Biodiversity News

in Birmingham and The Black Country

- keeping partners in touch with Local BAP Action

Paul Stephenson, The Biodiversity Action Plan Co-ordinator explains some of the actions being undertaken to implement the Biodiversity Action Plan.

CONTENTS

Grasslands Project

Biodiversity: What’s It All About?

How to become involved in BAP implementation

Black Redstarts Survey

Woodland Groundflora Creation Day

Gardening for Biodiversity

Grasslands Project shows Urgent

Action on grasslands is needed.

A year long project to undertake a major audit of grasslands and look at case studies of practical grassland management is producing key data as to what state grasslands are in and how they are managed.

Jane Woulds and Sorrel Ault, two third year students from Cardiff University have been based with Birmingham City Council and The Wildlife Trust as part of their year industrial experience

Two of the cows at Northycote Farm undertaking vital management work! 

As part of this placement they are undertaking an extensive project on Grasslands in this area, which will be completed in August 2003. This is extremely important to the Grassland Habitat Plans, to provide a picture of what our grassland resource is and has already produced some startling figures.

For example, in Birmingham of all grassland types, 71 % is improved close mown, 26% is semi-improved and only 3% is either marshy, acid or acid heath.

More surprising is that since 1985 over 180ha of semi-improved grassland and over 141ha of improved grassland has been built upon.

The Grasslands Project is also looking into how these areas are managed for wildlife either by grazing or by hay meadow management.

At the present time these areas include hay meadows at Woodgate Valley and the large extensive areas of Sutton Park National Nature Reserve grazed by 154 cattle and the recently introduced herd of 21 rare breed Exmoor ponies.

The picture differs across the different Local Authorities, with for example the rare breed Longhorn and Shorthorn cattle and Shropshire sheep grazing at the Sandwell Valley in Sandwell.

Generally grassland management is carried out at individual Ranger managed sites  in Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. In Wolverhampton much work has been undertaken over many years by the University of Wolverhampton and Wolverhampton City Council to recreate species rich grasslands at several sites.

Looking at individual case studies of best practice management around the area will then show what is being undertaken and what can be achieved. then focusing on sites where there is potential for extending management by grazing and hay making. The long term outcome will hopefully lead to sharing of best practice and extension of area managed with a benefit for wildlife.

At Northycote Farm in Wolverhampton, grazing (currently with four Hereford X Friesian and two Hereford cows and a small mixed flock of sheep). Species rich grassland is also to be extended by using hay from a flower filled area and spreading it onto a poorer field.

This Grasslands Project is already yielding valuable results and will form a solid foundation so that grasslands issues can be taken forward with the formation of a Grasslands Forum later in the year. This will encourage people involved in the practical management of this areas grasslands and anyone who is interested in both grassland and species dependent on grasslands, (such as ground nesting birds and meadow flowers), to meet up and promote grassland issues.

BIODIVERSITY: WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

Biodiversity is simply ”The variety of Life on Earth”

Everything we do has an impact on Biodiversity and we rely on Biodiversity for our very survival. In fact we are part of it!

A few examples of this are :- food, materials like wood, paper, rubber, fibres like wool and cotton and substances like oils and a host of natural products and medicines. Even the fresh air we breathe is derived from the biodiversity of the natural world. However it is not just our material needs that are met, much art, spiritual and stress relief is produced with the aid of the natural world of biodiversity.

The plan:

The Biodiversity Action Plan for Birmingham and the Black Country commonly known as “BAP” was produced in July 2000 after a long period of involvement by a steering group with The Wildlife Trust, EcoRecord, English Nature, Environment Agency, The University of Wolverhampton, RSPB and five Local Authorities (Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton),  and consultation with all sorts of interested parties from business interests to the general public.

The BAP has a Framework for Action and was originally composed of four overarching Issues plans, sixteen Habitat action plans and twenty two Species action plans. Since that time a couple of other species plans have also been added.

The individual plans were written by enthusiasts with consultation with interested parties. The fact is that from the start the most relevant people have been involved and the vast input (and continuing input) from volunteers means that the plan is truly  a “ground up” approach to action.

The plan is available online at www.bbcbap.org.uk or as CD ROM or hard copies.

If you would like a copy or want to find out more please contact Paul Stephenson at The Wildlife Trust on 0121 454 1199 or 01922 652542 or e-mail paul.s@urbanwt.cix.co.uk or stephensonp@walsall.gov.uk

The ongoing action for biodiversity takes place across this area at all sorts of level.

Many different individuals and small groups of enthusiasts are involved in helping promote and implement individual species and habitat action plans. Local Authorities as the major land owners in this area have a leading role to play and are involved at a strategic level in terms of wildlife site designation and at a practical level through the work of ranger activities at sites and with the day to day work managing parks and trees for example. Other organisations too have a role whether at a wide ranging level such as the canal system or at individual land owned sites.

HOW TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH HELPING IMPLEMENT THE PLAN

If you have an interest or would like to find out more please contact Paul. There is a huge amount to undertake to help implement the plan and  many ways that people can participate.  Several individual plans have active groups with for example the woodland and black redstarts groups. Much biodiversity action is undertaken on a site basis or with groups such as ranger groups and voluntary practical conservation groups such as the BTCV and not forgetting the work with education carried out by projects. People may want contact details which can mean meeting like-minded people and finding out what is going on in your locality. 

If people would like to set up a new group to pursue an individual action plan there is plenty of opportunity to do so.  There cannot be one species or habitat action plan that does not require more background monitoring and research to establish how action is progressing.  At very least, if people record wildlife and send records into EcoRecord it helps give a clearer picture as to the state of biodiversity here.  Remember there is no room for complacency as it is only recently that both starlings and house sparrows have been added to the bird red list - species of high conservation concern, due to drastic declines in numbers.

If you would like EcoRecord recording cards please contact Sara Carvalho at The Wildlife Trust.

A few examples of the sorts of ways people can participate are :-

The flora project

The mammals group

The woodland group

The black redstarts research survey group

The breeding birds survey

Herp Conservation  (amphibians and reptiles)

The moths group

plus several other action plan interest contacts.

and there are many site based and other specialist interest groups.

For example:

The Moths Group arranged a 'West Midlands Dayflying Moth Week' which ran at the beginning of  July. These species are getting increasingly rare and we want to find out where they still occur in our area. Best sites are with long grass and lots of wildflowers particularly with birds foot trefoil and pignut. Anywhere will do - it doesn't matter how small the site is!

If you need any help in finding a site or in identifying a species then please get in touch with Dave Grundy, the Moths Group  on 0121 360 9464 . Results will be collated and analysed.

For further details and contacts for the above, please contact Paul Stephenson at The Wildlife Trust on 0121 454 1199.

BLACK REDSTARTS SURVEY

Work is underway by a group of volunteers to produce a comprehensive survey of black redstarts across Birmingham and the Black Country. Black Redstarts are a Schedule 1 species bird (protected at all times) which only has around 100 pairs in the UK, of which around 10 pairs are present in this area. The survey  and research group includes the Wildlife Trust, RSPB, West Midlands Bird Club (WMBC), British Waterways, Local Authorities and others and will seek to establish the presence and breeding sites in this area. Building on survey work carried out in the 1980’s carried out by the WMBC and last year by Paul Curry at the Wildlife Trust, it will help to assess how these birds can be helped and raise awareness. Paul Curry said “it is significant that these birds return from abroad to breed at their natal site and in fact in Birmingham there are two pairs within metres of the very first site occupied here 50 years ago”.

Hopefully they can remain as a fascinating wildlife feature of our most built up areas. If anyone would like to help carry out this survey (which involves visiting inner city urban areas early in the morning and at evening), please contact the redstarts group c/o The Wildlife Trust or contact Paul Curry on  0121 624 4022.

Looking and behaving very like a black robin, the habitat they require is of the most urban inner city and derelict type of site.  Utilising open arid sites and roofs for foraging, they nest in ledges inside derelict and disused buildings. In Birmingham they tend to be found near canals and railways and have been affected by much city redevelopment in recent years. However much can be done to help these rare   birds. When new development  takes place nesting sites can be incorporated into designs and there is a huge potential for building green roofs and habitat into new development. In London, examples have been constructed where recreating ground conditions on top of roofs provides habitat for invertebrates and other birds as well. The technology for this is straightforward and involves putting substrate (gravel and small stones) onto roofs. On the continent this is an multi million Euro industry and is done for insulation and water drainage features. Apparently in Germany, all BMW factories have green roofs!

WOODLAND GROUNDFLORA CREATION DAY

In April the University of Wolverhampton organised a day event on woodland habitat creation,  which covered the work undertaken over several years by Dr. E. Cohn and Prof. I. Trueman. This covered the principals of habitat creation and showed the results of various experimental plots and how this successful technique could be utilised elsewhere.

Site visits to Nedge Hill at Telford and at The Compton Campus showed colourful arrays of woodland flowers and the various trial plot treatments were explained. Out of this work, the results were summarised and some simple guidelines were discussed.

More recent experimentation to determine if it was possible to establish a woodland flora at the same time as when planting young trees had been surprisingly  successful. Although early days, the ground flora would grow with nettles forming a “surrogate shade” overhead.

Primroses and bluebells  establishing at trial plots

Successful establishment had been achieved by using various techniques such as herbicide and rotavation for removing existing vegetation. Seeding for primroses, bluebell, wood sorrel, red campion, greater stitchwort and other species appeared more effective than planting small plants (although this did work too). Some species such as yellow archangel was planted from small plantlets. Interestingly the species used did vary in their ground coverage over several years. Bluebells took several years to seed and spread, whilst red campion often grew prolifically early on and then declined somewhat forming an equilibrium with the other flowers. Obviously on any given site different micro habitats would suit individual species.  Further research will no doubt produce fascinating results.

The day was a very enlightening event with many people saying that they couldn’t wait to have a go.

A second day event to look at the work undertaken on establishing meadow groundflora using hay strewing techniques which has been very successful is to take place in June and should be very impressive.

Wildlife Trust surveys help identify wildlife site biodiversity value.

WALSALL WILDLIFE SITES

Last year the Wildlife Trust on behalf of Walsall MBC undertook ecological surveys across Walsall of 46 wildlife sites to help evaluate those worthy of higher protection and to identify key wildlife interest.

CANALS

Working on behalf of British Waterways The Wildlife Trust surveyed all of the canals in Birmingham and The Rushall Canal in Walsall.  The aim was to identify the biodiversity value of the habitats present and protected species interest and to make recommendations for future management to both protect and enhance biodiversity.  British Waterways then hope to implement work which will encourage such species as water voles and others and biodiversity in general.

WATER VOLES

Water voles have been a focus for action with Tim Moughtin, Water for Wildlife project officer undertaking a series of work including surveying to help determine the status of these animals which have suffered rapid declines around the country.  Last year he revisited 100 out of 150 sites surveyed for watervole signs in 1997. The results were better than expected, with the likelihood being that numbers are probably stable in this area, compared to water voles becoming extinct across much of the country. 

Tim working with students and volunteers has undertaken tracking to determine levels of activity and this year is about to undertake some trapping to determine numbers present at sites.  Organising training days has also been a key element is raising awareness and providing expertise so that more water vole surveying can take place. Several organisations have been involved in surveying for water vole signs and there is also a public survey instigated by Dudley MBC.

As part of monitoring for water vole signs it is possible that otters are on the outskirts of this area as various potential signs have been noted. This is very encouraging that these spectacular animals are increasing and hopefully we will soon have positive records for them.  If you hear of any possible reports or find signs please contact Tim at the Wildlife Trust.

GARDENING FOR BIODIVERSITY

If you would like to encourage biodiversity in your own garden here are a few ideas to start with.

First of all look what is already there, it is surprising how wildlife will utilise what we think are our possessions.

Wildlife (or biodiversity) requires water, food and shelter and will vary due to light and shade and wetness and dryness. Think of food webs and how different species affect each other.

Think of providing structure and a variety of conditions and utilising what is already present.

Native trees and shrubs such as oak, willows, birch, ash, alder, crab apple, cherry, rowan and hazel provide habitat and food; try to encourage native species and if possible plant a mixed hedge of hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn, elder, wild rose and holly and use climbers such as ivy and honeysuckle to cover sheds and fences.

Old trees are particularly valuable as is deadwood habitat and should be retained if possible.

Providing water in a garden adds another dimension and even a small pond will soon be colonised by a wealth of wildlife from birds to frogs and dragonflies. Many different forms of biodiversity will use the pond and if you can provide a wet marshy area a range of wetland plants can be grown too.

Many garden plants are valuable for wildlife for instance a buddleia bush (although an introduced plant) will be covered in butterflies. Look around other gardens and see what plants are being used by butterflies and other wildlife. Provide a range of plants to provide a succession of flowers for nectar and allow to seed, choose more traditional single flowered, scented flowers rather than highly bred double ones. 

Teazel is a very good plant with purple flowerheads visited by bumblebees and butterflies and attractive winter seed heads used by goldfinches. It also forms a “wildlife water tower” with cupfuls of rainwater being caught between the stems and leaves.

Butterflies and moths require nectar rich flowerplants, such as sedum, daisies and knapweed but also need larval foodplants for their caterpillars.   Many need specific plants but a wide variety of butterflies breed on nettles and also grasses in sheltered sunny locations.   

Include native wildflowers and if possible try to recreate mini- habitats such as meadow or woodland areas.  Allow a part of a lawn to grow to set seed and note the variety of grasses and other plants present. Cut the grass in late summer, (removing grass cuttings to the compost heap) and develop a meadow.

Provide room for decay and recycling with a shaded log pile or pile of branches and twigs being a multi-storey habitat for fungi and invertebrates. Even a pile of stones and rubble will provide nooks and crannies for a wide variety of creatures from newts  to spiders. Even old walls provide holes for masonry bees.

Leave off chemical sprays and go organic, many species such as ladybirds, lacewings, hoverflies and spiders are beneficial in the garden predating many garden pests. Frogs and toads eat slugs, whilst birds will control caterpillars and other bugs.

Recycle plant remains and make compost to provide natural plant fertiliser. A compost heap is at the heart of a wildlife garden.

Providing a variety of feeding opportunities and nesting facilities can provide much interest. Bird feeders and bird boxes come in all shapes and sizes and you can also provide food and nest sites for everything from hedgehogs to lacewings. 

Certain materials such as peat (from rare wetlands), tropical timber and imported charcoal from destroyed rainforests and water worn limestone  from threatened habitat should be banned from your garden as better alternatives exist.

Make leafmould and compost and buy Forest stewardship certified wood and charcoal from local coppiced woodland sources. If in doubt, ask where any material came from and spread the word.

Once you have begun to encourage wildlife in your garden you will become increasingly aware of how areas outside your control are important and how rich your local wildlife patch is.  Now all you have to do is seek to protect and enhance that too!