WIRRAL
BIODIVERSITY
ACTION PLAN
ACTION PLAN
|
WIRRAL
BIODIVERSITY
ACTION PLAN |
| Current Status | Current Factors causing loss or decline | Current Action | Key habitats | Objectives and Targets |
| Proposed Actions | Resources | Links to other Action Plans | Contact Points | References |
1.1 National
For the purposes of this Action Plan, the term 'field boundaries' refers to arable field margins and to boundary structures such as hedgerows, field drains, main drainage channels, sandstone walls and road verges.
These features contain a large proportion of the biodiversity in arable landscapes, and are important for many species as "green corridors", allowing dispersal within otherwise inhospitable countryside.
41% of the UK land area is under arable cultivation (44% in England).
Estimating average field size to be 12ha, there are about 400,000km of cereal field edge in the UK. If all such boundaries included a 6m managed margin, this would bring 200,000 ha of land into sensitive management.
There has been a drastic loss of hedgerows since 1945, but an estimated 330,000 km of hedgerow remain in England.
Despite serious losses in the 1980s, there was no net loss of hedgerows in Great Britain between 1990 and 2000.
1.2 Local
Very little is known about current local status.
1.3 Legal
Under the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 it is illegal to spray pesticides into hedge bases, unless there is a specific label recommendation, and illegal to use certain pesticides within 6m of watercourses and/or uncropped habitats.
Some ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows receive protection under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997, and the EC Habitats and Species Directive requires member states to encourage the management of hedges in their land use planning and development policies.
Under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 it is illegal to damage or destroy water voles' places of shelter.
Hedges containing nesting birds are also protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act during the nesting season.
2. CURRENT
FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE
2.1 National
3.2 Local
All the above factors are relevant locally.
3.1 National
3.1.1 Two principal methods are available to farmers who wish to improve arable field margins for wildlife: "Conservation Headlands" and "Wildlife Strips".
3.1.2 Conservation Headlands are 6m or 12m wide strips that are cropped but receive reduced levels of pesticide and herbicide to encourage plants and invertebrates.
3.1.3 Wildlife Strips are 6m wide margins that are cultivated each year but not cropped.
3.1.4 Financial incentives available for farmers to pursue these options include Countryside Stewardship and Set-Aside.
3.1.5 The Game Conservancy Trust is running initiatives leading to the retention of conservation headlands.
3.1.6 ADAS have produced a range of reports on the status, management and wildlife of hedgerows in Britain, and FWAG have produced advice for farmers on good hedge management.
3.1.7 Forestry Commission has published guidance on the establishment of trees in hedgerows.
3.1.8 RSPB have published a range of materials to promote farmland management for wildlife.
3.1.9 Countryside Stewardship Scheme grants may pay for hedgerow restoration and planting.
3.1.10 A review has been carried out of the 1997 Hedgerow Regulations to examine how they might be strengthened.
3.2 Local
3.2.1 RSPB and FWAG are active in pursuing countryside stewardship agreements.
3.2.2 Cheshire Landscape Trust is co-ordinating a hedgerow survey as part of the Cheshire Countdown programme on ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows.
3.2.3 Some surveying for water voles has been carried out though the information is scattered.
3.2.4 The Cheshire Wildlife Trust's Roadside Verges survey may contain relevant information, however there are very few good verges in Wirral, and most of those identified in the 1st survey in the 1980's have since lost value, due to eutrophication favouring coarse species of grass and nettles etc over species of wildflowers.
Key BAP species include: corn bunting, skylark, grey partridge, linnet, song thrush, brown hare, water vole, bats, great crested newt.
5.1 The overall aim of the Plan is to improve the overall quality of linear features such as ditches and hedgerows as wildlife habitats.
5.2 Create a partnership of government agencies, NGO's and landowners to co-ordinate an approach (ALL)
5.3 Identify extent and quality of Wirral's resource of field boundaries and establish system of monitoring. (LA )
5.4 Identify species rich hedgerows as a priority and map. (LA )
5.5 Increase the total area of linear features under stewardship agreements.
5.6 Achieve the favourable management of field drains/main drainage channels.
6.1 Site Safeguard
6.1.1 Protect field boundary features important for wildlife from damage and destruction. (ALL)
6.1.2 Ensure application of current policies/legislation to protect hedgerows. (LA)
6.2 Policy
6.2.1 Include specific hedgerow/linear boundary policy in the UDP through the forthcoming review which takes into account the requirements of the Hedgerow Regulations and HAP targets. (LA)
6.2.2 Adopt specific policies to promote good management practice for hedges/roadside verges/footpath edges, on the Borough's own landholdings. (Borough Engineer LA)
6.3 Land Management
6.3.1 Promote reduction in the use of fertilisers and herbicides. (RSPB, FWAG, DEFRA)
6.3.2 Promote the planting, good management and maintenance of hedgerows, specifically gapping-up/laying etc. (RSPB, FWAG, DEFRA)
6.3.3 Encourage the retention of winter stubble. (RSPB, FWAG, DEFRA)
6.3.4 Promote the creation of 6m (minimum) field margins planted with non-invasive perennial grass, to favour invertebrates and small mammals. (RSPB, FWAG, DEFRA)
6.4 Advice
6.4.1 Promote favourable management through appropriate schemes, e.g. Countryside Stewardship and set-aside agreements. (Action: DEFRA, FWAG, RSPB) (Priority: High)
6.5 Future Research and Monitoring
6.5.1 Establish monitoring of existence and quality of hedgerows and other linear features. (LA)
6.6 Communications and Publicity
6.6.1 Raise awareness among land owners of the importance of field boundaries for wildlife. (All)
6.6.2 Encourage dissemination of existing literature on good management practice. (All)6.6.3 Increase public awareness of the importance of field boundaries for wildlife and encourage public involvement in survey work. (All)
7.1 National
An Action Plan for Cereal Field Margins is included in the UK Steering Group Report (1995), aiming to maintain and enhance 15,000 ha of cereal field margins at a cost of £1.1million per annum in 2000, rising to £2.1million per annum in 2010.
An Action Plan for Ancient and/or Species-Rich Hedgerows is included in the UK Steering Group Report (1995), aiming to maintain and enhance 95,000km of ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows at a cost of £1.7million per annum in 2000, rising to £3million in 2010.
7.2 Local
Cost not calculated.
8. LINKS TO
OTHER ACTION PLANS
UK BAP Cereal Field Margins HAP, Ancient and/or Species-Rich Hedgerows HAP, Brown Hare SAP, Water Vole SAP, Grey Partridge SAP, great crested newt SAP.
Wirral BAP Bird SAPs (yet to be specified), Barn Owl SAP, Brown Hare SAP, Water Vole SAP, Bats SAP, Great crested newt SAP. Coastal floodplain and grazing marsh HAP, Pond HAP.
8.1 Conflicts
Not identified
Colin Wells, RSPB.
Telephone: 0151 336 7681.Doug Hill/Joe Winstanley
Farm Conservation Advisor
Cheshire FWAGGame Conservancy Trust
MAFF, FRCA, NFU
British Agrochemical Association
EA
Katie Lowe,
Cheshire Landscape Trust
CPRE
Drystone Walling Association
Wirral Dee Study, 1990, Borough Engineers, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.
Liverpool Bay Shoreline Management Plan, 1998, Borough Engineers, Metropolitan Borough of Wirral.
North West Regional Planning Guidance S/11/298/APP3 (North West Biodiversity Targets)