LERN
Activities
This project aims to identify a minimum of 3 threatened hay meadow species; propagate & bolster species numbers in their historic locations through plug planting.
Working with LERN and Lancashire Botany Group on historic records of floral species, and previously identified declining species; 5 suitable species were identified: Globe flower, melancholy thistle, bird's eye primrose, saw wort and dyers' greenweed. These are species with a sustainable source for seed collection within the Forest of Bowland.
The seed has been propagated by volunteers with a view to planting plug plants out by September 2019.
This project aims to identify a minimum of 3 threatened hay meadow species; collect & propagate seed to bolster species numbers in their historic locations through plug planting.
Working with LERN and Lancashire Botany Group on historic records of floral species, and previously identified declining species; 5 potential species were identified: globe flower, melancholy thistle, bird's eye primrose, saw wort, and dyers' greenweed.
The seed has been collected and propagated by volunteers with a view to planting plug plants out by September 2019.
NE provided the Biodiveristy working group with the results of a wet flush survey of sites in Lancashire from 2014, this included some sites in the National Landscape. A list of additional sites was produced, and Eric Greenwood began surveying this list in the summer of 2015. Further sites visits are planned for 2016, and we need to pull together a list of the sites still to be visited.
In Jan 2015, it was decided that a woodland survey was the top habitat survey priority. As the staff resource was limited, the number of BHS sites alone within the National Landscape is 197 and because the Pendle LPS area has recently been deliniated, it was decided that it made good sense to start off with the survey of the BHS woodlands within the Pendle area. This was done using the LWT rapid assessment method. 40% of sites were surveyed in the spring of 2015, the rest will be done in the spring of 2016. The rapid assessment method was very effective in showing management needed, and the results from the sample were used in drawing up the Pendle LPS application. trainees from the Biodiverse Society project helped in the 2015 survey, as did colleagues from the National Landscape & LCC team.
During the autumn of 2014, a task & finish group of the Biodiversity Working Gruop met to discuss and agree the priority list in terms of habitats within the National Landscape in need of survey. The list decided on in Jan 2015 was as follows: 1) woodlands 2) wet flushes 3) species rich pastures.
Working group re-established in April 2014.
Will meet approx twice per year and direct biodiversity delivery through the development of annual delivery plans, made up from work across the delivery group.
An assessment of the peatland restoration work still to be completed within the National Landscape area was undertaken as the Priority peat 2013 project, which was produced as a report in April 2014. The matrix approach allows priorities for action to be determined based on a large number of datasets and consultation with key partners. It has since been used to prioritise sites to be put into EU LIFE+ bids (2014 & 2015) and to direct EA funds to 'shovel ready' projects (eg work on Brown Syke, Abbeystead).
A survey of the BHS (and other) meadows and pastures was begun in 2012 and continued in 2013. There are some sites still to complete, as this survey prioritised meadows over pastures and did not look at wet grasslands. Need an assessment of which sites are still to be surveyed.
Actions
| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3B | Carry out a mapping exercise of priority habitats (including local important and locally designated sites) and commission condition surveys of the priority habitats identified |
Peatland and species-rich grassland habitat survey work complete 2014 Agree further work on priority habitat surveys (e.g. woodlands, mires and wet grassland) 2014 Survey at least 2 additional priority habitats 2016 |
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| 1.3C | Develop opportunity maps for potential habitat creation and restoration for priority habitat identified; linking with LNP ecological frameworks research and mapping for Lancashire and priority areas identified in North Yorkshire (e.g Long Preston Wet Grasslands) |
Habitat creation and restoration opportunities mapping developed for 4 priority habitats 2016 |
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| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.4A | Identify local and national 'species at risk' within the area; prioritise and carry out surveys where necessary and work with existing datasets/risk registers on populations of rare species in the National Landscape |
Establish risk register 2014 Commission surveys for 2 'priority species at risk' 2015 Commission surveys for at least 2 further priority species at risk 2016 |
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| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.1E | Carry out monitoring and recording of environmental benefits achieved through agri-environment schemes to inform other farmers and non farmers on the benefits from upland hill farming |
Develop monitoring programme in liaison with Bowland Land Managers Forum 2015 Establish baseline conditions 2017 & 2019 Biennial survey work carried out |
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| Action | Targets and Timescales | Partners | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.3C | Work with partners to ensure they use Biodiversity Action Reporting System 2 (BARS2) to report back to Natural England and Defra on BD2020 delivery within the National Landscape |
Provide reporting to BARS2 at least twice per year Annually |
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