UKBAP BiodiversityNews-54

Biodiversity News
Contents - News - Features - Local & Regional - UK BAP Updates - Publications - Events
Issue 54
Summer Edition
Plantlife
Gavin Bain Images
GillilandJ@northlan.gov.uk
Amy Sutcliffe
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In this issue
2 Contents - News - Features - Local & Regional - UK BAP Updates - Publications - Events
Summer
Please note that the views expressed in Biodiversity
News are the views of the contributors and do not
necessarily reflect the views of the UK Biodiversity
Partnership or the organisations they represent.
Defra Update 4
Get Britain Buzzing 6
HLF and Wildlife Trust news 7
Darwin Initiative Lecture 8
Clean water 9
Natural Capital Network 10
Check, Clean, Dry 11
Volunteers begin work to conserve rare wood-
land
12
Campaign for Real Farming 13
Wild About Manchester 14
Angus Cetacean Awareness Project 14
Millionth Lichen Record for Britain 15
Wild Stevenage Project 32
Hedgehog Street 33
The Restoration of Kinder Scout 34
The Belfairs Park Project 35
An Otterly Fantastic Project! 36
NBN Gateway mapping system 16
Wild Asparagus in England 19
Ponds and Wetlands Study 21
IYB Lessons 22
First orchard survey by air 23
Woodland ground flora survey 25
The Great Crane Project 26
Apple Grass Aphid in Bramleys orchards 27
Arable Plants in North Wessex Downs 28
ARKive and the UK Overseas Territories 29
Catalogue of Rare and Endangered Species 30
A new dandelion for Britain 31
Dorset RSPB Events 39
Animal, Man and Tree-scapes 41
The fall and rise of Yorkshires Wildlife 42
The National Ecosystem Assessment 38
The Scottish Dragonfly Leaflet 38
Editorial
News
UKBAP Update
Local & Regional Publications
Features
Events

Editorial
Summer
Welcome to Issue 54 of Biodiversity News!

Hello and welcome to the summer edition of Biodiversity News.

In addition to some fantastic front cover entries (Ive put my five favourites on the front, and another five on the
back) Ive also enjoyed reading through some fascinating articles.
In this summer edition weve got articles about everything from new mapping systems to new dandelions as
well as an exciting update in our UK BAP section.
This is the last edition of Biodiversity News that I will be taking responsibility for as editor; a role Ive really en-
joyed during my year at Defra. It has been inspiring to see so many examples of people passionate about con-
serving the world around them and I look forward to following the work of the biodiversity community for many
years to come.

Sophie Rogers
0117 372 3547
UK Biodiversity Policy Unit, Defra, Zone 1/16, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol GS1
6EB, biodiversitynews@defra.gsi.gov.uk
Click on the boxes to see previous issues this past year
51 - autumn 52winter 53 spring

News
Summer
Defra update

Natural Environment White Paper launched
Englands natural environment will be better protected, restored and improved under ambitious new plans pub-
lished by Defra on 7th June. The proposals set out a detailed programme of action to repair damage done to the
environment in the past, and urges everyone to get involved in helping nature to flourish at all levels - from
neighbourhoods to national parks.
The plans are contained in The Natural Choice, the first White Paper on the natural environment in 20 years,
and are directly linked to the groundbreaking research in the National Ecosystem Assessment published on 2nd
June that showed the strong economic arguments for safeguarding and enhancing the natural environment.
Launching The Natural Choice, Secretary of State Caroline Spelman said:
The natural environment matters to us all not just because it makes us feel good when we stumble across a
bluebell wood or spot a pair of goldfinches, but because we are now all able to see the terrible price we would
pay if we lost what we have or neglected to care for it.
"Nature belongs to us all, and weve all got a vested interest in protecting it. Thats why the true value of nature
should be built in to the decisions we make as individuals, organisations, businesses and governments so
that we become the first generation to leave the environment in a better condition than we found it. This is what
The Natural Choice will help us all achieve.
The White Paper takes into account the 15,000 responses to the Defra discussion document 'An Invitation to
Shape the Nature of England' which launched in July 2010 as well as stakeholder events held across the coun-
try. These were read and analysed by Defra's NEWP team and the results shared with the dozens of policy
teams involved - including those in wider Government. Almost every policy area in Defra has been involved in
developing the vision and measures set out in the White Paper.
Also included are the recommendations of Making Space for Nature, a report into the state of Englands wildlife
sites, led by Professor John Lawton and published in September 2010, which showed that Englands wildlife
sites are fragmented and not able to respond to the pressures of climate change and other pressures we put on
our land.
The White Paper aims to improve the quality of the natural environment across England, halt the decline in habi-
tats and species, and strengthen the connection between people and nature. The new way of looking at nature
will help the growth of a green economy which treats natural capital in a responsible and fair way, encouraging
businesses to use that capital sustainably.
The actions contained in the Natural Environment White Paper will create a radical shift on how we view our
natural assets by incorporating the natural environment into economic planning and ensuring there are opportu-
nities for businesses that are good for nature and good for a strong green economy.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/

News
Summer
Defra update

New England Biodiversity Strategy update

The new England Biodiversity Strategy 2011-20 is due to be published shortly. This will follow up on the historic
global agreement last year by over 190 countries, including the UK, to take urgent action to halt biodiversity loss.
The recent Natural Environment White Paper set out some details of what the strategy will contain, including the
strategys 2020 mission to halt overall biodiversity loss, support healthy well-functioning ecosystems and estab-
lish coherent ecological networks, with more and better places for nature for the benefit of wildlife and people.
One of the strategys key approaches will be the creation of new Nature Improvement Areas to enhance and re-
connect nature on a significant scale.

News
Summer
Get Britain Buzzing

This May Buglife launched a campaign to highlight the crisis facing pollinating insects such as bees, moths and
hoverflies. The event was held at The Royal Society in London, supported by Ecover, and with entertainment pro-
vided by the Insect Circus. The launch was compred by Sir Charles Godfrey (Oxford University), with speeches
from Tony Blair, Richard Benyon, Matt Shardlow (Buglife CEO), Germaine Greer and Bill Oddie.

It is estimated that one in every three mouthfuls of food that we eat depends on insects for pollination, and this ser-
vice is valued at more than 440 million per annum in the UK, approximately 90% of which is undertaken by wild
pollinators. For pollinator groups that have been monitored two-thirds of species are in decline, which is a trend
that has been carrying on for decades. Three million hectares (97%) of our wildflower meadows have been lost
since the Second World War and many scarce flowers are now pollinator limited; because there are not enough of
the right insects in the landscape to propagate them. If this happened to crops it would cost an estimated 1.5 bil-
lion to pollinate them manually in Britain.

The Get Britain Buzzing campaign aims to reverse the trend in pollinator decline by raising awareness of pollinator
losses so that the public, land managers and decision makers can act positively. This campaign is also delivered
through a number of Buglife projects including a pilot B-Lines project in Yorkshire, supported by the Co-op, which
will put large areas of wildflowers back into the landscape, and the Glasgows Buzzing project, supported by Glas-
gow City Council, which will create wildflower meadows in urban parks.

More information on this campaign can be found on the Buglife website www.buglife.org.uk

Duncan Sivell
Biodiversity Officer
Alan Stubbs

News
Summer
HLF and Wildlife Trust news

MPs and Peers joined the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and The
Wildlife Trusts in pledging to value our natural heritage in the House of Commons.
On the 30 March, Jim Paice, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food spoke at the event which highlighted
the value of funding nature and its recovery and showcased a number of Wildlife Trust projects funded by HLF
from every part of the UK. He welcomed sixteen years of The Wildlife Trusts and the Heritage Lottery Fund
working together.
Over 70 MPs attended the event, found about more about local natural heritage projects within their constitu-
ency and many tweeted and blogged about how they value our natural heritage.

Carole Souter, Chief Executive of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: Over the past 16 years the Heritage Lottery
Fund has awarded around 100million towards Wildlife Trusts projects. This forms part of our wider commitment
of 390million to more than 3,000 projects which support nature conservation across the UK. Our funding has
made it possible to help people learn about, conserve and protect our incredible natural heritage.

Stephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, said: We warmly welcome the support that
HLF has given to The Wildlife Trusts over 16 years. And we welcome the support shown by parliamentarians.
With an uncertain economic future, we look forward to funding streams that protect and restore nature continu-
ing."
Stephanie Hilborne, Jim Paice MP and Carole Souter, HLF Chief Executive, at a recent
Wildlife Trusts event

News
Summer
Defra plays host to Eleventh Annual Darwin Initiative lecture

Professor David Macdonald CBE DSc FRSE, Chairman of the Darwin Expert Committee, delivered the eleventh
annual Darwin Initiative Lecture on Tuesday 17th May at Defras Nobel House headquarters in London. The
event was introduced by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries, Richard
Benyon, who stressed the importance of the Darwin Initiative to Defra and how the new joint-funding arrange-
ment with DFID, in the current financial climate, clearly demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the UK Gov-
ernment to its continued success.

Professor Macdonald then gave an inspirational lecture entitled Following Darwin a voyage from science into
practice. In a 70 minute presentation with over 200 slides Professor Macdonald tracked Charles Darwins his-
toric voyage on the Beagle, punctuating his journey with fascinating examples of Darwin-funded projects from
around the world. Just as Charles Darwin broke new ground on his historic voyage, so the Darwin Initiative
keeps this spirit alive by pushing forward on the science behind biodiversity conservation and sharing UK exper-
tise in this field with those countries with a wealth of biodiversity. Through the varied examples from the cactus
-nibbler rodent in the Galapagos Islands, to conservation issues surrounding big game hunting in African re-
serves Professor MacDonald pressed home the importance of the work under the Darwin Initiative, the number
of successful projects to date and the legacy left behind in the host countries long after projects are completed.

The lecture was well received and attended by senior representatives from a variety of conservation NGOs as
well as those from other government departments across Whitehall.

Background on the Darwin Initiative

The Darwin Initiative was launched in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit to fund collaborative projects which use UK
expertise to help countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources to meet their commitments
under the CBD, CITES and CMS.

Secretary of State Caroline Spelman visited Brazil from 6-8 April 2011. A key announcement during her visit was
the launch of Round 18 of Darwin Initiative, which is the largest Darwin Round yet at 25m over the next 4
years.

News
Summer
Clean water - the difference between mediocrity and splendour
Clean water is a vital element of the landscape if we are to conserve freshwater biodiversity but with clean water
such a scare resource nowadays, and the list of endangered freshwater species growing longer, where does this
leave us? What do we need to do to provide a secure future for our freshwater wildlife?
The problem
As the evidence accumulates, it is becoming clearer that clean water is a key factor in the persistence or extinc-
tion of many species. 80% of our most threatened freshwater plants and animals rely on clean water. The local
or national decline of the Shining Ramshorn, Pearl Mussel, Vendace, Great Tassel Stonewort, Long-stalked
Pondweed and Frogbit can be linked to reductions in water quality.
The definition of clean water is water with a chemistry and biology that would be normal for its area in the ab-
sence of significant human pressure, sometimes called the natural background or minimally impaired water
quality. And theres very little of this left! According to Environment Agency data, there is only one single lake
in England and Wales that meets this criterion, there are not any undamaged rivers left in lowland England and
Wales, and 87% of English headwater streams are biologically degraded east of a line from Humber to Dorset.
Likewise, 92% of ponds in England and Wales are biologically degraded (Countryside Survey 2007).
Whether its down to the vast swathes of intensive agriculture, the extensive road network, urban and industrial
areas, or even tiny septic tank soak-aways in remote rural areas, theres barely a drop of water in lowland Eng-
land that is not affected. Reedmace, Common Duckweed, slaters and midge larvae may be thriving, but it
leaves little room for anything of a more sensitive nature.
A solution?
What we need is an extensive network of high quality habitats that can maintain regional biodiversity and allow
movement of species in response to whatever climatic shifts are coming our way. Since the scale of change and
investment required to clean up our rivers, streams or lakes makes it highly unlikely that they will be improved to
a state where they can support high quality wildlife, we need to look for another way.
It turns out that ponds are (part of) the solution. Not only do ponds support more plant and animals species than
rivers, streams, ditches or lakes across a region, they also support more uncommon species. And thanks to
their small size, it is also far easier to create and maintain clean water conditions. Studies carried out by Pond
Conservation over the last 20 years have shown that as long as new ponds have clean water and, ideally, semi-
natural surrounds, they quickly become exceptional habitats and maintain that quality in the long term. Realis-
ing the potential of this approach, Pond Conservation initiated the Million Ponds Project, a partnership between
many of Britains largest statutory and voluntary land managing and environmental organisations.
Putting it into practice
The Million Ponds Project works to raise awareness of the importance of clean water, encourages pond crea-
tion, and provides information, training and on-site guidance for bigger pond creation schemes. Central to the
work is the Pond Creation Toolkit, a free online resource comprising a series of factsheets, species dossiers and
a mapping tool called the BAP Species Map, which can all be accessed freely at www.pondconservation.org.uk/
millionponds/pondcreationtoolkit.
First published in 2009, the Toolkit was updated and expanded in May this year. The species dossiers written in
partnership with national experts bring together information on 50 Biodiversity Action Plan species, much of

News
Summer
which has not been published before. Seven habitat and problem solving factsheets have been produced, provid-
ing detailed design information for creating ponds in woodland, grassland, heathland, wetlands, river floodplains,
plus overcoming the issues associated with ponds in areas of public access, and designs to minimise risk of bird-
strike. The factsheets on pond creation on aggregate extraction sites, written specifically to help the minerals in-
dustry identify and make the most of pond creation opportunities, have been revised and extended to cover more
topics, and now include case studies. The BAP Species Map has been updated to show the distribution and
status of 101 Biodiversity Action Plan species. The map allows you to click on any location in England and find
out which species occur within 1km or 5km of a location and links to information on species requirements and the
type of ponds to create for them.
In order to contribute to the Million Ponds Project, and the UK pond Habitat Action Plan, a new pond needs to ful-
fil three criteria: a clean water source, to be left to colonise naturally, and be left to thrive without undue distur-
bance; or to be created for one of the pond-associated BAP species. You can tell us about the new clean water
ponds youve created by reporting them on the project website (www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds/
reporting).
Further reading
Further information on the Million Ponds Project, its background, and progress reports, are available on the web-
site at www.pondconservation.org.uk/millionponds. A more detailed article on new clean water ponds was pub-
lished in British Wildlife (December 2010) and series of articles providing an overview of the pond creation proc-
ess and good design principles can be found in three issues of Conservation Land Management published last
year (both available from www.britishwildlife.com). The report from the Countryside Survey 2007, with the latest
assessment of the state of ponds in the UK countryside, is available at www.countrysidesurvey.org.uk.

Natural Capital Network
CIWEM has formally established a Natural Capital Network (NCN) in support of professionals working to protect
the resources, sinks and services that are provided by the natural environment. The function of the Natural Capi-
tal Network (NCN) is to provide expert views for the Institution and to be a sounding board for current and new
initiatives.

The Natural Capital Network (NCN) brings together government/non-governmental bodies, industry, academia
and other stakeholders to stimulate sharing of knowledge and good practice in the management of Natural Capi-
tal. The network will focus specifically on the interactions of people with the natural environment, considering the
impacts of human activity on ecosystems and landscapes and how these can be sensitively managed. It also
considers the benefits to humans in terms of mental and physical wellbeing that can be gained from exposure to a
healthy natural environment and how ecosystem services can be enhanced in the built, historic and managed en-
vironment.

The NCN is a virtual global network, operating mainly by email and other social networks, driven by a Steering
Group. If you have any of the above elements as part of your post, are interested in Natural Capital, or require
further information on joining the network or steering group please contact jcooper@ciwem.org

Membership of the network is not a major commitment it is a good way to keep in touch with CIWEMs work
(there will be regular email updates) on natural capital issues and to pass on your views.

News
Summer
Check, Clean, Dry
Defra, the Environment Agency and Natural England have been working closely with anglers and water sports and
nature conservation enthusiasts to launch new guidance encouraging people to follow good bio-security practices
in and around our waterways.
Non-native invasive species cost Britain at least 1.7 billion each year and millions of pounds is spent on aquatic
invaders alone. The new guidance, using the Check, Clean, Dry branding aims to counter an unprecedented
threat to Britains wildlife and freshwater ecosystems posed by the spread of invasive alien species such as the
killer shrimp. Other parts of Western Europe have seen native populations of invertebrates- and even small fish
devastated by non-native invasive species.
The communications activity was launched on 28th March by Environment Minister Richard Benyon and Olympic
champion rower and London 2012 ambassador Ben Hunt-Davis.
Richard Benyon said:Aggressive species from across the world have the potential to reach Britain and cause real
damage and even wipe out some of our native wildlife. We all have a duty to stop this from happening, and all
those that use the water for recreation and sport can do their bit by heeding the advice to Check, Clean and Dry
their boats and gear.
Ben Hunt-Davis said: In the run up to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the campaign is aimed
at people involved in watersports who can unwittingly spread non-native invasive species as they move between
different bodies of water like rowing lakes. Individual organisms, eggs, larvae and plant fragments can be carried
on equipment, clothing and footwear.
We are very grateful for the support of the many partner organisations who have been involved in developing the
communications and guidance, including the Royal Yachting Association, British Rowing, British Canoe Union and
the Angling Trust. We will continue to work with these partners to raise awareness of the guidance, in particular
amongst water sports enthusiasts. The Scottish and Welsh Assembly Governments have also been involved in
developing the communications with the support of many organisations in these countries as well.
Water sports enthusiasts can take some simple steps to help prevent the infestation of healthy waterways:

Check equipment and clothing for water or live organisms - particularly in areas that are damp or hard to in-
spect
Clean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothing thoroughly
Dry all equipment and clothing - some species can live for many days in moist conditions

For more information and to find out how to get involved go to
www.direct.gov.uk/checkcleandry

News
Summer
Volunteers begin work to conserve rare woodland life

A group of volunteers has started work to conserve two precious woodlands that have become a living encyclo-
paedia of some of Waless rarest plants and wildlife.
Penybedd woods and Pembrey forest in Carmarthenshire are home to a vast array of endangered species, in-
cluding a variety of butterflies and birds, a wide range of insect life and rare orchids.
Pembrey forest includes part of a Special Site of Scientific Interest and, as one of Britain's unusual sand dune
forests, has attracted great interest from naturalists drawn by its many scarce botanical species.
Now, under a management agreement with Forestry Commis-
sion Wales, the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers
Cymru (BTCV) has embarked on a project to preserve this
natural wonderland.
As well as undertaking work to improve the conservation as-
pects of the two Welsh Assembly Government-owned wood-
lands, near Llanelli, volunteers also aim to improve access so
that more visitors can appreciate the colourful biodiversity of
the woods.
FC Wales Community Ranger Jonathan Price said, These
woodlands offer a natural refuge for so many species and we
are delighted to help the BTCV carry out this work, without
which many of these plants and wildlife would be lost to future
generations.
Our ongoing partnership with the BTCV in the Pembrey area
will bring benefits to the biodiversity of the site and, thanks to
the excellent conservation management work they are under-
taking, will help to secure the future for these important spe-
cies.
FC Wales leased a small forest office in Penybedd woods to
provide a base for BTCV to carry out its work, which will be
done as part of the Countryside Council for Waless Communi-
ties and Nature Project, part-funded by the European Regional
Development Fund through the Welsh Assembly Government.
FC Wales has an ongoing agreement with Butterfly Conservation Wales to manage areas of the wood to benefit
the 31 species of butterfly and moths in Pembrey, and much of the work carried out by the volunteers will be to
this end.
Path and track edges will be strimmed to increase areas of bare ground for the benefit of the Dingy Skipper,
while some trees will be removed from other areas to expand the preferred habitat for the Grizzled Skipper,
which can only be seen at two other sites in Wales.
Vegetation will be cut back along some paths and trackside sandbanks to create a mosaic of vegetated areas
Bee Orchid

News
Summer
and bare ground, thereby creating a favoured environment for the Small Blue population.
But its not only the butterflies that make these important woods such a special place for some of our most impor-
tant fauna and flora.
The mixture of pine trees on the dunes and willow and sallow in the wet slacks provide the ideal habitat for many
species of bird including Crossbills, Warblers and Kingfishers.
Birds of prey also visit the forest, with Goshawk and Spar-
rowhawk recorded, and large flocks of Lapwing feed on the
salt marshes outside the forest.
A patchwork of ponds throughout the forest support a wide
range of insect life, including several species of dragonfly.
The flora includes at least eight species of orchid, including
Bee Orchid and Marsh Helleborine. Adders' Tongue Fern and
Round Leaved Wintergreen are some of the other species
present.
Nick Thomas, West Wales Manager for BTCV Cymru, said,
BTCV is pleased to be working in partnership with FC Wales,
CCWs Communities and Nature Project and the Butterfly
Conservation Trust to deliver positive action to support such
an important site for conservation and amenity in Carmarthen-
shire.

Campaign for Real Farming

The Campaign for Real Farming was recently established by author and scientist Colin Tudge and colleagues. It
aims to transform agriculture, using a bottom-up approach, that will result in the production of high quality food, a
biodiverse landscape and healthy ecosystems, as well as meaningful employment for more farmers. Colin and
colleagues, including Graham Harvey (agricultural story writer for The Archers and author of The Carbon Fields)
have already organised two successful conferences. Further information about the Campaign is available at http://
www.campaignforrealfarming.org

Dingy Skipper

News
Summer
Wild about Manchester
Green fix was an ambitious multi media consultation project undertaken by the City Council, Groundwork, Red
Rose Forest, Manchester Museum and students Emma Cepek and Luke Blazejewski.
Its aim was to find out what the people of Manchester really think about Wildlife. Over two thousand people re-
sponded to the questionnaire, and the findings are set out in an easy to read report with striking images of nature
in the city.
Want to know more? Read the report or watch the film here.

Angus Cetacean Awareness project
Cetacean survey project is highlighting land based watching opportunities in Angus
Angus waters are visited by local and national priority cetacean species. Tayside Biodiversity priority species
found in Angus waters include bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and minke whale. January 2011 saw Hump-
back whales visit Montrose Bay on more than three occasions, an exciting and rare occurrence.
A project launched in September 2010 the Angus Cetacean Awareness Project, a 2/3 year data- collection exer-
cise which aims to address the lack of knowledge of species presence and behaviours in Angus waters in now
under full swing and is playing a part in developing working relationships, public participation and raising aware-
ness of land based watching opportunities in the Angus area. March 2011 saw the first Whale & Dolphin Conser-
vation Society Shorewatch training day in Angus at Montrose Basin Wildlife Centre where more than 10 local
volunteers were trained in species I.D and data recording techniques. A second followed last month at SNHs St
Cyrus NNR.
Further details of the project, sightings reporting and coastal wildlife watching opportunities can be found at the
website www.marinelifeangus.co.uk . An Aberdeen college student is at present developing a map based sight-
ings page which will be updated after each new sighting is logged adding a useful element for the public to pin-
point areas along the coastline where sightings frequently occur.
It would be fantastic if YOU spot any cetaceans that you contact us with details such as species type, location,
number of animals, time of day etc by either visiting the site or emailing info@marinelifeangus.co.uk.
More information on the Whale & Dolphin Conservation Society Shorewatch can be
found at http://www.wdcs.org/national_regions/scotland/shorewatch/index.php

News
Summer
The Scaly Breck Lichen in Suffolk is the millionth lichen record
for Britain
There are about 1800 different species of lichens in Britain and the British Lichen Society is creating a database
of where each and every one of them occurs. The records go back hundreds of years and enable scientists to see
how the environment of Britain is changing. The millionth record is a major step towards the completion of this
database.
The record was made in October of this year in an army training area in the Suffolk Breckland, at its last known
British site. The Scaly Breck Lichen (Squamarina lentigera) now survives on only a few square metres of grass
heath. The database shows the decline of this species from the early 1970s when it was reasonably common in
Breckland, growing on broken turf in chalky grasslands. The causes of the decline are not certain but are proba-
bly due to increased nitrogen from atmospheric deposition enriching the grasslands and thus closing up the
sward. In a last attempt to recover the population an area of turf adjacent to the colony will be scraped clear to try
and create the conditions necessary for it to grow. This is being done with the co-operation of Natural England
and the MoD Training Estates
The Lichen Database includes records from thousands of churchyards, parklands, woodlands, heathlands, rock
outcrops and coastal sites. There is almost complete coverage within the British Isles from the remote island of St
Kilda to the mountains of Snowdonia and the parks of central London. The records chart the impact of decreasing
levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide in the latter part of the 20th century which allowed lichens to recolonise our
towns and cities. But they also reflect a change in the pollution environment, with nitrogen deposition now a ma-
jor concern and leading to serious declines, and potential losses, of some of our more sensitive and rarest spe-
cies.
This is an excellent example of the big
society in action where amateurs, in part-
nership with a small number of profes-
sionals, contribute to an understanding of
our changing lichen flora by amassing
records from all over Britain. Records
have been added to the database over a
period of 11 years, helped by financial
support from the conservation agencies:
Natural England, the Countryside Council
for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage.
The support from professional Botanists
at The Natural History Museum, Royal
Botanic Garden, Edinburgh and the Na-
tional Museum of Wales has been critical
in ensuring the quality of the data.
Natural England

Features
Summer
Improved mapping system now available on the NBN Gateway
Do you ever want to know where a species has been recorded within the UK?
Do you ever need to plot the density of BAP records?
If you do, the NBN Gateway could be just what you need and with its improved mapping tool it is now more useful
than ever.
The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) is a collaboration of organisations which are all committed to sharing biodi-
versity data and making it freely and publicly available. The organisations involved range from the government
agencies, research organisations, local record centres, conservation charities and local and national recording
groups. The NBN Gateway is the internet portal that allows anyone to access this information.
In April this year, version 4 of the NBN Gateway was released, with a new Interactive Mapping Tool being the major
feature of this release. This is a completely new exploration tool, which enables fast map tile generation and new
ways of visualising the data.
The mapping tool gives you several different ways of viewing NBN Gateway data. For the first time, you can visualise
the species density of a species designation (eg Habitats Directive Species) and view these against a backdrop of
BAP priority habitats or known boundaries. This allows easy identification of biodiversity (or recording) hot spots of
protected species within a chosen area.
An additional function provided by this new interface is single dataset mapping, which provides a quick way to ex-
plore whole datasets, as maps can be produced showing the species density per recorded square for a single data-
set. All single dataset layers use the same colour ramp to allow easy comparison of the coverage between datasets.
Left clicking on a square brings up details of the species recorded and datasets used. It also allows access to re-
cords (where permitted) for feedback and study.
The new version, in common with the previous interactive map, also allows the mapping of a single species. Dataset
and year filtering functionality has been integrated into all species layers (including single dataset and designation
layers), so that users can perform targeted searches for data.
There are also a number of backdrops against which species and habitat data can be plotted, including road maps
and aerial photographs. The aerial photographs provide an especially powerful visual context for 100m records.
During development the performance of this new mapping system has been maximised so that species layers are
generated faster than the Grid Map page or Grid Map web service. For example, displaying the distribution of Dryop-
teris filix-mas (Male-fern) takes an average of 2.5 seconds in the new map and 4 seconds in the old Grid Map. How-
ever, some of the new functionality, such as the hot spot mapping, is quite intensive and some delays may be en-
countered when these maps are initially viewed.
No current functionality of the NBN Gateway has been removed at this stage, and performance of the new Interac-
tive Map will be closely monitored. Over the coming months we aim to provide more performance increases and
more functionality within this new Interactive Map.
The improved mapping is a result of ongoing development work, Defra funding and the Big Lottery Fund (through the
OPAL project) and also feedback received from our users. Feedback since the launch has been very encouraging
and so we hope you will be able to put it to good use and will find it a powerful and rewarding tool. Some examples
of the new maps:

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The above map shows a single species Danish Scurvy Grass (Cochlearia danica). The data have been further fil-
tered to show only records from 1990 onwards, and also to show only records supplied by two Local Record Centres
(Greenspace information for Greater London and the Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes). Note how this species
follows major trunk roads.

The above map shows an individual moth species on the UK BAP list the white-spotted pinion (cosmia diffinus) with
records supplied by Butterfly Conservations National Moth Recording Scheme. SSSI boundaries have also been se-
lected for comparison.

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With the use of the picker, metadata can be obtained regarding a specific polygon. In this map we can see picking
being performed on the Blanket Bog BAP Priority Habitat polygon near Widdop.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more, please visit the NBN website www.nbn.org.uk There you can find out all about the
Network and search the NBN Gateway. You can also sign up to receive the NBN e-newsletter so that you are kept
up to date with the latest news and developments from across the Network.
You can also contact us at support@nbn.org.uk
Mandy Henshall
NBN Trust Communications Officer

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Summer
The problems of being single-sexed: a summary of recent work
to conserve wild asparagus in England
Wild asparagus (Asparagus prostratus) is a rare plant of sea-cliffs, stabilised shingle and sand dunes. A European
endemic, in Britain it is classified as endangered on the Red List and is a BAP Priority species. It has a highly
restricted distribution in the UK, being currently found in just 28 sites its strongholds are in Cornwall (especially
around the Lizard peninsula) and in south Wales, with an easterly outlier in Dorset.
One problem that wild asparagus has is that it is dioecious, meaning that plants are either male or female so to
stand any chance of long term survival a wild asparagus colony needs to contain plants of both sexes. Any colony
reduced to a single plant (or several plants of the same sex) is ultimately doomed to extinction unless it can some-
how be brought into contact with plants of the opposite sex. Match-making, then, is just one of the many jobs be-
ing undertaken by the wild asparagus BAP steering group...
In Dorset, for example, the last known colony of wild asparagus had been feared extinct until a single female plant
was located in 1997 growing on a coastal embankment near Weymouth. Dorset Girl seeks Cornish Boy ran the
headline in 2006, as Bryan Edwards (Dorset Environmental Records Centre) dashed down to Cornwall to collect
male flowering shoots to bring back to Dorset where flowers were gently rubbed together to pollinate the solitary
female.
The lonely-hearts publicity gained widespread coverage in the press, but the highlight of the year was when Bryan
returned to find the female to be glowing, quite literally, with a fine crop of red berries. Seeds taken into captivity
germinated the following spring, producing potted-up young plants strong enough to be planted out in the wild in
March 2008. Amid further publicity, Dorsets last female was joined by 30 of its offspring, while 30 were also intro-
duced to Portland Bill, close to the site of a former population thought to have been lost in the 19th century due to
quarrying.
Monitoring of the two Dorset colonies in 2010 revealed that all but three of the sixty youngsters had survived their
first two years in the wild, and we are hopeful that in 2011 some of these will flower for the first time. We are keep-
ing our fingers crossed that the introduced plants at both sites will include both boys and girls, but until they
flower we cannot be sure.
In West Penwith we were confronted by a similar problem, but this time the lone plant was a male, growing on a
steep grassy slope on rocky sea-cliffs near Porth Curno, close to Cornwalls world-famous Minnack Theatre but a
long way from other Cornish wild asparagus colonies. Unless joined by females from elsewhere, the future for this
plant looked bleak.
Fortunately, shoots taken several years ago from female plants at Pen Olver on the Lizard Peninsula had been
successfully propagated by Chloe LeGrand and Sue Dalton at the Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural
Sciences (Aberystwyth University) to produce dozens of new young plants. These were moved last year for safe-
keeping, a small batch to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, the rest to the National Trusts Plant Conservation
Programme based at Knightshayes Court in Devon. Then, in April, with the willing cooperation of the sites own-
ers, the St Aubyn Estate, ten of these youngsters were planted by Rachel Holder (NTs ranger on the Lizard) and a
team of volunteers close to Porth Curnos lone male.
Now we wait, as patiently as we can, to see whether our match-making is successful. How many of the newly
planted plants will be able to survive the rigours of life on these exposed cliff-slopes? Will they flower and, if they
do, how many of them will turn out to be girls? Will insects visiting the long-established male successfully transfer
pollen to the waiting females? (Or, if they dont, should we assist in this process by taking on the role of human

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bees?) When they are pollinated, will they set any fruit? Will the seeds be viable? Will these seeds be able to
find a suitable spot to germinate and so become the next generation of West Penwithian wild asparagus plants?
Theres clearly a long way to go before this colony becomes truly self-sustaining but we have at least made a
start...
This year, in addition to monitoring the
introduced plants in Dorset and Corn-
wall, we are expecting to carry out a
wide-ranging census of wild asparagus
colonies in England, repeating a similar
survey carried out by Ian Bennallick
(Botanical Cornwall Group) in 2001.
We are also planning to gather seed
from a number of these colonies for
storage in the Millennium Seed Bank.
Site management work is set to con-
tinue, including further efforts on the
Lizard to remove sheets of the alien
Hottentot-fig (Carpobrotus edulis)
where these threaten to smother colo-
nies of wild asparagus.
The UK wild asparagus BAP steering group is coordinated by the NT, with representatives from Natural England
(Simon Leach), Countryside Council for Wales (Andy Jones) and National Museum of Wales (Tim Rich), and with
additional input from a wide range of partners. Elements of this years work in England are being supported
through Natural Englands Species Recovery Programme.
Until this spring the steering group was ably and enthusiastically led by Lucy Cordrey, who has now left the NT
and passed coordination of the group (plus a tray of wild asparagus see Figure) to Janet Lister, NTs wildlife
and countryside adviser in SW England. For further information on the conservation of wild asparagus in England
and the work of the steering group please contact janet.lister@nationaltrust.org.uk or
simon.j.leach@naturalengland.org.uk

Simon Leach and Janet Lister
On behalf of the UK wild asparagus steering group
Lucy and Janet Natural England

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Summer
A study into the factors affecting the conservation value of bal-
ancing ponds and wetlands
Surface water balancing ponds, wet detention ponds and wetlands are often designed to manage surface water and/
or fluvial flows to reduce flood risk. The opportunity in design also exists to maximise their ecological potential. Many
sources claim that such water bodies can make significant contributions to freshwater biodiversity and conservation.
Few studies have specifically evaluated the factors affecting the ecology of balancing ponds with which to inform this
aspect of their design.
In 2009 and 2010 the Land Drainage Section (LDS) of Wakefield Metropolitan District Council (WMDC) commis-
sioned the South Yorkshire Pond Project (SYPP) (run by Pond Conservation and Sheffield Wildlife Trust) to under-
take ecological assessment of 17 balancing ponds under the Councils control. Assessment used the Predictive
SYstem for Multimetrics (PSYM) methodology, which determines overall ecological quality by surveying the wetland
plant and macroinvertebrate communities.
Of the 17 balancing ponds surveyed nine had a good overall condition (qualifying them as BAP priority ponds under
the HAP for ponds), with six moderate and two of poor condition. None were found to be of very poor condition.
Given their urbanised locations, the ponds were found to have a greater conservation value than expected.
This raised the question why some ponds were more diverse and of greater conservation value than others? The
question seemed worthy of further study and so formed the basis of an MSc dissertation by Andy Higham a student
of Sheffield Hallam University and employee of WMDC LDS.
45 environmental and management features including: water quality parameters, design features, surrounding land
use, vegetation cover and maintenance disturbance were assessed at each of the 17 ponds surveyed by SYPP. Sta-
tistical analysis was then used to reveal how variations in environmental and management factors were associated
with variations in species richness.
The findings of the study do not categorically allow for any causative relationships to be drawn. However, the key
findings suggest that anthropogenic disturbance, such as pollution and necessary hydraulic maintenance is having a
negative effect on conservation value. Also, that more ecologically informed design and management practises can
maximise the overall biodiversity of balancing ponds. Ponds with more heterogenic habitat types, such as complex
shallow water marginal and drawdown zones are likely to be able to support a greater diversity of plants. Macroinver-
tebrates are adversely affected by poor water quality. Therefore, any measures which reduce pollution, such as run-
ning surface waters through swales and filter strips before they flow into a pond would benefit macroinvertebrate rich-
ness.
Information provided by surveys and management plans, together with more sensitive rotational management should
help maintain or improve biodiversity whilst maintaining the ponds primary flood storage function.
The main limitation of the study arose from the limited number of ponds assessed; were more ponds assessed the
confidence in any findings would increase. However it appears that the ecological data available for the 17 Wakefield
ponds surveyed represents a unique dataset.
Further study and ecological surveys of more balancing ponds are required. Experimental work in which all environ-
mental and management factors except one are controlled is also recommended. Simple physical conditions such as
marginal and drawdown complexity could easily be manipulated at a minimal cost in new balancing pond develop-
ments and be followed by a monitoring programme to confirm or disprove the findings of the present study.
The potential conservation value of urbanised balancing ponds is likely to be reduced compared with that of more

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natural ponds due to the disturbing effects of pollution and necessary hydraulic maintenance which such bodies of
water are exposed to. However, more appropriate design and management can maximise biodiversity, allowing
such bodies of water to provide valuable freshwater habitats and support some key species.
The greatest value of balancing ponds and wetlands in terms of species and habitat conservation may not be found
solely in the facilities themselves. They are also important because they help remediate pollution which would other-
wise flow directly into other freshwater systems, thus adversely affecting their respective conservation value.
Appreciation is shown to WMDC LDS and the SYPP for granting permission to use their ecological data. Further
thanks are offered to WMDC for consenting to the use of their balancing ponds as part of the study.
For further information regarding this article please contact Andy Higham on 01924 306643. For further information
and reports regarding the work of the Councils LDS please visit the Councils website at: -
http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/Environment/Land/LandDrainage/default.htm

International Year of Biodiversity 2010: Lessons for Learning

Have you ever thought of using moving trains as sites to communicate the importance of biodiversity? Tayside bio-
diversity partnership and Scotrail offered activities on board carriages as part of Nature on Track for the Interna-
tional Year of Biodiversity, 2010. This is just one example of the many organisations offering creative, inspired ac-
tivities for IYB.
Forty respondents kindly answered a doctoral research survey (see issue 52) which aimed to gather evidence
about learning activities during IYB. Quantitative and qualitative results confirm aspects that are well known in the
field of biodiversity education: the key role of volunteers; the range in type and size of provider organisations; the
importance of partnership working and the need to secure funding.
There is clear potential to further investigate the role of technology, curriculum content and the choice of pedagogy.
Future research will focus on innovative programmes in biodiversity education, looking at the extent to which they
do, or should, follow trends in science education (Harlen, 2011).
A practical summary of survey results includes submitted information about organisations, staff, programmes, and
marketing. Learning activities are explained in case studies, and you might be interested to read educators recom-
mendations to improve biodiversity education!
To download the report visit http://ioe.academia.edu/gracekimble
Harlen, W. (2011) Working towards big ideas of science education. Education in Science (April, 20).Association for
Science Education. http://www.ase.org.uk/journals/education-in-science/2011/04/242/2782/20.pdf.

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Summer
First ever survey of Englands traditional orchards from the air
Taking a birds eye view of Englands traditional orchards has enabled conservationists to put one of the most impor-
tant wildlife habitats back on the map.
A five year research project by the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) has used aerial photographs to
produce a unique inventory of Englands traditional orchards - a UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Priority Habitat.
The study funded by Natural England, the Esme Fairbairn Foundation and PTES, has for the first time established
the location, condition, age, boundaries and management status of dwindling traditional orchards to support the
Habitat Action Plan (HAP) and provides a much-needed baseline of data from which to focus future conservation
action.
The traditional orchard habitat has been
identified as having great biodiversity
value, but until now information about
the amount of traditional orchard habitat
remaining in England has been out-
dated and incomplete. Aerial photogra-
phy provides researchers with a unique
perspective; orchards can often be spot-
ted by their planting patterns, as
the trees tend to be growing in equally
spaced lines. Conservationists set about
scouring 3.5 million hectares of the Eng-
lish countryside and this painstaking in-
vestigation has located 35,378 traditional
orchards across 51 counties, equating to
16,990 hectares of habitat.
The project has involved over 600 local
volunteers who, with training from PTES
have helped to survey a proportion
(19%) of the orchards on the ground,
recording the species, age and condition of the fruit trees and contributing some 563 volunteer days to the project -
the equivalent of over 18 months of work.
The fieldwork analysis reveals that overall only 9% of Englands traditional orchards are in excellent condition, while
46% are in good condition and 45% are in poor condition.
Even more useful in terms of long-term stewardship, is that this report also provides a picture of the state of English
orchards at the county level - allowing comparisons of the condition of traditional orchards to be made between any
of the 51 counties included in the research. The study has also attempted to gather information from orchard owners
throughout the country resulting in the collection of 764 orchard owner questionnaires providing valuable insights at
a local level.
Anita Burrough, PTES Orchard Officer, who led the project team, says: We are proud to have completed this impor-
tant inventory which for the first time gives us a true picture of the state of traditional orchards. The mosaic of habi-
PTES

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Summer
tats that comprise a traditional orchard provide food and shelter for at least 1,800 species of wildlife, including the
rare noble chafer beetle which relies on the decaying wood of old fruit trees. With this loss of habitat, we also face
losing rare English fruit varieties, traditions, customs and knowledge, in addition to the genetic diversity represented
by the hundreds of species that are associated with traditional orchards.
Dr Peter Brotherton, Head of Biodiversity for Natural England, said: Traditional orchards can be biodiversity hot
spots, but without proper protection and sensitive management, they can easily slip into decline. Up until now, many
of these biodiversity goldmines were quietly deteriorating in forgotten corners of the countryside, becoming over-
grown or being lost altogether. This research has enabled us to pin point their precise location, allowing conserva-
tionists to work with local communities and landowners in helping to keep these special sites buzzing with wildlife.
Characteristically traditional orchards consist of a low density of trees set in seminatural, mainly herbaceous, vegeta-
tion. They are cultivated using low-intensity methods such as the absence of pesticides and the use of grazing ani-
mals instead of machines for mowing. This important habitat is becoming rare as we rely increasingly on imports to
provide cheap fruit throughout the year. This has left the traditional orchard habitat, an intrinsic feature of the English
countryside, at risk from neglect, intensification of agriculture and pressure from land development.
The inventory is available free of charge to anyone who is interested and is published on the internet and is available
to download at www.naturalengland.org.uk or to view at www.magic.defra.gov.uk
The value of this vital inventory is demonstrated by the range of practical ways in which it will be used including:
Habitat restoration and creation
Identifying orchards in local planning policies and development control
Integrating habitat information and species distribution to support conservation action
Working in partnership with orchard owners to provide advice and practical support
Targeting Environmental Stewardship scheme options for management of traditional orchards. The survey re-
vealed that around 2831.55 hectares of Englands traditional orchards are currently within Environmental
Stewardship Schemes.
A full report of the inventory and the project that created it can be found in the Natural England research report,
NECR077 - Traditional Orchard Project in England: The creation of an inventory to support the UK Habitat Action
Plan The report contains full details of the methodology, lists the partners involved, local orchard groups and associ-
ated projects.
Plans are underway to extend this study to Wales depending on the announcement of further funding.

For further information, please visit www.ptes.org/orchards or email anita.burrough@ptes.org

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Summer
The woodland ground flora is not as peaceful and unchanging as
it looks!

Down under the trees the ground flora is a surprisingly dynamic world. Repeat surveys in woods across the country
have shown gains and losses of species over time, even if exactly the same plots are revisited. This may be caused
by changes in the shade cast by the trees and shrubs, the impacts of deer grazing, but there is also competition
within the ground flora some species such a bramble even being described as thugs because of the strength of
their impact on smaller species.
Long-term studies at Wytham Woods illustrate the above ef-
fects. In 1974 a far-sighted forester, Colyear Dawkins from
what is now Oxford Plant Sciences Department, set up 163 per-
manent plots spread over the woods. Subsequent recordings
(1991, 1999) showed the way that increased deer browsing
shifted the ground flora from bramble to grasses as the domi-
nant species over large areas. The deer population has now
been reduced and the bramble is starting to come back, initially
along the roadsides because of greater light, but now also un-
der the stands.
Over the next two years we plan to record the plots again to
quantify further the changes in the diversity of the ground flora.

Keith Kirby, Natural England, Peterborough.

References
Kirby, K.J., Smart, S.M., Black, H.I.J., Bunce, R.G.H.,Corney,P.M.and Smithers,R.J. (2005). Long term ecological
change in British woodland (1971-2001). Peterborough: English Nature (Research Report 653).
Savill, P S, Perrins, C, Kirby, K J & Fisher, N (2010) Wytham Woods, Oxfords Ecological Laboratory. Oxford Uni-
versity Press, Oxford. (Paperback version due out in summer 2011)

Natural England

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Summer
The Great Crane Project
The Great Crane Project is reintroducing Cranes to the Somerset Levels and Moors, some 400 years after they
went extinct in the UK.
After detailed feasibility and planning work, we think that the area will provide suitable year-round habitat for the
birds, and the plan is to manage the landscape to make it as crane-friendly as possible.
But what areas, habitats and food resources will the cranes select, and what hazards will affect them?
The only way to find out is to monitor the hell out of the thing, as Murray Williams, the New Zealander who led the
reintroduction of the critically endangered Campbell Island Teal to its former haunts put it when visiting WWT Slim-
bridge last year.
However, scientific monitoring is time-consuming and expensive, and many conservation programmes fall into the
trap of deciding that this is the easiest bit to chop when budget constraints kick in.
At the same time, the Great Crane Project explicitly aims to use the species as a flagship to engage people with
their wonderful wetland landscape, and this part of the project is proving overwhelmingly successful, with huge local
interest and enthusiasm.
It made perfect sense therefore to take a citizen science approach to the post-release monitoring, thereby involving
local people directly in the management of their cranes and generating more data than the professional project
team could ever hope to gather.
So it is that nearly every day a small team of volunteers takes to the lanes and tracks of the Levels, with radio re-
ceiver and Yagi antenna in hand, to track down the cranes, and record their activities.
This is not always particularly easy or exciting work. A rigorous scientific schedule is followed to ensure that all
birds are monitored at all times of day without bias.
The volunteers read the colour-rings on the legs of the birds so that they can be individually identified, and then re-
cord details of their health, behaviour, social interactions, habitat selection and response to disturbance.
Even the data management is largely volunteer-led, with a web-based database having been designed by volunteer
James Riall, to accommodate both the observational data and the information coming back from satellite transmit-
ters on some of the birds.
Diana Dean, who lives in earshot of the bugling cranes, and volunteered on the project, says: The volunteers work
closely with the project team and are out in all weathers.
Monitoring in mid December when it was minus 15 was a challenge, but on warm and balmy spring days it is just a
delight to be out amid the Somerset landscape, watching such wonderful birds.
It's hard to put in just a few words what I have experienced as a volunteer working on The Great Crane Project,
but, the one thing I will never forget is the feeling I got the very first time I saw the young cranes last autumn - abso-
lute joy!
The result from the scientific point of view has been that barely a day has gone by over the autumn, winter and
spring when the positions of every single crane have not been plotted. This information will provide the project with
the crucial information needed to manage the birds and the habitat adaptively as we go forward from this first year
of releases.

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Summer
Apple-grass aphid in Bramleys Seedling apple orchards
Within the British Isles eight species of aphid have been found feeding on apple. Five of these are pests capable of
causing economic losses. These are the woolly aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum (Hausmann)), rosy apple aphid
(Dysaphis plantaginea (Passerini)), the rosy leaf-curling aphid (Dysaphis devecta (Walker)), the green apple aphid
(Aphis pomi (Degeer)), and the apple-grass aphid (Rhopalosiphum insertum (Walker)). It is the latter species that
occurs in large numbers in the Bramleys Seedling apple orchards in Northern Ireland. Apple aphids are most nu-
merous in the orchards during April and May, and the worst damage is caused in this period. With the exception of
A. pomi, which sometimes re-appears in large numbers after mid-summer, the other four species are either absent
from apple, or present in very small numbers, from the end of June until the autumn. Rhopalosiphum insertum is
usually found on the rosette leaves of the blossom trusses. Unless very abundant, R. insertum causes little harm to
foliage, apart from slight leaf-curl. Eggs of this aphid are laid on the roughened areas of the spurs and small
branches. In the southeast of England, the migration to grasses begins in May and few aphids remain after petal
fall (late May to early June). The return migration to apple occurs again in the autumn.
Rhopalosiphum insertum ranges in size from 1.0-1.6 mm in length. The adult is plump, yellowish/green with darker
green longitudinal strips down the body. The siphunculi are short, pale green and flanged apically. Rhopalosiphum
insertum overwinters on the Bramley trees in the egg stage. Usually these hatch by the green-cluster stage of de-
velopment. The nymphs then feed on the underside of the young rosette leaves or amongst the flower buds. At the
pink bud stage, they may invade the petals. During the blossom period the first winged aphids migrate to grasses.
By the start of June they have virtually all migrated. In the autumn, winged females return to the apple trees and
their wingless progeny (the egg laying females) mate with winged males returning from the grasses. Over-wintering
eggs are deposited on spurs and branches.
There is little or no damage from this species after mid-blossom. Earlier in the spring the aphids may cause slight
leaf curl, but they have no effect on fruit development. Applying chemical sprays for the control of R. insertum has
also been shown to cause increases in other pest species such as apple-rust mite, Aculus schlechtendali. The ef-
fect of the chemicals removing natural enemies and so allowing pest numbers to increase unchecked is seen as
the most likely answer to this phenomenon.
Bramleys Seedling apple orchards that receive acaricide treatments tend to have greater pest populations than
those that receive no acaracides. Within Northern Irish apple orchards numbers of R. insertum regularly exceed the
UK Agricultural Development and Advisory Service spray threshold and therefore damage would be expected. The
reasons for little damage occurring may be related to higher natural enemy numbers on untreated trees. Anystis
baccarum, a commonly occurring predatory mite within the Bramley orchards is known to be a valuable aphid
predator. Over-wintering and early spring predation, of both eggs and juveniles, by A. baccarum along with other
predatory species may act to slow the population growth of R. insertum, compared to insecticide treated trees,
where the natural enemy population could have been depleted due to winter-washes or early season pesticide ap-
plications. The over-wintering eggs of R. insertum may also prove to be a valuable food source helping to sustain
winter populations of A. baccarum, much in the same way as A. schlechtendali. However, as the spring populations
of aphids are not present on the trees for long and soon migrate to grasses on the advancement of rising summer
temperatures, it is deemed that a pesticide of short persistence would suffice for R. insertum control in Northern
Irish orchards.
For further information concerning invertebrate biodiversity contact: Dr Andrew G S Cuthbertson, The Food and
Environment Research Agency, York YO41 1LZ (e-mail: andrew.cuthbertson@fera.gsi.gov.uk) or Dr Archie K Mur-
chie, The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX (email:
archie.murchie@afbini.gov.uk)

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Summer
Arable plants in the North Wessex Downs AONB
Tim Kaye, Wiltshire and Swindon Botanical Society

Recording rates for arable plants in the North Wessex Downs have always been patchy. Being annuals they have
sporadic flowering times and sites can be difficult to survey due to restricted access. With this in mind the Wiltshire
Botanical Society attempted to redress the balance slightly by undertaking surveys of arable plants within the North
Wessex Downs AONB. A small grant from the Sustainable Development Fund helped with travel expenses for
members.
Three farms were chosen; Eastbrook, Prebendel and Weir Farms. Recording took place in July and August and all
results were sent off to Plantlife as a contribution to their Arable Plants project, who in turn provided record cards
and identification guides. From a list certain plants could be scored for rarity, 9 being the highest score and 1 the
lowest. Field margins and corners were traipsed along in the hope of finding something interesting amongst the
scentless mayweed and Corn Sow Thistles.
On one excursion and much to our surprise we came across Nightflowering Catchfly (Silene noctiflora), a very un-
common plant in these parts. Its sticky hairs were indeed encased in flies and sure enough its petals were inrolled
during the day. On a separate trip we also stumbled across Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) which we believe is the
only naturally occurring population in Wiltshire.
Another farm was more intensively farmed but even here one plant of Rye Brome (Bromus secalinus) was found. I
photographed a plant I was unsure of and sent it off to Sharon Pilkington the County Recorder. She recognised it
as Flixweed (Descurainia Sophia), a very uncommon plant more characteristic of the sandy Brecklands of Norfolk
and Suffolk. All in all we had made some valuable records considering the timeframe and hopefully contributed to
our understanding of the farmed landscape. Thanks are due to the landowners for allowing us access to their sites.

Centaurea Cyanus Tim
Kaye

Features
Summer
ARKive and the UK Overseas Territories

Over the past year, with support from Defra and the Overseas Territories Environment Programme (OTEP), a joint
programme of the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
(FCO), ARKive (www.arkive.org) has been focusing on profiling the rich and unique biodiversity of the UK Over-
seas Territories.
ARKive, an initiative of the charity Wildscreen, is an online educational resource gathering together the very best
films and photos of the worlds amazing species. Combining stunning imagery with informative, easy to under-
stand species fact-files, ARKive brings scientific names to life. Visitors can learn why a species is threatened,
what conservation action is being carried out to help it and how they can get involved.
To date, ARKive has created over 220 new species profiles for animals and plants found within the UKOTs, bring-
ing the total number of species from the territories featured on the website to over 800. Over 3,000 new images
and footage for over 100 species have been banked for posterity in the ARKive media vault and are being made
available for awareness-raising and educational purposes via the award-winning website.
ARKives UK Overseas Territories teaching resources
As part of the project three new teaching resources have also been created, featuring species from the territories,
highlighting the threats they face and the in-situ conservation initiatives established to protect them.
Covering key science topics such as biodiversity and conservation, the resources have been designed to highlight
the importance of the territories biodiversity globally among young people.
Explore food chains with 7 to 11 year olds through the fun and interactive Din-
ner at the Reef activity.
In Biodiversity Hospital, designed for 11 to 14 year olds, students work in
medical teams and learn how to balance the competing priorities for the con-
servation of an endangered species.
Design a Conservation Programme, aimed at 14 to 16 year olds, highlights the
importance of biodiversity, alongside economic benefits and services ecosys-
tems provide.
These new resources will become part of an essential suite of educational ac-
tivity promoted to partners of Wildscreen and its ARKive initiative, through ARKives STEM Ambassadors and via
online educational platforms both in UK and the UKOTs.
To explore the unique biodiversity of the UK Overseas Territories use ARKives Explore by Geography function
and visit its educational area to find out more about these exciting new teaching resources.
If you have any films or photographs of any of the species found within the UK Overseas Territories, ARKive would
be delighted to hear from you. For further information on ARKives UK Overseas Territories project, please con-
tact: lucie.muir@wildscreen.org.uk

Features
Summer
CoRE Species Catalogue of rare and endangered species
The collections of Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales (ACNMW) are the repository for millions of bio-
logical specimens. They and the information associated with them are of huge value to many strands of biological
research. Ranging from tracking biodiversity changes over time to the very basis of our understanding of biodiver-
sity the describing of new species.
Until recently the only way this information could be accessed was for the Museum to produce a catalogue a very
expensive option or for users to visit and examine the specimens. For taxonomic research the latter is probably
still the only option but for research into population distribution the web now offers a much quicker, more flexible,
and global, means of disseminating information.
A big problem with natural history collections can be deciding on where you start the task of cataloguing these mil-
lions of specimens. The approach taken by the Department of BioSyB has been to catalogue those of most value
and we are delighted to announce the launch of a new website which allows users to access data associated with
our specimens of rare and endangered species. This catalogue of British specimens of species of conservation
concern includes animals, plants and fungi.
At launch, priority has been given to species on the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list and the Section 42 list of Spe-
cies of Principal Importance for Conservation of Biological Diversity in Wales but in time will be extended to include
all rare and endangered species.
The website is designed so that data can be accessed in a variety of ways. Users can search directly for a particu-
lar species or just browse a general list of UKBAP and Section 42 species and see which ones we hold specimens
of. Data available includes locality and date.
Identifications have largely been confirmed but unfortunately we do not have sufficient taxonomic expertise to
cover every group. Therefore, should any user question the accuracy of an identification we welcome its reassess-
ment by a suitable expert.
This is the latest in a series of websites produced by the department. There are already three other websites up
and running which are online identification guides and work is well underway on a database of type figured and
cited specimens. Specimen data is also available for other sections of the collection in the form of spreadsheets
which can be downloaded from ACNMWs website.
Our websites:
CoRE Species
http://naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk/corespecies/
Marine Bivalve Shells of the British Isles
http://naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk/britishbivalves/
Sharpshooter Leafhoppers of the World
http://naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk/sharpshooters/
Leafhopper, Planthopper & Psyillid Vectors of Plant Disease
http://naturalhistory.museumwales.ac.uk/vectors/

Collections data available for download from the AC
NMW website
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/biosyb are cata-
logues of our specimens of Hieracium, Rubus and
Sphagnum and the collections of the British Bry-
ological Society and the Swansea University Herbar-
ium.

Features
Summer
A new dandelion for Britain - Taraxacum subericinum
Following donation of the national Dandelion (Taraxacum) collection to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum
Wales by one of the world experts - John Richards, Tim Rich - the Museums Head of Vascular Plants thought he
should try to learn how to identify them.
There are about 237 Dandelions recorded for Britain to date. Amongst the first specimens collected in Devon was a
puzzling plant initially thought to be a distinctive relative of Porters Dandelion, T. porteri. Further collections in
2010 have now shown this plant to be T. subericinum Hagendijk, Soest & Zevenb. new to Britain. It is a distinctive
species with strongly toothed leaves and red midribs and veins.
Tim found it in six sites near Torrington, North Devon, growing on the south-facing sides of hedgebanks along mi-
nor lanes. It may be scattered over a relatively wide area of North Devon and was not hard to find once the habitat
had been learned. It is most common in Poland and the Czech Republic, and is also known from Belgium, Den-
mark and the Netherlands. Its occurrence in good habitat in Devon means it may even be native.
National Museum Cardiff, where Tim is based, is one of Amgueddfa Cymru National Museum Wales seven na-
tional museums. The others are St Fagans: National History Museum, the National Roman Legionary Museum, Big
Pit: National Coal Museum, the National Wool Museum, the National Slate Museum and the National Waterfront
Museum.
Entry to each Museum is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

For more information, please contact Catrin Mears, 029 2057 3185 or Lleucu Cooke, 029 2057 3175
Tim Rich & Habitat at Undercleave (photo J. C. Rich)

Local & Regional
Summer
Wild Stevenage Project
Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust has launched the Wild Stevenage project with the help of Heritage Lottery Fund
(HLF) and SoStevenage. The project has lots to offer local residents, including an opportunity to get involved by
looking after their local pond!
People and Wildlife Officer Amy Ellis says: Six ponds around the town will be getting a helping hand. Monks and
Whomerley Woods and Shackledell Grassland, either side of Fairlands Valley Park (South) will get lots of TLC.
The sites will be made more wildlife friendly sites and accessible to the public.
Once the green spaces are looking spick and span weve got lots of events planned for 2012. These will include
walks, pond dipping as well as a couple of big open days.
Stevenage has over 40 wildlife sites for all to explore and
what a wonderful time of year to do it. Some people con-
sider Stevenage as being grey, boring and covered in con-
crete, but how wrong could they be? One quarter of the
town is classed as habitat and that does not even in-
clude gardens or arable land. There are lots of parks, wet-
lands, woodlands and grasslands waiting to be discov-
ered.
Monks and Whomerley Woods and Shackledell Grass-
land are the most accessible and fascinating of the wildlife
sites in town. Monks and Whomerley Woods are filled
with wildlife from the greater spotted woodpecker in the
trees to smooth newt in the ponds. There are many wind-
ing paths through the trees to take the kids and get lost in
the wilderness!
Shackledell Grassland is a smaller site but by no means less rich in wildlife. There are at least 6 bush crickets and
2 grasshopper species here, including the great green bush cricket, the largest insect in England!! This well hidden
wildlife haven can be found over the other side of Fairlands Valley Park to the large Monks and Whomerley
Woods.
The project will work with local school children to design and create trail signs and leaflets for the two sites. This
will raise the profile of the sites as wildlife haven.
Stevenage has a Biodiversity Action Plan which Herts and Middlesex Wildlife Trust and Stevenage Borough Coun-
cil are working together to implement. Great green bush crickets and swifts are both important in Stevenage.
Shackledell Grassland is the only site in Hertfordshire where Great green bush crickets are found. They are the
largest insect in England at 5cm long and can jump 1 metre high. Swifts are present in Stevenages Old Town.
Along with new swift boxes at the new maternity unit in the Lister Hospital, local residents are being asked to en-
courage these majestic birds into the area.
Amy says: If you want to get involved by adopting a pond, volunteering or coming along to our events, get in
touch! Together we can make a difference for wildlife in Stevenage.

Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust

Local & Regional
Summer
Hedgehog Street
Hedgehogs have undergone a worrying de-
cline (at least 25%) over the last decade.
The reasons for the decline are complex,
but are thought to include loss of hedges,
increased field sizes and pesticide use in
the countryside. In urban areas the move
towards tidy, sterile gardens has contributed
to their decline. Hedgehogs typically travel
about a mile each night in order to gather
food and search for a mate, so they need
the freedom to move between different ar-
eas. Artificial barriers such as fences and
walls prevent movement around their home
range. Furthermore, loss of natural habitat
means there is nowhere for them to forage
or hibernate.
Peoples Trust for Endangered Species
(PTES) and British Hedgehog Preservation
Society are launching a new public partici-
pation project called Hedgehog Street. The project, which begins in June, will urge people all over the UK to be-
come hedgehog champions and they in turn will inspire their neighbours to create hedgehog friendly gardens.
We will help champions encourage their neighbours to take action for hedgehogs in their gardens or communal
green spaces. The aim is to have a whole street (or as many households as possible) improving their gardens for
hedgehogs and linking them up to create a large, continuous area for hedgehogs to thrive. By recruiting thou-
sands of Hedgehog Streets across the UK, we are hoping to help conserve this threatened species throughout its
range.
Hedgehog Street has been supported by the BBC Wildlife Fund. The wider campaign is also underpinned by a
programme of practical research projects, funded by PTES and BHPS over the next three years, to further our
understanding about the causes for the decline in hedgehog numbers and most importantly what can be done to
reverse this threat to this iconic species.
Please visit the website for more information and to sign up for your Hedgehog Street pack!
www.hedgehogstreet.org
nikkicharlton@btinternet.com.jpg

Local & Regional
Summer
Fuelled by local people, the restoration of Kinder Scout begins
The National Trust in the Peak District has teamed up with the Biffa Awards Scheme, United Utilities and Natural
Englands Environmental Stewardship Scheme to deliver a 2.5 million
project to restore Kinder Scout driven by the views of local people. Over
a period of 5 years extensive conservation work will be undertaken in
order to regenerate vast areas of the bare and degraded blanket peat
landscape for the future.
To ensure success of this project a temporary fence will be erected
around Kinder Scout to keep sheep, but not people, off the moorland.
This will allow the newly planted vegetation to become established,
while keeping access to Kinder Scout open for walkers. Consultation for
the fence was launched in December 2010 to give local people the
chance to have their say on the plans. This included public meetings in
Edale and Hayfield, along with feedback via the Kinder Scout website.
Mike Innerdale, General Manager for the National Trust in the Peak Dis-
trict says: Kinder Scout is loved by thousands of people who live lo-
cally or visit the area so it was important to us that those people had the
opportunity to play a part in helping us plan the line of the fence and the
best access for walkers. The consultation found that the majority of
people were in support of the plans to install the fence whilst the resto-
ration work takes place. The favourite routes of walkers, along with
Public Rights of way, were taken into account in order to establish the
best access points for walkers in the line of the fence. These access points will be no further than 100m apart and
will take the form of a step over stile.
The first phase of the fencing has started this month, with work being done by local contractor, Allan Froggatt
Fencing. The work will see the fence posts being flown into the remote site by helicopter.
As soon as the fencing is in position, restoration work will start with the planting of 81,000 cotton grass plants to
stabilise areas of bare peat and eroding gullies. An additional 39,000 plants will be planted by the end of the sum-
mer, with many more over the next few years. In addition to this, heather brash will be spread across large areas
of Kinder Scout to encourage heather to re-seed and large numbers of erosion gullies will be blocked each winter
to help keep the peat wet and encourage the new vegetation to thrive.
As the moorland vegetation re-establishes, local wildlife will benefit, including priority species such as Skylark,
Dunlin and Curlew. In addition to this, the regeneration will help improve water quality by reducing suspended
sediments, colour and dissolved organic carbon, which will in turn reduce water treatment costs. Philip Weiss, the
new Kinder Scout Catchment Project Officer, said, This is an exiting partnership and a project where everyone,
visitors, water customers and the environment, are winners.
If youd like to find out more about the project as it progresses visit www.kinder-scout.co.uk
Philip Weiss, New Kinder Scout Project Of-
ficer

Local & Regional
Summer
The Belfairs Park project
The Belfairs Park project is about engaging local schools and communities in and around Southend in volunteering,
education and family events. At the heart of the project, known as the Hadleigh and Daws Heath Ancient Wood-
lands Living Landscape Project, is the Belfairs Woodland Resource Centre. This will be a demonstration build incor-
porating sustainable design and energy efficient technology located on an area of amenity grassland in Belfairs
Park. The aim of the centre is to provide a base from which events and activities can be launched. Run by Essex
Wildlife Trust, it will be open to the whole community with many opportunities to explore, experience, learn and enjoy.
Conservation work, volunteering and education will take place across the wider Hadleigh and Daws Heath Living
Landscape. A Living Landscape is a large area of countryside that has a particular character but has become frag-
mented by development or changes in land use. The aim of Essex Wildlife Trust is to bring these fragmented land-
scapes back to life by working with landowners, partners and local people. The character of the Hadleigh and Daws
Heath Living Landscape is ancient woodlands, which still dominate large parts of this area.
The project is currently in its development phase where the feasibility of the project is being explored, communities
are being consulted and funding is being acquired. In September 2010 we were successful in securing a develop-
ment grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. This grant will go towards a conservation management plan, consulta-
tion, design and planning. It is heartening that HLF are supportive of the project and we are working very closely with
our case worker from HLF to ensure that the development phase of the project is strong enough to secure a delivery
grant.
Conservation Management Plan
This is a very important document that is being written by EECOS. It is looking at the existing land management in
the Hadleigh and Daws Heath Living Landscape by reviewing existing management plans and information for the
area, along with on-the-ground surveying. We will then work with existing landowners to develop a workable and re-
alistic 10 year plan to manage and maintain the conservation value of the land to the benefit of people and wild-
life. This is a very important piece of work in an area where land has a high economic value but a delicate environ-
mental balance and landowners need to be supported to ensure that they achieve the best from their land.
Consultation
There is currently a consultation of local schools taking place to gauge support for the project and to find out what
schools are looking for from an education facility at Belfairs. A wider consultation of local residents and community
groups will be carried out and the findings will help guide the use of the facility.
Design
This is a very exciting part of the project as it is now that we decide how the building will look and function, and what
technologies will be used. The design and build of the Woodland Resource Centre will be undertaken by one com-
pany and we are currently going through the tender process to contract a company who will provide a suitable design
for us. The company will be contracted in 2 phases: the first being for the design to take us through planning; the
second phase, the build, will start only once planning and funding have been granted. A brief has been agreed by
our steering group which the company will use to develop their designs.
Planning
A lot of work has been carried out in anticipation of a planning application with a number of supporting documents
written. The design of the Woodland Resource Centre is the important part of the application and it is essential that
we meet the requirements of both planning and our funders. Planning approval by no means a given, but with the

Local & Regional
Summer
tremendous support received to date of the project it is hoped that the plans will be accepted. It is anticipated that
an application to planning will be made at the end of summer.
Fundraising
An important element to any project, we are approaching a number of funders for support of the project. With so
many different parts to the project there is opportunity for great interest and it is hoped that funders, companies
and private individuals will be willing to pledge support of the project. To date an application for European funding
has been submitted and we are working on the HLF application. In addition to this Network Rail, Forest Education
Initiative and a private donor have pledge money to the project, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and Essex
Wildlife Trust have pledged money and in-kind support and Olympus KeyMed has offered free design and printing
support for leaflets and literature.
Anyone looking to find out more about the Belfairs Project, or looking to support the project either financially or in
other ways, can contact Louise Morris on 01702 215602 or email louisemorris@southend.gov.uk.

Its an Otterly fantastic project!
In April 2010 Durham Biodiversity Partnership launched a new Rivers and Otters project. With funding from the
SITA Trust and supported by Durham Wildlife Trust, Gateshead Council, Darlington Borough Council, South Tyne-
side Council, Sunderland City Council and Northumbrian Water, this 3 year project aims to consolidate the existing
populations of otter in Gateshead, Darlington, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
Since the decline of the late 1950s and early 1960s, locally otters have begun to successfully re-colonise some
areas, but they are still subject to a number of serious pressures and several river systems within the Durham Bio-
diversity Action Plan area do not yet support significant populations.
The Rivers and Otters project is redressing this by improving habitat for otters along local watercourses. The pro-
ject is increasing the area of foraging habitat through the creation of areas of riparian reedbeds, improving links
between rivers and adjacent breeding sites, installing otter holts were there is a lack of suitable safe refuges and
retrofitting mammal ledges to bridges at road fatality hotspots.
Much of the work has involved local volunteer groups who are also getting involved in surveying for Otters across
the project area. A recent survey along the River Team discovered an otter spraint right in the centre of the Team
Valley Trading Estate. The Trading Estate is home to approximately 1400 companies and over 25,000 people
travel there each day, but there is certainly at least one otter that is not deterred by this. The River Team is one of
the main project areas so the habitat improvements planned for the Team Valley will hopefully boost the otter
population there.
A total of 15 otter holts have so far been installed with the first mammal ledge completed in December. The focus
for the project in 2011 is to start carrying out some habitat creation works.
For more information on the project, please contact Durham Wildlife Trust on 0191 584 3112 or visit the website
www.durhambiodiversity.org.uk
Helen Ryde
Durham BAP Implementation Officer

UKBAP Update
Summer
UK BAP website
As mentioned in previous issues of Biodiversity News, the UK BAP website has been undergoing a migration into
the JNCC website. This migration is now (finally!) complete, and the new UK BAP web pages can be found at:
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/ukbap.
The migration of the UK BAP website was undertaken as a result of the review of the UK Governments websites,
the objective of which was to make it easier for the public to find content, and to make best use of resources. The
migration of the UK BAP website into JNCCs website also means that the new UK BAP web-pages are much sim-
pler to manage and update.
All of the key UK BAP information and documents are available on the new web-pages, including both recent and
back copies of Biodiversity News. In addition, snapshots of the old UK BAP website can be found in the Na-
tional Archives at: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/*/http://www.ukbap.org.uk/, so the information on the
old site is not lost. Automatic re-directs have also been put in place from many of the original pages, so that links
from external websites will continue to work.
We hope you are happy with the new web-pages, but if you can think of ways to improve them, or of additional in-
formation that should be included, please dont hesitate to get in touch and let us know.

UK Biodiversity Indicators in Your Pocket 2011 update
The most-recent update to the suite of UK biodiversity indicators has now been published (20 May 2011), and is
available at: http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/biyp/. There are a total of 18 indicators, which include the population status of
key species, the status of habitats and ecosystems, and expenditure on biodiversity. These indicators have been
updated annually since they were agreed in 2007, and are provide an overview of biodiversity trends in the UK.
The indicators have been developed in a co-operative fashion on behalf of the UK Biodiversity Partnership, with
input from government, statutory agencies, non-governmental organisations, and academic institutes.
As mentioned in the previous edition of Biodiversity News, the indicator set is currently under review, in order to
ensure that it continues to be based on the most robust and reliable available data, and that it remains relevant to
new international and European goals and targets, agreed in late 2010 and early 2011.
Although this review is still in progress, it is clear that the currently existing set of indicators, with some refine-
ments, will remain relevant to the new international goals and targets. Where there are gaps, further indicators will
be developed, or existing indicators will be adapted, over the next few years. In the meantime, however, the exist-
ing indicator set will continue to be updated and published in May of each year.

For further information about the UK BAP, or to provide us with some feedback, please contact:
UKBAP@jncc.gov.uk

Emma Durham
On behalf of UK BAP

Publications
Summer
The UK National Ecosystem Assessment
The UK National Ecosystem Assessment (UK NEA) is the first analysis of the UKs natural environment in terms of
the benefits it provides to society and our continuing economic prosperity.
The UK National Ecosystem Assessment (on the UK NEA website)
The project has produced an independent and peer-reviewed assessment of the state and value of the UKs natural
environment and ecosystem services, identifying what has driven change observed in the natural environment and
the services it has provided over the last 60 years, and what may drive change in the future. It includes an investiga-
tion into the monetary and non-monetary value to the economy, society and individuals from various ecosystem ser-
vices, including how some of these may change in future.
Over 500 UK scientists and economists have been involved in the assessment which was funded by the govern-
ments of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, and by the Natural Environment Research Council and
the Economic and Social Science Research council and cost 1.3m.
The assessment provides values for a range of services we gain from nature to help us fully understand the worth of
the natural environment and how the benefits to individuals and society as a whole can be better protected and pre-
served for future generations. It stresses the need for a more collaborative approach to enhancing our environment,
with everyone playing their part to capture more of natures benefits.
The six key findings of the assessment are:
The natural world, its biodiversity and its constituent ecosystems are critically important to our well-being and
economic prosperity, but are consistently undervalued in conventional economic analyses and decision mak-
ing.
Ecosystems and ecosystem services, and the ways people benefit from them, have changed markedly in the
past 60 years, driven by changes in society.
The UKs ecosystems are currently delivering some services well, but others are still in long-term decline.
The UK population will continue to grow, and its demands and expectations continue to evolve. This is likely to
increase pressures on ecosystem services in a future where climate change will have an accelerating impact
both here and in the world at large.
Actions taken and decisions made now will have consequences far into the future for ecosystems, ecosystem
services and human well-being. It is important that these are understood, so that we can make the best possi-
ble choices, not just for society now but also for future generations.
A move to sustainable development will require an appropriate mixture of regulations, technology, financial
investment and education, as well as changes in individual and societal behaviour and adoption of a more in-
tegrated, rather than conventional sectoral, approach to ecosystem management.

The Scottish Dragonfly Leaflet
The Scottish Dragonfly Leaflet was launched at the beginning of June and can be downloaded at the Scottish pages
of the British Dragonfly Society website http://www.british-dragonflies.org.uk/content/scottish-dragonfly-leaflets . It
contains pictures of all 23 of the species currently recorded as breeding in Scotland.

Events
Summer
Dorset RSPB Events

Wednesdays June September incl 10 am-12 noon
Heathland amble at Arne walk
From Dartford warblers to smooth snakes, raft spiders to dragonflies - who knows what we might find? Free. No
need to book. Contact us, 01929 553360.
Wednesdays 25 May 13 July incl 8 pm till late
Nightjars at Arne walk
Experience the eerie calls - hopefully catch a glimpse of these elusive heathland birds. We may see Dartford war-
blers and a hobby before the nightjars come out to hunt. Members 6, non-members 3, members, children free.
Booking essential, 01929 553360.
Wed 1 Thurs 30 June
Radipoles photographic competition
Capture your favourite part of this reserve nestled in the heart of Weymouth. Full entry details on 01305 778313.
Sat 2, 23 July 8 pm-late
Creatures of the night at Arne walk
Discover Arne by night - from nightjars to glow worms, bats to owls - who knows what well see? Members 3, non-
members 6, children free. Booking essential, 01929 553360.
Sun 10 July 10 am-4 pm
Summer open day at Garston Wood
Free guided walks on the hour. Led by RSPB staff and members of the South Wiltshire Local Group to look for fan-
tastic woodland butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Full details from our Arne reserve office, 01929 553360.
Sat 16 July 8.30 am-10 am
Mad about moths at Radipole Lake
Species ranging from the enormous Hawk Moths to tiny delicate Carpet Moths caught from the moth traps set the
preivious night will be discovered in the comfort of our Visitor Centre. All welcome. Members 2, non-members 5.
Booking essential, 01305 778313.
Sun 17 July and 14 August 1pm5pm
Spider Sunday at Arne walk
Track down a wide variety of spiders with naturalist, Tony Sheridan. See if you can catch him out on his spider
knowledge! A fantastic introduction to the spiders here! Free. No need to book. Contact: 01929 553360.

Events
Summer
Fri 29 July and Fri 12 August 7.30 pm-10.30 pm
Fri 26 August 7 pm-10 pm
Go batty at Radipole Lake walk
Youll have to chance to see and hear up to six species of bat - from Britains largest bat, the Noctule bat to the
smallest, the Pipestrelle bat. All welcome. Members 2, non-members 5. Booking essential, 01305 778313.
Wed 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 August 10 am-12 noon
Radipoles family wildlife workshops
Designed with the family in mind free different themed event every week for children. Full details on our website
as soon as confirmed or from 01305 778313.
Sat 27 August 10 am-4 pm
Join the RSPB day at Radipole Lake
Ever thought about joining the RSPB but never got round to it? Come and support your local reserve and see first
hand where your donation goes. Free guided walks are on the hour, every hour - 10 am-3pm.
Booking not required. Contact us, 01305 778313.
Sun 4 September 6:30 pm-8:30 pm
Roost watch at Radipole Lake
Were expecting thousands of birds to roost on the reserve - swallows and martins as well as hundreds of wagtails.
All welcome. Members 2, non-members 5. Booking essential, 01305 778313.
Sat 10 and Sun 11 September 10 am-4 pm
Raptors weekend at Arne
Ospreys are our real focus - but guides in our hides and at special viewing stations will help you spot all raptors.
Join us and learn more about birds of prey. Free event. Booking not required. Contact us, 01929 553360.
Kingfisher weekend at Radipole Lake
Come along any time. Volunteers and staff will help you see this wonderful bird. Free.event. All welcome Booking
not required. Contact us, 01305 778313.
Wed 7, Sat 17 and Sun 18 September
Up close! Come to Radipole optic demo
Thinking about some new binoculars or upgrading to a new telescope? Come along to this free event and try out
our wide range of optics, all available to purchase on the day. Whether beginner or expert our fully trained advisors
are here to help. Contact us 01305 778313.
"We sell a wide range of binoculars and telescopes, available to try and buy every day of the year, with expert ad-
vice on hand to help you get the best solution, but we also run special events, such as this, where a wider range is
available to try." Michelle Williams, Retail Manger.

Events
Summer

Fungi foray at Arne walk
Explore Arnes woods with us, for fantastic fungi, some that are edible, and others that are definitely not!
Members 3, non-members 6, children free. Booking essential, 01929 553360.
Sun 25 September
Spider Sunday at Arne walk
Track down a wide variety of spiders with naturalist, Tony Sheridan. See if you can catch him out on his spider
knowledge! A fantastic introduction to the spiders here! Free. No need to book. Contact: 01929 553360.

Animals, Man and Treescapes
Conference to be held at Sheffield Hallam University, from 14th to the 16th September 2011.
Professor Ian D. Rotherham and colleagues from the Biodiversity and Landscape History Research Institute are
organising a major event on the theme of Animals, Man and Treescapes looking at the interactions between
grazing animals, humans and wooded landscapes. The conference is supported by the British Ecological Society,
the Ancient Tree Forum, the Society for Landscape Studies, and the Landscape Conservation Forum. The event
will link research to relevant community projects throughout the UK and across Europe. Themes to be covered
include:
the impacts of grazing animals on both upland and lowland wooded landscapes;
managing sites with grazing animals;
problems and issues of inappropriate grazing;
issues around re-wilding landscapes; and
whilst giving an historic perspective through landscape history issues of current and future management will
also be addressed.
Speakers include Oliver Rackham, Keith Kirby, Frans Vera, Della Hooke, Adrian Newton, Hans Baete, Naomi
Sykes, Richard Gulliver, Tobias Pleininger, Peter Szabo, Ted Green, Ian Rotherham, Melvyn Jones and represen-
tatives from the Forestry Commission and Woodland Trust.
The conference begins on Wednesday afternoon (14th) with opening presentations from Professors Ian Rother-
ham and Melvyn Jones followed by a field visit to the Longshaw Estate on the edge of the Peak District National
Park. The field visit will demonstrate several of the conference themes and provide a background to the following
two days discussions. The conference dinner on the following evening will have Oliver Rackham as the after-
dinner guest speaker.
Booking forms and further information about the event including a provisional programme can be found on our
website www.ukeconet.co.uk site. The programme is full for spoken presentations but we can still accept offers of
posters and displays which should be sent to Christine@hallamec.plus.com .

Events
Summer
Back from the Edge
The fall and rise of Yorkshires Wildlife
At Centre in the Park, Norfolk Heritage Park, Sheffield
Saturday 29th October 2011

This 1-day conference, taking place in Sheffield, is being organised jointly by South Yorkshire ECONET
(Biodiversity Research Group) and PLACE. It will look at the changes which have taken place over the last 50
years across the landscapes of Yorkshire and its wildlife. There have been losses and gains in both habitats and
species in different parts of the county as socio-economic, political, agricultural and commercial changes have
taken effect super-imposed on fluctuating weather patterns. For many years it appeared that losses outweighed
gains as threats increased and intensified. In the last 20 years, through greater understanding of the impacts of
change, conservation management and community involvement there are signs that for some landscapes and wild-
life the future is looking brighter but for others the picture is less favourable. The speakers, Professor Ian Rother-
ham, Professor Melvyn Jones, Dr Margaret Atherden (PLACE), Chris Firth (River Don Catchment Trust), Keith
Clarkson (RSPB), Colin Howes (former Doncaster Museums), Dave Chesmore (YNU), Ian Carstairs (Cornfield
Flowers Project), will draw on a range of landscapes and groups of species to illustrate the complex story and pose
questions for the future.
In addition to the spoken presentations there will be some space for displays. If you would like to book* or bring a
display please get in touch with John in the conference team. john@hallamec.plus.com
The conference will run from 9.45am (registration) to 4.30pm. Fees include delegate packs, refreshments and
lunch. The venue is fully accessible with on-site parking.
*Members of PLACE, please book directly with Margaret Atherden, PLACE. (www.place.uk.com)

Runners-up Photos
Summer
Again a very high standard of entries for the front cover competitionkeep them coming!

Phillipa Sheldrake
Tony Anderson
Nick Jones
Alderney May Sue N
Richard Hastings

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