PEST CONTROL POLICY AND PLAN

Transcription

1 APPENDIX 12 PEST CONTROL POLICY AND PLAN COOMBE COUNTRY PARK Pest Control Policy and Plan 1

2 Pest Control Policy and Plan

3 Introduction We have a duty of care under the Agricultural Act and the Injurious Weeds Act to manage and control pest species listed within the Act. As far as Coombe is concerned these are mainly rabbits, pigeons, crows and one species of plant, ragwort. Furthermore we are obliged to manage pests as part of our site management agreement of the SSSI this is covered by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, species covered by this Act are; Rabbit, Grey Squirrel, Mink, Canada goose, Cormorant, and three species of plant; Indian balsam, Ragwort and Rhododendron. We have tried a variety of methods over the years to reduce these species and maintain a balance for nature conservation and our neighbouring farmers. Situation Statement The Successes There is an annual programme of Ragwort control that really appears to be having an effect. We have tried a variety of control methods over the last five years, these have included the use of a product called Barrier H a natural plant extract, spot praying and a pulling programme; the most effective appears to be the pulling program we are assisted in this work by various conservation groups and individuals. Rhododendron control continues, and has progressed very well in the last five years due to the concerted efforts of the estate team and various volunteer groups, this project would not have been possible without the added assistance of this voluntary work force. The spraying of secondary growth has not been carried out as effectively as I would have liked and this needs to be addressed during the next five years. Indian Balsam is being controlled with the use of our volunteers, much the same as the rhododendron, this is an ongoing process, the emphasis is to concentrate our efforts on the SSSI and ditches and to work out form their, this approach has worked well over the last couple of years and will be extended into the next five years of plan. Canada Goose numbers have been successfully reduced to manageable numbers we will continue to egg prick annually and we will cull again should numbers increase again. Getting there but not quite Cormorant management has been difficult. We now manage the fish stocks to prevent predation by providing fish refuges made from gabions but this only deals with one side of the issue. The damage to the heronry trees is still considerable, we have had limited success with the use of crop scarers, as this document is going to press we are starting to a new program of scaring using an inflatable scarer this appears to be working, time will tell. Working hard but only scratching the surface Squirrel damage to new and established trees on the site has to be seen to be believed. Approximately 70% of the trees planted since the 1980 s have seen some damage, 100% of the deciduous trees planted in the formal gardens have some sort of damage, many have died and been removed. A more targeted approach to the control of this species is required. This will be adopted over the next five years. Failing dismally Rabbit problems are considerable; we have spent nearly 7,000 on control methods from pest control companies in the last three years. Due to the very mild winters rabbits are now breeding year round, with many living above ground, making the usual method of ferreting less successful, although it still controls a fair number. Estate staff have been reporting substantial damage to the base of trees, as they manage the new plantations; what the squirrels don t get the rabbits will!! They are also causing damage to the grassland where their warrens are getting bigger. Action plan for the next five years An action plan for each species has now been drawn up for the next five years this will provide us with a proposed action, methods of control, and a best practice guideline. Monitoring of the process will be done as an annual review of the action plan this will form part of the site s annual work programme. J P Taylor July 2011 Pest Control Policy and Pan 1

4 Pest Control Plan Introduction This plan deals with those species of plants, mammals, and birds that are either registered pest species or those species that are nonindigenous and are having a detrimental effect on priority species and habitats at Coombe. It will highlight the species, the reason for control measures being taken, what control measures are in place, monitor existing practice, and make recommendations for the future. Species: Grey squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Current Measures: Cage and Fenn traps & baited hoppers PPM: PPM-39EO5 Damage to mature and plantation trees Raid nests of birds for eggs and young Part of site management agreement with English Nature PPFs)\Pest control\squirrels\ppm 39 (Squirrels).doc Recommendations: Monitor the effect of trapping programme Best practice guidelines: Forestry Commission /Practice note /Controlling grey Squirrel damage to woodlands. PPFs)\Pest control\pest Control Policy\PCAP01 (Grey Squirrel).pdf 2 Pest Control Policy and Plan

5 Species: Mink Mustela vison Current Measures: Monitor and trap mink. PPM: PPM-40 EO4/5 Damage to breeding water bird population Damage to Water vole population Reduce predation to fish population PPFs)\Pest control\mink\ppm 40 (Mink control).doc Recommendations: Continue to monitor and trap mink. Best practice guidelines: GCT Mink Raft guidelines PPFs)\Pest control\mink\gct mink guidlines.pdf Species: Mole Talpa europea Current Measures: Treatment with Aluminium Phosphide pellets Amenity grassland damage. Damage to grass mowing machinery PPM: PPM-40EO3/4 PPFs)\Pest control\moles\ppm 40 (Mole control).doc Recommendations: Continue with control until population is reduced to a background level where there is no damage occurring to the amenity grassland. Best practice guidelines: Rural Development Service Technical advice Note 02 PPFs)\Pest control\pest Control Policy\PCAP03 (Moles).pdf Pest Control Policy and Plan 3

6 Species: Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus Current Measures: Bait blocks in sealed feeding box as and when public comments are received Public disquiet upon seeing Rats PPM: PPM-03EO5 PPFs)\Pest control\brown Rat\PPM 76 (Rat).doc Recommendations: Place baited box out of public sight as and when rats reported by the public or when signs of rats are present (droppings or hole digging) Best practice guidelines: Rural Development Service Technical advice Note 34 PPFs)\Pest control\pest Control Policy\PACP04 (Rats).pdf Species: Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Current Measures: Treatment with Aluminium Phosphide pellets and Hawking PPM: PPM-41EO3/5 Damage to amenity and agricultural grassland Damage to plantation trees Damage to neighbouring farmers crops PPFs)\Pest control\rabbits\ppm 41 (Rabbits).doc Recommendations: Reduce infestation until population control is no longer cost effective and monitor. Ensure rabbit control fences are in good order. Guard trees where required to prevent damage Best practice guidelines: Natural England Technical Information Note TIN003. File: \..\Estate\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\rabbits\rabbits.pdf 4 Pest Control Policy and Plan

7 Species: Canada Goose Branta canadensis Current Measures: Egg pricking; Round up and cull PPM: PPM-40 EO4 (Cull) PPM-42 EO4 (Eggs) Excessive competition with indigenous waterfowl for breeding sites Habitat destruction Reduction of erosion PPFs)\Pest control\canada Geese\PPM-40 (Goose cull).doc..\..\estate\estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\canada Geese\PPM 42 (Geese eggs).doc Recommendations: Control until a stable population of approximately 30 birds is reached. Total eradication would lead to questioning by visitors and a loss of a resource for education Best practice guidelines: Natural England Technical Information Note TIN009 PPFs)\Pest control\canada Geese\Management of Canada Geese Tin009.pdf Species: Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Current Measures: Seasonal use of bird scarer (Scaryman) Competition with breeding herons Fish predation PPM: PPM-10 EO4 PPFs)\Pest control\cormorant\ppm 10 Cormorants.doc Recommendations: Continue use of Scaryman. Monitor effect of bird scarer, if ineffective then review options available, looking to introduce alternative method s of scaring. Best practice guidelines: Natural England Technical Information Note TIN028 Rural Development Service Technical Note 14 PPFs)\Pest control\cormorant\fisheries and cormorants Note 14.pdf..\..\Estate\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\cormorant\fish Refuges Note TIN028.pdf Pest Control Policy and Plan 5

8 Species: Spear Thistle Cirsium vulgare Current Measures: Removal by hand as weed is identified Using Lazy Dog Tools Agricultural weed devalues hay crop PPM: PPM-13EO's File:..\..\Estate\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\spear Thistle\PPM 44 (Spear Thistle).doc Recommendations: Check area annually and remove as required Best practice guidelines: Refer to DEFRA: Code of practice on how to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort PPFs)\Pest control\pest Control Policy\PCAP10 (Ragwort).pdf Species: Creeping Thistle Cirsium arvense. Current Measures: Continue use of weed wipe & the use of a flail to top large areas of thistles before seeding. Agricultural weed devalues grazing land and hay crop PPM: PPM-14EO's File:..\..\Estate\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\creeping Thistle\PPM 43 (Creeping Thistle).doc Recommendations: Treat infestation until eradicated Best practice guidelines: Refer to DEFRA: Code of practice on how to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort PPFs)\Pest control\pest Control Policy\PCAP10 (Ragwort).pdf 6 Pest Control Policy and Plan

9 Species: Indian Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Current Measures: Strimming/Hand pulling before seed set Invasive non-indigenous weed. PPM: PPM-34 EO5 PPFs)\Pest control\himalayan Balsam\PPM 34 (Himalayan Balsam).doc Recommendations: Continue with control until eradicated Best practice guidelines: CEH Information sheet 3: Himalayan balsam PPFs)\Pest control\himalayan Balsam\HimalayanBalsam.pdf Species: Japanese Knot weed Fallopia japonica Current Measures: Spray and cut in line with recommendations / best practice. Invasive non indigenous weed PPM: PPM-36EO5 PPFs)\Pest control\jap Knotweed\PPM 35 (Japanese Knotweed).doc Recommendations: Continue with treatment until eradicated Best practice guidelines: CEH Information Sheet 5 PPFs)\Pest control\jap Knotweed\JapaneseKnotweed.pdf Pest Control Policy and Plan 7

10 Species: Canadian Pondweed Elodea Canadensis Current Measures: Mechanical control with weed rakes Maintain open water for angling PPM: PPM-16 EO4 PPFs)\Pest control\canadian Ponweed\PPM 16 Candian Pondweed.doc Recommendations: Manage weed growth for angling and conservation. Monitor effectiveness of methods used. Best practice guidelines: CEH Information Sheet 7 PPFs)\Pest control\canadian Ponweed\CEH Info Sheet 7 - Canadian Pondweed.pdf Species: Rhododendron Rhododendron ponticum Current Measures: Cut & burn with spraying of re-growth Invasive non-indigenous shrub that out competes native species and devalues native woodland. PPM: PPM-18ALL05 PPFs)\Pest control\rhododendron\ppm 18 (Rhodendron).doc Recommendations: Continue with reducing infestation in line with site management objectives Best practice guidelines:..\..\estate\estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\rhododendron\pcap12 (Rhododendron).pdf 8 Pest Control Policy and Plan

11 Species: Common Ragwort Senecio Current Measures: Hand pulling with Lazy dog tools and spot treatment with Barrier H PPM: PPM-36R404 Legal requirement (Weeds Act 1959) to manage the level of infestation and prevent it s spread to adjacent farm land File: G:\Parks\Coombe_Country_Park\Estate \Estate Archive\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\ragwort Recommendations: Continue with management until risk of spread is eliminated Best practice guidelines: DEFRA: Code of practice on how to Prevent the Spread of Ragwort File: PCAP 10 Species: Bracken Pteridium aquilinum Current Measures: Rolling to crush fronds in machine accessible areas, strimming of those areas not accessible by machinery. Maintenance of heathland habitat PPM: PPM-33R304 File: G:\Parks\Coombe_Country_Park\Estate \Estate Archive\Estate infrastructure (PPMs - PPFs)\Pest control\bracken Recommendations: Continue with rolling and monitor, if ineffective look at alternative methods of management Best practice guidelines: Bracken Control, A guide to best practice. File: PCAP 12 Pest Control Policy and Plan 9

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