Biodiversity Action Plan - Essay Example

aEcology and conservation ENV1 0025 Phase habitat survey & biodiversity action plan Janina K. Demetriou-Warburton 000 381 868-3 BA H Landscape Architecture bout CONTENTS 1 Introduction 4 2 General description 5 3 Phase 1 habitat survey 17 4 Local biodiversity action plan (BAP) 21 1 Introduction This paper has main objective of studying and analysing the habitat and preparation of a biodiversity action plan of two fields, namely Ragfield (area 10.2Ha) and Loys (area 6.7Ha), located in the parish of Hadlow, Kent to the northwest of Hadlow College. These two fields are located across the boundary between OS tile numbers TQ6250 and TQ6249 as denoted in the following map extract (Hadlow village can be found the east). Source: Kent Landscape Information System 2 General description 2.1 Regional character The natural area comes under Low Weald. Similarly, Character Area is Low Weald and Pevensey. At the same time, map overleaf indicates that this part of Kent is characterised as the Hildenborough-Leigh Farmlands. The landscape is generally flat or gently undulating between 30 and 50 metres above sea level. The area to the west, the Western Woodland Farmlands, in contrast has a flatter landscape and fewer woodlands. Source: Kent Landscape Information System Open landscape with trees in distant spots is the major characteristic due to removal of internal field boundaries in order to support arable usage. There is however some remaining mixed woodlands around the edge of the Hall Place estate. The pattern of cultivation now gives a bright green landscape in spring compared with the more subtle colours of the old traditional pastures. As usual, road and rail transport routes cut across this landscape. 2.2 Local climate The climate for this area is represented by the following table: The minimum temperature ranges from 1.3 to 12.2oC where as maximum temperature ranges from 7.1 to 21.6oC. This reflects that the climate is temperate type. The average annual rainfall recorded was 728 mm (average of 30 years). Source: Meteorological Office Wye is the nearest meteorological weather station to Hadlow. Compared to the averages for England as a whole, this part of Kent has warmer days (both max and min temperatures higher by over 0.5 of a degree), 6 fewer days of air frost, about 10% more hours of sunshine and about 15% less rainfall. All of these factors combine to produce a climate reflected in Kent’s nickname of “the Garden of England”. 2.3 Geomorphological features The two fields are approximately 35 metres above sea level, rising to the north-west and falling to the south-east (as depicted in the following contour map). There is a spot height of 36 metres at the north-east edge of the Loys field. Source: Digimap 2.4 Soil types As the permeability is found to be slow, seasonally waterlogged soils over impermeable clay substrates with no storage capacity are common feature in this ecosystem. However, in some patches, freely draining permeable soils in unconsolidated loams or clays with groundwater at less that 2m from the surface are also present. This implies that, for the Loys field (and part of the Ragfield field), seasonal water logging occurs and is a significant constraint on agricultural production, with the result that this area is mainly under permanent grassland. For the (remainder of) the Ragfield field, the ground consist of light, free-draining sandy and coarse loamy soils developed on soft sandstones and sandy drift, leading to poor quality growing conditions due to a loss of minerals in the soil. Sources: Kent Landscape Information System, National Soil Research Institute 2.5 History The following series of maps shows how the Loys and Ragfield fields have developed over the last 140 years or so. Landmark Edition 1 (1879 – 1890) Source: Kent Landscape Information System Landmark Edition 2 (1897 – 1900) Source: Kent Landscape Information System Landmark Edition 3 (1907 – 1923) Source: Kent Landscape Information System Landmark Edition 4 (1929 – 1952) Source: Kent Landscape Information System Kent aerial Photo 1999 Source: Kent Landscape Information System Kent Aerial Photo 2003 Source: Kent Landscape Information System As shown on the final two aerial photos, the Loys and Ragfield fields were finally drawn to their current size sometime after 1952 but before 1999. Prior to that, the area covered by the Loys and Ragfield fields were split up into varyingly shaped and sized, but generally smaller, fields. 2.6 Current use As can be seen from the usage map below, the land usage of the two fields can be separately identified by examining the Land use Description Units (LDUs) for each field. Note that there is a small overlap on to the Loys field of the LDU for the Ragfield field. Source: Kent Landscape Information System For the Loys field, the land usage is categorised generically as pastoral farmland, which is predominately associated with livestock farming, whereas the Ragfield field (plus a bit of the Loys field) is categorised as arable farmland, which is mainly cultivated, although some livestock farming also takes place. In fact, for both of these fields, the survey revealed that the current usage is simply and specifically for grazing horses. Horses grazing in Ragfield on 5 March 2008 3 Phase 1 habitat survey 3.1 Habitat map 3.2 Target notes Target note number Description NCC alphanumeric code Picture 1 Acid grassland F2.1 2 Arable and horticulture = 3 Calcareous grassland = 4 Dried sweet corn (Zea mays) husks and roots scattered on surface B4 5 Creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense), esp. under the fences = 6 Neutral grassland = 7 Common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris) = 8 Common field speedwell (Veronica persica) On the edge of B4 and B2 9 Coniferous woodlands A1.2 10 Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodlands B4 All events and observations listed in the table above relate to site visit on 5 March 2008 4 Local biodiversity action plan (BAP) According to land use capability classification, this site comes under V and below categories where regular field crop cultivation may not be feasible and is mainly used as a pasture, mainly for horses. Hence its potential in modifying from pastures to field crops is not possible which becomes the main challenge. However, with some land treatment plans in long run, this land in some patches may be used for cultivation of some economically useful plants. The identification of specific sites which have such potential and with out disturbing the grazing opportunities would be the main objective of this paper. Darwin’s principle of struggle for existence and survival of fittest aid in selection of some plant species. For example, woodland species fitted very well with the recent changes in global climate in the Loys field as they have medium dispersal capacity and high resistance to barriers, such as roads. Source: Kent Landscape Information System The plan has to concentrate on following areas: i. The pollinators like insects and birds play vital role in pollination and fertilization of plant species. Hence, the bio-diversity of this area may be positively influenced by improving the ecological factors required for these pollinators. The cultivation of shelter belts and wind breaks will help in this regard as they reduce the speed of wind and avoid the plant damage and provide congenial atmosphere for the insects and birds. They will improve the micro climate of the vegetation enormously in Kent region. ii. Some weeds become highly competitive and smother other crops by allelopathy and in this process affects the bio-diversity. Hence, these types of weeds have to be identified and managed accordingly where ever they proved to be dangerous. The mechanical and physical weeding methods like mowing and burning would be of significant help in this context. At the same time care has to be taken that they are not eliminated from the ecosystem completely. iii. All favorable factors for wild flora and fauna must be encouraged and destructive factors have to be reduced so that maximum number of plant and animal species can survive for longer period. If vegetation cover is well maintained, the rainfall condition would be favorable which in turn would facilitate better environment for plants and animals. iv. Concentrate on plant and animal genotype and variety development programmes to address the problem of endangered species. This will avoid the extinction of useful species. The genetic stock of those endangered species has to be maintained for further improvement. v. Care should be taken while developing this bio-diversity plan that existing plant and animal species should not get any damage. Bibliography Reader’s Digest, Nature Lover’s Library Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain, 2001, London, The Reader’s Digest Association Ltd Vera, F. W. M., Grazing Ecology and Forest History, 2004, Wallingford (UK), CABI Publishing Ward, Diana, Holmes, Nigel, Jose, Paul (eds), The New Rivers & Wildlife Handbook, 2001, Bedfordshire, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. http://www.kentbap.org.uk/species/ Acknowledgements All photographs are my own, taken on site The weather averages table is from the Meteorological Office web site Ordinance Survey maps were downloaded from Digimap All remaining diagrams and aerial photos were downloaded from KLIS (Kent Landscape Information System) Read More