Part 1 – the main document which includes the reasons why we need a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP), some facts and figures on how biodiversity is faring, the key aims of the Plan; how it fits with other plans and work; and how the plan will be delivered.

Part 2 – fact sheets on 22 key species and four key habitats which are included in the BAP and are the main focus for our work.  The sheets include a photo of the species or habitat, a map showing its known locations and some ideas as to what you can do to help support biodiversity.

Part 3 – a summary action plan detailing the key actions the Council will be doing in 2021 to help protect, enhance and recreate biodiversity on its own land holdings and through its work programmes.  

If you would like a hard copy of the document please contact naturalenvironment@winchester.gov.uk

 

Topfield, Kingsworthy

Our biodiversity officers have been checking our hazel dormice boxes and they were thrilled to find this male dormouse making a cosy home for himself. Hazel dormice are threatened with extinction but we are lucky enough to have them in the Winchester district in Kings Worthy.

Biodiversity Officer Zoe said, “Dormice are good indicators of animal and plant diversity so habitats which benefit dormice are also good for woodland birds, bats and butterflies. Because dormice are protected, we are trained and hold licences allowing us to do these surveys.”

 

West Hill Cemetery

An image from a recent visit to West Hill Cemetery, which we manage – the cemetery has lots of pyramidal orchids in flower. The cemetery is cut just twice a year, very carefully around the graves, in order to allow lots of wildflower species to flourish.

 

Whiteshute Ridge - Summer 2023

Five years on since Winchester City Council took management of this important open space, the species-rich chalk grassland is looking fantastic and full of wildlife. The grazing management is working wonders and three of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s British White cattle can be expected back on site in November.

 

Vegetation Survey

A baseline survey was carried out by Belinda Wheeler in 2017. The grassland was found to be reasonably diverse with 79 species recorded including 16 positive indicator species, although at least half of these were limited to just a few individuals. Since 2017 the recommendations in this report, chiefly the introduction of cattle grazing, have been followed to
promote the establishment of more wildflower species. Cattle create poached and trampled areas of land which adds variety to grassland swards. Taking the cattle off in the summer months allow flowers to grow and set seed.

In 2022 a repeat survey was undertaken and a similar diversity of 82 species with the same 16 positive indicator species being recorded. Nonetheless, a positive change has been observed, with a 189% increase in the finer, more species-rich grassland type (MG5). There was also an increase in the frequency of some positive indicator species such as agrimony, lady’s bedstraw, common bird’s-foot-trefoil, black knapweed, glaucous sedge, rough hawkbit and meadow vetchling. Changes in grassland condition and species diversity is a gradual process, but these results indicate that the grazing management is having a positive impact.

Wildlife Surveys

Reptile surveys have been carried out each summer since 2019. We’ve continued to record good numbers of common lizards and slow worms with our first record of grass snake in 2022. The Hampshire and Isle of White Amphibian and Reptile Group (HIWARG) are kindly undertaking the reptile surveys for us this year and excitingly they have recorded an adder! This means we are lucky enough to have all four species of common reptile.

 

 

The meadow is teeming with invertebrate life including common blue and marbled white butterflies, dark bushcrickets and common green grasshoppers. Oliver’s Battery Countryside Group have been undertaking glow worm surveys. These special invertebrates are often seen glowing throughout June and July. Across three visits in 2022, a remarkable 33 females were recorded.

 

Zoe Keeble, Ecologist/Biodiversity Officer
WCC Natural Environment and Recreation Team
NaturalEnvironment@winchester.gov.uk

Biodiversity is the variety of life: birds, wild flowers, butterflies, trees, fungi, pond-life…even humans and bacteria are part of biodiversity. Biodiversity is under threat from many human activities locally and globally and the government has pledged to slow-down the loss of natural habitats and the species which live in them.

A BAP identifies particular priorities for conservation - species and habitats which are particularly threatened or declining in the UK. A Biodiversity Action Plan will provide a strategic direction to managing our planned enhancements for our district’s biodiversity, as well as setting out our approach to building partnerships with local and national organisations to allow us to achieve our goals.

Ensuring our biodiversity is protected and developed is a keystone pledge which forms our response to the Climate Emergency. Our Biodiversity Action Plan will allow us to secure a greener district and a positive future for our wildlife.

The Winchester District covers a large and varied area, with wildlife habitats ranging from chalk streams to chalk downs and water meadows to woodlands. A selection of our diverse havens for wildlife include the Rivers Itchen and Meon, the Forest of Bere, a portion of the South Downs National Park and the estuary of the River Hamble.

As we work behind the scenes towards delivering our new Biodiversity Action Plan (2020), the Natural Environment and Recreation team continue to safeguard wildlife and its habitats across our district. Just some examples of the work that we are doing include:

• Establishing the creation of a new Nature Reserve in Winchester at Barton Meadows, in partnership with CALA Homes and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust.
• Undertaking deep-dive surveys of key sites to fully understand the local populations of key species and habitats.
• Securing a dedicated resource based within the City Council, whose primary focus is on ecology and biodiversity.
• Installing new bird boxes and bat tiles in areas of particular biological interest, sometimes in the roofs of our own council homes!
• Creating new wildlife meadows to support Butterfly Conservation land on sites such as Magdalen Hill Cemetery.
• Review the management of sites owned by the City Council to benefit biodiversity at sites including Whiteshute Ridge, West Hill Cemetery, Greenacres in Otterbourne and Hillier's Haven.
• Launching an annual tree planting programme to improve our district's native tree population. Between 2019-2020 alone, we planted 590 trees which included 20 different species including apple, oak, liquid amber, hawthorn, blackthron and sweet chestnut.