Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath English Nature is the Government agency that champions the conservation of wildlife and geology throughout England. This is one of a range of publications published by: External Relations Team English Nature Northminster House Peterborough PE1 1UA www.english-nature.org.uk Front cover photographs: Top left: Breckland thyme, © English Nature 2002 (Thymus serpyllum). David Leonard Bottom left: Blue Fescue, Printed on Evolution Satin, (Festuca longifolia). David Leonard Main: F-15 taking off at RAF 75% recycled post-consumer waste paper, Elemental Lakenheath airbase. USAFE Chlorine Free. ISBN 1 85716 655 8 Catalogue code CORP9.0 Designed by Status Design & Advertising. working today Co-sponsored by USAFE, 5M. for nature tomorrow Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath Site history Four key factors have moulded the Legally protected for Wildlife Breckland grassland: soil type, soil disturbance, a dry frost-prone climate, and grazing by sheep and rabbits. English Nature has notified RAF In the Middle Ages it was predominantly sheep that grazed the Lakenheath as a Site of Special grassland. However, sheep grazing Scientific Interest (SSSI) because alone does not maintain conditions suitable for the characteristic it consists of several large areas Breckland species. In 1251 a Royal of flower-rich Breckland Charter, granted by Henry VIII to the Prior of Ely, allowed rabbits to be grassland. The number of rare introduced into the sheep walks at and scarce plant species found Lakenheath. It is the rabbits that inhabited the commercial warrens here is higher than at any other (established from the 13th century in site in Suffolk. the Breckland) and their descendants, that have had a profound effect on Sand Catchfly, Silene conica. David Leonard the vegetation - producing the Perennial Knawel, Scleranthus perennis ssp prostratus. Wild Grape hyacinth, Muscari neglectum. David Leonard Peter Wakeley/English Nature characteristic open, sparse conditions. The building of the Airbase in 1941 caused some loss of habitat but Maintaining the SSSI In the UK the majority of these where the grass has been regularly species are confined to Breckland mown over the subsequent decades The management regime for the SSSI which lies between Bury St Edmunds the rare plants and insects have is designed to maintain favourable in Suffolk and Brandon in Norfolk. survived. This is because the mowing conditions for the rare plants and Breckland’s climate is has similar effects to rabbit grazing. insects that rely on it. semi-continental, being the driest part The beetle, Ctenopius sulphureus. of the British Isles and subject to Roger Key/English Nature Regular mowing of the grassland great extremes of temperature. The keeps it in a favourable condition by soils are free-draining mixes of sand, producing a characteristic Breckland chalk, silt, clay and flints. The SSSI sward of one to three inches high. grassland is also of international The rare plant species found on importance, and has been the Airbase require short turf for recommended by the British their seeds to germinate so they Government to the European Union are not over-grown by bigger as a candidate for the Special Area of plants. Stone curlews also need Conservation designation (cSAC). short turf for nesting and foraging. 2 Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath 3 The insects and spiders Stone curlews that breed in England over-winter in southern Spain and An extremely wide variety of insects North and West Africa. They nest in and spiders are found at RAF England between April and August Lakenheath. Many of the species and during this period zones are found are dependent on dry sandy reserved for them at the base, where conditions, particularly species of disturbance is kept to a minimum. solitary wasps and bees. Stone curlews lay their eggs in a scrape on the ground with sparse A total of 513 different species have growth on sandy soils and like to been found at the site from just two have a clear view to spot any surveys carried out in 1992 and 1993. approaching predators. People up to At a national level, 11 of the species a few hundred yards away can easily found are extremely rare (including disturb these birds, which will then solitary bees, mining bees, solitary leave the nest, and their eggs or Bur Medick, Medicago minima. wasps, a digger wasp, flies and young chicks may die of cold or be David Leonard several species of beetle) and exposed to predators. 47 are very scarce. The insects and The rare flowers of RAF spiders alone could earn this site its Stone Curlews are hunters of the Lakenheath SSSI status. night, feeding for earthworms and Comb-footed spider, Steatoda albipunctata. insects on the soil surface in areas of Roger Key/English Nature Perennial Knawel (Scleranthus short vegetation. Their eyes are huge perennis ssp prostratus) is one of the The stone curlew and owl-like and their eerie cries can most vulnerable plant species on the be heard on a quiet night from over SSSI and is individually protected by In recent years two pairs of Stone half a mile away. law. It has only ever been found in curlews (Burhinus oedicnemus) have Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire nested on the base with good and there have never been more than fledgling success. This makes RAF 9 sites recorded through history. Lakenheath an extremely important The colony on the base is found at site because the Stone curlew is one the Brandon Road end of the runway. of Britain’s rarest and most This species will not tolerate any threatened birds. competition and is therefore ideally suited to the short grass-mowing Distribution of this rare bird is regime. It does, however, like tiny restricted to free draining, sandy soils amounts of soil disturbance caused like those found at RAF Lakenheath. by the mowers. This habitat preference is almost certainly due to selection for a Blue Fescue (Festuca longifolia) background against which the bird, is found in quite a few patches on the its eggs and chicks are well Stan Dumican Stone Curlew. Base, mostly in the north-eastern Treehopper bug, Gargara genistae. Roger Key/English Nature camouflaged. corner. 4 Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath 5 Spanish Catchfly (Silene otites) on Hill (open to the public on foot) if Base is the biggest population in the you look through the security fence Do’s and Don’ts: British Isles. onto on the old dog-training area and the assault course. Do treat the grassland and its rare plants with respect, including those Breckland Thyme (Thymus areas of grassland habitat that are outside the SSSI. serpyllum) is a long-lived Sand Catchfly (Silene conica) low-growing thyme that flowers in only appears if the ground is Don’t do anything that will damage the SSSI grassland, such as driving July. Like many of the Breckland disturbed - its long-lasting seed on it, digging, engineering works etc, unless you are sure that plants it too cannot stand competition allows it to survive between such English Nature has given assent. This is a legal requirement. – it requires an open, low-cut sward. favourable conditions. It can be seen It is closely related to the thyme, in patches around the golf course. Do consult your RAF Lakenheath environmental experts if you are which is much used as a herb for not sure about anything (48 CES/CEV extension 3990). cooking. Bur Medick (Medicago minima) is so-called because its seeds have Don’t go into zones reserved as nesting sites for Stone Curlews. Smooth Rupturewort (Herniaria many little hooks to aid dispersal. glabra) has only been recorded once Wherever the surrounding grass is Acknowledgments: on the base, but it is possible that live allowed to grow taller Bur Medick Many thanks to Yvonne Leonard for information on the rare plant species and to seeds remain in the soil. It is difficult becomes increasingly rare, David Leonard for his wonderful photos of these plants. to find because it is a low-growing highlighting its low tolerance of plant and its tiny flowers are green. competition from other plants. It is confined to Norfolk, Suffolk and Wangford one site in Lincolnshire. Sickle Medick (Medicago sativa ssp Lakenheath falcata) has sickle-shaped seedpods. Wild Grape hyacinth (Muscari Despite the fact that it is taller and Turf fen neglectum) on Base is the biggest deeper rooted than the other species Wangford population in the British Isles. The mentioned here, it too cannot tolerate grass must not be cut around it before much competition. NE - SW Instrument runway it sets seed in July. It flowers in April, RAF Lakenheath airbase and it can be seen from Maidscross Grey Hair-grass (Corynephorus canescens) requires exposure to wind and sand movement to thrive and is Industrial area chiefly a coastal plant. The colonies A1065 Brandon Road on the base (appearing in patches The Delph near the runway) and on a nearby Lords walk inland sand dune form an important Housing Gate 1 area component of the UK population. School Spring Speedwell (Veronica verna) RAF Lakenheath airbase has only been found on the base quite recently in an area of the old assault Conifer RAF Lakenheath airbase Spring Speedwell, Veronica verna. David Leonard course. SSSI 6 Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath 7 Wildlife at RAF Lakenheath English Nature is the Government agency that champions the conservation of wildlife and geology throughout England. This is one of a range of publications published by: External Relations Team English Nature Northminster House Peterborough PE1 1UA www.english-nature.org.uk Front cover photographs: Top left: Breckland thyme, © English Nature 2002 (Thymus serpyllum). David Leonard Bottom left: Blue Fescue, Printed on Evolution Satin, (Festuca longifolia).