FENS FOR THE FUTURE A Strategic Plan for Fenland: A Proposal for an Enhanced Ecological Network Final Report June 2012 Mere Oak Ecology Mere Oak Farm Rowley Westbury Shrewsbury Shropshire SY5 9RY T. 01743 891492 [email protected] The preparation of this plan has been largely funded by the Environment Agency and Natural England with additional financial contributions from Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, National Trust, RSPB and Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust. All the financially contributing partners plus the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Witham Forth District Internal Drainage Board and Norfolk Wildlife Trust formed a sub‐group of the Fens of the Future Partnership to steer the preparation of the plan. The Fens for Future Partnership Steering Group: Anglia Ruskin University Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire Wildlife Trust Cambridgeshire County Council Centre for Ecology and Hydrology Country Land and Business Association Environment Agency Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust Middle Level Commissioners National Farmers Union National Trust Natural England Norfolk Wildlife Trust Peterborough City Council Rex Sly (individual farmer representative) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Smiths Gore Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Witham Forth District Internal Drainage Board Contents Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................................... i Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................. i SECTION 1 – BACKGROUND, BIODIVERSITY AND NETWORKS ................................................................ 1 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2 2 Background ..................................................................................................................................... 3 3 A step change .................................................................................................................................. 6 4 Current policies for biodiversity ...................................................................................................... 8 5 Ecosystem services........................................................................................................................ 13 6 Biodiversity ................................................................................................................................... 15 6.1 Data on Fenland biodiversity ................................................................................................ 16 6.2 County Biodiversity Action Plans .......................................................................................... 18 6.3 Fenland Species ..................................................................................................................... 21 6.4 Fens Biodiversity Audit ......................................................................................................... 22 6.5 Previous approaches to habitat creation on Fenland ........................................................... 23 6.6 Requirements for the re‐creation of wetland habitats ......................................................... 24 7 Ecological networks ...................................................................................................................... 25 7.1 Strategic River Corridors ....................................................................................................... 26 7.2 Green Infrastructure ............................................................................................................. 27 8 An enhanced ecological network for Fenland .............................................................................. 30 8.1 Core areas ............................................................................................................................. 31 8.2 Corridors ............................................................................................................................... 31 8.3 Stepping stones ..................................................................................................................... 32 8.4 Restoration areas .................................................................................................................. 32 8.5 Buffer zones .......................................................................................................................... 32 8.6 Sustainable use areas ............................................................................................................ 33 SECTION 2 – OTHER CRITICAL FACTORS................................................................................................ 34 9 Other critical factors ..................................................................................................................... 35 9.1 Sustainable agriculture ......................................................................................................... 35 9.1.1 Environmentally friendly farming ................................................................................. 36 9.1.2 Farmland birds .............................................................................................................. 38 9.1.3 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 39 9.2 Peatland soils ........................................................................................................................ 40 9.3 Water management .............................................................................................................. 46 9.3.1 Water availability .......................................................................................................... 47 9.3.2 Water quality ................................................................................................................ 48 9.3.3 Flood risk management – Catchment Flood Management Plans ................................. 50 9.4 Recreation and tourism ........................................................................................................ 54 9.5 Health and quality of life ....................................................................................................... 59 9.6 Living above the water line: the importance of fenland archaeology .................................. 60 9.6.1 The ancient environment .............................................................................................. 61 9.6.2 Archaeological Survival ................................................................................................. 63 9.6.3 Conditions for preservation .......................................................................................... 65 9.6.4 New opportunities ........................................................................................................ 66 9.7 Geodiversity .......................................................................................................................... 66 9.8 The local economy ................................................................................................................ 67 9.9 The Fenland landscape.......................................................................................................... 70 9.9.1 Key characteristics ........................................................................................................ 70 9.9.2 Landscape character ..................................................................................................... 71 9.9.3 Physical Influences ........................................................................................................ 72 SECTION 3 – THE NEED FOR CHANGE: ANALYSIS AND WAY FORWARD .............................................. 74 10 The need for change ................................................................................................................. 75 10.1 Rationale for intervention ..................................................................................................... 75 10.2 SWOT analysis ....................................................................................................................... 78 10.2.1 Summary of key issues .................................................................................................. 79 10.3 Results of the data collection exercise ................................................................................. 80 10.4 Analysis of strategic options ................................................................................................. 81 10.5 Strategic alignment/fit .......................................................................................................... 83 11 Vision, mission, aims and objectives ......................................................................................... 84 11.1 Vision ..................................................................................................................................... 84 11.2 Mission .................................................................................................................................. 84 11.3 Aims and objectives .............................................................................................................