Feldale Internal Drainage Board Biodiversity Action Plan Report Drainage Ditch Action Plan

Transcription

1 Feldale Internal Drainage Board Biodiversity Plan Report 04-5 Drainage Ditch Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report 4 Manage ditches for biodiversity as well as for drainage Identify ditches of conservation interest and manage appropriately Support the in working with landowners to benefit wildlife in the district Control invasive species Establish and maintain a management plan for routine IDB operations incorporating key biodiversity features Look for opportunities to provide natural erosion protection such as marginal plant ledges when re-profiling ditches Provide natural erosion protection as in. if opportunities available Ensure appropriate management of ditches for priority species Refer private landowners to the for advice on creating field margin buffer zones and wildlife-friendly ditch management Report any sightings of non-native invasive species immediately to the and control as appropriate (see Appendix F for species list), Plantlife, Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Wildlife Trust, FWAG, Agency, Plantlife, Wildlife Trust 05 Plan finalised and followed each year If re-profiling is carried out, opportunities identified Length of ditch with ledge / natural vegetation revetment Specified in management plan Number of contacts received and passed to Reports to A map-based plan is in the process of establishment. No appropriate sites for this method were identified during the period. As above. Any priority ditches will be identified as the management plan is developed. No formal contacts received. No invasive species seen/ reported

2 Reedbed Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Identify, assess and map any areas of reedbed over 0.5ha in size. Pass details of any known areas to MLC Wildlife Trust, Natural England, Agency 0 Review of reedbed areas carried out No areas of reedbed over 0.5ha identified. Support appropriate reedbed creation. Manage the District adopted drains, where possible, to assist private landowners who wish to create areas of reedbed on their own land Wildlife Trust, Agency (a) Number of requests received (b) Number of landowners assisted No approaches received. Take conservation value of reedbed into account when planning and carrying out ditch and river maintenance. Where reeds are present, commence mowing or cleansing work outside the bird breeding season (7 th April 5 th July). Where reeds are growing in water be aware of the potential for late-nesting reed warblers being present until late August and avoid mowing in that location. In exceptional circumstances where this is not possible, seek advice from the., Wildlife Trust, RSPB Reeds not cut during bird nesting season Reeds and other emergent vegetation were not cut during bird nesting season.

3 Open Water Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Promote the creation of ponds, lakes and reservoirs in appropriate areas... Consider pond creation as mitigation when a ditch has to be filled in or culverted Support creation of flood storage areas and reservoirs Assist private landowners with advice, information or contacts as necessary Local authorities, Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Wildlife Trust Agency, Natural England, Wildlife Trust, RSPB Amphibian & Reptile Conservation, Wildlife Trust mitigation opportunities (b) Number of ponds created Number of projects involved with information requests (b) Number responded to (a) No ditch infilling occurred, (b) no pond creation opportunities in mitigation required. No application for flood storage areas or reservoirs received. (a) No formal information requests received, (b) no responses required. Look for opportunities to create open water habitat when managing ditches. Create a pool at an appropriate ditch junction when re-profiling (see the Drainage Channel Biodiversity Manual, technique CL)) 00 One pool successfully created No opportunities of this type for the IDB were identified during the period Support appropriate habitat creation as part of gravel pit restoration. Support inclusion of wetland habitats such as wet woodland, wet grassland, scrub and open water in gravel pit restoration schemes Aggregates companies, local authorities, RSPB, WWT, Wildlife Trust Number of schemes involved with (a) No schemes currently active, (b) No habitat creation opportunities as mitigation available.

4 Water Vole Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Manage ditches according to the law and to best practice for water vole Enhance drainage ditch habitat to benefit water vole Monitor water vole populations Assume water voles are present when carrying out works (discuss special circumstances with the ) and follow the ADA water vole mitigation guide Publicise good practice for rat control near drainage ditches Look for opportunities to add a marginal shelf when reprofiling banks Consider using coir roll to stabilise banks and provide marginal vegetation Set up a survey programme to monitor water vole populations Provide data on water vole to the relevant Biological Records Centres, Wildlife Trust, Wildlife Trust, CPBRC, NBIS 00 Measures incorporated in management plans Good practice publicised (a) Opportunities identified (b) Measures taken (a) Sites considered (b) Measures taken Surveys carried out Data sent via annually Water vole friendly ditch maintenance practices were adhered to. Good practice for rat control was publicised via the s newsletter issue 5. (a) No opportunities occurred during the period (b) As above. No appropriate sites for this measure identified during the period. Informal surveys carried out by EO as part of Management Plan map establishment. Records passed on. 4

5 4 Control mink as necessary 4. Carry out mink control as part of the Middle Level programme and report all sightings to the trapping days (b) Number of mink caught Mink trapping is encouraged within the District. Traps, training, support available from. Otter Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Improve otter habitat. Identify and maintain existing key bushes and trees near watercourses likely to be important for otters 0 and ongoing Sites identified and listed in management plans Any suitable bushes and trees will be identified as the management plan map is developed. An otter holt was constructed on the Counterdrain near Feldale PS on 7/0/5 as mitigation for bank raising works on the Nene Washes Barrier Bank. Monitor otter populations. Ensure any dead otters are reported to the and transferred to the Agency for post mortem Agency Otters reported to, if found No dead otters recorded or reported. Reduce otter deaths related to eel and crayfish trapping and road traffic. Report incidents of suspected illegal netting, trapping or fishing to the Agency Fisheries s and the MLC Agency, Angling Clubs & syndicates Incidents reported, if discovered No illegal netting incidents recorded however incidents of otters being drowned in illegal eel nets increased elsewhere in 04. Members are requested to be watchful for suspicious activity and report it to the on immediately. 5

6 Bats Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Improve habitat for bats Collect information on bat populations... Put up at least one bat box at an appropriate site, e.g. a pumping station Pollard suitable trees to provide bat roosts Identify potential sites for a bat hibernaculum, e.g. in disused buildings or tunnels. Monitor bat boxes. Pass bat box information to CPBRC and NBIS Bat Conservation Trust, Bat Conservation Trust Bat Conservation Trust, CPBRC, NBIS 05 As opportunities arise 05 onwards 05 onwards Number of bat boxes sited Number of trees pollarded (a) Potential sites looked for (b) Site created boxes monitored (b) Number of boxes used by bats Data via annually One box, installed at the Pumping Station in 0, was temporarily removed at the Agency s request to avoid any potential disturbance to bats while bank-raising is taking place adjacent to the Pumping Station. Any suitable trees will be identified as the management plan map is prepared. To be considered during management plan creation. (a) 0. Box temporarily removed during bank raising. (b) Annual, when data available. 6

7 Kingfisher Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Improve the quality of kingfisher habitat.. Provide at least one potential nest hole in sheet pilings Leave kingfisher fishing perches where possible (e.g. occasional branch) Number of nest sites provided Number of perch sites left Piles at the Pumping Station are not suitable for this option. An additional barn owl box was installed at Decoy Farm as an alternative BAP action. There are numerous perching sites for kingfishers available on the reeds within the district. Collect records of kingfisher breeding between March and July. Note sightings of potential breeding kingfisher and pass information to CPBRC and NBIS via the, CPBRC, NBIS Data sent via annually No breeding sites identified during the period. 7

8 Barn Owl Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Improve the quality of barn owl habitat.. Put up at least one barn owl nest box in a suitable location Pollard suitable trees to provide natural nest sites Wildlife Conservation Partnership 05 Number of nest boxes provided Number of trees pollarded Total now two. One box was installed at Decoy Farm on 7/08/4, courtesy of Mr Robert Brown. The original box installed at Feldale PS was relocated to a site at Thory s Depot on 0/05/5. Suitable trees to be identified. Collect records of barn owl presence.. Monitor nest boxes for use. Have occupied boxes checked for success by licensed barn owl ringers. Pass barn owl box information to CPBRC and NBIS Wildlife Conservation Partnership, Wildlife Conservation Partnership, CPBRC, NBIS nest boxes checked. (b) Number of nest boxes used Data sent via annually (a) Two. The barn owl box at Decoy Farm was checked on 0/05/5. A pair of barn owls had displaced a pair of stock doves that had initially laid in the box. The box at Feldale PS was used by barn owls in 04 followed by stock doves. The box was taken down and re-sited at Thory s Depot because of concerns that kestrels might use it and predate wader chicks on the Nene Washes Reserve. (b) One used in 04. Results passed on. 8

9 Procedural Plan IDB s Partners Date Indicators Report Provide training on IDB BAP and conservation management of drainage channels for all relevant staff by 0 Take biodiversity into account when planning and undertaking capital works... Establish programme of -day courses for IDB staff and members Establish suitable training for contractors staff Consult with the and choose the best possible mitigation solutions for biodiversity, e.g. fishfriendly pumps, Wildlife Trust, Natural England, other specialists, Contractors 0 0 courses held (b) Number of Board members / staff attending courses Contractors attended training course capital schemes undertaken (b) Number of schemes commented on (a & b) 5 events held during the period,- an evening and morning training course on Water Vole and Otter Field Sign Identification on 0 th & nd March 04 and on 8 th & th and 5 th & 8 th April 05, a course on Identifying Non-native Invasive Water Plants on 6/09/4 and the annual IDB BAP Meeting on 0//4 (b), Russell Wright and Richard Price attended the IDB BAP meeting. All Board members are very welcome to attend the next BAP meeting which will be held at the Oliver Cromwell Hotel on Wednesday nd December 05. One contractor (Aquatic Control) attended the Invasive Plants ID course and one contractor (Fen Ditching) attended the Water Vole & Otter Field Signs course.. (a) No capital schemes undertaken by the Board (b) No schemes commented on. 9

10 An otter holt in the process of construction in mid-march 05. An infra red camera is incorporated in the design to enable otters or other visitors to the holt to be monitored. A box that housed a digital recorder was vandalised with other fittings at the pumping station during the Easter school holidays. The equipment is planned to be replaced and re-sited securely within the pumping station. The outfall from Feldale Pumping Station into Morton s Leam is a favourite location for otters to leave their spraints. In spring 05 a pair of stock doves started laying in the nest box installed at Decoy Farm in 04 but were then displaced by a pair of barn owls. Many of Feldale District s drains are well populated with water voles. Ditch 8-9 alongside Feldale Drove is a particularly good example. The pumping station barn owl box re-sited away from the Nene Washes at Thory s Depot. Kestrels can be a problem predator of chicks when they nest near concentrations of breeding waders. Cliff Carson Middle Level IDB BAP Partnership 0