State of Nature report - RSPB

UPLAND
Saving upland wildlife
A
number of projects aim to
tackle the issues threatening
upland species and habitats;
however, many of these projects are
small in comparison to the vast area
of our uplands.
Several collaborative projects are
focusing on blanket bog, which has
been lost to forestry in many places.
Much of what remains is in poor
condition, as a result of drainage,
overgrazing, intensive burning and,
in places such as the Peak District,
historic atmospheric pollution. To
tackle this, teams are blocking drains,
removing trees, and restoring plants
to areas of bare peat. Pioneering work
is also underway to try to re-establish
Sphagnum moss in areas where it has
been missing for years 10 . We hope to
see the return of golden plovers, dunlins
and other upland wildlife to restored
blanket bogs across the country.
In 2008, a project was launched in
England to help combat the decline
in twites. These small finches breed
on open heather moors and upland
pastures where they nest, before
moving to coastal areas in winter.
A lack of seed food across their range
is a major factor in twite declines 11 .
That’s why the project team is working
closely with farmers and landowners
to help them secure grants to restore
species-rich hay meadows, a vital,
food-filled habitat for twites.
Birds aren’t the only animals to benefit
from targeted projects. The Two
Moors Threatened Butterfly Project,
a partnership between Butterfly
Conservation and governmental
organisations, aims to help marsh,
high brown and heath fritillaries.
The project encourages farmers to
enter into agri-environment schemes
on Dartmoor and Exmoor, and provides
advice so that habitats can be restored
and managed to meet the butterflies’
needs. Between 2005 and 2011, the
team provided advice on managing
nearly 1,800 hectares of butterfly
habitat. In one key site, the marsh
fritillary population increased by over
1,000% and the number of occupied
habitat patches tripled in five years 12 ,
clear evidence that targeted projects
can have a huge positive impact.
Richard Revels
Case study
Upland grazing – striking the right balance
Many upland land managers are concerned by the spread of bracken, but several
rare species rely on moorland edge habitats dominated by it. For instance, the
pearl-bordered fritillary and high brown fritillary, two rapidly declining butterflies,
both rely on bracken to survive. Their larvae feed on violets, which appear in abundance
where bracken is found, and shelter in the warm microclimate created by bracken litter.
When grazing, particularly by heavy-footed animals such as cattle and ponies, is stopped,
bracken litter starts to build up, preventing violets from growing. Unless traditional low
intensity grazing continues, the future of these two butterfly species is in doubt.
High brown fritillary
Highland cows in moorland
Jeroen Stel
32 STATE OF NATURE 2013