Northamptonshire Biodiversity Action Plan 2nd Edition (2008) Version 1.4 07/09/09 Northamptonshire Biodiversity Action Plan c/o The Wildlife Trust Lings House Billing Lings Northampton NN3 8BE Tel: 01604 405285 Fax: 01604 784835 Email: [email protected] Web: www.northamptonshirebiodiversity.org Coordinator: Heather Ball Version Control Version Number Date Changes Implemented Staff Involved V1 21/07/08 Original document Heather Ball V1.1 21/01/09 Updates to habitat descriptions to reflect Matt Johnson new national habitat descriptions Heather Ball V1.2 11/06/09 Inclusion of Local BAP Species Heather Ball V1.3 12/08/09 Corrections to baseline estimates Lucetta Price Heather Ball V1.4 07/09/09 Slight alterations to action wording and Heather Ball partners, addition of 1 new action NOR_PAP_PL_A5. Contents Introduction ............................................................................................1 How to Use this Document ................................................................................................2 Background.........................................................................................................................3 Recent Relevant Legislation and Planning Policy...........................................................4 General Strategy and Principles for Planning Habitat Restoration and Creation ........6 General Action Plans ...........................................................................10 Advisory and Advocacy ...................................................................................................11 Community Awareness and Involvement.......................................................................12 Data, Monitoring and Evidence .......................................................................................13 Policy and Planning..........................................................................................................14 Habitat Action Plans ............................................................................15 Eutrophic Standing Waters..............................................................................................16 Floodplain Grazing Marsh................................................................................................18 Hedgerows ........................................................................................................................21 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ......................................................................................24 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...........................................................................................27 Lowland Fens....................................................................................................................31 Lowland Heathland...........................................................................................................33 Lowland Meadows............................................................................................................35 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland ............................................................................38 Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land.................................................43 Ponds.................................................................................................................................46 Reedbed.............................................................................................................................49 Rivers.................................................................................................................................52 Traditional Orchards ........................................................................................................54 Wet Woodland...................................................................................................................56 Wood-Pasture and Parkland............................................................................................58 Species Action Plans ...........................................................................60 Otter (Lutra lutra) ..............................................................................................................61 Water Vole (Arvicola terrestris) .......................................................................................63 Tables....................................................................................................65 TARGETS ..............................................................................................66 Definition of Terms ..........................................................................................................66 Guide to Acronyms and Abbreviations............................................................................66 General Targets ................................................................................................................67 Advisory and Advocacy...................................................................................................67 Community Awareness and Involvement........................................................................67 Data Monitoring and Evidence ........................................................................................68 Planning and Policy.........................................................................................................68 Habitat Targets..................................................................................................................69 Eutrophic Standing Waters .............................................................................................69 Floodplain Grazing Marsh...............................................................................................69 Hedgerows......................................................................................................................70 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ......................................................................................70 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...........................................................................................71 Lowland Fen....................................................................................................................71 Lowland Heathland .........................................................................................................72 Lowland Meadows ..........................................................................................................72 Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland .............................................................................72 Open Mosaic Habitats on Previously Developed Land ...................................................73 Ponds..............................................................................................................................74 Reedbed..........................................................................................................................74 Rivers..............................................................................................................................74 Traditional Orchards........................................................................................................75 Wet Woodland.................................................................................................................75 Wood-Pasture and Parkland ...........................................................................................76 Species Targets ................................................................................................................77 Otter ................................................................................................................................77 Water Vole ......................................................................................................................77 ACTIONS ...............................................................................................78 General Actions ................................................................................................................78 Advisory and Advocacy...................................................................................................78 Community Awareness and Involvement........................................................................79 Data Monitoring and Evidence ........................................................................................79 Planning and Policy.........................................................................................................80 Habitat Actions .................................................................................................................81 Eutrophic Standing Water ...............................................................................................81 Floodplain Grazing Marsh...............................................................................................82 Hedgerows......................................................................................................................82 Lowland Calcareous Grassland ......................................................................................83 Lowland Dry Acid Grassland...........................................................................................84 Lowland Fens..................................................................................................................85 Lowland