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PART OF THE CHESHIRE REGION BIODIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP

BROWN HARE (LEPUS EUROPAEUS)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Links to associated HAPs

Cereal Field Margins

Current Status

Despite a well-documented decline in numbers since the turn of the twentieth century, Brown hares remain widespread and locally abundant in lowland Britain. The fall in numbers has been most pronounced in the western pastoral regions. The pattern of decline shows a modest post- war increase, followed by a significant fall in numbers from the 1960s to 1980s (Tapper 1992). The first stratified national survey, carried out by Bristol University gave a population figure of 817520-just 20% of that of1880. The most recent population estimate placed the national population level at around 752,608±37,697 ( Temple et al 2000). Figures released by JNCC in August 2002 indicate that numbers have declined in the southwest of Britain over the last five years

Results of a questionnaire survey undertaken in the Cheshire region suggest that the hare population in 2000 was around 6133 individuals with a mean population density of 2.41 hares per square kilometre. A decline in numbers appears to have been ongoing from the 1950s to 1980s when stabilisation and even some localised increase seems to have occurred. Factors affecting population levels include habitat richness and poaching (Potter J, Rogers R. unpublished)

As a game species hares enjoy limited protection through the Ground Game Act (1880) and the Hares Protection Act (1911). The sale of hares between March 1st and July 31st is prohibited in order to act as a deterrent to culling during the peak of the breeding season. Hares remain otherwise unprotected. The UK Biodiversity Steering Group report, Volume 2 (1995), contains a costed Species Action Plan for the Brown hare. Changes in legislation on hunting with dogs remain uncertain.

The map shows brown hare distribution across the Cheshire region in 2000 (Map produced by BASC on behalf of the Cheshire Brown Hare group, taken from Hares in the Cheshire region. Results of the Cheshire Brown Hare Survey ( Potter J., Rogers .R 2003)

Threats

How are we helping to conserve the brown hares in the Cheshire region?

Objectives and Targets

OBJECTIVES

 To reduce fragmentation of the Brown hare population in the Cheshire region through targeted habitat improvement and localised population increase

NATIONAL TARGET

 To double the spring population by 2010

LOCAL TARGETS
General Seek funding for project officer
Hold Brown Hare Seminar
Research To map core hare population "hot spots"
To identify potential wildlife corridors
Map habitat richness pattern within the region
Identify "habitat improvement areas"
Co-incidence mapping of hares and other significant species
Habitat Improvements To target habitat improvements through Agri-environmental schemes towards "habitat improvement areas".
Promote hare- friendly farming practices
Poaching Prevention Record incidents of poaching
Develop poacher -watch network
Maintain adequate recording of poaching issues by ensuring that the Cheshire Constabulary call handling centre and control room staff are trained on the issues of poaching by 2004.
Monitoring Undertake Annual Spring Vantage Point Survey
Undertake annual transect survey on Wirral in partnership with Wirral Ranger Service
Increase public participation in hare surveying

Progress so far

2005 Action Completed

  • BASC continue to provide rECOrd with sightings of Hares as part of the ongoing monitoring programme.
    2. Members of the action group were involved in carrying out the annual spring survey on sites across Cheshire and Wirral.
    3. Several landowners are engaged in the process following a successful training event held last September.

2004 Action Completed

  • Landowners seminar held in September 2004.

2003 Action Completed

  • Landowners seminar held in October 2003.
  • A student project has been completed investigating from a logistical, moral and welfare perspective, the feasibility of using targeted hare translocations to reduce population fragmentation.
  • Transect survey method tested by Wirral Ranger Service in 2003.
  • Annual Survey launched in 2003 on Wirral with Wirral Ranger Service.

1997-2003 Action Completed

  • LBAP Group formed
  • A questionnaire survey seeking population and related habitat information have been developed and sent to 4000 farm holdings, sponsored by Greenalls plc, NFU, CLA and Cheshire County Council
  • Analysis of data undertaken, results form baseline for project
  • Population density for the Cheshire region established
  • Basic factors affecting hare populations established -further work ongoing
  • The effect of habitat richness on hare abundance and the current carrying capacity of the region established through MSc student project
  • The significance of non-agricultural land has been investigated
  • "Hares in Cheshire" leaflet produced. Sponsored by Warrington Borough Council
  • 40 volunteers contributed to the 2nd National Survey by surveying 22x1km squares in the region
  • Hare sightings collated
  • Detailed action plan developed
  • Sub-Groups established to focus on specific issues of research, poaching and spring survey implementation
  • Spring Vantage survey undertaken in 2002
  • Funding secured from ECOnet project for October 2003 seminar
  • Poaching problem highlighted by Cheshire Constabulary Wildlife Liaison Officer at Cheshire Show.
  • Species recording card for brown hares produced by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.

How to find out more about Brown hares

Vale Royal Borough Council Brown Hare Species Recording card
Brown Hare Survey Guidance
Brown Hare Recording form
UK BAP for Brown Hare - www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=410

How can you get involved?

The Brown Hare LBAP Action group are running a Brown Hare Watch where the general public are asked to look out for hares. Please report any sightings in any areas of Cheshire, Halton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington or the Wirral to the Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01948 820728. The information we require is:

· Location of the sighting to the nearest street or lane
· The number of hares you have seen
· The date of your sighting
· O.S. grid reference ( if possible).

Extra information ( e.g. what the hare(s) were doing, sex of hare(s) involved, sightings of dead hares, etc.) is always helpful but the above provides a minimum of information to make a record useful. Many thanks for your involvement.

Download a copy of the new Brown Hare Survey Record sheet and Guidance notes on doing a transect survey.
These have been produced by the Brown Hare Group and are designed for formal surveying purposes. If you would like more information you can contact the Group via the Cheshire Wildlife Trust on 01948 820728.

Contact details

LBAP Chair Tony Parker, Cheshire Mammal Group
Phone: 01925 726986 (home) or 0151 478 4363 (work)

National Lead Partners

Game Conservancy Trust
Mammal Society

National Lead Contact Dr Stephen Tapper, Game Conservancy Trust
Phone: 01425 652381
Dr Derek Yalden, Mammal Society
Phone: 0161 275 3878

References & Glossary

HMSO (1995) Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report Volume 1: Meeting the Rio Challenge, London
HMSO ( 1995) Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report volume 2: Action Plans, London
Hutchings M, Harris S ( 1996) The current status of the brown hare ( Lepus europaeus) in Britain. JNCC
Morris P.A. ( 1993) A Red Data Book for British Mammals, The Mammal Society , 24-28
The Handbook of British Mammals 3rd Edition (1991) Eds. Corbet and Harris Blackwell Science
Temple, R. Clark, S. & Harris, S. ( 2000) The National Hare Survey, University of Bristol
Tapper, S. ( 1992) Game Heritage- An Ecological Review from Shooting and Gamekeeping Records JNCC
Anon (1999) Wild About the North West - a Biodiversity Audit of North West England NW Biodiversity Forum
Rogers R.A. (1996) The status of the Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus) population at Burtonwood Warrington.
MSc dissertation Manchester Metropolitan University
Pacey N. (2001) Habitat Selection and Avoidance by Brown Hares. MSc dissertation Chester College
Shelton F. (2001) Calculation of the maximum brown hare, (Lepus europaeus), carrying capacity of the Cheshire region and the effect of habitat richness on hare abundance. MSc dissertation Chester College
Potter, J. Rogers, R.A. Hares in the Cheshire region - in production
Rogers, R.A. The Brown Hare Species Action Plan (Draft) 2002 - 2008 The Brown Hare Group

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