North Merseyside. Local Wildlife Sites Selection Guidelines

Transcription

1 DRAFT North Merseyside Local Wildlife Sites Selection Guidelines January 008 Prepared by: Rachael Rhodes Assistant Ecologist Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service

2 DRAFT Contents Page Number Introduction Aim of Guidelines The Nature of the Guidelines Habitat Guidelines 6 Species Guidelines 9 Other Groups 0 Birds 0- Odonata Butterflies -6 Amphibians 6-7 Reptiles 7 Bats 7-8 Other Mammals 8 References 9

3 DRAFT North Merseyside Guidelines for selection of Local Wildlife Sites Introduction. Background. These Guidelines for selection of Local Wildlife Sites have been implemented in the North Merseyside districts of Liverpool, Knowsley, St. Helens and Sefton.. The conservation of North Merseyside s wildlife heritage must address the needs of wildlife in the wider environment. The identification and conservation of a wider network of important sites is a major element for achieving biodiversity conservation in North Merseyside. A total of 6 Local Wildlife Sites have been designated using guidelines drawn up to identify the most important botanical sites in North Merseyside. These sites have been designated within the Unitary Development Plan of each of the North Merseyside districts. The Council has prepared these revised guidelines in partnership with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and English Nature. These guidelines for selection were agreed for use across North Merseyside by the Merseyside Local Sites Partnership in September Work to review the guidelines commenced in 00. Some additional surveys have been undertaken, notably on birds. Most work was directed towards the collation and assessment of existing data on lesser known animal and lower plant groups. The preparation of A Biodiversity Audit for North West England has helped this process. Representatives of the Lancashire Wildlife Trust and the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service have driven forward the Local Wildlife Sites review. Contributions have been forthcoming from various sources including the bird recorders of North Merseyside, the Merseyside and West Lancashire Bat Group, National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside based at Liverpool Museum and vice-county recorders for several groups including higher plants, lower plants, and invertebrate groups. Drafting of the guidelines has been the responsibility of the North Merseyside Local Authorities yet this work could not have been undertaken without the input of many organisations and individuals. The level of support from the recording community is greatly appreciated and hopes to continue the partnership approach to protecting and conserving biodiversity in North Merseyside.. In North Merseyside, the existing guidelines for selection of Local Wildlife Sites will remain in place, with some minor amendments to take account of international and regional significance. It is essential to take account of international importance as some of North Merseyside s Local Wildlife Sites have species that are of international importance, such as Great Crested Newt. North Merseyside also has a duty to consider species of international importance when assessing applications for development. Regional significance has been taken into account as there are now sufficient data to enable a regional context to be established. The region comprises the metropolitan county areas of Merseyside and Greater Manchester and the shire counties of Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire.. These guidelines are designed to identify sites with significant habitats, plants, breeding populations or presence of those animals, lower plant and fungi species important for biodiversity conservation in North Merseyside. Guidance for Local Biodiversity Action Plans was followed to identify the priority species and habitats on North Merseyside. Each site will be assessed against all Guidelines and will be designated as a Local Wildlife Site if it meets the requirements of either as it would demonstrate substantive nature conservation interest. This approach rolls forward the existing guidelines and reviews existing Local Wildlife Sites while also enabling the identification of sites which are important for other groups.. Guidelines H to H and SP to SP are scored in order to asses the importance of the contribution of these features to the site s overall nature conservation interest. This process enables those sites with substantive plant and habitat nature conservation interest features to be identified. These sites merit designation as Local Wildlife Sites. The remainder of the Guidelines set out the requirements

4 to be met for the feature of interest e.g. breeding bird populations. When any of these Guidelines are met the site merits designation as a Local Wildlife Site. The two sets of guidelines will operate in parallel and are combined in this document.. The importance of non-statutory sites as well as statutory sites in conserving biodiversity is recognised in the Government s Planning Policy Statement 9 (00) on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation and in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (99). The Town and Country Planning Act 99 introduced a duty on local authorities to include surveys of biological features within those surveys to be undertaken to inform an authority of the interests present in its area. The Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service has established and maintains a Sites/Species Database on behalf of North Merseyside Council which is updated approximately every two years. Many data are provided between review dates. These data are used to inform the decision making process in planning, land management and other decision making functions of the Council..6 Selection of Local Wildlife Sites is supported by a Site Citation for each site. The citation sets out the nature conservation features of substantive interest and includes a site map showing the boundary. Copies of the citations are available from North Merseyside Council Town Planning.. Aim of Guidelines. The aim of the Local Wildlife Site selection guidelines is to enable the systematic identification of those sites which, together with the statutory wildlife sites, make the most significant contribution to the conservation of biodiversity in North Merseyside.. Any losses of these sites would be regarded as significant beyond the immediate locality, and would be difficult or impossible to replace for all practical purposes (e.g. for reasons of antiquity, complexity, specialisation or location). The survival and conservation of Local Wildlife Sites is a key indicator of sustainable development. Land use planning provides a major opportunity to protect these sites from development. Other mechanisms are also required to ensure their successful management and prevention of degradation through inadequate or poor management regimes.. Land use planning and conservation of biodiversity go hand-in-hand. Government guidance in Planning Policy Statement 9 sets out the relationships between the two and advises on the need for planning protection for statutory and non-statutory sites. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 99 set out the requirements for ensuring the consideration and protection of sites, species and habitats of European importance and also refer to their implementation at a local level.. The biodiversity of North Merseyside as a whole has been assessed. Hence, Local Wildlife Sites may include all or parts of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The use of all relevant data reinforces the rigorous approach to defining the guidelines and also in selecting appropriate sites.. The Nature of the Guidelines. Sites are eligible for selection as a Local Wildlife Site if they meet certain minimum standards as set out in these guidelines. It should be noted that modern approaches to site evaluation for wildlife, including this one, are derived from a series of basic criteria which were established in the publication A Nature Conservation Review (Ratcliffe, 977). The most important of these criteria include rarity and diversity of habitats and/or species, naturalness, fragility and typicalness. They form the basis for the specific habitat and species-related minimum standards used here. Thus Local Wildlife Sites are identified on biological grounds, rather than on planning or communitybased considerations.. The higher plant guidelines use the presence of nationally rare and nationally scarce plants in assessment of sites. The presence of nationally scarce flowering plants alone is not sufficient for selection of a site as a Local Wildlife Site.. The application of each guideline is explained and a brief non-technical statement of the biological justification for their inclusion is set out.

5 Limitations imposed by information. The guidelines are based upon the best information which is presently available about habitats and species in North Merseyside. They reflect the fact that more information is available on some habitats and species than others. Also they reflect that ongoing and new field surveys will continue to enhance the North Merseyside Sites/Species Database and, hence, the reliability with which sites can be assessed. The guidelines are devised to take account of this situation. However, certain species groups have been the subject of little or no systematic survey so that it is difficult or impossible to formulate meaningful guidelines for them. This applies, for example, to many groups of invertebrate animals for which more specific guidelines may be appropriate if and when further information becomes available. Hence, a general guideline for all groups that do not have a specific guideline will be applied. Limitations imposed by site type: excluded sites. Although the biological heritage of North Merseyside is largely dependent on the existence of seminatural areas, artificial habitats are also important. Certain species depend on habitats which are obviously artificial in character. Those sites may be selected as Local Wildlife Sites if they meet the guideline. Certain types of sites and features have been excluded, these are domestic, industrial or agricultural buildings whether or not they are in use. While such sites can and do have significant wildlife interest, it is felt that this may best be addressed in other ways, such as the protection offered to species such as bats through the Wildlife and Countryside Act 98 as amended and the Habitats Regulations 99 as amended. Biodiversity.6 Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms and systems in terms of habitats, species and local genetic diversity. For a site to make a significant contribution to biodiversity conservation according to these guidelines, it needs to support (in the context of North Merseyside) species or habitats which are rare or decreasing; or an exceptional population of a more common species; or an exceptional diversity of species or habitats. A site which simply adds to the stock of a common and widespread species or habitat does not significantly contribute, although it does contribute generally, to biodiversity conservation. These guidelines use the same methodology to identify species and habitats for priority biodiversity conservation as for Local Biodiversity Action Plans. It should be noted that measures to conserve biodiversity in North Merseyside at the habitat or species level may not automatically be adequate to do so at the genetic level. Habitat Mosaics.7 These sites often comprise any combination of small relict ancient or semi-natural habitats, land in non-intensive agricultural use, habitats developed or developing on land formerly in agricultural or industrial use. The juxtaposition of different habitats within a single site and the transitions between them are themselves valuable ecologically. The value of a habitat mosaic is generally greater than the sum of its component habitats. Such sites are most common on the fringes of the urban areas in North Merseyside. Degraded Sites.8 These guidelines allow the selection of some sites, which, although semi-natural in character, are in a much modified and ecologically degraded state. They may be included because they support rare species, or because they are the only surviving examples of a particular type of habitat.

6 . Habitat Guidelines. Phase Habitat Surveys of North Merseyside were undertaken in 98 and 98. This survey was repeated between 996 and 000 in Sefton, St. Helens and Knowsley and Liverpool. Further Phase habitat survey of Liverpool was undertaken in 006. These habitat data have been digitised and a summary report is available. Several areas of the borough have had repeat or updated Phase Habitat Surveys undertaken, often in connection with development proposals. More detailed Phase site surveys to National Vegetation Classification standard were undertaken in 00 on sites identified as meriting further survey during the Phase Habitat Survey in Sefton, St Helens and Knowsley and 006 in Liverpool.. All habitats present in North West England (Cumbria, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire) were assessed for their significance in international, national and regional terms during the preparation of A Biodiversity Audit of North West England in 998. This audit has been used to inform the process of Local Wildlife Site selection through the application of the following guidelines.. In 99, the UK Government prepared its UK Biodiversity Action Plan. As part of that process, the Government established a Biodiversity Steering Group which undertook to prepare a list of species and habitats which form national priorities for biodiversity conservation (Biodiversity Steering Group Report, 99). These habitats and species are known as priority species and habitats and have or will have costed Habitat and Species Action Plans prepared for them. Under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 000, a list of priority habitats and species has been published (00) which provides an update of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan list.. The Guidelines set out in the following section include: Guideline Number Guideline Page Number Habitats: H Habitat Type Rarity 8 H Habitat Diversity on Site 8 H Contiguity (nearness of other sites) 8 H Isolation 9 Plant species: SP Higher Plants Rarity 9 SP Higher Plants Diversity 0 SP Higher Plants Naturalness 0 SP Nationally Rare Higher Plants 0 Other Groups SP Breeding population other groups B Birds non breeding population B Birds breeding population B Birds Regional rare/scarce B Birds Breeding assemblage B Birds Assemblage, breeding, wintering, 6 passage Od Dragonflies Breeding population 6 Od Dragonflies Regional rare/scarce 6 Bf Butterflies Regional rare/scarce 7 Bf Butterflies Breeding assemblage 7 A Amphibians Rare or scarce 8 A Amphibians Exceptional populations 8 R Reptiles Rare or scarce 8 R Reptiles Exceptional populations 8 Bat Bats Roost 9 Bat Exceptional assemblage 9 Mam Mammals Breeding population 0 6

7 H Habitat Type Rarity revised existing guideline. For each internationally and nationally significant habitat including priority habitats in the Habitats Directive and priority habitats in the Biodiversity Steering Group report. Score points..6 For each regionally significant and/or locally uncommon habitat as identified in A Biodiversity Audit for North West England and Environmental Advisory Service Information Note on the North Merseyside Sites/Species Database respectively. Score points..7 Habitats only score points at their highest level. For example, a habitat which is both nationally important and regionally uncommon would score points not 8 points..8 Identification of rare habitats depends on assessment of presence of habitats within a specific area. A hierarchical approach identifies importance of habitats at a variety of levels. H Habitat Diversity on Site revised existing guideline.9 For each semi-natural habitat type present on site. Score points..0 The greater the variety of habitats present the more likely the greater the biodiversity interest and significance. H Contiguity (nearness of other sites) revised existing guideline. More than or sites in kilometre. Score points.. In an area like North Merseyside which has many smaller habitat fragments set within a large urban or agricultural framework, the nearness of other sites is a measure of the degree of fragmentation and isolation. Those sites which have many other sites close by can function as a much larger site for certain groups, almost acting as a habitat mosaic. H Isolation. Between and sites in kilometre. Score points.. Those sites which are isolated and are the only semi-natural habitat within kilometre in any direction are important refuges for plants and animals, although the populations of some species may not be viable in the long term. 7

8 . Species Guidelines Higher Plants Guidelines SP Higher Plants Rarity revised existing guideline. For each internationally or nationally significant species (nationally rare, nationally scarce, priority species in Biodiversity Steering Group report, priority species in Habitats Directive and species listed on Schedule 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 98 (as amended). Score points.. For each Biodiversity Steering Group report Species of Conservation Concern, regionally or locally significant species (regional species of importance defined in A Biodiversity Audit of the North West England, locally rare species present on to sites in North Merseyside). Score points.. Species only score points at their highest level. For example, a species which is both nationally rare and locally rare would score points not 8 points.. This guideline relates to the presence of rare plants and includes an assessment of their importance to biodiversity conservation. 8

9 SP Higher Plants Diversity revised existing guideline. More than or 00 species present. Score points. Between 76 to 99 species present. Less than 76 species present. Score points. Score point..6 This guideline relates to the number of higher plant species on individual sites and stems directly from assessment of the North Merseyside Sites/Species Database. SP Higher Plants Naturalness revised existing guideline.7 More than or 80% plant species native to North Merseyside. Score points. Between 0% and 79% plant species native to North Merseyside. Colonisation is unaided by man. Interference to physical and biological structure of site has not taken place. Score point. Score points. Score points..8 This guideline related to an assessment of the naturalness of habitats and species on a site. The more natural a site, the more likely the greater importance for biodiversity conservation. SP Nationally Rare Higher Plants Any site which supports a population of a nationally rare higher plant.9 Any higher plant species identified as nationally rare within the relevant Red Data book for vascular plants..0 North Merseyside supports a few nationally rare plant species for which it has a special responsibility for their conservation. 9

10 6. General Guideline for Other Groups General 6. Use of the term regularly in these guidelines relating to animal species means that the species should be recorded from the site concerned for a minimum of three separate years (not necessarily consecutive) during the last ten years and at least once during the last five years. 6. Some species, for example, grey partridge, use intensive agricultural land. Use of particular sites depends to some extent upon crop regimes and varies between years. In order for such a site to qualify it would need to be demonstrated that it has been of special significance regularly in relation to surrounding areas. 6. It is not intended that these guidelines should be applied to domestic, industrial or agricultural buildings, whether or not they are in use. SP Species guideline for animal, lower plant and fungal groups Any site supporting a breeding population (where appropriate) of internationally or nationally significant species (nationally rare, nationally scarce, priority species (BSG), priority species (Habitats Directive)) and species listed on schedules, and 8 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 98 (as amended) 6. Guideline SP is applied to the following groups: lower plants (mosses, lichens, liverworts and algae) fish fungi invertebrates mammals (except all bats, water voles and red squirrels which have their own guidelines Bat and Mam) 6. North Merseyside supports a number of internationally and nationally significant species and has a special responsibility for their conservation. 7. Birds General Application for Birds: 7. For the purpose of these guidelines, acceptable evidence of breeding includes the presence of a territorial male, repeated sightings of the species in breeding habitat during the breeding season, pair behaviour during the breeding season, birds seen nest-building or carrying food or faecal sacs, an occupied or used nest or the presence of newly-fledged young. 7. A breeding population is defined as one pair. Use of the term regularly in these guidelines relating to animals species means that the species should be recorded from the site concerned for a minimum of three separate years (not necessarily consecutive) during the last ten years and at least once during the last five years. It is not intended that the guidelines should be applied to domestic, industrial or agricultural buildings, whether or not they are in use. B Any site which regularly supports more than 0.% of the total British population of any native bird species during the non-breeding season. 7. The mobility of many bird species means that sites other non-breeding sites may also be essential to their well-being and may warrant designation. Such areas may include those used regularly for 0

11 major pre- or post-breeding gatherings, migration staging posts, moulting or wintering sites. Numbers of non-breeding birds will be calculated as the mean for the most recent five year period for which data are available. 7. Certain species, e.g. Pink-foot Goose, feed in nationally or internationally important numbers on intensive agricultural land. Use of particular sites depends to some extent upon crop regimes and varies between years. In order for such a site to qualify it would need to be demonstrated that it has been of special significance in relation to the surrounding areas over the last five-year period for which data are available. 7. The % threshold forms the basis for SSSI selection while 0.% is in widespread use for the selection of non-statutory site at the county level. B Any site which regularly supports a wild breeding population of a bird species included in Schedule of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 98 (as amended) or Annex of the EC Birds Directive 7.6 Species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include: Garganey, Peregrine, Quail, Little Ringed Plover, Barn Owl, Black Redstart and Crossbill all Schedule 7.7 These species are either under threat nationally with declining breeding populations or are at the edge of their European breeding range in the UK and are vulnerable to disturbance. B Any site which regularly supports a wild breeding population of a rare or scarce North Merseyside breeding species 7.8 Rare breeding bird species are those which occur in a single tetrad ( x km square of the National Grid) in North Merseyside, scarce species occur in two to six tetrads. The species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include: In St. Helens: Grey Heron, Teal, Garganey, Shoveler,, Peregrine, Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Common Tern, Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Wood Warbler, Rook, Raven, Siskin and Crossbill. In Sefton: Grey Heron, Garganey, Shoveler, Buzzard, Peregrine, Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Common Tern, Turtle Dove, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Green Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Wood Warbler, Rook, Siskin and Crossbill. In Knowsley: Grey Heron, Teal, Garganey, Shoveler, Peregrine, Water Rail, Little Ringed Plover, Snipe, Redshank, Common Tern, Turtle Dove, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Yellow Wagtail, Whinchat, Stonechat, Black Redstart, Wood Warbler, Rook, Raven, Siskin and Crossbill. In Liverpool: Little Ringed Plover, Water rail, Willow tit, Lesser Spotted woodpecker, Sand martin, Yellow wagtail,

12 7.9 These species have been selected according to Biodiversity Action Plan guidelines. All are rare in North Merseyside or are restricted to a very few Local Wildlife Sites: some are rare or declining nationally; some are on the edge of their range locally; others are rare in North Merseyside because of a lack of suitable habitat. B Any site which regularly supports a breeding bird assemblage with a total score, calculated from the values in Tables below, which equals or exceeds the threshold siteindex values shown in that Table. 7.0 The general definitions of terms at 7. and 7. apply. Lowland Damp Grassland Mute Swan Shelduck Gadwall Teal Pintail Garganey Shoveler Marsh Harrier Quail Corncrake Oystercatcher Avocet Lapwing Ruff Snipe Black-tailed Godwit Curlew Redshank Cuckoo Short-eared Owl Yellow Wagtail Whinchat Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Bunting Threshold value: 0 Lowland Open Waters and their Margins Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Black-necked Grebe Bittern Grey Heron Spoonbill Mute Swan Shelduck Gadwall Teal Pintail Garganey Shoveler Pochard Threshold value: 9 6 Tufted Duck Red-breasted Merganser Marsh Harrier Osprey Spotted Crake Water Rail Moorhen Coot Avocet Little Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Snipe Redshank Mediterranean Gull 6 Black-headed Gull Common Tern Cuckoo Kingfisher Yellow Wagtail Grey Wagtail Cetti s Warbler Grasshopper Warbler Sedge Warbler Reed Warbler Marsh Warbler Bearded Tit Reed Bunting

13 Lowland Heath Hobby Quail Snipe Curlew Redshank Cuckoo Long-eared Owl Nightjar Woodlark Tree Pipit Whinchat Stonechat Wheatear Grasshopper Warbler Linnet Threshold value: Scrub (excluding heath) Turtle Dove Cuckoo Long-eared Owl Nightjar Woodlark Tree Pipit Threshold value: 9 Whinchat Stonechat Grasshopper Warbler Whitethroat Lesser Whitethroat Garden Warbler Blackcap Willow Tit Tree Sparrow Goldfinch Bullfinch Linnet Lesser Redpoll Yellowhammer Woodland Grey Heron Little Egret Honey Buzzard Red Kite Goshawk Sparrowhawk Buzzard Kestrel Osprey Hobby Black Grouse Woodcock Stock Dove Collared Dove Cuckoo Tawny Owl Long-eared Owl Nightjar Green Woodpecker Great Spotted Woodpecker Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Tree Pipit Redstart Mistle Thrush Garden Warbler Blackcap Wood Warbler Chiffchaff Goldcrest Firecrest Spotted Flycatcher Pied Flycatcher Long-tailed Tit Marsh Tit Willow Tit Coal Tit Nuthatch Treecreeper Jay Jackdaw Rook Raven Tree Sparrow Siskin Lesser Redpoll Common Crossbill Bullfinch Hawfinch Threshold value:

14 Rivers and Canals Little Grebe Great Crested Grebe Mute Swan Tufted Duck Goosander Red-breasted Merganser Coot Moorhen Threshold value: 9 Little Ringed Plover Ringed Plover Common Sandpiper Kingfisher Sand Martin Yellow Wagtail Pied Wagtail Grey Wagtail Dipper Cetti s Warbler Sedge Warbler Marsh Warbler Reed Warbler Reed Bunting Sand dunes and saltmarshes Shelduck Roseate Tern Eider Common Tern Red-breasted Merganser Arctic Tern Montagu s Harrier 6 Little Tern Corncrake Cuckoo Oystercatcher Short-eared Owl Ringed Plover Rock Pipit Lapwing Whinchat Dunlin Stonechat Snipe Wheatear Black-tailed Godwit Grasshopper Warbler Curlew Sedge Warbler Redshank Linnet Black-headed Gull Reed Bunting Sandwich Tern Corn Bunting Threshold value: 6 7. Breeding bird assemblages are important in their own right and also demonstrate the structural diversity present within a site. They are often a measure of quality of a site. The bird species listed under each habitat type and their scores are taken directly from English Nature s guidelines for selecting SSSIs. Threshold site-index values are set at 60% of the level for SSSI selection and are considered by English Nature to be appropriate for selecting sites at the county level. Species assemblages and species score are based upon breeding distribution and population estimates for Lancashire and North Merseyside published in Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Lancashire and North Merseyside (Pyefinch R. and Golborn P. (00) B Any site from which the following have been recorded in the last five year period for which data are available. a) 0 breeding species b) 60 breeding and/or wintering species c) 00 breeding and/or wintering and/or passage species 7. Only species making active use of a site should be included, those simply seen from or overflying the site should be excluded, although aerial feeding species such as birds of prey, swifts and hirundines should be included.

15 7. North Merseyside supports high numbers of wintering and passage bird species but relatively few breeding species. Thresholds for a) is set at 0% of SSSI level and for b) and c) are set at two-thirds the level of those for selection of SSSIs. 8. Odonata Od Any site which regularly supports breeding populations of six or more species of dragonfly or damselfly 8. For the purpose of this guideline acceptable evidence of breeding by dragonfly and damselfly species includes identification of larvae or exuvia, a female seen ovipositing or the occurrence of regular populations of adults in suitable habitat species have bred in North Merseyside at some time in the past ten years, twelve of them annually. Six species represents a notable local breeding assemblage. Od Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a rare or scarce North Merseyside breeding species Rare breeding dragonflies and damselflies are those which occur in a single tetrad ( x km square of the National Grid) in North Merseyside, scarce species occur in two to six tetrads. The species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include: red-eyed damselfly Erythromma najas, common hawker Aeshna juncea, black darter Sympetrum danae, and ruddy darter Sympetrum sanguineum, Red-veined darter Sympetrum fonscolombi, Banded demoiselle Calopteryx splendens. Species which are presently rare in North Merseyside but which are rapidly expanding their range are excluded from selection under this guideline. 8.. These species have been selected according to Biodiversity Action Plan guidelines. All are rare in North Merseyside or are restricted to a very few local sites: some are scarce nationally; some are on the edge of their range locally; others are rare in North Merseyside because of a lack of suitable habitat. 8 Butterflies General 9. For the purpose of these guidelines acceptable evidence of breeding includes the presence of eggs, larvae or pupae, or of a regular population of adults in suitable habitat. Bf Any site which regularly supports a breeding population of a species which is rare (restricted to one tetrad) or scarce (restricted to -6 tetrads) in North Merseyside. 9. The species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include: purple hairstreak Quercusia quercus, white-letter hairstreak Satyrium w-album, dark green fritillary Argynnis aglaja, grayling Hipparchia semele.

16 9. Both species have highly restricted ranges in NW England. Bf Any site which regularly supports breeding populations of at least nine species other than migrant species or those dependent upon agricultural crops. 9. The species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include: Purple hairstreak White-letter hairstreak Small Skipper Large Skipper Green-veined White Orange tip Small copper Common blue Holly blue Red admiral Small tortoiseshell Peacock Comma Speckled wood Wall Gatekeeper Meadow brown Small heath Dark green fritillary Grayling Quercusia quercus Satyrium w-album Thymelicus sylvestris Ochlodes venata Pieris napi Anthocharis cardamines Lycaena phlaeas Polyommatus icarus Celastrina argiolus Vanessa atalanta Aglais urticae Inachis io Polygonia c-album Parage aegeria Lasiommata megera Pyronia tithonius Maniola jurtina Coenonympha pamphilus Argynnis aglaja Hipparchia semele 9. Any site supporting more than 0% of North Merseyside breeding butterfly species is notable locally. 9 Amphibians General 0. For the purpose of these guidelines garden ponds will not be considered for designation. A Any site which regularly supports a population of rare or scarce amphibians. 0. Species to which this guideline applies are great-crested newt, natterjack toad and palmate newt. 0. Great-crested newts and natterjack toad are of international significance; palmate newts are rare locally. 6

17 A Any site which regularly supports exceptional populations, in the context of North Merseyside, of other native amphibians. 0. This guideline is applied to waterbodies that support exceptional populations of common amphibians: frogs; toads; smooth newts. 0. Sites which hold exceptional populations of amphibians in North Merseyside are uncommon. 0 Reptiles R Any site which regularly supports a population of any native species other than common lizard.. Species to which this guideline may be applied in North Merseyside include Sand lizard, slow worm and grass snake.. Sand lizards are of national significance, Slow worms and grass snakes are rare regionally. R Any site which regularly supports an exceptional population, in the context of North Merseyside, of common lizard.. Sites which hold exceptional populations of common lizard are unusual in North Merseyside. Bats Bat Any site which supports a roost of any species of bat.. It is not intended that this guideline should be applied to domestic or industrial (including agricultural) buildings, whether or not they are in use. Protection of bats must rely upon the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act in such situations. However, consideration may be given to certain types of artificial structures such as tunnels, bridges and retaining walls. Any type of roost site may be selected.. Bats are highly mobile species and require a range of roosting, breeding and feeding sites at different times of year. Much existing conservation effort has focused on their need to congregate in summer breeding colonies and winter hibernation sites. Bats are especially vulnerable at such sites but it is recognised that their protection may be insufficient for the successful conservation of bats.. All British bats are protected under section 9 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 98 (as amended) in view of threats faced by bats generally. Bats are also protected through the Habitats Directive Article which prohibits a) all forms of deliberate capture or killing of specimens of these species in the wild, b) deliberate disturbance of these species, particularly during the period of breeding, rearing, hibernation and migration and c) deterioration or destruction of breeding sites 7

18 or resting places. This protection also applies to other European protected species that are present in North Merseyside. Whilst the pipistrelle by far the commonest species of bat in Britain and in North Merseyside is largely associated with buildings, natural habitats and other structures such as tunnels, caves, arches are also important for its survival. The same is true for species which are more scarce. Bat Any site other than a roost which regularly supports an exceptional assemblage of bats. In order for such a site to qualify it would need to be demonstrated that it has been of special significance in relation to surrounding areas over the last five year period for which data are available.. Bats are dependent on a range of feeding sites at different times of year. Bat populations are under threat because of small and/or fragmented populations, rapid decline in numbers, habitat destruction or loss. Other Mammals Mam Any site which supports a native breeding population of mammal species which is under threat because of small or fragmented populations, recent rapid decline or habitat destruction or loss. Any site with a population of a mammal species in these categories may be considered for selection, except those which are the result of recent deliberate introductions which do not form part of a recognised species recovery programme. Sites other than breeding areas, e.g. important feeding areas, may also be eligible. This guideline is presently considered to apply to the following species: Water vole Red Squirrel. Water vole and red squirrel are under threat from small and/or fragmented populations, rapid decline in numbers, habitat destruction or loss. 8

19 References Anon. 99. Biodiversity. The UK Action Plan. Cm 8. London:HMSO. Anon. 99. Biodiversity. The UK Steering Group Report. Volume and Volume. London:HMSO Anon Biological Heritage Sites: guidelines for Site Selection. Lancashire County Council. Council Directive 9//EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora. 99. OJ No L06/7. Department of the Environment. 99. Planning Policy Guidance: Nature Conservation. PPG9. HMSO JCAS. Information Note. Sefton Sites/Species Database. As amended. JNCC. 99. Guidelines for selection of biological SSSIs. As amended and updated. Ratcliffe, D. A A Nature Conservation Review. Volume. Cambridge University Press. Statutory Instrument. 99. No. 76. The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 99. London:HMSO Town and Country Planning Act. As amended UK Local Issues Advisory Group Guidance for Local Biodiversity Action Plans. Guidance Note. Evaluating priorities and setting targets for habitats and species. UK Biodiversity Group and Local Government Management Board. Wildlife and Countryside Act 98. As amended. 9