Partnership plans
|
| Name |
Description |
|
| Adder |
To conserve the Adder across the region of Cheshire. The Adder is currently found at Risley moss Local Nature reserve and National trust properties on the mid-Cheshire ridge. The adder prefers heathland, moorland and rough grassland habitats. |
More > |
| Ancient & Semi-Natural Broad-leaved Woodland |
To conserve, restore and in some cases increase areas of Ancient and Semi-Natural Broadleaved woodland across Cheshire. Ancient semi-natural woodlands (ASNWs) are woods that have persisted in the landscape since the Middle Ages, from a date of approximately 1600AD and continuity of a woodland on a site since around this date determines whether it is classed as ancient. |
More > |
| Arable Margins |
To identify, protect and expand the extent of cereal field margins in the Cheshire region. A cereal field margin can be described as a strip of land lying between a cereal crop and the field boundary, and extending for a limited distance into the crop. These areas can be deliberately managed to create conditions which benefit key farmland species, particularly important as this century has seen the extensive decline of a number of farmland species. Important species include the brown hare and farmland birds. |
More > |
| Atlantic Grey Seal |
To monitor threats to the seals, ensuring that grey seals ability to use the Dee and Mersey estuaries does not seriously decline. To increase understanding about the seals among the local population; particularly people who use the estuary for leisure. To increase understanding between the conservation and fishing communities. Grey seals usually haul out on uninhabited offshore islands, but will occasionally be found on quiet mainland beaches.
On Wirral, grey seal occupy the east side of the West Hoyle sand bank, near to the Hilbre islands. The Hilbre population do not breed in the Dee. They use the Liverpool Bay area to haul out, feed and moult. Small numbers of seals venture into the Mersey Estuary. |
More > |
| Barn Owl |
To increase the current population size and distribution of barn owls in the Cheshire region. Barn owls nest in quiet barns, outbuildings and hollows in trees. Their preferred habitat is farmland and other open areas with scattered trees, such as Cereal field margins and Unimproved grassland. |
More > |
| Bats |
To maintain existing populations and range the bat species found in Cheshire. There are 16 species of bat occurring in Britain with at least 2 others occurring as vagrants. Ten bat species have been recently recorded in the Cheshire region. Important habitats for bats include Ancient Semi-Natural Broadleaved woodland, unimproved grassland and ancient hedgerows. |
More > |
| Belted Beauty |
To maintain existing population of Belted Beauty moths within the North Wirral Coastal Park, enhance the population size within the North Wirral Coastal Park by 2010 and reintroduce moths to other suitable locations within Wirral. In Britain the belted beauty is confined to coastal grasslands. In England the populations occur in early successional sparsely grassed sand dunes rather than the more grassy dunes favoured by the Welsh and some of the Scottish populations. |
More > |
| Black-necked Grebe |
To conserve the populations of Black-necked Grebes throughout Cheshire. Black-necked grebes inhabit small lochs, reservoirs, gravel marl pits and estuaries. The species will be conserved primarily through the protection and restoration of these habitats. |
More > |
| Bluebell |
The U.K. has 30% of the global population of bluebells. Therefore it is essential that the Cheshire region maintain its proportion of this internationally important species. The most important habitat for bluebells are Ancient Semi-Natural braodleaved woodlands. |
More > |
| Brown Hare |
To reduce fragmentation of the Brown hare population in the Cheshire region through targeted habitat improvement and localised population increase. Brown hares are found in mainly arable farmland as well as grasslands with sheltered areas in long grass, hedgerows and ditches. |
More > |
| Club-tailed Dragonfly |
To maintain the current populations of club-tailed dragonfly in the Cheshire region by preventing actions likely to damage suitable breeding sites and increasing awareness of the ecological requirements for the species with land managers / owners. This dragonfly is described as nationally scarce, it is extremely local but can occur in large populations when the habitat is suitable. In Cheshire club-tailed dragonfly occurs on the stretch of the River Dee between Shocklach and Aldford. Club tailed dragonflies prefer medium to large, slow moving rivers with silty beds. They are also found in other water bodies such as meres and pools. |
More > |
| Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh |
To maintain and manage coastal and floodplain grazing marsh areas in Cheshire. Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh is defined in the UK Habitat Action Plan (HAP) as periodically inundated pasture, or meadow with ditches which maintain the water levels, containing standing brackish or fresh water. The ditches are especially rich in plants and invertebrates. The only specific grazing marsh site within the Cheshire region with legal protection is Meols Meadow SSSI on the Wirral Peninsula, which covers 7.1ha. |
More > |
| Coastal saltmarsh |
The overall objective is to maintain, in favourable condition, the current extent of saltmarsh in the Wirral. Saltmarshes are a very important habitat for plant species and a resource for wading birds and wildfowl. Acting as high tide refuges for waterfowl, breeding sites for terns, gulls, waders and passerines (skylark and meadow pippit) in autumn and winter. In winter, large flocks of swans, geese and ducks rely on saltmarshes. |
More > |
| Coastal sand dune |
To conserve and improve areas of coastal sand dunes in Cheshire. The sand dune habitats in Wirral cover approximately 80 ha. (approx. 0.15 % of UK area) this represents all of Cheshire's sand dune resource. Important species associated with this habitat include the Natterjack Toad and the Belted Beauty moth. |
More > |
| Cuckoo Bee |
Coastal bees and wasps, including the Cucko Bee, are largely under threat because the habitat they depend on is under threat. It is therefore important to conserve areas of coastal sand dunes that the Cuckoo Bee relies on. The Cuckoo Bee is only found in Cheshire on dunes at the North Wirral Coastal Park. |
More > |
| Depressed River Mussel |
To protect existing popoulations of the Depressed river mussel in Cheshire. The Mussels are found in Cheshire at several sites along the Shropshire Union Canal. The preferred habitat for these mussels is in the bottom sediments of slow rivers. |
More > |
| Dingy Skipper |
To increase populations of the Dingy Skipper butterfly across its range in Cheshire through management of suitable habitats. The most suitable habitats for this butterfly in Cheshire are Lime beds. The population of dingy skipper is confined to four sites in the Cheshire region (the Witton Limebeds complex at Northwich, The Weaver Parkway, Wirral Way and Lea-by-Backford). |
More > |
| Dormouse |
To expand the population of the Dormouse throughout Cheshire by means of reintroduction and management of suitable habitat. Dormice inhabit coppiced woodlands, deciduous woodland with scrub, and hedgerows. Nationally, the dormouse has disappeared from most of the north of England. A Mammal Society survey in the late 1970s showed it had become extinct in 7 northern counties where it was once known to occur, including the Cheshire region. The only dormice in the Cheshire region are an introduced population in the Wych Valley. |
More > |
| Downy Emerald |
To ensure the survival of downy emeralds in Cheshire. This species prefers woodlands near waterbodies like lakes and ponds. In Cheshire this dragonfly can only be found at Abbots Moss, Gull Pool and the narrow area of forest between where it appears to be increasing in number. There is an unconfirmed record for Little Budworth Common and old records for Wybunbury Moss and Pettypool. |
More > |
| Dry Stone Walls |
To identify, survey and enhance the current area of dry stone walls in the County of Cheshire. Dry stone walls are important for because they act as corridors for wild mammals moving from one place to another; provide nesting and perching sites for birds and roosting holes for bats; are germinating sites for plants; are superb surfaces for mosses and lichens; harbour insects and reptiles in their holes, nooks and crannies. |
More > |
| Farmland Seed-eating Birds |
The group of birds this action plan covers are all listed as UKBAP priorities: Tree Sparrow, House Sparrow, Corn Bunting, Reed Bunting, Yellowhammer, Linnet, Bullfinch, Skylark, Starling, Lapwing, Song Thrush and Grey Partridge. Changes from traditional farming methods, loss of key habitat for both nesting and foraging have contributed to the decline of these bird species. |
More > |
| Fens |
To restore and conserve areas of fen across Cheshire. Important species associated with fens include the Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary butterfly. |
More > |
| Gardens and Allotments |
To raise awareness of the wildlife value of gardens and allotments, to maintain the nature conservation interest in gardens and allotments and enhance the wildlife value of gardens and allotments. The total area of gardens in Cheshire has been estimated at 3927 hectares while for the whole of the UK the figure is around 400,000 hectares. |
More > |
| Great Crested Newt |
To halt and reverse the decline of great crested newt populations in the Cheshire region. Great crested newts are found in marl pits and other small water bodies. Distribution is widespread throughout the Cheshire region, probably due to relative abundance of farm ponds and suitable terrestrial habitat throughout the region. |
More > |
| Harvest Mouse |
To conserve the harvest mouse in suitable habitat across Cheshire. Harvest mice get their name from their association with cereal crop fields however they are also found in grasslands, reedbeds, hedgerows, bramble and open fields. |
More > |
| Heathland |
To maintain and restore heathland sites across Cheshire. Lowland heathland occurs on low sandstone hills and areas of glacial or wind blown sand deposits. The habitat is characterised by a predominance of dwarf shrubs, almost always with heather (Calluna vulgaris) as the dominant species often accompanied by cross-leaved heath (Erica tetralix) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus). |
More > |
| Hedgerows |
To conserve areas of ancient hedgerows across Cheshire. Ancient hedgerows are those in existence before the Enclosures Acts, passed mainly between 1720 and 1840 in Britain. Species-rich hedgerows contain 5 or more native woody species in a 30m length. Hedgerows are important habitat for the Dormouse. |
More > |
| Isle of Man Cabbage |
To maintain and, ideally, extend current local range and distribution of Isle of Man Cabbage. This species has always been locally frequent on the sand dunes between Wallasey and Leasowe, with records going back to de Tabley's Flora of Cheshire in 1875. The population currently spreads from Leasowe Gunsite over the tall dunes of Wallasey Golf Course. |
More > |
| Ivy-leaved Water-Crowfoot |
To Increase awareness of the international importance of ivy-leaved water-crowfoot and safeguard known sites. The most important habitat for this species are usually ponds. |
More > |
| Lakes & Meres |
To protect and enhance the nationally and internationally important qualities of the meres. There are many 'meres/pools' which lie within the Cheshire region, 12 of which have been given the designation of SSSI. 8 meres are notified as Wetlands of International Importance, included in the Midlands Meres and Mosses RAMSAR sites. |
More > |
| Lesser Silver Water Beetle |
To maintain viable populations within the Cheshire Plain. The adults prefer still, weedy, deep ponds and ditches in peaty areas where the peat is unlikely to dry out. The lesser silver water beetle is known to be present at several localities in the Cheshire region. Since the discovery of an adult in a Cheshire pond in 1990, nine known breeding ponds have been identified. It is considered that these may be the only known breeding sites of this species outside the Somerset Levels (Kirby, 1994). |
More > |
| Limebeds |
To identify all remaining limebeds supporting calcareous vegetation, and apply all necessary measures for their maintenance and restoration so that all sites achieve a favourable conservation status. During their open (often waterlogged) stages, limebeds develop considerable faunal interest, for example, for breeding birds (little ringed plover), migrant birds and for dragonflies. Early open stages are important for butterflies: Ashtons and, to a less extent, Neumann's Flash, is one of only four known breeding sites in Cheshire for the Dingy Skipper. The pulverised fuel ash lagoons at Fiddles Ferry Power Station have produced similar artificial calcareous habitats of botanical and ornithological interest. |
More > |
| Mackay's Horsetail |
To maintain and increase the population of Mackay's Horsetail across Cheshire. MacKay's horsetail prefers coastal areas and is most commonly associated with coastal sand dunes. This species occurs in three sites in the Cheshire region, Red Rocks Marsh Nature Reserve and Royal Liverpool Golf Course at Hoylake, and Wallasey Golf Course, all on the Wirral peninsula. |
More > |
| Maritime Cliff & Slope |
|
More > |
| Mining Bee |
Coastal bees and wasps, including the Mining Bee, are largely under threat because the habitat they depend on is under threat. It is therefore important to conserve areas of coastal sand dunes that the Cuckoo Bee relies on. Creeping Willow is particulary important for the Mining Bee. |
More > |
| Mud Snail |
To halt and reverse the decline of the mud snail population. Mud snails are typically found in soft, nutrient poor waters with few other aquatic animals or plants. These include freshwater marshes, small ditches, temporary pools or seepages that dry up or significantly diminish in summer. |
More > |
| Mudflats |
The overriding objective is to maintain mudflats and other intertidal and subtidal habitats with which they interact in a favourable condition both in terms of their extent and distribution and their water/sediment quality. The UK BAP defines mudflats as "sedimentary intertidal habitats created by deposition in low energy coastal environments, particularly estuaries and other sheltered areas". Characteristic species are common cockle (Cerastoderma edule), laver spire shell (Hydrobia ulvae), ragworm (Hediste diversicolor) and the gammarid Corophium voluator. They also support a wide variety of wading birds. |
More > |
| Native Black Poplar |
To conserve the remaining Black Poplar trees (estimated at 250) in Cheshire. The black poplar, which is considered to be native in Britain is thought to be the most endangered native timber tree in Britain (White, 1993). In Cheshire the black poplar survives at the north western limit of its range, however the old, scattered trees are no longer regenerating naturally. |
More > |
| Natterjack Toad |
To ensure the present population numbers do not decrease and to promote education and awareness in order to encourage responsible attitudes towards conserving Natterjack toad populations. The Natterjack Toad is found on coastal sand dunes in the Wirral. |
More > |
| Otter |
To restore otters to all catchments where they have been recorded since 1960. Otters may inhabit any unpolluted body of freshwater, including lakes, streams, rivers, and ponds, as long as there is good supply of food. Otters may also live along the coast, in salt water, but require regular access to freshwater to clean their fur. Otters have shown a dramatic recovery in some areas of the country. This is a great conservation success story, however the Cheshire otters have not shown the same increase in numbers. They are here but with the wealth of waterways and water bodies in the county, the population is still lower than would be expected. |
More > |
| Peatlands |
To ensure that the condition of this resource is maintained where favourable or enhanced through appropriate management. |
More > |
| Polecat |
To encourage the natural recolonisation of the polecat in the Cheshire region and to monitor and conserve existing population numbers towards a sustainable population. Polecats can be found in meadows, moorland, woodlands, open mountains and coastal areas and sometimes found close to farm buildings. Due to a decline in trapping during the 20th century, the polecat population in Britain has increased. It has become more common in Wales and now populates every Welsh county, apart from Anglesey, and is starting to recolonise border counties, including the Cheshire region where it has not lived since the 1890s. |
More > |
| Ponds |
To sustain the quality of the pond landscape (aquatic and terrestrial) and to promote sympathetic restoration and creation of small water bodies in the landscape. Ponds are important for species such as the Great Crested Newt. Ponds are widespread across Cheshire. |
More > |
| Reedbeds |
To map, survey and extend this habitat. Reedbeds are amongst the most important habitats for birds in the UK. They support a distinctive breeding bird assemblage including 6 nationally rare Red Data Birds the bittern Botaurus stellaris, marsh harrier, Circus aeruginosus, crane Grus grus, Cetti`s warbler Cettia cetti, Savi`s warbler Locustella luscinioides and bearded tit Panurus biarmicus, provide roosting and feeding sites for migratory species (including the globally threatened aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicola) and are used as roost sites for several raptor species in winter. In the 1996 survey Cheshire is recorded as having only 3 reedbeds greater than 10ha. The largest inland site is that of Woolston Eyes (12.6ha) |
More > |
| Ringlet |
To maintain a viable population of ringlet in the Wych valley. Main habitats for this butterfly is tall grassland those with partial shade and heavy soils where grass is lush, are preferred especially in woodland glades and rides. The ringlet inhabits commons, verges and riverbanks especially with clay soils. |
More > |
| River Water-Crowfoot |
To maintain a healthy population where conditions are naturally suitable in the Cheshire region. River water-crowfoot needs a stony substrate with shallow, swift-flowing, oxygen-rich water, clean and free of pollutants. |
More > |
| Roadside Verges |
To identify, maintain and enhance old roadside verges with characteristic local flora and to promote the importance of roadside verges as wildlife habitat by encouraging sympathetic new planting and management regimes. Roadside verges provide food and shelter for many species of invertebrates such as grasshoppers, butterflies, moths, wasps and bees and small mammals such as shrews and voles. The small mammals then provide the food for the larger mammals, such as weasels and birds of prey such as kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) barn owls (Tyto alba). |
More > |
| Rock Sea Lavender |
To maintain the range of Rock Sea Lavender in Cheshire. Limonium britannicum ssp. celticum is listed in the RDB as NEAR THREATENED. It is confined to North Wales, Cheshire, Lancashire and Cumbria and is recorded in three 10 km squares in North West Britain. In Wirral, the plant occurs on Hilbre Island, off the west coast of the Wirral peninsula at the mouth of the Dee estuary. There are two colonies approximately 220m apart, containing 1000+ and 100+ plants respectively. |
More > |
| Sand wasp |
Coastal bees and wasps, including the Sand Wasp, are largely under threat because the habitat they depend on is under threat. It is therefore important to conserve areas of coastal sand dunes that the Sand Wasp relies on. |
More > |
| Sandhill Rustic |
To maintain population size between West Kirby and Hoylake and to create new habitat for the Sandhill Rustic moth. This moth inhabits sand dunes and beaches. |
More > |
| Silver-studded Blue |
To maintain a viable population of silver-studded blue at Thurstaston Common by suitable heather management. |
More > |
| Slow-worm |
To establish the current distribution of slow-worms in the Cheshire region and promote slow-worm conservation across the county. Slow-worms can occur across a wide variety of habitats, which include; Rough grassland, heathland, moorland, hedgerows, woodland edges, railway/motorway embankments, gardens, churchyards and allotments. Slow-worms exhibit the widest habitat preference of Britain's reptiles. However, there have been only four records in the Cheshire region since 1995. Allotment sites are one of the slow-worms major strongholds in the Cheshire region. |
More > |
| Small Cetaceans |
To establish a baseline study of population and conservation status of the small cetaceans within Liverpool Bay. To maintain the current range and abundance of the local population of small cetaceans. Seek to increase ranges of small dolphin populations by ensuring that no human factors inhibit their return to waters that previously held them. |
More > |
| Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary |
To halt the decline of the Small Pearl-borderered Fritillary across Cheshire. This species occurs in damper, grassy habitats as well as woodland clearings, open wood-pasture and moorland. The population of small pearl-bordered fritillary is now confined to a single site in the Cheshire region at Bagmere SSSI near Congleton. |
More > |
| Spotted Flycatcher |
To halt and reverse the current decline in breeding pairs of the Spotted Flycatcher across Cheshire. They prefer woodland edges and parks and gardens but will also inhabit hedgerows, broadleaved woodland and even mature coniferous woodland. The Cheshire population has been estimated at 1000 - 1250 pairs (Guest et al, 1992). |
More > |
| Ten-spotted pot beetle |
To ensure the continued survival of the species in its known location at Wybunbury Moss. |
More > |
| Traditional Orchards |
To sustain and enhance existing orchards throughout the county. To establish a network of community orchards throughout the county to keep the tradition alive and help to carry it forward. To promote the importance of orchards and fruit growing. The trees within traditional orchards often decay quickly and so provide crevice and hollow nesting sites for birds such as spotted flycatchers and can also provide roosts for bats. The bark itself supports many fungi, moss and lichen species. Orchards were once an important part of the Cheshire landscape. The county supported many orchards and produced a wide range of fruit, with each area having its own speciality or distinctive fruit variety. Most older farms, smallholdings and cottages still have remains of orchard trees either in the garden hedgerow or in grassy paddocks set close to the house. |
More > |
| Unimproved Grasslands |
To maintain and achieve favourable condition of unimproved grassland habitat across Cheshire. Britain has lost more than 95% of its unimproved grasslands and, since 1939, the Cheshire region has lost 99%. In the Cheshire Grassland Inventory only 860ha of unimproved grasslands were found (McHarry 1997). |
More > |
| Variable Damselfly |
To prevent the species from declining in present numbers in Cheshire. Only found in a handful of Cheshire sites including Hatchmere, and marl pits in Tiverton, Tarporly, Huxley and Churton. The preferred habitat for this species is ponds, fens and meres. |
More > |
| Water Vole |
To maintain and enhance current population of water voles across Cheshire. Occurs mainly on well-vegetated lowland ponds, rivers, canals and drainage ditches with steeply sided banks. Usually within 2m of the waters edge. The water vole was once common and widespread in lowland Britain but has suffered a significant decline in numbers and distribution in recent years. Water voles can be described as widespread and locally common in the Cheshire region, favouring backwater streams, ponds and canals. |
More > |
| Waxcap Grasslands |
To conserve areas of Waxcap Grasslands across Cheshire. A number of recognised Cheshire Waxcap grassland sites are within existing SBIs in the Macclesfield area including; Kerridge Hill, Macclesfield Forest, Teggs Nose Country Park and Harrop Wood. Ongoing recording and research is being undertaken at Kerridge Hill by Rachel Hunter. |
More > |
| White-clawed Crayfish |
To attempt to maintain the present distribution of this species by limiting the spread of crayfish plague, limiting the spread of non-native species, and by maintaining appropriate habitat conditions. White clawed crayfish have a wide distribution nationally, although naturally absent from western Wales, Scotland, parts of western England and parts of Ireland. Populations have declined by between 25-49% over the last 25 years. Distribution in the Cheshire region is patchy. The water quality of many rivers is often unsuitable or they do not have the required habitat features. There are, however populations of white clawed crayfish in the Weaver/Dane and Goyt/Etherow catchments. |
More > |
| White-letter Hairstreak |
To achieve a more widespread distribution of White-letter hairstreak throughout the Cheshire region providing opportunities for a sustainable population to exist. White-letter hairstreak butterflies prefer areas with elm trees and plants providing nectar present and can be found in many habitats including, meadows, hedgerows and woodlands. The white-letter hairstreak has declined in the United Kingdom as a result of Dutch Elm Disease destroying its larval foodplant. In Cheshire it has a limited distribution. |
More > |
| Wood-pasture and Parkland |
To identify and maintain the current extent of lowland wood pasture, parkland and individual veteran trees and avenues and promote the importance of these habitats for wildlife. These habitats are particularly important for the fungi, lichens, bryophytes and invertebrates associated with veteran trees and decaying timber. Much relict parkland remains in the Cheshire region although this has largely been changed to agriculture over time. |
More > |
