As the Chair of Natural Devon
Download 2.62 Mb.
|
- Navigate this page:
- Broad habitat types in Devon UK BAP priority habitats identified as key habitats in Devon (Devon BAP, 1998)
- Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland Upland oakwoods
- Lowland mixed deciduous woodlands
- Wood pasture and parkland
- Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland Area mapped
- 24,530 ha Data limitations
- 77,641 ha of woodland in Devon
- Condition of habitat in SSSIs 29 SSSIs contain lowland broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland
- Condition of habitat in CWS 958 CWS in Devon contain broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland
HABITATSThere are 65 UK priority habitats which are grouped into 37 broad habitat types1. Priority habitats identified in the 1998 Devon BAP as ‘key’ to Devon are the focus of this section. Habitats have been divided into six groups: (1) woodland, (2) coast and marine, (3) rivers and standing water, (4) wetlands, (5) grassland and heathland and (6) other farmland habitats. Each section below includes the following information on habitats:
A brief description. The known area of each habitat and any known change in extent since 1998. Information on area was provided by DBRC. Appendix 3 gives more information on priority habitat inventories for Devon. Known condition. Information on the condition of habitats within SSSIs was taken from NE’s website in October 2012. Note that NE largely uses broad habitat types, rather than priority habitats, when monitoring SSSIs. Importantly some SSSIs may not have been visited for a number of years and the information taken from NE’s website may therefore not be up to date. Information on the condition of habitats within CWS was provided by DBRC in July 2012. Condition pie charts have only been produced when 10 or more sites have been monitored. Headline issues Headline successes 3.1 WOODLAND
Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland Upland oakwoods of Dartmoor and Exmoor are internationally important. They are characterised by sessile oak and birch, with varying amounts of holly, rowan and hazel in the understorey. Upland oakwoods are particularly important for ferns, mosses, liverworts and lichens. They also support a distinctive breeding bird assemblage, which includes redstarts, wood warblers and pied flycatchers. Upland mixed ashwoods occur on base-rich soils and are predominantly found in the north and west. Ash is usually dominant although locally oak, birch, elm, small-leaved lime and hazel may be the most abundant species. Mixed ashwoods are amongst the richest habitats for wildlife in the uplands supporting rare flowers, a rich invertebrate fauna and being notable for bright displays of bluebell and primrose. Lowland mixed deciduous woodlands are found on the full range of soil conditions and include most semi-natural woodlands across the Devon lowlands. Many are Ancient Semi-Natural Woodlands and have historically been managed by coppicing. There is great variety in the species composition of the canopy layer and the ground flora. Wet Woodlands exist on wet or waterlogged soils in isolated patches generally in river valleys and on ground surrounding bogs or mires. Although a scarce habitat on a national scale, the moist climate and heavy soils of Devon make wet woodland a characteristic feature of the landscape especially of mid and north-west Devon and the Blackdown Hills. Wood pasture and parkland is the product of historic grazing systems which have created a structure of large trees (often pollards) at various densities in a matrix of grassland and, or heathland. These sites are often of national historic, cultural and landscape importance. This habitat is particularly noted for its important fungi, lichens, and invertebrate communities associated with veteran and ancient trees. Traditional orchards consist of standard fruit and nut trees, which occur, in low densities in permanent grassland with low intensity management. The mosaic of habitats found (fruit trees, scrub, hedgerows, grassland, fallen dead wood, ponds etc) supports a wealth of wildlife. A feature of the biodiversity of traditional orchards is the great variety of fruit cultivars. Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland Area mapped Upland oak wood 3,173 ha Upland mixed ashwood 291 ha Lowland mixed deciduous woodland 12,886 ha Wet woodland 2,878 ha Wood pasture and parkland 4,062 ha Traditional orchards 1,240 ha Total 24,530 ha Data limitations: DBRC data is likely to be a significant underestimate of the total area largely because only sites which have been surveyed are included on DBRC’s database. Note that many are mosaic sites (including grassland, heathland etc) making it hard to extrapolate accurate figures. Latest Forestry Commission data from the National Forest Inventory (2011)1 gives a total of 77,641 ha of woodland in Devon, of which 44,760 ha is broadleaved and a further 1,648 ha is mixed, predominantly broadleaved woodland. There were an additional 5,228 ha of young trees (unspecified type) and 442 ha of ground prepared for planting. Change in extent of woodland since 1998: An assessment, by DBRC, of 400 random points from aerial photographs (1998 and 2006) showed no statistically significant decrease in the area of upland oak woodland or lowland mixed deciduous woodland. Condition of habitat in SSSIs 29 SSSIs contain lowland broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland (1,288 hectares). 96% of habitat is in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. The main reason given for sites being unfavourable is rhododendron invasion. 
25 SSSIs contain upland broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland (2,584 hectares). 98% of habitat is in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. SSSIs with woodland assessed as unfavourable no change or declining, are Exmoor Coastal Heaths, West Exmoor Coast and Woods and Watersmeet. Reasons given are lack of regeneration, too much shade due to excessive beech, sycamore and rhododendron growth. However a large amount of work has recently been undertaken to clear rhododendron in Exmoor woodlands – see Successes below. 
Condition of habitat in CWS 958 CWS in Devon contain broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland. 197 sites have been monitored since 2009 and 34% was assessed as Green. Issues include inappropriate grazing by livestock, dominance of invasive species and heavy shading from species such as holly. 
Directory: wp-content -> uploads -> 2014 2014 -> For want of a nail 2014 -> Stop Militarizing Law Enforcement Act of 2014 2014 -> Ihbb asian Championships 2014 middle school bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> Ihbb european Championships 2014 Bowl Round 4 First Quarter 2014 -> International History Bee and Bowl 2013-14 Asian Division Question Set Bowl Round Six 2014 -> United states patent and trademark office 2014 -> Coffs harbour eisteddfod vocal syllabus 2014 -> Listen News Programs Schedule pledge now 2014 -> Slow club announce third album complete surrender Download 2.62 Mb. Share with your friends:
|