The Nature of Rushcliffe 2021
Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group
The Nature of Rushcliffe 2021 - Annual Report – published 2022
Contents
- Introduction
- Chairman's Statement
- Appendix A - Indicators of Achievement
- Appendix B - Nature Reserves
- Appendix C - Voluntary practical nature conservation work carried out in Rushcliffe
- Appendix D - Condition of SSSI’s in Rushcliffe (as assessed by Natural England)
- Appendix E - Barn Owl Results
- Appendix F - Access to Nature
- Appendix G - Progress report for the Nature Conservation Strategy 2021 - 2025
- Appendix H - Nature Conservation Projects and Activities in Rushcliffe
- Appendix I - Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping Project
1. Introduction
The strategy group was set up in 2003 to implement the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy and consists of a range of organisations and groups with an interest in Rushcliffe’s wildlife. Member organisations of the implementation group include:
- Rushcliffe Borough Council
- Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust (NWT)
- Nottinghamshire County Council
- Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Group
And various local wildlife groups, interest groups and parish councils
The Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy and action plan was reviewed and updated and adopted in 2010, 2015, with the latest 2021-2025 strategy and plan adopted in 2021. The actions are to be carried out by a range of organisations including those on the implementation group. The strategy is published on Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy webpage.
Nature conservation in Rushcliffe is provided by broadly based community activity, with work carried out by a range of ‘Friends’ groups, work parties and other groups and individuals, as well as “official” organisations. A key role for RNCSIG is to bring together the organisations and community-based activities to provide both an overview of Rushcliffe conservation activities, but also to seek ways and means to further extend conservation activity in a strategic fashion.
The strategic aim is to protect and enhance Rushcliffe’s wildlife resources, thereby contributing towards local and national biodiversity action plan targets.
The progress of the strategy is assessed and reported in the appendices.
For more details see RNCSIG Facebook
2. Chairman's Statement
Looking Nationally
The Government have a stated ambition to create a Nature Recovery Network via county based Nature Recovery Plans to deliver ambitious targets, namely restore 75% of protected sites to favourable condition,
- create or restore at least 500,000 additional hectares of wildlife-rich habitat,
- recover our threatened animal & plant species
- create wildlife corridors to reduce isolation and assist movement
- support the planting of 180,000 hectares of woodland
- deliver carbon capture, flood management, clean water, pollination and recreation
- bring nature much closer to people boosting health and wellbeing.
The Wildlife Trusts have identified that the minimum requirement for a genuine nature recovery means at least 30% of land being "wildlife friendly" by 2030. They also believe that to achieve that sort of recovery will involve at least 30% citizen engagement to
lock the government into agreed targets in a realistic way. None of this is rocket science but does require significant buy in from all sectors of society. Nationally Biodiversity Net Gain and changes to farming support appear to provide some real possibility of change.
At a county level, Notts County Council are expected to be mandated to act as a "lead" in developing a county Local Nature Recovery Strategy as part of this national objective. The LNRS process will deliver two main outputs:
- a list of priority opportunities for habitat improvement and restoration in the strategy area, and;
- a local habitat map which contains existing nature sites and habitats, and locations of the priorities for future habitat improvement and restoration.
This will consolidate work done over the years on county Species and Habitat Action Plans, as well as Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping. The intention is to consult with councils, NGO`s, key land managers and other groups about priorities. The Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy has always supported these sorts of ambitions, the big challenge will be making it a reality, at scale across the borough.
The Rushcliffe nature conservation community already deliver significant levels of activity on the ground. But for the objectives outlined above it will require a whole other level of commitment from a much wider base. To shamelessly plagiarise a recycling slogan "For our wildlife to recover requires millions of people to engage with the natural world imperfectly, rather than just a few people to do it perfectly".
Community level action has always been at the core of our local nature conservation strategy, even at its inception, the essential idea came up from the grassroots. And although you need the "big fish" participating in order to give the whole thing some weight, a lot of what is going on today is driven by local activism. Indeed, Rushcliffe Borough Council`s continued commitment is in part because RNCSIG can demonstrate that there is a genuine desire by local active citizens to take action.
There are 39 sites classed as nature reserves, totalling some 507 hectares. Ownership of reserves varies, but most are in some form of council ownership or with NGO`s. For a full list of such sites see Appendix B below.
But there are also notable privately owned areas considered to be wildlife friendly (274 ha`s in total). In addition, Planning Gain sites in the pipeline cover some 103 ha`s wildlife areas + 106 ha`s open space, although this is driven by loss of land to house building.
In addition to the nature reserves and wildlife friendly sites there are a range of projects/activities locally - some run by NGO`s, companies LA`s, others by committed groups/individuals. broadly summarized as:
- Five Area Projects
- Ten Habitat and Species Projects
- Six Species Recording activities
- Three Invasive Species Control
- Seventeen Wildlife Education (incl WATCH, Forest Schools and U3A)
For a breakdown see Appendix 2 of the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy
Local initiatives continue to be a key part of nature conservation in Rushcliffe. Reserve work parties and other projects are reviving, although there may be issues of volunteer "drift". But there have also been additional "grass root" initiatives. There are plans to make the Hickling Canal Basin area more wildlife friendly, grass roots pressure to make Wilford Fields (West Bridgford) into a nature reserve and also to secure Flintham Spinney as a local green asset. Wild Things Keyworth are working to make the village more hedgehog friendly and being joined by East Leake. Whilst in Normanton on Soar there is an Environmental Group that may also form part of a wider Soar Valley initiative, and at Gotham Hill Woods the family owners are seeking to manage it in a wildlife friendly way.
The Nature of Rushcliffe 2021
Rushcliffe continue to fund the Rushcliffe Service Level Agreement, Nature Conservation Grants, Tree Community Scheme and the employment of the All-Terrain Mower across a dozen sites. In addition, RBC have started a No Mow programme on parts of selected sites of their estate and plan to extend it. Notts County Council are reintroducing a wildlife friendly management regime on Notified Road Verges across the whole County.
Rushcliffe is of course beset by a lot of house building, whilst those developments are agreed, the devil can be in the implementation. So planning continues to raise issues, with concerns at Sharphill Wood and Barton Quarry, where there are still ongoing discussions about the detailed measures and mitigations for habitats at risk. RNCSIG also has ongoing concerns about the Rushcliffe Borough Council's Planning Enforcement Policy guidelines.
Sadly the NWT Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme (BEVS) ran into significant problems in the Cropwell Bishop area with the introduction by DEFRA (who also fund the BEVS scheme!) of culling in an adjacent area. This led to a high drop out by farmers and the project is planning to target the Wysall/Willoughby area from this year instead (again funded largely by DEFRA).
Notts Wildlife Trust recognize that farming represents a major component of any ambition to extend wildlife friendly areas and connectivity and are looking at how to convert their one part time farming advisor for a selected area into four bodies, able to cover the entire county.
The Cotgrave Focal Area Project did largely go into hibernation over the past two years, although RNCSIG are now working to revive it. Water retention on the Grantham Canal has become a major concern, with stretches around Kinoulton in particular drying out. A group has been set up to look at what measures can be taken to mitigate against this. Another example of local action.
The Trent Gateway is a multi-agency project that is looking to work along the whole of the Trent Valley. In the Nottingham area they envisage that this will include funding for wildlife engagement projects and also a tree planting programme along the edge of the Trent, including our local Black Poplars. Rushcliffe Country Park are planning to run a delayed Bioblitz this year as a repeat of one run around a decade ago.
It is fair to say that there is more going on locally than most people realize. The amount of activity has increased markedly over the last two decades, often due to the drive and enthusiasm of committed individuals and groups, but typically on minimal resources. Perhaps if national rhetoric is translated into real action on the ground, over the next decade more can be achieved.
So fingers crossed.
Gordon Dyne
Chair - Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group
Appendix A - Indicators of Achievement
As part of the strategy, eleven indicators of achievement were selected to measure the success of the strategy. Listed below are the indicators with the results for the year from January 2021 to December 2021.
Improvement is measured as:
- Improving
- No change / no previous data
- Deteriorating
- Percentage of nature reserves (as listed in our ‘Nature of Rushcliffe Annual Reports’) with current management plans. Target = 100% sites (Objective 2)
IMPROVING
- As of December 2021, there are thirty-nine sites managed predominantly as nature reserves, thirty three of these sites have current management plans (85%).
- Hours of practical work carried out on nature reserves by volunteers. Target = Maintain or increase year on year across the Borough (Objective 2).
IMPROVING
- In the year January 2021 to December 2021, the estimated number of hours of voluntary nature conservation work carried out in Rushcliffe was 14,835.5 hours. Voluntary work for 2019 was 12,496.5 hours (due to COVID 19, figures were not
recorded for 2020).
- In the year January 2021 to December 2021, the estimated number of hours of voluntary nature conservation work carried out in Rushcliffe was 14,835.5 hours. Voluntary work for 2019 was 12,496.5 hours (due to COVID 19, figures were not
- Increased proportion of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) managed in an appropriate manner. Target = Increase year on year towards 100% from a base of 23% at March 2018/19 (Obj 2/3.)
NO CHANGE / NO PREVIOUS DATA
- Data not available for 2021 due to COVID 19 restrictions
- Number of schools / Youth Organisations in Rushcliffe engaged in NWT related education activities. Target = 6 schools each year (Objective 5).
IMPROVING
- In 2021 a total of 9 activity sessions were run with 7 schools / Youth Organisations, engaging with 375 children.
- Number of barn owl boxes installed and available for use and number of barn owl chicks raised in boxes. Target = maintain number of boxes available for use and sustain level of barn owl chicks raised (Objective 3 & 6)
IMPROVING
- The number of boxes available in 2021 was 172 boxes. The three-year average numbers of chicks ringed, increased from 73 chicks in 2020 to 77 chicks in 2021. This is within normal variation for the species. Further details are shown in
appendix E.
- The number of boxes available in 2021 was 172 boxes. The three-year average numbers of chicks ringed, increased from 73 chicks in 2020 to 77 chicks in 2021. This is within normal variation for the species. Further details are shown in
- Percentage of nature reserves with wildlife related public events (at least one per year). Target = 70% of sites with at least one event per year (Objective 5).
DETERIORATING
- Six sites (that we are aware of) held public events during 2021 or 15%. This target was heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.
- Percentage of Parishes / West Bridgford Wards with publicly accessible natural green spaces (39% in 2015, 48% in 2018). Target = 3 more parishes/wards with at least one accessible natural green space by 2025. (Objective 6).
NO CHANGE / NO PREVIOUS DATA
- 53% of parishes and West Bridgford wards have accessible natural green spaces. The accessibility of ‘green’ sites in Rushcliffe is shown in Appendix F.
- Number of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS). Target = No net loss of LWS sites (Objective 1/2/3/4/6).
DETERIORATING
- As of March 2022, there are 222 sites designated as LWS, this is an overall decrease of 2 site. The area of Local Wildlife Sites is 1908 hectares, up from 1900 hectares (NBGRC), an increase of 8 hectares.
- Percentage of Tree canopy cover in Rushcliffe. Target = increase up to 20% from a base of 11.1% in 2020 (Obj 3).
NO CHANGE / NO PREVIOUS DATA
- Data for 2021 not available.
- Area of BAP habitat created, restored or bought under active conservation management in order to link or buffer existing wildlife habitat. Target = 30 ha`s grassland, 10 ha`s woodland, 10 ha`s wetland between 2021 and 2025 (Objective 1/2/3/4).
IMPROVING
- Work we have financed / carried out during 2021/22:
Tree Planting at Sharphill Wood, The Hook, Whatton and Orston, Wildflower seeds planted at Whatton and Orston. Additionally, 1361 trees were provided through tree schemes and 1000 wildflower seed packets provided to the public. - Cumulative Total (since Jan 2021):
- Wildlife Grassland: 0.1 ha;
- Woodland: 0.9 ha;
- Wetland: 0 ha;
- Ponds: 0 m2,
- Hedgerow: 0 m,
- Number of trees planted (outside woodlands): 1391.
- Work we have financed / carried out during 2021/22:
- Management of SSSI units to achieve a favourable condition according to Natural England assessment. Target = 95% of SSSI's managed to a favourable or recovering condition. (Obj 2/3).
NO CHANGE / NO PREVIOUS DATA
- In December 2018, 11.8% of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) units were in favourable condition. Full results are shown in Appendix D.
- Percentage of available Rushcliffe Biodiversity Support Grant allocated each year. Target = 100% of grant (Obj 1/2).
NO CHANGE / NO PREVIOUS DATA
- In 2021 five grants were made totalling £2350, this amounted to 100% of the available funding for this year.
Appendix B - Nature Reserves
This is the list of nature reserves in Rushcliffe as at March 2022, which is used for the basis of this report.
Site | Ownership (Management) | Area - hectares | Designation | Habitats | Management Plan (last update) | Public Access |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bingham Linear Walk |
Bingham Town Council (Friends Group) |
12 | LWS, LNS | Grass, Wood | 2018 | Yes |
Bridgford Street Wildflower Meadow, East Bridgford |
East Bridgford Parish Council (East Bridgford Wildlife and Biodiversity Group) |
0.5 | - | Grass | 2020 | Yes |
Bridgford Street Copse, East Bridgford |
Southwell Diocese of the Church of England (East Bridgford Wildlife and Biodiversity Group) | 0.5 | - | Wood | 2020 | Yes |
Bunny Old Wood | Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust | 1.6 | LWS | Wood | 2019 | Yes |
Collington Common, West Bridgford | Rushcliffe Borough Council | 1.4 | - | Grass | Yes (ongoing) |
Yes |
Costock Pond | Costock Parish Council | 0.8 | - | Pond, Grass | 2017 | Yes |
Cotgrave Country Park |
Nottinghamshire County Council (Friends Group) | 60 | LWS | Grass Pond Lake Wood Reedbed |
2004? |
Yes |
Dewberry Hill, Radcliffe-on-Trent |
Nottinghamshire County Council (Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council / (Radcliffe on Trent Conservation Group)) |
8.6 | LWS | Grass Wood |
2015 | Yes |
Gotham Railway Path |
Gotham Parish Council | 0.9 | - | Wood Grass |
Not known | Yes |
Gotham Sandbanks Nature Reserve |
British Gypsum (Gotham Nature Reserve Trust) | 1.05 | SSSI, LWS |
Grass, Wood |
Yes | Yes |
Grantham Canal | Canal & River Trust | 25 | SSSI, LWS |
Pond Marsh Reedbed |
Yes | Yes |
Green Line, West Bridgford |
Rushcliffe Borough Council | 1.4 | LWS | Grass, Wood |
2018 | Yes |
Gresham Marsh, West Bridgford |
Environment Agency | 8.8 | LWS | Grass Marsh Reedbed |
2018 | Yes |
Greythorne Dyke Open Space, West Bridgford |
Rushcliffe Borough Council | 2.67 | - | Grass Marsh Wood Reedbed |
In preparation | Yes |
Holme Pierrepont Country Park |
Nottinghamshire County Council (Holme Pierrepont Leisure Trust /Serco) |
1.09 | part LWS | Grass Wood Pond |
Not known | Yes |
Keyworth Burial Ground |
Keyworth Parish Council | 1.05 | - | Grass | Yes | Yes |
Keyworth Meadows | Keyworth PC (Friends Group) |
1.25 | LWS, LNR |
Grass Pond |
Yes | Yes |
Langar Community | Naturescape | 4.7 | - | Wood Reedbed |
Yes | Yes |
Langar Village Pond | Langar Parish Council | 0.02 | - | Pond | Not known | Yes |
Lily Ponds, Radcliffe-on-Trent | Radcliffe-on-Trent Parish Council (Radcliffe on Trent Conservation Group) |
4.7 | Part LWS | Grass Pond |
Yes (2020) |
Yes |
Meadow Covert Wood, West Bridgford |
Rushcliffe Borough Council | 2 | LNR | Wood | Yes (2016) |
No |
Meadow Park, East Leake |
Rushcliffe Borough Council (ELPC / Friends Group) | 18 | - | Grass Stream |
Yes (2017) |
Yes |
Orston Millennium Green |
Orston Parish Council | 1 | - | Grass Pond |
Yes | Yes |
Orston Plaster Pits | Girl Guides | 4.72 | SSSI | Pond Grass Woodland |
Yes | Guides |
Queens Wood | Whatton in the Vale Parish Council | 0.3 | - | Woodland | Yes (2019) |
Yes |
Rushcliffe Country Park, Ruddington |
Rushcliffe Borough Council | 85 | LWS, LNR |
Grass Wood Lake Pond Reedbed |
Yes | Yes |
Sharphill Wood, Edwalton |
Rushcliffe Borough Council (Friends Group) | 9.6 | LWS, LNR |
Wood | Yes (2018) |
Yes |
Sheldon Field, Cropwell Butler |
National Playing Field Association (Sheldon Field Management Committee) |
10.4 | - | Grass | Yes (2018) |
Yes |
Skylarks, Holme Pierrepont |
Notts Wildlife Trust | 47 | LWS | Grass Wood Lake Reedbed |
Yes (2016) |
Yes |
Springdale Wood, East Bridgford |
Woodland Trust (Friends Group) |
1.4 | - | Wood | Yes (2021) |
Yes |
Stone Pit Wood, Gotham |
Rushcliffe Scout District | 3.1 | LWS | Wood Grass |
Yes | Scouts |
Sutton Bonington Diamond Wood |
Nottingham University / Woodland Trust | 19 | - | Wood | In preparation |
Yes |
Sutton Bonington Diamond Wood |
Nottingham University / Woodland Trust | 10 | - | Wood | In preparation |
Yes |
Sutton Bonington Spinney and Meadow |
Sutton Bonington Parish Council | 2.5 | LNR | Grass Wood |
Yes (2020) |
Yes |
The Hook, Lady Bay | Rushcliffe Borough Council (Friends Group) | 15 | LNR | Grass Stream |
Yes (2020) |
Yes |
Upper Saxondale Community Nature Reserve |
Upper Saxondale Resident Association | 3.2 | - | Grass Wood |
Yes | Yes |
Wilford Claypits, West Bridgford |
Rushcliffe Borough Council (Notts Wildlife Trust) | 4.3 | SSSI/ LWS |
Pond Marsh Grass Wood Reedbed |
Yes (2013) |
Yes |
Willoughby Wood, Willoughby on the Wolds |
Woodland Trust | 2.5 | - | Wood | Yes | Yes |
Wilwell Farm Cutting, Ruddington |
Rushcliffe Borough Council (Notts Wildlife Trust) | 7.5 | SSSI, LNR |
Grass Marsh Wood |
Yes (2013) |
Yes |
Total area - 506.86 hectares
Designation
- ELS - Entry level stweardship
- LWS - Local Wildlife Sites (previously called SINC - Site of Importance for Nature Conservation)
- LNR - Local Nature Reserve
- SSSI - Site of Special Scientific Interest
Habitats
- Grass - grassland habitat (including species rich)
- Wood - woodland (including scrub)
- Pond, Lake, Stream, River, Reedbed and Marsh as described
Appendix C - Voluntary practical nature conservation work carried out in Rushcliffe
Site | Estimated Voluntary Work (man hours) |
---|---|
Bingham Linear Park | 71 |
Bridgford Park / Bridge Park | Assumed 120 |
Bridgford St. Meadow, EB | Assumed 0 |
Bunny Wood | 125 |
Collington Common | 0 |
Costock Pond | Assumed 150 |
Cotgrave Country Park | 470 |
Gotham Nature Reserve | 70 |
Grantham Canal (inc. partners) | 4888 |
Green Line – West Bridgford | 49 |
Gresham Marsh | 4 |
Grizzled Skipper Project (NBAG) | 230 |
Himalayan Balsam Project (NBAG) | 0 |
Holme Pierrepont Country Park | Assumed 0 |
Keyworth Meadow & Burial Ground | 0 |
Langar Village Pond | Assumed 0 |
Meadow Covert | Assumed 0 |
Meadow Park - East Leake | 702 |
Radcliffe Conservation Volunteers | Assumed 344.5 |
Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project | Assumed 180 |
Rushcliffe Country Park | 4003 |
Saxondale Nature Reserve | Assumed 350 |
Sharphill Wood | 385 |
Sheldon Field | Assumed 350 |
Skylarks | 1550 |
Springdale Wood | Assumed 100 |
Stonepit Plantation | Assumed 0 |
Sutton Bonington Diamond Wood | Assumed 0 |
Sutton Bonington Meadow and Copse | Assumed 0 |
The Hook | 463 |
Wilford Clay Pit | 94 |
Willoughby Wood | Assumed 0 |
Wilwell Cutting | 137 |
Total Hours: 14,835.5
Value for this work based on Volunteering England guidance 2014, equating to £18.69 per hour - £277,275.50
Please note:
- These figures do not include educational work such as talks, open days, guided walks etc.
- These figures are for known work – other unknown projects will have also occurred.
- These figures are estimates of time volunteered.
- Total hours for 2015 = 9788
Appendix D - Condition of SSSI’s in Rushcliffe (as assessed by Natural England)
SSSI Name | Main habitat | Unit Area (hectares) | Assessment at Mar 2010 |
Assessment at Mar 2017 |
Assessment at Mar 2020 | Assessment at Mar 2022 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barnstone Railway Cutting |
Calcareous grassland - lowland |
1.52 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2006) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2012) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2017) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2017) |
Gotham Hill Pasture | Calcareous grassland - lowland |
7.39 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2008) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Gotham Hill Pasture | Calcareous grassland - lowland |
1.05 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2008) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Kinoulton Marsh and Canal |
Neutral grassland - lowland |
1.65 | Favourable (last assessed 2009) |
Favourable (last assessed 2009) |
Favourable (last assessed 2009) |
Favourable (last assessed 2009) |
Kinoulton Marsh and Canal |
Standing open water and canals |
0.95 | Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2009) |
Normanton Pastures | Neutral grassland - lowland |
9.51 | Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Normanton Pastures | Neutral grassland - lowland |
7.04 | Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2005) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2014) |
Orston Plaster Pits | Neutral grassland - lowland |
1.11 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2008) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2010) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2010) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2010) |
Orston Plaster Pits | Calcareous grassland - lowland |
3.54 | Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
Orston Plaster Pits | Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland |
0.51 | Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
- | - | - |
Orston Plaster Pits | Fen, marsh and swamp |
0.54 | Favourable (last assessed 2007) |
- | - | - |
Rushcliffe Golf Course | Calcareous grassland - lowland |
13.87 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Rushcliffe Golf Course | Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland |
5.62 | Favourable (last assessed 2009) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Unfavourable no change (last assessed 2016) |
Wilford Claypits | Calcareous grassland - lowland |
1.42 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2007) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Wilford Claypits | Neutral grassland - lowland |
0.68 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2007) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Wilford Claypits | Fen, marsh and swamp |
0.08 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2007) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2011) |
Wilwell Cutting | Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland |
2.14 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2006) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Wilwell Cutting | Neutral grassland - lowland |
4.24 | Favourable (last assessed 2006) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Wilwell Cutting | Standing open water and canals |
0.97 | Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2006) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Unfavourable recovering (last assessed 2015) |
Number of units in favourable condition | - | - | 6 out of 19 | 2 out of 17 | 2 out of 17 | 2 out of 17 |
For further details check Designated Sites - Natural England
Appendix E - Barn Owl Results
Year | Number of boxes at start of year (available for breeding) |
Number of boxes used for breeding | Breeding totals (no. of young birds ringed) | 3 year running average of young |
---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 38 | 2 | - | - |
2001 | 62 | 2 | - | - |
2002 | 88 | 4 | 16 | 9 |
2003 | 101 | 9 | 35 | 20 |
2004 | 112 | 10 | 25 | 25 |
2005 | 120 | 18 | 58 | 39 |
2010 | 165 | 29 | 51 | 63 |
2015 | 160 | 29 | 47 | 82 |
2016 | 180 | 40 | 106 | 112 |
2017 | 178 | 50 | 102 | 85 |
2018 | 180 | 50 | 82 | 97 |
2019 | 180 | 46 | 126 | 103 |
2020 | Not known | Not known | 11 | 73 |
2021 | 172 | 36 | 94 | 77 |
Figures provided by Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project, a project of Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers that aims to conserve and increase the population of barn owls in Rushcliffe and surrounding areas (see Rushcliffe Barn Owls)
Appendix F - Access to Nature
Parishes / WB wards without designated Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) - Aslockton; Hawksworth; Newton; Scarrington, Shelton; Sibthorpe; Thoroton and Tollerton
Parish | Accessible Natural Green Space |
---|---|
Bingham | Bingham Linear Park |
Bunny | Bunny Old Wood |
Car Colston | Large Green |
Colston Bassett | Grantham Canal |
Costock | Costock Pond |
Cotgrave | Cotgrave Country Park and Grantham Canal |
Cropwell Bishop | Grantham Canal |
Cropwell Butler | Grantham Canal, Sheldon Field |
East Bridgford | Springdale Wood |
East Leake | Meadow Park and Manor Farm Animal Sanctuary |
Gamston | Grantham Canal |
Gotham | Gotham Nature Reserve and Gotham Railway Walk |
Hickling | Grantham Canal |
Holme Pierrepont and Gamston | Holme Pierrepont Country Park, Grantham Canal, Skylarks, Trentside and Pinders Pond |
Keyworth | Keyworth Meadow Nature Reserve, Keyworth Burial Ground |
Kinoulton | Grantham Canal |
Langar cum Barnstone | Naturescape, Langar Village Pond |
Orston | Orston Millennium Green |
Owthorpe | Grantham Canal |
Radcliffe-on-Trent | Dewberry Hill, The Lilly Ponds, The Cliff Top Walk |
Rempstone | Open Space |
Ruddington | Rushcliffe Country Park |
Saxondale | Upper Saxondale Community Nature Reserve |
Sutton Bonington | Sutton Bonington Coppice and Meadow, Sutton Bonington Diamond Woods |
Upper Broughton | Top/Daffodil Green |
Whatton in the Vale | Queens Wood, Whatton |
Willoughby-on-the-Wolds | Willoughby Wood |
West Bridgford Wards | - |
Abbey | Grantham Canal, Abbey Park |
Compton Acres | Collington Common, Gresham Marsh, Greythorne Dyke, Lyme Park, Trentside, Compton Acres open space, Wilford Claypits and Wilford Field |
Edwalton | Sharphill Wood, Meadow Covert |
Gamston South | Grantham Canal |
Ladybay | The Hook and Grantham Canal |
Lutterell | Wilford Cemetery |
Musters | The Green Line |
Trent Bridge | Grantham Canal |
Out of 56 parishes and 8 West Bridgford wards, 34 have accessible natural green space (including all West Bridgford wards).
Parishes without accessible natural green space are:
- Aslockton;
- Barton in Fabis,
- Bradmore;
- Clipstone on the Wolds;
- Elton on the Hill;
- Flawborough;
- Flintham;
- Granby cum Sutton;
- Hawksworth;
- Kingston on Soar;
- Kneeton;
- Newton;
- Normanton on Soar;
- Normanton on the Wolds;
- Ratcliffe on Soar;
Scarrington; - Screveton;
- Shelford;
- Shelton;
- Sibthorpe;
- Stanford-on-Soar;
- Stanton-on-the-Wolds;
- Thoroton;
- Thrumpton;
- Tithby and Wiverton;
- Tollerton;
- West Leake;
- Widmerpool;
- Wysall and Thorpe-in-the-Glebe
All areas have at least some public footpath networks although the amount varies.
Appendix G - Progress report for the Nature Conservation Strategy 2021 - 2025
Actions | Activity During 2021 | Status |
---|---|---|
1a. Continue using the BOM Focal Areas to target action for landscape scale nature conservation projects |
Cotgrave Wood Focal Area has continued to be surveyed. | In progress |
1b. Seek opportunities for delivery of aspirational large-scale projects | Skylarks Nature Reserve continues to be developed by NWT. The development of Edwalton Community Park has continued. Planning gain sites at Bingham (Roman Quarter) and Fairham have begun development. |
In progress |
1c. Provide advice and support to organisations whose land holdings or interests have a significant role in nature conservation in Rushcliffe | The RNCSIG has continued to be represented on the Grantham Canal Partnership Environmental Sub-group and Notts BAG | In progress |
1d. Support the Nature Recovery Network plans for Rushcliffe and the county | Partners have developed a framework for the development of the Nottinghamshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy | In progress |
2a. Seek to ensure that all nature reserves have a current Management Plans | Management plans have been updated for Springdale Wood, East Bridgford and Sutton Bonington Spinney and Meadow. | In progress |
2b. Seek to ensure that all nature reserves have sufficient resources available to deliver the management plan and assist with provision of resources |
Five applications to the Rushcliffe Biodiversity Support grant were paid during 2021, totalling a value of £2350. Volunteering continues to be promoted, particularly via NWT Skylarks Nature Reserve and NWT South Notts Local Group programme, the Friends of Rushcliffe Country Park newsletter and social media produced by ‘friends of’ groups RBC, NBAG and NWT. COVID restricted activities that could be carried out |
In progress |
2c. Encouraging local community involvement in the management of nature reserves | COVID restrictions prevented many activities from going ahead however seven walks events were held by NWT across the borough, at six sites. A talks program continued online, providing seven talks. Nine activity sessions were run (partly online) with seven schools / youth organisations, engaging with 325 children |
In progress |
3a. Promoting the sympathetic protection and management of Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) |
No action taken during 2021. | Not started |
3b. Develop sympathetic farming management practices and agri-environment schemes |
Advice was delivered to 13 external landowners / interested bodies | In progress |
3c. Encouraging wildlife friendly management of buildings, corporate landscaping, public open space, school grounds and private gardens |
Partners continue to work to support community groups working on the Grantham Canal NBAG have continued to work with Great Central Railway through The partnership helped provided a woodland training course at Cotgrave Forest NWT have provided advice too 14 organisations and individuals |
In progress |
3d. Supporting programs for national priority species and habitats and Nottinghamshire Biodiversity Action Plan Priority species and habitats | Funding has supported LBAP target habitats (see Appendix A) | In progress |
3e. Promoting the management of Notified Road Verges and to maintain and create habitats alongside our transport corridors |
Discussions have been ongoing with Nottinghamshire County Council / VIA East Midlands Ltd | In progress |
3f. Protect enhance and expand appropriate tree and woodland cover and access |
958 trees and shrubs were planted, and 1200 trees were supplied to the public in 2021/22 | In progress |
3g. Support projects that benefit our freshwater environment | No progress has been made in 2021 | Not started |
4a. Work in partnership with the Records Centre and support monitoring of the Local Wildlife Sites network | Partners continue to support this work through membership of the Nottinghamshire Ecological and Geological Data Partnership (NEGDP) and its sub committees. | In progress |
4b. Support species survey programmes and local initiatives to record wildlife and submission of records | Survey work was carried out by member groups in 2021, but no cross-organisation surveys were completed. | In progress |
4c. Support Notts BAG and reporting against LBAP targets | Funding has supported LBAP target habitats (see Appendix A) | In progress |
5a. Promote the work of local nature groups and issues | The NWT continues to support local groups through the SLA, however the 2021 program of activities were limited due to Covid restrictions, but still included 2 talks to community organisations via zoom, 6 online South Notts Group events and 7 walks and talks. Groups and local issues are promoted via the Facebook page and other media outlets. Training was limited to 2 site specific training events |
In progress |
5b. Extending wildlife education opportunities |
Education activity provided by partners has included 5 activity sessions run by NWT, with 4 schools, engaging with 320 children, plus activities run for 55 members of uniformed youth organisation. Wildlife Watch continues to run at Rushcliffe Country Park and Forest Schools operate in Sharphill Wood, Edwalton; Meadow Covert, Edwalton and Meadow Park, East Leake, other private forest schools also operate in the Rushcliffe area. |
In progress |
5c. Promoting contacts amongst groups and organisations | The partnership operates Facebook and Twitter feeds, sharing feeds from local groups and organisations. | In progress |
5d. Promoting access to wildlife and countryside | Access continues to be promoted through the network of publicly accessible nature reserves managed by partners, events and activities (see 2c above) run by partners. | In progress |
6a. Ensure that local planning policies relate to the NPPF mitigation hierarchy | Partners have commented on planning applications in 2021. Greater Nottingham BGI strategy consultation responded to by partners |
In progress |
6b. Ensuring new BGI benefits people and wildlife and meets NE and WT guidelines |
Greater Nottingham BGI strategy consultation responded to by partners | In progress |
6c. Use Hedgerow Regulations and TPOs to help protect important features |
17 Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs)were made in 2021. Currently there are 321 TPOs (covering from individual trees to groups of trees and woodlands, therefore more than 321 trees are covered by TPOs). This has increased from 261 in 2015. | In progress |
6d. Reduce pollution; seek good ecological status for rivers; and mitigate and adapt to climate change |
Partners continue to develop climate change policies and actions. No specific river or pollution actions have been undertaken by partners in the last 12 months. |
In progress |
6e. Seeking to influence Regional, National and European decision making |
Responses made by partners to consultations on Biodiversity Net Gain and other appropriate consultations | In progress |
6f. Promoting the use of native local provenance planting |
No specific action taken during 2021. | Not started |
7a. Continue support for the RNCSIG |
Membership of the partnership remains constant, with partners contributing to the strategy and actions. An SLA between RBC and NWT continues. Financial support continues to be provided by RBC |
In progress |
7b. Produce an annual report | No report was produced for 2020 due to COVID-19 impacting on activity | Not started |
7d. Reviewing the strategy during 2025, or sooner |
To be reviewed in 2025 | Not started |
Appendix H - Nature Conservation Projects and Activities in Rushcliffe
Ongoing Activities (of which we are aware) (27) (items in bold pre-date start of the Nature Conservation Strategy in 2003). See also the list of current sites in Appendix B
Wildlife Projects (16)
- Badger edge vaccination scheme –BEVS (NWT)
- Cotgrave Focal Area (RNCSIG)
- Blue Butterfly Scheme (NWT)
- Bird Bed & Breakfast Scheme (NWT)
- Cotgrave Community Orchard and Wildflower Meadow (CTC)
- Grantham Canal Azolla Control (CRT (previously BW) / NBAG / NE)
- Grizzled Skipper Project (NCC / Butterfly Conservation / NBAG)
- Himalayan Balsam Project (NBAG)
- Radcliffe on Trent Conservation Volunteers (RoT PC / Vols)
- River Soar Floating Pennywort Control (EA / CRT)
- Rushcliffe Barn Owl Project (SNB)
- Silver Seal Mine management (NCC / NWT +)
- South Notts Bird Ringers – SNB (Vols)
- Swift & Swallow Project (Vols)
- Trentside Fields, Adboulton, riverside management (RBC / NWT, Trent Sailing Club / FroTH)
- ‘Wetland for All’ project (NWT)
Wildlife Activities (11)
- Cotgrave U3A Birdwatching Group (Vols)
- Forest Schools at Sharphill Wood and Meadow Park, East Leake (Vols / Nurseries / Schools)
- Grantham Canal Environmental Sub Group (CRT / Grantham Canal Partnership)
- Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Forum (RNCSIG)
- Rushcliffe Wildlife Watch Group (Vols/NWT)
- Rushcliffe Wildlife Web Site (Vols)
- School Wildlife Education Visits (NWT)
- Soar Valley U3A Nature & Bird Groups (Vols)
- South Notts Local Group (Walks, talks, summer fetes, web site etc.) (Vols/NWT)
- West Bridgford U3A Bird Group (Vols)
- Wildlife Training Programme (RNCSIG)
Appendix I - Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping Project
The Biodiversity Opportunity Mapping exercise (completed in 2015) covered the whole of the Borough; it highlighted the important wildlife sites in Rushcliffe and identified potential opportunities for biodiversity improvements. This looked at our local grassland,
woodland and wetland habitats in terms of opportunities for making them Better, Bigger and more Connected.
The maps show that there are areas where existing habitats and associated opportunities are concentrated, in these areas there are substantial opportunities in both the short and long term to enhance and expand these habitats, to buffer them and to link them up to create a stronger habitat network across the landscape.
These Focal Areas are shown on the enclosed map:
- Cotgrave Forest
- East Leake and Stanford Hall
- Fairham
- Gotham Hills, West Leake and Bunny Ridge Line
- Smite
- Soar
- South Rushcliffe Pondscape
- Trent Lady Bay to Stoke Bardolph
- Trent Wilford to Thrumpton
With thanks to everyone who has helped compile the data for this report, especially Gordon Dyne (NWT Southern Member Group) and Ben Driver (Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust).
Nature Conservation - Rushcliffe Borough Council
South Notts Wildlife
Accessible Documents
- Air Quality Action Plan 2021
- Air Quality Annual Status Report 2023
- Air Quality Annual Status Report 2022
- Air Quality Annual Status Report 2021
- Air Quality Strategy for Nottingham and Notts
- Auditor's Annual Report 2021
- Internal Audit Annual Report 2021/22
- Auditor's Annual Report 2021-22
- Annual Governance Statement 2021-22
- Annual Governance Statement 2020-21
- Asset Management Strategy
- Become a Councillor 2022
- Budget and Financial Strategy 2021-22
- Budget and Financial Strategy 2022-23
- Budget and Financial Strategy 2023-24
- Budget and Financial Strategy 2024-25
- Capital and Investment Strategy
- Climate Change Strategy 2021-2030
- Complaints Policy
- Compulsory Purchase Order Procedure Protocol
- Confidential Reporting Code
- Contaminated Land
- Corporate Enforcement Policy
- Corporate Strategy 2024-2027
- Council Constitution
- Council Tax Recovery and Enforcement Policy 2023
- Customer Access Strategy
- Discretionary Housing Payments Policy 2023-2024
- Disabled Facilities Grant Policy 2022
- Equalities Scheme 2021-25
- Empty Homes Strategy
- Environment Policy 2023
- External and Internal Communications Strategy
- Freedom Of Information Policy
- HB Recovery and Enforcement Policy
- Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy
- Housing Allocations Policy
- Housing Enforcement Policy
- ICT Strategy 2022 -25
- Information Management and Governance Strategy 2022-25
- Rushcliffe Borough Council Information Retention Schedule
- Internal Audit Annual Report 2023/24
- Leisure Strategy 2021-2027 review
- Local Code of Corporate Governance 2024/25
- Local Plan Part 1: Core Strategy
- Local Plan Part 2: Land and Planning Policies
- Local Plan Monitoring Report
- Local Scheme of Validation
- Off-street Car Parking Strategy
- Pay Policy Statement
- People Strategy 2021-26
- Planning Enforcement Policy
- Procurement Strategy
- Playing Pitch Strategy 2022
- 2021-22 Public Inspection Notice
- RIPA Policy and Guidance
- Risk Management Strategy 2023-26
- Statement of Gambling Licensing Principles
- Statement of Accounts 2019-20
- Statement of Accounts 2020-21
- Statement of Accounts 2021-22
- Statement of Accounts 2021-22 (unaudited)
- Statement of Accounts 2022-23 (unaudited)
- Statement of Accounts 2022-23 (audited)
- Statement of Accounts 2023-24 (unaudited)
- Statement of Licensing Policy
- Street Trading Policy
- Supplementary Planning Documents
- Tenancy Strategy 2019
- Transformation Strategy and Efficiency Plan
- Tree Management and Protection Policy 2023
- WISE Agreement
- Conservation Areas
- Neighbourhood Plans
- The Nature of Rushcliffe 2021
- The Nature of Rushcliffe 2019
- Design Code Baseline Appraisal
- Air Quality Annual Status Report 2024
- Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2020 - 2025
- External Audit Completion Report 2024
- External Audit Completion Report 2023
- Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy
- Solar Farm Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study
- Annual Governance Statement 2023-24
- Disclosure and Barring Service Policy