[ARCHIVED CONTENT] Defence Estates Website - Conservation

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UK BAP Priority Species with Specific Actions for the MOD

(Taken from the UK Biodiversity Action Plan)

Click the hyperlinked Priority Specie for details:

Stone curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus
Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus
Woodlark, Lullula arborea
Black grouse, Tetrao tetrix
Pink meadow cap, Hygrocybe calyptraeformis
Amber sandbowl snail, Catinella arenaria
Marine turtles Group action plan
A diving beetle, Bidessus unistriatus
Northern dune tiger beetle, Cicindela hybrida
Spangled diving beetle, Graphoderus zonatus
Gilkicker weevil, Pachytychius haematocephalus
Flixweed leaf beetle, Psylliodes sophiae
Alder flee weevil, Rhynchaenus testaceus
Mottled bee-fly, Thyridanthrax fenestratus
A cuckoo bee, Nomada armata
Basil thyme case-bearer, Coleophora tricolor
A ground beetle, Amara famelica
Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth, Hemaris tityus

1. Stone curlew, Burhinus oedicnemus

The Defence Estate currently supports approximately 30% of the UK's stone curlew breeding population. There are three main areas on the estate where they can be found; Salisbury Plain Training Area, Porton Down and Stanford Training Area.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Encourage favourable management plans on all land in the former and current range of the species, including land currently held by the MOD and FE. (Action: MOD & EN)

2. Nightjar, Caprimulgus europaeus

Nightjars occur at 25 MOD sites across England.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Policy and legislation

Incorporate specific targets and management for nightjars in MOD site management plans in appropriate sites across the species' former range. (Action: MOD)

3. Woodlark, Lullula arborea

Woodlarks are found at 20 MOD sites in the south of England.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Policy and legislation

Ensure that clear targets for the woodlark are incorporated into appropriate site management plans, particularly land managed by the MOD and local authorities. (Action: MOD & EN, LAs)

4. Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix

It is estimated that the Defence Estate supports over 7% of the remaining English Black Grouse population, at Otterburn, Warcop and Catterick Training Areas, and at RAF Spadeadam.

UK BAP Current Action

Collaborative recovery projects for black grouse are being developed and implemented by a range of organisations in different parts of the UK, including: the North Pennines (RSPB, EN, GCT and MoD); Tayside (RSPB, SNH, GCT); Dumfries & Galloway (FC, FWAG, RSPB, SNH); and Wales (RSPB, CCW).

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure favourable management of moorland and native woodland for the benefit of the black grouse. (ACTION: MoD & CCW, EN, FC, MAFF, NAW, SE, SNH)

UK BAP Proposed Action: Species management and protection

Ensure the protection of important or isolated lek sites from human disturbance. (ACTION: MoD & CCW, EN, FE, SNH)

5. Pink meadow cap, Hygrocybe calyptraeformis

Large populations of the pink meadow cap occur at Sennybridge Training Area. They have flourished on this site due to the removal of bracken and woody species, an absence of fertilisers, and a grazing regime that has been practised since the site was initially purchased by the MOD.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, provide mechanisms (such as management agreements on SSSIs and relevant agri-environment schemes) to encourage grazing or continued mowing on all extant grassland sites (Action: MOD & CCW, DANI, EHS, EN, DEFRA, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)

'Pink meadow cap' photo © Roy Woods, Plantlife

6. Amber Sandbowl snail, Catinella arenaria

The MOD leases a substantial area at Braunton Burrows on the north coast of Devon from the Christie Estate. This is one of only two sites in the UK for the Amber Sandbowl Snail, which is found on the wet dune slacks.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Encourage resumption of an appropriate level of grazing on Braunton Burrows by the year 2000. (Action: MOD & EN)

'Amber Sandbowl snail' photo © Roger Key, English Nature

7. Marine Turtles Group action plan

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Ensure enforcement of marine pollution legislation (including that targeted at marine litter) in UK waters and by UK ships outwith UK waters. (ACTION: MOD, DEFRA, DTI)

8. A diving beetle, Bidessus unistriatus

B. unistriatus has been recorded at three locations at Standford Training Area. Two of these sites are fluctuating meres while the third is a man-made pond.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed, including the maintenance of traditional reed-harvesting practices, by 2008. This may be through SSSI or agri-environment scheme management agreements. (Action: MOD & Broads Authority, EN)

9. Northern dune tiger beetle, Cicindela hybrida

This species occurs at Altcar in Mersyside. The former DERA site at Eskmeals has been transferred to QinetiQ. QinetiQ and English Nature have co-operated to establish several objectives, that are outlined within their management plan, for the maintenance of the dune system within which C. hybrida can be found

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard & management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed by 2008, including the provision of natural mosaics of vegetated and bare sand on dune habitats. This may be through site management agreements. (Action: MOD & EN)

'Northern dune tiger beetle' photo © Roger Key, English Nature

10. Spangled diving beetle, Graphoderus zonatus

Three existing water bodies at Woolmer are large enough to support sub-populations of the species. One of these has been excavated twice in recent years by the MOD, management which has been of benefit to the species.
Current Action: Woolmer Pond has been excavated by the MOD in 1986 and 1993.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed, including prevention of pollution, by 2008. (Action: MOD & EN)
If practicable, excavate four new pools in the Woolmer area. (Action: MOD & EN)

'Spangled diving beetle' photo © Roger Key, English Nature

11. Gilkicker weevil, Pachytychius haematocephalus

The Gilkicker Weevil only occurs at two sites in the UK, one of which is Browndown Training Area.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Future research and monitoring

Undertake further surveys to determine the status of this species. (Action: MOD & EN)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to a central database for incorporation into national and international databases. (Action: MOD & EN)

'Gilkicker weevil' photo © Roger Key, English Nature

12. Flixweed leaf beetle, Psylliodes sophiae

P. sophiae has been recorded at three MOD sites within the Brecklands; RAF Lakenheath, Stanford Training Area and USAF Mildenhall.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed, including the creation of disturbed ground, by 2008. This may be achieved through site management agreements or uptake of relevant agri-environment schemes. (Action: MOD & EN)

13. Alder flea weevil, Rhynchaenus testaceus

R. testaceus was recorded in stands of alder at Stanford Training Area during 1988 and 1989. It has not been seen since the initial identification, but this is probably due to its small size.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure all occupied habitat is appropriately managed by 2008, for example through SSSI or agri-environment/woodland grant scheme management agreements. (Action: MOD & EA, EN, FE, DEFRA)

14. Mottled bee-fly, Thyridanthrax fenestratus

The mottled bee-fly has been recorded at a number of training areas in the Home Counties.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Incorporate specific targets and management for the mottled bee-fly in MOD site management plans for relevant sites. (Action: MOD)

UK BAP Proposed Action: Future research and monitoring

Determine the impact of horse riding and military activity, and investigate measures to overcome any detrimental effects. (Action: MOD & EN)

15. A cuckoo bee, Nomada armata

Although widespread up to the early 20th century, since 1990 this species has been found at only six locations, all on Salisbury Plain Training Area.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied and potential habitat is appropriately managed by 2008, for example through SSSI or agri-environment scheme management agreements. (Action: MOD & EN, DEFRA)

16. Basil thyme case-bearer, Coleophora tricolor

The basil thyme case-bearer is found at Stanford Training Area (STANTA). STANTA is a unique remnant of the calcareous Breckland, other areas having been subjected to hard grazing. As a result, STANTA is the largest and most important site for the basil thyme and the basil thyme case-bearer in the UK.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied and nearby potential habitat is appropriately managed by 2008. (Action: MOD & EN, FE, DEFRA)

17. A ground beetle, Amara famelica

Although historically widespread in southern and eastern England, since the 1970s A. famelica has only been identified at two locations, one of which is Strensall Training Area.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed by 2008, including the provision of south-facing patches of bare ground and damp hollows. (ACTION: EN, LAs, MoD)
Where possible, increase the available habitat at known sites and adjacent areas. (ACTION: EN, LAs, MoD)

UK BAP Proposed Action: Future research and monitoring

Undertake surveys to determine the status of the species. (ACTION: EN, LAs, MoD)
Establish a regular monitoring programme for the species. (ACTION: EN, MoD, LAs)
Pass information gathered during survey and monitoring of this species to a central database for incorporation into national and international databases. (ACTION: EN, LAs, MoD)

18. Narrow-bordered bee hawk-moth, Hemaris tityus

This nationally scarce moth occurs at Salisbury Plain Training Area.

UK BAP Proposed Action: Site safeguard and management

Where possible, ensure that all occupied habitat is appropriately managed by 2005, for example through SSSI/ASSI or agri-environment scheme management agreements. (Action: CCW, DANI, EHS, EN, MAFF, MOD, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)
Encourage an increase in the available habitat and attempt to link up existing fragments of habitat. (Action: CCW, DANI, EHS, EN, MAFF, MOD, SNH, SOAEFD, WOAD)