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Management Plan 2017-2023 WYCHAVON Avon Meadows , Community Wetland, Pershore
Transcript of WYCHAVON - Microsoftbtckstorage.blob.core.windows.net/site7561... · • To reduce Pershore’s...
Management Plan
2017
-202
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WYCHAVON
Avon Meadows, Community Wetland, Pershore
1. Introduction 31.1 Ourvision 41.2 Managementaims 41.3 Aboutthisplan 4
2. About Avon Meadows 52.1 Locationandarea 62.2 HistoryofAvonMeadows 62.3 Sitedescription 62.4 IssuesfacingAvonMeadows 6
3. Community value 8 Communitygroupsandinterestedparties 9 Accessandinterpretation 9
4. Habitat descriptions 114.1 Grassland 12 Grasslandmanagementobjectives 124.2 Marginalandinundationvegetation –ditchandriparianhabitat 13 Managementobjectivesforditchand riparianhabitat 134.3 Reedswamp 13 Reedswampmanagement 144.4 Pondsandopenwaterhabitat 164.5 Hedgerowsandboundaryfeatures 164.6 Runningwater 17 Managementobjectivesforrunningwater 174.7 Scrub 17 Scrubmanagementobjectives 194.7 Tallherbcommunity 19 Managementobjectivesfortallherb community 194.8 Trees 19 Managementobjectivesfortrees 204.9 Waderscrape 20 Waderscrapemanagementobjectives 20
5. The five year work plan 21Compartment1 23Compartment2 23Compartment3 23
Compartment4 23Compartment5 24WorkGuidelines 24Compartment6 24WorkGuidelines 24Compartment7 24WorkGuidelines 24Compartment8 25WorkGuidelines 25
6. Activity plan 26
Contents
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1 Introduction
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1.1 Our visionOurvisionforAvonMeadowsCommunityWetlandistobeaplacethatisrichinfloraandfauna,lovedandcaredforbythepeopleofPershorewhorespectandvalueitasanaccessiblespacetolearn,exploreandenjoy.
1.2 Management aims1. Siteaimsandmanagementobjectives:
• RetainandmanagetheexistinghighqualityhabitatareasofAvonMeadows
• Restoreorrecreateadditionalhighvaluehabitatwhereidentifiedassuitable
• AvonMeadowsisvaluedasanoutdoorclassroombylocalschoolsandcommunitygroups
• LocalpeopleactivelytakepartinmanagingandenjoyingAvonMeadows
• ImprovepublicaccesstoandenjoymentofAvonMeadows
• ToreducePershore’scontributiontofloodingandimprovethequalityofwaterenteringtheRiverAvon.
1.3 About this planAvonMeadowsmanagementplanhasbeenputtogetherwithrepresentativesfromtheFriendsofAvonMeadows,WychavonDistrictCouncilandPershoreTownCouncil,withadviceandtechnicalassistancefromWorcestershireWildlifeTrust,TheFloodplainMeadowsPartnership,FreshwaterHabitatsTrust,theEnvironmentAgencyandNaturalEngland.
ThismanagementplanforAvonMeadowslooksforwardoverthelongterm.Byproducingandsharingthisplan,wehopethateveryonewhohasaninterestinAvonMeadowswillunderstandwhatwearehopingtoachievewithouractions,understandwhywearemanagingthemeadowsthewaythatweareandcanenjoythepositivechangesforpeopleandwildlifethatweareplanningtodeliver.
ThismanagementplanisdesignedtoenableWychavonDistrictCouncil,PershoreTownCouncilandtheFriendsofAvonMeadowstounderstandwhatenvironmentalcondition,publicaccessandcommunityengagementlevelsshouldbeachievableandrealisticoverthenextfiveyearsandimportantly,howwearegoingtoachievethosetargetsandmonitorourprogresstowardsthem.Italsohaslongertermgoalsandambitionsthatneedalongerview.
Itisintendedtobeapubliclyavailabledocument,butalsoaworkingdocument.Aswithanysemi-natural
environment,activitieswillinevitablychangeasconditionschangeandoncethisplanisfinalised,itwillalmostcertainlychange.Theactionsoutlinedarethoseneededtomeetouraims;howevertheymaynottakeplaceexactlyatthetimesasspecified,duetoconstraintssuchasflooding.
1. Introduction
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2 About Avon Meadows
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2.1 Location and area
Name:AvonMeadowsCommunityWetlandandLocalNatureReserve
Location:LandbetweentherearofCherryOrchard,MeadowWalkandtheRiverAvon,Pershore
Area: 24ha
Ownership:WychavonDistrictCouncil(part),PershoreTownCouncil(part)
Conservation Status:DesignatedasaLocalNatureReservein2013
2.2 History of Avon MeadowsAvonMeadowsCommunityWetlandssitsonthebanksoftheRiverAvonandformspartofitsnaturalfloodplain.Thenaturereserveconsistsofwetmeadows,createdreedbeds,ditches,pools,areasofscrubandboundaryhedgerows.Publicaccessisfreelyavailablefromanumberofpointsaroundthemeadowsandaseriesoffootpaths,bothformalisedanddesirelineshavesprungupasthenaturereservehasmatured.
Thefloodplainmeadowsarelargelyunimproved,havinghadalonghistoryofagriculturaluseasbothhaymeadowsandgrazingland.Whiletheyhaveawidenumberofgrassspecies,thespeciesrichnessoffloweringplantsismuchreducedfromwhatcouldreasonablybeexpectedinthissetting.
Until2006,thelandhadbeenmanagedunderaCountrysideStewardshipSchemewiththeobjectivesofincreasingpublicaccessandenhancingbiodiversityinthecontextofmaintainingviablelivestockgrazingandhaycutting.
Variousenvironmentalimprovementshavebeencarriedoutsincethen,includingtreeandshrubplanting,pondandscrapecreation,restorationandmaintenanceofthehistoricditchsystemandenhancementstopublicaccess.Theseenvironmentalandaccessimprovementswerecarriedoutin2009,followingextensivepublicconsultationandengagementandwerefundedthroughtheWetlandVisionprogrammeanddeliveredinpartnershipwithWorcestershireWildlifeTrust,NaturalEngland,theEnvironmentAgencyandPershoreMarketTownPartnership.ThisalsoledtotheformationoftheFriendsofAvonMeadows,avoluntarygroupdedicatedtothemanagementandmonitoringofAvonMeadowsinpartnershipwithPershoreTownCouncilandWychavonDistrictCouncil.
Followingtheseenhancements,thesitehasbecomeevenmorepopularwithlocalresidents,particularlyfordogwalkingandwildlifewatching.Since2009,the
newlycreatedreedbedhabitathasestablisheditselfandbecomeahavenforwetlandbirds,waterfowlandinvertebrates,whilethereducedagriculturalpressureshaveallowedmoreplantspeciestorecoverinthewetmeadows.
ThesuccessofinitialhabitatcreationledtoasuccessfulbidtotheHeritageLotteryFundin2010fordevelopmentfundingtobuildonthecommunityengagementactivitiesthatbeganwiththehabitatcreationworks.In2012,thefundingforathreeyearcapitalworksandvolunteerengagementprojectwassecuredandaprojectofficerappointedinMarch2013.
ThroughtheWetlandsforAllproject,supportedbytheHeritageLotteryFund,theFriendsofAvonMeadowshavebeenabletodevelopboththeirpracticalconservationmanagementskillsandtheirbiologicalrecordingabilities.TheyhavealsoreceivedtraininginrunningcommunityeventsandsupportingschoolvisitsandhaverunanumberofpubliceventsexploringthewildlifeofAvonMeadows.
AvonMeadowsCommunityWetlandwasformallydesignatedasaLocalNatureReservein2013andformspartofwidernetworkofwetlandsitesalongtheRiverAvonthatsupportsignificantnumbersofwetlandbirdsandwaterfowl.TheFriendsofAvonMeadowshavehostedanumberofvisitsfromothersitemanagersandwildlifeorganisationskeentoseehowthecommunitymanagementapproachtowetlandsitesworks.
Asthemeadowshavedeveloped,themanagementneededtokeepthemingoodconditionhaschanged.ThankstotheFriends,wehaveexcellentbiologicalrecordsandareabletoassessthehealthofthemeadowsbasedonthefloraandfaunarecorded.Toaddtothisinformation,aPhase1habitatsurveywascompletedinspring2014byFocusEcology,whichhasprovidedbaselinedataforustobaseourmanagementobjectiveson.
2.3 Site descriptionCherryOrchard1stSchoolsitsonthewesternboundaryandbenefitsfromdirectaccessontotheMeadows.
Provisionhasbeenmadefordisabledanglersthroughthelayingofaconcretepathandfishingplatform.Theriversidepathgivesaccesstootherinformalanglingplatforms.
Apublicrightofway(footpath)runsdiagonallyacrossthesitefromKingGeorge’sWaytowardsWyreMill,althoughdesirelinepathsrunaroundandacrossthesite.
2. About Avon Meadows
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2.4 Issues facing Avon MeadowsClimatechangeisanissuefacingusallandonethatmayhaveunpredictableeffectsforus.Forwildlifetosurviveandthriveinthefaceofincreasingtemperaturesandashifttomoreextremesofweatherthereneedstobeacertainlevelofpermeabilityinthelandscapetoenablewildlifetomovethroughit,tofindaclimatezonethatitisadaptedto.
ForAvonMeadows,thismeanmoreunpredictablerainfall,longerperiodsoffloodinganddriersummers.Itisimportantthatwemaintain
Non-nativeinvasivespeciesareoneofthebiggestthreatstoourwildlifeupanddownthecountry.Oftentheseintroducedspecieshavenonaturalpredatorsorcontrolmethodsandcompletelytakeoveranexistingnaturalecosystem.Keynon-nativeinvasivespeciesthatmaythreatenAvonMeadowsareHimalayanBalsam,whichisendemicintheAvonCatchmentandmostUKwaterways.Thisplantformsadensemonoculturestandonriverbanks,blockinglightandsmotheringotherplantgrowth.Itsattractivepinkflowersattractinsectsandwhileitcanprovideanimportantsourceofnectar,itdoessoattheexpenseofnativeplantspecies.HimalayanBalsamspreadsbymeansofseed,whichitfiresexplosivelyoutofitspods,whichcanthenbecarriedalongwaterwaystotakeholdinnewplaces.
Othernon-nativespeciesonAvonMeadowsincludeAmericanMink,whicharealreadypresentandthoughttoberesponsibleforthelossofjuvenilewaterbirdsandSignalCrayfish,inboththeAvonandPiddleBrook.SignalCrayfishout-competeournativewhiteclawedcrayfishandspreadcrayfishplague.WesuspectthatNuttall’sWaterWeed(Elodeanuttallii)isalreadyestablished,particularlyaroundthetiltingweir,butitdoesnotseemtobehavingadetrimentaleffectonthewiderwetlandsystem.Asimilarspecies,E.canadiensiscanbemuchmorevigorousandhaveasimilarsmotheringeffect.
Non-nativeinvasivespeciesthatweneedtoremainparticularlyvigilantforarethoseplantsandanimalsthatinfectwaterbodies,suchasNewZealandPygmyweed(crassulahelmsii),whichformsasmotheringmatinstillandslowflowingwaters,Parrot’sFeather,(Myriophyllumaquaticum),whichagainsmothersnativeplantgrowthinwaterbodiescausingobstructionandoxygendepletion.
Killershrimp(Dikerogammarusvillosus)havethepotentialtohaveasignificantimpactonfreshwaterinvertebratesandecosystemsthroughpredationandthespreadofparasites
Afulllistofnon-nativeinvasivespeciesclassifiedbytheirthreattohabitatsandecosystemscanbefoundhere.
Aswithallsitesofvaluetowildlifethatarepubliclyaccessible,therecanbeadegreeofconflictbetweenusersofthesiteandthosewhomanageit.DogwalkingisoneofthemainrecreationalusesofAvonMeadows.ThevastmajorityofdogwalkersenjoyandrespectAvonMeadows,butaswithallgroups,thereisatinyminoritythatdonot.
Baggingandbinningdogpooisnowthenormforalmostalldogowners,howeverthereareapersistentnumberthatdonotpickupaftertheirdog,which,forasitethatisopenforeveryoneandaccessibleforall,theamountofmesscanbeoffputting,particularlyalongpaths.Dogbinsarelocatedatallmajorentrancestothewetland
Ourneedtograzethemeadowsalsocausesdifficultieswithdogowners,whovaluebeingabletolettheirdogsofftheleadtoplay.For10weeksayear,wegrazethemeadowswithsheep,butputupsufficientwarningsignstoensurethatthosewhowishtoexercisetheirdogofflead
ManyoftheactivitiesthatareundertakenbytheFriendsofAvonMeadowsbetween2013and2016havebeensupportedbyafull-timeprojectofficeraspartoftheHeritageLotteryFundsupportedwetlandsforallproject.Nowthisfundinghasceased,theprojectofficerhasbeenretainedonapart-time,butcannotnowdevoteasmuchtimetoAvonMeadowsaspreviously.
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3 Community value
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Community groups and interested parties Rightfromtheverybeginning,thepeopleofPershorehavebeeninvolvedintheplanning,design,developmentandmanagementofAvonMeadowscommunitywetlandandlocalnaturereserve.ThishasbeencontinuedthroughtheactiveinvolvementoftheFriendsofAvonMeadows(FoAM)inthedaytodaymanagementofAvonMeadows.TheFriendsdomuchmorebesidessimplemaintenanceandlitterpicking,tacklinghighlyskilledmanagementtaskssuchasreedmanagementandgrasslandmonitoringaswellasmaintainingaccessandcarryingoutessentialrepairstoinfrastructure,wherepossible.
TheFriendsarelargelydrawnfromthelocalcommunitysurroundingAvonMeadows,howeversomedoliveoutsidetheimmediatecatchmentarea.Currentlythereareover200supportingmembersoftheFriendsofAvonMeadows,thosepeoplewhosubscribetoreceiveanewsletterupdate,withover30activevolunteers,regularlycontributingtheirtimeinmanydifferentroles.
Volunteerrolesinclude–Workpartyco-ordinator,biologicalsurveyor(bird,butterfly,dragonfly,plant,mammal,bee,spideretc.)websitemanager,newsletterauthor,photographer,workpartyvolunteer,brushcutteruser,managementplancontributor,habitatmanagementresearchandmonitoring,mothtrapper,eventsupporter,educationalvisitassistant,firstaider,workpartyleader.
AvonMeadowshashostedvisitsfrom:
ThelocalgroupofWorcestershireWildlifeTrust,staffandvolunteers,FreshwaterHabitatsTrust,WorcestershireBatGroup,TewkesburyNatureReserve,WorcestershireCountyCouncil,WorcestershireWardensPartnership,theEnvironmentAgency,NaturalEngland,WildfowlandWetlandsTrust,ValeLandscapeHeritageTrust,BroadwayNaturalHistorySociety,RooftopHousing,
AsAvonMeadowsisopen24/7365daysayear,itisawell-usedsite.Visitorcountsshowthatanaveragedaytime3hourslotacrosstheseasonshasbetween20and30peopleusingthemeadows.Therearetimeswhentherearenovisitors,forexamplewhenthesiteisfloodedortherainisparticularlysevere,buttherearetimeswhentherearehundredsofpeopleonthemeadows,likeawarmbankholidayweekend,withover200peoplerecordedusingthemeadowsinonehourduringEaster2014.
DogwalkingremainsthemostpopularuseofAvonMeadows,howevernowpeoplecanwalkfromCherryOrchardplayingFieldtoKingGeorge’swaywithout
gettingmuddy,walkingthroughthemeadowstoaccessthetowncentrehasbecomemorepopular.Walkersfollowinglongerdistanceroutes,suchastheWychavonWayalsousethemeadowsandWalkingforHealthgroupsusethemeadowsasoneoftheirregularwalkvenues.Pleasingly,numbersofthosewhocomeherespecificallytowatchorphotographwildlifeareontherise,includingfamilieswhoenjoybeingabletogetclosetotheducksandotherwildfowl.
Bug hunting
Pond-dipping
3. Community value
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Access and interpretationPhysicalaccesshasbeensignificantlyimprovedsince2013,witheasyaccessavailabletotheheartofthewetlandsfromthetwomostusedentrances.Signagefromtownispoor,butthisisnotrestrictedtoAvonMeadows,theriversideasawholeisnotwellpublicisedfromthetowncentre,orfrommainroadsleadingintoPershore.
Eachmainentranceontothemeadowshasaninterpretationpanelwhichfeaturesamapofthemeadowsandtactileinformationforthosewhoarepartiallysighted.Italsofeaturesa
theotherfromtheeasternendofthecarpark,whichleadstothedisabledanglingplatform.Botharetimberframeconstructionself-closinggateswithtrombonehandles.Vehicularaccesstothemeadowsisthroughametalfieldgatefromtheeasternendofthecarpark,nexttothepedestrianaccesstothedisabledfishingplatform.
ThroughtheWetlandsforAllproject,twoeducationpackshavebeenproduced,targetingschoolagepupilsuptoKS4.TheyhaveactivitiesthatcanbedeliveredbyteachingstaffwithoutsupportfromeitherWychavonDCstaff,ortheFriendsofAvonMeadows,howeverwehavefoundthatteachersaremorelikelytocometoAvonMeadowsistheyhavesomeonewiththemwhoknowsthesitewell.
AfterschoolclubsandwholestudydaysattheMeadowshaveprovedpopularwithschools,ponddippingandbughuntingareperennialfavouritesastheseareactivitiesthatarehardertodowithinschoolgroundsandrequireacertainamountofknowledgeofspeciestogetthemostoutofthem.
TeachercitealackofconfidencewithwildlifeIDandgettinglostonAvonMeadowsastwodeterrentstousingthenaturereserve,alongwithalackoftoiletsandexcessivedogmess,whicharethetwomainreasonsschoolsareputofffromvisiting.
Training–AvonMeadowsisanidealtrainingvenueforbothpracticalconservationskillsandwildlifeID.
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4 Habitat descriptions
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4.1 GrasslandNeutralgrasslandmakesupthemajorityhabitatatAvonMeadows,comprisingsome13hectares.Ithasbeencutannuallyforhayaroundthe12thJulyinrecentyearswiththeexceptionof2007and2012,duetoflooding.Aftermathgrazinghasbeenused,bothcattleandsheep,butthishasbeenproblematicwithsheepdrowninginditchesandcattlebeingdeeplyunpopularwithusersofthemeadowastheycausedsignificantdamagetofootpathsandreedbeds.
Therehasbeennoagriculturalimprovementofthegrasslandforwellover10years,perhapslonger,thereforewecanclassifythegrasslandasunimprovedneutral(neitheracidorcalcareous)grassland.Thegrasslandisdividedintoanumberofdiscretecompartments,boundedbyditchesorhedgerows,andisgenerallydominatedbygrassspecies(80%ormore)withagooddiversityofgrassspeciespresentthroughoutthesward.Floweringplants,sedgesandrushesarealsopresentinvaryingamountsandtheirdistributionandfrequencyisinfluencedbytheunderlyingsoilandhydrology.
Thefollowinggrassspecieswererecordedatvaryinglevelsoffrequency–Yorkshirefog,meadowfoxtail,creeping,bent,meadowbarley,tufted-hairgrass,falseoatgrass,roughmeadowgrass,commoncouch,sweetvernalgrass,tallfescue,meadowfescue,perennialryegrass,Timothy,cock’sfoot,cresteddog’stail,reedcanarygrassandfloatingsweetgrass.Concentrationsofspeciesthatareindicativeofagriculturalenrichment,suchasperennialrye-grass,arelimitedandmostlyconfinedtowell-troddenpathways.
Floweringplantsaregenerallyrareoroccasionalwithinthegrasslandbutincludemeadowbuttercup,creepingbuttercup,meadowvetchling,commonsorrel,cuckooflower,teasel,creepingcinquefoil,cut-leavedcrane’sbill,redclover,meadowsweet,hogweed,cowparsley.Lessdesirablespeciesarealsopresentwithintheswardatraretooccasionalfrequency.Thesearecurleddock,broad-leaveddock,clustereddockandcreepingthistle.Commonragwortispresentbutrareacrossthesite.
ThemajorityofthegrasslandcanbegiventheNationalVegetationClassificationcode(NVC)MG9–Holcuslanatus–Deschampsiacespitosa(Yorkshirefog–tuftedhairgrass)howeveritoccursinmosaicwithothergrasslandclassificationsincludingMG1a(Arrhenatherumelatiusgrassland,Festucarubrasubcommunity)whichcouldalsobeapossiblespeciespoorformofMG4Sanguisorbaofficionalis–Alopecuruspraetensis(greatburnet–meadowfoxtailtraditionalfloodplainmeadow)grasslandHolcuslanatussubcommunity.
MG13Agrostisstolonifera-Alopecurusgeniculatus,
(creepingbent–marshfoxtail)whichhasclearlinkstoinundationorflood-pronegrasslands,isalsopresentinsmallquantities,tendingtowardsthoseareasthatstaywetterlongerintothespring.
Sedgesandrushesoccurinacomplexmosaicacrossthegrasslandbutaregenerallyfoundinareaswheredrainageisimpededthrougheithersoilcompactionoralocallyhighwatertable.Wherelargerconcentrationsofsedgesandrushesoccurtheycanbeclassifiedasmarshygrassland.Typicalspecieshereincludehardrush,softrush,jointedrush,hairysedge,false-foxsedge,brownsedgeandblacksedge.
BroaderswathesofmarshygrasslandhabitatoccurtotherearofCherryOrchardandaredominatedbysedges,rushesandbroad-leavedplants,withlittleinthewayofgrasses.Theseareasarelargelyunmanagedandhaveawidediversityofspecies,includingtuftedhairgrass,falseoatgrass,cock’sfoot,commoncouch,reedsweetgrass,reedcanarygrass,greaterpondsedge,hairysedge,falsefoxsedge,slendertuftedsedge,blacksedge,brownsedge,spikedsedge,teasel,greatwillowherb,meadowsweet,hogweed,marshmarigold,marshwoundwort,meadowvetchling,bramble,cleavers,cut-leavedcranesbill,commonvetch,curleddock,broad-leaveddock,clustereddock,fieldhorsetail,waterfigwort,silverweed,purpleloosestrife,waterforget-me-not,flagiris,amphibiousbistortandcreepingbuttercup
Key species
Meadowvetchling,meadowandmarshfoxtail,yellowrattle,marsh/fenbedstraw,greatburnet,tubularwater-dropwort.
Grassland management objectivesG1 Increasediversityoffloweringplantsinthegrassland
–restoretoappropriatespeciesrichcommunitydependentonunderlyinghydrology–MG4,MG8,MG13.
G2 Preventfurthercompactionandalleviateexistingcompactionifpossible.
G3 Maintainwetgrasslandforfeedingwadersandwildfowl.
G4 Maintainrushcoveragebelow30%acrossthemeadowsarea.
4. Habitat descriptions (TakenfromPhase1habitatsurvey–FocusEcologyandinputfromsurveywork)
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4.2 Marginal and inundation vegetation – ditch and riparian habitat
Thishabitattypecoversvegetationthatgrowsupto5metresaroundawaterbody,suchasditches,riversorponds.Anythingthatextendstoover5metresisclassifiedasswamp.MarginalvegetationispresentacrossmuchofthesiteandisstronglyassociatedwiththenetworkofditchesandthemarginsofthePiddleBrookandtheRiverAvon.
Thisisaspecies-richcommunitywitharangeofgrassesandbroadleavedplants.Largergrassesandreedsaredominant,suchasreedmace,reedsweet-grass,reedcanary-grassandcommonreed.Floatingsweet-grassandfool’swatercressarealsopresentinhighnumbersandspeciesincludingbranchedbur-reed,waterplantain,watermint,gypsywortandwaterforget-me-notoccurfrequently.
Otherspeciestypicallyassociatedwiththemarginsofditchesincludehardrush,softrush,jointedrush,falsefox-sedge,hairysedge,greaterpondsedge,brownsedge,tuftedhairgrass,creepingbent,marshfoxtail,commonclub-rush,commonspike-rush,purpleloosestrife,greatwillowherb,waterfigwort,tubularwater-dropwort,fenbedstraw,marshbedstraw,meadowvetchlingamphibiousbistort,pinkwater-speedwell,silverweed,skullcap,celery-leavedbuttercup,marshwoundwortandwildangelica.
ThelowerbanksoftheAvonhavemarginsdominatedbyreedsweet-grass,reedcanary-grassandcommonreedwithpatchesofgreaterpondsedge,commonclubrush,branchedbur-reedandrarely,floweringrush.Wherethebankisundercut,theoverlyingvegetationisdominatedbyroughgrasses,hogweed,commonnettle,falseoatgrass,wildturnip,cowparsleyandhemlock.
Inundationvegetationwasrecordedinareaswherethewatertableclearlyfluctuatessignificantlyduringthecourseoftheyearwhichhasresultedinaspecialisedplantcommunity,mostlyaroundthetwooriginalpoolsinthewaderscrape.Herethegrasslandisdominatedbyadensematofcreepingbenttogetherwithoccasionaltuftedhairgrass,marshfoxtail,celeryleavedbuttercupandtrifidburmarigold.
Key species
Tubularwaterdropwort,Trifidbur-marigold,Commontoad,Dragonflyanddamselflyspecies,thread-leavedwatercrowfoot,floweringrush.
Ditch and riparian habitat management objectivesD1. Maintainopenwatermosaic,with50%openwaterin
June.
D2. Recordandmonitortheextentoftubularwaterdropwortandexpandrangewherepossible.
D3. Removereedmaceandwillowfromditchesandberms.
D4. Monitorditchbelowtiltingweir,includingvegetationandsiltlevelstoallowthefreeflowofwaterfromrecognisedsurfacewateroutfallsintotheditch.Recognisedoutfallstobekeptclearofexcessivevegetation.
D4. Removeexcessiveplantgrowthandsiltfromditchesandspursbelowtiltingweirtoassistinmaintainingfreeflowofsurfacewaterfromtheadjoiningresidentialarea.
Fortubularwater-dropwort,reducingthecompetitionoftallherbaceousvegetationvialowintensitygrazingorbymechanicalmeans(e.g.thecuttingofditchedgevegetation)appearstobeessential(deCauwer&Reheul2009).Ifnewpopulationsaretoestablishviadispersal,thoughtmustalsobegiventothehydrologicalconnectivityofextantsitesandsuitablereceptorsitesnearbythatareabletobemanagedpost-colonisation.
4.3 Reed swampSwamphabitatshavedevelopedongroundthatisunderwaterforallormuchoftheyearandmarkthestageoftransitionbetweenopenwateranddryland.Swampatthewetlandsisdominatedbycommonreed,whichformsasinglespeciesstandinmanyareasandwasplantedwhenthewetlandswerefirstestablishedin2009.Bulrush,reedcanary-grass,reedsweetgrassandbranchedbur-reedalsooccur.Themarginsofthereedbedssupportoccasionalsoftrush,hardrush,falsefoxsedge,flagiris,watermint,branchedbur-reed,waterplantain,bulrush,gypsywort,purpleloosestrife,greaterpondsedge,amphibiousbistort,floatingsweetgrass,tuftedhairgrass,greatwillowherb,celery-leavedbuttercup,tubularwaterdropwort,wildangelica,watermintmeadowsweetandfool’swatercress.
Thereedbedshavedevelopedrapidly,playingavitalroleinwaterpurificationandprovidingahabitatfornestingbirdsincludingreedandsedgewarblers(andcuckoo),reedbuntings,mallard,coot,moorhen,andmuteswan.Otherbirdlifeincludingheron,littleegretandlittlegrebealsoutilisethereedbeds,asdoaquaticspecies.
Nowthatthereedbedsarereachingmaturityitisessentialthattheyaremanagedtomaintaintheirextentandhealth.Itisnecessarytopromotehealthyregenerationandtocontroltheproliferationofinvasiveweeds,grassesandreedmace.Itisalsonecessarytocontrolthenaturalspreadofthereedrhizomesinordertomaintaintheareasofopenwaterandchannelswithinthereedbeds.
Excessivewillowsaplinggrowthisasignificantthreattothewetlandsandreedbedsinparticularastheyspeedthedryingofthereedbed.
Thetypeandqualityofthereedplantedisunsuitableforcommercialapplicationssuchasthatching.Theobjectiveistomanagethereedbedstoensurehealthyregenerationandtoprovidethebestpossiblemixofhabitatsforwildlife.Thisisachievedbydividingthereedbedsinto10roughlyequalareastobecutona5-year
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rotationalcycletopromoteregrowth.Cuttingiscarriedoutintheautumnwhenwaterlevelscanbeexpectedtobeattheirlowest;ifnecessaryloweringthelevelbymeansofthetiltingweir.CutreedanddetrituswouldberemovedtoaconvenientplaceintheMeadowstobedriedandburned.Notwoadjacentareaswouldbecutinthesameyear.Inthewinterandspring,thecutareasprovideidealfeedingandnestinghabitatforwildfowl(mallard,cootandmoorhen).Theuncutareaswouldprovidesuitablehabitatforreturning,nestingreedandsedgewarblersandreedbuntings.
Alsowiththeobjectiveofpromotinghealthygrowthofthecommonreed,theexistingprogrammeofcontrolofinvasivespeciesandparticularlyofreedmaceandwillowwillbecontinued.Thereedmaceisbestcontrolledbypullingbutsummercuttingbelowthewaterlevelcanalsoleadtodrowningoftherhizomes.Willowiscutinautumnwiththecutstemspainteddirectlywithaconcentratedsolutionofglyphosate(seeappendixxforApprovedpesticidesandtheirsafeuse).
Insomeareasofopenwatertherehavebeenseveralmetresofreedencroachmentsincetheoriginalplantingofthereedbedsandsomechannelsarenowvirtuallyclosed.TheattachedphotographtakeninJune2013showsthemainareasofencroachmentintoopenwaterpoolsandtheapproximatecourseofchannelssufferingfromreedclogging.Ifactionisnottakensoon,someofthesmallerpoolswillbereduceddramatically.Theblockingofthechannelsisdetrimentaltotheeasypassageofwildfowl,especiallyduringthebreedingseasonwithyoungallowingconcealmentfromdisturbanceandpredators.
Controlofencroachmentisbestachievedthroughunderwatercuttingofreedsinsummerleadingtodrowningoftherhizomes.Dependingonthedevelopmentofwaterlevelsandthusthetimethecutstemsaresubmerged,effectivecontrolmaytaketwoormoreseasons.Carewillofcoursebetakentoensurethereisnodisturbancetobreedingbirdsduringthesecuttingoperations.
Key species
Reedbunting,starling–usedaswinterroost,waterrail,cuckoo,Cetti’swarbler.
Reed swamp managementR1. Continuethe5yearrotationalcutandannual
encroachmentreedcuttingprogramme
R2. Maintainlevelsofopenwaterat2013aerialphotographlevelsasaminimum
R3. Controlthespreadofreedmaceandwillowscrubwithinthereedbedsandwaterbodymargins
R4. Monitorforkeyspeciesusingthereedbeds.
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4.4 Ponds and open water habitatPondsandopenwaterformanintegralpartofthewetlandandditchhabitatmosaic,howevertherearethreeopenwaterareasthatcanbeviewedspecificallyasponds.
4.5 Hedgerows and boundary featuresPlease refer to the habitat map for the hedgerow numbering key.
H1. Thisintacthedgerowruns66meast-westalongthesideofCherryOrchardplayingfield.Itcomprisesmostlyblackthorn,withoccasionalhawthorn,dogrose,horsechestnutandcherry.Thehedgeisfencedonbothsides,withpostandwireandreachesupto4minheight.
Management:Layering,includingstakingandtopbinding.Significantpre-workneeded.
H2. Thishedgerowisapproximately227minlengthandrunsroughlynorth-southalongsideMeadowWalk.Itiscomposedofelder,hawthorn,blackthorn,sycamore,brambleandwillowspecies.Occasionalclumpsoftreesoccurwithinthescrubandruderalvegetation.Thishedgerowincludesalargepieceofstandingdeadwoodsurroundedbydensebramblescrub.Thishedgerowisnotintactandhassignificantbreaks.
Management:Manageaslowlanddryscrub,longrotationalcuttingprogramme.
H3. Thishedgerowisapproximately240minlengthandrunsroughlyeast-west,followingMillLane.Itis4-6mhighandincludesmaturetrees.Associatedwoodyspeciesincludematurehawthorn,blackthorn,matureash,elder,bramble,ivyanddogrose.Groundfloraincludeshedgebindweed,hogweedandteasel.Mammaltrackwayspassthroughthishedgerow.
Management:Noformalmanagementproposed.SomecuttingbackbytheboundarywithMillCottagetopreventencroachmentontogarageroof
H4. ThishedgerowrunstothebottomofCherryOrchardplayingfieldandislargelyinaccessiblefromAvonMeadowsduetothepresenceofaditch.Itcompriseshawthorn,blackthorn,dogroseandbrambleandisapproximately3minheight.
Management:Layeringwherepossible.
H5. ThisshortstretchofhedgerowseparatesAvonMeadowsfromthepropertiesatMillCottageandcomprisesapostandwirefencewithfieldmapleandashapproximately5minheight.
No management proposed.
Hedgerow (Boundary) 6.Thisisacombinationofpostandwirefencing,chainlinkfencing,scatteredscrubandmulti-stemmedcrackwillowtreesthatrunsalongsidethePiddleBrook.Woodyvegetationincludesisolated
hawthornanddogroseshrubs,maturecrackwillowsandtallherbaceousvegetationincludingcommonnettle,greatwillowherbandteasel.Significantbatactivityhasbeenrecordedalongthisarea,includingLeisler’s,Brandt’s/Whiskered,Daubenton’s,Noctule,Brownlongeared,common,sopranoandNathusius’pipistrelle.
Management:Manageasriparianhabitat–treestobemanagedindividually.
Hedgerow 7.Thishedgerowisapproximately178minlength,runsroughlynorth-southandformspartoftheboundarywithCherryOrchardFirstSchool.Itisanintact,unmanagedhedgerowapproximately5minheight.Woodycomponentsincludeelder,hawthorn,hazel,dogrose,ashandbramble.Thesouthernsectiontothehedgerowformsaroughtreelinewithamixtureofmatureandsemi-maturetreeswithnodominantspeciescomponent.Treespeciesinthisareaincludehorsechestnut,sycamore,cypressspp,ashandcrackwillow.ThishedgerowhasnumerousbirdandmothspeciesassociatedwithitandsignificantPipistrelle(commonandsoprano)activityisrecordedabovethishedgerow.Foxandpossiblebadger
Management:Manageasscrub,whilstmaintainingcontinuityofperimeterbetweenthemeadowsandtheschoolgrounds.
Hedgerow 8.Thishedgerowwithtreesisapproximately60minlengthandrunsalongpartofthesouthernboundaryofthesite.Thehedgerowhasamixtureofimmatureandsemi-maturetreesincludingsycamore,horsechestnut,ash,crackwillowandhawthorn.Bramblescruboccursfrequentlytogetherwithgreatwillowherbandteasel.
Management:Manageasscrub,longrotationalcuttingprogramme.
Hedgerow 9.Thisisessentiallythesoutherncontinuationofhedgerow8,alongsidethecarpark,comprisingpostandmeshfencingwithoff-sitetreesandshrubsoverhangingthefence.Associatedtreesandwoodyvegetationincludecrackwillow,hawthorn,silverbirchandblackthorn.Tallherbsincludecurleddock,greatwillowherbandcommonnettle.
Manage as scrub and tall herb.
Hedgerow 10.Agappy,relicthedgerow,recentlylayered(2014)inanattempttorejuvenate.Itisapproximately130minlengthandovershadowsanadjacentditchtotheimmediatenorth.Thehedgerowiscomposedofhawthorn,blackthorn,dogrose,ashandelder.Theblackthornhasbeenallowedtosuckerfreelyandnowencroachessome4mfromthemainhedgeline.Mistletoegrowsinanumberofhawthornbushesandotherassociatedspeciesincludecommonnettle,greatwillowherb,bramble,curleddockfalseoat-grassandcock’sfoot.
Thetallerhawthornsarepopularperchesforbirds,includingreedbunting,stonechat,greenfinch,chaffinchandvisitinggrasshopperwarbler.
Management:monitorforrejuvenationsuccessandtrimlightlyifneeded.
17
4.6 Running waterTherearetwowaterbodieswithnaturalflowthatformthenortheastandeasternboundariesofAvonMeadows,ThePiddleBrookandtheRiverAvon.TheRiverAvonisawide,low,meanderingriverasitpassesthroughPershoreandmuchofitslevelatthispointiscontrolledbytheweirafewhundredmetresdownstreamofAvonMeadows.
TheRiverAvonisclassedbytheEnvironmentAgencyasaheavilymodifiedwaterbodywhichmeansthatratherthanbeingassessedforitsecologicalandchemicalcondition,itisassessedforitsecologicalpotential.UndertheWaterFrameworkDirectivemonitoring,theAvonatPershoreisclassedasbeingatModeratePotential,whichislessthanGoodstatus,whichmeansthatitisfailingundertheWaterFrameworkDirective.
TheWaterFrameworkDirectiveworksonthebasisthatifawaterbodyfailsoneelementofthetest,thenthewholetestisfailed.ThereasonsfortheRiverAvonfailingtomeetgoodecologicalandchemicalpotentialaretheamountofphosphateinthewaterandthelackofnaturalmorphology(shapeandflow)oftheriverasithasbeenextensivelymanagedbydredging,straighteningandimpoundingwithweirs.
OurboundarysectionofthePiddleBrookanditsconfluencewiththeAvonissoheavilyinfluencedbytheconditionandwaterlevelofthemainriverthatitismappedassuchontheEnvironmentAgencywebsite.Upstream,thePiddleBrookisclassedasbeinginGoodEcologicalcondition,butitdeterioratesbeforeitreachesAvonMeadows,shortlybeforepassingundertheA44atLowerMoor/WyrePiddle.ThePiddleBrookthatrunsthroughAvonMeadowsisbothstraightandsinuousinplaces,withconcreteculvertsandfootbridgesandtheappearanceofanover-steepbankwhichsuggeststhatthissectionhasbeenmodifiedovertimefromitsnaturalmorphology.
Bothwaterbodiesfloodextensively,withfloodingoccurringmostwintersandAvonMeadowsfallsentirelywithinthenaturalfloodplainofbothwaterbodies.
Speciesthatcouldhaveanegativeimpactonthisenvironmentaremink,whichhavebeenrecordedusingtheconfluenceasalandingpointtogainaccesstothemeadows,SignalCrayfishandKillerShrimp(Dikerogammarusvillosus)andHimalayanbalsam,whichisrifeinotherpartsofthecatchment.ThereisarecordforSignalCrayfishneartheallotmentsonDeffordRoad,Pershore,sotheirpresenceonAvonMeadowswaterbodiesisquitepossible.
Key species for the Piddle Brook and River Avon
Commonyellowwaterlily,BandedandBeautifulDemoiselle.FishspeciespresentinthemainAvonRiverincludePike,Barbel,PerchandCommoneel.
Current management:TheRiverAvonismanagedbyAvonNavigationTrust,whoareconcernedwithmaintainingthenavigabilityoftheriverforcraftandpublicenjoyment.Theirmanagementhasincludeddredging,repairingandstabilisingbanksaswellas
clearingvegetation.TheEnvironmentAgencyalsohavearesponsibilityformainriversandundertakewaterqualitymonitoringatsetpointsalongtheRiverandhavestatutoryresponsibilityforriversandflooding.TheFriendsofAvonMeadowshavenotundertakenmanagementinthechannelofeitherwaterbody.
Management objectives for running waterW1. WorkwiththeEnvironmentAgencytocreateafish
refugeonAvonMeadows
W2. ExploreopportunitiesforriverrestorationaspartofaCatchmentScaleApproachfortheRiverAvonandPiddleBrook
W3. Monitorfornon-nativeinvasivespeciesanderadicatewherepossible.
4.7 ScrubScrubisgood!Formanyyears,scrubwastreatedasapariahhabitattobeeradicatedinfavourofother,more“valuable”habitattypes.AtAvonMeadows,theconservationvalueofourscrubcomesnotfromitsspeciesfloristicdiversity,buttheotherspeciesthatitsupports.
Drylowlandscrubisfoundalmostcontinuouslyalongthewesternboundaryofthemeadows.Dominatedbybramble,itformsdense,banksover3mhighinplaces.Rarely,hawthorn,dogroseandelderarepresentandthismarginalhabitatgradesintothetallherbcommunities.ThisscrubcommunityW24Bramble–Yorkshirefogistypicalofabandonedmanagement,wasteanddisturbedground.
WetlowlandscrubisafeatureofthereedbedsandareastotheeastofCherryOrchardschoolboundary,belowthedry,bramblescrub.Here,willowspeciesaredominant,includinggrey,goat,crackandosierwillow.Itisimportanttorecognisethatwetscrubhasconsiderableconservationvalueandmanagementshouldaimtomaintainabalanceofscrubandotherprioritywetlandhabitats.
Infens,willowdominatedscrubcanbehighlyinvasiveanddamaging,asnutrientrichlitteraccumulatesandsosoilsbecomedrier.Managementisthenneededtocontrolthescrubexpansion.Inestablishedwetscrub,managementneedstofocusonmaintainingamosaicandpreventingsuccessiontowoodlandorencroachmentintopriorityopenhabitats.
ScrubfoundonAvonMeadowsisgenerallyoflowconservationvaluewhenlookedatintermsofplantspeciescompositionandphysicalstructure.However,bothbrambleandwillowscrubhaveadiverseandimportantrangeofbirdsandinvertebratesassociatedwiththem,notablybreedinghousesparrows,starlings,Cetti’swarbler,dunnockandreedbunting.
18
19
Scrub management objectives
Lowland dry scrub
S1. Enhancediversityofage,speciesandphysicalstructureinCompartment1
S2. ReduceamountandenhancequalityofscrubinCompartment8
S3. Preventfurtherencroachmentontopriorityhabitat(marshygrassland)Compartment8
Lowland wet scrub
S4. Reduceamountofnewwillowscrubincompartments5and8
S5. Retainexistingmaturestandsofwillowscrubincompartments5and8
S6. Coppicesmallsectionsofmaturewillowscrubannuallyincompartments5and8
Harlequin Ladybird
4.7 Tall herb communityThetallherbcommunityfoundatAvonMeadowsifoftenlookedatasmessyandnotofmuchbotanicalinterest,howeveritsupportsawiderangeofinvertebrates,mammalsandbirdsandactsasagradationalhabitatbetweenscruborhedgerowsandgrassland.Typicalplantspeciesincludeteasel,greatwillowherb,cleavers,cowparsley,nettles,creepingthistle,hogweedandmeadowbuttercup.
Tallgrassesarealsofrequenthere,includingcock’sfoot,tufted-hairgrass,commoncouch,timothy,Yorkshirefogandfalse-oatgrass.Manyofthefloweringplantsareimportantnectarsourcesforinvertebrates,whichlater
becomeseedsourcesforbirdsandsmallmammals.Thedenselayeroflitterthatbuildsupcanbeimportantshelterandfeedinggroundsforsmallmammals,invertebratesandreptiles.
Management objectives for tall herb communityTH1. Retaintallherbcommunitieswheretheytransition
fromscruborhedgerowstograssland
TH2. Scallopedgesoftallherbcommunitywhereitadjoinsgrasslandtomaximiseedgehabitat
TH3. Allowtallherbcommunityplantstosetseedandretainseedheadsthroughautumnandwinter
TH4. Regeneratetallherbcommunityonarotational5yearbasis,coupledwithscrubregenerationprogramme.
4.8 TreesAvonMeadowssupportsavarietyofmaturetreespecies,mainlyconcentratedaroundtheboundariesofthenaturereserve,withisolatedindividualtreesorsmallclusterswithinthewetlandsandmeadowsthemselves.Crackwillowsarethedominantmaturetree,withpurplewillowandwhitewillowalsopresent.PreviouslypollardedwillowsarefoundalongtheboundarywiththePiddleBrook,withsomeofthesealmostcertainlyfulfillingveterancriteriaintermsofgirth(3.5matchestheight),fungalgrowth,damage,rotanddeadwood.
PollardedwillowsareacharacteristicfeatureoftheSevernandAvonValeslandscapecharacterareaandsomeoftheyoungerwillowsalongthePiddleBrookmaybecandidatesforreinstatingthismethodofmanagement,howeveritwillnotbesuitableforallmaturetreesandcouldcauseharm,ratherthanregeneration.Advicefromaprofessionaltreesurgeonwithexperienceofmaturewillowswillberequiredbeforeanypollardingtakesplace.
Standingdeadwoodisavitalhabitat,oftenoverlooked.AvonMeadowsisblessedwithavarietyofstandingdeadwood,thanksinsomeparttoraisedwaterlevels.Standingdeadwoodisleftinsituwhereitposeslittlerisktopeopleandremovedwhereitposesasignificantrisktousers.
TotherearofCherryOrchardSchooltherearefourdeadblackpoplarhybridsthatfailedtothriveafterpollardingsomeyearsago.Thesetreeshavenumerouswoodpeckerholes,barkfissuresandsectionsoflostbarkwhichareidealbatroostingsites.
Birdboxeshavebeenplacedinsometreeswithmodestsuccess.Akestrelboxhasbeenusedbyabarnowlforroosting,greattitsandbluetitsmakeuseofthesmallernestingboxesandfieldmicehavealsousedadislodgedbirdboxtooverwinter.
Key species
Mistletoe,brownlongearedbat,commonandsopranopipistrellebat,barnowl,greaterspottedwoodpecker.
20
Management objectives for trees VT1.Retainveterantreesandstandingdeadwoodwhere
safetodoso
VT2.Inspectalltreesforsafetyon3-yearlybasis
VT3.TreeworksonlywhereH&Sriskisnotacceptable/accesscannotbealtered,ortocreateadditionaldeadwoodhabitat/preventcatastrophicfailureofaveterantree.
VT4.Assessfeasibilityofreinstatingpollardingonyoungerbanksidewillowswithoutveteranfeaturesorpotential
VT5.Monitormistletoeformistletoemarblemothlarvae
VT6.Birdboxsiting,morebirdboxes,batboxes,cleaningandmonitoring.
4.9 Wader ScrapeThewaderscrapewasconstructedinspring2015andthesurroundingditchesjoinedtoenclosethearea,withmanagementandsurveyaccessachievedbyagatedbridge.Thewaderscrapewasdesignedtoretainwinterfloodandrainwateranddryoutslowlythroughthesummer.Ithasanumberofraisedisletstocreatesaferestingplacesforwadingbirdsandpossiblefuturebreedingsites,withscallopedandgradededgestoprovideplentyofmuddymarginsforfeeding.
Itcoversapprox.1haandincludestwospecies-richpoolsthatwereretainedduringconstructiontoactasrestockingreservoirsforthenewwetareasbothforplantspecies,amphibiansandinvertebrates.Itwilltakeseveralyearsforthewaderscrapetodeveloptoitsfullpotentialforwildlife,howeveritisalreadyshowingpromise,particularlyforwildfowl.
Inthefirstfewyears,itwillbenecessarytomanagecolonisingplants,suchasrushesorgrasses,topreventthemfromchokingthewholearea.Patchycoverof
marginalplantswillprovidecoverforyoungchicks,butifthisexceedsmorethan25%ofthescrape,thenmanagementshouldbeconsidered.Grazingwithlivestockatamoderateintensityisidealasitcreatesamosaicoftussocksandshortturfusedfornestingbyarangeofwaderspeciesandaugmentstheinvertebratepopulationofthemarginthroughdunging.Ifgrazingisnotpossible,cuttingorcultivationcouldbeused.Cuttingshouldbetimedforsuitablydryperiodsaftertheendofthebreedingseason,usuallybetweenAugustandOctober.Itisnotnecessarytoremovethecuttings,astheywillinitiallyprovideasourceofseedfoodandlater,asitdecomposes,asourceofinsectfoodforbirds.
Followingsummer/autumnmanagement,re-floodinginwinterwillkillcolonisingperennialvegetationsuchasgrass.Annualweeds,whichgerminateeachyearonthemuddymarginsasthewaterretreats,areimportantastheyprovidealargesupplyofseedsfordabblingduckaswellasnumberofpasserinessuchasyellowhammer,reedbuntingandlinnet
Key species
Trifidburmarigold,snipe,lapwing,piedwagtail
Wader scrape management objectivesWS1Excludeallbutessentialaccessformaintenance
andspeciesmonitoring
WS2Keepisletsfreefromtallvegetation,
WS3Installgravelon2or3isletstoattractspeciesthatpreferbareground.
WS4Ensurethatnowillow,typhaortalluprightplantspeciesbecomesestablishedintheboundaryditches
WS5Monitorforevidenceofbreedingwadersandwildfowl.
21
22
5 The five year work plan
22
23
Compartment 1formsanelongatedinvertedL-shapethatrunsalongtheboundaryofCherryOrchardplayingfield,belowMeadowWalkandalongMillLane.
Work guidelines• Reducebramblescrubdominancetargetingheight
andencroachmentalongMeadowWalkboundary.Scallopscrubedges.
• Enhancespeciesdiversityofmarshygrasslandoncesoilfertilityisreduced
• LayhedgerowH1alongboundarywithCherryOrchardplayingfield
• MaintainaccessandinterpretationpointsatMillLaneandCherryOrchard
• Cleartyphaandwillowfromboundaryditches• Monitorpresenceandextentoftubularwater-
dropwortinditches• KeepboundarywithMillCottagefreefromexcessive
plantgrowthto2mdistancefromboundary.
Compartment 2isentirelyenclosedbyditchesandformsthetriangularsectionofthenorthmeadow.
• Restorespeciesrichgrassland–MG4-MG13mosaic• Cleartyphaandwillowfromboundaryditches–treat
willowstumpstopreventregrowth• Monitorpresenceandextentoftubularwater-
dropwortinditches• Cutditchsidevegetationon3yearrotationandin
100msections• Pondmanagement• Monitorgrasslandspeciesannually.
Compartment 3makesupthebulkofnorthmeadow,boundarytoeastisthePiddleBrook,includesconfluenceofthePiddleandtheAvon,otherboundariesareditches.PROWcrossesthiscompartmentwithaccesstoWyreMillviasteps.
• MaintainaccessandinterpretationpointsatWyreMillentrance
• Treemaintenanceandinspectioneverythreeyears• Checkoperationofdrop-boardsluiceannually• RestoretospeciesrichgrasslandMG4• Retainveterantreesandpreventcatastrophicfailure• PollardwillowsalongPiddleBrookwheresuitable• Installbatandbirdboxes.
Compartment 4comprisesthewaderscrapeconstructedin2015itisentirelyenclosedbyditcheswithaccessviaabridgeandlockedgate
• Secureaccesstothewaderscrapeforstaffandvolunteersundertakingsurveyandmaintenancework
• Cutexcessiveplantgrowthfromislandsandperimeterbundannually
• Installweedsupressingmembraneandgravelonto2or3islands
• Cutditchsidevegetationon3yearrotationandin100msections
• Cleartyphaandwillowfromboundaryditches–treatwillowstumpstopreventregrowth
• Monitorforbreedingbirds.
5. The five year work plan Compartmentmapanddescriptions.Compartmentboundariesaredefinedbyditches,hedgerowsand
changeinhabitattype
24
Compartment 5comprises3hectaresofreedbedandstandingwater,boundedbyfootpathsandbundsandcrossedbyaraisedrecycledplasticboardwalkwithhandrail.Thereisonedippingplatformsextendingfromtheboardwalkandaseparatedippingplatformononeofthesmallerpools-bothplatformsincorporatebenchseating.
Poolsarefedthroughapipecarryingsurfacewaterrun-offfromhousingtothewestofAvonMeadowsaswellasdirectinputfromrainfallandgroundwater.Theyareoccasionallysupplementedbywinterfloodwater,althoughthisisrare.
Thepoolsarelinkedbyaseriesofchannelsandadrainageditchwhichiscontrolledbymeansofatiltingweiratthesouthernend.Thisstructurecontrolswaterlevelsinthewaterbodiestothesouthoftheinputpipe,thosepoolstothenorthcurrentlyhavenomeansofcontrollingwaterlevel.
Theinputpipefeedsasettlingpondwhichallowsheavymetalsandothersolidstoprecipitate.Surroundingreedbedsperformacleaningfunction,removingpollutionfromthewastewaterbeforeitisreturnedtothenaturalriversystem.
Work guidelines• Cutreedbedsandchannelson5yearrotationand
removearisings• Monitordepthofsiltandheavymetalcontentinthe
settlingpool• Cutreedsaroundmainanddippingpoolannuallyto
preventencroachment• Maintainexistingpocketsofwetwillowscruband
removenewsaplingsfromthereedbeds• Inspectboardwalkandarchforsafetyandstability
onceamonthandafteraflood• Monitorforbreedingbirds.
Compartment 6ismadeupofthetwomiddlemeadows,boundedtothenorthbyaditch,easttheriverAvon,south,thelaidhedgerowandwest,thebundsurroundingthereedbeds.
Work guidelines• Monitorgrasslandspecies,waterlevelsandsoil
fertility• Takeatimelyhaycutandgrazetheaftermath• Monitorpresenceandextentoftubularwater-
dropwortalongditch• Monitorundercuttingofriverbank–mayneedto
pushinformalfootpathfurtherintothemeadows.• Continuetotrialgrasslandenhancementinthe
southernmostofthetwomeadowsbyspreadingyellowrattleseedinautumn2016
• Restorationtospecies-richgrasslandinsummer2017.
Compartment 7encompassesthesouthernmeadow,withthemainditchformingthewesternboundarywithcompartment1,thebundaroundthereedbedsandtheeast-westhedgerowformthenorthernboundary.TheRiverAvonboundstheeastofthecompartmentandthesouthernboundaryisapostandmeshfencewithsomehedgerowplantingthatseparatesthemeadowsfromtheRiversidecarpark.
Therecycledplasticboardwalkinstalledin2014runsclosetotheboundaryofthiscompartment.
Work guidelines• Monitorgrasslandspecies,waterlevelsandsoil
fertility• Monitorrushgrowthandensureitdoesnotexceed
20%ofthiscompartment• Maintainthewelcomeatallentrances–cutback
overgrowthandputwoodchipovermud• Monitorpresenceandextentoftubularwater-
dropwortalongsouthernboundaryandexcludeareafromhaycut
• Cutareasoftubularwater-dropwortafterseedhasset(September)
• Haycutandaftermathgrazing• Strimming/mowingalongboardwalk,woodchipon
informalbundfootpathasneeded• Checkboardwalkfordamagemonthly,record
findingsandrepairasneeded.
Thread-leaved water crowfoot
25
Compartment 8formstheboundaryandbufferbetweenthereargardensofCherryOrchard,includingCherryOrchardFirstSchooltothewestofthemeadowsandextendsasfarasCherryOrchardPlayingField.Theeasternboundaryofthiscompartmentisthemainditchwhichrunsfromtheinletpipeincompartment5tothejunctionofcompartment7withtheriversidecarpark.
• CherryOrchardSchoolhaveanaccessgatedirectlyontoAvonMeadowsfromtheirgrounds.
• ThePublicRightofWaythatcrossesAvonMeadowsentersthroughthiscompartmentviaaCentrewiresteelmediumkissinggatewithRADARkeyaccess.ThePROWisgrassedthroughthiscompartmentandcrossesintocompartment4overaconcreteaccommodationbridge.
• Key habitats–Marshygrassland,scrub,trees,ditchandriparianhabitat
• Key species–Marshmarigold,starling,sparrow,grasssnake.
Work guidelines• Reduceextentofbramblescrubacrossthe
compartment,particularlytotherearoftheCherryOrchardpropertygardenstoexpandtheamountofmarshygrassland/fenhabitat
• Diversifyscrubspeciesbycuttingsectionsonlongrotation5-6years
• Maintain20%densebramblescrubacrossthecompartmentatalltimes
• Enhancespeciesdiversityofmarshygrasslandbylatesummercuttingandremovalofarisings
• Themainditchwatersurfaceshouldbekept50%clearofemergentvegetationinJune
• CutbackvegetationalongPROWduringspringandsummer.
• Monitorlongditchandspursforsiltationanddesiltperiodicallyasneededandcutandremovein-channelvegetationasneededtoassistinmaintainingfreeflowofsurfacewaterfromtheadjoiningresidentialarea
House sparrow on dog rose26
27
6 Activity plan
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uttin
gpr
ogra
mm
eto
ta
kea
dvan
tage
ofl
ower
wat
erle
vels
.U
sing
an
appr
oved
und
erw
ater
re
edc
utte
ratta
chm
entf
ora
bru
sh
cutte
r,vo
lunt
eers
will
cut
off
stem
sof
co
mm
onre
ed,t
yphu
san
dot
herf
ast
spre
adin
gem
erge
nta
quat
icp
lant
sbe
low
wat
erle
vel.
This
will
requ
ire
ach
anne
lcut
thro
ugh
the
reed
sto
th
eed
geo
fthe
wat
era
nda
saf
ew
orki
nga
rea
tob
ecr
eate
don
land
,by
cut
ting
min
1m
alo
ngth
epo
nd
edge
.Fro
mth
isp
latfo
rm,v
olun
teer
sw
illb
eab
leto
cut
reed
gro
wth
und
er
wat
er.O
ccas
iona
lly,v
olun
teer
sw
ill
need
toe
nter
the
wat
er,w
earin
gsa
fety
wad
ers,
tore
ach
som
ear
eas
that
nee
dto
be
cut.
Cut
mat
eria
lw
illb
ere
mov
edfr
omth
ew
ater
and
di
spos
edo
f.
Cha
nnel
sre
mai
nvi
sibl
ean
dpo
nds
reta
ino
pen
char
acte
r
Hig
hert
iere
vide
nce
–re
cord
sof
are
asc
uta
ndp
hoto
grap
hs
ofc
uta
reas
.
28
6. Activity plan
28
Aim
1
Ret
ain
and
enh
ance
th
e ex
istin
g a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t o
f A
von
Mea
do
ws
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
All
Ditc
hm
anag
emen
t–
Rem
ove
allw
illow
from
di
tch
edge
san
dst
ump
treat
with
gly
phos
ate.
R
eed
mac
ean
dem
erge
ntv
eget
atio
nco
ntro
lby
unde
rwat
er
cutti
nga
ndh
and
pulli
ng.
Ann
ually
O
ctob
erto
M
arch
Man
age
ditc
hes
and
bank
sin
a
suita
ble
man
nera
nda
tthe
cor
rect
tim
eof
yea
rfor
the
targ
ets
peci
eso
rha
bita
ts.(
targ
ets
peci
esis
Tub
ular
w
ater
dro
pwor
t)
Leav
eon
eba
nko
rsec
tion
ofth
edi
tch
unm
anag
ed,a
sa
refu
gefo
rpl
ants
and
inve
rtebr
ates
Con
trola
ndm
anag
ein
vasi
vea
lien
spec
ies,
ifth
ey’re
pre
sent
FoA
M–
un
dert
he
supe
rvis
ion
ofP
A1
PA
6ce
rtifie
dvo
lunt
eer/
cont
ract
or.
Mos
tofo
urd
itche
sco
ntai
ntu
bula
rw
ater
-dro
pwor
t,th
eref
ore
we
need
tob
eve
ryc
aref
ulu
sing
her
bici
des
inth
ese
area
s.U
sing
aw
eed
wip
er,o
rbru
sh
appl
icat
ion
will
be
mos
tapp
ropr
iate
in
thes
ear
eas
Stu
mp
regr
owth
and
typh
aem
erge
nce
isli
mite
d.
Hig
hert
iere
vide
nce
Pho
togr
aphs
oft
hew
ork.
Det
ails
offi
eld
oper
atio
nsa
tthe
pa
rcel
leve
l,in
clud
ing
asso
ciat
ed
invo
ices
C1
&C
8–
See
scr
ub
com
partm
ent
map
Enh
ance
qua
lity
ofs
crub
,se
ekin
gto
mov
efro
m
sing
les
peci
esd
omin
ated
to
am
ore
varie
dsp
ecie
sm
ix.
Cut
2n
on-
adja
cent
se
ctio
nso
fbr
ambl
esc
rub
annu
ally
.
No
Hig
herT
iero
ptio
nas
soci
ated
w
iths
crub
man
agem
ent.
FoA
MC
utb
ram
ble
scru
baf
terb
errie
sha
ve
been
eat
en,b
utb
efor
ebi
rdn
estin
g(J
an/F
eb)C
uttin
gca
nbe
und
erta
ken
with
han
dto
ols
toc
lear
tall
stan
ds
ofb
ram
ble
orp
etro
l/bat
tery
hed
ge
trim
mer
s.S
tum
psc
anb
efo
llow
edu
pw
ithe
ither
flai
lmow
ero
rpow
ers
cyth
e.
Aris
ings
sho
uld
bere
mov
eda
nd
disp
osed
of.
Scr
ubre
gene
rate
san
dha
sgr
eate
rdi
vers
ityo
fspe
cies
.
No
redu
ctio
nin
num
bers
ofb
ird
spec
ies
usin
gsc
rub
area
s.
C5
and
C8
Mai
ntai
nm
osai
cof
wet
w
illow
scr
ubin
the
reed
be
dsa
t201
3ex
tent
.Le
ave
10%
unt
reat
edto
al
low
regr
owth
.
Iden
tify
new
gr
owth
,cut
and
tre
atre
grow
th.
Cut
ann
ually
be
twee
nO
ctob
era
nd
Mar
ch
Non
eFo
AM
–
unde
rthe
su
perv
isio
nof
PA
1P
A6
certi
fied
volu
ntee
r/co
ntra
ctor
Aer
ialp
hoto
grap
hyw
ille
nabl
eth
eex
tent
ofs
crub
tob
em
onito
red
ina
w
ayth
atw
eha
ven
otb
een
able
to
dob
efor
e.
Und
erta
ketr
ees
afet
ysu
rvey
eve
rytw
oye
ars.
2018
,202
0Q
ualifi
ed
arbo
ricul
tura
lex
pert
Cre
ate
new
sta
ndin
gde
adw
ood
habi
tato
nex
istin
gtre
esa
long
the
Pid
dle
Bro
ok.M
anag
eex
istin
gve
tera
nsto
pr
even
tcat
astro
phic
fa
ilure
.
Bet
wee
n1s
tS
epte
mbe
rand
1s
tMar
ch2
017
and
from
1st
S
epte
mbe
runt
il31
stD
ec2
019
Writ
ten
asse
ssm
enta
nda
dvic
ere
ceiv
edfr
oma
qua
lified
ar
boric
ultu
rale
xper
tfoc
usin
gon
th
ein
tend
edo
utco
me,
the
long
te
rmh
ealth
and
and
via
bilit
yof
the
trees
tob
ecu
tand
any
sub
sequ
ent
man
agem
entr
equi
rem
ents
.
Ext
erna
lco
ntra
ctor
–
spec
ialis
ttre
esu
rgeo
n
Firs
tpol
lard
ing
ofw
illow
tree
sw
ith
diam
eter
atb
reas
thei
ghto
f40c
mo
rle
ss.
Leav
ecu
tmat
eria
lfro
mv
eter
antr
ees
as
clos
eto
the
tree
asp
ossi
ble
Pho
togr
aphy
bef
ore
and
afte
r.
Rec
eipt
san
din
voic
es.
Cat
astro
phic
failu
reo
fvet
eran
tree
spr
even
ted.
New
vet
eran
tree
scr
eate
d
New
will
owp
olla
rds
crea
ted.
29
Aim
1
Ret
ain
and
enh
ance
th
e ex
istin
g a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t o
f A
von
Mea
do
ws
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
Pla
nt/a
llow
rege
nera
tion
ofn
eww
illow
sap
lings
to
beco
me
futu
rep
olla
rds
alon
gth
eP
iddl
eB
rook
.
N/A
FoA
MM
onito
rreg
ener
atio
nof
will
owM
onito
rreg
ener
atio
nan
dsa
plin
g
C1,
C2,
C3,
C
6,C
7C
uth
aym
eado
ws
at
leas
tonc
e,n
otb
efor
e15
thJ
uly
June
/Jul
yD
ono
tcut
ort
opb
efor
e15
thJ
uly.
S
wat
hm
ustb
etu
rned
and
wilt
edfo
rat
leas
t24h
rs.
All
cutti
ngs
mus
tbe
rem
oved
.
Gra
zeth
eaf
term
ath
Kee
pa
mon
thly
reco
rdo
fall
stoc
kgr
azin
gth
epa
rcel
s.
Ext
erna
lco
ntra
ctor
/lo
calf
arm
er
ifw
illin
g.W
ill
need
toh
ave
herb
age
agre
emen
tdr
awn
upin
ad
vanc
e.
Onc
egr
eate
rdiv
ersi
tyo
fflow
erin
gpl
ants
has
bee
nac
hiev
edta
keth
ecu
tlat
er,A
ug/S
ept,
once
ine
very
5
year
s.
C1,
C2,
C3,
C
6&
C7
Gra
zea
fterm
ath
with
ei
ther
she
epo
rcat
tle
(cat
tleid
eal)
Ann
ually
from
S
epte
mbe
rto
Dec
embe
r.M
eado
ws
shut
up
forh
ayfr
om
Mid
-Mar
ch
Kee
pa
mon
thly
reco
rdo
fall
stoc
kgr
azin
gth
epa
rcel
sE
xter
nal
cont
ract
or/
loca
lfar
mer
if
will
ing.
W
illn
eed
to
have
gra
zing
ag
reem
ent
draw
nup
in
adva
nce.
Sto
ckin
gde
nsiti
esb
ased
on
13ha
of
gra
zeab
lela
nd.C
onsi
dera
sp
ring
bite
ifg
roun
dco
nditi
ons
perm
it(M
G8
bene
fit)M
onito
rgr
ound
con
ditio
nsc
lose
lya
nd
excl
ude
lives
tock
ifp
oach
ing
beco
mes
exc
essi
ve.
C7,
C1,
C2
Mon
itorr
ush
encr
oach
men
tand
cu
tin
win
teri
fgra
zing
in
suffi
cien
t.
Sep
tem
bert
oFe
bG
raze
orc
uta
reas
ofd
ense
rush
gr
owth
eve
ryy
ears
oth
atru
shes
ar
ele
ssth
an2
0cm
hig
hby
30
Sep
tem
ber
Kee
pba
reg
roun
dco
vera
tles
sth
an
10%
Red
uce
cove
rofd
ense
rush
gro
wth
to
less
than
30%
oft
hep
arce
lare
aby
the
end
ofy
ear.
FoA
MC
uttin
gru
shes
bet
wee
n15
Mar
ch
and
15J
uly
isn
otp
erm
itted
.Rus
hen
croa
chm
ents
houl
dno
texc
eed
30%
ina
nyp
arce
l.G
razi
ngh
asb
een
effe
ctiv
eat
kee
ping
rush
gro
wth
und
er
cont
rola
ndli
miti
ngs
prea
d.
Che
ckfo
rfee
ding
sni
peb
efor
ecu
tting
C5
and
C8
Ret
ain
exis
ting
mat
ure
stan
dso
fwill
ows
crub
1stS
epte
mbe
rto
1st
Mar
ch
annu
ally
N/A
FoA
MC
oppi
ces
mal
lsec
tions
ofm
atur
ew
illow
sc
rub
annu
ally
top
reve
nte
xces
sive
gr
owth
,but
reta
inp
ocke
tso
fwill
ow
scru
bfo
rnes
ting
and
perc
hing
hab
itat.
Aer
ialp
hoto
grap
hy
30
Aim
2
Res
tore
or
crea
te a
dd
itio
nal a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t w
her
e id
entifi
ed a
s su
itab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C3
Mai
ntai
nco
ntac
twith
th
eE
nviro
nmen
tAge
ncy
rega
rdin
gop
portu
nitie
sto
cre
ate
new
wet
land
ha
bita
torr
iver
re
stor
atio
n.
As
need
ed.
N/A
Wyc
havo
nD
CE
xter
nalf
undi
ngre
liant
N/A
C1
Incr
ease
div
ersi
tyo
fflo
wer
ing
plan
tsin
the
gras
slan
dby
gre
enh
ay
stre
win
gor
see
dso
win
g.
Targ
etfo
rC1
isM
G13
/M
G8
mos
aic.
Onc
eso
ilP
va
lues
fall
belo
w
23m
g/l.
Tim
ing
forh
ays
trew
ing
will
be
mid
-late
Ju
ly,p
ossi
bly
2017
or2
018
Est
ablis
hat
leas
t5a
dditi
onal
w
ildflo
wer
spe
cies
inth
esw
ard.
Man
age
the
gras
slan
dby
gra
zing
,ha
ycu
tting
,ora
mix
ture
ofb
oth
Mai
ntai
na
cont
inuo
usc
over
,pa
rticu
larly
ove
rhis
toric
feat
ures
Onl
yto
pbe
twee
n1s
tAug
usta
nd
30th
Sep
tem
ber,
exce
ptin
pat
ches
to
con
troli
njur
ious
wee
ds,i
nvas
ive
non-
nativ
esp
ecie
s,b
rack
eno
rdo
min
antr
ushe
s.
Do
nott
opm
ore
than
50%
oft
he
tota
lare
a
Do
nota
pply
any
ferti
liser
sof
m
anur
e.N
osu
pple
men
tary
feed
ing
Dra
inag
ew
orks
agr
eed
with
Nat
ural
E
ngla
ndin
adv
ance
.
Con
tract
ors
with
ext
ensi
ve
supp
ortf
rom
Fo
AM
,Nat
ural
E
ngla
nda
nd
Wyc
havo
nD
C.
Cut
prio
rto
sow
ing
seed
ors
prea
ding
gr
een
hay
-we
may
nee
dto
take
a
seco
ndh
ayc
ut.T
heg
roun
dw
illn
eed
to
beh
arro
wed
ors
carifi
edto
cre
ate
upto
50
%b
are
grou
nd
Sou
rce
appr
opria
tes
eed
mix
org
reen
ha
y–
iden
tify
mea
dow
sw
iths
imila
rhy
drol
ogic
alre
gim
ean
dso
ilfe
rtilit
yw
ell
ina
dvan
cea
ndp
lan
fort
helo
gist
ics
of
getti
ngh
ayo
nto
site
.
Pho
togr
aphs
oft
hem
anag
emen
tta
ken
Rec
eipt
edin
voic
es,c
onse
nts
or
perm
issi
ons
conn
ecte
dw
ithth
ew
ork
Fiel
dop
erat
ions
att
hep
arce
llev
el,
incl
udin
gas
soci
ated
invo
ices
As
tand
ard
soil
anal
ysis
,to
be
com
plet
edin
the
final
agr
eem
ent
year
and
resu
ltss
ubm
itted
with
fin
alc
laim
Soi
lana
lysi
sre
sults
Inpu
tsu
sed
Gra
zing
act
ivity
reco
rd.
Mon
itorf
orin
vasi
vea
ndin
jurio
us
wee
dsa
ndc
ontro
lby
spot
tre
atm
ent.
Ann
ualg
rass
land
sur
vey
quad
rats
Mai
ntai
nso
ilpH
bet
wee
n5.
5an
d7.
8an
dso
ilP
leve
lsm
ustn
ot
incr
ease
from
leve
lata
pplic
atio
n.
By
year
4,a
tlea
st2
mod
erat
e/hi
gh
valu
ein
dica
tors
peci
esfo
rlow
land
m
eado
ws
mus
tbe
frequ
ent/i
nflo
wer
dur
ing
May
and
Jun
ean
d2
high
val
uein
dica
tors
peci
esm
ust
beo
ccas
iona
l.
31
Aim
2
Res
tore
or
crea
te a
dd
itio
nal a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t w
her
e id
entifi
ed a
s su
itab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C2,
C3,
C6
Incr
ease
div
ersi
tyo
fflo
wer
ing
plan
tsin
the
gras
slan
dby
gre
enh
ay
stre
win
gor
see
dso
win
g.
Targ
etfo
rC2,
C3
and
C6
isM
G4/
5/13
mos
aic
Onc
eso
ilP
va
lues
fall
belo
w
23m
g/l
Est
ablis
hat
leas
t5a
dditi
onal
w
ildflo
wer
spe
cies
inth
esw
ard.
Man
age
the
gras
slan
dby
gra
zing
,ha
ycu
tting
,ora
mix
ture
ofb
oth
Mai
ntai
na
cont
inuo
usc
over
,pa
rticu
larly
ove
rhis
toric
feat
ures
Onl
yto
pbe
twee
n1s
tAug
usta
nd
30th
Sep
tem
ber,
exce
ptin
pat
ches
to
con
troli
njur
ious
wee
ds,i
nvas
ive
non-
nativ
esp
ecie
s,b
rack
eno
rdo
min
antr
ushe
s.
Do
nott
opm
ore
than
50%
oft
he
tota
lare
a
Do
nota
pply
any
ferti
liser
sof
m
anur
e.N
osu
pple
men
tary
feed
ing
Dra
inag
ew
orks
agr
eed
with
Nat
ural
E
ngla
ndin
adv
ance
.
Con
tract
ors
with
ext
ensi
ve
supp
ortf
rom
Fo
AM
,Nat
ural
E
ngla
nda
nd
Wyc
havo
nD
C
Con
tinue
tota
kea
nan
nual
hay
cut
and
gr
aze
the
afte
rmat
hun
tils
oilf
ertil
ity
falls
toa
real
istic
leve
lfor
targ
etp
lant
sp
ecie
sto
thriv
e.
Prio
rto
sow
ing
seed
ors
prea
ding
gre
en
hay
we
may
nee
dto
take
as
econ
dha
ycu
t.Th
egr
ound
will
nee
dto
be
harr
owed
ors
carifi
edto
cre
ate
upto
50
%b
are
grou
nd
Sou
rce
appr
opria
tes
eed
mix
org
reen
ha
y–
iden
tify
mea
dow
sw
iths
imila
rhy
drol
ogic
alre
gim
ean
dso
ilfe
rtilit
yw
ell
ina
dvan
cea
ndp
lan
fort
helo
gist
ics
of
getti
ngh
ayo
nto
site
.
Cho
pan
dsp
read
hay
ont
osi
te.
Eith
erg
raze
ort
urn
the
spre
adh
ay.
Gra
zeto
rem
ove
exce
ssm
ater
ial.
Top
ortr
eatw
eed
spec
ies
the
follo
win
gsp
ring
afte
rint
rodu
ctio
nof
gre
enh
ay
Pho
togr
aphs
oft
hem
anag
emen
tta
ken
Rec
eipt
edin
voic
es,c
onse
nts
or
perm
issi
ons
conn
ecte
dw
ithth
ew
ork
Fiel
dop
erat
ions
att
hep
arce
llev
el,
incl
udin
gas
soci
ated
invo
ices
As
tand
ard
soil
anal
ysis
,to
be
com
plet
edin
the
final
agr
eem
ent
year
and
resu
ltss
ubm
itted
with
fin
alc
laim
Soi
lana
lysi
sre
sults
Inpu
tsu
sed
Gra
zing
act
ivity
reco
rd
Mon
itorf
orin
vasi
vea
ndin
jurio
us
wee
dsa
ndc
ontro
lby
spot
tre
atm
ent.
Ann
ualg
rass
land
sur
vey
quad
rats
Mai
ntai
nso
ilpH
bet
wee
n5.
5an
d7.
8an
dso
ilP
leve
lsm
ustn
ot
incr
ease
from
leve
lata
pplic
atio
n.
By
year
4,a
tlea
st2
mod
erat
e/hi
gh
valu
ein
dica
tors
peci
esfo
rlow
land
m
eado
ws
mus
tbe
frequ
ent/i
nflo
wer
dur
ing
May
and
Jun
ean
d2
high
val
uein
dica
tors
peci
esm
ust
beo
ccas
iona
l.
C1
Enh
ance
div
ersi
tyo
fsc
rub
age,
spe
cies
and
ph
ysic
als
truct
ure
Cut
on
long
ro
tatio
nbe
twee
nO
ctob
era
nd
Febr
uary
–a
fter
fruit
has
been
ea
ten.
No
Hig
herT
ierr
equi
rem
ents
for
scru
bm
anag
emen
tsFo
AM
and
W
ycha
von
DC
Cut
sec
tions
ofb
ram
ble
scru
bon
a
rota
tiona
lbas
is.
Can
be
done
with
han
dto
ols
orw
ith
brus
hcut
ter/h
edge
cutte
r.
Rem
ove
and
disp
ose
ofa
risin
gs.
Follo
wu
pcu
tting
ofv
igor
ous
sprin
gbr
ambl
egr
owth
with
BC
Sfl
ailm
ower
.
Scr
ubre
gene
rate
son
long
ro
tatio
n.N
ode
clin
ein
bre
edin
gbi
rdn
umbe
rsa
ndin
dica
tor
inve
rtebr
ates
.
C8
Rei
nsta
tela
tes
umm
er
mow
ing
inC
8m
arsh
ygr
assl
and
–ta
rget
rest
ore
toM
G8
Aug
ustm
owin
gan
dre
mov
ear
isin
gs.
No
Hig
herT
ierr
equi
rem
ents
fort
his
com
partm
ent
FoA
MC
utu
sing
the
pow
ers
cyth
eat
tach
men
t.
Rak
ean
dre
mov
ear
isin
gs
Mon
itorf
orc
hang
ein
num
ber
ofm
arsh
mar
igol
dpl
ants
and
in
crea
sein
oth
erM
G8
typi
cal
spec
ies.
32
Aim
2
Res
tore
or
crea
te a
dd
itio
nal a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t w
her
e id
entifi
ed a
s su
itab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C8
Red
uce
amou
nta
nd
enha
nce
qual
ityo
fscr
ub.
Pre
vent
furth
er
encr
oach
men
tont
opr
iorit
yha
bita
t.
Cut
ann
ually
be
twee
nS
epte
mbe
ran
dM
arch
to
redu
cee
xten
t.S
elec
tivel
yre
duce
bra
mbl
ew
hile
reta
inin
got
hers
peci
es.
No
Hig
herT
ierr
equi
rem
ents
for
scru
bm
anag
emen
ts.
FoA
Ma
nd
Wyc
havo
nD
CC
uts
ectio
nso
fbra
mbl
esc
rub
ona
ro
tatio
nalb
asis
.
Can
be
done
with
han
dto
ols
orw
ith
brus
hcut
ter/h
edge
cutte
r.
Rem
ove
and
disp
ose
ofa
risin
gs.
Follo
wu
pcu
tting
ofv
igor
ous
sprin
gbr
ambl
egr
owth
with
BC
Sfl
ailm
ower
.
Red
uctio
nin
am
ount
ofb
ram
ble
scru
b,in
crea
sein
am
ount
of
prio
rity
gras
slan
d.S
crub
div
ersi
ty3
or
4w
oody
spe
cies
.
Ditc
hre
stor
atio
nan
dm
aint
enan
ceo
fope
nw
ater
hab
itat-
rest
ore
the
wild
life
valu
eof
ov
ergr
own
orn
egle
cted
di
tche
san
dhe
lpto
es
tabl
ish
rais
edw
ater
le
vels
forr
esto
ring
or
crea
ting
habi
tats
.Tub
ular
w
ater
dro
pwor
tis
key
spec
ies
here
Bet
wee
n1s
tS
epte
mbe
rand
1s
tApr
il
Car
ryo
utth
ere
stor
atio
nw
ork
betw
een
1Ja
nuar
yan
d28
Feb
ruar
yor
1J
uly
and
31D
ecem
ber
Onl
yre
-pro
file
orc
utd
eepe
rtha
nth
eor
igin
alp
rofil
eby
agr
eem
entw
ithth
ead
vise
rifr
e-pr
ofilin
g,
Wor
kfro
mo
neb
ank
ina
nup
stre
am
dire
ctio
n,re
stor
ing
only
hal
fthe
ditc
hin
any
one
yea
r
Res
tore
one
sid
eof
the
ditc
hal
ong
itsfu
llle
ngth
,ora
ltern
ate
100m
se
ctio
nsa
long
bot
hsi
des
Ret
ain
any
in-c
hann
elfe
atur
ess
uch
asg
rave
lbed
s,ri
ffles
and
nat
ural
m
eand
ers
Cre
ate
berm
sal
ong
the
side
sof
the
ditc
h
Sec
ure
mat
eria
latt
hed
owns
tream
en
dof
the
ditc
hdu
ring
dred
ging
or
re-p
rofil
ing
toc
aptu
res
iltin
the
wat
er,a
ndre
mov
eth
isw
hen
any
silt
has
settl
ed
Pla
ceth
esp
oilo
nto
pof
the
bank
or
inth
efie
ldn
extt
oit,
mak
ing
sure
th
atit
isn’
tuse
dto
fill
hollo
ws
orlo
w
area
sw
ithin
the
field
Mak
esu
reth
atth
esp
oili
sn’t
plac
ed
onh
isto
rico
rarc
haeo
logi
calf
eatu
res
spre
adth
esp
oilt
hinl
yto
pre
vent
a
spoi
lban
kfro
mfo
rmin
g
Con
tract
ors
and
FoA
MM
anag
edi
tche
sby
cle
anin
g,v
eget
atio
nre
mov
al,d
esilt
ing
ord
redg
ing
toth
eir
prev
ious
pro
file
ona
5y
earr
otat
ion.
Whe
rev
eget
atio
nm
anag
emen
tis
done
by
cut
ting,
cut
abo
veth
eba
seo
fthe
di
tch,
leav
ing
the
root
sin
the
base
.R
etai
na
fring
eof
em
erge
ntv
eget
atio
non
one
sid
eof
the
ditc
h.
Leav
eat
leas
t30%
oft
hele
ngth
of
the
ditc
hun
man
aged
dur
ing
any
one
oper
atio
n.D
ono
tman
age
alld
itche
sin
an
yon
eye
ar.
Follo
win
gdi
tch
mai
nten
ance
,re-
esta
blis
hba
nksi
dev
eget
atio
nby
na
tura
lreg
ener
atio
n.R
egul
arto
ppin
gis
pe
rmitt
edto
con
troli
njur
ious
wee
dsa
nd
re-e
stab
lish
the
swar
d.
Vege
tatio
nm
ustn
oto
verh
ang
mor
eth
anh
alft
hew
idth
oft
hec
hann
elo
nm
ore
than
60%
oft
hed
itch.
By
year
2th
ere
shou
ldb
ecl
earw
ater
w
ithn
osi
gns
ofp
ollu
tion
Pho
togr
aphs
ofw
ork
befo
rea
nd
afte
r.
Mon
itorf
ortu
bula
rwat
erd
ropw
ort
and
fresh
wat
erin
verts
and
am
phib
ians
.
33
Aim
2
Res
tore
or
crea
te a
dd
itio
nal a
reas
of
hig
h q
ualit
y h
abita
t w
her
e id
entifi
ed a
s su
itab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C7,
C1,
C2
Mon
itorr
ush
encr
oach
men
tand
cu
tin
win
teri
fgra
zing
in
suffi
cien
t.
Sep
tem
bert
oFe
bG
raze
orc
uta
reas
ofd
ense
rush
gr
owth
eve
ryy
ears
oth
atru
shes
ar
ele
ssth
an2
0cm
hig
hby
30
Sep
tem
ber
Kee
pba
reg
roun
dco
vera
tles
sth
an
10%
Red
uce
cove
rofd
ense
rush
gro
wth
to
less
than
30%
oft
hep
arce
lare
aby
the
end
ofy
ear.
FoA
MC
uttin
gru
shes
bet
wee
n15
Mar
ch
and
15J
uly
isn
otp
erm
itted
.Rus
hen
croa
chm
ents
houl
dno
texc
eed
30%
ina
nyp
arce
l.G
razi
ngh
asb
een
effe
ctiv
eat
kee
ping
rush
gro
wth
und
er
cont
rola
ndli
miti
ngs
prea
d.
Che
ckfo
rfee
ding
sni
peb
efor
ecu
tting
.
Aer
ialp
hoto
grap
hy.
C5
and
C8
Ret
ain
exis
ting
mat
ure
stan
dso
fwill
ows
crub
1stS
epte
mbe
rto
1st
Mar
ch
annu
ally
N/A
FoA
MC
oppi
ces
mal
lsec
tions
ofm
atur
ew
illow
sc
rub
annu
ally
top
reve
nte
xces
sive
gr
owth
,but
reta
inp
ocke
tso
fwill
ow
scru
bfo
rnes
ting
and
perc
hing
hab
itat.
Aer
ialp
hoto
grap
hy.
34
Aim
3. A
von
Mea
do
ws
is v
alue
d a
s an
out
do
or
clas
sro
om
by
loca
l sch
oo
ls a
nd c
om
mun
ity g
roup
s
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
All
Sup
port
visi
ting
grou
ps
from
the
Uni
vers
ityo
fW
orce
ster
tou
nder
take
w
ater
qua
lity
sam
plin
gan
dre
porti
ng
Ann
ually
(N
ovem
ber)
Ava
ilabi
lity
ofs
taff
orv
olun
teer
sto
su
ppor
tthe
gro
upFo
AM
/W
DC
st
aff
Mai
ntai
nco
ntac
twith
Env
ironm
enta
lS
cien
ce
Ana
lysi
sof
repo
rtsre
ceiv
ed,l
ook
fora
nom
alou
sre
adin
gse
spB
OD
All
Eng
age
loca
lU3A
gro
ups
As
requ
ired
Gui
deg
roup
sar
ound
the
mea
dow
s.Fo
AM
/WD
C
staf
fM
aint
ain
cont
actw
ithlo
calg
roup
sN
umbe
rofg
roup
vis
its.
All
Volu
ntee
rstr
aine
dan
dco
nfide
ntto
sup
port
scho
olv
isits
toA
von
Mea
dow
s
As
requ
ired
Gui
deg
roup
sar
ound
the
mea
dow
s.P
rom
ote
activ
ities
Trai
ning
cou
rses
and
sup
port
for
volu
ntee
rs.
Num
bero
fvol
unte
erle
dvi
sits
.
All
Sup
porte
dfa
rmv
isits
la
stin
g2
hour
sfo
rsch
ool
grou
psa
ndc
arfa
rmin
gvi
sits
.
All
year
roun
dA
tlea
st2
0vi
sits
ofm
in6
peo
ple
to
Avo
nM
eado
ws
rece
ivin
gac
cred
ited
farm
vis
it.E
ach
visi
tmin
2hr
san
dco
mpl
ete
are
view
form
.
FoA
Ma
nd
WD
Cs
taff
Atte
ndfa
rmv
isit
accr
edita
tion
train
ing.
Com
plet
eris
kas
sess
men
tand
farm
fa
cts
tem
plat
e
Pro
mot
eth
efa
rmv
isits
wid
ely
Com
plet
eth
eFa
rmV
isit
Eva
luat
ion
form
fo
reac
hvi
sit.
Pos
itive
feed
back
rece
ived
from
Fa
rmV
isit
Eva
luat
ion
form
s.
35
Aim
4. L
oca
l peo
ple
tak
e an
act
ive
par
t in
man
agin
g a
nd e
njo
ying
Avo
n M
ead
ow
s
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
All
Run
regu
larv
olun
teer
w
ork
parti
eso
pen
toa
llM
inim
um1
per
m
onth
Non
eFo
AM
Non
ere
quire
d.
Volu
ntee
rcoo
rdin
ator
mon
itors
at
tend
ance
.
All
Com
mun
itye
vent
s–
guid
edw
alks
Run
2o
r3p
er
year
Non
eFo
AM
/W
DC
st
aff
All
Trai
ning
and
incl
usio
nfo
rsu
rvey
sA
sne
eded
Non
e
All
and
offs
iteE
xcha
nge
visi
tsb
etw
een
othe
rcon
serv
atio
ngr
oups
As
need
edN
one
All
Com
mun
itye
vent
s–
wild
life
mon
itorin
gev
ents
1pe
ryea
rN
one
FoA
M/
WD
C
staf
f
36
Aim
5. I
mp
rove
pub
lic a
cces
s to
and
enj
oym
ent
of
Avo
n M
ead
ow
s
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
Mai
ntai
nin
form
alp
aths
on
bun
dsa
roun
dco
mpa
rtmen
tsb
ym
owin
gan
dpu
tting
do
wn
woo
dchi
p
As
need
eda
tm
onth
lyw
ork
parti
es
C5
and
C7
Boa
rdw
alk
and
plat
form
m
onth
lys
afet
yin
spec
tion
and
mai
nten
ance
Mon
thly
ora
fter
flood
eve
ntK
eep
insp
ectio
nre
cord
C8
Insp
ectg
rave
lled
path
for
sign
sof
wea
r,re
pair
as
nece
ssar
y
Mon
thly
ora
fter
flood
eve
ntK
eep
insp
ectio
nre
cord
Stri
mo
rpru
neta
llor
ov
erha
ngin
gve
geta
tion
tok
eep
entra
nces
and
in
terp
reta
tion
pane
ls
clea
r.
Spr
ing
and
sum
mer
Inte
rpre
tatio
npa
nels
–
mon
itorf
ord
amag
ean
dcl
ean
Eve
ry6
mon
ths
Mon
itors
itefo
rgra
ffiti
and
vand
alis
m
Ens
ure
avai
labi
lity
of
leafl
ets
inP
ersh
ore
TIC
an
dC
ivic
Cen
tre
37
Aim
6 –
Flo
od
ing
and
wat
er q
ualit
y
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C5
Insp
ects
ettli
ngp
ond
for
silt
build
up
and
desi
ltas
ne
eded
.
Ann
ually
in
autu
mn/
win
ter
Spl
ash
pad
shou
ldre
mai
nfre
efro
m
silt
build
up.
Are
aim
med
iate
lya
roun
dsp
lash
pad
sh
ould
be
free
from
silt
bui
ldu
p.
WD
Cs
taff/
Fo
AM
Silt
dep
thto
wat
erd
epth
ratio
C6
Put
out
sed
imat
spr
iort
oan
ticip
ated
floo
ding
.A
sre
quire
dTo
cap
ture
silt
bro
ught
inb
yflo
od
even
tsa
ndm
onito
rlev
els
of
phos
phat
ean
dni
trate
inth
ats
ilt
FoA
MTh
isw
illa
llow
us
tow
ork
outh
owm
uch
nutri
enti
sbe
ing
depo
site
don
the
mea
dow
sin
any
one
floo
dev
ent
Che
cko
pera
tion
ofti
lting
w
eira
ndd
rop
boar
dsl
uice
onc
ea
year
.
Ann
ually
,in
Sep
tem
ber/
Oct
ober
Toe
nsur
eth
atth
etil
ting
wei
rfu
nctio
nse
ffect
ivel
y.Fo
AM
Wat
erle
vels
can
be
reas
onab
ly
expe
cted
toto
pup
thro
ugh
the
win
ter.
C8
Insp
ectd
itch
belo
w
tiltin
gw
eirf
ore
xces
sive
si
ltatio
nan
din
cha
nnel
ve
geta
tion
grow
th.
Twic
ean
nual
ly-
Dec
embe
rand
Ju
ne
Rec
ogni
sed
outfa
llss
houl
dbe
cle
ar
ofe
xces
sive
veg
etat
ion
inh
igh
sum
mer
and
free
flow
mai
ntai
ned.
P
inch
poi
nts
inth
edi
tch
mon
itore
d6
mon
thly
fors
ilta
ndin
cha
nnel
ve
geta
tion
build
up.
WD
Cs
taff
and
FoA
MIt
isre
cogn
ised
that
this
ditc
hta
kes
surfa
cew
ater
from
an
umbe
rofo
utfa
lls
that
are
par
toft
heS
ever
nTr
ents
urfa
ce
wat
ern
etw
ork.
The
seo
utfa
lls
Out
falls
are
cap
able
ofd
isch
argi
ng
wat
era
ndd
itch
flow
atp
inch
poi
nts
isn
otre
stric
ted.
C8
and
C5
Mon
itorS
TWa
ndo
ther
un
reco
gnis
edo
utfa
llsfo
rsi
gns
ofp
ollu
tion
Ata
lltim
esP
reve
ntp
ollu
tion
ofth
eR
iver
Avo
nby
iden
tifyi
ngin
cide
nts
whe
nth
ey
occu
r.
WD
Cs
taff,
Fo
AM
vo
lunt
eers
and
m
embe
rso
fth
epu
blic
Take
det
ails
oft
helo
catio
nan
dna
ture
of
the
pollu
tion
even
t.P
hoto
grap
hif
poss
ible
.Fis
hde
aths
sho
uld
bere
porte
dim
med
iate
lyto
the
Env
ironm
entA
genc
y.O
ther
pol
lutio
nin
cide
nts
shou
ldb
ere
porte
dto
WD
C
initi
ally
fori
nves
tigat
ion.
Iden
tifica
tion
ofp
ollu
tion
sour
ces
is
enab
led
and
poin
tsou
rce
pollu
tion
ofA
von
Mea
dow
san
dth
ew
ider
riv
ere
nviro
nmen
tis
prev
ente
d.
38
Mo
nito
ring
and
rep
ort
ing
tim
etab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
C1,
C2,
C3,
C
6,C
7&
C8
Und
erta
keg
rass
land
pl
ants
urve
y(C
ondi
tion
asse
ssm
ent/N
VCo
rsi
mila
r)a
ndre
cord
ch
ange
s.
May
,Jun
e,J
uly
–be
fore
hay
cut
Follo
wa
ccep
ted
met
hodo
logy
for
surv
eyin
ggr
assl
and
and
reco
rdin
gsp
ecie
sfo
und.
1mx
1m
qua
drat
sar
efix
edo
ffth
elo
catio
nso
fthe
dip
wel
ls.
Qua
drat
sur
vey
isd
one
byid
entif
ying
sp
ecie
spr
esen
tin
each
qua
drat
,es
timat
ing
perc
enta
geo
fcov
ero
feac
hsp
ecie
san
dba
reg
roun
d.
5qu
adra
tsa
teac
hdi
pwel
l,da
tath
en
fed
into
MA
VIS
(gra
ssla
ndc
omm
unity
as
sess
men
tspr
eads
heet
).
Isth
ere
anyt
hing
inth
esu
rvey
that
su
gges
tsth
atm
anag
emen
tor
envi
ronm
enta
lcha
nge
has
had
apo
sitiv
eor
neg
ativ
eim
pact
on
the
dive
rsity
ofA
von
Mea
dow
s.
Mon
itorf
ork
eyg
rass
land
in
dica
tors
peci
esfo
llow
ing
swar
den
hanc
emen
t.
Mon
itorw
ater
qua
lity
for
Pa
ndN
leve
lsa
tChe
rry
Orc
hard
out
fall
and
othe
rpoi
nts
arou
ndth
ew
etla
nds.
Ann
ually
,with
su
ppor
tof
Uni
vers
ityo
fW
orce
ster
and
Fr
eshw
ater
H
abita
tsT
rust
Non
eFo
AM
/W
DC
sta
ff/
Fres
hwat
er
Hab
itats
Tru
st
staf
f
Mon
itorf
orB
OD
,pH
,hea
vym
etal
san
dph
osph
ate
C1,
C2,
C3,
C
6,C
7,C
8S
tand
ard
soil
anal
ysis
ca
rrie
dou
tann
ually
un
tilP
leve
lsfa
llbe
low
25
mg/
l
Afte
rhay
cut
an
dgr
azin
g,
whe
nnu
trien
tle
vels
are
at
thei
rlow
est.
On
requ
estf
rom
Nat
ural
Eng
land
FoA
Ma
nd
labo
rato
ry,
Sam
plin
gco
sts
~£2
0/sa
mpl
e
All
com
partm
ents
Car
ryo
utre
gula
rbird
su
rvey
wor
k,m
onito
ring
spec
ies
pres
enta
nd
num
bers
ofi
ndiv
idua
ls
and
whe
ther
bre
edin
gha
sbe
ens
ucce
ssfu
l
Mon
thly
(w
eekl
y)N
one
FoA
MLo
okfo
rpat
tern
sfo
llow
ing
man
agem
entw
ork
or
envi
ronm
enta
leve
nts
and
asse
ss
the
long
erte
rmim
pact
sba
sed
on
prev
ious
mon
itorin
gre
sults
.
All
com
partm
ents
Car
ryo
uts
easo
nal
terr
estri
ala
ndfr
eshw
ater
in
verte
brat
esu
rvey
sm
onito
ring
spec
ies
pres
enta
ndn
umbe
rso
fin
divi
dual
s
Twic
eye
arly
du
ring
sprin
gan
dsu
mm
er.
Fres
hwat
er
inve
rtebr
ate
surv
eys
can
beu
sed
to
mon
itorf
orn
on-
nativ
ein
vasi
ve
spec
ies.
Mot
hs,d
rago
nflie
san
dbu
tterfl
ies
are
wel
lrec
orde
d.
Mor
etra
inin
gm
ayb
ere
quire
dfo
rot
heri
nver
tebr
ate
grou
ps.
FoA
MTr
anse
cts
forb
utte
rflie
s,b
irds
and
drag
onfli
esa
ree
stab
lishe
d.Lo
okfo
rpat
tern
sfo
llow
ing
man
agem
entw
ork
or
envi
ronm
enta
leve
nts
and
asse
ss
the
long
erte
rmim
pact
sba
sed
on
prev
ious
mon
itorin
gre
sults
.IfN
NIS
ar
efo
und,
repo
rtto
Env
ironm
ent
Age
ncy.
Rec
ord
alld
ata
and
pass
toF
oAM
re
pres
enta
tive
ofW
orce
ster
shire
B
iolo
gica
lRec
orde
rs.
Dat
asu
bmitt
edto
WB
RC
for
incl
usio
non
pub
licre
cord
s.
39
Mo
nito
ring
and
rep
ort
ing
tim
etab
le
Com
partm
ent
Act
ion
Freq
uenc
yR
equi
rem
ents
(H
ighe
rTie
r)W
hoH
owis
this
goi
ngto
be
deliv
ered
?M
onito
ring
and
evid
ence
requ
ired
forH
ighe
rTie
r
All
com
partm
ents
Und
erta
kes
easo
nal
smal
lmam
mal
sur
veys
Twic
eye
arly
S
prin
gan
dA
utum
n
Ani
mal
wel
fare
nee
dsa
reo
fhi
ghes
tcon
cern
.Do
nott
rap
whe
nte
mpe
ratu
res
are
pred
icte
dto
fall
near
free
zing
.
Trai
ned
volu
ntee
rs
from
FoA
M
with
sup
port
from
Wor
cs
mam
mal
gr
oup
Rec
ord
alld
ata
and
pass
toF
oAM
re
pres
enta
tive
ofW
orce
ster
shire
B
iolo
gica
lRec
orde
rs.
Dat
asu
bmitt
edto
WB
RC
for
incl
usio
non
pub
licre
cord
s.
All
com
partm
ents
Und
erta
kem
onito
ring
for
herp
atof
auna
Twic
eye
arly
Hav
ere
gard
top
ossi
ble
pres
ence
of
Gre
atC
rest
edN
ewts
.Iff
ound
,cea
se
surv
eya
nda
llw
ork
that
may
be
pote
ntia
llyd
istu
rbin
g.
Exi
stin
gtra
ined
vo
lunt
eers
with
Fo
AM
Torc
hsu
rvey
and
egg
sea
rchi
ngo
nly,
du
eto
pre
senc
eof
wat
ers
hrew
(no
bottl
etra
ppin
g).G
CN
not
reco
rded
in
prev
ious
sur
vey.
Rec
ord
alld
ata
and
pass
toF
oAM
re
pres
enta
tive
ofW
orce
ster
shire
B
iolo
gica
lRec
orde
rs.
Dat
asu
bmitt
edto
WB
RC
for
incl
usio
non
pub
licre
cord
s.
All
com
partm
ents
Mon
itorw
ater
bod
ies
and
river
ban
ksfo
rno
n-na
tive
inva
sive
pla
nt
and
anim
als
peci
es.
Visu
alin
spec
tion
ofs
ite
boun
darie
s,d
itche
s,
pool
san
dac
cess
po
ints
.
Twic
ea
year
be
twee
nM
ay
and
Aug
ust
Vigi
lanc
ere
quire
dfro
ma
llus
ers
of
the
site
.Fo
AM
vo
lunt
eers
,W
DC
sta
ff,
visi
tors
.
Ens
ure
that
iden
tifica
tion
isc
onfir
med
be
fore
taki
nge
radi
catio
nac
tion.
IfN
NIS
are
dis
cove
red
or
susp
ecte
d,c
onfir
mid
entifi
catio
n,
repo
rtif
nece
ssar
yan
der
adic
ate
whe
rep
ossi
ble.
All
com
partm
ents
Tree
hea
lths
urve
y–
mon
itor
Eve
ryth
ree
year
sas
st
anda
rd.
Insp
ectt
rees
that
pos
ea
risk
toth
epu
blic
ori
nfra
stru
ctur
efo
rpot
entia
lfa
ilure
Qua
lified
ar
boric
ultu
ral
expe
rt
All
trees
will
hav
ea
heat
hch
eck
atle
aste
very
thre
eye
ars,
with
re
com
men
datio
nsfo
ract
ion
tom
ake
safe
whe
ren
eede
d.
Indi
vidu
altr
ees
may
be
high
light
ed
form
ore
frequ
enti
nspe
ctio
ndu
eto
ag
ean
dco
nditi
on.
All
com
partm
ents
Rev
iew
man
agem
ent
plan
sac
tions
for
the
upco
min
gye
ar
and
adju
stb
ased
on
env
ironm
enta
lco
nditi
ons
orfi
ndin
gs
from
sur
vey
wor
k.
Aug
usta
nnua
llyC
heck
act
ions
forr
elev
ance
fort
he
follo
win
gye
ar.
Rev
iew
ong
oing
man
agem
entt
asks
.
Rev
iew
task
spl
anne
dfo
rupc
omin
gye
ar
Rev
iew
mon
itorin
gpr
otoc
ols
and
data
gat
herin
g.
FoA
Ma
nd
WD
Cs
taff
Isth
em
anag
emen
tpla
nw
orki
nga
nd
are
the
activ
ities
hav
ing
the
outc
omes
w
eex
pect
?
Ifno
t,is
itd
own
toth
em
anag
emen
tor
exte
rnal
env
ironm
enta
lfac
tors
?
Man
agem
entp
lans
are
livi
ng
docu
men
tsa
ndw
illg
row
and
ev
olve
ove
rtim
e.
40
Sep
t-N
ov
Dec
- Fe
bM
ar-M
ayJu
n-A
ugus
t
Ann
ualR
ecur
ring
Act
iviti
es
Mon
itorw
ater
and
silt
qua
lity
Scr
ubm
anag
emen
t–w
illow
and
br
ambl
ecu
tting
Fres
hwat
erin
verte
brat
esu
rvey
Fres
hwat
erin
verte
brat
esu
rvey
Cut
reed
bed
sC
utre
edb
eds
Sm
allm
amm
als
urve
y
Cut
and
trea
twill
ows
crub
Ditc
hm
anag
emen
t–c
utw
illow
and
pu
llty
pha
Pat
hm
aint
enan
cea
nde
ntra
nce
clea
ranc
eC
utM
G8
Mea
dow
Live
stoc
kgr
azin
gC
olla
tea
nnua
lsur
vey
data
Am
phib
ian
surv
eyH
ayc
ut
Ditc
hm
anag
emen
t–c
utw
illow
and
pu
llty
pha
Live
stoc
kgr
azin
gM
oth
surv
eyB
utte
rfly
surv
ey
Rev
iew
man
agem
entp
lan
Hed
gero
wla
yerin
gan
dtri
mm
ing
But
terfl
ysu
rvey
Mot
hsu
rvey
Top
ditc
hed
ges
Pat
hm
aint
enan
cea
nde
ntra
nce
clea
ranc
e
Sm
allm
amm
als
urve
y
http
://pu
blic
atio
ns.n
atur
alen
glan
d.or
g.uk
/cat
egor
y/90
01
41
