Supported by Biodiversity Guide to the Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Contents Introduction 3 Barn Owl 5 Otter 7 Bats 9 Stag Beetle 12 Skylark 14 Native Black Poplar 16 Water Vole 18 Great Crested Newt 20 White Clawed Crayfish 22 Dormouse 24 Further Information 26 Where You Can Learn More About the Biodiversity in the Stour Valley 37 Map of Nature Reserves and Field Centres in the Stour Valley 42 Photographic Credits Skylark Dormouse Daubenton’s Bats Water Vole FLPA – Images of Nature Stag beetle and larvae David Archer / PTES Male Great Crested Newt Herpetological Conservation Trust White Clawed Crayfish The Brecks Project Children studying fresh water life Daws Hall Centre for Environmental Education 2 Introduction The Stour Valley on the Essex / Suffolk border is home to a wide range of wildlife some of which is protected in designated sites such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Local Wildlife Sites (formerly known as County Wildlife Sites or Sites of Interest for Nature Conservation). Wildlife is also in abundance in non- designated areas throughout the Stour Valley. Within the Stour Valley lies the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It is one of 49 AONBs within England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each AONB is a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that they have been recognised as nationally important and given additional protection and funding. The Dedham Vale, as portrayed by John Constable 200 years ago, has come to represent many peoples idea of an idyllic lowland landscape. The Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project is a small team conserving and enhancing the special qualities of the Stour Valley. We work closely with landowners and organisations to ensure the protection and recovery of species and habitats of importance. The Project is guided in its nature conservation work by Biodiversity Action Plans, which identify habitats and species of national, regional and local importance and the actions required for their conservation. This guide outlines the Project’s work with its partners to improve the habitats and conditions for key biodiversity species within the Stour Valley. It includes suggestions as to how you can get involved with conservation work in the Stour Valley and further afield. 3 What is the Essex Biodiversity Project? We are a partnership of more than forty organisations working to protect biodiversity in Essex. Our partners include Essex County Council, Essex Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Environment Agency, Essex Field Club, Essex & Suffolk Water, John Laing, district councils, RSPB, Butterfly Conservation, Royal Horticultural Society. We deliver direct action biodiversity projects; provide expert advice; help with practical work and highlight the importance of biodiversity. Since 1999, we have steadily built up a high profile within the nature conservation community, a reputation for ‘getting the job done’ and providing tangible outputs. www.essexbiodiversity.org.uk 4 Barn Owl The Barn Owl was once a common sight on lowland farmland, hunting at dusk over rough grassland in search of its main prey, the short-tailed vole. Barn Owl numbers have been declining since the 1930s, in part due to reduction in rough grassland, but also due to the loss of old barns and hollow trees to nest in. The Barn Owl with its evocative ghostly form, is a key species for encouraging the maintenance and creation of rough grassland habitat. 5 Objectives Who to contact to find out more The Dedham Vale AONB and Stour Valley Project David Wilkin, Voluntary Advisor for the Barn Owl is working to expand the network of nest boxes Conservation Network For North-East Essex and in areas known to have barn owls present. South Suffolk. Landowners are encouraged to create networks Tel: 01255 862374 of rough grassland to increase vole and mice Email: [email protected] numbers. Website: www.bocn.org Barn Owl Trust Target areas within the Project Area Waterleat n The Stour Valley flood plain: Ashburton between Sudbury and Flatford Devon n Assington-Bures TQ13 7HU. n Alphamstone-Henny Tel /Fax: 01364 653026 n Kedington to Great Bradley Email: [email protected] n The lower Brett Valley Website: www.barnowltrust.org.uk The Hawk and Owl Trust Achievements PO Box 100 A local representative from the Barn Owl Network Taunton is assisting the Project with advice on appropriate TA4 2WX habitat management and locations for nest boxes Tel: 0870 990 3889 to landowners. In 2005 he ringed the first brood Email: [email protected] of chicks to be successfully reared in one of the 20 Website: www.hawkandowl.org boxes we had erected. Since then, the Barn Owl project has gone from strength to strength with The Mammal Society over 50 boxes now erected and 22 chicks ringed (To help with Owl Pellet surveys) in 2006 and 18 in 2007. 2B, Inworth Street London SW11 3EP What you can do to help Tel: 020 7350 2200 n If you are a landowner in the Stour Valley, and between 11am and 1pm on weekdays would like more information about the Barn Fax: 020 7350 2211 Owl project, contact, the Dedham Vale AONB Email: [email protected] and Stour Valley Project. Website: www.abdn.ac.uk/mammal n Carry out a local Barn Owl survey in the winter looking for pellets1 (in spring & summer you need a licence, in winter generally you don’t), keep records of what you find AND what you don’t find. Perhaps you could gather together a group of like-minded people to help you? Contact your local Barn Owl Conservation 1 Owl pellets can often be found on top of fence posts or on Network advisor for advice. the ground. They are regurgitated pellets of fur and small bones from small mammals that they have eaten. They can be n Find out more from the Barn Owl Trust, or the dissected to find out exactly what they have eaten. This can Hawk and Owl Trust. also help determine which type of owl has produced the pellet. 6 Otter The Otter is a large, semi-aquatic member of the Mustelid (stoat and weasel) family. It can be distinguished from other mustelids by its large size and flattened head. The Otter suffered a rapid decline from the early 1960s. This was the result of a number of factors, including accumulation of pesticides in rivers, loss of suitable habitat, changes in river management, declining water quality and increased road traffic. As a top predator in the river ecosystem, Otters naturally occur at low densities, are particularly sensitive to changes in their environment and can take many years to re-build their population. Happily their decline has now been halted, and Otters are once again establishing themselves along the Stour and it’s tributaries. 7 Objectives To improve the habitat along the river corridor and extend the network of artificial holts. Target Area Focusing on otter holt construction downstream of Nayland. Habitat work alongside the rivers Stour, Brett and Box. Achievements The project has encouraged the return of the otter in several ways: Who to contact to find out more n The addition of “otter ledges” under bridges to Suffolk Wildlife Trust encourage them not to cross busy roads when Brooke House the river is in flood. Ashbocking n Improvement of riverside habitat, e.g. Ipswich encourage more scrub along river edges. IP6 9JY n Construction of twenty artificial holts along Tel: 01473 890089 the valley to provide daytime refuges for Email: [email protected] otters. The holts have been built using a Website: www.suffolkwildlife.co.uk design not dissimilar to a low log cabin. Groups throughout the valley have been busy Essex Wildife Trust building them, including parties from local Darren Tansley businesses, Community Payback Teams, the Water for Wildlife British Trust for Conservation Volunteers and Abbotts Hall Farm the Stour Valley Volunteers. Gt Wigborough n Annual Essex Otter Survey with volunteers. Colchester Essex CO5 7RZ What you can do to help Tel: 01621 862960. n If you are a land owner with land adjacent Email: [email protected] to the Stour and would consider having an Website: www.essexwt.org.uk/main/welcome.htm artificial otter holt, contact the Project for more information. n Inform the Project if you see signs of an otter (its tracks or spraints) or if you see an otter. n Contact Essex or Suffolk Wildlife Trusts to find out how you can get involved in otter surveys. 8 Bats There are more native species of bats in the UK than any other group of mammals. They have suffered a serious decline in recent years, with loss of habitats such as ponds, hedgerows, and old trees. Habitats which remain are becoming fragmented and insect availability is falling. Pipistrelle, Daubenton’s and Brown Long-Eared bats have all been recorded feeding over the River Stour and adjacent pastures. All bat species are protected by law. If you discover a bat colony in your house, do not disturb the bats and contact the protected species teams at Natural England. 9 Objectives n Help to monitor bat populations. n Join your local bat group. n To work with landowners and other n Train to be a batworker. organisations to create diverse wildlife habitats n Join the Bat Conservation Trust. along the River Stour that will attract bats. n To provide secure winter hibernacula and summer roosting sites to complement the Who to contact to find out more abundance of food for bats available along the Suffolk Bat Group river. Suffolk Wildlife Trust n To encourage local bat groups to undertake Brooke House monitoring along the river.