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Tees-Swale: naturally connected

Project area

Tees-Swale project area 829 sq km

Project rationale

“More, bigger, better and joined up”

“The first priority is to enhance the quality of remaining wildlife habitat”

Project rationale

The northern Pennines have the lowest levels of habitat fragmentation/ highest levels of habitat connectivity in England

Planning for Biodiversity – opportunity mapping and habitat networks in practice. Catchpole. 2006

Project area

Priority habitat – 502 sq km (61%) Blanket Bog & Valley Mire – 400 sq km (48%) Upland & Lowland Hay Meadows – 14 sq km (2%)

NB: the ‘white’ areas support important populations of breeding birds, including priority species such as curlew, lapwing & black grouse

Project area

SSSI – 67% of project area (553 sq km) 86% Priority habitat inside SSSI (431 sq km) 14% Priority habitat outside SSSI (70 sq km)

Project rationale

HNV farming is critical for upland habitats / biodiversity Farming community is central to Tees-Swale Trying to create transformation and lasting change

Project themes

Nature Improvement

Training and Skills

Access and Engagement

Nature Improvement – habitat works

Peatland restoration 500ha

Hay meadow restoration 200ha

Rush management 2000ha

Wetland creation 40 sites

Diffuse metal mitigation 300km of watercourse

River enhancement 1 location currently

Woodland creation 200ha

Nature Improvement

100 farmers / landowners directly engaged 1 to 1 1/3 of the farmers in the project area

Farmer areas of interest

Events and Cluster Development

• Demonstration events • Cluster development • Facilitation Fund group

Identifying and costing habitat works • Working with farmers to agree

works for years 1 and 2

• Opportunities for further work in years 3+ also identified.

Habitat Year 1 Year 2 Year 3+

Species rich grassland >65ha >65ha >50ha

Rush control >180ha >100ha >60ha

Wetlands/scrapes ~12 ~9

Woodland creation >50ha >40ha >40ha

• Originally outside of the boundary.

• Sue and Ray are interested in farming for wildlife and habitats

• Hit by the floods at the end of July.

Kexwith

Hawes Auction mart 18th Sept 2018

Species-rich meadows

• Five ‘Yorkshire Fog meadows’ surveyed

• The most species rich meadow put forward for restoration

• Potential for more to be restored in the future.

Rush pasture and scrape creation

• Good habitat for breeding waders.

• Farmer to install scrape with guidance from team and RSPB.

• May need rush management in the future, year 3?

Woodland planting

• Interested in some woodland planting

• Will support with under-planting in Lockey Wood

• Choice of funding, could be Countryside Stewardship and Tees-Swale combination or solely funded by Tees-Swale.

Hill Gill, Charlie & Gina Parker • Initial farmer interview in February 2019

• Has native breed cattle, sheep, goats and ponies

• View themselves as “temporary custodians” and aim to “leave land in better

health than when they came there”

Habitat Works

Training and Skills

Farmer/conservationist knowledge-exchange Farmer-led habitat assessment Alternatives to intensification Contractor training Volunteer training

Training and Skills

16 Traineeships

Access and Engagement

Engaging with groups around the area, generating new audiences 19 new routes and trails / enhancements Interpretation Community-led art in the landscape New partnership with outdoor education centres e.g. Marrick Priory

Delivery phase staffing

1 Project Manager

3 Land Management Facilitators*1

2 Engagement Officers*1

0.6 Access Officer

0.5 Comms Support

0.5 Interpretation

1 Finance Officer (p/t)

1 Admin Officer (p/t)

Timescale

Submission 2nd March 2020

Decision – Late June 2020

Delivery to mid 2025

Tees-Swale: naturally connected