Natural England - Monitoring projects
Monitoring projects
Natural England’s monitoring activities are part of a single integrated programme, which aims to deliver our priority monitoring requirements in the most efficient and integrated way possible.
On-going activities include:
- Monitoring Engagement with Natural Environment (MENE);
- Integrated Site Assessments (ISA) on SSSI and Environmental Stewardship land;
- Monitoring of marine protected areas.
This year our programme includes projects which change how we will do monitoring, for example:
- designing approaches such as joining up previously separate activities;
- changing the balance of who carries out the work between our own staff, partners, volunteers and commissioned suppliers;
- sharing activities across the Defra Network;
- exploiting new technologies.
Subject: Access and engagement | Biodiversity | Climate Change | Land management | Landscape, Historic Environment and Geodiversity | Marine
Access and engagement
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0010 | Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) | Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) is a sample survey of the adult population which provides data on visits to the natural environment at regional and national level. It is being undertaken as part of a weekly in-home omnibus survey. It provides information to support a range of Natural England projects and programmes. The first two years of fieldwork have been completed and a 3rd year [2011/12] is now underway.MENE has been commissioned by Natural England, in conjunction with Defra and the Forestry Commission.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £360,000.00 | Erica Wayman |
| RP0195 | Monitoring and evaluation of the Walking for Health programme | Walking for Health (WFH) encourages people to become physically active in their local communities. A network of schemes across England offer regular short walks over easy terrain with trained walk leaders. The aim of this project is to monitor and evaluate the WfH programme. The WfH database will store personal information on walkers including health data, details of walk schemes, the walks associated with the umbrella scheme and logs of attendance registers of walkers activity. This will be used to monitor, analyse and help evaluate the expanding walking schemes from 2009 to 2012. Partnership with the Department of Health.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £22,687.00 | Alan Pearsons |
| RP0504 | Standards for Access and Engagement On-site Monitoring | Natural England is looking to establish and support common onsite visitor monitoring standards and disseminate best practice, both internally and across the sector. The aim of the project is to develop, test and pilot standard on-site visitor monitoring approaches at three different levels of intensity low, medium and high that can be adopted by a range of access schemes/projects/partner organisations to enable consistent monitoring of how people access and engage with the natural environment, at the local site level. This project is to compliment MENE working more at the local site level.
| Rob Keane |
Biodiversity
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0113 | Marine turtle monitoring | Collates and maintains a database of records of marine turtles in British waters. The data is uploaded to the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. A report on the records and trends will be disseminated to a wide range of interested organisations and people. Co-funded with Countryside Council for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £5,200.00 | Paul Edgar |
| RP0117 | Updating of ancient woodland inventory | The ancient woodland inventory has been a very useful conservation tool, especially after the inclusion of ancient woodland in Planning Policy Statement 9. In order to maintain its usefulness, we need to keep an overview of revisions, especially with the technology to map to finer resolution than was possible at its inception, and ensure that we don't lose information that may still be useful.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Emma Goldberg |
| RP0119 | Long term monitoring in four woodland sites: Wytham Woods, Bix, Sheephouse Wood, Gorswen | To prepare for the future we need to understand past changes in sites. This is particularly true for woodland where changes may only become clear over decadal timescales. One way that we deal with this is through long-term monitoring of selected sites. Identifying the processes leading to change in these SSSIs can provide a model for likely impacts in other sites. This information then informs advice on site management and provides part of the evidence background for woodland policy development. In partnership with Oxford University and CEH.
| Keith Kirby |
| RP0139 | Ribbon-leaved water-plantain reintroduction and ditch surveys | Ribbon-leaved water-plantain Alisma gramineum, is a critically endangered red-listed species and a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species with a very restricted distribution. This project monitors the success of the reintroduction trial which took place at Baston Fen last year. Last year's ditch surveys uncovered a new wild locality for the species, so this year's survey work was aimed at establishing whether a sustainable metapopulation exists in the wider area. Project Leads Ian Taylor/Gen Madgwick Joint project with Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board and the Environment Agency.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £19,297.00 | Ian Taylor |
| RP0174 | Action for Bats in England | Continuing with the current NE/BCT MoA which in it's broadest sense gathers species trend data for priority bat species in England, through the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP), so that we can assess the status of the species within the country. The work informs agri-environment schemes, helps to develop an evidence base to support best practice guidelines for a range of bat related issues. The project to support the employment within BCT of the Biodiversity Officer post and the Partnership Officer post. Project in partnership with Bat Conservation Trust and part of Action for Bats in England
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £55,000.00 | Katherine Walsh |
| RP0222 | Predatory Birds Monitoring Scheme (PBMS) | Contribution to a surveillance programme known as the Predatory Birds Monitoring Scheme which monitors contaminant residues in the tissues and eggs of a range of seabirds and predatory and freshwater birds. Co-funded with the Centre for Ecology & Hydrology; Environment Agency and Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £50,000.00 | Alastair Burn |
| RP0238 | Collation and interpretation of estuary data for SSSI/SAC condition assessments | The UK Common Standards Monitoring protocol for both SSSI and SACs has a set of attributes that need to be used to assess the condition of the estuary interest feature and its constituent sub-features. The aim of this project is to explore whether it is possible to present existing contextual information in a single template that can be populated by different information for different estuaries and also whether the template can help identify key evidence gaps in specific estuaries.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Graham Weaver |
| RP0240 | National network for local biodiversity recording | To develop the national network of local biological recording, increasing the geographic scope, quantity and quality of biological information available to the general public and key public sector users through the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway. [Fund managed by Natural England on behalf of Defra.]
| Richard Alexander |
| RP0247 | The UK Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) | The Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) is an integrated web-based information system released in 2002 to help reporting against the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. BARS is supported by a UK partnership led by Natural England. NE sub-contract the hosting & maintenance of the database, servers and website to JNCC. A significant programme of development is underway in 2011/12 that will replace the current system in March 2012. This will simplify the data model, add new aggregated summaries, spatial mapping and bulk data import abilities. As part of a wider evidence framework BARS 2 will benefit biodiveristy planning and reporting activity. | Oliver Grafton |
| RP0324 | Article 17 reporting on the Conservation status of the Vertigo snails- Desmoulins | A multi-species contract to establish and implement monitoring for the Vertigo snails for which the UK has responsibility to assess the conservation status of as part of the Natura 2000 network reporting. It will concentrate initially on Vertigo geyeri and V.angustior as the species which have had the least recent conservation effort, with in parallel work to establish what other work has been commissioned to answer the reporting questions on Vertigo moulinisana and V. genesii.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £11,000.00 | David Heaver |
| RP0326 | Updating of BAP priority habitat inventories 2010 | A programme of quality improvements to Natural England's BAP priority habitat inventories and quality assurance prior to data publication. This will include the publication of updated inventories for Fens, Reedbeds, Coastal & Floodplain Grazing Marsh and Lowland Heath. The project also incorporates the development of standards for habitat survey and classification, which will then be tested as part of the Habitat Surveillance Pilot.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £400,000.00 | Bernadette Micklewright |
| RP0381 | Pool frog reintroduction monitoring 2011 | The pool frog is a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) priority species. This project will monitor the pool frog population, and other relevant species, at the site where a recent reintroduction has taken place as part of a species recovery plan.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,700.00 | Paul Edgar |
| RP0458 | National saltmarsh redshank survey | National survey of redshanks breeding on saltmarsh habitats around the English coast. Repeats a similar survey last undertaken in 1996. This survey will allow estimates of numbers of pairs nationally and for each SSSI and will identify national, regional and site level population trends. This information will be used to assist SSSI condition assessments.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £31,397.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0469 | Species surveillance (in-house and partner) change project | This project forms part of our Integrated Monitoring Programme. The aim is to prioritise our surveillance activities and to save overall costs. To achieve this we will develop, with partners, staff and the voluntary sector, different delivery models to meet, more cost effectively, our statutory reporting requirements. Evidence function will lead the development of this change project in close collaboration with our partners and specialist colleagues. Our Land Management advisers will test the in-house methods. There are 20 partners involved in this project including Pond Conservation and Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £70,000.00 | Andy Webb |
| RP0475 | Updating of BAP priority habitat inventories 2011 | A programme of quality improvements to Natural England's BAP priority habitat inventories and quality assurance prior to data publication.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £62,522.00 | Bernadette Micklewright |
| RP0489 | A survey of rare bryophytes in south west England | A bryophyte survey of southwest England to include:- - Monitoring or resurvey of known, historic and potential sites for 21 Nationally Rare and 15 Nationally Scarce species. - Habitat management to maintain populations at selected locations. - A bryophyte management plan for Penhale Dunes SAC. - A survey of Bruchia vogesiaca to inform a proposed SAC designation.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £20,392.00 | Mike Sutcliffe |
| RP0490 | Monitoring survey of critical and endangered bryophytes in East Anglia | Monitoring survey of critical and endangered bryophytes in East Anglia. Survey of historic, existing and potential new locations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £3,000.00 | Mike Sutcliffe |
| RP0500 | Wild asparagus survey Cornwall 2011 | To undertake survey of wild asparagus Asparagus prostratus colonies at known sites in Cornwall, repeating survey originally carried out in 2001 and building on asparagus surveys in 2010 carried out on NT-owned sites on The Lizard. To sex colonies whenever possible. To collect seed from representative colonies to add to Kew Millennium Seed Bank. To provide a report summarising current status of asparagus in Cornwall and assessing conservation threats and opportunities.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £1,800.00 | Simon James Leach |
| RP0520 | Humberhead Peatlands: crane monitoring | The moors are remnants of wetland that occupied the floodplain of the Humberhead Levels thousands of years ago. Natural England's aims are to establish the Moors as centres of peatland excellence and to provide visitor facilities to match that aspiration.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £5,000.00 | Julian Small |
| RP0521 | Humberhead Peatlands: nightjar survey | The moors are remnants of wetland that occupied the floodplain of the Humberhead Levels thousands of years ago. Natural England's aims are to establish the Moors as centres of peatland excellence and to provide visitor facilities to match that aspiration.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £2,500.00 | Julian Small |
| RP0523 | National Spotted Crake survey preparation | A survey is required to assess those SSSIs supporting breeding spotted crakes. In advance of a national survey of Spotted Crakes in spring next year preparatory work must be undertaken by the end of March 2012. This includes the development of a survey sampling approach and the identification of survey locations, the production of monitoring protocols and survey forms, and the coordination of a network of nature reserve staff and volunteers to visit all identified survey locations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £4,978.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0525 | Castle Hill: chalk grassland monitoring/research | Castle Hill chalk grassland is rich in orchids. Species include fragrant, common spotted, pyramidal and autumn lady's tresses, as well as the rare early spider orchid for which Castle Hill is the national stronghold. This work is a 32 year study of demographics / autecology of Ophrys sphegodes (early spider orchid) on the Reserve, using permanent quadrats to follow the survival of individual plants. Population dynamics have been analysed in great detail, including interpretation in relation to the management of the chalk grassland over the lifetime of the project. Further analysis is still possible.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £150.00 | Malcolm Emery |
| RP0534 | Winter raptor roost survey | Wintering hen harriers and merlins are a formal interest feature of many Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). As part of its programme of monitoring the condition of all SSSIs, Natural England is required to assess the numbers of birds present on those SSSIs where they are a notified feature every six years. This project will coordinate an existing network of volunteers participating in a national monitoring scheme in order to achieve survey coverage of the relevant SSSIs.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,379.00 | Allan Drewitt |
| RP0535 | Putting Plants on the Map: a data services/surveillance/monitoring MoA with the Botanical Society of the British Isles (BSBI) | This agreement sets out and delivers the botanical data services required by Natural England in support of vascular plant conservation in England. The Botanical Society of the British Isles has a key role to play across a wide array of Natural England's botanical work, including species surveillance, UK Biodiversity Action Plan and the England Biodiverity Strategy implementation, species status assessments, targeting of conservation action in the wider countryside and reporting on the distribution and trends of threatened species.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £35,800.00 | Simon James Leach |
| RP0552 | Annual monitoring for bittern at Holkham NNR | Annual monitoring to establish whether breeding activity takes place witihn the reedbed areas of Holkham NNR. The data has been collected in Partnership with the RSPB and fed into the national RSPB/Natural England bittern monitoring project for the UK, for which an annual summary is produced and circulated.
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0554 | Monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) for Holkham NNR | Monthly counts of wetland birds on Holkham NNR grazing marshes that form part of the national Wetland Bird Survey.
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0555 | Provisional inventory of wood-pasture and parkland for England | Wood-pasture and parkland priority UK BAP habitat in England is currently not mapped in a coherent way. For this reason it is impossible to calculate the area of habitat present in England, or to identify those sites which are sufficiently valuable to include in a SSSI notification review. This project will collate the disparate datasets which currently exist for this habitat to create a single layer for England.
| Suzanne Perry |
| RP0556 | Fens Biodiversity audit | The Fenland Biodiversity Audit will make an important contribution to our understanding of fenland species and the implications for their management. This project has three elements that will draw together evidence and expertise from partners in order to describe the known taxa that are extant within the Fenland National Character Area, group species assemblages into guilds using the same methodology derived for the Breckland Biodiversity Audit and then make land management recommendations in order to benefit the broadest number of species groups and assemblages.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £9,500.00 | Catherine weightman |
| RP0572 | Supporting Butterfly and moth data management | Butterfly Conservation manages a network of voluntary recorders who collect and record data on butterfly and moths. Data underpins most of Natural England's evidence requirements that include targeting and monitoring of Agri-environment, site assessments, indicators and reporting on the England Biodiversity Strategy targets. This project includes two elements; the 1st is to secure structured surveillance of butterflies in collaboration with Butterfly Conservation, JNCC, CEH and other country agencies, the 2nd is support direct to BC to support the data management and collation of information on butterfly and moths for England.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £55,000.00 | Keith Porter |
| RP0608 | Collaborative Agreement relating to Operational Use of Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring | This project involves collaborative work between oursleves and the Geomatics Group within the Environment Agency over creating operational products to aid site management and monitoring. These products are dependent upon remote sensed data, inlcuding LiDAR (radar) data. These products are used to help with site condition assessments and to provide data on habitats that cannot otherwise be collected. The project is totally dependent upon the mix of skills between EA staff and our staff.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £42,000.00 | Keith Porter |
| RP0614 | Monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) for Scolt Head Island NNR | Monthly counts of wetland birds on Scolt Head Island NNR that form part of the national Wetland Bird Survey.
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0615 | Scolt Head Island NNR butterfly transect | Annual butterfly transect data collected over 26 weeks between April and September as part of the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The information is collated and contributes to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme database, forming part of national report produced by Butterfly Conservation.
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0616 | Holkham NNR butterfly transect | Annual butterfly transect data collected over 26 weeks between April and September. The information is collated and input to the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme database, forming part of national report produced by Butterfly Conservation.
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0617 | Annual monitoring of breeding terns & waders of Scolt Head Island NNR | Annual monitoring of the breeding terns and waders of Scolt Head Island NNR to include detailed nest surveys
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0618 | Annual monitoring of wetland breeding birds of the grazing marshes of Holkham NNR | Annual monitoring of the wetland breeding birds of Holkham NNR grazing marshes
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0619 | Annual monitoring of breeding terns at Holkham NNR | Annual monitoring of breeding terns, including little terns, on the foreshore at Holkham NNR
| Michael Rooney |
| RP0633 | Gait Barrows: Duke of Burgundy butterfly restoration study | The reserve contains the most notable limestone pavement flora in Britain, and is important for its rich invertebrate communities. The site also supports 800 moth species, dragonflies and damselflies, and butterflies such as the Duke of Burgundy, high brown and pearl-bordered fritillary. This project involves the translocation of captive-reared Duke of Burgundy butterflies from a nearby population in order that the gene pool at Gait Barrows is refreshed.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £2,500.00 | Rob Petley-Jones |
| RP0643 | English twite recovery project | Monitoring of breeding twite numbers is required to evaluate the effectiveness of the recovery project work in delivering habitat suitable for breeding twite in the South Pennines. This element of the project will also provide information essential to the assessment of the condition of the South Pennine Moors SSSI for breeding twite and the efficacy of remedial measures. This contract is for preparatory work in advance of field work in 2013.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £15,000.00 | Allan Drewitt |
Climate Change
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0291 | Monitoring of greenhouse gases following changes in land management in the North Pennines | To assess whether blocking moorland drainage channels reduces the production of greenhouses gases, and an indication of the level of any effect. Moorland drainage channels on Cronkley Fell in the North Pennines have been monitored for greenhouse gas release. The channels were then blocked and greenhouse gas emissions continue to be monitored.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £90,000.00 | Alistair Crowle |
| RP0316 | Development of a long-term monitoring network | The objectives of the project are to: 1. Develop a long-term monitoring network to meet Natural England's evidence needs on the effects of climate change, air pollution and land management on the natural environment. 2. Establish a network of at least 40 core monitoring sites by the end of 2014. 3. Ensure that data from other existing and proposed long-term monitoring activities are managed and used in order to maximise their benefit as evidence on cause and effect of environmental change. 4. Ensure that maximum benefit and efficiency is gained from complementary activities of other agencies and bodies.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £142,000.00 | Andy Nisbet |
Land management
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0033 | Agreement-scale monitoring of Higher Level Stewardship delivery | A detailed evaluation of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements to provide an assessment of the potential of HLS to deliver expected outcomes. By establishing an independent baseline on the condition and extent of features being managed it will enable a future re-survey to validate the success of management. Partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £480,000.00 | Andrew Cooke |
| RP0037 | Effectiveness of Higher Level Stewardship at providing resources for target bird species | To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) in delivering for target bird species, both at the farm level and the option level. The results will be used to review and enhance delivery of HLS. Five year partnership with RSPB.
| Phil Grice |
| RP0315 | Developing integrated site monitoring protocols and a programme of Integrated Site Assessments | This monitoring project will: i) develop an integrated approach to Natural England's in-house site monitoring (SSSI Condition Assessment and HLS Indicators of Success Assessments); ii) provide a report on the development phase with recommendations for implementation; and iii) implement the recommendations with a programme of Integrated Site Assessments (ISA) begining from April 2010. The ISA programme will include: a) an integrated strategy for site monitoring; b) integrated field methodologies, forms and guidance; c) a quality management system; and d) initial development of IT (in association with other integration projects).
| Debbie Russell |
| RP0357 | Monitoring the impacts of Entry Level Stewardship | The programme of work envisaged within this specification involves developing and implementing a programme of fieldwork, analysis and reporting that will be expected to provide a sound quantitative basis for evaluating: * the ''success'' of management under O/ELS to date, and; * the potential of O/ELS agreements post-renewal (ie renewals from 2010 onwards) to deliver a higher level of environmental benefits, and to meet the targets set out for ELS in 2010 by Defra and Natural England.
| Andrew Cooke |
| RP0407 | Assessing the baseline for environmental impact of Uplands Entry Level Stewardship | This project is one of two current projects intended to set a baseline for an UELS monitoring programme. The project aims are to assess the current baseline conditions in the Severely Disadvantaged Areas, relating to the ES scheme objectives and establish a cost-effective and repeatable survey methodology that will enable a future re-survey to quantify the environmental impacts of the UELS.
| Lesley Blainey |
| RP0448 | Establishing an improved baseline for monitoring and evaluating historic environment interventions in Environmental Stewardship (SHINE2012) | This project builds on a pilot (SHINE2011) which focussed on the acquisition of a baseline of historic environment (HE) data for monitoring the effectiveness of our interventions through AES. The work will provide a digital dataset of HE features that can be managed under ES which fulfil previously developed protocols for site review & selection. In addition to enabling the evaluation of scheme impacts on the HE, the acquisition of this data will have a strong impact on delivery. It will also evaluate future work requirements for 2012/3 & undertake initial evaluation of the effect of this enhanced dataset on delivery of HE objectives.
| Victoria Hunns |
| RP0457 | Catchment Sensitive Farming Monitoring and Evaluation | This is a part of the Catchment Sensitive Farming project and records the success of the project in engaging farmers, changing farmer attitudes, helping farmers to take action to mitigate diffuse pollution and the water quality outcomes that result. This is done through a mixture of recording the project's delivery activities, an annual telephone survey of farmers, repeat visits to assess action taken and detailed water quality monitoring and catchment modelling. This work has been underway since 2006 and is due to last until 2013. It is undertaken by EA for the project which is jointly delivered by NE and EA.
| Bob Middleton |
| RP0460 | Integrated Site Assessments - monitoring of HLS IoS and SSSI units | This is an annual programme of activity to monitor selected HLS Indicators of Success and the condition of SSSI units. The ISA programme includes: a) an integrated strategy for site monitoring; b) integrated field methodologies, forms and guidance; and c) Capturing of the data collected in the field in a central database Delivery is led by Land Management function, with Integrated Monitoring Team (Evidence) owning the programme.
| Phil Tolerton |
| RP0462 | Saproxylic invertebrate assemblages at Birklands & Bilhaugh SSSIs, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire | A review of the national importance and current condition of the saproxylic invertebrate assemblages at Birklands & Bilhaugh SSSIs, Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire. These ancient semi-natural woodlands are widely recognised as having national and European importance for the conservation of saproxylic invertebrates, especially beetles. This project is a desk study to review and analyse all previous survey data to assess the current condition and national importance and indicate whether current management practices appear sufficient to conserve the invertebrate fauna of the sites.
| Steve Clifton |
| RP0466 | Mid-Cornwall Moors marsh fritillary larval monitoring 2011 | This project is a continuation of the monitoring for the Mid-Cornwall Moors meta population of marsh fritillary butterfly. Butterfly Conservation's standard methodology will be employed, involving the collection of vegetation data and production of notes on habitat condition and management practices will be made. Twelve project sites will be monitored to repeat the transect routes undertaken in 2010, however three Criggan sites and one Ennisworgey site deemed unsuitable will be omitted. Photographs of survey sites will not be undertaken. The results will be presented in the form of a short report with management recommendations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £7,975.00 | David Hazlehurst |
| RP0470 | Survey of spined loach (Cobitis taenia) on the Ouse Washes SAC | The Ouse Washes Special Area of Conservation (SAC) comprises two parallel drainage channels; Counter Drain/Old Bedford and Old Bedford/River Delph. The reason these watercourses qualify as a SAC is due to the presence of spined loach; one of four main localities in England for this species, which is listed on Annex II of the EC Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and Flora and Fauna. This project will monitor the current status (broad distribution, density and age-class structure) of this population, which will inform the Integrated Site Assessment of the Ouse Washes SSSI, SAC and can be compared with previous surveys.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Stella Baylis |
| RP0476 | Specialist CSM monitoring of bryophyte SAC sites in Cornwall 2011/12. | The project is to undertake specialist Common Standards Monitoring (CSM) of a number of bryophyte SAC sites in Cornwall, 2011/12. The main species to be monitored are Marsupella profunda, Ditrichum cornubicum and Cephaloziella nicholsonii. Standard CSM methodology for monitoring bryophytes will be used involving the identification of species and collection of data on populaiton size and condition. The results will be presented in the form of report/s detailing the condition assessment for the SSSI, photographs and location maps, records of habitat condition together with any threats/issues and mangement recommendations.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £5,842.00 | Beth Tonkin |
| RP0511 | Moorhouse and Upper Teesdale: vegetation monitoring | This reserve is famous for the rare spring gentian as well as England''s largest juniper wood. The rare black grouse also breeds here, as does the golden plover and ring ouzel. Research and monitoring work: this project is monitoring the special botanical features. This is essentially to monitor the effectiveness of the Higher Level Stewardship-prescribed grazing on the patches of high botanical interest which are subsumed in the unit.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Chris McCarty |
| RP0512 | Woodwalton Fen: ditch research | Acid peat areas support stands of purple moor-grass, with ling, bog myrtle, tormentil and saw sedge. Flower-rich mixed fen covers a significant area of the reserve and is home to yellow flag, swamp meadow grass and great water dock. The site is also home to rare fen plants such as fen wood-rush and fen violet, and the 15 km of ditches on the site support the rare water violet and carnivorous bladderwort. This evidence project involves preliminary work to assess the reasons behind ditch condition loss so as to plan for a programme of de-silting.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £8,000.00 | Ben Le Bas |
| RP0514 | South Solway Mosses: Hydrological Monitoring of WF Scotts | South Solway Mosses NNR comprises parts of three lowland raised bogs SSSI. Bowness Common, Glasson Moss, Wedholme Flow. All three sites have been substantially affected by domestic cutting, drainage and commercial peat cutting. This project is the long term monitoring of water levels on a former commercially peat extracted Unit (26) of Wedholme Flow, and its response to the process of hydrological and vegetative restoration. The project also links to water level/water flow monitoring in major drainage ditches to the east of this unit which is looking at how water levels/volumes respond over time to the restoration of Unit 26.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £2,000.00 | Alasdair Brock |
| RP0517 | Derbyshire Dales: NVC survey of restoration hay meadows | The Derbyshire Dales reserve consists of five separate limestone valleys Lathkill, Cressbrook, Monk's, Long and Hay. These five dales represent some of the best examples of wildlife and geology in the White Peak.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £250.00 | Ben Le Bas |
| RP0526 | Lullington Heath: chalk heath monitoring/research | The slightly acid soil has allowed the development of an intimately mixed chalk and heath plant community. Acid loving heathers and tormentil grow among chalk plants such as thyme, salad burnet and dropwort. An array of permanent 1 x 1 metre quadrats were set up in 1997, to measure species frequency in order to a) characterise the chalk heath community b) compare areas with different management histories and c) identify changes in community composition over time. Initially, grazing exclosures were part of the analysis, to allow analysis of effects of grazing by livestock and rabbits. Data collected and collated by University of Sussex.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £250.00 | Malcolm Emery |
| RP0527 | Pevensey levels: wetland bird survey | Pevensey Levels NNR is part owned and managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust. The remainder is owned and managed by Natural England. This Wetland Birds Survey, is part of the national WeBS project, coordinated by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £250.00 | Malcolm Emery |
| RP0530 | Goss Moor: research and monitoring | Goss Moor is a rich mosaic of wetland habitats which make up a large floodplain close to the headwaters of the River Fal, Cornwall. The Reserve has an mining heritage and was used on an industrial scale for tin streaming. Latterly, the moor was drained with the River Fall being canalised and detached from its flood plain. In spring 2011 a portion of the river was diverted into a new shallower channel. The river and flood plain now exhibit a more natural hydrology. This project aims to monitor the response of the water table to the changes and inform as to what further work may be required to enhance and enlarge the wetland habitats.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £500.00 | Philip Bowler |
| RP0531 | Fenn’s and Whixall: ongoing hydrology | Main habitats: Peatland. Fenn''s, Whixall, Bettisfield, Wem & Cadney Mosses Site of Special Scientific Interest, straddling the English/Welsh border near Whitchurch, is of international importance for wildlife. The Mosses are one of the most southerly lowland raised bogs in Britain and, at 948 hectares (2,340 acres), are the third largest.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £125.00 | Joan Daniels |
| RP0610 | Survey of Agri-environment Grassland and Restoration Sites: Survey of Higher Level Stewardship option HK8: creation of species-rich semi-natural grassland | The project involves surveys of examples of option HK8 on 36 HLS agreements. This management is designed to facilitate the creation of a species-rich grassland feature, typically from land that has formerly been intensively managed as arable or grassland. On each site detailed species presence and cover is recorded in 5 quadrats, together with a walkover survey of the whole stand. Soil samples are also collected, together with information on management. The project is closely related to previous work on HK6 (maintenance of species-rich grassland) and HK7 (restoration of species-rich grassland) that was reported in 2008.
| Andrew Cooke |
Landscape, Historic Environment and Geodiversity
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0021 | Establishing a national Local Geological Site (RIGS) data set | To establish a national, spatial data-set that maps the distribution of all Local Geological Sites (known as RIGS) for England. Associated information collected will include brief details of site interest, level of accessibility (accessible green space) and information on site condition. The information will be used by Local Geoconservation groups, Local Authorities, Planners and Land Managers. This project is being undertaken in partnership with GeoConservationUK and The Geology Trusts.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £120,000.00 | Jonathan Larwood |
| RP0092 | Monitoring the character and quality of England's landscapes (CQuEL) | CQuEL is one of Natural England's Integrated Monitoring changes projects. It will assess change in the character and quality of England's landscape. Phase 1 has been completed. The reports are avaiable from: the Natural England internetand LWEC . Following a period of review, to ensure CQuEL is fit for purpose in respect of the NEWP and review of arms' length bodies the 11/12 work programme for CQuEL will comprise an analytical piloting phase wich focus on selected geographic areas (NCAs) and a targeted set of ecosystems services.
| Andrew Baker |
| RP0228 | Geological Conservation Review boundary digitisation | Geological Conservation Review (GCR) sites provide the national basis for identifying features of interest in geological and geomorphological Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). This project will digitise all GCR site boundaries in England. This will provide a digitised dataset for spatial comparison with established SSSI boundary datasets strengthening Natural England's ability to provide advice and report on geological and geomorphological SSSIs.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,800.00 | Hannah Townley |
| RP0310 | Monitoring environmental outcomes in Protected Landscapes | This project is to establish a co-ordinated and robust monitoring framework for England's Protected Landscapes (National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). It aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of the conservation and enhancement of protected landscapes; provide an evidence-base to assess the effective delivery of protected landscapes'' management plans and to inform their review; and to to demonstrate that England's protected landscapes are exemplars of land management. This work is being done in partnership with Defra, English Heritage, English National Parks Authorities Association and National Association of AONBs.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £2,500.00 | Liz Bingham |
Marine
| ID | Title | Description | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RP0219 | Monitoring Fleet Lagoon Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area | This project collates a number of sub-projects to assess the condition of this Special Area of Conservation; Special Protection Area and surrounding area, including monitoring the temperature of the lagoon; surveying the subtidal eelgrass beds; monitoring little tern numbers and recording the affects of human activity and inappropriate coastal defences. In partnership with Chesil Bank and Fleet Nature Reserve (Illchester Estates).
| Rachel Waldock |
| RP0221 | Understanding responses of marine biodiversity to global environmental change | This project builds on the success of the MarClim project which ran from 2001-2005 and was consortium funded by Natural England and additional government departments and agencies. It involves monitoring of rocky shore species by scientists and volunteer groups to determine past reference states, current fluctuations and future forecasts.
| Robert Enever |
| RP0474 | Condition Assessment Monitoring for Reefs, Isles of Scilly European Marine Site - Diving Survey June 2011 | Survey to monitor the reef feature subtidally, through diving surveys. New sites were included into the survey design, as well as existing sites and draft Marine Conservation Zone sites for Scilly were also included. The final report will include analysis of the data to allow NE to meet its monitoring commitments and to provide a suitable baseline for the following attributes of the IoS SAC: a. Biotope composition, b. Distribution and spatial pattern of biotopes c. Presence of representative / notable biotopes d. Species composition of representative or notable biotopes
| Sangeeta McNair |
| RP0559 | New N2K baseline monitoring - Haisborough Hammond & Winterton sandbanks | Component of a larger project being undertaken jointly with JNCC and Cefas to obtain baseline phyical and ecological data for Haisborough Hammond & Winterton cSAC and Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Bank cSAC. This component focuses on obtaining further accoustic data covering toes / flanks of banks plus ground truthing in the form of biological sampling.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £50,000.00 | Chris Pirie |
| RP0560 | New N2K baseline monitoring - Haisborough Hammond & Winterton, Sabellaria spinulosa reef. | Component of a larger project being undertaken jointly with JNCC and Cefas to obtain baseline phyical and ecological data for Haisborough Hammond & Winterton cSAC and Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Bank cSAC. This component focuses on obtaining further accoustic data for areas of biogenic Sabellaria reef within Haisborough Hammond and Winterton cSAC plus ground truthing in the form of video and still pictures and limited biological sampling.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £60,000.00 | Chris Pirie |
| RP0561 | New N2K baseline monitoring - Inner Dowsing & Race Bank - Sandbanks. | Component of a larger project being undertaken jointly with JNCC and Cefas to obtain baseline phyical and ecological data for Haisborough Hammond & Winterton cSAC and Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Bank cSAC. This component focuses on obtaining further accoustic data for Sandbanks within Inner Dowsing and Race bank cSAC plus ground truthing in the form of biological sampling.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £50,000.00 | Chris Pirie |
| RP0562 | New N2K baseline monitoring - Inner Dowsing & Race Bank, Sabellaria spinulosa reef. | Component of a larger project being undertaken jointly with JNCC and Cefas to obtain baseline phyical and ecological data for Haisborough Hammond & Winterton cSAC and Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Bank cSAC. This component focuses on obtaining further accoustic data for areas of biogenic Sabellaria reef within Inner Dowsing, North Ridge and Race Bank cSAC plus ground truthing in the form of video and still pictures and limited biological sampling.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,000.00 | Chris Pirie |
| RP0563 | New N2K baseline monitoring: Shellflat sandbanks | This project is a 12 day boat based bathymetric survey, using multibeam sonar. The purpose of the survey is to obtain a high resolution physical baseline map detailing the topography of the sand bank. The data will provide the key dataset for identifying the locations of physical sample sites and will be essential if we are to monitor the physical and ecological evolution of the site. The survey is required as the Special Area of Conservation has never been surveyed, and current charted bathymetry over the site is an amalgamation of a number of coarse historic datasets.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £59,000.00 | Mark Johnston |
| RP0564 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - MARCLIM rocky shore features | Delivery of MarClim project for England. This is a UK wide project lead by the Marine Biological Association . Rocky shore species which have been chosen as suitable indicators of climate change are surveyed at a number of locations accross England and the UK.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £28,000.00 | Robert Enever |
| RP0565 | Operational monitoring - MCCIP - annual report card | Operational monitoring - Marine Climate Change Impacts Partnership annual report card .
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Robert Enever |
| RP0580 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Morecambe Bay: | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Morecambe Bay: several elements to package - estuaries, shallow inlet & bays, intertidal mud & sand flats, upper, middle & pioneer saltmarsh - Project Officer to complete on review.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £60,000.00 | Green Joe |
| RP0581 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Humber - Lamprey. | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Humber - Lamprey. Based on regions investigations and partnership apporach with EA. Project Officer to complete on review.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £15,000.00 | Fiona Neale |
| RP0582 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Berwickshire and Northumberland: | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Berwickshire and Northumberland: Reefs via dive surveys.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £60,000.00 | Catherine Scott |
| RP0583 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Flamborough Head: | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Flamborough Head: side-scan sonar project - habitat mapping of SAC.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £40,000.00 | Mike Quigley |
| RP0584 | Operational monitoring - Flamborough: Baseline monitoring of the effectiveness of the no take zone | Operational monitoring - Flamborough: Baseline monitoring of the effectiveness of the no take zone - Project Officer to complete on review.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £15,000.00 | Mike Quigley |
| RP0585 | Operational monitoring - Filey Bay: | Operational monitoring - Filey Bay: auk bycatch - Monitoring for review of net limitation due in 2 years in partnership with Environment Agency.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Mike Quigley |
| RP0586 | The Wash: Large Shallow Inlet and Bay baseline monitoring Survey | The Wash: Large Shallow Inlet and Bay baseline monitoring survey to contribute to baseline data sets for condition of the Annex I Large Shallow Inlet and Bay and Annex 1 features in order to provide a robust baseline for future monitoring of feature condition within The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC. The hard subtidal substrate sub features of The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC Large Shallow Inlet and Bay are (i) subtidal boulder and cobble communities; and (ii) Sabellaria spinulosa reefs.
| Tom Manning |
| RP0587 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Solent: Estuaries and subtidal sandbanks. | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - Solent: Estuaries and subtidal sandbanks. To be done in partnership with Environment Agency.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £40,000.00 | Dylan Todd |
| RP0588 | Operational monitoring Thanet Reefs: kelp dominated communities on animal-bored rock | Operational monitoring Thanet Reefs: kelp dominated communities on animal-bored rock.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £28,000.00 | Rachel Williams |
| RP0589 | Operational monitoring - Outer Thames Estuary: assess impact of netting on red-throated diver | Operational monitoring - Outer Thames Estuary: assess impact of netting on red-throated diver.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £20,000.00 | Audrey Jones |
| RP0590 | Operational monitoring - Thanet pacific oyster monitoring | Operational monitoring - Thanet monitoring non-native invasive Pacific oysters.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £2,000.00 | Ingrid Chudleigh |
| RP0591 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Solent: intertidal mud and sand flats | Intertidal Site of Special Scientific Interest Monitoring - Solent: intertidal mud and sand flats.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £75,000.00 | Dylan Todd |
| RP0593 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Solent: Cordgrass swards | Intertidal Site of Special Scientific Interest Monitoring - Solent: cordgrass swards.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £6,000.00 | Graham Weaver |
| RP0594 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - South Wight: Rocky shores. | Intertidal Site of Special Scientific Interest Monitoring - South Wight: Rocky shores. Project Officer to complete on review.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Rachel Williams |
| RP0595 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring: Thanet reef and sea caves | Intertidal Site of Special Scientific Interest Monitoring - Thanet reef and sea caves: chalk communities.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £10,000.00 | Rachel Williams |
| RP0596 | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Essex estuaries: intertidal mud & sand flats and mud communities | Intertidal SSSI Monitoring - Essex estuaries: intertidal mud & sand flats and mud communities.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,000.00 | Conor Donnelly |
| RP0597 | The Wash & Norfolk: common seal ongoing N2K condition assessment | Ongoing N2K condition assessment. The Wash contains the largest population of harbour (common) seals in England, holding some 10% of the total UK population. The intertidal mud and sand flats in the Wash provide ideal conditions for breeding and haul-out sites and the subtidal sandbanks provide important feeding areas for the seals during the summer breeding and moulting season when the. The seals are one of the features of the Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC for which the site was designated. Annual surveys of the common seal population in The Wash are undertaken by the Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) at the University of St Andrews.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £6,000.00 | Claire Ludgate |
| RP0598 | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - The Wash & Norfolk: subtidal sandbanks. | Ongoing N2K condition assessment - The Wash & Norfolk: subtidal sandbanks.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,000.00 | Claire Ludgate |
| RP0599 | The Greater Wash: understanding direct physical and indirect impacts of the pink shrimp fishery on reef and wider biodiversity | The aim of this project is to undertake a survey of the physical and some biological impacts of shrimp fishing on Sabellaria spinulosa reef and associated biodiversity in the Wash and North Norfolk SAC, Inner Dowsing Race Bank North Ridge SAC and surrounding areas. This will improve and update the evidence used by Natural England to provide statutory advice to the managing authorities as to the effects, and or impacts, of shrimp fishing on S. spinulosa reef. Joint project with the Marine Management Organisation .
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £50,000.00 | Charlotte Johnson |
| RP0600 | Operational monitoring - The Greater Wash: environmental impacts of suction dredge fishery | Following a cockle handwork monitoring study carried out in the summer of 2010 the EIFCA, in partnership with Natural England and Cefas, will carry out an impact, control and recovery rate study, focusing on investigating direct impacts of suction dredging for cockles in the Wash. This will look at the direct physical impacts and any changes in the sediment and associated benthos by comparing fished and non-fished (control) sites areas, as well as the time taken for recovery where appropriate. This study will build on the report made into cockle suction dredging in the Wash published in 2007.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £30,000.00 | Charlotte Johnson |
| RP0604 | Operational monitoring - Suffolk Coast: disturbance study | Operational monitoring - Suffolk Coast: disturbance study - Natural England are contributing to this project.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £5,000.00 | Emma Hay |
| RP0609 | Condition Monitoring of the Intertidal Mudflats and Sandflats Feature of the Fal & Helford SAC | The main aim of the study is to provide standardised faunal and infaunal information for the littoral sediment habitats and communities of the Fal & Helford Estuary, across a series of sampling areas. The main sediment types and their associated communities (biotopes) will be mapped within these areas. The work will be carried out in accordance with the marine CSM guidance for littoral sediment. The field methods used will follow the techniques described in the marine monitoring handbook (especially procedural guidelines 1-1, 3-1 and 3-6) and current Environment Agency procedures used for the Water Framework Directive.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £25,541.00 | Helena Towers |
| RP0611 | Investigation into disturbance effects on waders and wildfowl at low and high tides in Poole Harbour | A study of disturbance from human recreational and other activities in the Harbour. The study took place at thirteen different locations around the Harbour. Visits included both high and low tide counts during both the day and night.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £29,500.00 | Susan Burton |
| RP0612 | The effect of algal mats on waterfowl foraging behaviour in Poole Harbour | The study will take place between October and end of February to assess the impact of algal cover on bird foraging behaviour. The study will clearly assess whether birds are avoiding areas where there are higher densities of algae and whether their behaviour is being affected. The focus of the study will be in the area south of Brownsea Island and part of Brands Bay which birds appear to be under utilising in relation to the prey items found in the area.
Natural England's financial contribution to this project is: £25,000.00 | Susan Burton |
| RP0644 | Shore Thing Project | The www.marlin.ac.uk/shore_thing|Shore Thing Project aims to generate records of marine wildlife by facilitating intertidal biological surveys at sites around the British Isles, and to make the results available to all on the Internet. It encourages students and local communities to monitor their local rocky shore for climate change and non-native species. The Shore Thing Project follows on from the UK Marine Biodiversity and Climate Change Programme (MarClim) run by the MBA and supported by Natural England.
| Chris Pirie |
