News from the Shropshire Biodiversity Partnership 

New Midlands Fritillary Project

Butterfly Conservation started a new project called the ‘Midlands Fritillary Project’ in the West Midlands Region earlier this year thanks to funding from Countdown 2010 and the Tubney Charitable Trust. The project aims to direct effort on practical conservation measures to improve habitat for five fritillary species on 168 individual sites in nine areas of the West Midlands region and the Forest of Dean over the next 3 years. In addition to the focus on the High Brown Fritillary, Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, the work will benefit a further 11 UK BAP Priority Species of butterfly and moth, and two other fritillaries, the Dark Green Fritillary and Silver-washed Fritillary.

For more details click HERE

PTES - Mammals on Roads Survey

The Peoples Trust for Endangered Species is calling on the public to keep their eyes open when they are out and about on Britain's highways. The annual Mammals on Roads survey asks motorists to record sightings of any mammal they spot from their car in order to build up a clearer picture of the state of our wildlife populations.

This survey began in 2001 and is run under the Tracking Mammals Partnership. The most commonly spotted mammals on roads in 2008 were:

If you would like to get involved in the 2009 Mammals on Roads Survey please visit the Peoples Trust for Endangered Species Website

Click here to download the Mammals on Roads Survey pack including identification guide

Fresh Guidance on Managing Aggregate Industry Sites for Biodiversity

There are two new and potentially very useful guidance documents which provide suggestions and best practice for managing aggregate industry sites for biodiversity.

BugLife have produced 'Managing Aggregates Sites for Invertebrates - A Best Practice Guide' which can be downloaded from the Buglife website. This guide aims to provide the aggregates industry with methods for halting the decline of invertebrate species on their sites.

Managing Aggregates Sites for Invertebrates - A Best Practice Guide

Pond Conservation have also issued a 'Pond Creation Toolkit for the Aggregate Extraction Industry' which can be downloaded from the Pond Conservation Website. The toolkit provides advice on when, where, why and how to create ponds for wildlife on aggregates sites.

Pond Creation Toolkit for the Aggregate Extraction Industry

  Hedgerows for Dormice

  Shropshire Hedgerow Survey

On Thursday 25th June 2008 the People's Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) are running a training course on Hedgerows for Dormice and hedgerow survey at Preston Montford Field Study Centre.

The Hedgerows for Dormice campaign aims to improve habitat connectivity for a range of woodland scrub species that depend on hedgerows, including not only the critically endangered hazel dormouse, but also other species such as the hedgehog, harvest mouse, polecat, birds and insects, and which have been identified as priorities under the UK’s Biodiversity Action Plan.

The course will include information on hedgerows, hedgerow conservation and survey and the PTES dormouse project.

For further information please contact hedgerows@ptes.org or visit http://www.ptes.org/hedgerows

Potential funding from the Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network.

The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is an exciting new initiative that is open to anyone with an interest in nature. We aim to create and inspire a new generation of nature-lovers by getting people to explore, study, enjoy and protect their local environment. In 2007 OPAL received a grant of £11.75million from the Big Lottery Fund.

OPAL can provide support, funding and equipment for societies. A major goal of OPAL is to promote and support natural history societies and recording schemes, and ensure that they benefit from the funding, outreach and publicity opportunities that OPAL offers.

The OPAL programme will run until 2012.

For more details on the funding available from OPAL please visit the OPAL website

Painted Lady & Humming-bird Hawk Moth Survey

 In 2008 Butterfly Conservation ran a survey for the migrant Humming-bird Hawk Moth and Painted Lady butterfly.

Despite 2008 being a very poor season for butterflies over 1000 sightings were reported to Butterfly Conservation.

Click here to view the results of the 2008 survey

Butterfly Conservation are continuing the survey in 2009 and have already had sightings of Painted Lady from across Southern England.

If you spot either of these species you can get your records on the map by reporting them on the Butterfly Conservation website

Million Ponds Project - Pond Creation Toolkit

The Pond Creation Toolkit with all the advice you need to dig new, clean water ponds that contribute to the Million Ponds Project targets, is now available to download FREE from the pond conservation website  

Please register new ponds that meet the Million Ponds Project criteria here

The three criteria are that the new ponds need to meet are:

1. A clean water source.

2. To be left to colonise naturally.

3. To be left to thrive without undue disturbance.

Pond Conservation are still fundraising for the £50,000 needed to unlock £500,000 of Landfill Community Funds so that thousands of wildlife rich ponds can be dug across England and Wales.

If you have any enquiries about the Million Ponds Project or the nature conservation of ponds please send email Pond Conservation at info@pondconservation.org.uk

Test Headline

This new framework has been developed by Natural England and Defra to enhance the recovery of priority species and habitats and to contribute to delivery of the England Biodiversity Strategy.

The aims of the framework:

Encourage adoption of an ecosystem approach and better embed climate change adaptation on principles on conservation action

Achieve biodiversity enhancements across whole landscapes and seascapes

Achieve our priority habitat targets through greater collective emphasis on habitat restoration and expansion

Enhance the recovery of priority species by better integrating their needs into habitat based work where possible and through targeted species recovery work where necessary

Support the restoration of designated sites including by enhancing the wider countryside in which they sit

Establish and implement a delivery programme with agreed accountabilities for priority species and habitats in England

Improve the integration of national, regional and local levels of delivery

Improve the links between relevant policy makers and conservation practitioners

Strengthen biodiversity partnerships by clarifying roles at England, regional and local levels

Download the full Securing Biodiversity Framework 

The Shropshire Invertebrate Group 2007 annual report is now available to download from their website.

The report records the Shropshire Invetebrate Group's field visits during the year, outlines their invertebrate species records and also includes records from a number of other species groups.

Download the 2007 Shropshire Invertebrate Group report from the SIG website

The first newsletter for the Shropshire Ecological Data Network has been produced and is available now.

This newsletter provides some background to the development of a 'virtual local record centre' in Shropshire, reports of progress towards getting the Shropshire EDN up and running and also updates from many of the Shropshire County Recorders. 

Click here to download the Shropshire EDN newsletter Number 1November 2008

The Shropshire Ornithological Society and The National Trust have teamed up to provide the following course:

'Introduction to bird watching and conservation'

The course is only £45 for 12 sessions (plus one optional extra), half of which are field based.  The course will be primarily based on the Long Mynd but includes trips to Slimbridge and Rhayader (at extra cost).

For further details please click HERE or the text above.

There is a new Field Studies Council leaflet available which has been specifically produced for The Stiperstones and Long Mynd.

The leaflet covers flora, fauna, geology and history of the area.

This project is supported by the Field Studies Council's Biodiversity Training Project.

Copies are available from FSC website

The Shropshire Wider Partnership Event was held on Saturday 8th November 2008 at Shropshire Wildlife Trust. 38 members of the Shropshire Biodiversity Partnership attended and listened to talks from the Biodiversity Support Officer, Severn Gorge Countryside Trust, Natural England, BASC (British Association of Shooting and Conservation), Pete Boardman as chair of the Shropshire Ecological Data Network and Shropshire Wildlife Trust.

This event is a great opportunity for members of the Shropshire Biodiversity Partnership to get together, share information and build a stronger partnership. Thanks to everyone who gave a presentation and helped to make the event a success.

There are transcripts of some of the presentations available below by clicking on the title of the talk, for more information please contact the Biodiversity Officer.

Land Management, People and Biodiversity within the Severn Gorge - Russel Rowley (Severn Gorge Countryside Trust Manager)

Green Shoots Projects - Ian Danby (BASC - British Association of Shooting and Conservation)

England 50 year Wetland Vision and the Midlands Meres and Mosses Project - Iain Diack (Natural England)

Progress with the Shropshire Ecological Data Network - Pete Boardman (Biodiversity Training Project and chair of the Shropshire EDN)

Shropshire Nest Box Scheme Helps to Begin a Population Recovery after a Long and Significant Decline