Habitats, Species and Issues
Woodland
Ancient semi-natural woodland
Ancient semi-natural woodlands are generally considered to be the most valuable woodlands for biodiversity because they have been in existence since at least 1600 and support a wide range of plants and animals. Characteristic plants of ancient woodlands include bluebells and wood anemones which carpet the woodland floor in spring. In Hampshire one of the traditional management practices has been coppicing which involves cutting selected woody species to ground level and allowing them to re-grow. This practice allows a diverse ground flora to develop and is also beneficial to insects, especially butterflies. A lack of management, including coppicing, can lead to a serious decline in diversity.
Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS)
These plantations have been established, mostly in the last 50 years, on felled ancient semi-natural woodland. Their greatest value to biodiversity lies in their potential restoration to ancient status to increase this rare resource. They may be both broadleaved and/or conifer but even the most heavily shaded conifer woodlands will respond favourably to the removal of non-native species. Restoration to the appropriate local woodland type is most desirable.
Secondary woodland
Secondary woodland is woodland that has naturally developed on cleared ancient woodland sites or other habitats including grasslands and wetlands. It supports fewer species than ancient woodland, due to its lack of age and is therefore of lower biodiversity value. However, given sufficient time and appropriate management its value can be enhanced.
Scrub
Scrub is an early stage of woodland development. It tends to be dominated by shrubs and fast growing trees including hawthorn, blackthorn and birch. Scrub development begins when active land management stops; this can be a major problem on grasslands and wetlands where the specialist biodiversity can be lost. However, if it is managed appropriately scrub can provide additional valuable habitat particularly for birds and insects.
Hedgerows
Hedgerows are linear features composed of woody species. They may raised on a grass bank and often have a drainage ditch running alongside. Ancient hedgerows possess a particularly rich variety of trees, shrubs and ground flora and in some landscapes are one of the few refuges left for wildlife.
Species
Bats
Dormice
Bluebells
Unimproved Grassland
General
Unimproved grasslands are grasslands that have not been agriculturally improved through the addition of fertilisers. They are often botanically very rich supporting a wide range of flowering plants and grasses. They are also important for birds, insects and reptiles. In lowland areas like Fareham grasslands have largely been created by human activity, in particular grazing livestock. Unfortunately changes in agriculture have resulted in a decline in grazing which has allowed scrub to takeover many of the remaining grasslands. Unimproved grasslands are also at risk of being improved and drained which leads to a loss of diversity. They also tend to be valued less than woodland and other habitats making them vulnerable to development. Unimproved grasslands can be divided into several different types which are closely linked to the underlying soil type.
Neutral Grasslands
This group covers a wide range of grasslands, including hay meadows and wet and dry pasture, found on slightly acid to neutral soils. They are particularly threatened in the UK with 97% being lost between 1930 and 1984. This is damaging to farmland biodiversity which formerly relied heavily on neutral grasslands. There are only a handful of neutral grasslands left in Fareham, these include Bushy Land meadow, Whiteley and the Meon Valley
Calcareous grasslands
This type of grassland occurs on the chalk soils of Portsdown Hill and is more commonly known as chalk downland. Botanically it is very rich and it also supports a good range of invertebrates including a number of threatened butterflies such as the small blue. Portchester Common and Anson Grove are good examples of calcareous grasslands.
Heathland
Heathlands are open areas of land dominated by heather and gorse growing on acid soils. Although they support a limited range of plant species they are very important for birds, insects and reptiles. Heathland once covered extensive areas of the borough, including Locks Heath and Titchfield Common, but has now declined to a small area at Peel Common.
Species
Small blue
Slow worm
Coast
General
The coast around Fareham, including the tidal areas of the River Hamble, is of international importance for its habitats and over-wintering birds. It is protected by several international nature conservation designations including Special Protection Area, candidate Special Area of Conservation and Ramsar site. It forms part of the wider Solent European Marine site which stretches from Hurst beach to Chichester Harbour and includes the northern coast of the Isle of Wight. Coastal habitats are vulnerable to a number of threats including coastal defence works, sea level rise, reclamation and recreation pressure. The coastline supports a range of different habitats which are listed below.
Shingle
The majority of Fareham's beaches along the Solent shoreline are shingle beaches. In places where disturbance is low the shingle supports a distinctive group of plants, including the nationally scarce sea kale, which is specially adapted to cope with the harsh conditions.
Maritime cliffs
The cliffs along the Solent foreshore, between Meon Shore and Hook, are soft and crumbly with a tendency to slump. Whilst this can be damaging for vegetation at the top of the cliff it is beneficial to biodiversity at the bottom. These cliffs are important for invertebrates, particularly solitary bees and wasps which burrow into newly exposed cliff faces. The cliffs are particularly threatened by sea defence works which stabilise the bottom and allow scrub to cover the cliff face.
Mudflats
Mudflats are extensive areas of sub-tidal and inter-tidal sediments comprising a mixture of mud and sand found along Fareham's coastline. They support a varied burrowing community of worms and molluscs which provide an essential food source for the internationally important numbers of waders and wildfowl that over winter in the Solent.
Saltmarsh
Saltmarsh is found along the River Hamble and in Portsmouth Harbour. It is a transitional habitat which develops from mudflats and may grade into freshwater marsh, shingle or woodland. Being located close to the high water mark saltmarsh is particularly vulnerable to erosion by rising sea levels.
Species
Brent Goose
Ragworm
Wetlands
General
Wetlands are transitional habitats that grade from permanently wet to mainly dry land. These habitats display features of both wet and dry environments which make them very difficult to clearly define. The only constant feature is the presence of water for a significant period of time. Some examples of wetland habitats are listed below.
Ponds
Ponds are open areas of water, up to 0.5ha in size, that may be either natural or man-made. Environmental conditions vary greatly within different areas of the pond and consequently they support a broad range of biodiversity. In Fareham the majority of ponds are man-made, these include old farm ponds, abandoned clay pits and ornamental ponds. Garden ponds provide an important resource for wildlife, particularly in urban areas, although invasive non-native species for example Crassula helmsii, are a potential threat to biodiversity if they are allowed to escape or are introduced in to the wild.
Grazing Marsh
Grazing marshes are pastures or meadows that are periodically flooded. They have a series of ditches which maintain high water levels and keep the marsh wet. These ditches are often rich in plants and invertebrates. The marsh may also have permanent ponds and seasonal pools and are important for breeding waders including snipe and lapwing. Grazing marshes need to be grazed or cut to be maintained.
Reedbeds
Reedbeds are a wetland habitat which is dominated by stands of common reed and have a water table that is either at or above ground level for the majority of the year. They often include areas of open water and ditches and may also have wet grassland and carr woodland associated with them. Reedbeds are very important for birds; large areas can be found within the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.
Species
Great crested newt
Bittern
Rivers, Streams and a Canal
General
Rivers in their natural state are constantly changing. However, human management, in the form of flood defences and impoundment for reservoirs, prevents the rivers from acting dynamically and forming new channels and wetland habitats. Rivers consist of a range of different structures including rifles, pools, exposed sediments and banks, which enable them to support a wide range of plants and animals. In urban and agricultural areas rivers act as wildlife corridors linking areas of semi-natural habitat. Rivers and streams face a range of pressures including pollution, water abstraction, flood defence work and inappropriate bank management.
Chalk Streams
Chalk streams are so called because they are fed by water from aquifers in chalk rocks. This water is of good chemical quality, high clarity and stable temperatures which give rise to a distinctive range of plants and animals. The River Meon is a chalk stream.
The Titchfield Canal
The Titchfield Canal is one of the oldest canals in the country. It was constructed in the 1600s between Titchfield, which was then a port, and Hill Head. It is fed by water from the River Meon and lacks the slow moving water of later canals. Part of its length lies within the Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve.
Estuaries
Estuaries occur at the point where rivers meet the coast. They consist of a partially enclosed area of water with a soft, tidal shore which receives both saline water from the coast and freshwater from the river. The key elements of an estuary are the intertidal and sub-tidal areas; these are often associated with related habitats such as saltmarsh, mudflats and shingle. Estuaries are particularly important for wintering wildfowl which feed on in invertebrates found within the intertidal mud and sand flats. Within Fareham much of the River Hamble shows estuarine conditions.
Species
Water Vole
Sea Trout
Urban
General
Although urban areas are characterised by groups of buildings linked by hard surfaces they have the potential to support a large number of species. This potential is dependent upon the structure and management of the habitats present. Within urban areas there are a variety of habitats ranging from those that have been specially created such as parks and gardens, through naturally colonised areas, for example derelict industrial land or railway embankments, to remnants of countryside that have been incorporated into the built up areas. An important feature of urban areas is that they provide a mosaic of habitats. This is beneficial to species such as great crested newts which have different requirements for their breeding sites, foraging areas and shelter. The structure of the boundary between the urban area and the countryside, which is extensive in Fareham, is also important because it determines whether wildlife is able to move between the two areas.
Amenity grassland
This form of grassland often has poor structure and diversity. It is generally extremely species poor, often containing just a few non-native grass species and is managed very intensively which prevents flowering. In addition, the cuttings are usually dropped onto the grass which maintains high nutrient levels and favours vigorous species.
Parks and gardens
The variation within this group of green spaces, in terms of the size, structure and management practices used, is vast and as a result a wide range of biodiversity can be supported. There is also great potential to enhance the value of these areas through changes to management and careful choice of species planted.
Naturally colonised areas
Naturally colonised areas, often termed 'brownfield' sites, can be very diverse, displaying different stages of succession from bare ground to woodland. These habitats are particularly important for invertebrates including bees, wasps, beetles and flies and they may also support uncommon lichens.
Species
Human
Urban areas are the places where we spend the greatest proportion of our time and consequently are the places where we are most likely to encounter wildlife. They provide great opportunities for biodiversity education and enhancement projects.
Dingy Skipper
Issues
The following is a list of the key issues affecting biodiversity within the borough. It also highlights links that the plan needs to make in order for wildlife to be protected.
Development
Whilst urban development has long been
identified as having an adverse impact upon biodiversity new
houses and commercial properties are required to maintain a
prosperous community. It is possible however, through careful
identification of sites and design of developments, to not only
reduce harmful impacts but also potentially achieve positive
enhancement. An example of this in Fareham is the Hampshire
Wildlife Trust Nature Reserve at Swanwick, which was created
through the development of the National Air Traffic Control
Centre.
Important links: - the planning process and development companies.
Transport
Heavy reliance on cars has led to a loss of
biodiversity through road building, car parks and pollution.
Increased use of public transport, careful siting and design of
roads and more considered use of the car can help to reduce
adverse impacts.
Important links: - transport engineers and the general public.
Climate change
The precise effects of climate change are
still not known. However, it could potentially have a major
effect on biodiversity within the borough. This is because many
habitats and species are on the edges of their natural ranges and
the speed with which change is occurring is too great for them to
respond.
Important links: - research organisations and strategic planning
bodies.
Sea level rise
Sea levels are rising as a result of
climate change and geological processes. Many coastal habitats
are being lost as they are 'squeezed between the rising high
water mark and hard coastal defences. Future planning and
management of sea defences will be critical to the maintenance of
biodiversity along the coast.
Important links: - coastal engineers and coastal defence plans.
Lack of public awareness
The long-term protection of biodiversity
depends upon people valuing the natural environment and taking
action to conserve it. Easy access to information about
biodiversity, its intrinsic value and the ways in which we depend
upon it would help to develop greater understanding and
appreciation.
Important links: - the general public and biodiversity action
plans.
Lack of inappropriate management
With the major changes to agriculture that
have occurred since the last war many semi-natural habitats are
no longer managed leading to a decline in biodiversity. Similarly
some modern management practices, for example frequent cutting of
highway hedges and verges, have also reduced biodiversity.
Guidance on appropriate management practices and sources of
funding would enable land managers to use more effective
management regimes.
Important links: - public and private land managers.
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