Map of Maps Discussion Report
Thank you to all those who joined us for our map of maps discussion at the end of April. The aim of the discussion was to get neighbours in one room to visually identify what wildlife and habitats they had in their patch of the swale and what they might be willing to do to enhance that environment. Following the discussion, we concluded that the group wanted to focus on four target species. Below is a summary of each species and the times of land management that could encourage their populations as well as links to resources and advice.
Lapwing: Lapwings are found across the UK, but their population decline has largely been put down to the loss of mixed farming and drainage of grassland. To thrive, lapwings need nesting habitat in the form of open grassland with short vegetation, open water and taller patches to protect chicks. These need to remain unchanged annually as lapwings will return to the same place for breeding. Their diet mainly consists of earthworms and leatherjackets found in muddy water edges of wet grassland. The main ways to encourage lapwing are to create or maintain appropriate nesting habitat in areas where they have traditionally been known to breed. In addition, providing food source through beetle banks, arable reversion or wet grassland restoration will ensure species recovery. To find out more visit:
Turtledove: By contrast to lapwing, Turtledove breed in mature hedgerows, tall scrub and woodland edges. Their decline has mainly been attributed to lack of seed food on farmland in the summer, as well as external factors such as problems during migration which are exacerbating population decline. In addition to the habitat mentioned above, turtledove rely on a constant availability of weed and crop seed and bare ground, which is their preferred feeding habitat, as well as a source of freshwater in proximity. To encourage turtledove, it is essential to focus on maintaining a consistent seed supply in that April to August period when they reside in the UK as well encouraging the mosaic of habitat they need, scrub-hedgerow-woodland edge near bare ground and freshwater ponds, on farm. To find out more visit:
Grey Partridge: Grey Partridge are found throughout the UK, except in areas with predominantly improved grassland. Their population decline is as result of loss of food source in the form of insects and seeds as well as loss of winter cover and nesting habitat. Grey partridge nest in mainly nest in hedge bottoms, grass margins and similar habitats. The chicks are insectivores and mainly feed from within crops while adults feed on seeds such as winter stubble. To encourage grey partridge, you must focus on providing safe cover, abundant insect populations in breeding periods and seed source through out the year. In some areas predator control may also be necessary. To find out more, please visit:
Shrill Carder Bees: This species has declined considerably in recent years and is now only found in 7 parts of Southern England and Wales. The principal cause is said to be down to the loss of flower-rick meadows and agricultural intensification. The shrill carder bee usually prefers thick vegetation with a high pollen-nectar source from mid-June onwards, preferring plants with tubular flowers, red clover and late flowering species. An essential land management consideration is to maintain habitat late into September as they are a late emerging species. In addition, traditional meadow management techniques through rotational grazing and cutting will encourage high food source and maintain necessary habitat for new colonies to develop. To read in more detail please see: https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Shrill-carder-bee-leaflet.pdf