BLUEBELL (HYACINTHOIDES NON-SCRIPTA)
LOCAL BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! ACTION COMPLETED IN 2005

1. Completion of the final report of the Cheshire Bluebell Action Project, containing additional survey work carried out in Spring 2005. This report completes the main part of the WREN funded project from 2001-2003 and extended to cover 2003 – 2005!
2. Bluebell surveys carried out at:
Adlington Wood, Macclesfield
Chester Zoo
Tytherington Wood, Macclesfield
The Dingle, Chester and Blacon Nature Park, Chester
Long Acre Wood, Dutton
Marbury Country Park
Barrowmore Estate, near Barrow
H igher Disley woodland
3. Community seed gathering events at:
Owley Wood
Marbury Country Park
Poynton Coppice
Various sites in the Bollin Valley Partnership
Norley Nursery
4.Successful application to WREN to start a Bluebell nursery at Barrowmore.
5. Financial contribution to native bulb growing at Landlife as part of the Bluebell Recovery project
6. Advice given to landowners on bluebells, their status and opportunities for seed and bulb distribution

Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed! Action Completed!

NATIONAL TARGETS

There are currently no national targets. However, the national Plantlife survey of 2003 raised the profile of threats to the native species and suggests the following measures:

• Further research is needed to determine the level of threat these newcomers represent to the native bluebell - to discover, for instance, how readily they can cross-breed and over what distance. We also need to learn more about the distribution of the three species overall, and about sites where they coexist. Plantlife International is supportive of proposals by Edinburgh University to conduct research into the field performance of the three bluebell species to assess how much the native bluebell could be threatened by the vigour of the Spanish and hybrid bluebells. Such information is vital if we are to learn more about the transfer of genes among these species.
• In order to protect our native bluebells, the law must stand firm on preventing the uprooting of wild native bluebell populations for commercial purposes, yet licences must be granted to permit the legal sustainable collection of bluebell seed to meet the demand from gardeners and for use in habitat restoration schemes.
• The horticultural trade should ensure that bluebell bulbs are accurately labelled.
• Gardeners must take care not to plant Spanish or hybrid bluebells in the countryside or near native populations.

CURRENT STATUS

The U.K. has 30% of the global population of bluebells. Therefore it is essential that the Cheshire region maintain its proportion of this internationally important species. The plant is common throughout Britain, occurring widely, except in Orkney and Shetland. Bluebells are also found scattered throughout western Europe, mainly in France, the Netherlands and Belgium and they have become naturalised in central Europe. This species of bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) should not be confused with the non-native Spanish Bluebell (Hyacinthiodes hispanica). The latter is frequently planted in gardens but the two species hybridise with each other freely.

The bluebell occurs typically in deciduous woodland, especially coppice, where it may dominate the ground flora. It can be common in other shady places such as hedgerow banks and under bracken as well as more open habitats, such as costal grassland in the west of Britain. Humidity and continuity of habitat are key requirements for this species.

Native bluebells are protected under Section 13 (2) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).

THREATS

• Loss or poor management of broadleaved woodland and hedgerow habitat or replanting of broadleaved woodland with conifers.
• Physical damage to leaves and bulbs by trampling or heavy grazing by livestock and deer.
• Exploitation for commercial purposes.
• Hybridisation with Spanish bluebells.
• Tipping of garden waste in woodlands and hedgerows.
• Lack of knowledge about conditions bluebells need to regenerate.

CURRENT ACTION

• 'The Bluebell Recovery Project' undertaken by Landlife and The Mersey Forest Team continues and is now producing a sustainable source of native bluebell bulbs to help halt the illegal trade in bulbs looted from the wild.
• The Cheshire Bluebell Action Project began in 2002, co-ordinated by a project officer.
• Identification of woodlands which have significant populations of bluebells.
• Conservation and woodland management activities of many individuals and organisations in the region.
• Liaison with the Local Ancient Semi-natural Broadleaved Woodland BAP Action Group began.

ACTION REQUIRED IN 2005+

• Linking new bluebell seeding / bulb planting to Jigsaw sites. These are the Forestry Commission grant aided sites to link areas of semi ancient natural woodland.
• Possible HLF bid with the Woodland Wildflower Project and Bluebell Recovery Project run by The Mersey Forest and Landlife. The close association which already exists could be taken forward, based around surveying for new sites (e.g. a local, postal version of the Plantlife survey); surveying of bluebells alongside other plants such as ramsons, lesser celandine, wood sorrel and wood anemone; seed collecting; bulb planting and crop production.
  
  

ACTION COMPLETED PREVIOUSLY

• The first meeting of the LBAP Action Group was held on 24th May, 1999 at Spike Island, Widnes.
• The first 5 years of the Bluebell Recovery Project has seen native bulbs being put back into the wild, for instance at Wigg Island Community Park, Runcorn and Old Chester Road, Daresbury.
• During the first year of the Cheshire Bluebell Action project. 11 woodlands have been surveyed, a bluebell postcard has been produced to raise awareness and encourage people to send in records and 6 community seed gathering events are being carried out. The survey work has revealed a greater amount of hybridisation in rural bluebell woodlands than previously known.
• Species recording card for bluebells produced by Cheshire County Council and Vale Royal Borough Council.
• Seven community seed gathering events in 2003 at:
  Rivacre Valley
  Owley Wood
  Warburtons Wood (with the seed to remain within the site, in keeping with SSSI regulations)
  Poynton Coppice
  Helsdale Wood
  Hinging Bank Covert
  Big Wood, Halton
• 3 bulb planting events in 2003
• Participation in the national bluebell survey organised by Plantlife. Over 80 separate sites throughout Cheshire were surveyed using the nationwide survey sheets and submitted to the project, with all information also going to rECOrd for future use. For further information, see www.plantlife.org.uk
• In 2004 the final report of the Cheshire Bluebell Action Project, covering the period 2001-3, was produced. This report completed the main part of the WREN funded project.
• 8 Bluebell surveys were carried out in 2004 at:
  Woodland near Chester Zoo (rECOrd)
  Shotwick Hall Farm (HH)
  Caldy Valley ( PO)
  Woodland at Buglawton (rECOrd)
  Peckforton Hill ( PO)
  Owens Wood, near Church Minshull
  Greenbank Wood (VH)
  Eastwood nature reserve(HH) (NB These survey’s were an extension of the WREN funded bluebell action project)
• 5 community seed gathering events were held in 2004 at:
  Murdishaw wood, Runcorn
  Big Wood, Runcorn
  Marbury Country Park
  Owley wood
  Old Covert, Crewe at: (NB These survey’s were an extension of the WREN funded bluebell action project)
• 5 bulb planting events were held in 2004 at:
  Brines Brow / The Yeld
  Caldy Valley
  Spud Wood
  Old Covert, Crewe
• A financial contribution to native bulb growing at Landlife as part of the Bluebell Recovery project was received in 2004.
• Advice was given to landowners on bluebells, their status and opportunities for seed and bulb distribution throughout 2004.

ACTUAL LBAP IMPLEMENTERS

OTHER POTENTIAL IMPLEMENTERS

CONTACT

Mrs. J. Hancell
01928 573697

REFERENCES

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.
Plantlife (2004): Bluebells for Britain – a report on the 2003 Bluebells for Britain survey.
Rodwell, J. and Patterson, G (1994): Bulletin 112: Creating New Native Woodlands, HMSO, London.

RELEVANT WEBSITE LINKS

www.plantlife.org.uk

Date compiled - 1997
Date reviewed - 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005

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