A Proposed Biodiversity Work Program for the Limestone Landscapes 2010-2015 Ian Craft, John Durkin, Andy Lees, Andy McLay, Clare O’Reilly, Mark Parnell Contents 1.Introduction ...................................................................................... 9 1.1 Objectives and constraints ...................................................................................... 9 1.1.1 Objectives ................................................................................................................. 9 1.1.2 Scope ...................................................................................................................... 10 1.1.3 Constraints .............................................................................................................. 11 1.2 The authors ............................................................................................................ 11 2. Conservation Objectives in the DMLP ............................................. 13 2.1 Prioritising resource use ........................................................................................ 13 2.2 Habitat conservation and restoration ................................................................... 13 2.2.1 Woodland management ......................................................................................... 14 2.2.2 Wetland management ............................................................................................ 14 2.2.3 Grassland management .......................................................................................... 16 2.3 Habitat creation ..................................................................................................... 18 2.3.1 Survey first .............................................................................................................. 18 2.3.2 Some general principles ......................................................................................... 19 2.3.3 Climate change ....................................................................................................... 19 2.3.4 Habitat-specific guidance ....................................................................................... 22 3. Opportunity Analysis for Habitat Creation and Restoration ............ 24 3.1 Data sources........................................................................................................... 24 3.2 Standardising data ................................................................................................. 25 3.3 The theoretical model ............................................................................................ 25 3.4 Habitat permeability model ................................................................................... 26 3.5 Constraints mapping .............................................................................................. 27 3.6 Mapping ................................................................................................................. 29 4.1 Escarpment Ridge .................................................................................................. 31 4.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 31 4.1.2 Management proposals .......................................................................................... 35 4.1.3 Detailed management proposals ........................................................................... 38 4.1.4 Delivery ................................................................................................................... 48 4.1.5 Costings .................................................................................................................. 48 4.2 Escarpment Spurs .................................................................................................. 52 4.2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 52 4.2.2 Management proposals .......................................................................................... 55 4.2.3 Detailed management proposals ........................................................................... 58 4.2.4 Delivery ................................................................................................................... 64 4.2.5 Costings .................................................................................................................. 64 4.3 Central Clays .......................................................................................................... 68 4.3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 68 4.3.2 Management proposals .......................................................................................... 70 4.3.3 Detailed management proposals ........................................................................... 73 4.3.4 Delivery ................................................................................................................... 81 4.3.5 Costings .................................................................................................................. 81 4.4 Coastal Denes ......................................................................................................... 84 4.4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 84 4.4.2 Important habitats and species .............................................................................. 85 4.4.3 Designations ........................................................................................................... 86 4.4.4 The overall aims of the woodland management proposals ................................... 87 4.4.5 Management proposals for the woodlands ........................................................... 87 4.4.6 Access and interpretation ...................................................................................... 92 4.4.7 Summary of management costs ............................................................................. 92 4.4.8 Hawthorn Dene example ........................................................................................ 93 4.5 Coast ...................................................................................................................... 96 4.5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 96 4.5.2 Management Proposals .......................................................................................... 98 4.6 Other projects outside main project areas (see Appendix N for maps) .............. 105 4.6.1 Cleadon Hills/South Tyneside Coast area ............................................................. 105 4.6.2 Sunderland projects ............................................................................................. 106 4.6.3 Land north of High Moorsley escarpment............................................................ 107 4.8 Overarching themes and projects ....................................................................... 108 4.8.1 Grazing management ........................................................................................... 108 4.8.2 Quarry restoration ................................................................................................ 111 4.8.3 Seed sources for grassland restoration and creation ........................................... 112 4.8.4 Agri-environment funding .................................................................................... 114 4.9 Management proposals summary ....................................................................... 118 5. Further Survey ..............................................................................119 5.1 MG4-related, tall herb fen vegetation MG4 ........................................................ 119 5.1.2 Recommendations ................................................................................................ 119 6. Community Engagement Opportunities ........................................121 6.1 Awareness raising ................................................................................................ 122 6.1.1 Annual Limestone Landscapes Festival ................................................................ 122 6.1.3 Specific awareness issues and audiences ............................................................. 132 6.2 Interpretation ...................................................................................................... 135 6.2.1 Towards an interpretation strategy for the DMLP ............................................... 135 6.2.2 An interpretation framework for biodiversity ...................................................... 135 6.2.3 An audit of existing interpretation ....................................................................... 139 6.2.4 Future interpretation ........................................................................................... 141 6.2.5 Local projects, key locations & associated species. ............................................. 143 6.3 Training ................................................................................................................ 148 6.3.1 The skills needed .................................................................................................