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Natural Shropshire
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The main contents of this site are:
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Living with Mammals Survey
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The Tracking Mammals Partnership is a collaborative initiative to link the efforts of the many organisations involved in monitoring British Mammals.
The Living with Mammals Survey aims to involve members of the public in recording the way mammals use the variety of green spaces in our towns and cities. Understanding the way mammals use a variety of habitats in our urban areas could be key to their future conservation.
You can survey any green space which you visit regularly and which is within 200 metres of a building it could be your garden, park or allotment. For more details of how to get involved click on the ‘Tracking Mammals Partnership’ logo or download the Living with Mammals recording form.
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Wyre Forest Reptile Watch
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As part of the 'Grow With Wyre' Landscape Partnership Scheme a team of experts have launched a project to help conserve the elusive reptiles of the Wyre Forest.
The Wyre Forest is a stronghold for some UK reptile species such as Adder and Grass Snake which have declined nationally in the last few years.
For more details of how to get involved with the reptile watch and how to report reptile sightings to the project please click on the Forestry Commission Logo above.
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Biodiversity Training Project
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The Biodiversity Training Project is running a comprehensive program of events and workshops in 2008. A full list of events can be found in the Biodiversity Training Project Newsletter.
After the project's first birthday celebrations on the 24th Feb some courses are now booked up so don't leave it too long!
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Veteran Trees and Development
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 The Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum have produced a guidance leaflet on veteran trees and development. The leaflet gives guidance on identifying veteran trees, best practice for protection of ancient trees during development and a number of useful case studies.
Click on this link to download The Ancient Tree Guides no. 3: Trees and development
Click on the logo to visit the Woodland Trust or Ancient Tree Forum websites.
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2008 Shropshire Rookeries Survey
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(01/02/2008)
We need your help!
The last full survey of Rookeries in Shropshire took place in 1975 and showed 455 sites containing 12,004 individual nests. In March and April 2008 a repeat survey is planned to confirm which rookeries still exist today, which have been lost and the locations of new rookeries in the county.
Anyone can help with the survey by visiting the Lanius website and filling in the simple form. We need to know who you are, where you are and how big the rookery is. We are also looking for volunteers to undertake larger searches and details can be found by following the link to the Lanius website above.
For further details of the Shropshire Rookeries Survey 2008 please contact John Tucker at john.tucker@lanius.org.uk
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Lapwing Recovery Project
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 The Upper Onny Wildlife Group have launched a Lapwing Recovery Project aimed at reversing the decline in breeding Lapwing on Shropshire farmland. This project resulted in a 20 acre field at Lodge Farm being specifically managed for Lapwing in 2007. As a direct consequence of the management work 3 pairs of Lapwing nested successfully at the farm and at least 2 pairs fledged young. A further 33 adult and juvenile Lapwing used the farm as feeding habitat.
A case study document has been produced to provide information to landowners interested in becoming involved in reversing the decline of breeding Lapwing in Shropshire. The Lodge Farm Case Study provides information on funding opportunities for this kind of work as well as outlining the habitat management which was carried out at Lodge Farm.
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Shropshire BAP Delivery Plan
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(07/12/2007)
 The Delivery Plan for the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan has just been published in the 'Documents' section of this web site.
This plan sets out a timetable for tackling some of the broader tasks critical to achieving the objectives of the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan. These over-arching tasks are beyond the scope of individual species or habitat action plans and need to be addressed before the biodiversity process in Shropshire can really be seen to drive positive change.
Using ‘SMART’ targets will allow the progress of this plan to be more effectively monitored.
Click the logo to link directly to this plan.
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New National & County Bird Atlases
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(22/11/2007)
Putting Shropshire Birds on the Map
Nationally, the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) is organising surveys to update the distribution maps and relative abundance maps for all species published in The New Atlas of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland 1988-1991 and The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland (1986).
The Shropshire Ornithological Society (SOS) is participating in the national surveys, but is also taking the opportunity to produce a similar publication for the County at a more detailed level, incorporating a new Breeding Bird Atlas.
Atlas maps provide the baseline for many conservation policies, so this is a very important project. Anyone interested in birds can make a valuable contribution.
For more details and how you can get involved visit the following web site:
www.shropshirebirds.com/Atlas Fieldwork page.htm
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The Horse Chestnut Leaf Miner
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(15/10/07)
This micro-moth, Cameraria ohridella, is spreading like wildfire through the country where it has the potential to cause serious damage to Horse Chestnut. It makes very obvious and distinctive mines in the leaves of Horse Chestnut which we can look out for this month. It seems to have arrived in Shropshire in 2006 according to the Forest Research website, but I don't know of any specific records and it would be nice to get some idea of its presence in the county.
Pictures of its mines are on www.leafmines.co.uk species number 366a (just follow the "mine-keys" link to Horse Chestnut), and details of the moth's spread in Britain are on www.forestresearch.gov.uk/leafminerThis should be an easy species to monitor as there's nothing else we know that mines Horse Chestnut. Please forward any records to Godfrey Blunt on A.G.Blunt@wlv.ac.uk.
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The Harlequin Ladybird is here!
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(10 October 2007)
 Shropshire residents are being encouraged to look out for any unusual looking ladybirds, following recent sightings of the Harlequin Ladybird in the county.
The Harlequin Ladybird, first spotted in this country three years ago, is a large ladybird from East Asia which is used as a biological control for greenfly in Europe.
Although most ladybirds are known as a friend of the gardener, the Harlequin is larger than most British species and not only competes for their food but also eats other ladybirds, butterfly eggs, caterpillars and even soft fruit such as pears and grapes.
This new type of ladybird is about 7mm long and can be entirely black, red or yellow and has a varied number of spots.
Dan Wrench, Shropshire County Council’s Biodiversity Officer, said: “We welcome reports of sightings, particularly with a photo, as this will help us track the progress of this invader. Camera phones are often good enough for a positive identification.”
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Daddy Long-legs Book!
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 Pete Boardman, Biodiversity Training Project Officer at the Field Studies Council at Preston Montford, has recently published his book titled 'A Provisional Account and Atlas of the Craneflies of Shropshire'.
The book is now available from the Preston Montford Field Centre or by post for only £15 (plus £2 p p) with all proceeds going to the Field Studies Council with the fore-thought that this publication will enable other entomologists in Shropshire to publish work of other local groups. The book covers 233 species of craneflies and allied species that have been recorded in the county and shows maps for each species.
The printing was part funded by the Shropshire Biodiversity Partnership. This publication will assist the gathering of information about important species of craneflies including the seven BAP species.
Should you wish to purchase this book please contact Kate Cheshire at the Preston Montford Field Centre, Montford Bridge, Shrewsbury, SY4 1DX (kate.pm@field-studies-council.org) or you can pick up a copy straight from the Field Centre shop.
The perfect gift!!
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Ancient Tree Hunt
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The Ancient Tree Hunt involves thousands of people in finding and mapping all the fat, old trees across the UK and is right at the heart of the Woodland Trust’s ancient tree conservation work. It will create a comprehensive living database of ancient trees and it’s the first step towards cherishing and caring for them.
For more information visit:
www.ancient-tree-hunt.org.uk
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Review of the UK BAP
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 The UK BAP review has just been published. It makes changes to those species and habitats defined as priority species or habitats and it also alters the UK targets for the species and habitats.
New UK BAP priority species found in Shropshire include:
Starling, Common Toad, Eel, Common Lizard, Hedgehog, Polecat, White Admiral, Wall, Buff Ermine, The Cinnabar, Noctule, Lesser Butterfly-orchid, Basil Thyme, and Marsh Stitchwort.
Shropshire species that have been dropped from the UK priority list include:
Common Pipistrelle Bat, Scarce Prickly-sedge, Pink Meadow Cap (our only fungus species), and Varnished Hook-moss
New UK priority habitats found in Shropshire include:
Traditional Orchards; Ponds; Upland Flushes, Fens and Swamps; and Inland Rock Outcrops and Scree Habitats
The full list of habitats and species is available from the link below and the lists in the Shropshire BAP Species and Habitats sections will be updated during 2007.
www.ukbap.org.uk
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Clive Tate memorial fund
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The Shropshire Wildlife Trust have launched a fund aimed at helping achieve Biodiversity Action Plan targets and actions. The Clive Tate Memorial Fund supports applications of up to £500 where a link to the Shropshire Biodiversity Action Plan can be demonstrated. For an application form please use the link below or visit the Documents section of this web site. Further information can be obtained from:
Colin Preston, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, SY2 6AH, Telephone 01743 284280
Download: Application Form
Download: Form for progress report
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Woodland Opportunity Mapping
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Shropshire County Council working with the Shropshire Botanical Society have used a unique technique to categorise various parts of Shropshire by their suitability for tree planting. The resulting map is the biodiversity theme of the Woodland Opportunity Map as requested by the Forestry Commission. More information is available from this web site (link below) and the map can also be downloaded for viewing.
Woodland Opportunities Map
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Plant indicator species
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 Lists of plant species indicative of good quality habitat can be found from the Shropshire Botanical Society web site at www.shropshirebotany.org.uk. Maps of where the highest concentrations of these species are found are available from the Projects section of this web site. The indicator species, or 'axiophytes', have also been separated into the habitats they are most often found in and mapped accordingly. Use this link to view the maps.
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Natural history of the Marches
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A comprehensive account of the natural history of the Welsh Marches is due to be written over the next few years.
The area covered will be from north Herefordshire, through Shropshire and up into Cheshire. It includes the hill country of Herefordshire and Shropshire, the Severn Valley and the meres and mosses of the Shropshire-Cheshire plain. This is a chance to raise the profile of the natural history of our region, to include as much up to date research as possible and to highlight the conservation and biodiversity issues that there are.
The author will be Andrew Allott, Head of Biology at Shrewsbury School, but this it intended to be a colaborative venture and all contributions of data and information are welcomed and will be acknowledged.
Author contact details:
email aja@shrewsbury.org.uk
phone: 01743 360982
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Ladybirds in Shropshire
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 Ian Thompson would be interested in your sightings of Ladybirds in Shropshire. As usual please ensure you include your name, the type of ladybird (or perhaps just a photo), where you saw it (including a grid reference), and what date you saw it. You could also record how many there were. To help you identify which species you have you could visit the UK Ladybird Survey web site at:
www.ladybird-survey.org
Please send your records to Ian Thompson at: iandj.thompson@ukonline.co.uk
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Register of new tree planting and felling
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With tree planting and felling often having considerable impact on biodiversity we thought we should highlight the Forestry Commission's online register of new planting and felling. The register is updated weekly and applications are held for 28 days.
It is now available from:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/hcou-4u4j2q
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This web site has been set up with the assistance of a grant awarded to Shropshire County Council by English Nature through DEFRA's Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF).
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Globe-flower (click for map)
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Purple Moor Grass habitat
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BARS
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Biodiversity Action Reporting System:
Click here to see available reports on action towards the Shropshire BAP.
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