As the Chair of Natural Devon

Bold = UK Priority BAP
This list will be revised in liaison with organisations such as Plantlife, BSBI and the British Lichen Society.

Devon Species Action Plans have been produced for the following species:

The golden hair lichen

Data	Good
Context	The golden hair lichen (Teloschistes flavicans) is one of the most pollution-sensitive of all the lichens. It has undergone a substantial contraction in its national range over the last century (thought to be due to air pollution) and is now only found in the South West and Wales.
Range / population	Unfavourable inadequate? In 1998 there were four core sites in Devon (Lundy, Stokenham, Prawle Point and Start Point) as well as ten other sites. NE monitor the population at Stokenham SSSI (designated for its lichen interest) every five years. Monitoring in 2012 showed that the lichen is still found at Stokenham but not within the SSSI . The species is declining in East Devon and now thought to be extinct on Dartmoor, but remains stable elsewhere.
Habitat	Favourable? Inland golden hair lichen grows only on trees, favouring ash and sycamore, but on the coast, where it can be locally abundant, is also to be found on rocks and on the ground, but always in airy, well-lit situations. The species appears to have poor powers of colonisation, even apparently suitable trees adjacent to healthy populations may remain un-colonised, and this may be an important factor explaining the rarity of this lichen, combined with the possible effects of air pollution
Future prospects	Unfavourable inadequate? The Golden hair lichen is within Natural England’s Species Recovery Programme and between 1997 and 2002 transplanting was carried out at five sites in Devon and Dorset. The results were moderately successful, with 6 out of more than 36 transplants showing new growth in 2002. Many trees supporting the lichen are protected though Tree Preservation Orders. However at many of the core sites the species is only present on a single tree or rock and is therefore vulnerable to threats such as felling and ivy growth.
Overall Devon status	Unfavourable inadequate?
UK status	Declining

Other lichens listed in 1998 (bold = current UK priority species)
Graphina pauciloculata – stable.
Lungwort lichens are very sensitive to pollution and all are declining (in Devon or nationally – or both?
Ramalina siliquosa is common in Devon and should not be listed as a key species in 1998.
Heterodermia leucomelos (Ciliate straplichen) – extinct in Devon
There are currently 24 lichens from the UK priority list in Devon, including Usnea florida which has declined dramatically in the last 20 years.
Rare whitebeams
Devon is one of the richest counties in Britain for whitebeam and supports eight species of ‘apomictic’ whitebeam (set viable seed without fertilisation). Devon supports eight such species, all but one of which of which are endemic to Britain and Ireland; the Devon whitebeam S. devoniensis, S. subcuneata, S. anglica, S. vexans, S. porrigentiformis, the rock whitebeam S. rupicola and two un-named species known as “Taxon D” and East Lyn Valley form. Sorbus subcuneata is on the IUCN list of globally vulnerable species.

The majority of these apomictic whitebeams occupy particular habitats, mainly on thin soils over base rich rocks, and some are restricted to one or two sites. However the Devon whitebeam is found across the county, predominantly in hedgerows. Populations of most species appear to be currently stable although some sites are threatened by scrub encroachment. Scrub clearance has taken place at sites on the Torbay coast and at Stoneycombe Quarry near Kingskerswell. Future work includes genetic studies of the relationships between species, surveys to determine population sizes where unknown (led by BSBI) and field trials to determine best management practices.

Vascular plants (bold = current UK priority species)
Edging towards extinction
Irish Ladies’ tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana). Since it disappeared from its last site on wet heath near Tavistock it is now considered extinct in Devon and England. Reasons are poorly understood.
Dwarf Spike-rush (Eleocharis parvula) Just one small patch on the River Avon remains. Shading by trees, deposition of ‘liquid’ muds, erosion by mooring boats, lack of grazing of brackish riverside marsh, and, possibly sea level rise, are all issues.
Field Gentian (Gentianella campestris). Late flowering and poorly recorded, Field Gentian was last seen on Roborough Down.  A short annual with short-lived seeds it requires specific continual short and open grassland conditions. Perhaps as few as six populations now exist in southern England (not on the 1998 list)
Water Germander (Teucrium scordium) Found at Braunton and Northam Burrows. Possible only two other sites in the UK. The population at Braunton has undergone a massive decline over the past decade or so, and the plant has not been seen at Northam Burrows for a couple of years (from a high of nearly 10,000 ‘plants’ in 2000).  Lowered water tables, lack of bare ground and excessive rabbit grazing have all been implicated in the decline, but it is hoped that practical work by the Christie Estate, Torridge District Council, Natural England and Plantlife at both sites may reverse the decline, at least locally, in 2014.
Triangular Club-rush (Schoenoplectus triqueter). Became extinct as a British plant when populations along the banks of the tidal Tamar were lost to reed cover and erosion. Plants have been planted out in two sites on the riverbank and small populations have been re-established
Plymouth pear. The only known wild population is found at Plymbridge Lane and Estover Road SSSI which in 2008 was assessed by NE as unfavourable declining due to shading from trees likely to be adversely affecting growth and ability to sucker (the only means of reproduction in this species) 


Very rare
Forked Spleenwort (Asplenium septentrionale). A single plant survives on a prominent Dartmoor rock outcrop (down from two plants a few years ago).  The plant is healthy, produces copious spores, but nevertheless is probably Devon’s rarest plant.


Rare but stable
Bastard balm. A BSBI survey of bastard balm in 2010 found that it generally seems to be doing well. A few sites have been lost but new ones have been found.
Flax leaved St John’s wort (Hypericum linariifolium) The majority of the British population is found on Dartmoor. DNPA and DWT are carrying out monitoring and habitat management at various sites and the population is thought to be stable. Also known as toadflax-leaved St John’s wort.
Vigur’s eyebright (Euphrasia vigursii). Endemic to Devon and Cornwall and found at only a few sites on the western fringes of Dartmoor. The largest population is found at Lydford High Down. Monitoring and management at all sites is being carried out. The population is thought to be relatively stable but with a long term decline.


Rare but increasing
White Rockrose (Helianthemum apenninum).  One of the classic rarities of the Torbay limestones (and otherwise only known from limestone exposures at the seaward end of the Mendips), the species is still abundant in a number of sites, notably Berry Head.  Practical work by the Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust and Plantlife at some of its northern Torbay sites (notably Daddyhole Plain and Rock End Walk), removing both scrub and leaf litter, has resulted in spectacular increases in populations locally, from buried dormant seed.
Greater Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera chlorantha).  This orchid continues to flourish in some of the hay meadows in the heart of Dartmoor, but one of the most significant Devon (and national) populations is to be found on a road junction of the A38, where over 1000 flowering plants grow alongside seven other orchid species.  Road verge management by the Highways Agency and Enterprise Mouchel have seen the orchid expand its range along the main carriageway of the trunk road
Round-headed Club-rush (Scirpoides holoschoenus).  With the exception of the just a single plant in Somerset, Braunton Burrows is the only place in Britain where this club-rush grows as a confirmed native.  The Devon population numbers many thousands of plants. Creation of scrapes within the Burrows dunes slacks has resulted in the natural expansion of this rarity in a number of localities.  Further work in 2014 should allow the further expansion of the species
Deptford Pink (Dianthus armeria).  Devon is the national stronghold of this species in Britain, with the country’s largest population residing on road verges around Buckfastleigh and Ashburton.  Populations on the outskirts of Buckfastleigh are being monitored by the Dartmoor National Park Authority (on numbers thousands of plants), whilst two populations on the A38 are managed by Enterprise Mouchel on behalf of the Highways Agency, and whilst numbers fluctuate annually, favourable management is allowing this species to slowly expand its range.
Strapwort (Corrigiola litoralis)  Volunteer management work on the margins of Slapton Ley – the sole remaining UK site – has resulted in an increase in population size here. 

5 ACRONYMS

AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

BAP Biodiversity Action Plan

BARS Biodiversity Action Reporting System

BSBI Botanical Society of the British Isles

BTO British Trust for Ornithology

CAP Common Agricultural Policy

Cefas Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science

CWS County Wildlife Site

CGS County Geological Site

DBRC Devon Biodiversity Records Centre

Defra Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

DNPA Dartmoor National Park Authority

DWT Devon Wildlife Trust

EA Environment Agency

ELS Entry Level Stewardship (Environmental Stewardship agri-environment scheme)

ESA Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme (all agreements end in 2014)

EWGS England Woodland Grant Scheme

FC Forestry Commission

FWAG Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (now FWAG SouthWest)

HLS Higher Level Stewardship (Environmental Stewardship agri-environment scheme)

ICES International Council for the Exploration of the Seas

IFCA Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities

JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee

MCZ Marine Conservation Zone

MMO Marine Management Organisation

NASCO North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation

NBN National Biodiversity Network

NE Natural England

NGO Non Governmental Body

NIA Nature Improvement Area

PTES People’s Trust for Endangered Species

RIGS Regionally Important Geodiversity Sites

SAC Special Area of Conservation

SPA Special Protection Area

WFD Water Framework Directive

6 References

1. Introduction
1: Devon BAP Partnership. 1998. The Nature of Devon. http://www.devon.gov.uk//devon_biodiversity_action_plan.htm
2: State of Nature. UK. 2013 http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/science/stateofnature/index.aspx
3: Defra (2011) The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/whitepaper/
4: Defra (2011) Biodiversity 2020: A Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services. http://www.defra.gov.uk/publications/2011/08/19/pb13583-biodiversity-strategy-2020/
5: Devon Local Nature Partnership - http://www.naturaldevon.org.uk/

2. Designated sites
2.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest
1: JNCC. SSSI Common Standards Monitoring - http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2217.
2: Natural England. SSSI condition data - http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/Special/sssi/report.cfm?category=C,CF

2.2 County Wildlife Sites
1: CWS selection criteria - http://www.dbrc.org.uk/county-wildlife-site-project-photos/
2: Defra. Local Sites target. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/natural/biodiversity/uk/
3: CWS monitoring in Devon - http://www.dbrc.org.uk/biodiversity-monitoring-framework

3 Habitats
1: JNCC. UK habitat classification - http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5706

3.1 Woodland
1: Forestry Commission, National Forest Inventory (2011)
2: Natural England. Traditional Orchard project in England (2011) - http://nepubprod.appspot.com/publication/47015?category=10006
3: The Deer Initiative - http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/di_in_england/south_west_england.php

4: Forestry Commission. The English Woodland Grant Scheme - http://www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs

5: Dartmoor National Park. Restoring Ancient Woodlands Project - http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/lookingafter/laf-naturalenv/laf-treeswoodlands/laf-restoringancientwoodlands.

6: Silvanus Trust. Working our Woodlands - http://www.silvanustrust.org.uk/index.php?page=working-our-woodlands

7: Devon Ward Forester Project - http:www.wardforester.co.uk/?page_id=4
8: Devon Ancient Tree Forum - http://frontpage.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfaboutus/devon.htm
9: Devon Wildlife Trust. Northern Devon NIA - http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/northern-devon-nature-improvement-area/

3.2 Coast and marine
1: Natural England. Designation of Marine Conservation Zones - http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/marine/mpa/mcz/default.aspx.
2: Estuary Partnerships http://www.devonmaritimeforum.org.uk/index.php/Partnerships-Projects/estuary-a-coastal-partnerships.html
3: Devon Maritime Forum - http://www.devonmaritimeforum.org.uk/
4: Environment Agency. Shoreline management plans - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/105014.aspx
5: Finding Sanctuary. Information on recommended MCZs in Devon - http://www.finding-sanctuary.org/page/home.html) + Finding Sanctuary (2011) Final Recommendations. http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120502152638/http:/www.finding-sanctuary.org/

3.3 Rivers and Standing Open Water
1: Natural England. Catchment sensitive farming http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/farming/csf/default.aspx
2: Environment Agency. Catchment Restoration Fund - http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/planning/136182.aspx + Catchment Restoration Fund River Improvement Projects - http://www.wrt.org.uk/projects/crf.html
3: Upstream Thinking - http://www.upstreamthinking.org/
4: Environment Agency. The South West River Basin Management Plan (SWRBMP) - http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/planning/125027.aspx.

3.4 Wetlands
1: Mires on the Moors - http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/lookingafter/laf-naturalenv/dartmoormiresproject and http://www.exmoormires.org.uk/index.cfm?articleid=8699
2: Devon Wildlife Trust. Working Wetlands - http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/working-wetlands/

3.5 Grassland and heathland
1: Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. Loving our limestone - See http://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/mainsub.cfm?id=11&parid=40
2: Forestry Commission. Haldon Heathland grazing project. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6T7BVY

3.6 Other farmland habitats
1: Devon Hedgerow Survey 2007-2009, FWAG 2010.

4. Species
1: JNCC. Information on UK BAP priority species - http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-5717.
2: Devon BAP Partnership. 1998. The Nature of Devon. http://www.devon.gov.uk//devon_biodiversity_action_plan.htm


4.1 Mammals
1: Environment Agency. 2010. The Fifth National Otter survey. http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Leisure/otter_survey_oct10_full_report%281%29.pdf

4.2 Birds
1: British Trust for Ornithology. 2009. Birds of Conservation Concern 3 http://www.bto.org/science/monitoring/psob
2: The Barn Owl Trust. 2003. Devon Barn Owl Survey Report. www.barnowltrust.org.uk/content_images/pdf/Devon_Barn_Owl_Survey_2003.pdf
3: RSPB. Cirl Bunting Project - http://www.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/projects/details/222509-the-cirl-bunting-project
4: Conway, G. et. al. (2007). Status and distribution of European Nightjars Caprimulgus europaeus in the UK in 2004. Bird Study 54, 98-111
5: Wotton, S. et al. (2009) The status of the Dartford Warbler in the UK in 2006. British Birds
6: Brown et al (2008) Seabirds on Lundy: their current status, recent history and prospects for

the restoration of a once important bird area. British Birds. http://www.lundymcz.org.uk/docs/Public/Research/2011%20Seabirds%20On%20Lundy.pdf

7: Amar, A., Hewson, C.M., Thewlis, R.M., Smith, K.W., Fuller, R.J., Lindsell, J.A., Conway, G., Butler, S. & MacDonald, M. 2006. What’s happening to our woodland birds? Long-term changes in the populations of woodland birds. RSPB Research Report no. 19 and BTO Research Report no. 169
7: Hewson, C.M. Amar, A., Lindsell, J.A., Thewlis, R.M., Butler, S., Smith, K. & Fuller, R.J.  2007. Recent changes in bird populations in British broadleaved woodlands.  Ibis 149 (s2): 14-28. )


4.4 Fish
1: Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Environment Agency. 2012. Annual Assessment of Salmon Stocks in Fisheries in England and Wales 2011 http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/Annual_Assessment_of_EW_salmon_stocks_2011.pdf
2: Environment Agency. 2008. Better Sea Trout and Salmon Fisheries – Our Strategy for 2008-2021

Appendix 4
1: JNCC. 2008. Species Conservation Status Assessment. http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4060.
2: United Kingdom Biodiversity Action Reporting System - http://ukbars.defra.gov.uk/archive
3: British Trust for Ornithology. 2009. Birds of Conservation Concern 3 http://www.bto.org/science/monitoring/psob

7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This document was pulled together and edited by Sarah Jennings (Devon County Council) with encouragement and help from Peter Burgess (Devon Wildlife Trust).
Many thanks to the many individuals (listed below) who have contributed information and expertise to this report.
Help with compiling information / editing – Craig Dixon, Basil Greenwood, Peter Burgess and Matthew Lundquist
CWS and other contributions / comments - Ellie Knott, Hannah Gibbons and Ian Egerton at DBRC
Help with editing species lists – Lesley Kerry
Habitats / general – Justin Milward (Woodland Trust), Andy Guy (Natural England), Helen Booker (RSPB), Norman Baldock (DNPA), Kevin Ryelands (RSPB), Jon Avons, (DCC)
Hedges – Rob Wolton and other Devon Hedge Group members
Dormouse - Paul Chanin and Stephen Carroll (Devon Mammals Group)
Otter – Paul Chanin and Mary Rose Lane (EA)
Water vole – Mervyn Newman (Devon Water Vole Recovery Project), Mary Rose Lane (EA)
Barn owl – David Ramsden (Barn Owl Trust)
Cirl bunting – Cath Jeffs (RSPB)
Nightjar – Jon Avon (Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society)

Helen Booker (RSPB)

Curlew – Jon Avon (Devon Birdwatching and Preservation Society)

Helen Booker (RSPB)

Norman Baldock (DNPA)
Upland birds – Helen Booker and Norman Baldock
Seabirds – Helen Booker and Alex Scholefield (Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust)
Woodland birds – Helen Booker
Great Crested Newts – Nicky Green (Devon Reptile and Amphibian Group)
Atlantic salmon – Kelvin Broad (EA)
Invertebrates – Andrew Whtehouse (Buglife), Stephen Carroll (Devon hymenoptera recorder)
Freshwater pearl mussel – Rob Knott and Mary Rose Lane (EA)
White clawed crayfish – as above
Dragonflies and Damselflies – Dave Smallshire and Lesley Kerry (British Dragonfly Society – Devon Group)
Butterflies – Barry Henwood, John Randall, Roger Bristow, and Jean Turner (Butterfly Conservation)
Moths – Barry Henwood (macro-moths), Bob Heckford (micro-moths) – (Devon Moth Group)
Spiders – Matt Prince and Dr Peter Harvey (Spider recording scheme)
Devon Whitebeams - Tracey Hamston (Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust)
Lichens – Barbara Benfield, British Lichen Society
Plants - Andy Byfleid (Plantlife), Roger Smith and Jeremy Ison (BSBI) and Norman Baldock (DNPA)

Appendix 1 A summary framework for nature conservation in England

1992 The Convention on Biological Diversity was adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This was the first global treaty to provide a legal framework for biodiversity conservation.

1994 The UK ratified the Rio Convention and launched the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP). This identified broad activities for conservation work until 2014 as well as lists of priority species and habitats.
1998 The Nature of Devon – A Biodiversity Action Plan was published. This identified 29 key wildlife habitats and 251 key species as a priority for conservation action. Action plans were produced for the 17 habitats and 20 species identified as requiring a county wide approach to their conservation. Wildlife with a localised distribution was addressed at the local scale e.g. the conservation of blanket bog through Dartmoor BAP and the conservation of small blue through the Torbay BAP.

2000. 
      The European Water Framework Directive came into force. The Environment Agency in the South West aims to bring 43% of the 1,100 waterbodies into ‘good’ ecological status by 2015.
      

2002 Parties to the Rio Convention agreed to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. This became known as the 2010 Biodiversity Target.

Working with the Grain of Nature, a Biodiversity Strategy for England was published and set out how England would achieve the 2010 Biodiversity Target. A target was set to bring 95% of the SSSI area into favourable or unfavourable recovering condition by December 2010.
2007 A new national indicator was established for Local Authorities to bring Local Sites into positive management. In Devon the target set was to increase the number of Local Sites in ‘positive management’ by 3% each year.
2009 The Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) came into force which enables the designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs).

Devon’s Biodiversity Action Plan was updated to include Geodiversity.

2010 At a global meeting held in Nagoya, Japan it was acknowledged that the 2010 target had not been met. New targets (the Nagoya Protocol) were set for 2020. The UN declared 2011 to 2020 a Decade on Biodiversity.

2011 A Natural Environment White Paper was published by Defra for the first time in over twenty years (The Natural Choice: securing the value of nature). The 2002 Biodiversity Strategy was replaced by Biodiversity 2020: a Strategy for England’s Wildlife and Ecosystem Services with new targets for England’s biodiversity.
2012 Natural Devon, the Devon Local Nature Partnership, was established in December 2012.