Gailes Marsh WILDLIFE RESERVE

Transcription

1 Gailes Marsh WILDLIFE RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN Consultation Paper by G Smart January 2015 Protecting Scotland s wildlife for the future Head Office: Cramond House, 3 Kirk Cramond, Edinburgh EH4 6HZ Tel: Fax: enquiries@swt.org.uk Web: Registered at Edinburgh under No Charity Registration No SC005792

2 1: CONSULTATION The Scottish Wildlife Trust would like to hear from people about what should be included in the new management plan for Gailes Marsh Wildlife Reserve, Irvine, North Ayrshire. See Map 1 below for its location. The consultation period is 6 th January to 3 rd February Please read the information below and answer the questions on the response form as fully as you can. Feel free to draw on the map, if that will help describe your views and ideas for the reserve. Do continue on a separate sheet if you need to. Depending on the interest, it may not possible to acknowledge individual responses but we will consider each one carefully, so your comments will influence the future management of the reserve. Scottish Wildlife Trust reserves fulfill various functions, including habitat and species conservation, recreation, access, education and landscape amenity. When setting management objectives, the nature conservation interest is key but full consideration is given to the other functions and they will be accommodated provide they do not damage that interest. The Trust operates with limited resources, so the implementation of major enhancement projects would depend on successfully obtaining external funding. All suggestions for the reserve will be taken on board, subject to these conservation and financial constraints. There may also be legal reasons why projects cannot be taken forward. Responses can be posted or ed to the address given at the foot of the form.

3 2: POLICY STATEMENT Wildlife Reserves Development Policy Policy Headline 1. The Scottish Wildlife Trust defines the purpose of its reserve network as follows: The Scottish Wildlife Trust will acquire and maintain a network of wildlife reserves to safeguard a broad representation of wildlife found throughout Scotland, and to act as examples to others and for the public benefit including enjoyment, information and education. 2. Collectively the Trust reserves will meet this definition, although not all of the functions stated above will be found on every reserve. The overriding function of the reserves should be for the protection and enhancement of Scottish wildlife. 3. Management of the Trust reserves reflects the wider local, regional and national habitats and species requirements, contributing to land management and policy initiatives which support the conservation of Scottish wildlife. Rationale 4. Wildlife needs a place to live. The system of wildlife reserves, maintained by the Trust, other non government organisations and individuals, supplements and compliments the statutory site network (Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area for Conservation, Special Protection Area) and land managed for wildlife in the wider countryside (includes Local Biodiversity Sites, areas on farms, private land etc.). Where possible, working with neighbouring landowners and other organisations, the Trust will consider how its reserves can benefit habitat range and species populations at the national, regional and ecosystem level. 5. The Trust considers that the acquisition of reserves gives such areas of land security, continuity of management, a high standard of care and control of land uses in favour of wildlife whilst providing it with hands-on experience of management which establishes the Trust s credibility in practical wildlife conservation. This knowledge can then be used by the Trust to encourage others to adopt similar practices, either directly or indirectly by influencing government policy. 6. In order for the Trust to fulfill the purpose of the network as defined above it is required to acquire and dispose of reserves from time to time. The Trust currently manages 120 reserves covering 20,000ha. 7. The Trust s reserves provide places where people can see, learn about and enjoy wildlife in a controlled environment. They also provide a focus for Trust members and activities and an opportunity for the Trust to encourage more people to understand and engage with the values of the organisation.

4 3: THE GAILES MARSH STORY Gailes Marsh became a Wildlife Reserve in 1996 when nine Irvine Development Corporation (IDC) sites passed into Scottish Wildlife Trust ownership. It is recognised by the current North Ayrshire Local Plan as a Site Important for Nature Conservation (SINC), having been first formally recognised in this regard in Invertebrates and plants are the main interests of this dry grassland with heath, marshland and a pond, all sheltered by mixed woodland. While much of this 18 hectare reserve appears to have always been open ground, the site of a large First World War military camp overlaps slightly with the west boundary. Old concrete, military style fence posts of a post WW2 radar station form the east boundary. These historical land-uses may account for the buried concrete roads, bricklined chambers, obsolete power poles and sub-surface cable routes within the reserve. It is believed that the conifers were planted by IDC, both within the reserve and in the surrounding area, in On taking ownership, the Scottish Wildlife Trust initiated horse grazing to maintain the species-rich fixed-dune grassland and commenced felling the trees to create more grassland. The key areas of SWT work since taking ownership have been: Felling of non-native trees Installation, repair and maintenance of access features and fences Construction and maintenance of an artificial sand martin bank Creation of mounds, bare sand and open water Sowing of kidney vetch, food plant of the small blue butterfly Control of soapwort, an invasive garden plant The vision, as set out in the draft management plan, is to maximize the area and quality of sand dune habitats while protecting important species and maintaining the means by which people can enjoy the reserve. Winter grazing is the key to habitat maintenance and plant diversity. This also supports the invertebrates but they will be further assisted by the creation of scrapes, mounds and bare sand. The latter facilitates uncommon plants and, the sole food plant of the small blue butterfly caterpillar, kidney vetch. The attempted reintroduction of the small blue is set to continue with the assistance of the local golf courses. The area of grassland and heath can be increased by felling more conifers, as long as care is taken not to remove those that are performing a sheltering function. Piles of the resultant cut material provide niches for invertebrates and birds.

5 4: PLAN SUMMARY This summary provides a brief overview of the reserve, its Long-term Objectives and the projects devised to achieve them. A. Acquisition Irvine Development Corporation (IDC) gave the reserve, along with eight others, to the Scottish Wildlife Trust when it disbanded in IDC had also managed it for nature conservation. B. Summary Description Gailes Marsh features dry grassland, heath, marshland and a pond, all sheltered by mixed woodland. Underlain by coastal sand, the habitats are those of fixed sand dunes so of European importance. The species-rich and sheltered nature of the site supports many pollinating insects such as butterflies, bees and hoverflies, several of which are nationally rare. Mining bees and digger wasps, in particular, find the sandy substrate highly suitable for nesting. The conditions also result in a long list of beetles, including water beetles, again with uncommon species among them. Royal fern, water crowfoot and bladderwort are some of the notable plants associated with the wet habitats. The Scottish rarity, common bird s-foot, joins other uncommon plants where it is sandy. Birds such as reed buntings and dunnocks enjoy the cover of woody scrub and old wood piles. Sand martins have nested in a purpose-built bank. An informal grass path takes visitors round the periphery near the boundary with Dundonald Links. The important fixed dune habitat continues across the golf course and beyond to other semi-natural areas. This provides an ecological network within which plants and animals can move across the landscape, making it easier for them to survive. C. Long-term management objectives 1. To ensure no decline in the quality and cover of dune grassland or heath 2. To safe-guard notable species 3. To contribute to improvements to the ecological network 4. To facilitate public access 5. To comply with all obligations and implement the plan D. Management structure The Reserves Manager South West Scotland directs management and reports to both the Head of Reserves and the Ayrshire Members. An SWT Reserves Project Group, individual volunteers or contractors, as appropriate, undertake practical tasks. A Reserves Project Group consists of one SWT employed Reserve Project Officer plus between four and eight people who can be volunteers and/or part-funded under a range of government schemes. E. Proposed Projects Table 1 lists the projects. Map 2 is the management map. Appendix 1 describes how key projects would be carried out.

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7 Table 1: Projects Planned to Occur During the Life of the Plan The numbers refer to the priority of that project in the year given at the top of the column; 1 being essential and 2 highly desirable. Project MAINTAIN A STOCK-PROOF BOUNDARY FENCE CARRY OUT FORMAL INSPECTION ACKNOWLEDGE DONORS ISSUE AN ANNUAL GRAZING LEASE CARRY OUT ANNUAL RISK ASSESSMENT COMPLY WITH RELEVANT LEGISLATION REVIEW MANAGEMENT ON A YEARLY BASIS MAINTAIN PATH AND ASSOCIATED STRUCTURES SEARCH FOR AND RECORD SMALL BLUES RECORD BEES/WASPS/HOVERFLIES/BEETLES/MOTHS AVOID NOTABLE SPECIES DURING SITE WORKS MAINTAIN SAND MARTIN BANK WRITE UP SMALL BLUE PROJECT WORK WITH DUNDONALD LINKS ASSIST THE IRVINE - GIRVAN NECTAR NETWORK INSTALL TEMPORARY FENCING SOW KIDNEY VETCH/OTHER NECTAR SOURCES HARVEST KIDNEY VETCH SEEDS REMOVE LITTER MONITOR WATER LEVELS RECORD SAND MARTIN BREEDING SUCCESS CHECK WEBSITE CONTENT MONITOR THE BUTTERFLIES MONITOR NOTABLE AND PROBLEM PLANTS SURVEY THE FUNGI CONTROL SOAPWORT COLLECT/RELEASE SMALL BLUES BUTTERFLIES 1 1 BREEDING BIRD SURVEY 2 2 MONITOR THE PLANT COMMUNITIES (NVC) 1 DOWNLOAD DATA FROM PEOPLE COUNTERS FELL CONIFERS INSTALL PEOPLE COUNTERS 2 SEEK FUNDS TO IMPLEMENT THE PLAN 1 1 INSTALL A NEW THRESHOLD SIGN 1 INSTALL AN INFORMATION PANEL 2 CREATE SCRAPES AND MOUNDS 2 CREATE BARE SAND CARRY OUT HAZARDOUS TREE SURVEY 1 1 REVISE THE MANAGEMENT PLAN 1

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9 Descriptions of Key Projects Appendix 1 FELL CONIFERS While maintaining shelter, conifers should be felled to waste to create further warm, flowery glades. The target areas are shown on the management map. The waste wood and brash should be constructed into small, stable piles, either in the newly cleared or in nearby open areas. The piles should not cover more than 10% of the newly cleared or open areas. Surplus logs may be removed and branches chipped. Chips can remain on site, in small mounds. INSTALL TEMPORARY FENCING The grazing that benefits plants in general may delay kidney vetch flowering so that it is not synchronised with small blue emergence. A temporary fence should be erected around the best kidney vetch area in February to allow the vetch to get a good start in spring. The wire should be removed in April, leaving the posts available for the following year. SOW KIDNEY VETCH AND OTHER NECTAR SOURCES When bare sand areas are created, either directly or because of mound construction, the opportunity should be taken to sow kidney vetch and other suitable plants. This would require forward planning to ensure seed is available. COLLECT SMALL BLUES FROM DONOR SITE AND RELEASE IN IRVINE The reserve manager should visit Speyside for the collection of small blue butterflies when they are known to be flying in good numbers. This is usually between 5 and 20 June. The exercise is highly weather-dependent so contact should be maintained with locals to determine the best window of opportunity. Help should be requested from members of Butterfly Conservation South West. Approximately 50 male and female butterflies should be netted and placed in a roomy, ventilated, plastic container within a cool box. The time between capture and release should be as short as possible and no more than 24 hours. They should be released where the kidney vetch is at its best so this may be on Dundonald Links rather than the reserve. CREATE BARE SAND As bare sand vegetates over, there will be a need to create new patches or interesting notable plants and sand-dependent invertebrates will be lost. Having more than is currently available would also ensure larger populations. The surface turf should be disrupted over approximately 10m x 10m in the 3 areas shown on the Management Map every three to five years. This could coincide with sand martin bank maintenance as the same machine could be used. Otherwise, a small rotovator could be hired. CREATE SCRAPES AND MOUNDS In the areas of dense rush shown on the Management Map, 5 linear scrapes approximately 20m x 100m should be excavate. The spoil should be used to construct linear mounds mimicking those in the adjacent golf course in form and scale. A north-south orientation is expected. The aim is, if possible, remove the entire organic surface layer of soil, exposing the bare sand beneath but the depth should not exceed 2m even if sand is not reached. The top of the mound should be coated with a layer of sand, either from the excavation or elsewhere on the site. MAINTAIN SAND MARTIN BANK The face of the sand martin bank should be reformed annually. This would require the use of an excavator. It may be possible to obtain assistance from Dundonald Links who also re-face a sand martin nesting bank each year.

10 Gailes Marsh Wildlife Reserve Consultation Response form Please continue on another sheet if needed, and show your answers on the reserve map if this is possible. What do you like about the reserve? What do you not like about the reserve? What do you think could improve the reserve? Do you have any comments on the draft long-term objectives and the projects needed to achieve these objectives? Do you have any other ideas or comments you wish to make about the reserve? Please continue on another sheet if needed.

11 Please provide your contact details if you are happy to be contacted by us in relation to your response to this consultation. Name: Address: Phone: Please tick if you are happy to contacted in future about Gailes Marsh Please tick if you are happy to receive information on other aspects of our work. Send by 3 rd February 2015 to Gill Smart Reserves Manager South West Scottish Wildlife Trust Unit 6 Kyle Business Park Cunninghame Road Irvine KA12 8JJ Tel: Mob: gsmart@scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk