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The aim of this protocol is to establish a baseline, and implement ongoing monitoring of the bog/mire area at Blacka Moor known as Cowsick Bog. Condition is assessed through the cover and frequency of positive and negative species, as well as structural attributes such as sward heights. This method is not designed to compile a species list for the sites but will provide information in order to assess the health of Cowsick Bog, and if the area is meeting requirements of agri-environment schemes and SSSI conditions.
Key attributes
- At least 2 positive indicators (see species list 1) occurring in each grid square.
- Combined cover of positive indicators (species list 1) in each grid square should be ≥2.
- Sphagnum cover in each grid square should be ≥2
- Absence of dense bracken in the bog/mire/fen areas.
- Cover of scrub/trees in the bog/mire/fen areas to be ≤1
- Cover within each grid square of Juncus effusus ≤1
- Average sward height across whole area is >15cm (excluding tussocks of Juncus spp).
- Presence of at least 2000 Bog Asphodel Narthecium ossifragum flower spikes, covering at least 0.084ha (840m2)
Species list 1
Carex echinata Star sedge
Carex nigra Common Sedge
Dactylorhiza maculata Heath Spotted Orchid
Eriophorum angustifolium Common Cottongrass
Eriophorum vaginatum Hairs'tail Cottongrass
Juncus acutiflorus Sharp-Flowered Rush
Narthecium ossifragum Bog Asphodel
Potentilla erecta Tormentil
Vaccinium oxycoccos Cranberry
Viola palustris Marsh Violet
Protocol description
This protocol is carried out by completing a series of ticklists and measurements on a walk-through assessment of the bog.
Skill level
Surveyors should be able to identify the full list of positive indicator species, which includes identifying bryophytes to genus level. Surveyors should have botanical skills consummate with a FISC Level 3/4.
Materials/equipment
- Map with marked grid squares
- GPS with grid squares loaded & spare batteries
- Weather writer and pen/pencil
- Survey sheets
- Instructions / criteria (see below)
- Marker flags for marking out squares
- Metre sticks for sward measurements.
- Wellies / Waders
- Tally counters - one per person, to ensure accurate flower spike counts.
Timing
One visit should be carried out between July and August.
Method
The area has been separated into 50x50m grid squares, with a survey sheet completed for each grid square. NB addtional squares were added in 2019 following the baseline survey, so they are not totally sequentially numbered - numbering of original squares has been retained to ensure easy comparison between years.
Species indicators are assessed using a ticklist, as well as assessing the cover of each species.
Sward heights are taken from an average of five measurements taken at random in each grid square, using a metre ruler.
Flower spike counts are undertaken for specific species within each grid square - these counts ignore non-flowering rosettes, so a square may have positive presence of a species, but score zero on the flower spike count.
The area of Bog Asphodel also needs to be measured. This is not done using the 50x50m grid squares; instead a surveyor using a handheld GPS should walk around the periphery of the swathes of bog asphodel, taking a waypoint reading every 10 steps or so. Notes should be made about the waypoint numbers so that continuous areas and outlying clumps can be distinguished when the waypoints are transferred to QGIS and joined up into polygons. [Waypointing has been used instead of recording a track due to the nature of the terrain and occurrence of outlying clumps near continuous areas.] Once polygons have been created in QGIS, the area can be calculated.
Survey forms
References
Anderson, P. (2006) Blacka Moor, Grazing Impact Assessment: Penny Anderson Associates.
JNCC (2009) Common Standards Monitoring Guidance for Upland Habitats.