Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans

Biodiversity Action Plan for the 

National Cycle Network 

1st Edition 

December 2007

Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, working on practical projects so 

people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. 

www.sustrans.org.uk 

Sustrans 

National Cycle Network Centre 

2 Cathedral Square 

Bristol 

BS1 5DD 

Tel: 0117 926 8893 

Registered Charity No. 326550 

© Sustrans December 2007 

Cover photo: Kennet and Avon Canal, National Cycle Network Route 4. Nick Turner/Sustrans 

Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network (December 2007) 

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CONTENTS 

Executive Summary 6 

1. Introduction to biodiversity in the UK 7 

1.1 Description of biodiversity 7 

1.2 The Earth Summit 7 

1.3 The UK BAP Process 7 

1.4 Local BAPs 7 

2. Introduction to Sustrans 8 

2.1 About Sustrans 8 

2.2 Sustrans’ projects 8 

2.3 Flagship project 9 

3. Biodiversity commitment 12 

3.1 Sustrans’ aims 12 

3.2 Definition of sustainable development 12 

3.3 ‘Think globally, act locally’ 12 

3.4 Commitment to act locally 12 

3.5 The National Cycle Network 12 

4. Key activities and their impact on biodiversity 12 

5. Sustrans’ partnerships 14 

5.1 Sustrans’ partnerships 14 

5.2 The National Cycle Network as an example of partnership 14 

6. Objective of Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle 

Network 16 

6.1 Objective 16 

6.2 Meeting this objective 16 


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7. Links with Local Biodiversity Action Plans 17 

7.1 Local BAPs in the UK 17 

7.2 Generic action plans 17 

7.3 Other species 17 

7.4 New species and habitat action plans and monitoring 17 

7.5 Local BAP co-ordinators 17 

7.6 Influencing the NCN 17 

8. Monitoring, reviewing and reporting 18 

8.1 Reviewing the BAP 18 

8.2 Actions 18 

8.3 The first review 18 

8.4 Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) 18 

8.5 About BARS 18 

9. Habitat Action Plans 19 

9.1 Hedgerows 19 

9.2 Lowland Calcareous Grasslands 20 

9.3 Banks and verges 21 

10. Species Action Plans 24 

10.1 Birds 24 

10.2 Bats Chiroptera 25 

10.3 Badger Meles meles 27 

10.4 Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius 28 

10.5 Slow worm Anguis fragilis 30 

10.6 Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 31 

10.7 Invertebrates 32 

11. Survey objectives, methods and standards 34 

11.1 Ecological surveys 34 

11.2 Survey protocols 34 

11.3 Survey times 34 

11.4 Other species and habitats 34 

11.5 Surveying timetable 34 


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12. Mitigation and enhancement measures for wildlife 35 

12.1 Bridge and viaduct maintenance 35 

12.2 Bat bricks 35 

12.3 Bat and bird boxes 35 

12.4 Log and vegetation piles 36 

12.5 Lighting 36 

12.6 Tree maintenance 36 

12.7 Path surfaces 37 

12.8 Stone walls 37 

13. Controlling native and non-native invasive species 38 

13.1 Native species 38 

13.1.1 Bramble Rubus fruticosus 38 

13.1.2 Common ragwort Senecio jacobaea 38 

13.2 Non-native species 38 

13.3 Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica 39 

13.4 Himalayan balsam Impatiens balsamifera 40 

13.5 Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum 41 

14. Education and understanding 43 

14.1 The Sustrans website 43 

14.2 Interpretation and leaflets 43 

14.3 Staff training days 43 

14.4 Information sheets 43 

15. References 44 

16. Glossary 45 

17. Useful contacts and websites 46 

Appendix 1 – Sustrans’ Ways for Wildlife Information Sheet 49 

(published November 2000) 

Appendix 2 – Phase 1 and 2 habitat survey methodology 53 


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Executive Summary 

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety and richness of life on earth. It was a term 

first used at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 where over 150 countries pledged to protect and 

enhance biological diversity. 

The UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee is steering the UK Biodiversity 

Partnership, which to date has produced six volumes of national Species Action Plans 

(SAPs) and Habitat Action Plans (HAPs). The plans set out very clear objectives and targets. 

For this process to work effectively it has to be implemented at different levels. Therefore 

Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs) have been developed, and more recently 

organisations are producing their own BAPs. 

Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network, or Sustrans’ NCN BAP, is 

Sustrans’ commitment to biodiversity along its ever-growing network of cycling and walking 

routes. The Network comprises linear features that act as wildlife corridors linking habitats 

and species which would otherwise be isolated from each other. 

Sustrans would like to acknowledge the work of drafting this document by Michael Woods 

Associates. It is a working document that has been reviewed by Dr Ant Maddock of the 

Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the Biodiversity Reporting and 

Information Group (BRIG) which advises the UK Biodiversity Partnership and will be 

reviewed and updated every five years. 

The Sustrans NCN BAP highlights the organisation’s commitment to promoting sustainable 

forms of transportation while also protecting and enhancing wildlife and the natural 

environment. 

The Sustrans NCN BAP includes Habitat Action Plans for hedgerows, lowland calcareous 

grasslands and banks and verges and Species Action Plans for bats, badger, dormouse, 

slow worm and great crested newt. There are also generic action plans for birds and 

invertebrates. 

The Sustrans NCN BAP includes information on the recommended survey techniques and 

the recommended methods for treating invasive species. 


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1. Introduction to biodiversity in the UK 

1.1 Biodiversity is a term used to describe the variety and richness of all living things. The 

term encompasses all life forms, and includes both the genetic variation within 

species, the interactions between species and the relationships between species and 

their habitats. Biodiversity is the shortened form of two words "biological" and 

"diversity." The Convention on Biological Diversity defines biological diversity as “the 

variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, 

marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are 

part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems”. 

1.2 The United Kingdom was one of over 100 countries that pledged to develop a 

national strategy for the conservation and sustainable use of Biological Diversity at 

the UN Conference on Environment and Development at the Earth Summit in Rio de 

Janeiro in 1992. The UK Government was also one of the first signatories to the 

Convention to produce a biodiversity strategy and action plan in January 1994 – 

‘Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan’ (HMSO 1994). 

1.3 The Government has taken a lead in setting the approach for biodiversity 

conservation, but in order to succeed, action needs to be taken at all levels and in all 

sectors of the community. The UK Biodiversity BAP process is being steered by the 

UK Biodiversity Partnership Standing Committee, which replaced the UK Biodiversity 

Group (UKBG) in 2002. The Chairs of the four country Biodiversity Groups, 

representatives of the four country nature conservation agencies and representatives 

of the NGO community are standing members. Two support groups have been set up 

to help the Standing Committee. These are the UK Biodiversity Reporting and 

Information Group (BRIG) and the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group (BRAG). 

1.4 There are over 150 Local BAPs in use throughout the UK, each with targeted actions. 

Each LBAP is based on partnerships that identify local priorities and determine the 

contribution they can make to the delivery of the national species and habitat action 

plan targets. Often, but not always, LBAPs conform to county boundaries. A healthy 

natural environment benefits everyone, and biodiversity conservation has an 

important part to play in this. 


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2. Introduction to Sustrans 

2.1 About Sustrans 

2.1.1 Sustrans is the UK's leading sustainable transport charity. Our vision is a world in 

which people choose to travel in ways that benefit their health and the environment. 

We are the charity behind the National Cycle Network, Safe Routes to Schools, Bike 

It, Liveable Neighbourhoods, TravelSmart and many other projects that are working 

everyday on practical and innovative solutions to transport challenges. 

2.1.2 Sustrans was started in 1977 by a group of Bristol environmentalists, who set up a 

cycling group called Cyclebag. Within two years the group began a programme of 

building cycle routes, which has continued unabated for nearly 30 years. 

2.1.3 After 15 years’ experience of building paths, Sustrans began to capture the public 

imagination and launched a Supporter Programme. Supporter numbers rose from 

200 in 1993 to 40,000 in 2005. By 1995 Sustrans was in a position to make a realistic 

bid to the Millennium Commission for Lottery funds to help construct the National 

Cycle Network. The original bid was for a 6,500-mile network by 2005 with 2,500 

miles of routes built by the year 2000. The enthusiasm for the project shown by local 

authorities all over the country has since increased this total to 12,000 miles. 

2.1.4 The bid was successful and Sustrans was awarded £43.5 million. Although this is a 

huge amount, it only represented 20% of the total costs of the first phase of the 

project. The remainder came from a variety of sources including local authorities, 

development agencies, the European Union, the Highways Agency, the cycle trade 

and industry, and from generous contributions from Sustrans Supporters. 

2.2 Sustrans’ projects 

2.2.1 Sustrans works on a range of practical and innovative projects that allow people to 

choose to travel in healthy and environmentally friendly ways, as well as contributing 

towards wider regional and national government policies and objectives. These 

projects are summarised on page 9. 


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Project 

National Cycle Network 

Safe Routes to Schools 

Liveable 

Neighbourhoods 

TravelSmart 

Bike It 

Art and the Travelling 

Landscape 

Volunteer Rangers 

Active Travel 

Research and 

Monitoring 

General Description 

A comprehensive network of safe and attractive places to cycle 

and walk throughout the UK. Sustrans delivers the Network with 

many partners and 12,000 miles of route are now open. Sustrans 

has a range of services to help people to get the most from the 

Network. We provide a free public information service, produce 

high quality maps and guides, commission public artworks on 

the routes and run a national volunteer programme, with nearly 

2000 volunteer rangers looking after and helping to promote their 

local routes. In 2002, we were awarded the Queen’s Award for 

Enterprise in recognition of our work on the National Cycle 

Network. In 2005 the project won the National Lottery ‘Helping 

Hands Award’, decided by public vote for the lottery project with 

greatest national impact. 

Sustrans pioneered this initiative in the UK, working with schools 

to make cycling and walking to school both safe and fun. 

Sustrans has also built hundreds of Links to Schools from the 

National Cycle Network, giving children traffic-free routes and 

parents peace of mind. 

Updating city living for the 21 st century by putting people at the 

heart of their community. Places where children can play safely, 

people can shop locally, with plenty of open and public spaces 

accessible to all. 

Pioneered by Sustrans in the UK, offering a unique service that 

gives households the tailor-made information they need to walk, 

cycle and use public transport more. 

We know that millions of children want to cycle to school in this 

country - yet only 1% do. Sustrans has stepped in to sort this out 

with Bike It, a ground-breaking project which has already 

quadrupled the number of children cycling to its target schools. 

Sustrans believes getting children to start cycling now is the key 

to the future of sustainable transport. 

Creating more memorable journeys on the National Cycle 

Network by commissioning quality public artworks, from 

sculptures through seats and drinking fountains, creating public 

spaces that can be appreciated by all. 

Nearly 2000 volunteers across the UK working with their 

communities on major Sustrans projects. 

Persuading government to promote walking and cycling as a way 

of combating obesity, heart disease and cancer. 

National monitoring programme which collects data from around 

the UK and uses this to produce an annual report on cycle usage 

around the UK. This has been a powerful tool in showing that 

cycling has been growing over recent years, particularly on carfree 

routes. The data is produced mostly from automatic 

counters managed by local authorities and is supplemented with 

manual counts. 

2.3 Flagship project 

2.3.1 Sustrans is working to establish and promote a National Cycle Network in the United 

Kingdom. The Network so far consists of some 12,000 miles of cycle routes passing 

through the centres of most major towns and cities in the UK and within one mile of 

over 50% of the UK’s population. It serves the urban areas, provides access to the 


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countryside for local journeys, and creates a regional network connecting settlements 

along its way. Approximately one-third is traffic free and the rest on traffic-calmed 

minor town and country roads. Traffic-free sections provide a suitable place for 

children and new cyclists to practice their skills. Many routes are also used by 

walkers, wheelchair users and, in some cases, horse riders. The project reaches all 

parts of the UK, benefits all sectors of society and has both a local and national 

significance. 

2.3.2 The concept of cycling and walking as a method of sustainable transport was 

accorded national recognition in 1995 when the National Cycle Network became the 

first major, and truly national, project to gain the support of the Millennium 

Commission. Working in conjunction with Local Authorities and others to implement 

the practical work, Sustrans oversees the co-ordination, design and standards of the 

overall project. 

2.3.3 The majority of the Network uses pre-existing paths or linear features of one sort or 

another, with very few completely new routes being created. A very small proportion, 

less than 15% of the entire Network, will require new construction. Many paths use 

disused railway lines and include restoration of some of their unimproved grassland 

embankments and cuttings. Over a typical length of disused railway, a 2.5 metre wide 

path will utilise under 10% of the area. This minimises the environmental impact of 

the Network, particularly from the construction process, and the disturbance to local 

wildlife that is often already accustomed to human activity. 

2.3.4 The National Cycle Network, and in particular the traffic-free sections, comprises 

linear features that act as wildlife corridors linking habitats and species which would 

otherwise be isolated from each other. Further investigation into the use of the cycle 

and walking routes by wildlife would be valuable and Sustrans is involved in a number 

of research projects including the use of bridges along cycle routes by foraging bats. 

The Network also forms a valuable resource for nature education, and Sustrans aims 

to increase cyclists’ and walkers’ enjoyment of nature along the Network by 

enhancing habitat for wildlife, and through interpretation where possible. For sensitive 

sites, management plans are being produced to protect and enhance the route for 

wildlife as well as for users. These include short-term maintenance e.g. cutting 

regimes and timing, and longer-term management e.g. embankments and cuttings, 

bramble, hedgerows, etc. which incorporate maximising wildlife interest. The 

Sustrans NCN BAP is just one of a number of initiatives that Sustrans is developing to 

maximise the wildlife potential along its routes. Sustrans produces a series of 

information sheets, one of which, ‘Ways for Wildlife – wildlife, cycle paths and traffic’, 

is specifically targeted at the value of traffic-free cycle routes to wildlife. A copy of 

this leaflet can be found in Appendix 1. 


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2.3.5 Map of National Cycle Network 


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3. Biodiversity commitment 

3.1 Sustrans aims to encourage people to choose to travel in ways that benefit their 

health and the environment. The Network is a positive demonstration of the UK’s 

commitment to sustainability. 

3.2 A widely used and accepted international definition of sustainable development is: 

“development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability 

of future generations to meet their own needs” 1 . Sustrans considers that a policy of 

continuous reduction in vehicular travel is central to this goal and should be an 

objective of all environmental groups and organisations. This, in turn, helps the 

Government fulfil its commitments under the Rio Convention and really does enable 

people to ‘Think globally, act locally’. 

3.3 Reflecting this commitment to act locally, Sustrans seeks to minimise the impacts on 

wildlife and its habitats during expansion of the National Cycle Network. Sustrans 

recognises the importance of its traffic-free paths as wildlife habitats and corridors to 

help reduce isolation and fragmentation. They also offer potential for educating the 

public about local wildlife and geology. In constructing and managing paths and 

routes for which it is responsible, Sustrans will aspire to do this with high biodiversity 

and geological gain as an objective, using the framework provided by the Biodiversity 

Action Plan. 

3.4 In June 2007 a new list of UK priorities was identified, covering 65 habitats and 1149 

species. By early 2008 all of these priority habitats and species will have national 

action plans. The LBAPs identify local priorities and determine the contribution they 

will make to the delivery of the national targets contained in the UK BAP. As the 

Sustrans Network covers the whole of the UK, it will need to consider a total of 162 

Local Biodiversity Action Plans. Therefore partnerships will play a vital part in the 

successful implementation of the Sustrans BAP. 

3.5 The National Cycle Network can be found throughout the UK. As the Network 

consists of a series of linear features, the actions set out in the habitat and species 

action plans reflect this. 

4. Key activities and their impact on biodiversity 

Activity 

Encourage shift from private car use to 

cycling 

15% of routes of National Cycle Network will 

require new-build tracks while other linear 

features with no current public use (but often 

with wildlife value) will require conversion 

Impact 

Reduce negative environmental impacts of 

road traffic (air pollution, health and safety, 

threats to wildlife) 

Disturbance to local wildlife and limited 

direct loss of habitat (addressed below) 

1 World Commission on Environment and Development’s (the Brundtland Commission) report Our Common Future (Oxford: Oxford 

University Press, 1987) 


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On-going key action plan items and how these make a positive contribution 

Proposed Action 

Continue liaison with conservation 

organisations (Natural England, Countryside 

Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage & 

Environment Heritage Service Northern Ireland) 

and expertise, i.e. retain ecological consultant 

to provide advice 

Action to minimise impact of building new 

cycle routes: 

Contribution to biodiversity 

Increase awareness and knowledge of 

biodiversity and raise environmental 

standards 

 

Ecological surveys of areas of proposed 

paths (e.g. those running through/close to 

SSSIs etc.) 

Reduce threats and impacts to habitats and 

species 

 

Sensitive siting of new routes 

Contracts to include environmental 

responsibilities (general as well as 

mitigation of construction impacts) 

Improve environmental performance of 

contractors 

 

Assess the use of recycled or local 

materials as far as appropriate in 

construction 

Reduce impacts on biodiversity from 

extraction & supply of natural resources 

Use of tarmac as a path surface Provides a long lasting smooth surface and 

reduces detrimental impacts of repeated 

repairs which can affect adjacent habitats 

and increase extraction 

 

Appropriate screening of cycle routes at 

sensitive points taking into account the 

need for attractive and interesting views 

Work to enhance/protect biodiversity along 

National Cycle Network routes: 

 

Produce management plans for specific 

routes (those passing through sensitive 

areas (e.g. SSSIs) or those used by priority 

species) 

Conserve and enhance biodiversity 

Sensitive maintenance of routes e.g. 

wildlife friendly mowing regimes, 

enhancement of on-site ditches for wildlife, 

maintaining arboreal routes and enhancing 

hedgerows, etc. 

 

 

 

Support Rangers’ maintenance work on 

routes (e.g. training by retained ecological 

expert, articles on enhancing routes for 

wildlife in the Ranger newsletter, etc.); work 

with local wildlife trusts and other groups 

Control invasive alien species such as 

Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed and 

Himalayan balsam 

Provide, where possible, wildlife and/or 

geological interpretation of interesting 

features 

Promote biodiversity awareness and 

knowledge to improve management of routes 

Promote biodiversity awareness and 

appreciation of nature by users of paths 


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5. Sustrans’ partnerships 

5.1.1 Sustrans currently has active relationships with over 2,000 partners in the UK alone. 

In nearly all its work, Sustrans tries to maximise the effectiveness of its activities by 

not only creating new routes and projects itself, but by getting other bodies to jointly 

or independently fund similar schemes. Sustrans sees the successful implementation 

of the Sustrans NCN BAP as an ideal opportunity to expand opportunities for 

partnership working. 

5.1.2 Sustrans has direct management control over the (approx.) 400 miles of traffic-free 

paths that it owns. Sustrans is also responsible for maintaining additional traffic-free 

sections owned by other authorities. In the first instance, The Sustrans NCN BAP will 

be implemented on sections of Network which Sustrans owns. However, it is 

Sustrans’ aspiration that biodiversity will be maximised on all sections of traffic-free 

route. 

5.2 The National Cycle Network as an example of partnership 

5.2.1 The National Cycle Network is a partnership par excellence - hundreds of different 

bodies are involved. Most important among these are local authorities in their 

commitments to local route sections, the Department for Transport, the Scottish 

Government, the Welsh Assembly Government, the Department for Regional 

Development for Northern Ireland and the Highways Agency. 

5.2.2 Disused railway routes and links to working stations have been developed in 

partnership with Network Rail, BRB Residency Ltd, Regional Development Agencies, 

the Welsh Development Agency, the Railway Heritage Trust and several rail operating 

companies. 

5.2.3 Forest route sections rely on the support of Forest Enterprise and the Forest Service 

in Northern Ireland. Countryside sections involve Natural England, Countryside 

Council for Wales, Scottish Natural Heritage, Woodland Trust and Central Scotland 

Countryside Trust, amongst others. National Parks (a Memorandum of Understanding 

between Sustrans and the National Parks Transport Officers Group was signed in the 

summer of 2005), tourist bodies and wildlife and heritage organisations are also 

critical for progress. Sustrans has worked closely with the Lee Valley Park, 

Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks, Northumberland National Park, and 

the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. Besides supporting local Network sections, the 

National Trust, Cadw and English Heritage are also encouraging sustainable travel to 

heritage sites. 

5.2.4 British Waterways has developed positive policies on towpath cycling for links that 

are critical for Network continuity. The Environment Agency and several local canal 

trusts are also involved. Sustrans has a close partnership with the Groundwork Trust 

who has built several sections of the National Cycle Network. 

5.2.5 The CTC (Cyclists Touring Club) and the British Cycling Federation have become 

closer working partners, and the London Cycling Campaign and dozens of other local 

cycling campaigns are involved. Sustrans is working more closely with the Ramblers’ 


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Association, the British Horse Society, the National Federation of Anglers, the 

Pedestrians Association and the Joint Mobility Unit. 

5.2.6 Sustrans will expand this partnership by linking into LBAPs where possible to ensure 

that as well as meeting its own targets, local targets are incorporated and the LBAP 

co-ordinator is aware that this is happening. 


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6. Objective of Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle 

Network 

6.1 Sustrans is an organisation committed to the promotion of sustainable transport, but 

also realises that there is a delicate balance between the creation of safe routes and 

the conservation of biodiversity. Sustrans’ NCN BAP has one objective: 

“To provide a series of safe and enjoyable routes that promote sustainable forms of 

transportation, while ensuring that the biodiversity along the Network is enhanced and 

protected, within the constraints of safety and resources”. 

6.2 Sustrans will meet this objective by: 

Developing partnerships 

Educating staff 

Providing information for users 

Ensuring biodiversity aims are included in management plans for land managed 

by Sustrans 

Seeking additional funding to meet these additional objectives. 


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7. Links with Local Biodiversity Action Plans 

7.1 Sustrans will, where possible, develop partnerships to implement local BAP targets, 

as well as those set out in this document. 

7.2 It is not practical for Sustrans’ NCN BAP to cover every possible species and habitat 

found along the Network. To ensure that the targets are achievable and, therefore, 

that the BAP can be implemented it has been decided to produce generic action 

plans for birds and invertebrates, rather than list actions for individual species. The 

BAP also concentrates on those species and habitats most commonly found along its 

length, some of which are not a UK priority. 

7.3 This does not mean that other species and habitats found along the Network will be 

ignored, it simply means that the species and habitats listed will be promoted and 

monitored through Sustrans’ on-going programme of works. 

7.4 New species and habitat action plans can be added at the five-year review and will 

be influenced by changes to the UK BAP as well as new records and information 

about biodiversity along the Network. 

7.5 When operating on a project, Sustrans will contact the Local Biodiversity Action Plan 

co-ordinator for advice and ideas on how the planned works can assist in the 

implementation of that particular LBAP. Nature conservation issues will be 

incorporated from the earliest stages of project development as part of the decisionmaking 

process. 

7.6 Sustrans does not manage all the paths that it develops, so the Sustrans NCN BAP 

will be used to advise the decision-making process and influence the future 

management of paths that make up the NCN. 


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8. Monitoring, reviewing and reporting 

8.1 The Sustrans NCN BAP is a working document. It will be reviewed every five years. At 

this review stage new Habitat and Species Action Plans can be considered for 

inclusion. This will be subject to changes at a UK level, as well as information from 

internal sources (e.g. management plans, ecological surveys). 

8.2 Actions will also be monitored for progress. If actions have been completed, these 

can then be removed or updated. HAPs and SAPs can also be removed at this stage, 

should this be necessary. 

8.3 The first review is scheduled to take place in 2012. 

8.4 Once the actions have been reviewed, their progress will be reported on the 

Biodiversity Action Reporting System (BARS) and survey data sent to the National 

Biodiversity Network (NBN). 

8.5 BARS is an information system that supports the planning, monitoring and reporting 

requirements of national, local and company Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs). It also 

allows users to learn about the progress being made with local and national BAPs. 

Using this system allows the progress of Sustrans’ NCN BAP to be monitored quickly 

and efficiently, without the need of developing a new system (http://www.ukbapreporting.org.uk/default.asp). 


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9. Habitat Action Plans 

9.1 Hedgerows 

9.1.1 Description 

A hedgerow is defined as any boundary line of trees or shrubs over 20m long and less 

than 5m wide at the base, provided that at one time the trees or shrubs were more or 

less continuous. It includes an earth bank or wall only where such a feature occurs in 

association with a line of trees or shrubs. This includes ‘classic’ shrubby hedgerows, 

lines of trees, shrubby hedgerows with trees and very gappy hedgerows (where each 

shrubby section may be less than 20m long, but the gaps are less than 20m). 

Priority hedgerows should be those comprising 80% or more cover of any native 

tree/shrub species. This does not include archaeophytes and sycamore. For the 

purposes of the UK BAP ‘native’ will not be defined further; it will be left up to the 

Countries to provide guidance on this as they consider appropriate. 

Hedges are not just important for biodiversity, but are also recognisable landscape 

features, act as boundaries in farming and are important for cultural, historical and 

archaeological reasons. 

They are a primary habitat for at least 47 extant species of conservation concern in 

the UK, including 13 globally threatened or rapidly declining ones. They are especially 

important for butterflies and moths, farmland birds, bats and dormice. Over 600 plant 

species, 1500 insects, 65 birds and 20 mammals have been recorded at some time 

living or feeding in hedgerows. 

Hedgerows also act as wildlife corridors for many species, including bats, reptiles 

and amphibians, allowing dispersal and movement between other habitats. 

9.1.2 Optimum survey time 

According to Defra’s ‘Hedgerow Survey Handbook’ (published March 2007), “the field 

survey period extends approximately from April to October, depending on the part of 

the country. June and July are ideal months, particularly where surveys include 

assessments of the ground flora. Local hedgerow management practices are also 

important.” 

9.1.3 Current status 

Hedgerows are a UK BAP Priority Habitat. The current total length of hedgerow in the 

UK is estimated at 280,000 miles. Hedgerows continue to decline through lack of 

survey work or unsympathetic management of the adjacent land and of the 

hedgerows themselves. 

9.1.4 Legislation 

Certain hedgerows are protected under the Hedgerow Regulations 1997, which were 

made under the Environment Act 1995 in England and Wales. These Regulations 

prevent the removal of most countryside hedgerows without first submitting a 

hedgerow removal notice to the Local Planning Authority. In Scotland and Northern 

Ireland there is no specific legislation for the protection of hedgerows, as there are 


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fewer found in Scotland and Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the United 

Kingdom. 

9.1.5 Current factors affecting the habitat 

Removal of hedges for development or agricultural purposes. 

Inappropriate cutting, either at the wrong time of year or too frequently. 

Changes in hedgerow management. Hedges are no longer cut or laid, and many 

are simply replaced by fencing. 

Too frequent and badly timed cutting leading to poor habitat conditions, the 

development of gaps and probable species changes. 

Use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers right up to the bases of hedgerows 

leading to nutrient enrichment and a decline in species diversity. 

Increased stocking rates, which leads to hedgerow damage. 

9.1.6 Actions 

Ensure that all work adjacent to hedgerows encourages the retention and 

favourable management of ancient and/or species-rich hedgerows. 

Encourage favourable management of ancient and/or species-rich path side 

hedges, especially with regard to cutting practices. 

Consider the development of hedge management skills through training, 

especially for contractors and volunteer Rangers. 

Ensure management plans promote the protection and management of hedges 

and seek to minimise adverse effects on hedges from developing the Network. 

Continue to promote awareness among staff of the need for appropriate 

management to maintain biodiversity. 

9.2 Lowland Calcareous Grasslands 


These develop on shallow lime-rich soils, generally found overlying limestone rocks, 

including chalk. They are mainly found on distinct topographic features such as 

escarpments or dry valley slopes and sometimes on ancient earthworks in 

landscapes influenced by the underlying limestone geology. They may also develop in 

situations where alkaline rock has been exposed, for example in quarries and road 

cuttings, and even on industrial spoil such as flue-ash or railway ballast. 


June and July. 


Calcareous Grassland is a UK BAP Priority Habitat. It is estimated that lowland 

calcareous grasslands have declined by approximately 50% in the last 50 years. 


Agricultural intensification by use of fertilisers, herbicides and other pesticides, reseeding 

or ploughing for arable crops. 

Farm specialisation towards arable cropping has reduced the availability of 

livestock in many lowland areas. The result is the increasing dominance of coarse 


20

grasses such as tor grass Brachypodium pinnatum and false oat grass 

Arrhenatherum elatius and invasion by scrub and woodland, leading to losses of 

calcareous grassland flora and fauna. 

Development activities such as mineral and rock extraction, road building, housing 

and landfill. 

Localised afforestation with hardwoods and softwoods. 

Recreational pressure bringing about floristic changes associated with soil 

compaction at some key sites. 

Invasion by non-native plants, including bird-sown Cotoneaster species, causes 

problems by smothering calcareous grassland communities at some sites. 

Atmospheric pollution and climate change, the influence of which is not fully 

assessed. 


Encourage appropriate public access for observation and enjoyment of lowland 

calcareous grassland. 

Reduce invasion by scrub and trees. 

Use appropriate cutting methods and regimes to benefit the grassland. 

9.3 Banks and verges 


There are many thousands of miles of banks and verges throughout the UK 

associated with roads and railways (both used and disused). These verges can take 

the form of hedges and banks, all of which represent small linear areas of seminatural 

habitat, and collectively are an important natural resource. Banks and verges 

can often support species rich grasslands, mixed scrub, woodlands, and, along 

disused railways, calcareous grasslands. They can provide an important habitat and 

food source for a wide variety of species, from badgers and bats to butterflies and 

orchids. Banks and verges are also very important wildlife corridors, allowing a huge 

variety of species to commute along them, and therefore link up other habitats. 

Habitats likely to be encountered on banks and verges along the Sustrans Network 

are described below. 

 

 

Grasslands 

The biodiversity of the grassland found along a verge will depend on the 

maintenance regime that is employed. Cutting too early in a season can prevent 

many species flowering and setting seed, so removing an important food resource 

for birds and insects. Late cutting is often the preferred method as this 

encourages annual and late perennials to grow, so increasing the biodiversity. In 

many cases it is important to remove the cuttings as otherwise these will increase 

the nutrients in the area, so changing the flora of the area. As a general guide, 

most grasslands should be cut once in September, with the cuttings 

removed/raked into habitat piles. 

Woodlands 

Woodland edges provide excellent habitats for a range of species including bats, 

dormice and a wide variety of birds and butterflies. 


21

Hedgerows (see above action plan) 

A hedgerow that contains a good variety of trees and shrubs can provide food and 

shelter for a huge variety of animals including birds, mammals and insects. 

Hedges are also important as wildlife corridors, allowing species to commute 

between habitats. They need to be maintained in a sympathetic way that will 

improve the biodiversity found within them. 

Scrub 

It is an important component of the landscape and a natural part of other habitats 

such as grassland and woodland. It provides shelter and food a variety of species 

including birds, mammals and invertebrates. Scrub of varying age, species and 

structure supports the widest variety of wildlife. Some species require particular 

shrubs and others a range of habitats in a small patch of scrub. It is important to 

maintain all growth stages, from bare ground through young and old growth to 

decaying wood. 

Scrub needs regular maintenance to ensure that it does not dominate an area, 

and so reduce the overall biodiversity. Bramble is very important but can be a 

particular problem. With regular cutting it can be kept in check (see section 

13.1.1). 


April, May, June and July, depending on the habitat. 


Banks are not currently a UK BAP priority habitat in their own right (though field 

banks maybe included as such in the next review and roadside verges will be 

recognised within relevant grassland priority habitat types). However, many of the 

habitats found along banks and verges are priority habitats. Banks and verges are 

probably one of the most widespread habitats throughout the UK. If managed 

properly they can be a valuable resource with a huge potential for enhancement. 

9.3.4 Status in relation to Sustrans 

Banks and verges will be found in varying forms throughout the National Cycle 

Network, ranging from hedgerows to grasslands and woodland to scrub. 


Although the banks and verges themselves have no protection, some of the habitats 

found along them may be protected. They are a very valuable resource along the 

Sustrans Network and one that Sustrans can enhance through its regular 

maintenance regime. 


Neglect through mismanagement both through over cutting and undercutting. 

Lack of appreciation of the importance as a habitat. 

Invasion by non-native species e.g. Japanese knotweed (see section 13.3). 


Education about the importance of banks and verges as a habitat. 

Encourage appropriate public access for observation and enjoyment of banks and 

verges. 


22

Contribute to the implementation of relevant priority species and habitat action 

plans, through the integration of management requirements and advice, in 

conjunction with relevant LBAP partnerships. 

Control any patches of alien plant species along the Network including Japanese 

knotweed, Himalayan balsam and giant hogweed (see section 13). 

Banks and verges that are of poor quality will be improved. 


23

10. Species Action Plans 

10.1 Birds 


Birds are one of the most common wildlife species that people have regular contact 

with. Many of the once familiar British birds are now in serious decline. 


The birds themselves can be surveyed for at any time. However, the most important 

time of the year to carry out a thorough bird survey would be during the nesting 

season which begins in early March and continues through to late August. As it is the 

nests that are protected, it is essential to identify any possible nesting sites, as this 

may affect the timing of works along routes. 


Many of Britain’s bird species are in decline, including ‘common’ species such as the 

house sparrow and starling, which are both now UK BAP priority species. 


Birds can be encountered along the entire length of Sustrans routes. Species found 

will be dependent on the adjacent habitat and the time of year. 


All British birds, their nests and eggs (with certain exceptions) are protected under 

Section 1 of the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 as amended. This makes it an 

offence to: 

Intentionally kill, injure or take any wild bird. 

Intentionally damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use 

or being built. 

 

 

Intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird. 

Possess or control any live or dead wild bird or any part of, or anything derived 

from a wild bird, or an egg or any part of the same. 

Offences against Schedule 1 species carry special penalties if convicted. Schedule 1 

is, however, divided into two parts – birds included within part I are specially 

protected at all times; and those species listed in part II are protected by the same 

penalties but only within the closed season (1 February – 31 August). 

10.1.6 Current factors affecting this species 

Loss of nesting habitat 

A reduction in available food sources 

Persecution 


Breeding bird surveys to be carried out before the building of a new path. 

Where possible, the use of sympathetic hedgerow management (e.g. hedge 

laying, coppicing, gapping up, replanting and less trimming) will be employed and 

promoted. 


24

Where planting is required in hedges, native seed and berry bearing species will 

be used to benefit the local bird population. 

Where appropriate, information on the local bird life will be included in any 

interpretation. 

10.2 Bats Chiroptera 


There are sixteen species of bat recorded as breeding in the UK. They utilise a wide 

variety of structures, both natural and man-made for roosting, including trees, 

buildings and bridges. All need warm breeding sites in the summer and cool, 

undisturbed hibernation sites in the winter. 


Although bats can be surveyed for throughout the year, the optimum time is from 

April through to early October as this is when they are most active. It is important to 

remember that bats hibernate throughout the winter and they should not be disturbed 

when in their hibernation roosts as this may cause them to use up valuable energy 

reserves. See the table below for more information on when and where different bat 

species may be encountered throughout the year. 


Their current status and known distribution is summarised in the table below. 

Species 

Greater 

horseshoe 

Rhinolophus 

ferrumequinum 

Lesser 

horseshoe 

Rhinolophus 

hipposideros 

Whiskered 

Myotis 

mystacinus 

Brandt’s 

Myotis brandtii 

Natterer’s 

Myotis nattereri 

Bechstein 

Myotis 

bechsteinii 

Daubenton 

Myotis 

daubentonii 

Serotine 

Eptesicus 

serotinus 

Noctule 

Nyctalus noctula 

Summer 

roosts 

Old, 

undisturbed 

buildings 

Old, 

undisturbed 

buildings 

Trees and 

older 

buildings 

Trees and 

older 

buildings 

Trees and 

older 

buildings 

Hibernation 

roosts 

Caves, mines, 

cellars 

Caves, mines 

and cellars 

Caves, tunnels 

and mines 

Caves, tunnels 

and mines 

Caves, mines 

and cellars 

Feeding habitat Distribution Status 

Pasture and seminatural 

woodland 

Deciduous woodland 

Parkland, woodland 

and gardens 

Parkland, woodland 

and gardens 

Tree canopies 

Trees Trees Closed canopy 

woodland 

Bridges 

Older 

buildings 

Buildings 

and trees 

Caves, mines 

and ice 

houses 

Buildings 

Trees 

Over water 

Pasture, parkland 

and along woodland 

edges 

Parkland, pasture, 

woodland and water 

South west 

England and west 

Wales 

South west 

England and 

Wales 

England, Wales 

and South 

Scotland 

North and west 

England 

Throughout 

Britain 

South and west 

England and 

Wales 

Throughout 

England 

Central, south and 

south east 

England 

England, Wales 

and southern 

Scotland 

Endangered 

Endangered 

Local 

Local 

Fairly 

common 

Very rare 

Fairly 

common 

Locally 

abundant 

Uncommon 


25

Leisler’s 

Nyctalus leisleri 

Common 

pipistrelle 

Pipistrellus 

pipistrellus 

Soprano 

pipistrelle 

Pipistrellus 

pygmaeus 

Nathusius 

pipistrelle 

Pipistrellus 

nathusii 

Barbastelle 

Barbastella 

barbastellus 

Brown longeared 

Plecotus 

auritus 

Grey long-eared 

Plecotus 

austriacus 

Trees Trees Open habitat, over 

water or pasture 

New 

buildings 

New 

buildings 

Buildings or 

trees 

Buildings or 

trees 

Woodland, grassland 

and over water 

Habitats over water 

South and east 

England, rare in 

Wales 

Throughout 

Britain 

Throughout 

Britain 

Unknown Unknown Unknown Throughout 

Britain 

Trees Trees Hedgerows and 

woodland 

Houses, 

churches 

and barns 

Old 

buildings 

and barns 

Caves and 

mines 

Caves and 

mines 

Woodland 

Grassland and 

woodland edges 

England and 

Wales 

Throughout 

Britain 

Southern England 

Rare, but 

widespread 

Common 

Common 

Becoming 

more 

common 

Rare 

Common 

Very rare 


Bats could be encountered feeding, roosting and commuting along the entire length 

of the Sustrans Network. It is likely that the Sustrans Network provides important 

commuting routes for bats. Many bat species roost in bridges, tunnels and other 

similar structures. It is therefore important that the appropriate survey work be carried 

out before work occurs on such structures. 


In England, Scotland and Wales, all bat species are fully protected under the Wildlife 

and Countryside Act 1981 as amended, and the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) 

Regulations 1994. All bat species are listed on Appendix III of the Bonn Convention 

and all except the common and soprano pipistrelles are included on Appendix II of 

the Bern Convention. 

10.2.6 Current factors affecting the species 

Loss of suitable breeding and hibernation sites. 

Loss of feeding habitats. 

Reduction in prey availability due to unsympathetic farming practices. 

Increase in predation by cats. 


Carry out surveys along proposed new routes prior to development, with 

particular emphasis on structures which may be used for roosting e.g. bridges and 

tunnels. 

Use bat boxes along routes where applicable. 

Participate in the National Monitoring Schemes (BCT). 

Further research into the importance of feeding under bridges along the Network. 

Research into the use of the Network as commuting corridors for bats. 

Research the use of bridges, tunnels and other structures along the Network by 

roosting bats. 

Information about bats to be included in interpretation where appropriate. 


26

10.3 Badger Meles meles 


The badger is probably Britain’s most well known mammal, with its distinctive black 

and white face markings making it impossible to confuse. Badgers are nocturnal and 

therefore rarely seen during the day. When inactive, badgers usually lie-up in a 

system of underground tunnels and chambers known as a sett. They live in social 

groups and each generally produces just one litter of two or three cubs in February. 

Although rarely seen, badgers leave a wide variety of field signs including the sett, 

which is recognised by having entrances approximately 300mm wide and 200mm 

high, often with piles of soil outside them, ‘snuffle holes’ (holes dug by badgers when 

searching for invertebrates), ‘dung pits’ (small pits in which they deposit their faeces) 

and day nests (nests of bedding material made by badgers for sleeping above 

ground). 


Badgers can be surveyed for throughout the year, with the optimum time being 

February/March when they are very territorially active and before the vegetation regrows, 

which can make surveying difficult. 


The badger has a widespread distribution throughout the UK. Although badger 

populations are considered to be stable, various pressures have led to reductions in 

local populations, and in some cases extinction from areas. Badgers are not a UK 

BAP priority species. 


Badgers may be encountered throughout the Sustrans Network. They particularly like 

disused railway lines because these provide opportunities for badgers to dig setts in 

dry, well-drained conditions. 


Badgers and their setts are protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as 

amended and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 against damage or destruction of a 

sett or disturbance, death or injury to the badgers. The act defines a sett as “any 

structure or place which displays signs indicating current use by a badger”. This 

includes setts which appear unused at the time of the survey. 

Penalties for disturbance include fines of up to £5,000 plus up to six months in 

prison. Disturbance has been taken to include any digging activity or scrub clearance 

within 10 metres, any work, especially digging, within 20 metres using a wheeled 

machine up to the size of a JCB and any work within 30 metres by tracked vehicles or 

very heavy machinery. 

Licences to allow for the disturbance of badgers, and even the destruction of their 

setts in certain circumstances, in relation to development are issued by the 

Government’s statutory nature conservation agency (Natural England, Countryside 

Council for Wales, Environment and Heritage Service Northern Ireland and Scottish 


27

National Heritage). The applicant must be in possession of a certificate for full 

planning permission before a licence application will be considered. 

Licences to prevent serious damage to property and for the felling of trees are issued 

by Natural England, the Welsh Assembly Government, Environment and Heritage 

Service Northern Ireland and the Scottish Government respectively. 

Both types of licence are only available between 1 July and 30 November. After that 

date, the so-called closed season begins, when badgers are breeding, and no 

disturbance is allowed except in genuine emergencies such as badgers digging under 

roads or railways. It is understood that this restriction may be relaxed in some cases 

where a sett is seasonal and badgers can be shown to be absent at the time of the 

development. 


Loss of habitat due to development 

Persecution 

Habitat fragmentation 

Unsympathetic land management 


Badger surveys will be undertaken along all new routes. These will extend 30m 

beyond the proposed route as no disturbance can take place within 30m of a sett 

entrance without the appropriate licenses. 

Wherever possible, existing populations along routes will be monitored. 

Information about badgers to be included in interpretation where appropriate. 

10.4 Dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius 


The dormouse has gingery fur and is the only small mammal with a furry tail. It is a 

strictly nocturnal animal, usually found in deciduous woodland and overgrown 

hedgerows but also in scrub, especially bramble. It has a varied diet, feeding on nuts, 

fruits, pollen, flowers and insects. Due to its secretive nature, sightings are very rare 

and the most common sign that dormice are present is by finding the opened 

remains of hazelnuts which the dormouse gnaws in a characteristic way. This survey 

method only works where hazel is present and other techniques, such as nest tubes, 

should be used in areas where dormice are known to be present but there are no 

records on the land in question. Disused railway lines are especially important for 

dormice, and they turn up on almost every former line in Devon for instance. During 

the winter they hibernate generally between November and May. 

A smooth circular cut with tiny radiating teeth marks 

is the sign of the Dormouse 


28


The optimum survey time coincides with the appearance of hazel nuts during 

September and October. Early September is best, before the leaves fall from the trees 

making searching more difficult. Tube surveys are carried out in the summer generally 

between May and September. 


The dormouse is a UK BAP priority species. It does not occur in Scotland or Northern 

Ireland. In Wales there are an increasing number of known populations and in 

England it has become extinct in up to 7 counties (comprising half its former range) in 

the past 100 years. It is absent from the north, except for small populations in 

Cumbria and Northumberland, and although dormice are still widespread in southern 

counties (Cornwall to Kent), they are patchily distributed. Population densities 

everywhere are less than 10 adults per hectare, even in good habitats. 


The dormouse has limited distribution in relation to the Sustrans Network, but is most 

likely to be encountered where routes are adjacent to hedgerows and woodland. 

They also make good use of disused railway lines where these have become 

overgrown. 


The dormouse is classified as ‘vulnerable, locally endangered’ (The Red Data book for 

British Mammals) because of habitat loss. Consequently it is fully protected under 

Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, as amended, which makes it an 

offence to disturb, injure or kill a dormouse or obstruct or destroy any shelter or place 

used by it for shelter and protection. The dormouse is also a European protected 

species and is included in Schedule 2 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) 

Regulations 1994 and protected under Regulation 39. This implements EC Directive 

92/43/EEC in the UK. It is listed in Appendix 3 of the Bonn Convention and Annex IVa 

of the EC Habitats Directive. Furthermore it is a priority species in the UK Biodiversity 

Action Plan (BAP). No licence is required under this legislation in order to carry out 

minor habitat management, but one is needed if dormouse habitat is destroyed for 

the purposes of development. 

10.4.6 Current factors affecting this species 

Changes in woodland management practice, notably cessation of hazel coppicing 

and stock incursions into woodland. 

Fragmentation of woodland and hedgerows, leaving isolated, non-viable 

populations. (Short distances, possibly as little as 100m, form absolute barriers to 

dispersal, unless arboreal routes are available). 


Dormouse surveys will be carried out along new routes in areas deemed suitable. 

Any populations found along routes will be monitored and any habitat 

improvements felt beneficial will be carried out. 

Sympathetic management of hedgerows and wherever possible arboreal 

connectivity will be maintained along disused railway lines. 

New planting should comprise fruit and berry bearing species listed in the 

Dormouse Conservation Handbook. 


29

Where appropriate, information on the dormouse is to be included in 

interpretation. 

10.5 Slow worm Anguis fragilis 


The slow worm is one of only three species of lizard found in the UK. It is unusual in 

that it is legless, and is therefore often mistaken for a snake. Slow worms can be 

distinguished from the British snakes by their smooth, cylindrical bodies which are 

covered in very small scales. They can vary in colour from copper through to bronze 

or dark brown, while juveniles tend to be gold. 

Slow worms like well-vegetated areas, with good cover from predation, open areas 

for basking and suitable places to hibernate such as stone walls and log piles. Like 

many lizards, slow worms shed their tails when stressed, therefore if handling is 

necessary, it should be done with the greatest care. 


The optimum survey time is late March through to late September as slow worms 

hibernate during the winter months. 

10.5.3 Current Status 

A UK BAP species. Although found through out the UK, slow worms seem to have 

undergone a decline in recent years. 


For a long time, railway lines have been well known for their slow worm populations 

because they provide many of its favoured habitats with a variety of aspects in 

cuttings and embankments. The slow worm may be encountered throughout the 

Sustrans Network. 


Protected by Schedule 5a of the Wildlife and Countryside 1981 as amended. It is an 

offence to carry out works which will be damaging to slow worms if it is suspected 

that slow worms may be present. 

10.5.6 Current Factors affecting the species 

Loss of suitable habitat and hibernation sites 

Persecution from humans 

Predation by domestic cats 


All future developments to require a survey. 

Management techniques take into account its habitat requirements. 

Artificial refuges and hibernacula to be provided where necessary. 

Information about the slow worm to be included in interpretation where 

appropriate. 


30

10.6 Great crested newt Triturus cristatus 


The great crested newt is the UK’s largest newt, reaching an adult length of up to 

170mm. The adult newt is easily distinguished from the other two native newts (the 

smooth and palmate) by size and colouring. The skin of the adult newt is very 

granular in appearance, with a black or dark brown colour and very fine white spots 

on its lower flanks. The male has a jagged crest along its back and tail, although this 

is less pronounced outside of the breeding season. Both sexes have a bright orange 

or yellow belly that is covered in irregular black spots. On land both sexes appear 

very black and the male’s crest is held against its body. Adults spend most of the 

year on land, returning to water in early spring to breed. Eggs are laid on submerged 

vegetation and, like all newt eggs, are distinctive in that the female encloses each egg 

within a folded leaf of a water plant. 


The optimum survey time for adult great crested newts is between late March and 

September as this is when newts are out of hibernation. Great crested newts are very 

difficult to survey on land, and breeding pond surveys are most successful. Although 

they are known to travel up to 500 metres from their breeding pond, most do not 

travel more than 100 metres and, for distances greater than 200-250 metres, capture 

effort is hardly ever appropriate. The best time to carry out construction near to 

breeding ponds is between mid-April and mid-August. Outside of those times, and 

when the animals are not in hibernation, exclusion fencing along both sides of the 

proposed path, will almost certainly be necessary. A search of records for great 

crested newts in the local area is certainly a good first step. 


The great crested newt is still quite widespread in Britain. It is locally common in parts 

of England and Wales, but rare or absent in Devon and Cornwall. The British 

population is amongst the largest in Europe, where it is threatened in several 

countries. 


Great crested newts could be encountered throughout the Network, but particularly 

where the routes are close to a mosaic of habitats (woodland, grassland, ponds etc.). 

The Network could prove particularly important as commuting corridors for newts. 


The great crested newt is listed on Annexes II and IV of the EC Habitats Directive and 

Appendix II of the Bern Convention. It is protected under Schedule 2 of the 

Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations, 1994, (Regulation 38) and Schedule 

5 of the WCA 1981. It is a Priority species in the UK BAP. 


Loss of suitable breeding ponds caused by water table reduction, in-filling for 

development, agricultural changes, waste disposal, neglect or fish stocking and 

the degradation, loss and fragmentation of terrestrial habitats. 

Pollution and toxic effects of agrochemicals. 


31


Survey all future projects with all results feeding into the Local BAP process, Local 

Records Centre and national monitoring programme. 

Investigate the use of the Network by newts as commuting corridors. 

Where appropriate, artificial refuges and hibernacula will be provided. 

Survey ponds adjacent to a proposed route for great crested newts to ensure that, 

if they are present, appropriate measures are taken to protect them during the 

path construction. 

10.7 Invertebrates 


There are over 30,000 British invertebrates including such diverse groups as 

butterflies, spiders and molluscs. They are found in a range of habitats, both 

terrestrial and aquatic. Many invertebrates in Britain are insects and these include 

beetles, flies, bees, wasps and ants, bugs, butterflies and moths, mayflies, 

dragonflies and grasshoppers, in fact 25 totally different sorts (Orders). Related to 

insects are other types of animals with jointed limbs (arthropods), such as spiders, 

crayfish, water fleas, woodlice and millipedes. 


Most species become more active through the spring and summer. Certain 

taxonomic groups can only be surveyed within very specific timescales. Surveying for 

invertebrates should involve someone with specialist knowledge. 


Many invertebrate species are in decline and significant numbers of species are either 

known to be extinct or feared to be. Of the 1149 priority species in the UK BAP, 411 

of these are invertebrates. 


Sites with a varied habitat structure usually contain a greater invertebrate interest. 

Disused railway lines can form ideal habitat for invertebrates by offering a mosaic of 

habitats including species-rich grassland, scrub and wetland, often with limited 

disturbance over a number of years. Varied habitats contained in cuttings and on 

embankments can provide an even wider range of conditions to suit many species of 

invertebrates with differing requirements; both warmth and light, cool, damp shade, 

shelter at several levels, a wide range of food plants, and bare ground suitable for 

basking or use as nesting sites. 


A number of invertebrate species are fully protected under the Wildlife and 

Countryside Act 1981 as amended with some protected for sale only. The marsh 

fritillary is also protected under the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 

1994. 

10.7.6 Current Factors affecting invertebrates 

Loss of habitat 


32

Loss of food plants for certain species 

Habitat fragmentation 

Unsympathetic habitat management 


Future developments to identify habitat features of greater invertebrate interest by 

speaking to local invertebrate groups and possibly a scoping visit (by invertebrate 

specialist). 

Survey if required. 

Sympathetic restoration following construction of new paths avoiding use of fertile 

top-soil and artificial seed mixtures and rather allowing natural regeneration. 

Management techniques to maintain valuable habitat mosaics along paths. 


33

11. Survey objectives, methods and standards 

11.1 A thorough ecological survey of the proposed route should be carried out before final 

development proposals are considered. It is impossible to predict accurately the 

impact of a development without this information. A thorough ecological survey will 

enable adequate mitigation measures to be designed and incorporated into the 

construction of the path. A Phase 1 habitat survey that includes protected species 

(referred to as an Extended Phase 1 Survey) may conclude that further survey work 

(Phase 2 survey) is required (see Appendix 2). Data will be submitted to the National 

Biodiversity Network (NBN). 

11.2 Many species and habitat surveys have set protocols that must be adhered to (e.g. 

dormice), and in some cases the survey can only be carried out by persons holding 

the appropriate licences (e.g. bats). Often such protocols require surveys to be 

undertaken over several months before it can be concluded that the species is either 

present or absent. This is another reason for implementing ecological surveys at the 

earliest point in the development of a new route. 

11.3 Certain species and habitats can only be surveyed for very short periods of time 

during the year (e.g. butterflies) and it may be that surveying at other times would only 

allow habitat suitability to be identified. Therefore further survey work would have to 

be undertaken at a more appropriate time of year (see individual HAPs and SAPs for 

further information on optimum survey times). 

11.4 It should also be remembered that the Sustrans NCN BAP only includes important 

species and habitats that are most likely to be encountered along the Network. Other 

species and habitats could be found and mitigation will be needed for these. 

11.5 Surveying 

It is vital that wildlife is considered at the earliest opportunity in the development of a 

new route. The table below summarises the optimum times for carrying out the 

various surveys. 

Survey Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 

Scoping 

walkover 

O O O O O O O O O O O O 

Phase 1 habitat S S S O O O O O O S S S 

Botanical S S S S O O O S S S S S 

Badgers S O O O S S S S S S S S 

Wintering birds O O O S S S S S S S O O 

Breeding birds S S O O O O O O S S S S 

Reptiles I I I O O O O S O I I I 

Amphibians I I O O O O O O O I I I 

Invertebrates I I O O O O O O O I I I 

Water voles S S O O O O O O O O S S 

Otters O O O O O O O O O O O O 

Bats S S S O O O O O O S S S 

O = optimal time of year for surveying (best practice) 

S = sub-optimal time of year for surveying, may require further surveys at another time of year 

I = impossible time of the year as most or all species are in hibernation and leave no signs 


34

12. Mitigation and enhancement measures for wildlife 

12.1 Bridge and viaduct maintenance 

12.1.1 Bridges and viaducts can support, or be associated with, a number of species that 

are protected by law. Protected species include badgers, bats, reptiles, amphibians 

and nesting birds. When bridges cross water, otters and water voles should also be 

included on this list. Saxicolous flora (attached to masonry) and small mammals may 

also occur. Any maintenance works on these structures should take account of these 

species. 

12.1.2 Bridges of particular importance to wildlife are older stone bridges with cracks and 

crevices in the masonry or bridges which are ivy-covered. Surveys, particularly for 

bats and nesting birds, should be undertaken before any maintenance work 

commences. This applies especially to pointing which could trap bats and, possibly, 

nesting birds inside the masonry of the bridge or viaduct. Bird boxes and ledges, and 

bird and/or bat holes/crevices should be incorporated into bridge maintenance works 

whenever possible. It is also important that, where the route incorporates bridges, the 

continuity of the habitat is maintained. Where possible a methodology to incorporate 

a strip of vegetation, including hedgerow plants, on the bridge deck should be 

included. Where the route goes under a bridge, dispersal routes can be maintained 

by placing log or rubble piles against the walls. Both of these methods will ensure 

that the bridges do not act as barriers to movement. 

12.2 Bat bricks 

12.2.1 Bat bricks are specially designed bricks that are either hollow with an entrance into 

this space, or have a series of slits in them to allow bats to pass through into a space 

beyond. The bricks are used in place of standard bricks and provide bats with 

roosting sites as they act as artificial cracks and crevices that would naturally occur. 

These may be particularly useful in bridges and viaducts where potential sites may 

have been lost due to re-pointing works. The bricks can be installed by carefully 

removing an existing brick to allow access to the interior of the bridge as bats will 

penetrate up to a metre into the rubble fill. If this is not possible, self-contained bat 

bricks can be attached to the existing bricks. 

12.3 Bat and bird boxes 

12.3.1 Before bird and bat boxes are installed, consideration should be given to whether 

they are appropriate. Boxes sited along paths may be prone to vandalism so should 

only be installed in places where there are few or no other nesting and roosting 

opportunities. Boxes need to be placed as high as possible on the trees (between 2-5 

metres) to minimise the possibility of predation and vandalism. 

12.3.2 Bird boxes need to be fixed facing between north and south east as this will avoid 

strong sunlight and the wettest winds. The box should also tilt forward slightly to stop 

rain entering. 


35

12.3.3 Bat boxes should be sited with the front facing south east to south west, as this 

allows the box to be warmed during the day. Often three bat boxes are placed on a 

single tree, each facing a different aspect as this gives the bats a choice of roosting 

sites, each with different environmental conditions. Specially designed bat boxes that 

attach to the underside of bridges can also be purchased. These can be fixed to the 

bridge masonry and, like bat bricks, mimic natural holes and cracks. 

12.3.4 It should also be remembered that bird and bat boxes should be checked 

periodically, both to monitor use and for cleaning (removal of old nest material etc). 

12.3.5 In the case of bats, if any signs of bats (droppings) or actual bats are found in a box 

during a check, that box is then considered a roost and future checks can only be 

carried out by a licensed bat worker. 

12.4 Log and vegetation piles 

12.4.1 These can benefit a variety of species including reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates 

and small mammals. They may be particularly effective in areas where there are small 

breaks in the habitat. For example, where the route goes under or even over a bridge, 

log and vegetation piles could be used to link up habitats. Piles of cut vegetation can 

also be left to rot, as these provide food, shelter and nesting sites for reptiles. These 

piles can be added to each year. It is also beneficial to place a criss-cross pattern of 

branches on the ground first and then add the cuttings, as this increases ventilation 

and makes access easier. All such heaps are best placed in sunny positions, close to 

cover such as hedgerows, scrub and long grass. 

12.5 Lighting 

12.5.1 Lighting can impact on a number of night time species by affecting flight lines and 

feeding patterns. Where lighting is necessary, low pressure sodium lights (typical 

yellow lamps seen along the roadside) are recommended. These should be hooded 

and point downwards as this will at least minimise the disturbance that the lighting 

has on wildlife. 

12.5.2 Special consideration should be given to lighting placed near bridges, which may 

contain bat roosts. Under the WCA (1981) as amended by the CROW Act (2000), it is 

illegal to deliberately or recklessly kill, injure, capture or disturb bats, obstruct access 

to bat roosts or damage or destroy them. Therefore lighting that is placed too close 

to a roost and causes a disturbance to the bats, or causes them to desert the roost, 

may constitute an offence. 

12.6 Tree maintenance 

12.6.1 Nesting birds may be affected by tree maintenance so this work should only take 

place outside the bird nesting season (March to early August). If work is required 

during this time, trees and scrub should be checked for any nests before work 

commences. If a nest is found then work cannot start in that area until the eggs have 

hatched and chicks fledged. 


36

12.6.2 Some bat species rely exclusively on trees for roost sites while others use them for 

parts of the year. Often bats in trees leave little or no evidence of their occupation. 

Where possible, trees should be inspected from the ground to assess their potential 

for roosting bats. This involves looking for lightning strikes, lifting bark, ivy, holes, 

cavities and splits together with dark staining caused by faeces, urine or oil from fur 

rubbing or scratch marks below access points which might be used by bats. 

Droppings can also be found below roosting sites. If a tree does contain a bat roost, 

a licence will be required before it can be felled and appropriate mitigation will have 

to be put in place to replace the roost site that is lost. 

12.7 Path surfaces 

12.7.1 Sealed tarmac surfaces are Sustrans’ preferred option for traffic free paths. Although 

tarmac can tend to look stark following initial laying, it soon begins to blend in with 

the surrounding area and acquires a patina the colour of the local soil. Vegetation 

also quickly begins to grow over the edges. The surface is far better for cycling and 

also for wheelchairs and buggies. A sealed surface lasts much longer than a rolled 

stone path, however well laid, especially under trees. Consequently it requires less 

maintenance which in turn causes less disturbance to the surrounding habitats. A 

stone path may need to be repaired every 5 years or so, which increases the chance 

of disturbance to the surrounding habitat in the process and leading to significant 

‘stone miles’ as new material has to be brought in. From current experience, a tarmac 

surface will last in excess of 20 years compared to rolled stone path, which may need 

replacing after 2 years in urban areas. 

12.8 Stone walls 

12.7.2 Dry stone walls can support large amounts of wildlife both on their surfaces (e.g. 

lichens) and within them (e.g. reptiles). They are often dominant field boundaries in 

areas where the soil is thin and the climate too harsh for hedgerows. They provide the 

same function as a hedgerow. It is important that where these walls are found 

adjacent to paths, they are maintained, and in some cases enhanced, for wildlife. 


37

13. Controlling native and non-native invasive species 

13.1 Native species 

13.1.1 Bramble Rubus fruticosus 

It is very important to have patches of bramble along routes as they provide nesting 

habitat for birds, food in the form of nectar for butterflies and insects, as well as 

shelter and food for a variety of mammal species including the dormouse. If left 

unchecked, bramble will start to dominate an area and shade out other species, so it 

is important that it is kept under control. Bramble should be cut back to the point at 

which it is considered acceptable and appropriate and this location marked with 

posts or natural features – logs, rocks etc. The plant should then be cut back to the 

same point every year in the late autumn, after the fruiting season, making sure that 

any suckers are cut off or pulled up. 

13.1.2 Common Ragwort Senecio jacobaea 

There are a number of species of ragwort found in Britain, although the main ‘weed’ 

species is the common ragwort. This is often found growing on bare soil which allows 

the development of the seedlings into rosettes of leaves. The following year the 

flowering shoot appears that can grow amongst taller vegetation. 

Ragwort is covered by the Weeds Act 1959 as amended by the Ragwort Control Act 

2003. This Act only extends to England and Wales. 

It should be remembered that ragwort provides an important food source for a large 

variety of insects including bees, wasps, butterflies and moths. For this reason, 

ragwort should only be controlled in areas where toxicity is perceived as a high risk. 

This may include areas of the Network that run adjacent to land grazed by horses or 

hay fields used for horse fodder. 

If there are only a few plants in an area then hand pulling is the easiest method in the 

short term. Gloves should be worn and the pulling should only take place before the 

plant sets seed. Once pulled the plant can be burnt. It should not be left on the side 

of the path as the plant becomes more palatable to horses when dried. 

Herbicides should be used where ragwort occurs in larger densities. Cutting is not 

recommended, as it seems to stimulate side growth and encourages re-growth. 

13.2 Non-native species 

13.2.1 Non-native plants occur outside their natural range due to direct or indirect 

introduction by humans, mainly through their use in gardens. The vast majority of 

non-native species pose no threat to native plants in the UK and many now represent 

important additions to the UK flora. However, a small number of non-native plants are 

highly invasive. Invasive plants are able to spread rapidly and compete aggressively 

with native species to form large populations that dominate a habitat. 

13.2.2 Where possible, Sustrans will control invasive species along the Network, so 

improving the biodiversity. It will be a material consideration on any new routes. 


38

13.3 Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica 

13.3.1 Identification 

Japanese knotweed is a vigorous perennial plant that can grow in excess of 2 metres 

in height and is commonly seen on riverbanks and waste ground. When Japanese 

knotweed colonises areas, the plant forms dense thickets that die back to dead, rigid 

stems in the winter, only to re-grow more vigorously the following growing season. It 

has distinctive heart-shaped leaves, and the stems are covered in a reddish/purple 

speckling. It produces creamy white flowers from July through to September. Stems 

are hollow and can take up to 3 years to decompose. 


Japanese knotweed has a number of closely related sub species which also form 

hybrids, all of which come under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 

(1981) which states that “It is an offence to plant or otherwise cause the plant to grow 

in the wild.” Furthermore the Environmental Protection Act (1990) classes Japanese 

knotweed as ‘controlled waste’ and consequently should be disposed of at a licensed 

landfill site under the EPA (Duty of Care) Regulations (1991). 

13.3.3 Distribution along Network 

Japanese knotweed can be encountered anywhere along the Network but is 

particularly prevalent in Wales. 

13.3.4 Treatment 

There are various approaches used to control Japanese knotweed. Primarily these 

comprise spraying and cutting, or a combination of both. Where appropriate, grazing 

may also be a management option. Another alternative is covering the Japanese 

knotweed with a membrane and over-planting with a quick-growing species such as 

willow. 

Cutting or pulling 

Regular cutting or pulling will eventually kill the plant, but it is important that all cut or 

pulled stems are kept on site, or disposed of at a licensed disposal site (expensive). 

Any stems or crowns left to dry out on site must be regularly checked to ensure that 

they are not contaminating the surrounding land or any watercourses. Burning can 

also be an effective means of disposal, as long as it is burnt in situ and not taken off 

site. 

Herbicide control 

Herbicide control is an effective means of controlling Japanese knotweed, although it 

should be noted that one treatment is rarely enough and may need to be repeated a 

number of times over several years. There are a number of herbicides recognised as 

being effective in the control of knotweed, but not all of these are suitable for use 

adjacent to or close to watercourses or sensitive sites. The table on page 40 shows 

examples of approved products for use as herbicides on weeds in or near water. This 

should be checked before using any of these products as this information changes 

regularly. 


39

Chemical Approved product Registration number 

2,4-D Dormone 09932 

MSS 2,4-D Amine 10183 

Depitox 11149 

Ragox 11145 

Glyphosate Roundup 10317 

Roundup Biactive 10320 

Roundup pro bioactive 10330 

Barclay gallup amenity 06753 

Glyfos proactive 07800 

Spasor 09945 

Spasor bioactive 09940 

13.3.5 Optimum time to treat 

Japanese knotweed dies back during the winter, therefore the most effective time to 

spray the plant is in early September to October, as during this time the plant begins 

to ‘draw down’ all of its nutrients from the leaves back into the rhizome. Spraying at 

this time means that more of the spray is taken into the plant from the leaves. Cutting 

can be undertaken throughout the growing season (March – September). Some 

people recommend cutting in the spring and then spraying the new soft growth that 

occurs. 

13.4 Himalayan balsam Impatiens balsamifera 


This is an escapee from Victorian gardens, and can now be found throughout Britain. 

This annual plant grows from seed and can quickly exceed two metres in height. It 

has attractive pink flowers that appear in July, and by October they have scattered 

seeds by their explosive seedpods. This is the main reason for the plant’s success as 

each plant can produce as many as 2,500 seeds which can stay viable for 18 months. 

The seeds are often spread in flowing water, and consequently river and stream 

banks are typical habitats of this plant. The seeds can even germinate under water so 

any management is pointless unless the plant is being controlled further upstream. 


Himalayan balsam comes under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 

(1981) which states that “It is an offence to plant or otherwise cause the plant to grow 

in the wild.” 


Himalayan balsam can be encountered anywhere along the Network, but is most 

likely to be found in areas of damp grassland, or where paths are adjacent to 

watercourses. 


The cheapest and most effective way is to pull or dig up and then burn the stems 

during the growing season (July –September) before the flowers have time to set 


40

seed. Young plants are easy to pull up, although a big area of them can be a daunting 

prospect. Spraying is also an effective means of control. 


The optimum time to treat Himalayan balsam is during the growing season (July – 

September) and before the flowers set seed. 

13.5 Giant hogweed Heracleum mantegazzianum 


The giant hogweed was introduced from Asia as an ornamental plant. It is an 

umbellifer, like cow parsley, and its appearance is similar to the native wild parsnip, 

but much larger. It can reach heights of over 4 metres when in flower, with hollow 

stems of up to 10cm in diameter. The stem is also covered in dark reddish-purple 

spots and bristles. It flowers from May to July, with numerous white flowers clustered 

in an umbrella-shaped head that can be up to 50cm across. Each flower head can 

produce up to 1500 seeds which can remain active in the soil for 8 years or more. 

Due to their weight, most of them fall within a 4 metre radius around the plant. 

The giant hogweed has a clear, watery sap which contains toxins. If skin contact is 

followed by exposure to sunlight, painful, burning blisters appear that can develop 

into purplish or black scars. Contact between the skin and sap occurs either through 

brushing against the bristles on the stem, or by contact with broken stems/leaves. 


Under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 as amended/ Wildlife (Northern Ireland) 

Order 1985, it is an offence to "plant or otherwise cause Giant Hogweed to grow" in 

the wild. This includes spreading the species or transferring polluted ground material 

from one area to another. 


Giant hogweed can be encountered throughout the Sustrans Network, although the 

plant prefers valleys and damp soil. 


There are a number of options available for the treatment of this species, but the 

majority of these require a number of years in order to be effective. The two most 

effective methods are outlined below. 

Cutting 

This involves the clearing of above ground leaf/stem material and the removal of 

ground material polluted with roots and seeds. Careful consideration must be given 

to minimising the contact with the sap using this method, and it should not be 

considered once the plant is over 1 metre in height. 

Spraying 

Although this method can still take several years of treatment, it is considered the 

most effective. Spraying must be carried out from March to August (growing season), 


41

and in order to be most effective, spraying must be carried out before the flower sets 

seed. 

NEVER use a strimmer or chipper on giant hogweed material as this can cause sap to 

become airborne, resulting in the injuries described above. 


The optimum time to treat giant hogweed is during the growing season, from March 

through to August. 


42

14. Education and understanding 

14.1 The Sustrans NCN BAP will be available on the Sustrans website. 

14.2 Where relevant, information on BAP species and habitats will be included on 

interpretation and leaflets. 

14.3 Staff training days on identifying BAP species and habitats will be provided. 

14.4 Internal information sheets will be produced to aid knowledge and understanding. 


43

15. References 

Langton, T.E.S., Beckett, C.L., and Foster, J.P. (2001), Great Crested Newt Conservation 

Handbook, Froglife, Halesworth 

www.ukbap.org.uk (information on species and habitat action plans, and links to the 

BARS website) 

www.rspb.org.uk (information on bird species) 

Schofield, H.W., and Mitchell-Jones, A.J. (2003). The Bats of Britain and Ireland, The 

Vincent Wildlife Trust. 

www.nbn.org.uk (National Biodiversity Network) 

Child, L.E., and Wade, M. (2000). The Japanese Knotweed Manual 

www.ex.ac.uk/knotweed (knotweed information) 

www.knotweed.co.uk 

www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/hogweed(giant hogweed information) 

www.first-nature.com (Himalayan balsam information) 

www.tiscali.co.uk (Himalayan balsam information) 

www.environment-agency.gov.uk (giant hogweed information) 

www.archive.org (general species information) 

www.sustrans.org.uk (Sustrans information) 

Best Value and Biodiversity in Scotland – A Handbook of Good Practice for public 

bodies. Edited by Joanna Lenthall. 2004 

Business and Biodiversity – Site Biodiversity Action Plans. Earthwatch Institute. 

Case Studies in Business and Biodiversity. Earthwatch Institute. 

Business and Biodiversity – A UK Business guide for understanding and integrating 

nature conservation and biodiversity into environmental management systems. 

Earthwatch Institute. 

Bat Workers’ Manual. Edited by Mitchell Jones A.J. & McLeish A.P. 3 rd Edition 2004. 

www.businessandbiodiversity.org 

Bats and Trees in England. Bat Conservation Trust Professional Support Series Leaflet. 

www.mammal.org.uk 

www.ccw.gov.uk 

www.english-nature.gov.uk 

Herpetofauna Workers’ Manual. Edited by Tony Gent and Steve Gibson. Joint Nature 

Conservation Committee. 1998. 

Cresswell, W. & Whitworth, R. (2004), An assessment of the efficiency of capture 

techniques and the value of different habitats for the great crested newt Triturus 

cristatus. English Nature Research Report 576. 

www.ragwortfacts.com 

www.defra.gov.uk 

www.buglife.org.uk 

www.plantlife.org.uk 

www.sustainable-development.gov.uk 

www.chm.gov.uk 

www.dswa.org.uk 

www.butterfly-conservation.org 


44

16. Glossary 

HAP Habitat Action Plan 

SAP 

Species Action Plan 

LBAP 

Local Biodiversity Action Plan 

BAP 

Biodiversity Action Plan 

Sustrans’ NCN BAP Sustrans’ Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network 

UK BAP 

United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Plan 

Biodiversity Biological Diversity 

RSPB 

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 

LRC 

Local Records Centre 

WCA Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 

CROW Act Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 

Defra 

Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 

BARS Biodiversity Action Recording System 


45

17. Useful contacts and websites 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sustrans Head Office 

National Cycle Network Centre 

2 Cathedral Square 

College Green 

Bristol BS1 5DD 

Tel: 0117 926 8893 

Fax: 0117 929 4173 

Sustrans Cymru 

107 Bute Street 

Cardiff CF10 5AD 

Tel: 029 20 65 0602 

Fax: 029 2065 0603 

Sustrans Northern Ireland 

Marquis Building 

89-91 Adelaide Street 

Belfast BT2 8FE 

Tel: 028 9043 4569 

Fax: 028 9043 4556 

Sustrans Scotland 

Glenorchy House 

20 Union Street 

Edinburgh EH1 3LR 

Tel: 0131 539 8122 

Fax 0131 539 8123 

Countryside Council for Wales 

Maes y Ffynnon 

Penrhosgarnedd 

Bangor 

Gwynedd LL57 2DW 

Tel: 01248 385500 

Defra 

Information Resource Centre 

Lower Ground Floor 

Ergon House 

c/o Nobel House 

17 Smith Square 

London SW1P 3JR 

Dry Stone Walling Association 

Westmorland County Showground 

Lane Farm 

Crooklands 

Milnthorpe 


46

Cumbria LA7 7NH 

Tel: 01539 567953 

www.dswa.org.uk 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environment Agency 

Tel:08708 506 506 

Environment and Heritage Service for Northern Ireland 

Commonwealth House 

35 Castle Street 

Belfast BT1 1GU 

Michael Woods Associates 

Overlea House 

Crickham 

Wedmore 

Somerset BS28 4JZ 

Tel: 01934 712500 

Email: info@michaelwoodsassociates.co.uk 

(retained ecological consultant to Sustrans) 

Natural England 

Northminster House 

Peterborough PE1 1UA 

Tel: 0845 600 3078 

Fax: 01733 455103 

Scottish Natural Heritage 

Great Glen House 

Leachkin Road 

Inverness IV3 8NW 

Tel: 01463 725000 

Fax: 01463 725067 

Email: enquiries@snh.org.uk 

The Wildlife Trusts 

The Kiln 

Waterside 

Mather Road 

Newark 

Nottinghamshire NG24 1WT 

Tel: 0870 036 7711 

Fax: 0870 036 0101 

Email: enquiry@wildlife-trusts.cix.co.uk 


47

Websites 

 

 

 

 

www.biodiversitywales.org.uk - An up to date list of all the biodiversity officers in 

Wales, along with the areas that they cover and their contact details. 

www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk - Information about biodiversity in Scotland. 

www.ehsni.gov.uk/natural/biodiversity/issues.shtml - Information about biodiversity in 

Northern Ireland. 

www.ukbap.org.uk - Contact details of all BAP officers for England, Scotland, Wales 

and Northern Ireland as well as information on the contents of the BAP itself. 


48

Ways for Wildlife 

Wildlife, cycle paths and traffic 

INFORMATION 

SHEET FF02 

Introduction 

This information sheet looks at 

some of the ways in which cycle 

paths can benefit wildlife. Cycling 

is one of the least disturbing 

activities and often allows you 

close views of animals and birds. It 

is also a very sustainable mode of 

transport and many conservation 

charities are encouraging visitors 

to arrive by bike in order to 

reduce the urbanisation of the 

countryside by motor traffic. If 

your visiting the countryside, 

why not try out a National Cycle 

Network route near you? 

Cycle Paths Benefit Wildlife 

Over the last 20 years, Sustrans and 

its partners have built over 1,000 

miles of traffic-free paths, often on 

disused railways, towpaths and other 

spaces. Unlike roads, sensitively 

planned cycle paths provide safe 

habitats where wildlife can thrive and 

safe corridors for species which need 

to move from one habitat to another. 

By 2005 Sustrans plans to have put in 

place 10,000 miles of National Cycle 

Network, one third of which will be 

traffic-free and beneficial to wildlife. 

Hedgerows 

Hedgerows on York to Selby path Route 65 

© Sustrans 

The hedgerows alongside cycle paths 

are far safer for wildlife than those 

beside roads and are a much more 

stable asset than field boundary 

hedges as they are not subject to the 

vagaries of central government or 

EU agricultural policies. In the British 

countryside as a whole there has 

been a tremendous loss of hedges 

- 72,600 miles between 1984 and 

1991. (1) 

Some of the richest habitats in 

woodlands are the edges and 

good hedgerows are effectively 

two woodland edges back to back. 

Hedges are very valuable for nesting 

birds, for flowers and insects and 

for a variety of small mammals. 

The rare and protected hazel 

dormouse, which is supported by 

English Nature’s Species Recovery 

Programme, actually lives at higher 

densities in species rich hedges than 

in woodlands which are considered 

to be its more usual habitat. (2) 

Hedgerows also form interrupted 

links between larger areas of 

woodland and are used as corridors 

by species such as squirrels. 

Corridors 

Nowadays wildlife corridors are 

considered to be a key feature in an 

increasingly fragmented countryside. 

Countries such as Holland, Canada 

and France are actually constructing 

special habitat bridges to ensure that 

wildlife can cross roads safely (3) and 

a part of the Department for the 

Environment, Transport and the 

Regions (DETR) now has a similar 

responsibility for encouraging such 

links in the UK. Sustrans owns around 

1,000 bridge structures, mostly over 

or under roads, and many are ideal 

for use by wildlife. Where practicable 

they are already used by badgers, 

foxes, deer and even otters. Sustrans 

is now carrying out research to see 

how it can improve its bridges for use 

by other species. 

These bridges are also used by bats 

which roost inside the masonry of 

arched bridges. For these scarce and 

protected mammals, paths can be a 

vital resource. They provide excellent 

feeding grounds, long, uninterrupted 

flight lines with a variety of habitats 

yielding a range of different insect 

species upon which bats feed. In fact, 

according to “Managing Landscapes 

for Greater Horseshoe Bats” published 

by English Nature under the Species 

Recovery Programme, converted 

disused railway lines match very 

closely the criteria required for 

suitable habitat for these bats. They 

are also essential to enable some of 

the smaller bats to move around. 

These tiny creatures use hedgerows 

and other linear features as 

guidelines when navigating through 

open countryside and disused railway 

lines and canals are effectively long, 

continuous spine routes for flying 

bats. (4) 

Ponds and Wetlands 

Ponds have been disappearing from 

the British countryside since the turn 

of the century. Cheshire, reputedly 

the county with the most ponds, lost 

25% between 1969 and 1985 when 

numbers fell from 22,644 to 16,964. 

Meanwhile, between 1910 and 1970, 

Bedfordshire lost 82% of its ponds. (1) 

It is often not possible to establish 

a pond as part of a road scheme 

because roadside banks naturally 

provide a well-drained environment 

which limits the range of habitats 

which can be established. Wetland 

communities must be developed 

outside the road corridor. (1) 

Opening up old, flooded and 

1

overgrown railway cuttings during 

cycle path construction can 

considerably improve them for 

wildlife. By placing the path on a 

raised causeway, (5) water can be 

retained alongside the path providing 

an ideal environment for a rich variety 

of plants and invertebrates as well 

as essential facilities for amphibians. 

Drainage ditches alongside paths 

can also be provided with removable 

dams to create a series of elongated 

pools. 

Disused railway routes are particularly 

noted for supporting reptiles. The 

variety of embankments and cuttings, 

with their different aspects, provide 

an ideal environment for lizards, slowworms 

and snakes. Furthermore the 

loose or stony material from which 

A causeway in a flooded railway cutting 

creates an ideal wildlife environment 

- Lochwinnoch Loop path, Route 7 in 

they are built and the fact that rabbit 

holes are often found on these sites 

gives these creatures places in which 

to hide and to hibernate. 

Meadows and Grasslands 

Meadows and permanent 

unimproved grasslands form another 

© Sustrans 

Cycle route verges provide ideal conditions 

for wildflowers, Route 7 in County Durham 

habitat which is rapidly disappearing 

from the British countryside. Between 

1949 and 1984, 95% of lowland 

neutral grasslands were lost and 

between 1934 and 1972, more than 

75% of chalk grassland had gone. (1) 

And this disappearance of grassland 

has continued. Between 1992 and 

1997, a further 122,000 hectares were 

lost, the equivalent of 100 football 

pitches every day. (6) 

When hundreds of miles of branch 

lines were closed in the mid 1960s 

and with the change from steam 

to diesel or electric power, lineside 

management changed and many 

thousands of hectares of previously 

flower rich grassland alongside 

railway lines were lost under blankets 

of bramble while others are under 

increasing threat from other species. 

There is still time to rescue some 

of these grasslands, especially in 

cuttings, by removing scrub and 

small trees, and one of Sustrans’ main 

management aims is to encourage 

diversity by only planting trees where 

appropriate. 

Disturbance 

There is increasing evidence that 

cyclists cause very little disturbance 

to wildlife. This is because their 

movements are predictable, in that 

they tend to stay on metalled paths 

© John Grimshaw 

rather than wandering at will, and 

they stop infrequently. A study 

carried out on open grassland on 

the Dutch island of Terschelling 

between July and September when 

relatively high numbers of tourists on 

bicycles were present, showed that 

cycling was the least disturbing of the 

activities taking place in the area (see 

table below). (7) In an internal report, 

the Royal Society for the Protection 

of Birds (RSPB) has said that “the swift 

passage of a cycle through a wood is 

probably the least disturbing human 

activity possible”. 

The National Cycle Network now 

passes through a wide range of 

different wildlife sites without any 

apparent problems. For example, 

Route 93 follows the foreshore 

alongside Belfast Lough in Northern 

Ireland, an Area of Special Scientific 

Interest, (ASSI, the Northern Irish 

equivalent of the SSSI), a Specially 

Bird watching on Route 93 overlooking 

Belfast Lough 

Protected Area (SPA) and a Ramsar 

Site. In order to screen users, a bund 

with planting and fencing has been 

erected with a viewing area for birdwatching 

cyclists. In the late winter 

of 2000, the local senior conservation 

officer of the RSPB confirmed that the 

numbers of waders had not fallen in 

spite of public access. (8) 

Education 

© Julia Bayne 

Source of Curlew Gull Oystercatcher Bar-tailed 

disturbance 

godwit 

Small aircraft 39 27 18 23 

Walking person(s) 31 17 65 32 

Agricultural activities 10 7 4 8 

Cows 1 1 0 1 

Cyclist(s) 0 0 0 1 

Natural 11 24 0 16 

Unknown reason 8 24 0 16 

Disturbance to birds expressed as 

a percentage of the total visible 

disturbance. The movement of cyclists 

was predictable as they preferred 

metalled cycle paths. 

Source: Tensen and van Zoest 

2

© David Hall 

© Toby Smedley 

Visiting cars destroy the countryside their 

drivers have come to see 

Cycle paths provide a valuable 

resource for wildlife education both 

for members of the public and as 

part of school projects. Wildlife which 

lives alongside well used paths 

becomes accustomed to the presence 

of people. This applies in particular 

to birds, so that good views can be 

obtained of otherwise shy species. 

Paths which reach into towns - green 

corridors through urban areas - 

frequently pass schools or are easily 

accessed by them, enabling these 

areas to be used to study ecology 

and practical conservation. Many 

schoolchildren benefit from cycle 

routes as part of their practical 

environmental education, as well 

as, of course, using them to travel to 

school. 

Traffic and the 

Countryside 

In 1992 the Countryside Commission 

(as it then was) warned of a trebling 

of traffic in country areas by 2025 

unless trends could be changed. (9) It 

indicated that this would completely 

transform the countryside. (10) 

But, unfortunately, there is little 

sign yet that this trend is changing 

and, indeed, every year road traffic 

volumes in Britain are rising. The 

number of cars and lorries on Britain’s 

roads rose by 33 per cent between 

1979 and 1997 and an area the size 

of Leicestershire is now taken up 

with roads. (11) In 1994, 59% of all 

countryside day journeys were by car, 

yet nearly half of these trips were five 

miles or less, (10) a distance easily 

covered on a bicycle. 

Wildlife and Traffic 

More than 50,000 badgers, a seventh 

of the adult population, are run over 

on Britain’s roads every year. (12) 

A total of 2,000 individual animals 

were killed on just 32 miles of road 

in Surrey between 1987 and 1993. 

The number of corpses in 1993 was 

double that in 1987. (13) 

A recent study by the Hawk and Owl 

Trust of a typical stretch of English 

trunk road recorded 155 owl deaths 

between 1995 and 1998 of which 

102 were barn owls. Extrapolated 

nationally, this accounts for almost a 

fifth of the adults and a quarter of the 

juvenile population. (14) 

Every spring when amphibians 

migrate to their breeding ponds, 

increasingly large numbers are 

squashed on the roads. Between 20% 

and 40% of the breeding populations 

became road casualties each year in 

the late eighties. (15) 

Pollution and Habitat 

Destruction 

Not only do new road schemes 

threaten wildlife and its habitats 

but road traffic itself is extremely 

polluting. Motor vehicles are 

responsible for 28% of the carbon 

dioxide produced in Britain 

every year. (16) CO 2 is the main 

greenhouse gas contributing to 

global climate change and increasing 

numbers of major “weather events” 

are likely to occur world wide as 

a consequence of this pollution. 

“Nine of the past eleven disasters 

to which we have responded have 

been caused by extreme weather 

conditions.” said Malcolm Rogers, 

Head of Policy for Christian Aid, in 

May 2000. (17) Such disasters are 

man-made and should no longer be 

considered natural. (18) Their effects 

continue to be devastating not only 

to people but to wildlife too. 

Noise and general disturbance from 

roads can cause problems for a range 

of bird species living as much as a 

mile away. More than half the 43 

songbird species in a recent survey 

were found in lower densities close 

to roads, probably due to traffic 

noise. (19) 

Countryside Traffic 

Much of this traffic is, in fact, 

generated by countryside attractions 

such as wildlife reserves and country 

houses, the opportunity for country 

walks or drives through our beautiful 

countryside. With at least 5 million 

people belonging to various wildlife 

and heritage organisations, there 

is a real opportunity for those 

organisations and bodies who attract 

visitors to the countryside to consider 

ways of encouraging their guests to 

arrive by means other than the car. 

The National Trust, in partnership 

with Sustrans, has included in its 

handbook for the year 2000 details of 

the National Cycle Network. For each 

of its sites lying within three miles of 

the Network, there is information on 

the nearest route and its number. All 

Cycle paths built on disused railways are 

excellent corridors for urban wildlife - Bath 

to Bristol Path, Route 4. 

3

Route 4 through Richmond Park, London 

the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust sites 

are within five miles of the Network 

and to encourage visitors to arrive 

by bike, some sites have secure 

locking facilities. In its handbook, the 

RSPB includes details of the nearest 

railway station to each site and is 

working with Sustrans to connect 

as many as possible of its 20 most 

popular sites to the National Cycle 

Network. English Nature is also keen 

to promote non-motorised access to 

wildlife sites. 

Cycling is clearly a valid option and 

sites, centres and other attractions 

need to cater for bike riders in a 

positive way. 

Getting There 

Cycle friendly routes should be 

planned from the nearest station 

and National Cycle Network route, 

if necessary negotiating permissive 

paths to create links. The creation of 

a separate cyclists’ entrance keeping 

them away from cars and allowing 

them shortcuts to a privileged cycle 

park can help promote cycling. 

On Arrival 

Free, secure and well-located cycle 

parking should be provided, with 

some form of surveillance. Alternative 

locking facilities instead of Sheffield 

racks, which are not always 

suitable for a countryside 

setting, can be provided - 

see Sustrans free leaflet FF17 

‘Cycle parking in rural areas’. 

Encouraging Cyclists 

A cheaper entry fee for 

those arriving by sustainable 

transport works well and 

can often be recouped in 

the café or tea room where 

© Julia Bayne 

This document is printed on recycled or environmently friendly paper 

hungry cyclists will buy more than 

sedentary motorists. 

Other Facilities 

On large properties and estates, 

cycle nature trails, which go further 

afield than those for walkers, can be 

provided using estate roads, tracks 

and paths. Guided cycle trips are 

another possibility. 

Who will benefit? 

The encouragement of more cycling 

in rural areas could help slow down, 

and eventually reverse, the increase 

in car usage. It will also help to 

change attitudes so that, instead 

of improving country lanes for 

cars to go faster, we start to install 

traffic-calming measures or impose 

speed limits which encourage nonmotorised 

use and make the roads 

safer for wildlife. 

At the same time, the positive 

provision of segregated cycle paths 

presents an opportunity to establish 

and manage facilities of significant 

benefit to wildlife. 

What You Can Do 

You can insist on walking and 

cycling routes being included in the 

management and development plans 

of your favourite sites. 

You can also walk or cycle whenever 

possible. Distances of two miles or 

less are quite walkable and you can 

easily cycle up to five miles. Try to 

think of these alternatives rather than 

simply jumping into a car. 

Ask any wildlife, heritage or 

countryside organisation of which 

Badgers often dig their setts in the banks of disused 

railways converted for cycling and walking. 

© Michael Woods 

you are a member to promote cycling 

as an integral part of its operation 

and as its positive contribution to the 

transport debate. 

References: 

1. Roads and Nature Conservation (1993) 

English Nature. 

2. Bright, P. and MacPherson, D. (2000) What 

makes a hedgerow good for dormice? 

Paper given at The Mammal Society 

Conference, University of Newcastle 14-16 

April 2000. 

3. Reynolds, P. (1999) From badgers to bears 

- the importance of being well connected. 

Paper given at The Mammal Society 

Conference, Reading University. 26-28 

March 

4. Walsh, A. and Harris, S. (1996) Factors 

determining the abundance of 

vespertilionid bats in Britain - geographical 

land class and local habitat values. In The 

Journal of Applied Ecology 33, pp. 519-529. 

5. Sustrans (1994) ‘Making ways for the 

bicycle.’ 

6. Meadow Madness (March 1999) Report 

published by the Council for the Protection 

of Rural England. 

7. Tensen, D. and Zoest, J. van 1983. 

Keuze van hoogwatervluchtplaatsen 

op Terschelling. Unpubl. Report L.U. 

Wageningen/RIN Texel: 71pp. Cited by Cor 

J. Smit and George J. M. Visser in ‘Effects 

of disturbance on shorebirds: a summary 

of existing knowledge from the Dutch 

Wadden Sea and Delta area’ for Wader 

Study Group Bulletin 68, ‘Disturbance to 

Waterfowl on Estuaries’ edited by Nick 

Davidson and Phil Rothwell. 

8. Pers.com. 

9. Countryside Commission, (1992) 

For further copies of this or 

other factsheets please call the 

INFORMATION LINE 

0117 929 0888 

Monday - Friday 8.30am -5.30pm 

Saturdays 10am - 2pm 

(March to September) 

or visit 

www.nationalcyclenetwork.org.uk 

35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ 

Tel: 0117 926 8893 Fax: 0117 929 4173 

Charity no. 326550 

THERE IS NO COPYRIGHT 

NOVEMBER / 2000 

4

Appendix 2 – Phase 1 and 2 habitat surveys methodology 

Phase 1 habitat survey 

This is the standard method for habitat survey in the UK. It is a qualitative method based on 

mapping the distribution of habitat types across a site by using the standard field 

methodology set out in the ‘Handbook for Phase 1 Habitat Survey – a technique for 

environmental audit’ - Joint Nature Conservation Committee, 1990 (2003 edition). 

It aims to provide a record of the semi-natural vegetation and identify wildlife habitat on a 

site and is based principally on vegetation, augmented by topographic and substrate 

features. There are around 90 standard habitat types identified according to characteristic 

vegetation and other environmental features. Mapping of habitat types usually uses 

standardised colour codes. 

Extended Phase 1 survey 

Most Phase 1 habitat surveys will include surveys for vertebrate and invertebrate fauna as 

well as flora. This is known as an extended Phase 1 survey. This combined approach is 

likely to include protected, BAP, notable and even lists of species found or observed during 

the survey. The purpose of extending the habitat survey is to make sure that all features of 

conservation interest are identified as a purely botanical approach does not always highlight 

key features. 

Phase 2 survey 

Where further detailed survey work is required, this is known as a Phase 2 survey. For 

vegetation, this is a (semi)quantitative method based on the National Vegetation 

Classification (NVC) system. For many faunal species, further survey work usually follows set 

protocols that must be adhered to. These may include requiring licences, setting restrictions 

about when and how often to survey, appropriate methodologies and the extent of survey 

effort required. 


53

Sustrans is the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity. 

Our vision is a world in which people choose to travel in ways that 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information visit or call: 

www.sustrans.org.uk 

0845 113 00 65

Biodiversity Action Plan for the National Cycle Network ... - Sustrans

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