MANAGING RIDES AND KEEPING CONNECTIVITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT

Transcription

1 The Heath Fritillary in Essex 2015 IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 0

2 The Heath Fritillary in Essex 2015 Report Introduction High degrees of management prevailed this winter in the remaining colonies, and hopes were high of an upturn in fortunes of the Heath Fritillary. The most intriguing site was Little Haven, where the attention was on the effects of the mass-starvation event of last year. The report details the winter management, larval and adult monitoring and cowwheat distribution. West Wood (6a), Cottage Plantation (6b) and Thundersley Great Common have been included in this report as possible future sites. The Sites & Peak Counts Site Area (ha) Peak Counts Ref. Site Name (wood/heath) Hockley Woods a Hadleigh Great Wood b Dodds Grove c Belfairs Park Pound Wood a Tile Wood b Whyburns Wood Little Haven (Starvelarks Wood) a West Wood 33.1 n/a n/a n/a 6b Cottage Plantation 7.0 n/a n/a n/a 7 Thundersley Great Common 14.8 n/a n/a n/a IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 1

3 The Reserves 1. Hockley Woods Ownership: Rochford District Council Managed by: Rochford District Council Woodland area: hectares Colonised area: Coups: 1.0ha Rides: 800m Population Trend: stable, following severe decline Population Status: At Risk Hockley Woods is the largest wood with a Heath Fritillary colony. The main colony has always centred along the rides in the south-east corner of the wood (Ride 1 (south) & Ride 2 (east)), although small numbers of Heath Fritillary butterflies have been observed in other parts of the wood in the past. Adult Population Trend After concerns over falling long-term peak counts, management in the key areas has been stepped up in the past 2 years to encourage an upturn in the fortunes of the Heath Fritillary. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 2

4 Management winter 2014/15 In the 2 previous years, long lengths of ride were coppiced and/or brushcut. The south side of Ride 1 (south) was coppiced in 2013/14 and has excellent cow wheat, but is relatively shaded. In 2014/15, extensive areas of Ride 2 (east) were brushcut, mainly on the north side. Most stools in each scallop were re-cut, except for the east end of Coup 9. There were also 2 half-coups newly coppiced in 2014/15; Plot 27 and Plot 27, along with a section of Ride 3 that formed a link to Ride 1 (south) Adult Count 2015 Recent management appears to have had a positive impact as transect results gave an increased peak count of 44 adults in 2015, compared with 32 in This is the only Essex woodland to have experienced an increased count in IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 3

5 Adult Distribution 2015 The main congregation area has been on Ride 2 (east). Here, the cow wheat is patchier than along Ride 1, but the scallops are more sunlit. Ride 1 (south) may have been used for egglaying last year and again in 2015 as transect figures early and later in the flight period had a higher proportion of adults than around the peak. Most encouraging was the sight of the 3 pioneering adults seen in newly-coppiced coup 28, late in the flight period. This large coup has a very dense band of cow wheat for the first third of the coppiced area most adjacent to Ride 3. There was also pioneering adult seen in the coup that was coppiced in 2013/14 where the cow wheat is more thinly scattered. Strangely, 2 adults were also seen around the compound area which hadn t been coppiced for about 4 years. Continuing Management At a meeting on 15 th October 2014, Rochford D.C. were concerned that they were receiving conflicting advice. Whilst Natural England advocated annual ride maintenance, Butterfly Conservation now advised sections on a 4-5 year rotation. This change had occurred in response to declining numbers and the perception that the annual brushcutting was not sustaining the population in the long term. The longer rotation is necessary to shade out the bramble and thicker grasses. Hockley Woods is more fertile than Little Haven and is therefore more reliant on continual coppicing. Where regular ride maintenance is necessary, it should preferably not all be carried out in one year. This can be used to promote some structure into the generic ride management. With 2km of rides to manage each year at Hockley, this can be brought into the Management Plan. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 4

6 The east ride has had sizeable scallops created since 2012, with a progression towards the pond, and the work carried out in winter 2014/15 was extensive along the north edge of this ride. Work in 2015/16 will aim at coppicing the young stools in these scallops that were not done last winter. The SSSI designation is for the flora, including large stands of Sessile Oak. Due to most of the coppice being Hornbeam, the rotation is about 30 years, making it difficult to always coincide with the butterfly s locality. However, the rides are substantial and aiming for 2 colonies is a feasible target. Rochford D.C. managed 2 smaller areas in 2014/15 (as practiced by Southend B.C. at Hadleigh Great Wood) but giving the same total area as a single coup. The intention in 2015/16 is to extend these same coups deeper into the woodland. On the face of it, this could prove better for 2 inter-dependent reasons. Firstly, it will provide consecutive succession habitats. Secondly, it should provide better opportunity for the Cow Wheat, which was mainly confined to a 15-metre width closest to the ride edge in Plot 28, to penetrate further into the woodland before succession crowds out the bare ground. Ride 1 (south) will also be opened up on its north side. It will be an interesting comparison between Hockley Woods (long rides) and Hadleigh Great Wood (scallops) - see how the different regimes work at the two sites. CONNECTIVITY of rides is most important as this will sustain the population through the poor years and get them into the coups. Consideration should be given to comparing pricing structures at the EWT woodlands, such as Pound Wood and Little Haven, where profit is made for coppiced products. Refer Marc Outten reserves manage for south east Essex. Current and Future Monitoring Larval searches are potentially useful in the new outlying coups to see whether it was females that dispersed to these areas. This should be conducted in early spring. Adult counts The UKBMS transect remains useful as it encompasses the main East and South rides. However, these sections are long and the more detailed work by Ashleigh Courage is particularly useful, showing adult congregations in the sunnier spots in preference to those with higher cow wheat density. The transect route is useful for other species within the woodland. Common Cow Wheat Monitor where cow wheat is coming up in new scallops. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 5

7 Common Cow Wheat Surveys 2015 Experience at other colonies points to careful monitoring of cow wheat to ensure that is does not slowly diminish in density over time. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 6

8 2a. Hadleigh Great Wood Ownership: Southend Borough Council Managed by: Southend Borough Council and Essex Wildlife Trust (from 2012/13) Woodland area: 33.0 hectares Colonised area: Coups: 2.5ha Rides: 500m Population Trend: severe decline Population Status: severely threatened Adult Population Trend In the period , the relationship between management and monitoring became disjointed, which appears to have sent the population into severe decline. Since then, a significant amount of targeted and varied management has taken place within Hadleigh Great Wood. This includes coppicing up to a hectare a year, brushcutting of rides and meadow areas and creating new scallops. However, there is an inevitable lag in the effects of recent management and the decline appears not yet to have been halted. Adult Count Dedicated photographic monitoring has revealed that perhaps only 8 individuals emerged in 2015, but more females were noted than in IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 7

9 Management & Common Cow Wheat Distribution 2015 Common Cow Wheat regeneration occurs in a new coup from the edge of the ride where it is already present. In subsequent years, the cow wheat advances incrementally into the coup, but scrub encroachment ultimately halts its progress. Therefore, the ride-side length of the coup appears more critical than the managed depth of the coup. This supports the scalloping model or the long-ride management model at Hockley. 2014/15 management took in extensive brushcutting of open grassland areas, new scallops on the main ride and re-established an old scallop by coup 9a. Coppicing occurred in the whole of coup 19. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 8

10 Adult Distribution Despite low abundance, a key management objective has been achieved in that the main congregation area has shifted away from the old main ride (between coups 2 and 7) that was turning into a meadow, and is now centered on recent coups (9a & 16a). It is also noteworthy that other previously abundant areas no longer yield adults, i.e. the central ride between coups 8 and 15 and the heath ride between coups 14 and 15. A single pioneering adult was seen in the most recent coup, 19. Current and Future Monitoring Larval searches Weekly searches by SENHS, EWT & BC. EWT to consider monitoring training days. Adult Weekly searches by SENHS & BC. Every 2 days by EWT. EWT to consider monitoring training days. UKBMS transect by BC. Common Cow Wheat EWT Ranger distribution mapping alternate years. Last surveyed IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 9

11 Continuing Management The Southend B.C. Management Plan (originally drawn up by retired warden Tony Mead) is up for review with EWT this year. Due to public concerns over coppice management, only half of the coppice coups were cut in 2013 and 2014 by Southend B.C. However, a whole coup (19) was cut in 2015 as it was relatively small and in a peripheral location. The general shift towards halving the current coups and coppicing 2 half-coups annually will continue. This should work well, increasing the chances of connectivity to an adult colony and still promoting good Cow Wheat regeneration, which tends to be confined to the coup perimeter. The rotation cycle will be in the order of years. Current coppicing is carried out by contractors, but Southend B.C. are seeking to train their own team for future work. Southend B.C. again brushcut extensive meadow areas of the Main Ride (transect section 6) and the central ride, but allowing some rotation, i.e. leaving some areas uncut. Essex Wildlife Trust created further ride-edge scallops and ride maintenance as noted on the plan. Their ride work will open up the junction of coups 16 and 19. Further work could be to widen the ride between the centre ride and section 9. This area has held significant Heath Fritillary counts in the past. The scallop cycle (10x20m) is to continue westwards along the main ride, skipping a section for cutting to following year. Observations (15/10/2014) Scallops should be productive after the first year when only small peripheral patches might be good. Bare patches with stumps/bramble are best. Although the bramble is already invasive in last year s scallop, this should be left to succession. Only if permanent scallops are created should they be managed on rotation (i.e. brushcut alternately). The scallops are on the north side, which will let in light. Create scallops along the coppice-with-standards coups in anticipation of future coups. The thinning across the bridleway to create bridge to Dodds Grove is a major operation, but would assist in movement between the adjacent colonies. Dead hedging is being discontinued around coups as it suppresses floral regeneration of the ride edge. EWT/SBC are considering removing some stumps to assist with mechanical ride management, which can only take place in the autumn due to winter waterlogging. It was stressed that managing rides and keeping connectivity is the most important management aspect (15/10/2014). Mow the west side of N/S ride only, but also brushcut dense areas of bramble in coup 6 (2012/13). Also manage the continuation of this ride if possible, even though this reduces the size of coup 15. Consider box widening at the end to enhance the link to coup 19. Whilst numbers are low, it was accepted that cuttings could be left in small heaps in the ride edges, in case larvae were present. This was initially believed to be a reason for the decline at Thrift in the mid- 2000s. If cut at the right level deep in winter (=3-4 ), then the larvae should already be down. However, this presents a problem at Hadleigh as Southend B.C. cannot get their heavy machinery in during winter. Hopefully when numbers improve, cuttings can be removed from the site to keep the nutrient level down. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 10

12 2b. Dodds Grove Ownership: Southend Borough Council Managed by: South Essex Natural History Society and Butterfly Conservation (from 2011/12) Woodland area: 3.8 hectares Colonised area: Coups: 0.4ha Rides: 50m Population Status: stable at low levels This small glade site sits to the north of Hadleigh Great Wood and is part of the Belfairs Nature Reserve. It has been managed by Butterfly Conservation for the past 4 years. Work has consisted of brushcutting, thinning of trees in the main glade and coppicing at the glade edges. During the management period, the adult peak count has remained stable at very low levels, appearing relatively stable compared with other sites.. However, there has been an indication in the past 2 years that there is interaction between here and the Main Ride of Hadleigh Great Wood, even though the bridleway is lined by dense, ageing coppice. This may explain the relative stability of the population. Adult Count The main figures are combined with the trend graph for Hadleigh Great Wood, but the counts for the last 2 years are shown in the graph above. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 11

13 Management Branch work parties began here 4 years ago, with the majority of work in 2011/12 and 2012/13 being brushcutting with some coppicing along ride edges. Winter 2013/14 saw no brushcutting, but trees were thinned in the main glade as shade had been increasing (refer Hadleigh Great Wood Management Map below). This was all in line with the recommendations of Caroline Kelly (Butterfly Conservation) on 23 rd July 2014, although item 3 is a significant task and has yet to be carried out. 1 Continue with coppice management at end of ride 2 Thin trees to allow passage of HF into short ride, without breaking canopy (Dormice) 3 Thin trees at bridleway to try to link to Hadleigh Great Wood 4 Brushcut glade on a rotation basis 5 Bruise bracken this was carried out by EWT team led by AP, /15 management focussed on creating a breach between the main glade and short section of ride where adults are recorded to promote greater interaction between the two areas. There were also two small scallops created, one to the side of the short ride and the second at the back of the main glade, extending the coppicing from last year. The short ride was brushcut (by EWT/SBC) as was part of the main glade that is now to be cut in rotation. Cow Wheat Distribution In the spring, Cow Wheat was present within the glade and the scallops and breach although bramble regrowth was strong at the back of the main glade. Distribution throughout the Grove was mapped as part of the main nature reserve survey by Ashley Pinnock. Current and Future Monitoring Continue current weekly larval and adult counts by SENHS. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 12

14 3. Pound Wood EWT Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust/EDF-funded volunteers Woodland area: 23.0 hectares Colonised area: Coups: 0.5ha: Rides: 0 Population Trend: severe decline Population Status: severely threatened Pound Wood is a 23 hectare (55 acre) block of ancient woodland in Daws Heath, north of Hadleigh. The Heath Fritillary was introduced into the woodland in 1998, with the colony focused on the pylon corridor running east-west at the bottom of the woodland (light green on map). Management has been via a 3-year short-rotation coppice cycle that has appeared effective until recent years, when the population has seen a severe decline. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 13

15 Additional adult counts from 2014 came to light which showed a peak count of 20 last year. In 2015, the peak may have been missed, with no observations made for 5 days either side of the peak elsewhere, but a maximum of only 7 adults were seen at Pound Wood this year. This shows that the colony is still in decline and is severely threatened with extinction. From observations of habitat and management at Thrift Wood and Hockley Woods, it is believed that annual brushcutting on its own is insufficient to regenerate suitable habitat for egglaying beyond a period of about 6 years. From observations at Pound Wood, it appears that 3-year short-rotation coppicing may also have a limited lifespan, as the amount of Common Cow Wheat regeneration incrementally diminishes within each plot over time as the scrub and grasses are not fully crowded out. The size of the short-rotation plots at Pound Wood vary from 700m² to 900m², which may also be a limiting factor. These plots occupy the middle third of a pylon corridor, with the remainder being managed by the electricity board as and when it becomes necessary. With this in mind, the opportunity was taken this winter to cut Pylon Corridor 3 (PC3) with a mulcher as it was felt that this would obliterate any remaining scrub and create better areas of bare ground for the Cow Wheat to regenerate. The Butterfly Conservation work party concentrated on raking the brash to bare ground and this was done for a corridor length of about 40 metres. An area was left further east, to make a comparison in the spring. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 14

16 The Essex Wildlife Trust carried out work to some of the remaining plots and connecting ride, summarized as follows: PC1 (beyond usual flight area) - no work. PC2 large stools taken down 2014/15 in an area that was coppiced in 2012/13. Plot 1 no work in most recent short-rotation plot (2013/14) due to assumed presence of larvae. Plot 2 grass and bramble brushcut; stools left. The majority of larvae were found here in spring Plot 3 no work. Believed to have been last coppiced in 2011/12. This plot was brushcut in 2013/14, with stools left. Path to north of plots 1-3 brushcut and scallops along the main ride to the west. Coup 2014/15 the main woodland coppice cycle came round to a plot to the south of PC2 and an area of 0.14ha was coppiced, with standards. Cow Wheat surveys by John Turner, EWT Deputy Warden, on 30 th April revealed the following: PC 2 had the largest germination with 5-20 plants per square (metre) on the North side of the plot. Plot 1 was very difficult to survey because of the thick perennial grasses etc. also the Cow Wheat was patchy, with a count of 0-10 per square. Plot 2 this year s open area had a patchy germination of 0-10 per square. Plot 3 this area is now scrubby and will need to be cleared and only had 0-5 per square. Clearing this area will open a path from the previous year s clearing to the newly cleared PC 3, done by a mulching machine. Plants are starting to germinate and Cow Wheat is appearing in patches across the cleared area with a count of 0-10 per square. Larvae have not been seen in PC 2 & Plot 1, which is where they were flying last year. This is mainly due to the low numbers we had and the density of grasses etc in FP 1. In the early part of the flight period, the majority of adults were recorded in Plot 1, with some sedentary individuals (i.e. possible females) being observed. Patrolling males were also seen in PC2 and a further male in PC3 on 2 separate occasions. However, no females were seen in PC3, despite there being reasonable cow wheat germination and plenty of bare ground. The sapling height and density in plot 3 appeared to have presented too great a barrier for gravid females to penetrate. Instead, 2 females were observed on 2 separate occasions late in the flight period in an area of Cow Wheat in the front corner of the most recent coppice coup on the south of the main ride. This patch (10x10m) behind the log pile contained a high density of cow wheat mixed with low bramble and would have been more easily reached from the main congregation area in Plot 1. This small area may therefore be critical to the survival of the colony. This accords with an observation from 2014, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 15

17 when it was noted that the mix of cow wheat with other vegetation created suitable egglaying habitat in the first year after coppicing, but only remained viable for 1-2 years. Conclusion The population trend of the Heath Fritillary is naturally cyclical and trend significance becomes even more difficult to assess with varying amounts of management. However, the current decline has lasted for 6 years and is severe to the point where the colony is severely threatened with extinction. In isolation, the short-rotation plots (1, 2 & 3) are unable to sustain the colony at a reasonable level, either by being too small or the coppice cycle is too short to allow succession to re-establish conditions for sufficient cow wheat to regenerate. However, if there was the possibility of additional coppice coupes to be included in a coppice cycle, a longer rotation would be more suitable (e.g. like smaller sites at Blean Woods). If scalloping was able to occur along connected rides it is possible that managing these on a 3-4 year rotational basis would create additional suitable habitat. The low Cow Wheat counts this year and high scrub content point to this as does the use of the most recent coppice-with-standards woodland coup by gravid females. Their preference this year has been for high-density cow wheat in first-year coppice that has been managed on a longer rotation. It should be noted that this area of cow wheat only occurred in the corner of the coup closest to the pylon corridor and that no cow wheat has been regenerated in the previous year s coup to the west. So, cow wheat must already be present near to the area to be managed. Working-in the management of the adjacent Pylon Corridor plots (PC 2, 3 & 4) is potentially useful in increasing the breeding area but does not guarantee the presence of cow wheat. However, as cow wheat has been recorded in PC3 this year, a flight corridor must be established this winter from Plot 1 to PC3 for gravid females to enter this new area. The short-rotation coppice does not always produce quite the same bare ground habitat as with other sites. But the mix of Cow Wheat and other vegetation must be more immediately suitable for egg-laying that at other sites. The Short-rotation coppice cycle creates viable Cow Wheat for maximum 2 years. Future Management Consideration should be given to extending the flight area by bringing in adjacent coppicing, with possible reference to Butterfly Conservation Model A. EWT are considering encompassing a 4 th coup to create a 4-year rotation coppice so that scrub is crowded out by succession. Consideration should be given to creating further scallops on the corridor fringe where cow wheat is present (e.g. north side of PC2). Although permission is required from the Electricity Board. The coppicing plan is up for review and the opportunity should be taken to manage in consecutive plots. Management Model A Permanent Glade and Coups in the Appendix may be of use. Current and Future Monitoring This is probably the least monitored of the sites in terms of Butterfly Conservation recording. EWT to consider monitoring training days. Larval and Cow Wheat recording would benefit our understanding of this site. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 16

18 4a. Tile Wood (EWT Reserve) TRANSIENT SITE Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust Site Area: 16 acre Woodland area: 6.8 hectares Colonised area: Coups: 0 ha; Rides: 0 Population Status: transient, extinct This site is situated between Pound Wood and Little Haven and experienced a small, transient population between 2010 and However, there have been no adults seen for the past 3 years and coppice management is not targeted at the Heath Fritillary. Where coppicing has taken place, a lot of cow wheat has been generated, but the oak standards are quite dense and shade may be an issue. Even so, there was the possibility that some gravid females may have dispersed from Little Haven in 2014, to find available cow wheat in this adjacent woodland. However, the area was searched and there were no adults found. Tile Wood does now have its own warden. Current and Future Monitoring Continue to monitor for adult dispersal 4b. Whyburns Wood (EWT Reserve) (formerly Tile Wood (west)) POTENTIAL SITE Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust Woodland area: 7.1 hectares Colonised area: Coups: _ha; Rides: _ Potential habitat. Common Cow Wheat present. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 17

19 5. Little Haven (EWT Reserve) Ownership: Little Haven s Children s Hospice Leased & Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust Colonised area: Coups: 0.6ha Rides: 0 Population Trend: severe decline due to stochastic event Population Status: probably extinct In 2014, about 1000 larvae were observed to eat all Common Cow Wheat at this site. Some larvae switched to the 3 plantain plants on site and managed to complete their life-cycle. The peak count in 2014 was 40 adults. Monitoring in spring 2015 failed to locate any larvae, even though the Common Cow Wheat reappeared. It became apparent, as adults emerged at other sites that this site had probably crashed due to the unavailability of any foodplant for the adult females to oviposit near the previous year. Or, adult females had laid their ova, but the hatchlings starved, having no preliminary cow wheat of which to feed upon before their winter diapause. An adult was seen late in the flight period, probably a patrolling male. At first, it was thought that this signalled a delayed emergence at the site, as the hatchling larvae could indeed have entered diapause in a minute state. However, no further adults were seen and this single individual could have been a vagrant from Pound Wood. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 18

20 A Cow Wheat survey was carried out in the spring, in case a repeat happened of the previous year. This however proved academic and the short-lived colony may now be extinct. Conclusion The Heath Fritillary has traditionally been known as the Woodman s Follower as it relies upon a series of connected habitats in various states of early succession. It is most closely related to 2 other fritillaries, the Marsh Fritillary and the Glanville Fritillary. Both of these fritillaries are similar to the Heath Fritillary in that they exhibit highly fluctuating abundance from year to year. They have also been found to exhibit a degree of dispersal behaviour, sometimes late in the flight period, where adults are found some distance from the main breeding area. This mechanism allows the colonisation of new areas, but may also act as a safeguard against mass starvation events in a peak year. If the Heath Fritillary has this same trait as its close cousins, then this could explain the local extinction at Little Haven. i.e. the habitat was too self-contained and accessible to all adults and there was no break-out habitat for a small proportion of the gravid females to colonise in an abundant year Management & Cow Wheat Distribution Management in 2014/15 is detailed in the map above and includes an extension of the heathland area, with coppiced stools being excavated (Plot H). Monitoring Monitoring for adults will continue for any resurgent population. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 19

21 6a. West Wood POTENTIAL SITE Ownership: Castle Point Borough Council Managed by: Castle Point Wildlife Group Woodland area: 33.1 hectares Has the potential to be naturally colonised from Little Haven, should the population there recover. For further information, including management maps, refer to this link: 6b. Cottage Plantation POTENTIAL SITE Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust (recent acquisition) Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust Woodland area: 7.0 hectares Historically held Heath Fritillary, Cottage Plantation has the potential to be naturally colonised from Little Haven, should the population there recover. Management work has yet to commence at this venue. 7. Thundersley Common POTENTIAL SITE Ownership: Castle Point Borough Council Managed by: Castle Point Borough Council Heathland area: approx hectares Common Cow Wheat has been noted on a small area of the north heath. For further information, refer to this link: Thrift Wood EWT (SSSI) Ownership: Essex Wildlife Trust Managed by: Essex Wildlife Trust (previously in conjunction with Butterfly Conservation) Woodland area: 19 hectares Previously Colonised area: Glade: 1.0ha; Rides: 0ha Population Trend: steady decline Population Status: extinct (2014 to present) The population trend showed classic cyclical model, obscuring a gradual decline for at least 20 years. After a good count of 72 in 2007, the decline became apparent and was severe. Despite increased awareness and changes of management, the decline could not be halted and extinction appears to have occurred in 2014 as only 3 patrolling males were seen in Although this population persisted within the same glade for 30 years, it is an isolated site and consequently the EWT, who own the reserve, have no plans to reintroduce the species. IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 20

22 Hadleigh Great Wood & Dodds Grove SSSI APPENDIX Cow Wheat Distribution 2015 (including Belfairs Nature Reserve) Survey by Ashley Pinnock Essex Wildlife Trust IS THE MOST IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT ASPECT 21

23 Y8 Heath Fritillary Management Model for Essex Sites A PERMANENT GLADE & COUPES Butterfly Conservation, 2013/14 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 C o p p i c e C o u p e s Y6 Y7 Y15 M a i n G l a d e G1 G2 G3 Y14 Y13 Y12 Y11 Y10 Y9 Permanent Glade, maintained annually for floral diversity or in a 3-year rotation (G1, G2, G3) for reestablishment of Common Cow Wheat Coppice Coupes on longer consecutive rotation, e.g. 15-year (Y1-15) to create optimal bareground conditions for establishment of Common Cow Wheat. N.B. Little Haven currently utilises a 3-year rotation due to well-drained, impoverished soil If large enough, these coupes can depart from the Main Glade if Cow Wheat and Heath Fritillary are present in adjacent coupes. This may also promote greater genetic diversity

24 Y14 Y13 Y12 Y11 Y10 Y9 Y8 Heath Fritillary Management Model for Essex Sites B COUPES & MAINTAINED RIDES Butterfly Conservation, 2013/14 Y1 Y2 Y3 Y4 Y5 Y6 Y7 C o p p i c e C o u p e s Y15 M a i n R i d e Create scallops along rides on a 4-5 year rotation. Syncopate rotation with opposite side where possible. Complete circles of ride management to spread colony and to promote greater genetic diversity Coppice-with-standards Coupes on longer consecutive rotation, e.g. minimum 15-year (Y1-15) to create optimal bare-ground conditions for establishment of Common Cow Wheat.