Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS) Planning for the Future Site Improvement Plan South Pennine Moors Site Improvement Plans (SIPs) have been developed for each Natura 2000 site in England as part of the Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 sites (IPENS). Natura 2000 sites is the combined term for sites designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protected Areas (SPA). This work has been financially supported by LIFE, a financial instrument of the European Community. The plan provides a high level overview of the issues (both current and predicted) affecting the condition of the Natura 2000 features on the site(s) and outlines the priority measures required to improve the condition of the features. It does not cover issues where remedial actions are already in place or ongoing management activities which are required for maintenance. The SIP consists of three parts: a Summary table, which sets out the priority Issues and Measures; a detailed Actions table, which sets out who needs to do what, when and how much it is estimated to cost; and a set of tables containing contextual information and links. Once this current programme ends, it is anticipated that Natural England and others, working with landowners and managers, will all play a role in delivering the priority measures to improve the condition of the features on these sites. The SIPs are based on Natural England's current evidence and knowledge. The SIPs are not legal documents, they are live documents that will be updated to reflect changes in our evidence/knowledge and as actions get underway. The information in the SIPs will be used to update England's contribution to the UK's Prioritised Action Framework (PAF). The SIPs are not formal consultation documents, but if you have any comments about the SIP or would like more information please email us at [email protected], or contact Natural England's Responsible Officer for the site via our enquiry service 0300 060 3900, or [email protected] This Site Improvement Plan covers the following Natura 2000 site(s) UK9007021 Peak District Moors (South Pennine Moors Phase 1) SPA UK9007022 South Pennine Moors Phase 2 SPA UK0030280 South Pennine Moors SAC 1/35 Site description The South Pennine Moors Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Area (SPA) includes the major moorland blocks of the South Pennines from Ilkley in the North to Leek and Matlock in the South. It covers extensive tracts of semi-natural moorland habitats including upland heath and blanket mire. The diverse mosaic of habitats contributes greatly to the ornithological interests, which comprises birds of prey and waders. Plan Summary This table shows the prioritised issues for the site(s), the features they affect, the proposed measures to address the issues and the delivery bodies whose involvement is required to deliver the measures. The list of delivery bodies will include those who have agreed to the actions as well as those where discussions over their role in delivering the actions is on-going. Priority & Issue Pressure Feature(s) affected Measure Delivery Bodies or Threat 1 Hydrological changes Threat A103(B) Peregrine, A140(B) Golden Plover, A222(B) Short- Restore site hydrology by Environment Agency, National eared Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird assemblage, H4010 implementing restoration Trust, Natural England, Peak Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, H7130 Blanket bogs, plans District National Park Authority, H7140 Very wet mires often identified by an unstable Severn Trent Water Ltd, United `quaking` surface Utilities Water Plc, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd, Landowner(s), University(ies), Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Moors for the Future, Pennine Prospects 2 Managed rotational Pressure A098(B) Merlin, A140(B) Golden Plover, A222(B) Short-eared Research and implement National Trust, Natural burning Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird assemblage, H4010 Wet alternative management and England, Peak District National heathland with cross-leaved heath, H4030 European dry less intensive burning Park Authority, Severn Trent heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs programmes Water Ltd, Yorkshire Water Services Ltd, Landowner(s), University(ies), Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Moors for the Future, Consultant, Fires Operation Group, Pennine Prospects 2/35 3 Low breeding success/ Pressure/ A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A222(B) Short-eared Owl Investigate causes and work Derbyshire Constabulary, poor recruitment Threat with partner organisations Natural England, Peak District and the police to address National Park Authority, RSPB, these The Moorland Association, Raptor Study Group, Pennine Prospects 4 Inappropriate Threat A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A140(B) Golden Plover, Produce and implement Environment Agency, Forestry management practices A222(B) Short-eared Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird landscape scale Commission, National Trust, assemblage, H4010 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, management plans Natural England, Peak District H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs, H7140 National Park Authority, RSPB, Very wet mires often identified by an unstable `quaking` Wildlife Trust(s), Landowner(s), surface, H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Moors for the Future, Projects - Waders/Wren/Wildife Trust/Twite recovery, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Pennine Prospects 5 Public Pressure/ Breeding bird assemblage, H4010 Wet heathland with cross- Implement habitat and Derbyshire Constabulary, Access/Disturbance Threat leaved heath, H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket species management plans Environment Agency, Forestry bogs, H7140 Very wet mires often identified by an unstable related to specific Commission, Highways `quaking` surface, H9180 Mixed woodland on base-rich soils disturbance issues Agency, Local Authority(ies), associated with rocky slopes National Trust, Natural England, Peak District National Park Authority, RSPB, Wildlife Trust(s), Landowner(s), University(ies), Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Moors for the Future, Consultant, Pennine Prospects, Vehicle user group(s), British Mountaineering Council 6 Air Pollution: impact of Pressure A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A140(B) Golden Plover, Control, reduce and Not yet determined atmospheric nitrogen A222(B) Short-eared Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird ameliorate atmospheric deposition assemblage, H4010 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, nitrogen impacts H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs, H7140 Very wet mires often identified by an unstable `quaking` surface, H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland 3/35 7 Wildfire/ arson Pressure/ A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A140(B) Golden Plover, Produce and implement Derbyshire Constabulary, Local Threat A222(B) Short-eared Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird wildfire management plans Authority(ies), Natural England, assemblage, H4010 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, Peak District National Park H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs, H7140 Authority, Landowner(s), Very wet mires often identified by an unstable `quaking` Yorkshire Peat Partnership, surface, H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland Moors for the Future, Fires Operation Group, Local constabulary(ies), Pennine Prospects 8 Vehicles Threat A098(B) Merlin, A140(B) Golden Plover, A222(B) Short-eared Increase cross-agency Derbyshire Constabulary, Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird assemblage, H4010 Wet partnership working Derbyshire County Council, heathland with cross-leaved heath, H4030 European dry Local Authority(ies), Natural heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs, H7140 Very wet mires often England identified by an unstable `quaking` surface 9 Overgrazing Pressure A098(B) Merlin, A222(B) Short-eared Owl, A466(B) Dunlin, Establish long-term Defra, National Trust, Natural Breeding bird assemblage, H4010 Wet heathland with cross- sustainable grazing plans England, Peak District National leaved heath, H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket Park Authority, Landowner(s), bogs, H7140 Very wet mires often identified by an unstable National Farmers' Union (NFU) `quaking` surface, H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland 10 Forestry and woodland Threat H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland Implement targeted woodland Forestry Commission, Natural management plans for the site and England adjacent land 11 Changes in species Pressure/ A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A222(B) Short-eared Owl, Investigate the changes in Natural England, distributions Threat A466(B) Dunlin, Breeding bird assemblage species University(ies), Consultant 12 Disease Threat H4030 European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs, H91A0 Develop Phytophthora Defra, Natural England, Western acidic oak woodland resilience plans Yorkshire Peat Partnership, Moors for the Future, Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), Pennine Prospects 13 Undergrazing Threat H4010 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, H4030 Increase specific stock Defra, Natural England, Peak European dry heaths, H7130 Blanket bogs grazing on difficult areas of District National Park Authority, the site Landowner(s), National Farmers' Union (NFU) 4/35 14 Invasive species Pressure/ H4010 Wet heathland with cross-leaved heath, H4030 Implement targeted invasive Forestry Commission, Natural Threat European dry heaths, H91A0 Western acidic oak woodland species control plans England, Landowner(s) 15 Planning Permission: Pressure/ A098(B) Merlin, A103(B) Peregrine, A140(B) Golden Plover, Develop a joined up Bradford Metropolitan