Page 10 - Conservation Impact Report 2016

Ponds, lakes and rivers

Conservation Status Conservation Strategy

This habitat group covers a wide range of freshwater This diverse range of aquatic habitats is managed
habitats, including chalk streams. England has more using a variety of different techniques. The focus is
chalk rivers than any other country in Europe21, but in often on striking a balance between providing dense
2014 more than three-quarters (77%) of England’s chalk scrubby margins and open sunlit margins filled with
streams were failing to meet the required “Good” status wildflowers. This is often achieved by rotational scrub
required by the Water Framework Directive22. control. Creation of bare ground for associated ground
nesting birds is also important as is the creation of new
Water bodies support a diverse range of species ponds.
from aquatic invertebrates such as caddisflies and
dragonflies to fish such as bullhead and brown trout. Co-ordinated control of American mink across whole
13% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened river catchments is pivotal in protecting water vole
with extinction in Great Britain23. populations from this voracious predator. Floating
mink rafts are used to monitor and trap mink. Mink
These habitats are also essential for mammals such control is co-ordinated strategically, with 160 rafts
as water vole and otters. While otters have made a carefully located across Berks, Bucks and Oxon.
significant population recovery from virtual extinction Working closely with the 57 landowners currently
across most of England in the 1970s (58.8% positive involved is also essential to the success of this strategy.
site records in 2009-1024), water voles continue to be
under threat. In 2012 the National Water Vole Mapping
Project, indicated that during the previous three years,
water vole presence had declined by 22% across
England and Wales.

Many lakes also support a wide range of breeding and
over wintering birds, including some species that are
nationally under threat, such as pochard, the status of
which has recently moved from Amber to Red25.

BBOWT manages 137ha of ponds, lakes and rivers:
92% of which is classified as favourable or recovering.

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