Epsom & Walton Downs Habitat Management Plan 2015-2020 1 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 5 1.1 2015-2020 Management Plan ............................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Background to previous plan .............................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................................ 5 1.4 Report Layout ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.5 Desk Top Research .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Management Review .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Chalk Grassland Rarity ........................................................................................................................ 7 2.3 Rare Plants .......................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Unusual Birds ...................................................................................................................................... 8 2.5 Declining Butterflies.......................................................................................................................... 10 2.6 Rare Invertebrates ............................................................................................................................ 10 2.7 Reasons for Decline .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.8 Enormous Potential .......................................................................................................................... 10 2.9 Grassland condition assessment ...................................................................................................... 11 3.0 Site Description ..................................................................................................................................... 14 3.1 Location ............................................................................................................................................ 14 3.2 Altitude ............................................................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Land Tenure ...................................................................................................................................... 14 3.4 Rights of Way/Access ........................................................................................................................ 14 3.5 Geology ............................................................................................................................................. 14 4.0 Botanical Survey ................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 15 4.1.1 collection of field data ............................................................................................................... 15 4.1.2 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) 2008 ......................................................................... 15 2 4.2 Results 2014 ...................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2.2 National Vegetation Classification (NVC) ................................................................................. 20 5.0 Terrestrial Invertebrate Survey ............................................................................................................ 23 5.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 23 5.2 Methodology .................................................................................................................................... 26 5.3 Taxonomic coverage ......................................................................................................................... 26 5.4 Constraints ........................................................................................................................................ 26 5.5 Status categories for uncommon species ......................................................................................... 27 5.6 Results ............................................................................................................................................... 28 5.6.1 Summary Table .......................................................................................................................... 28 5.7 Entomological assessment 2007 ...................................................................................................... 32 5.8 Species list ......................................................................................................................................... 33 6.0 Site Evaluation ...................................................................................................................................... 34 6.1 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 34 6.2 Size .................................................................................................................................................... 34 6.3 Diversity ............................................................................................................................................ 34 6.4 Naturalness ....................................................................................................................................... 34 6.5 Rarity ................................................................................................................................................. 35 6.6 Fragility ............................................................................................................................................. 36 6.7 Typicalness ........................................................................................................................................ 36 6.8 Recorded History .............................................................................................................................. 36 6.9 Ecological History .............................................................................................................................. 37 6.10 Position in an Ecological Unit.......................................................................................................... 37 6.11 Potential Value................................................................................................................................ 39 6.12 Intrinsic Appeal ............................................................................................................................... 40 7.0 Factors Affecting Management ............................................................................................................ 40 8.0 Management Recommendations ......................................................................................................... 42 3 8.1 Grassland Management .................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.1 Soil Scrapes ................................................................................................................................ 42 8.1.2 Mowing ...................................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.3 Invasive Grasses ......................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.4 Grazing ....................................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.5 Scrub Clearance ......................................................................................................................... 42 8.1.6 Juniper Management ................................................................................................................. 42 8.2 Woodland Management ................................................................................................................... 42 8.2.1 Langley Vale Copse & southern section of The Warren Woodland .......................................... 42 8.2.2 Rest of Warren Woodland ......................................................................................................... 42 8.3 Hedgerow Management ..................................................................................................................