As the Chair of Natural Devon
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Upland Oakwood 84 sites. Of the 9 sites monitored, 4 are Green and 5 Amber Upland Mixed Ashwood 24 sites. None of these sites have been monitored. Lowland Mixed Deciduous Woodland 740 sites. Of 179 sites monitored 72 were Green, 100 Amber and 7 Red. Wet Woodland 215 sites. Of 101 sites monitored, 37 were Green, 62 Amber and 2 Red. Wood Pasture and Parkland 28 sites. One site has been monitored and was Green. Orchards 11 sites. Three sites have been monitored and all were Amber. Results of the Traditional Orchard project in England (NE, 2011)2 found that 18% of traditional orchards in Devon are in excellent condition, 36% in good condition and 46% in poor condition.
excessive growth of non-native species (especially rhododendron and cherry laurel). Disease. There are numerous pathogens affecting woody tree species, and the number and severity of these appears to be increasing. For example, Ash dieback is caused by a fungus called Chalara fraxinea. The disease causes leaf loss and crown dieback and usually leads to the death of the tree, although infection in older trees may not be so damaging. First confirmed in the UK in February 2012 in East Anglia, it has since been found in a few young plantings of ash and more recently in an older planted site in mid Devon, suggesting it has been established in the county for some years. Phytophthora ramorum, or Ramorum disease of Larch, is a fungus –like pathogen causing extensive damage and mortality to trees and other plants. In 2009 it was identified on Japanese larch trees in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall and has since led to the felling of over 2000 ha of Japanese larch, both in plantations and in mixed woodland in England (largely in the SW). As at the end of 2012, 18.4 % of Devon’s larch (733.4 ha) had been infected. Deer and grey squirrels. Deer populations3 are continuing to increase in range and number. Excessive browsing disrupts the normal dynamics of the woodland ecosystem and reduces regeneration and the woodland understorey. The non-native grey squirrel causes significant economic damage to young plantations by bark stripping at canopy closure stage across most of Devon. Large numbers are often associated with pheasant rearing as squirrels will raid the feeders Lack of management leading to increased shade and structural simplification. Intensive adjacent land management leading to the impoverishment of woodland flora and the drying out of woodlands. Ongoing fragmentation of woodland, combined with a slow down in the rate of new woodland creation, renders habitats and species more vulnerable to climate change effects. Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) represent ~ 1% of Devon’s land area. These sites are in urgent need of sensitive restoration to broadleaved woodland as the remnant ancient woodland features are unlikely to survive further conifer crop rotations. Funding. Uncertainty over future of EWGS support for woodland management Successes The English Woodland Grant Scheme4 (EWGS) administered by the Forestry Commission provides grant support for landowners wanting to create new woodland and carry out sustainable woodland management. In 2012 there were 6,382 EWGS schemes in Devon. A huge amount of work has recently been undertaken to clear rhododendron from Exmoor woodlands, especially within the National Trust’s coastal woodlands. £1 million of FC grants has recently been spent clearing rhododendron from Exmoor woodlands. 350 hectares have been cleared, representing ~ 75% of Exmoor’s priority woodlands affected by this invasive species. Ancient Woodland Projects on Dartmoor5 and Exmoor have worked with land owners to restore, enhance and link Ancient Woodlands. Working our Woodlands6 (2009 – 2011) provided help to bring small and neglected woodlands in the Blackdown Hills AONB back into management. Work is being taken forward by the Blackdown and East Devon Woodland Association. The Devon Ward Forester Project7 aims to bring small woodland owners together to improve the management and productivity of small woodlands. The Devon Ancient Tree Forum8 has now been formally established and is promoting management of veteran trees. A Devon Parkland Inventory was produced in 2007. Improvements in the condition of woodland SSSIs – the Forestry Commission has been working closely with Natural England to target management in woodland SSSIs and help achieve the SSSI target. The Northern Devon Nature Improvement Area9 has ambitious targets to improve and create woodlands. South West Woodland Wildlife Initiative – RSPB, NE, FC and others are developing a ‘toolkit’ to help woodland managers improve their woodlands for wildlife. COAST AND MARINE
Supralittoral habitats (above spring high tide) Maritime cliff and slopes (supralittoral rock) support valuable coastal grasslands, heath and scrub, wetland and woodland. Exposure to gale-force winds and salt spray, steep slopes with thin soils, frequent erosion and landslides all contribute to a unique range of wildlife including lichens, insects, plants and seabirds breeding on inaccessible ledges. Coastal sand dunes and coastal vegetated shingle (supralittoral sediment) are created through natural coastal sediment systems. Examples include the sand dunes of Braunton Burrows, the spit of Dawlish Warren and the shingle bar fronting Slapton Ley. These habitats are dominated by colonising plants able to thrive in extreme conditions of water stress, typical absence of soil and potential exposure to salt spray. Littoral habitats (intertidal) Sabellaria alveolata reefs are formed by the honeycomb worm Sabellaria alveolata, a polychaete, which constructs tubes with sandy sediments in tightly, packed masses with a distinctive honeycomb-like appearance. Over time seaweeds and species such as barnacles and mussels colonise the reefs. In Britain they are only found in areas with strong to moderate wave action such as the south and west. Coastal saltmarsh comprises the upper vegetated portion of intertidal mudflats lying between mean high water neap tides and mean high water spring tides. Vegetation consists of salt tolerant species adapted to regular immersion. They are important feeding and breeding sites for waders and wildfowl. Intertidal mudflats are created by the deposition of silts and clays in estuaries and other sheltered areas. They are highly productive habitats and provide feeding and resting areas for internationally important populations of migrant and wintering waterfowl. Seagrass (Zostera) beds develop in intertidal and shallow subtidal areas on sands and muds. Three species of Zostera occur in the UK (dwarf eel grass, narrow-leaved eel grass and eel grass). eelgrass is an important source of food for wildfowl and provides nursery areas for fish. Sublittoral habitats (permanently covered by seawater) Marine habitats off Devon support some of the richest marine communities in the country, including pink sea fan, five species of cup corals, native oysters and various anemones. Important areas include Lundy, Lyme Bay, Torbay, Bigbury Bay, Berry Head and Tamar/Plymouth Sound. The submerged and partially submerged sea caves within Torbay and the surrounding coastline are of international importance supporting a range of corals, sponges and burrowing anemones. Maritime cliff and slope (supralittoral rock) Area mapped 5,568 hectares Condition of habitat in SSSIs 14 SSSIs contain supralittoral rock (1,975 hectares). 97% of this habitat is in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. The SSSIs with habitat assessed as unfavourable declining or no change are Prawle Point and Start Point, Sidmouth to Beer Coast, Wembury Point and Marsland to Clovelly Coast. The main problem at each site is scrub encroachment due to lack of appropriate grazing. Sites assessed as recovering are, in the main, being supported through Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements. Note that the condition report for one site assessed as ‘recovering’ states that it is ‘unlikely to revert to species rich calcareous communities as management stands.’ This highlights that ‘unfavourable recovering’ is still ‘unfavourable’. 
Condition of habitat in CWS 14 CWS contain maritime cliff and slope. Four sites have been monitored since 2009 and all were Amber. Coastal sand dunes and coastal vegetated shingle (supralittoral sediment) Area mapped 20 hectares of coastal vegetated shingle and 1,043 hectares of sand dunes. Condition of habitat in SSSIs Five SSSIs (1,486 hectares) contain supralittoral sediment (note that this figure may include habitat mapped below mean high water). 75% of this habitat is in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. However only 3% is in favourable condition (Saunton to Baggy Point). The main issues at Braunton Burrows, Dawlish Warren, Northam Burrows and Slapton Ley are scrub encroachment and coastal defence structures reducing the capacity for natural coastal processes to take place. 
Condition of habitat in CWS Three CWS contain coastal sand dunes. One was assessed as Green and the other two Amber. One CWS contains coastal vegetated shingle and this was classed as Amber. Sabellaria alveolata reefs (littoral rock) Area mapped Some mapping on the south and north coasts has been carried out. No figure available. Condition of habitat in SSSIs The only SSSIs designated for littoral rock are Salcombe to Kingsbridge Estuary and Saltern Cove. Both are assessed as favourable. Condition of habitat in CWS Four CWS have been designated for Sabellaria alveoloata reefs. These have not been monitored1. Saltmarsh, mudflats, seagrass beds (littoral sediment) Area mapped 359 ha Saltmarsh, 3,442 ha Mudflats and 185 ha Seagrass (note that the area of Seagrass in North Devon is not known) Data Limitations: Please note that the total area of littoral sediment mapped is less than the area within SSSI as the area of SSSI has not yet been mapped by DBRC. Condition of habitat in SSSIs There are 16 SSSIs (5,234 hectares) containing littoral sediment. 99% of this habitat is in favourable or unfavourable recovering condition. The only SSSI with habitat assessed as ‘unfavourable no change’ is the Taw-Torridge Estuary due to over-grazing of saltmarsh and adjacent roads preventing transition to a fixed dune grassland. 
Condition of habitat in CWS 27 CWS contain saltmarsh and eight have been monitored. Two sites were Green, five Amber and one Red (due to repairs to a culvert which had led to a reduction in the maritime influence on the site). 16 CWS contain mudflats and two have been monitored. One site was classified as Green and the other site was Amber. There are no CWS that contain seagrass beds. 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:
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