Number of terrestrial and freshwater species in the UK compared with recent global estimates of described species in major groups excluding bacteria, viruses and algae.

It is obvious that there is much to learn and plenty still to be discovered about Pendle’s biodiversity. However, we do know something about what wildlife can be found out there. The Nelson Naturalist’s were formed in 1908 and have been recording flora and fauna for 95 years, and 2 reports, the Phase 1 habitat survey of Pendle in 1988 and the Biodiversity Audit of North West England (1999), tell us a lot about Pendle’s wildlife and its conservation needs and priorities.

Over 1000 hectares of Haworth Moor (including Boulsworth Hill) have been designated by the European Commission as a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area for Conservation (SAC) under European legislation (the Birds and Habitats Directives) and is of European, if not world importance, for its moorland habitats and upland breeding birds. The UK government can be prosecuted if it allows it to be damaged! It is also Pendle’s only Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and is protected, to a degree, under UK law.

At 557 metres above sea level, Pendle Hill is the second highest point in Lancashire, only 4m less than Ward’s Stone in the Lancaster District of the Bowland Fells. Pendle Hill also falls within the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and much of Pendle in within the South Pennines Heritage Area.

According to the Phase 1 habitat survey of 1988, semi-natural habitat types (i.e. naturally occurring but modified by hundreds or thousands of years of human activities and composed predominantly of native species) cover 28% of Pendle, which is just in excess of the 27% for Lancashire. Rossendale has the highest at 55%!

Five woods in Pendle are believed to be Ancient Woodlands, i.e. having been continuously wooded since at least 1600, when the first accurate maps were produced, and are likely to be descended from the original woodland which developed after the retreat of the last ice age some 10,000 years ago! There are also 17 special wildflower roadside verges in Pendle, which should be managed “sympathetically” by contract with the County Council.

Sifting through the Biodiversity Audit of North West England, 120 Species of Conservation Importance have been recorded in Pendle, including 8 mammals, 70 birds, 4 amphibians, 2 fish, 1 invertebrates, 1 fungus, 1 moss and 32 vascular plants. Five of the mammals are listed in the UK Red Data Book, i.e. having undergone serious population declines and possibly threatened with extinction in this country if it continues, and one, the Pipistrelle bat, is a Priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP). Nineteen of the birds are also in the Red Data Book and 8 are Priority species in the UKBAP:- skylark, linnet, corncrake (now sadly extinct in Lancashire as a breeding bird), reed bunting, spotted flycatcher, grey partridge, bullfinch and song thrush.

The fairy club fungus, Ramariopsis pulchella, is a national rarity and 4 species are nationally scarce:- a beetle, a moss and 2 plants, mudwort and fringed water lily. The beetle, Laccobius sinuatus, which is a scavenging water beetle, is only found in Pendle out of the whole Northwest and that includes Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire as well as our Red Rose County!

There are also 58 non-statutory sites of County importance for nature conservation in Pendle. These Biological Heritage Sites (BHS) are identified through a partnership of the County Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, English Nature and local authorities. The network of BHS, along with SSSIs, represents the best examples of wildlife habitats in the county and is vital for the survival of our native plants and animals. Lomeshaye Marsh is a BHS and Pendle’s only Local Nature Reserve, designated by Pendle Borough Council with English Nature’s approval as being of local importance for wildlife, public access and environmental education. This LNR is less than 2 hectares, however, and the UK government recommends 1 ha per 1,000 people hence with a population exceeding 89,000, Pendle should have at least 89 ha. Hence like other authorities Pendle has a big shortfall, however, in January 2003 the Wildlife Trust initiated a LNR project across the 6 Districts in East Lancashire and 12 candidate sites were nominated in Pendle. These sites are being assessed and scored against specific criteria to identify the best sites. The Engineers Department of Pendle Borough Council has secured funding from English Nature’s “Wildspace” (a grant specifically for LNR’s) is currently progressing the designation of Upper Ball Grove Lodge as an LNR, a further 2.1 ha.

In addition to the specific LNR target, English Nature has developed and adopted the following Accessible Natural Greenspace standards (ANGst):

• That no person should live more than 300m from their nearest area of natural greenspace;
• That there should be at least one accessible 20ha site within 2km from home;
• That there should be one accessible 100ha site within 5km; and
• That there should be one accessible 500ha site within 10km.

Natural greenspace is land, water and geological features which have been naturally colonised by plants and animals.

In its Local Plan, Pendle Borough Council has a policy (E6 on the 1999 plan, E4 in the draft 2003 plan) on Important Wildlife Sites that seeks to protect and conserve SSSI, BHS and other sites of Local Natural Importance (LNI, i.e. Ball Grove Lodge, Walverden Reservoir and Greenfield).
In 1997 & 1998 English Nature published a series of Natural Area Profiles reflect the distribution of wildlife habitats and natural features throughout the countryside, as determined by their underlying geology, past land-use patterns and the cultural history of individual areas. These have been subdivided into Countryside Character Areas by the Countryside Agency and provide a framework for the planning and implementation of nature conservation objectives and UK Biodiversity Action Plan targets. Pendle is covered by three of the eight Natural Areas in Lancashire: Forest of Bowland; Lancashire Plains and Valleys and the Southern Pennines. Some of the key characteristic habitats in these Natural Areas which occur in Pendle are:

• extensive areas of blanket bog on moorland tops
• impoverished areas of wet and dry upland heathland
• large areas of upland acid grassland
• small pockets of lowland heathland and acid grassland
• isolated fragments of species-rich neutral grassland
• frequent springs and flushes
• fast flowing streams and rivers, canals and reservoirs
• some upland hay meadows in valleys
• upland oak and mixed ash woodlands in valleys

In 2000 the Wildlife Trust was contracted by Pendle Council’s Parks Services to carry out a wildlife audit of the 11 public parks in the Borough. Collectively the parks cover 73.3 hectares (181.2 acres) and represent a significant resource to the community and for wildlife. The parks support a variety of habitat types including remnant ancient woodland, other broadleaved woodlands, lakes and former mill lodges, main rivers, smaller streams and ditches, tall grassland, regularly mown amenity grassland, parkland trees and formal garden areas. A total of 394 plant species were recorded, including 107 trees and shrubs, 70 grasses, sedges, rushes, ferns etc., and 217 herbaceous plants.

Valley Gardens in Barnoldswick is used as a “Natural History Resource Area” by a nearby nursery school and is an example of a local park being used as an outdoor classroom for educational activities. An enclosed “nature reserve” area with small ponds is present in Alkincoats Park.

Letcliffe Park, Barlick, is situated on a watershed between the catchments of Stocks Beck (a tributary of the River Ribble) and the River Aire (which flows into the Humber Estuary). This means that two drops of water falling inches part could travel in different directions and end up in different seas off opposite coasts of England!

Whilst the parks survey focused on plants, some 37 species of bird were recorded including great spotted woodpecker, spotted flycatcher, goldcrest, nuthatch and tawny owl. The song thrush is a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and Pendle’s parks have an important role to play in the future of this bird in the District and the county as a whole.

The individual park reports identify 31 projects that could be implemented over a number of years, including woodland management, hedgerow planting, planting an alder/willow coppice to put the meaning of “Carr” back into Carr Road at Victoria Park, allowing wildflower meadows to develop, creating sensory and butterfly gardens, developing sculptures and other environmental artwork, providing interpretation boards, publishing trail leaflets and/or historical booklets, providing education worksheets for use by local and visiting schools, improving access to watercourses and converting space at Marsden Hall Farm into a classroom/study centre/community facility.

In 2001 Lancashire’s Biodiversity Partnership published Lancashire’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) in response to the UK government’s BAP. The Lancashire plan contains information on 10 of the county’s key habitats and 29 of the most threatened species with proposals for action to conserve and enhance them. The habitats most relevant to Pendle are:
Broadleaved and mixed woodland;
Species-rich neutral grassland;
Moorland/Fell; and
Rivers.

Some of the species that occur in Pendle are:
Birds: skylark, lapwing, song thrush, reed bunting and twite.

Mammals: brown hare, bats, water vole and otter.

New action plans are being published for habitats and species and these need translating into action on the ground in Pendle. The Wildlife Trust employs the Lancashire BAP Officer on behalf of the Partnership.

Whilst there is a lot to be proud about in Pendle we cannot afford to take it for granted and much needs to be done to ensure its survival for future generations. Everyone has a role to play from school children and students, community groups, service authorities, business and industry, farmers and other landowners, local authorities, regional bodies, up to the UK government and down to members of the public and that includes you.

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All development activity should be measured against tests...

Energy
Our consumption is out of control.

Waste
One disposed of, the waste problem is just beginning... 

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Use your loaf !

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