration Plan, which are helping to achieve targets under the Water Framework Directive; and maintaining the condition of the legally protected features of the River Avon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), alongside the Environment Agency, Natural England, angling clubs and others. Open day at East Chisenbury – June 2010

11 Vounteers, River Wylye, October 2014

The work of the WCSP extends the impact of our improvements to water quality and river flows by enhancing the physical structure of the river itself through river restoration and the habitats and species it supports. Working in combination, we hope to achieve the environmental targets for the river more quickly and cost effectively.

Monitoring riverfly The WCSP continues to host the Wiltshire Riverfly Monitoring Scheme and has trained and supported volunteers to monitor their stretch of river and, in counting numbers of eight taxa of mayflies and other indicator aquatic invertebrates, to act as an early warning system for pollution incidents.

In 2013 a confirmed pollution incident was detected by volunteer river monitors on the River Kennet and further water quality issues have been reported on the River Ray, River Wylye and Semington Brook. River restoration in progress, River Wylye Without the scheme the Environment Agency would not have access to a network of river monitors providing them with rapid notifications (WCSP) provides a point of of any potential pollution incident. The volunteer monitors provide crucial information and greatly contact for many groups as well increase monitoring coverage. as supporting and encouraging wildlife friendly river Partnership management and restoration... The Hampshire Avon is considered one of the finest examples of a chalk stream in Europe but is under pressure from many factors, including nutrients affecting water quality and low river flows. To help meet these challenges we have invested in: • our water supply grid project to meet reductions in abstraction licences required by the Environment Agency to improve river flows and protect ecology • new treatment processes for phosphorus removal at 17 sewage treatment works discharging into the Hampshire Avon, at a cost of £30m. River restoration at East Chisenbury

Watch the work –A short video showing the work of the Wessex Chalk Streams project is available on our website.

12 Wessex BAP Science Initiative

Aims Linking universities and This project aimed to improve the knowledge, links biodiversity partners and skills base of those working in the biodiversity Many organisations involved in BAP science work sector in our region, to help research and would benefit from partnerships with academic monitoring of habitats and species so that more institutions for training, mentoring and method reliable evidence bases could be developed for the development. But despite the number of environment. universities in the region, few BAP partners were Many counties and groups have produced in contact with potential academic partners. biodiversity action plans (BAP) to set out how to The university link was developed to bridge this meet the challenge of reducing biodiversity loss. gap and it identified and contacted 160 relevant These involve a wide range of research and academic staff at universities in the catchment, monitoring targets but there is a question over resulting in 112 data agreements to allow use of whether there is sufficient capacity within their data on the university link section of the biodiversity partnership organisations to achieve Wessex BAP Science Initiative website. these targets. The project was developed to close this capacity gap. This has provided local conservation organisations with online access to collated information on Achievements academics interested in BAP-related research: • to encourage closer working between these The BAP Science Initiative tackled the science groups capacity gap in two ways: • to offer a vital but often untapped resource for • it created an information exchange website to BAP-related science capacity in the region. facilitate new working partnerships between academics and practitioners – university link • it provided bespoke science training for local Science skills BAP partners to generate and enhance their The main achievement of the project has been the capacity to deliver BAP research and monitoring delivery of free, focused, bespoke training for staff targets. from 21 local conservation or local government organisations, delivered through seven training events for the project partners.

13 The BAP Science Initiative website

Key to the success of these events was that they were tailored to the needs of the participants – The BAP Science Initiative ... the content of the event was not pre-written and created an information then delivered in the hope that the content would match needs. exchange website to facilitate new working partnerships Instead, general training needs were identified at an early stage through 232 questionnaires, between academics and followed by face to face interviews with 25 staff practitioners... to identify key issues on which to build.

The content was then created using direct input from participants into a series of training • enhanced the participant’s ability to change workshops which were adapted after feedback evidence into action from each event. This provided a means to tackle • enhanced the participant’s capacity to evaluate both general and specific issues for the partners, actions to ensure that nobody was left behind, and that • increased the participant’s potential for personal issues were defined and addressed. Post- obtaining funding from external sources to training interviews were held after every event benefit their projects and towards the end of the initiative. • encouraged better communication. Positive feedback Partnership The feedback from those attending the training Several of Wessex Water’s own staff attended the has been very positive but post-training interviews training sessions and found the methods very with partners highlighted that the project had useful. These newly found skills were put into succeeded in a number of additional ways, having: practice and used during our five-year project to • reduced the need for, and cost of, employing assess our wildlife rich sites for bugs, bats, bees external consultants for analysis of biodiversity and birds. data by partner organisations • permitted far greater use of existing data within organisations to benefit wildlife

14 Farm water management in the Parrett catchment

Aims Our funding was used by the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group South West (FWAG SW) to support five different initiatives to help with better farm water management in the Parrett catchment in Somerset: 1. Support for demonstrations of on-farm rainwater harvesting, water recycling and reprocessing of waste water. 2. Use and effectiveness of woodland to slow the flow of river water through floodplain Water flow control from farmland woodland, coupled with tree planting on steep valley slopes to reduce soil and nutrient runoff. • construction of ditch structures, gabion walls and sediment traps to control water flow from 3. Reducing water demand by encouraging more farmland and reduce runoff efficient use of water for irrigating potatoes by scheduling and benchmarking water use by • rainwater harvesting to supply cattle drinking potato growers in South Somerset. water or milking parlour washing water. 4. Demonstrating use of cover crops to help increase organic matter in soils thereby Slow the flow improving soil condition. The project continued to monitor two 5. Developing the land management actions within demonstration sites where tree planting has been the 20-year Somerset Flood Action plan in undertaken (part funded by a previous phase of response to the 2014 Somerset floods the Partners Programme) to assess the effect of the newly planted floodplain woodland on flood On-farm rainwater harvesting, levels and water flow velocity during different flood events, to see whether such woodland has water recycling and reprocessing an effect on slowing flood flows through a catchment. This project evaluated whether it was possible to mitigate against the effects of wetter winters and This is a long-term project run in conjunction with drier summers by better planning of water Forest Research, which involves regularly resources on farms, through water management monitored water levels measured by pressure plans or water budgets which look at all water transducers, combined with river flow issues across a farm in terms of water use, measurements to calculate discharges. retention, quality and storage.

90 visits were made to farms to raise awareness of the importance of water management and coping with excess water in the winter period and deficit in drier periods, resulting in the completion of 20 farm water management plans.

12 demonstration sites were set up to conserve and recycle farm water resources, raise awareness of the problems and challenges and showcase farm-scale solutions, including:

• creation of a lagoon to capture rainwater to be Flooding in Somerset reused in a vegetable washing plant

15 Woodland planting

residues while the soil water holding capacity Water efficient potatoes was higher under the cover crop. There was an Growing potato crops can be very water intensive increase of microbial activity by 64% in the soil during the summer. This work identified under the cover crop and earth worm activity opportunities to improve the accuracy of irrigation was increased by 56% under the cover crops scheduling for potato crops to deliver water use area. savings in summer months when water resources are at greatest risk. Managing land under the Probes were installed in fields with moisture 20-year Somerset Flood deficits to allow growers to more accurately manage their irrigation and the effect on water Action Plan usage, crop yield and quality. Crops from the Following the devastating floods in Somerset in monitored fields had very low levels of faults (such 2013/14, the Flood Action Plan was created to as common scab) which is a sign of effective join up the catchment and slow the flow of water, irrigation and were classified as good for adapt farming systems on the Somerset Levels to supermarket consumption. improve resilience, support alternative land management income streams and develop a Cultivating soil condition community land trust for the Somerset Levels. It is thought that increasing the amount of organic Our funding supported the work undertaken by matter in soil can improve its resilience to drought FWAG SW under the Flood Action Plan, such as and intense rainfall damage. The project scoping the priority areas for land management in established two demonstration sites to test these the catchment and providing support for ideas, looking at: community engagement.

• how different tillage techniques (such as ploughing and power harrowing, sub soiling and Partnership no inversion establishment) on an arable field Many of the challenges facing the water with light sand clay soil affected various environment arise from multiple sources, including parameters. Although longer term results are both those managed by ourselves (such as sewage needed, it was found that soil density within treatment works) and more general sources ploughed fields was slightly higher than in non- throughout river catchments, which can include inversion tillage, whilst microbial activity was the impacts from agriculture. higher in ploughed areas but earth worm counts were 15% higher in non-inversion tillage We believe that only by working with farmers and • how the establishment of a cover crop designed other land managers can we achieve many of our for maize acts as a soil conditioner and fixes environmental commitments. The Farm Water carbon over the winter period. In the spring, soil Management project has demonstrated the organic matter content showed a 0.5% increase importance and potential of working with land following incorporation of the cover crop managers to benefit the water environment.

16 Springs and seepages for invertebrates P h o • information from surveys of these four broad t o :

areas has enabled characterisation of the S t e invertebrate assemblages of these types of v e n springs and seepages. The spring line mires of

F a the Blackdown Hills were particularly l k interesting as were the cliffs east of Lyme Regis, which were exceptional for invertebrates • over the 33 survey locations, 53 sites were sampled. A total of 431 terrestrial invertebrates and 180 aquatic invertebrates were recorded in the Blackdown Hills, 221 and 143 on the cliffs east of Lyme Regis and 220 and 75 at Wiltshire sites, respectively. In the Mendips 379 terrestrial species were recorded along with 76 aquatic species in spring 2012, 75 in summer 2012 and 105 in 2013 • of the species identified, a total of 14 Red Data Book, 15 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Lower Risk, 82 Nationally Scarce/Notable and three former UK Biodiversity Action Plan species were recorded. Southern damselfly These include the UK BAP cranefly, Lipsothrix nervosa , recorded in woodland on the Aims Blackdown Hills and the black-headed mason- wasp, Odynerus metanocephalus and cliff tiger Springs and seepages are small habitats which beetle, Cylindera germanica during the Lyme Bay provide an important interface between survey. groundwater, surface water and terrestrial P h

habitats. They are rich in invertebrate species, but o t o

have been overlooked as a habitat in their own :

S t

right which means they have been relatively e v e

under-researched, degraded and have no detailed n

F

conservation strategies. a l k The project aimed to identify priority survey areas and key sites for springs and seepages in the region, survey these sites to identify the invertebrates they support and produce management guidance and a conservation strategy for springs and seepages across the region. Achievements Long-horned general P h o t

Over the life of the project: o :

R o

• 33 priority survey sites were identified across g e r

the Wessex Water region. Seven in the K e

Blackdown Hills, four sites of coastal springs y and seepages rising on the undercliffs of Lyme Bay in Dorset, 15 in the Mendip Hills, and seven in the spring complexes of the Wiltshire chalk and limestone. All were surveyed between 2011 and 2014 in order to establish and document their importance to invertebrates and lower plants Cliff tiger beetle

17 Springs and seepages have been overlooked Rare findings as a habitat in their own right Alongside the important records of all the which means invertebrates found during the surveys, some they have been important new findings of rare invertebrates stand out, including: relatively under- researched, • the scatopsid fly, Rhexosa subnitens at Ringdown degraded and SSSI in the Blackdown Hills – there are only three other British records of this species have no detailed conservation • the minute water beetle, Chaetarthria seminulum strategies (which is nationally scarce) was only recorded in the present survey from Ashculm Turbary, which probably represents the first time this which outline how farmers and landowners can species was recorded in the south west best manage springs and seepages and also raise • on the cliffs east of Lyme Regis, an empid fly, the profile of these often forgotten areas. Tachydromia lundstroemi was found which has only been recorded once before in Britain, as This information has been provided to those who well as several species normally considered very already manage the areas surveyed by the project rare such as the chyromyid fly, Aphaniosoma and wider partners and are available to be socium and the chloropid, Platycephala downloaded through the dedicated project umbraculata webpage on the Buglife website.

• at Church Springs, Wiltshire, the empid fly, The webpage also contains the full reports and Kowarzia madicola was found which has only survey information from the project, alongside the recently been recognised in the UK. conservation strategy and forms the only online resource to manage these habitats. Help for the future Partnership Several sites owned by Wessex Water contain springs and seepage habitat and we will be looking at whether we can change the management of some of the sites to benefit invertebrate species in line with the guidance produced by the project.

One of the key aspects of the project was to produce a conservation strategy and management plans for these habitats to help conserve them for the future. In addition to a detailed technical report on the Invertebrate Fauna of Springs and Seepages of Wessex , a Wessex Conservation Strategy has been developed for these habitats which will be used to encourage partnership working across the region by looking for opportunities to put actions for springs and seepages into management plans.

The project has also produced guidance sheets

18 The future

• combine our funding with that of other Building on success organisations to create the biggest impact we Each project in Phase 4 of our Partners can Programme has successfully contributed to our • integrate our investment in our Partners aim of conserving and enhancing species and Programme with other company funding habitats or the capacity of expert organisations streams or environmental needs (such as across our region to support wildlife. But the mitigation of our developments) to create challenges remain and the environment continues bigger, better and more cost effective solutions to be under pressure. • engage public interest in the water Global agreements to take urgent action to halt environment. the loss of biodiversity and recognition of the Alongside our existing conservation work, we are value natural services provide to all of us are pleased to provide further funding for another reflected in Biodiversity 2020, the government’s five-year phase (2015-2020) of the Partners strategy for England’s wildlife and ecosystem Programme to support a new round of projects. services. This sets out the ambition to halt overall loss of England’s biodiversity by 2020. However, we have had to recognise that the funding environment for conservation Next phase organisations has changed dramatically since 2010. We have therefore committed an increased We believe that working in partnership brings amount of funding totalling £400,000 to this new significant benefits for both Wessex Water, our phase, but have split this across fewer major customers, stakeholders and the environment and projects to ensure that each receives a sustainable that a further phase of the Partners Programme is level of support for five years, acknowledging that needed to: opportunities for other external backing have • support partner organisations and wildlife reduced. across the region to meet wildlife targets and balance the impact from our own activities • address the many and varied pressures that affect the water environment to help achieve Water Framework Directive targets by working with a wide range of organisations and stakeholders

We have committed an increased amount of funding to this new phase totalling £400,000

19 Phase 5 projects

We will support four projects between April 2015 • payments for ecosystems services – and March 2020, all of which seek to address methodologies and practical outputs which issues around: bring together and enhance the services which the environment provides in our region (eg, food • the catchment based approach – working at a production, flood attenuation, biodiversity, river catchment scale, in partnership and climate regulation) following a holistic approach, which aims to • science and research – undertaking detailed solve key problems at source and deliver wider scientific research, surveying or monitoring to benefits (including enhancing biodiversity and enhance our understanding of biodiversity, progress towards achieving targets under the catchments or ecosystem services. Water Framework Directive)

Project and partner Aim

Dorset Wild Rivers – Dorset Wildlife Trust To take a catchment wide approach to restoring and recreating wildlife habitat along Dorset's rivers – this will also improve water quality, flood storage and community involvement in water issues.

Wessex Chalk Stream project – Wiltshire To help improve the River Avon chalk streams in Wildlife Trust Wiltshire and safeguard their rare biodiversity.

South Wiltshire Farmland Conservation – To work with land managers in Wiltshire and Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Dorset to create bigger and better habitats on Beauty agricultural land, reduce pollution going into rivers and enhance wildlife populations including declining arable bird species.

North Somerset Levels and Moors Grazing To restore and manage grazing marshes on the Marsh – Avon Wildlife Trust North Somerset Levels and Moors to benefit aquatic plants and invertebrates, habitats for otters, water voles and bats and flood alleviation.

Some of the projects in Phase 5 may seem familiar. We undertook a competitive application process Small grants scheme which saw a large number of projects apply for For the first time, our Partners Programme is funding. From these, we had to make difficult offering individual small grants of between £2,500 decisions to select those we believed offered the and £5,000 for standalone projects applied for and closest links to our aims and the greatest impact awarded every six months until October 2019. from our funding. The small grants will allow us to respond flexibly Several of the projects are continuations of the to emerging issues during the span of Phase 5, work started in Phase 4 which have demonstrated whilst extending our reach to a potentially wide an excellent track record of delivery. We are a number of new projects. It will also support small company committed to long-term investments and projects which can make a large local difference, have opted to continue funding several of the but can struggle to find funding as traditional projects to build upon their strong foundations funding mechanisms dry up. and cement the gains they have made so that improvements are not lost. The small grants scheme is designed to meet immediate research or monitoring needs or to

20 fund short-term, smaller scale practical projects • provision of land management advice which address catchment, ecosystems and science • dissemination and communication of and research issues such as: information. • habitat creation and restoration To find out more about the Partners Programme • ancillary conservation works (eg, fencing, past and present or apply for a small grant, please support services for grazing) visit www.wessexwater.co.uk or email [email protected] • land management actions to improve water quality

Partners 2015-20

Wessex Water Bristol

Chippenham Bath Weston-super-Mare

Minehead Shepton Mallet

Bridgwater Salisbury Taunton

Yeovil

Ringwood

Dorset Wild Rivers Bournemouth

North Somerset Levels and Dorchester Moors Grazing Marsh Poole South Wiltshire Farmland Conservaǎon Weymouth Wessex Chalk Streams

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Linnet

Registered office: Wessex Water, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7WW Telephone: 01225 526 000 Fax: 01225 528 000 Registered in England No 2366648 www.wessexwater.co.uk