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Guess how many?

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Herpetologic View Drop Down
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    Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 10:30am

Newts were removed from this 3 acre 'Brownfield' Site in Hawkwell, Essex?

It is next to one of the largest GCN breeding sites in Essex namely Magnolia LNR, the Anglian Flood Reservoir and the Rouncefall.

 

well

 

 

 

90 Great Crested Newts and 700 Smooth Newts!!!

included in this list was 350 Lizards, 700 Slowworms and 35 Grass snakes.....Common Frogs were the rarest at only 23

Just goes to show how important derelict Brownfield sites are or herps

Regards

Jon

 

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calumma View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 10:38am
Actually sites like this are not at all important because they keep being developed

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Martin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 11:13am
Jon, do you sleep well at night?
Martin.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Herpetologic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 12:15pm

Sorry

I should have explained more about this site

I DID NOT carry out this mitigation.

The numbers were reported to me by the consultant working for the developer last year.

I have been involved with this site though since 1996 as a volunteer. I first flagged the importance of the site for reptiles to the local planning authority in 1997. I had alot of advice from Jim Foster when he was at Froglife.

To my mind it does illustrate the importance of 'Brownfield' sites as there are so many animals on the site. These animals were moved to an adjacent site less than 50 metres away.

I have seen housing go up on sites, in this area, where there were Lizards, Slowworms and Grass snakes with no mitigation at all.

I didnt know about the Great Crested newts in this area until 2000 when I found 211 in one evening while undertaking a volunteer survey for Anglian Water on their flood pound. This was located between the residential area and the Magnolia LNR. Adjacent to the Flood pound is where the site, a former car breakers yard, is located.

I remember one site (you may see the houses in the background of the last posted photograph) where the site was cleared within a day. This was back in 1995/96!!! one day there was a wonderful meadow and hedge the next it was cleared to the bare ground.

I was outraged and this is how I started off as a Herp Conservation volunteer and became a member of the EARG

It wasnt until 2002 when the former car breakers yard site was finally approved for development after extensive ecological surveys were carried out (over two years I remember). The animals were removed from the site to the adjacent site which is now going to be part of the LNR with a managment strategy.

In future years I hope to  encourage English Nature to Designate the area as a SSSI for Great Crested Newts and Herpetofauna!!!!

 I have identified at least 5 ponds in the local area which are all part of the metapopulation and are linked by very good habitats.

I hope that the monitoring, and new management that is a result of the mitigation project would benefit the local herpetofauna of the area. 

The Restoration and the creation of more water bodies will be undertaken this winter. I hope that this population is secure for the future and this will be recognised in the next Local Plan in Rochford.

The Magnolia LNR pond was surveyed this year and 106 GCN's were counted on an evening in May.

The situation in the Rochford District is somewhat different concerning protected species than it was in the 1990's. The council has an advice page on the Habitats Directive.

http://www.rochford.gov.uk/CouncilDivisions/Planning/Habitats_Direct.htm

There are new policies in the replacement Local Plan relating to Protected Species, Biodiversity etc on Page 111 - 112 you can compare the policies in the last local plan

http://www.rochford.gov.uk/PDFs/PDFsLocalPlan/natural_resources.pdf

So I feel that the lost of this site has produced some good results for Herpetofauna Conservation.

 

Regards

Jon

 

 

 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Herpetologic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 12:22pm

 

The Essex Biodiversity Partnership is preparing a Habitat Action plan for Brownfield Sites.

The lead on this is Peter Harvey who is working on Brownfield Sites in Canvey Island. Northwick Road is apparently the UK's little Rainforest for inverts. The EARG is going to become involved within this HAP and we will be pushing the importance for Reptiles.

For instance the Northwick Road site has Great Crested Newts, Adders, Grass snakes and Viviparous Lizards. Surprisingly no Slowworms has anyone heard of any records of Slowworms on West Canvey?

Jon

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote test Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 9:18pm

The Kent site I'm surveying with KRAG fits the bill, rank grasses, rubble piles and hard standings that keep some areas open. (neo adder yesterday was in a small meadow area very close to a hard standing).

Lee remarked that you couldn't make a better site for herpetofauna, I totally agree. It appears that the lack of management down the years has created an ideal reptile haven for the more widespread species and about all it needs now are some log piles to replace the abandoned tyres.



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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote test Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 10:00pm

Site picture

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calumma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Oct 2003 at 11:26pm
One of the best sites that I have surveyed in Kent is an old landfill site that contained very little/no capping. Lots of rubble. Fantastic reptile populations. Unfortunately the site is now going to be capped with the result that its reptile interest will be lost. Why cap it now? So that it can be promoted as a country park . Another exceptional reptile population on a brownfield site near Ashford is being destroyed right now.

Unfortunately there are few, if any, local authorities who would even consider safeguarding brownfield sites for their wildlife interest. Especially if this means development moving into pristine greenfield sites. We all know just how important arable fields are for herps now don't we...

Lee
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote test Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Oct 2003 at 12:26am
I should add, the meadow above is proposed to become a garden of remembrance for a crematorium to be built at the tree line towards the back of the shot   .... you should see the meadow where the houses and roundabout are planned

Edited by Gemma Fairchild
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