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The aim of this protocol is to establish a baseline, and implement ongoing monitoring of areas of rush pasture, suitable for breeding waders. Habitat suitability is assessed through structural attributes such as sward heights and density, soil moisture and bare ground.
Key attributes
March
- 30% of site should have moist soil (so that a 6 inch nail can be pushed into the ground with ease).
- 5% of the site should contain standing water (not including ponds and scrapes).
- At least 30% of the site should be covered in tall >50cm, dense, tussocky rushes.
- 20-50% of the site should have a sward height <5cm.
- 5-30% of the site should have a sward height between 15-40cm.
- Retention of ponds and scrapes covering 0.1ha of the site, around which marginal vegetation does not exceed >25%.
- Bare ground should score ≤1 (rare) within each 50x50m grid square.
July
M23 vegetation community
- At least two M23 indicators (species list 1) occurring frequently (occurring in at least 40-60% of 50m x 50m grids) across the site.
- At least two M23 indicators (species list 1) occurring occasionally (occuring in at least 20-40% of 50m x 50m grids) across the site.
- >20% decline in frequency of positive indicators since previous survey results in site being in unfavourable condition.
M23a vegetation community (species list 2)
- At least two M23a indicators (species list 2) occurring frequently (occurring in at least 40-60% of 50m x 50m grids) across the site.
- At least two M23a indicators (species list 2) occurring occasionally (occurring in at least 20-40% of 50m x 50m grids) across the site.
- >20% decline in frequency of positive indicators since previous survey results in site being in unfavourable condition.
Species list 1
Achillea ptarmica Sneezewort
Caltha palustris Marsh marigold
Carum verticillatum Whorled caraway
Filipendula ulmaria Meadowsweet
Galium palustre Marsh bedstraw
Hydrocotyle vulgaris Marsh pennywort
Lotus pedunculatus Greater birdsfoot trefoil
Lythrum salicaria Purple loosestrife
Mentha aquatica Water mint
Orchidaceae spp Orchid spp
Silene flos-cuculi (Lychnis flos-cuculi) Ragged robin
Viola palustris Marsh violet
Species list 2
Juncus acutiflorus Sharp-flowered rush
Molinia caerulea Purple moor grass
Potentilla erecta Tormentil
Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup
Ranunculus flammula Lesser spearwort
Anthoxanthum odoratum Sweet vernal grass
Skill level
Much of the protocol looking at structural attributes such as sward heights and standing water require no botancial knowledge. Surveyors completeing the ticklists for indicator species should have a good level of botanical skills commensurate to a FISC level 3. Surveyors should be confident in identifying the full list of positive indicators.
Materials/equipment
- Map
- GPS
- Weather writer and pen/pencil
- Survey sheets
- Instructions / criteria (see below).
- Marker flags
- Metre ruler
- Six inch nails
Timing
To avoid surveying during bird breeding season, structural attributes can be measured in March. Species attributes can be measured towards the end of July.
Method
This protocol is carried out by completing a series of tick lists and measurements on a walk-through assessment of the site.
The site has been separated into 50x50m grid squares, with a survey completed for each grid square.
Attributes such as bare ground and standing water are assessed on whether these attributes are present within each grid or not. Sward heights are taken from an average of five measurements taken at random in each grid square, using a metre ruler. Soil moisture is assessed by testing whether a 6 inch nail can be pushed into the ground with ease.
Indicator species are recorded using a ticklist for each 50x50m grid square.
Survey forms
Other information
References
Eades, P. (2018) Hammond's Field Nature Reserve Vegetation Survey: Sheffield Lakeland Landscape Partnership.
Natural England (2011a) Illustrated guide to managing farmland for lapwings. Available at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/33004 (Accessed: 11/02/2019).
Natural England (2011b) Illustrated guide to managing lowland wet grassland for snipe. Available at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/34003 (Accessed: 11/02/2019).