1.2. Species rich hedgerows are defined as those with an average of five or more native woody species in each thirty-metre length of the hedge (with the count dropping to four for the 'northern counties' of England). It is proposed that hedgerows in Sheffield with an average of four species per thirty-metre section meet the criteria for designation as species-rich.
1.3. A problem arises when attempting to identify which hedgerows are species-rich according to the criterion above from existing information. Most of the survey information held for Sheffield was collected using 'whole hedge counts' for woody (and ground flora) species. These hedges will require re-surveying if the national HAP criteria are to be used to identify species-rich hedgerows. Finding alternative criteria that can be applied locally might be necessary if re-survey is not practical option.
2a.1. Reliable figures on the total extent of Sheffield's hedgerow resource have never been produced. Aerial photographs (the last set produced in August 1997) held by the City Council could be analysed to establish a relatively up to date figure. A figure for ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows will be more difficult to determine.
2a.2. There are several areas containing hedgerow habitat of locally significant extent. All these areas have received some form of surveying or study in the recent past. These studies have targeted most of the main areas of hedgerow habitat occurring in Sheffield's urban fringe countryside. The distribution of hedgerow boundaries thins out progressively west of the city (where dry stone wall boundaries begin to dominate much of the landscape) but Loxley and Ewden valleys are likely to contain a small number of ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows that require surveying. Areas in Sheffield where a significant amount of hedgerows exist and for which information has been collected includes Mosborough, Owlthorpe, Oakes Park, Gleadless Valley, Beauchief, Totley & Dore, Woodhouse East, Ecclesfield & Grenoside.
2a.3. Many hedgerows in urban (and suburban) areas contain a range of garden varieties and introductions and are often regarded of little conservation interest, but they can contribute significantly to the diversity of habitat. Few studies have been carried out into the extent or importance of such hedges (Gleadless Valley is perhaps an exception to this rule) but they may provide a significant number of nesting and feeding sites for garden/urban parkland birds.
2b.1. Information on the condition of hedgerows is to be found in some of the surveys and studies mentioned above. Most existing information on Sheffield's hedgerows comes from a field boundaries study funded by South Yorkshire Forest Partnership and carried out in a sample area of each of the designated eight zones of the South Yorkshire Forest. Data is available from three of the zones that occur within the Sheffield local planning authority boundary in which an assessment of the condition and conservation value of around 200 hedgerows was made. Hedgerows surveyed were of variable condition. Lack of appropriate management appears to be a key factor influencing the quality of hedgerows in the three zones.
3.1. It is widely accepted that hedgerow habitat in England has declined dramatically over the last 50 years due mainly to the introduction of intensive agricultural practices and, to a lesser extent, urbanisation. The main threats to hedgerows in Sheffield are also from agriculture and the continuing development of the city's urban fringe countryside for housing, leisure and industry.
3.2. The most recent statistics on hedgerow loss nationally (for 1993) appear to show a slowing down in the loss of hedgerows through removal and a corresponding rise in the planting of new hedges. However, the major problem facing hedgerows continues to be neglect. The affects of this neglect can easily be seen parts of the urban fringe of Sheffield where formerly managed hedge boundaries have become rows of over-mature shrubs and trees with little bushy growth and many gaps. Such hedgerows can make traditional methods of hedge management, such as hedgelaying, difficult without the use of power tools/chain saws.
3a.1. The difficult conditions that now prevail in the livestock markets have given rise to rapid changes in farming practices in many areas. Conversion to more profitable arable farming has been undertaken in many parts of the country. As a result field boundaries used for stock control have become redundant. They are often removed to enable the more efficient harvesting of arable crops by large machinery. Those that remain decline in quality through the usual intensive farming practices associated with modern arable farming. Recent studies show that a significant number of field boundaries have been lost locally within the last 20 years. In particular dry-stone walls in the west and northwest, and hedgerows in the north, east and southeast of the city. Many of those that remain are in urgent need of management and restoration. Others suffer from early and severe cutting denying food to birds. Spray drift from the application of chemical inputs and increased nutrients from spreading slurry etc can greatly affect the composition of hedgerows, with plants like cleavers that thrive on nutrient enrichment sometimes smothering whole hedgerows. Lack of incentives under grant schemes have also played their part in the decline of hedgerow condition with MAFF's Farm Conservation Grant Scheme (one-off payments for environmentally beneficial capital expenditure) suffering from cuts in funding a few years before it was finally wound up in 1996. Loss of trees in hedgerows has also occurred from Elm disease. These and others that have been felled have been rarely replaced.
3b.1. The effects of urbanisation on the ecology of hedgerows that survive the bulldozer are profound. It means permanent loss of suitable habitat for farmland birds such as tree sparrow, linnet, yellowhammer and grey partridge. Rich field margins become amenity grass verge or concrete path. Many of the field boundaries in the south east of the city have been swallowed up by the growth of townships around Mosborough and Beighton with further developments in the pipeline. On the plus side birds adapted to urban conditions will readily utilise these hedgerows (blackbirds, greenfinches, robins, collared doves, wrens and dunnocks) and new developments now often require compensatory planting or the retention of existing hedge and trees in new development. The management of hedgerows in or nearby urban areas also becomes problematical with practices such as laying often having to be scaled down to minimise vandalism (through fire damage etc).
4a.1. Hedgerows have long been recognised of special importance in areas outside the network of nature conservation sites. There are no hedgerows designated specifically for their conservation interest in Sheffield but some may fall within an Area of Natural History Interest (formerly SSIs & CWAs), such as at Oakes Park, or Local Nature Site. Hedgerow trees may also be protected by locally designated Tree Preservation Orders or if they are present in Conservation Areas, Areas of Special Character or in scheduled Historic Parks and Gardens (Supplementary Planning Guidance 1997 - Sheffield's Historic Parks & Gardens).
4b.1. Guidance to local authorities on nature conservation and land use planning is found in Planning Policy Guidance 9 (PPG9). PPG7 relates to environment, economic and social development in the countryside. All these inform the city's latest Unitary Development Plan (UDP) recently adopted. Policies relevant to hedgerows appear in the UDP under the Green Environment chapter. In GE15 developers are required to 'retain mature trees, copses and hedgerows wherever possible, and replace any trees which are lost'. Other relevant sections are GE1, GE2 (Protection and Improvement of the Green Belt landscape), GE8 (Areas of High Landscape Value and Peak District National Park) GE10 (Green network), GE11 (Nature Conservation and development).
4b.2. There are a number of policies and strategies (non-statutory) that operate within Sheffield. The Sheffield Nature Conservation Strategy (1990) committed the City Council's Property Services Division to manage the Council's agricultural holdings (at that time amounting to 3,300 acres) 'which takes into account the requirements of nature conservation'. New lettings of agricultural land were to require a commitment to conserve or enhance features of nature conservation (NCS18 (E)). Recent proposals to sell such land on the open market was the subject of some controversy, many conservationists fearing the loss of nature conservation interest. To ensure this interest is not lost legal covenants are now required for any land proposed for sale. Some future monitoring of the implementation of this policy may be needed.
4b.3. Local hedgerow conservation can be reinforced through the City Council's recently developed Countryside Strategy. One of the six key areas of activity in this Strategy is a commitment to enhance and protect local species and habitat through the BAP process (Task C2). Other relevant strategies and policies include the Countryside Management Strategy, Woodlands Policy and Sheffield Parks Regeneration Strategy.
4c.1. Newly evolving Regional Planning Policies should be assessed for their effectiveness in promoting sustainable development in urban and countryside areas. All efforts should be made to make regional planning compatible with the requirements of designations and policies protecting habitats, species and the wider countryside.
4c.2. The South Yorkshire and North East Derbyshire Local Environment Agency Plan (LEAP) produced by the Environment Agency stresses the importance of the maintenance of field boundaries such as hedgerows as a mechanism to reduce soil erosion and resulting sedimentation in watercourses.
4c.3. Article 10 of the EC Habitats Directive (1994) requires member states to encourage the management of features of the landscape which are of major importance for fauna and flora. Article 10 continues 'Such features are those, by virtue of their linear and continuous structure (such as rivers with their banks or the traditional systems for marking field boundaries)….are essential for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species.'
4c.4. Under Agenda 21 Sheffield's Living City Initiative has drawn up a environmental indicators checklist using biodiversity and the quality of landscape and countryside as two of many other measures proposed. Hedgerows could be used as an indicator for either of these two.
4d.1. Under the Environment Act 1995, implementation of the Hedgerows Regulations 1997 by the City Council is required to protect 'important' hedgerows. Experience with the one and only removal notification so far suggests that authority personnel will need to devote more time and attention on the detailed procedures for assessment of 'important' hedgerows. A review of the Regulations has been carried out with the aim to simplify them and increase the number of hedgerows for protection. The new regulations are planned for introduction some time during 2000.
4d.2. The Government aims to publish data collected for the Countryside Survey 2000 by late 2000 (updating the Countryside Survey 1990). This will include information on all types of field boundary and more up to date figures on the length and condition of hedgerows covering the period between 1990-1998. The Government will use this data in considering the extension of legislation to protect dry stone walls and other traditional field boundaries as well as a possible strengthening of the existing primary legislation (s97 of Environment Act 1995) covering hedgerows.
4d.3. Within the present boundary of Sheffield sixteen Parliamentary Enclosure Acts and awards have been recorded (see Appendix B for full list). Most existing hedgerows planted under these Acts are hawthorn dominant and are likely to contain at most 4 species and mostly less. A large number have disappeared through development and intensive agriculture. Those that remain may have some legal standing as the majority of Parliamentary Enclosure Acts are still on the statute books. A recent county court judgement set a legal precedent for such hedgerows (where a public interest is at stake such as those along public footpaths, bridleways, lanes and roads) to be maintained indefinitely. Although they may be species poor, our depleted hedgerow resource will enhance their importance to the local landscape and it is suggested that the Sheffield BAP promote their protection - mainly for their future conservation potential. In West Yorkshire Selby Council have taken the unusual step of adopting a policy in their UDP to use (in certain circumstances) the Enclosure Acts to protect parliamentary enclosure field boundaries. The Countryside Strategy should consider adopting the use of valid Enclosure Acts as a mechanism for protection. However, species-rich and ancient hedgerows should remain the priority for conservation effort.
4d.4. There are species occurring in hedgerow habitats protected by other legislation such as the Wildlife & Countryside Act (1981) and its subsequent amendments and the Protection of Badgers Act (1992).
4e.1. Impetus for practical conservation of hedgerows locally has come from two main sources - grant-aid through Countryside Stewardship and through the South Yorkshire Forest Partnership (SYFP).
4e.2. Since the introduction of Countryside Stewardship in 1991 and the Hedgerow Incentive Scheme (HIS) in 1992 (HIS was integrated into Countryside Stewardship from 1994) Countryside Commission and (from 1996) MAFF have agreements with local farmers and landowners to manage the countryside to benefit the environment. Within the Sheffield boundary agreements have enabled the planting and management of over 10,000 metres of hedgerow (see Appendix C for full breakdown of activities). However, agreements mainly fund restoration and planting. Payments for management of hedgerows are restricted to those planted up or restored under a stewardship agreement (as a 'one-off' payment five years after restoration/planting work). Stewardship agreements usually last ten years so the first ones will end in 2001. So far there has been no word from MAFF on the future of the scheme or if agreements will be renewed on the same terms. Within the last two to three years agreements have been set up within the framework of management targets and target areas devised each year through consultation. Targets are for Countryside Character Areas. In the last few years of this system operating Stewardship agreements in many Countryside Character Areas are now worded to require the retention and management of all traditional field boundaries on the applicant's holding (such agreements cannot be overridden by proposals for removal under the Hedgerows Regulations 1997).
4e.3. South Yorkshire Forest Partnership (SYFP) grant aid small projects (not qualifying for Countryside Stewardship) by using funds from the Countryside Agency's Community Conservation Grant scheme. This has resulted in the establishment of a total of 1,254 metres of new planting in Sheffield in between the period 1995-98 (more planting has been carried out in 1999). In a broader context South Yorkshire Forest Partnership have enabled the planting and management of 70,000 metres of hedgerow in the South Yorkshire Forest area (covering part of Barnsley, most of Sheffield and Rotherham) between 1991-98.
4e.4. The City Council's own Countryside Management Unit play an important role in working with local conservation groups and landowners on hedge planting and management (with funding from SYFP and Countryside Stewardship). Two areas in particular have seen recent and significant improvements in their hedgerows - Shirtcliff and Shirebrook Valleys (where 902m of new planting and 468m of hedge laying took place between April 1997 and March 1998).
4e.5. Responsibility for the maintenance of roadside hedgerows (ie. the half facing the public highway) lies with Highways Departments of local authorities. Most of the management of these is contracted out. It is suggested that, where practicable, more sympathetic and better standards of management should be introduced for all contractors to follow.
4e.6. Training of individuals in the skills required for good hedgerow management, such as hedgelaying, will be a key element in enabling the achievement of any management targets in a hedgerow habitat action plan for Sheffield. However, as has been mentioned before, many hedgerows, because of their lack of management in the past, now require considerable effort in laying and can only be done with the skills of a layer holding a chain saw certificate. Some local authorities in South Yorkshire organise training days where volunteers can get involved and learn from experienced hedgelayers. Such training days should be a regular feature in the winter programme of events held by local authority countryside services. Other organisations active locally in environmental training such as BTCV and Sheffield Environmental Training also include hedgelaying in their training programmes. The 1998 House of Commons Inquiry into the Protection of Field Boundaries suggested the development of existing National Vocational Qualifications to encourage these skills.
4f.1. Since 1997 the local CPRE branch (covering all of South Yorkshire, Peak National Park and parts of NE Derbyshire) have been promoting a National Hedgerow Survey. Unfortunately little surveying has been done in Sheffield under this initiative. However, a CPRE branch hedgerow survey inventory has also been compiled summarising details of around 83,000+ metres of hedgerow surveying within the Sheffield boundary between 1982-99 (see Appendix D for further details of these surveys and Appendix E for sources of information and published/unpublished reports). This figure will include a proportion of hedgerows that have been surveyed more than once in that period.
4f.2. Parish Councils (Ecclesfield, Stocksbridge and Bradfield) may be drawing up parish maps in which hedgerows and other types of field boundary may feature.
4f.3. South Yorkshire Archaeology Service is based in Sheffield and administers the county's Sites and Monuments Register (SMR). This register does not currently hold any data specifically on hedgerows of historical or archaeological importance in South Yorkshire. There are many that certainly date back to medieval and Tudor times within South Yorkshire. In Sheffield some of the earliest ones which possibly relate to medieval enclosure of open fields (as in Mosborough) and others along old lanes and tracks could qualify for recognition, perhaps within the SMR or on a separate register.
4f.4. Sheffield Archives hold details of Enclosure Acts & Awards (with plans/maps for many) that apply to the current boundary of Sheffield. Derbyshire Archives at Matlock also hold documents and plans also for Beighton, Dore, Norton and Totley.
4g.1. Biodiversity Roadshows and Conferences, public events such as talks, hedge surveying, planting, hedgelaying competitions and demonstrations, displays in libraries and nature reserve visitor centres are all elements of publicity that have been used to promote all aspects of hedgerows in the Sheffield area.
4g.2. In the Sheffield area hedgelaying competitions are of increasing occurrence. Within South Yorkshire in 1999 the 21st National Hedgelaying Championship took place near Maltby. This competition is sponsored by Tarmac. Closer to Sheffield, the Norton Agricultural Show and Ploughing Society, hold annual competitions in the Jordanthorpe area - resulting in many metres of hedge being laid (usually in the Midland style). There are also national farm competitions such as the Silver Lapwing award and the national Farm Hedgerow Challenge (funded by Bayer plc and FWAG) that provide examples of good farm management practices for local farmers and land managers to follow.
5.1. To implement a programme that aims to end any removal of species-rich/ancienthedgerows by end of 2000 and for the positive management of XX% of species rich and/or ancient hedgerows by end of 2004.
5.2. To cost the above plan at the earliest opportunity so that adequate funds can be secured
5.3. To raise awareness and knowledge about conservation, management and importance of hedgerows through local events and provide access to information.
5.4. Encourage development of hedgerow trees (and achieve balanced age structure) and their protection (see Appendix F for Devon Hedge Group's evaluation of the Hedgerow Tree Pilot Scheme they ran with Devon County Council).
|
ACTION |
POTENTIAL DELIVERERS |
Year (to be complete or in place by) |
Meets objective number |
|||||||
|
Lead |
Partners |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
2004 |
|||
|
A) Policy & legislation 1 Implement Hedgerows Regulations 2 Conservation groups/parish councils/local MPs to lobby for improved hedgerow protection legislation (and for protection to be extended to all types of field boundary such as dry stone walls) 3 Lobby for expansion and improvement of Countryside Stewardship and other measures in CAP reform that will enable farmers to carry out positive management of hedges (and other features) 4. Identify and map surviving hedgerows (and other field boundaries) that occur in valid Enclosure Acts and Awards. Identify who is responsible for those hedges/boundaries required to be maintained 'in perpetuity' |
SCC (SCEU)
CPRE
CPRE
SCC Archives |
SYAS SCC Planning & Legal Depts Wildlife Trusts/Local Conservation Groups
Wildlife Trusts/FWAG
SCC Legal Dept, CPRE |
3
3
3
3 |
3
3
3
3 |
3
3
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
6.1
6.1
6.1
6.1 & 6.3 |
|
|
B) Site safeguard and management 1 All hedgerow trees to be covered by Tree Preservation Orders 2 Develop hedgerow tree scheme 3 Obtain information about Devon Hedge Group's successful Hedgerow Tree Pilot Scheme 4 Implement programme of works for XX% of target hedges by end of 2004 |
SCC (Planning Dept)
SCC(SCEU) CPRE
CMU |
Local conservation groups
Local conservation groups |
3
3 3
3 |
3
3
3 |
3
3
3 |
3
3
3 |
3 |
3 |
6.1 & 6.4
6.4 6.4
6.1 & 6.4 |
|
|
C) Research & monitoring 1 Assess total of current hedgerow resource and identify those that are species rich and/or ancient 2 Assess the condition and management of these species rich and/or ancient hedgerows. Identify those that are in need of urgent sympathetic management. Determine the XX% requiring positive management by end of 2004 and draw up a phased programme of management work |
SCC (SCEU & Planning)
CMU |
CPRE & others
BTCV, CPRE, SET, SYFP? |
3
3 |
3
3 |
6.1
6.1
|
|||||
|
4 Identify national & local species requiring management of specie-rich/ancient hedgerows 5 Identify & write to relevant land owners/managers/farmers to assist in 1-3 above; explain their potential role in hedgerow conservation as part of Sheffield's BAP process. |
SCC (SCEU) & Wildlife Trusts
Wildlife Trusts |
Local conservation groups
NFU & CLA |
3
3 |
3
3 |
6.1 & 6.3
6.1 & 6.3 |
|||||
|
D) Advisory 1 Practical management and grant aid, MAFF Codes of Practice:
2 Legislation: |
MAFF (FRCA), FWAG & Countryside Agency
CPRE |
BTCV, SYFP, NFU? SCC (CMU) & SET
SCC (SCEU) |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
6.3
6.3 |
|
|
E) Communications & publicity 1 Provide information and raise awareness. The Action Plan should explore possibility of sending a copy of 'Business and Biodiversity' (published by Earthwatch) and BTCV's pack on hedgerows (produced in 1998) to relevantlandowners and land managers. Promote other publications such as the Bayer/FWAG 'Guide to Good Hedges' & 'A Farmer's Guide to Hedgerow & Field Margin Management' (by Sotherton & Page) |
Wildlife Trusts/BTCV
|
FWAG, SCC (CMU & SCEU), CPRE, NFU, CLA, Local conservation groups |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
6.3
|
|
|
2 Roadshow/mobile exhibtion
3 Hedge laying training day(s) |
SCC(SCEU),Wildlife Trusts SCC (CMU), NFU |
Local conservation groups Individual practitioners |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
3
3 |
6.3
6.1 & 6.3 |
|
BTCV - British Trust for Conservation Volunteers; CLA - Country Landowners Association; CPRE - Council for the Protection of Rural England; FWAG - Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group; MAFF (FRCA) - Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Farming & Rural Conservation Agency; NFU - National Farmers Union; SCC (CMU) - Sheffield City Council, Countryside Management Unit; SCC (SCEU) - Sheffield City Council, Sheffield City Ecology Unit; SET - Sheffield Environmental Training; SYAS - South Yorkshire Archaeology Service; SYFP - South Yorkshire Forest Partnership.
7.1. The national habitat action plan mentions ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows as a primary habitat for 47 species of conservation concern in the UK (see Appendix A for a list of some of these). One species in which ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows provide a primary habitat is recorded in Sheffield - great crested newt. Its occurrence in these hedgerows (and other boundary types such as dry-stone walls - especially in the White Peak) may be related to the presence of dew-ponds in adjacent fields. Information from pond surveys in Sheffield may flag up hedgerows that might function as 'hibernacula' for the species. However, such sites are likely to be few. Hedgerows and associated field margins provide secondary habitat for several bird species of conservation concern occurring in Sheffield and include song thrush, linnet, bullfinch, spotted flycatcher, turtle dove, grey partridge, corn bunting, skylark, reed bunting (where core wetland habitat is nearby) and tree sparrow. Work to identify national/local BAP species requiring management of ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows needs to be undertaken.
7.2. Hedgerows are also closely connected with another priority habitat - arable/cereal field margins. Without hedgerows (or other boundaries) these field margins could not exist. Action to protect or enhance either one should also bring management benefits to the other.
List of BAP (national & local) species for which Species-rich/Ancient Hedgerows are a key habitat (from information supplied by English Nature, Wakefield)
|
Species (national) |
Value of habitat to species |
Sheffield records? (Y/N) |
||||||||
|
Primary |
Secondary |
Lesser or unknown |
||||||||
|
Triturus cristatus |
Great-crested newt |
4 |
||||||||
|
Lucanus cervus |
Stag beetle |
4 |
||||||||
|
Emberiza cirlus |
Cirl bunting |
4 |
||||||||
|
Battaraea phalloides |
Phalloid (fungi) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Pareulype berberata |
Barberry carpet (moth) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Carduelis cannabina |
Linnet |
|
4 |
|||||||
|
Turdus philomelos |
Song thrush |
4 |
||||||||
|
Pyrrhula pyrrhula |
Bullfinch |
4 |
||||||||
|
Muscicapa striata |
Spotted flycatcher |
4 |
||||||||
|
Streptopelia turtur |
Turtle dove |
4 |
||||||||
|
Passer montanus |
Tree sparrow |
4 |
||||||||
|
Xestia rhomboidea |
Square spotted clay (moth) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Cosmia diffinis |
White-spotted pinion (moth) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Dicycla oo |
Heart (moth) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Hypena rostralis |
Buttoned snout (moth) |
4 |
||||||||
|
Muscardinus Avellanarius |
Dormouse |
4 |
||||||||
|
Rhinolophus hipposideros |
Lesser horseshoe bat |
4 |
||||||||
|
Caloplaca luteoalba |
Orange-fruited elm lichen |
4 |
||||||||
|
Bacidia incompta |
Lichen |
4 |
||||||||
|
Pipistrellus pipistrellus |
Pipistrelle bat |
4 |
||||||||
|
Species (national) |
Value of habitat to species |
Sheffield records? (Y/N) |
||||||||
|
Primary |
Secondary |
Lesser or unknown |
||||||||
|
Rhinolophus ferrumequinum |
Greater horseshoe bat |
4 |
||||||||
|
Species (local) |
||||||||||
Countryside Stewardship Scheme
Lengths of Hedgerow Capital Items Codes Local Government District of Sheffield (1991-1998)1
|
Item Code |
Length (m) |
|
Hedge gapping-up (now in hedge planting below) |
1,009 |
|
Hedge laying |
1,816 |
|
Hedge planting |
1,830 |
|
Hedge restoration - coppicing |
615 |
|
Hedge management payment2 |
2,172 |
|
Hedge restoration - planting |
723 |
|
Supplement (laying difficult hedges) >1.5m wide |
1,881 |
|
TOTAL |
10,046 |
1
Figures supplied by Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (FRCA), Leeds, February 19982
Management payments are made only to restored hedgerows included in a Countryside Stewardship whole farm field boundary restoration plan (a single payment is made five years after restoration work)Summary of Hedgerow Surveying in Sheffield (from Sheffield, Peak District & South Yorkshire CPRE Branch Hedgerow Survey Inventory, in prep.)
|
Location of survey & Character Area (CA)/Natural Area (NA)1 |
Year |
Carried out by |
Type of data collected |
Number of hedgerows Surveyed & estimated total length |
|
Dore (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1982 |
R Ashbee for Ornithological Section of Sorby Natural History Society |
Frequency of bird species, numbers and frequencies of tree & shrub species & other bird related data |
1 (172m) |
|
Gleadless Valley (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1987-92 |
Gleadless Valley Wildlife Group & Sheffield City Ecology Unit (SCEU) |
Woody species & ground flora |
94 (very provisional estimate of 10,000+m) |
|
Beauchief (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1989 |
Nick Barnes (on behalf of Beauchief Environment Group) |
Trees and shrubs with some management prescriptions |
21 (3,860m) |
|
Moss Valley (Zone 1) (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1992 |
Volunteers from BTCV/Sheffield City Wildlife Project (Glynn Stevenson & Mark Hudson) |
Trees, shrubs, climbers, plants |
24 (1,470m) |
|
Shirtcliff Valley (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1990 |
SCEU |
Woody species, climbers and ground flora |
2 (remnant) |
|
Moorhole Farm off Birley Moor Road (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1992 |
Jean Glasscock & Julie Wynn of SCEU |
Trees and shrubs, ground flora and condition |
8 (1,000m) |
|
Totley (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1993 |
Girl Guides, All Saints, Totley |
Trees & shrubs, physical dimensions, management, adjacent land use, flora & fauna |
1 (200+ yards in 30m lengths) |
|
Location of survey & Character/Natural Area |
Year |
Carried out by |
Type of data collected |
Number of hedgerows Surveyed & estimated total length |
|
Totley/Dore (trial 'Hedge Pledge' survey)and Ecclesfield (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe & Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1993 |
SCEU (Kevin Walker & anon for Ecclesfield) |
Woody species, ground flora, fauna, physical characters, management, adjacent land use and associated features + assessment of age for Totley hedges |
10 in Dore and Totley; 2 in Ecclesfield (2,160m) |
|
Several locations within Sheffield for 'Hedge Pledge' Survey (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe & Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield Cas, Coal Measures NA) |
1993-96 |
Volunteers for SCEU + Sheffield Centre for Ecology and Environmental Management (SCEEM) |
Woody species, ground flora, physical characters, management, adjacent land use and associated features |
29 (6,500m) |
|
Mosborough Moor South (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1994 |
SCEEM |
Trees, shrubs & ground flora using DAFOR scale. Notes on ecological value & management for some |
16 (4,200m)
|
|
Owlthorpe & Moorhole (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1994 (March/April) |
SCEU |
Trees & shrubs, ground flora & general ecological value |
15 (2,580m) |
|
Proposed Westfield Country Park ecological survey (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1994 (summer) |
SCEEM |
Woody species composition |
33 (7,620m) |
|
Southern Sheffield Valleys - Mosborough (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1994/1995 |
SCEEM |
Woody species and ground flora, presence of standard trees, length, width and other physical characters, adjacent land uses and some bird/mammal records |
87 (+16 in NE Derbyshire) (16,385m) |
|
Ecclesfield - Scholes View area (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1995 (March) |
Sheffield City Ecology Unit - commissioned by Property Services Dept, Sheffield City Council |
Woody species in canopy & understory + flora in field layer - frequency & abundance ratings on NVC methodology |
21 (including NVC sampling of seven 30m lengths) |
|
Location of survey & Character/Natural Area |
Year |
Carried out by |
Type of data collected |
Number of hedgerows Surveyed & estimated total length |
|
Woodhouse East (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1995 (mid-May) |
SCEEM |
Woody species, ground flora, climbers, presence of standards, condition & management |
10 (1,465m) |
|
Oakes Park and on land north and south of Bochum Parkway (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1995 (June to August) |
SCEEM (Adrian Vicars, Steve Akeroyd and Ian Opelt) |
Woody species, ground flora, other wildlife (birds etc), historical references and associated features, physical characteristics |
18 (1,929m) |
|
Wentworth Parks, South (Grange Park) (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1996 (January) |
SCEEM |
% present, physical dimensions (except length), presence of trees & shrubs + ground flora & management & condition |
29 (5,150m) |
|
Northern Sheffield Valleys - Ecclesfield & Grenoside (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1996 (March - April) |
SCEEM |
% present, physical dimensions (except length), presence of standards & woody species, ground flora and fauna, condition & management |
70 (13,980m) |
|
Sheffield - Norfolk Park area (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield CA, Coal Measures NA) |
1997 |
CPRE volunteer (K Latus) |
Woody species, ground flora, fauna, presence of standard trees & physical characteristics (connectivity etc) |
1 |
|
Bradfield Parish (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
October 1998 |
Kurt Goodman & Jim Flanagan for Sheffield Wildlife Trust (Sheffield LBAP Grassland Survey) |
Woody species |
1 |
|
Bradfield Parish (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
June 1999 |
Jim Flanagan, Tim Jones & Dave Clarke for Sheffield Wildlife Trust (Sheffield LBAP Grassland Survey) |
Woody species |
1 (170m, including 30-40m of gaps) |
|
Totley (Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe CA, Coal Measures NA) |
August 1999 |
Jim Flanagan & Roger Humphrey (CPRE) |
Woody species, condition & connectivity |
3 (431m) |
|
Total of hedgerow survey in Yorkshire Southern Pennine Fringe Character Area |
5,800+m |
|||
|
Total of hedgerow survey in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfield Character Area |
77,200+m |
|||
|
Total of hedgerow survey in Coal Measures Natural Area |
83,000+m |
|||
|
Total length of hedgerow surveyed in Sheffield with extant data |
83,000+m (495 hedge surveys) |
|||
Jim Flanagan,
CPRE
September 1999