Habitat Improvement Working Group

Transcription

1 Habitat Improvement Working Group 2pm, Tuesday 3 rd of March 2015 Kent Wildlife Trust Tyland Barn, Sandling Lane, Maidstone, ME14 3BD Meeting Main Actions & Decisions Present: Sue Young (KWT- Chair).SY William Moreno (LNP Coordinator). WM Tony Witts (KMBRC). TW Alison Riggs (KWT). AR Paul Hyde (NE). PH Greg Hitchcock (KWT). GH Mark Pritchard (CMPs). MP Tom Reid (EA). TR Apologies: Alan Johnson (RSPB) Jonathan Harding (FC) Bryony Chapman (KWT) 2- Actions from previous meeting Denise Roffey to give a presentation on the OCND project and testing of CC tool. All LWS submitted to the Board were approved Action: WM to talk to Denise about presenting at the next meeting 3- Local Wildlife Sites- AR All the LWS presented to the group were approved Action: Tranche of LWS to be send to the KNP Board for approval

2 LWS review of designation criteria: SY pointed out that not many districts are mentioning LWS in their core plans. SY would like to report this to the Management Working Group and then to the Board so that they can champion them through their sphere of influence. It was mentioned that in the NPPF, LWS are not given enough weight- the hierarchy of protected sites is included but there is no explicit mentioned of LWS. The problem seems to be that there is no consistency across Kent on how the Districts consider LWS in emerging planning policies The group discussed whether we could show how individual Districts are performing in terms of LWS condition, although we have to be careful how we present this statically. It was suggested to use the criteria review to seek a chance to present at KPOG and KPF meetings and to ask the Board to reinforce as Champions the importance of LWS It was decided that the draft designation criteria should be circulated to the group and feedback should be sent to SY in 3 weeks time. The comments will be collected and then a revised draft sent to all interested parties. After this the criteria should be made available through either Drop Box or the Hub Action: SY to bring this up at the next Board meeting Action: SY to circulate draft criteria to the group. WM, AR and SY to process comments 4. Biodiversity Opportunity Areas (Sue Young, William Moreno) SY and WM provided feedback on the consultation event that took place in January. Most participants highlighted the exclusion from the mapping of gardens and small settlements Group discussed developing a statement on gardens, not specifically including them in the BOAs. Also we could have a specific statement where small settlements have been taken out explaining why. It was clarified that the boundaries and edges for each BOA will be smoothed out. It was decided that gardens shouldn t be excluded where the built up area isn t big enough to impact on connectivity so we ll have to revisit the map accordingly. Also recognise that gardens could provide an opportunity for connectivity, an important connectivity function and so we will have to produce a statement on gardens. It was also decided that the mapping should include MCZ including all the recommended ones as they present an Decision: To produce a statement on gardens Decision: To include MCZ in all relevant BOAs

3 opportunity. Next steps: WM and SY to go through the entire document and highlight to the group any conflicting points. A group member proposed to re-visit the ancient woodland element and seek the Forestry Commission opinion on this; use the North Downs Woodlands BOAs to illustrate the problem. From this exercise we can decide what should be the general approach for ancient woodlands. Action: WM and SY to go through entire document and highlight major conflicting points. Action: PH to contact FC and discuss the problem 5. Round the table project update (All) KMBRC- Carried out GIS analysis for BEELines which will feed into the project preparation. EA: Taking forward Medway Estuary and Swale Shore Management plan - MEESP. Very significant changes on the ground some more concrete some with more wildlife. This is going to be delivering a variety of habitat creation targets- it ll take decades. -Recently bid for 80K for project work but award dependents on the election outcome. NE: Have been involved in other organisations projects BEELines, EA schemes etc. Unfortunately NE doesn t have any money for developing project work. KWT: Just completed a Chalk grassland habit restoration proposal for Interreg. -Secured funds from WREN for a chalk grassland restoration project in the Medway Smile. -Will be submitting a bid to the HLF for a marine project focussed project- promoting understanding of the designated MCA why they need to be protected. (SUE to Send out written update). -Also obtained HLF funds for Seven Oak Commons to bring them back to proper habitat management. See attached update from the Kent Bat Group 6. Reporting and monitoring action (Sue Young) SY proposed for the KNP to promote the use of the Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARs) and to generate a report of activity taking place across r Kent Action: KMBRC to generate a BARs report for subsequent meetings of this group and the Board

4 7. Kent Biodiversity Strategy (Sue Young) At present there are no actions attached to the outcomes. It was pointed out that the KNP s role of helping delivering actions comes with no resources or powers to encourage/force people to implement it. Despite the above, the latest draft should be circulated to the group AP: SY to circulate latest version Date of Next Meeting: Tues 19 th of May, KWT Kent Bat Group, (KBG). Biodiversity projects Nathusius pipistrelle project Migration patterns of Nathusius pipistrelle are relatively well known in mainland Europe but the movements of bats in and out of the UK and their migration routes and origins are not known. In 2014 KBG was one of six bat groups to take part in the first year of a pilot project organised by Bat Conservation Trust (BCT). This project is the first attempt to assess status and migratory activity of Nathusius pipistrelles by harp-trapping from spring to autumn at large lakes. Stable isotope analysis based on fur clippings will contribute to the overall understanding of migration across its distribution. In KBG will continue to take part in this project, building on information gained last year. Investigating new hibernation sites More underground sites have been discovered this winter. We believe they are all more important than we realise and are undoubtedly being lost through neglect and ignorance. Sites will be grilled for protection if feasible. Bat box scheme, West Blean Woods 50 boxes were erected in March 2012 in Farthings Wood, a KWT reserve, with the intention of monitoring woodland bat populations, i.e. Natterer s and brown long-eared bats. In the three years of monitoring just three bats, two male soprano pipistrelle and one male brown long-eared bat have

5 been recorded. We are currently attempting to explain the apparent paucity of woodland bats in this seemingly good woodland habitat. We hope to trap over this spring and summer in order to prove the presence of breeding populations. Ringing of Rehabilitated bats Many grounded and orhhaned bats are brought to the group for care. Where possible these are rehabilitated and released. In order to assess the success of this, bats spend time in KBG s Flight cage at Wildwood, Herne, and if considered suitable for release they are ringed first. Recording Recording is on- going, and this year we look forward to the publication of a Kent Mammal Atlas, , which includes KBG records. All our records are passed on to the Kent and Medway Biological Records Centre. Monitoring bat populations Much of our work is monitoring rather than taking on new projects, in order to track changes and select conservation priorities and inform conservation policies. Serotine study in east Kent 2014 was the 27 th year of an ongoing study of a serotine roost at Crundale. In early August adults and juvenile are netted as they emerge, and ringed, if not previous trapped. This is providing important information on longevity and breeding success. National Bat Monitoring Programmes (NBMP) A number of KBG members contribute to the (NBMP) t aking pat in the following surveys: Colony counts. Two counts each June at known roosts of the following species: Common pipistrelle Pipistrellus pipistrellus Soprano pipistrelle Pipistrellus pygmaeus

6 Serotine Eptesicus serotinus Brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus Waterways survey Two counts of Daubenton s bats each August of passes on a measured 1km on many Kent rivers. Field survey A triangular route of 1km walked on two evening each July, recording both pipistrelle species, serotine and noctule bats using an ultrasonic detector. Hibernation surveys A visit in January and February to known hibernation sites. Data is collected for Daubenton s, Natterer s, whiskered, Brandt s and brown long-eared bats. A summary of the NBMP results, The State of UK s bats, is published each year on the BCT website, Shirley Thompson March 2015.