Archived decisions

Agenda Item: 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Report

1. Purpose of Report

1.1. To update on the progress of achieving Public Service Agreement Target Status of the Hampshire County Council managed Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

2. Contextual Information

2.1. Hampshire County Council (HCC) manages 2,012 hectares (4972 acres) of Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), around 2% of the total in Hampshire. The SSSIs are the country's very best wildlife and geographical sites. They include some of the most spectacular and beautiful habitats; wetlands teeming with wading birds, winding chalk rivers and flower-rich meadows.

2.2. Section 28G of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) states that public bodies must "take reasonable steps, consistent with the proper exercise of their functions, to further the conservation and enhancement of SSSIs".

2.3. The condition of the SSSI land in England is assessed by Natural England, using categories agreed across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. There are six reportable condition categories: Favourable; Unfavourable Recovering; Unfavourable No Change; Unfavourable Declining; Part Destroyed and Destroyed.

2.4. It is the Government's Public Service Agreement (PSA) target to have 95% of the SSSI area in Favourable or Recovering condition by 2010. The area of SSSI assessed to be in Favourable or Unfavourable Recovering condition is said to be in PSA Target Status. HCC have adopted this same target within the Corporate Biodiversity Action Plan (CBAP).

3. The Condition of HCC Managed SSSIs

3.1. The Countryside Service manages all bar 21.6 hectares (53.4 acres) of the 2012 hectares managed by HCC. The condition of the SSSI units as assessed by Natural England is monitored to enable reporting against the CBAP target.

3.2. During 2008 several of the coastal SSSI units were downgraded from Favourable to Unfavourable No Change, taking them out of PSA Target Status. This was due to coastal squeeze, where changes in the area of habitats such as salt marsh caused by rising sea levels is restricted by coastal defences, and excessive growth of algae, caused by nutrient enrichment.

3.3. Following on from the sharp drop in the SSSI area in PSA Target Status during 2008, there has been a progressive increase during 2009.

3.4. The 0.2% listed as Part Destroyed is part of Shortheath Common. The SSSI unit in question is only part owned by HCC, the southern part of the unit has been developed and built upon. Natural England recognises that the northern section, which is owned by HCC, should be considered as Unfavourable Recovering.

3.5. Within the 12.5% considered to be Unfavourable Declining are three major blocks of land, along with a few other smaller portions of sites. The three major blocks are; 154.1 hectares (380.8 acres) at Yateley Common Country Park, 29.8 hectares (73.6 acres) of the Basingstoke Canal and 48.8 hectares (120.6 acres) at Calshot.

3.6. At Yateley Common CP the reason given by Natural England for the adverse condition is "undergrazing" and "inappropriate scrub control". Yateley Common has not been grazed effectively since before the Second World War. The reinstatement of grazing is a complex issue due to residents, busy roads and an active airport on the common, but is a long term aim at this site. Without grazing trees and scrub had invaded many parts of the common. However the area of open heath has increased on the site under the management of the site staff since 1990. Scrub and Bracken management has also taken place on a regular basis. There is some indication from Natural England that alongside of this work and if a suitable management plan is submitted, the condition may be reassessed to Unfavourable Recovering. The management plan should be completed before April 2010.

3.7. Basingstoke Canal SSSI had declined in the main due to over-shading by trees, the introduction of non-native species and the effects of recreational use. Work has been undertaken by Canal staff over the past 15 years to control many of these problems. With such conflicting interests on the site, reaching agreement on the principles of management has not been easy. Following a extensive work and consultation with all interested parties, a new management plan has recently been agreed for the canal and work has started in its implementation. With these developments the SSSI may also be reassessed as Unfavourable Recovering.

3.8. The reason for the condition of Calshot Marshes being Unfavourable Declining is given as coastal squeeze due to coastal defences. This area is included in a Coastal Change Pathfinder bid. This is intended to consider how local communities adapt to climate change. If successful it may provide solutions to the problems at Calshot Marshes. Any development here is unlikely to occur in the short term and may not address the issue of Unfavourable Declining condition.

3.9. Several of the coastal SSSI units; in Chichester Harbour and along the River Hamble, are assessed at being Unfavourable No Change. The reasons for the adverse condition being given as "water pollution" and "coastal squeeze". In the main the water pollution is due to increased nutrient levels washing in from the Solent and English Channel. In many cases this enrichment is locked into the nutrient cycle of the habitats in enclosed water systems, such as the River Hamble. This enrichment may persist for some time, even if other agencies are able to reduce the levels in surrounding waters.

3.10. In comparison to the figures for the England and Hampshire as a whole, HCC's figure for PSA Target Status is lower.

It should be noted that HCC's figure for the area of SSSIs in Favourable condition far exceeds that for Hampshire as a whole.

4. Progress in Achieving PSA Target Status

4.1. Since June 2008 there have been three sites which have seen the upgrading of the condition of the SSSI units; Broxhead Common Local Nature Reserve (LNR), Butser Hill National Nature Reserve (NNR) and Lymington & Keyhaven LNR.

4.2. Broxhead Common near Bordon is a dry heathland particularly important for several rare insects and protected birds; Dartford Warbler, Woodlark and Nightjar. The area of open heath has been increased at this site, scrub and Bracken have also been controlled. 32 hectares (79 acres) of the site were reassessed from Unfavourable Recovering to Favourable condition early this year.

4.3. At Butser Hill NNR and area of former chalk grassland which had been planted with conifers in the past has been cleared. A trough and fence has been put in place and grazing restored to the area. As a consequence Natural England have upgraded 2.7 hectares (6.7 acres) from Unfavourable Declining to Unfavourable Recovering. The site is now entirely within PSA Target Status.

4.4. The coastal grazing marsh, saltmarsh and mudflats, together with the associated shingle ridges at Lymington & Keyhaven LNR support nationally and internationally important numbers of birds. Work to control the gorse scrub and rush, grazing of the marshes and ensuring the water quality within the marsh has resulted in considerable improvement of the condition of the SSSI. The area assessed as Unfavourable Declining has reduced from 12.7 to 9.2 hectares (31.4 to 22.7 acres), Unfavourable Recovering has increased from 3.9 to 52.3 hectares (9.6 to 129.2 acres) and Favourable increased from 137.2 to 144.9 hectares (339.0 to 358.1 acres). 95.5% of the site is now in PSA Target Status.

5. Conclusions

5.1. Of the HCC managed SSSI units, 765.5 hectares (1891.6 acres) are coastal and 337.7 hectares (834.5 acres) lie between high and low tide; 38.0% and 16.8% of the total respectively. These areas are particularly susceptible to sea level rise and any coastal water quality issues. These areas are among those being considered within HCC's Coastal Adaptation Strategy. Any progress with these areas will be by long term solutions such as managed retreat.

5.2. There is good progress where effective land management can be applied to individual sites, with a rise from 74.2% to 78.4% in PSA Target Status, from June to October 2009. There is also the prospect of continued good management resulting in significant changes in the near future. If Yateley Common Country Park and Basingstoke Canal were upgraded from Unfavourable Declining to Unfavourable Recovering, this could result in 87.5% of HCC's SSSIs being in PSA Target Status. Such changes would ultimately rely on assessment and resulting decisions taken by Natural England.

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. Has been considered and no impact has been identified.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. Has been considered and no impact has been identified.

3. Climate Change:

3.1. How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

Has been considered and no impact has been identified.

3.2 How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

The coastal SSSIs in particular will be affected by sea level rise associated with climate change. This is, in part, being addressed within the Corporate Coastal Adaptation Strategy. Wider solutions such as managed retreat in coastal areas or coping strategies in other habitats are not considered in this report.