Post on 08-Jul-2020
Tees-Swale: naturally connected
Project area
Tees-Swale project area 829 sq km
Project rationale
“More, bigger, better and joined up”
“The first priority is to enhance the quality of remaining wildlife habitat”
Project rationale
The northern Pennines have the lowest levels of habitat fragmentation/ highest levels of habitat connectivity in England
Planning for Biodiversity – opportunity mapping and habitat networks in practice. Catchpole. 2006
Project area
Priority habitat – 502 sq km (61%) Blanket Bog & Valley Mire – 400 sq km (48%) Upland & Lowland Hay Meadows – 14 sq km (2%)
NB: the ‘white’ areas support important populations of breeding birds, including priority species such as curlew, lapwing & black grouse
Project area
SSSI – 67% of project area (553 sq km) 86% Priority habitat inside SSSI (431 sq km) 14% Priority habitat outside SSSI (70 sq km)
Project rationale
HNV farming is critical for upland habitats / biodiversity Farming community is central to Tees-Swale Trying to create transformation and lasting change
Project themes
Nature Improvement
Training and Skills
Access and Engagement
Nature Improvement – habitat works
Peatland restoration 500ha
Hay meadow restoration 200ha
Rush management 2000ha
Wetland creation 40 sites
Diffuse metal mitigation 300km of watercourse
River enhancement 1 location currently
Woodland creation 200ha
Nature Improvement
100 farmers / landowners directly engaged 1 to 1 1/3 of the farmers in the project area
Farmer areas of interest
Events and Cluster Development
• Demonstration events • Cluster development • Facilitation Fund group
Identifying and costing habitat works • Working with farmers to agree
works for years 1 and 2
• Opportunities for further work in years 3+ also identified.
Habitat Year 1 Year 2 Year 3+
Species rich grassland >65ha >65ha >50ha
Rush control >180ha >100ha >60ha
Wetlands/scrapes ~12 ~9
Woodland creation >50ha >40ha >40ha
• Originally outside of the boundary.
• Sue and Ray are interested in farming for wildlife and habitats
• Hit by the floods at the end of July.
Kexwith
Hawes Auction mart 18th Sept 2018
Species-rich meadows
• Five ‘Yorkshire Fog meadows’ surveyed
• The most species rich meadow put forward for restoration
• Potential for more to be restored in the future.
Rush pasture and scrape creation
• Good habitat for breeding waders.
• Farmer to install scrape with guidance from team and RSPB.
• May need rush management in the future, year 3?
Woodland planting
• Interested in some woodland planting
• Will support with under-planting in Lockey Wood
• Choice of funding, could be Countryside Stewardship and Tees-Swale combination or solely funded by Tees-Swale.
Hill Gill, Charlie & Gina Parker • Initial farmer interview in February 2019
• Has native breed cattle, sheep, goats and ponies
• View themselves as “temporary custodians” and aim to “leave land in better
health than when they came there”
Habitat Works
Training and Skills
Farmer/conservationist knowledge-exchange Farmer-led habitat assessment Alternatives to intensification Contractor training Volunteer training
Training and Skills
16 Traineeships
Access and Engagement
Engaging with groups around the area, generating new audiences 19 new routes and trails / enhancements Interpretation Community-led art in the landscape New partnership with outdoor education centres e.g. Marrick Priory
Delivery phase staffing
1 Project Manager
3 Land Management Facilitators*1
2 Engagement Officers*1
0.6 Access Officer
0.5 Comms Support
0.5 Interpretation
1 Finance Officer (p/t)
1 Admin Officer (p/t)
Timescale
Submission 2nd March 2020
Decision – Late June 2020
Delivery to mid 2025
Tees-Swale: naturally connected