Page 8 - August 2016 WN complete final version

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natureState of our
Every three years we assess the
condition of wildlife on our nature
reserves and beyond to see
whether our conservation efforts
are succeeding. Reserves Ecology
Manager Debbie Lewis talks us
through the key findings of the latest
Conservation Report
Every three years we take
a step back and assess
the impact we have had
on the wildlife we look after;
on our nature reserves and
across the wider landscape.
The assessment is made
using the results from
detailed wildlife monitoring
data collected during the
previous three years. Using
this information we can better
understand how well we are
achieving our vision of ‘an
environment rich in wildlife,
valued by all’ and ensure that
we continue to do the best for
local wildlife.
Nature reserves are
assessed by looking at
the ‘ecological health’ of
individual habitats. For
example the health of
chalk grassland might be
determined by the number of
chalk specialist wild flowers
8 Wildlife news
Pyramidal orchids have spread at
Hartslock where restoration
grazing has improved conditions
for wild flowers. (Bjõrn S)
it has or the diversity of the assessment shows that over improved or recovering
butterfly population. Habitats the past three years we have condition (this excludes sites
that are in a good, healthy made a fantastic difference taken on since the last report).
condition or are improving to local wildlife. Since the
are considered ‘favourable or previous report in 2012, the Since 2012 the
recovering’, while those not overall ecological value of total area of our
yet in optimum condition are our reserves has continued
considered ‘unfavourable’. to increase. In 2015, 95% of all nateuxrepraesnerdveesdhas
nature reserves with known by 47%
Analysis of the results from status were in favourable,
our nature reserve health (Jim Asher)
In focus: Silver-studded blue butterflies
Silver-studded blues are specialist heathland butterflies. Partly
due to the loss of heathland these butterflies are nationally
declining; their population collapsed by three-quarters
between 1995 and 2004.
By cutting heather at Wildmoor Heath (Berkshire) in
rotation, a mix of heather structures and ages has been created
to provide conditions for all stages of the butterfly’s lifecycle.
Ongoing management ensures pioneering heather for egg-
laying, as well as more mature heather for male territories to be
established. Stands of gorse have been kept to provide roosting
sites for the adults, with bare patches of ground created for
the two species of ant with which the butterfly has an intimate
relationship. All this work saw silver-studded blues recolonise
the site in 2010, with numbers increasing to a maximum day
count of 15 individuals in 2015.