Knepp Wildland Project Annual biodiversity report and monitoring update 2010

Extract from report

The full reports of commissioned surveys (Butterfly survey & Fixed-point photography, Breeding Bird Survey, Ragwort Monitoring and the Transect Survey) are obtainable from KCE, and summaries are presented in this report. Raw data is either held by Knepp Castle Estate, T. Greenaway or the data collector.

Surveyor

The survey was undertaken by Theresa Greenaway November 2010.

click here to read the 2010 report

Knepp Castle Estate Bird Survey

 2010

Introduction

A repeat survey of the breeding bird communities present within two areas of the Knepp Castle Estate was carried out in spring 2009 following similar surveys in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.  Its purpose was to provide a comparison with the results of the previous surveys in relation to the conversion of the estate from intensive arable to a near-natural grazing system.

Surveyor

The survey was undertaken by Paul James who also carried out the surveys in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009

Species recorded

A total of 60 species was recorded in 2010 (see Appendix 1 - 3 in the full report), a very similar figure to the 61 species recorded in 2009. ‘New’ species recorded in 2010 were lesser spotted woodpecker and raven bringing the total since 2005 to 77. Of the 60 species recorded in the 2010 survey,  12 Red List Species and 15 Amber list Species.

for the main report in MS word click above

If you would like to see the following transects referred to in the above report please click on the following pdf documents below:

• Green list species map 2010 North South transect

• Green List species map 2010 East West transect

• Red and Amber Bird Map 2010 North South

• Red and Amber Bird Map 2010 East West

Timed Butterfly Transect Surveys of the Knepp Estate 

July 2005 - 2010  

Introduction

This is the fifth year that butterflies have been surveyed by Rich Howorth (West Weald Landscape Project Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust) along a transect set up in 2005 (Howorth, 2010). Although this transect is surveyed following Butterfly Conservation Society methodology, this methodology does recommend walking such transects once a week for 26 weeks from spring to autumn. Resources of time and money have limited this annual survey to just one day in July.

Surveyor

The survey was undertaken by Rich Howorth Sussex Wildlife Trust - West Weald Landscape Project, SxWT

for the main report in pdf click above

If you would like to see the following transects and spreadsheet reports please click on the following pdf documents below:

• Butterfly survey map transect

• If you would like to see the spreadsheet data

 Transect Survey 2010

Introduction

As part of the baseline audit of vegetation, one of the surveys commissioned in 2005 was to record vascular plants along eight 30m belt transects in four selected areas, with the intention of repeating this exercise every five years. 

Surveyor

The survey was undertaken by Theresa Greenaway and Sophie Miller 

for the main report in pdf click above

Fixed Point Photography Survey of the Knepp Estate

July 2005 - 2010  

Introduction

Annual series of photographs have been taken over five survey years in July on the Knepp Estate to enable visual comparison and detection of significant changes in the site’s structure and composition over time. Such an approach is extensively used as a general technique to monitor gross ecological changes in protected areas worldwide, its value increasing with repeated application over time (as for all long-term monitoring studies). Given that substantial changes in habitat composition might be expected from the introduction of the extensive semi-naturalistic grazing regime, this simple method should provide an adequate photographic record of the site’s evolution.

Surveyor

The survey was undertaken by Rich Howorth Sussex Wildlife Trust - West Weald Landscape Project, SxWT

for the main report in pdf click above

If you would like to see the following report please click on the following MS word documents below:

• photographic register of Knepp Estate

News from Knepp

A yearly update for the friends of the Knepp Wildland Project

2010  

Author

Written by Jason Emrich 2010.

for the main report in PDF 0.7MB click above

Knepp Ragwort Monitoring

2010  

Introduction 

Ragwort Senecio jacobaea is toxic to livestock and its proliferation in formerly arable fields in Knepp has caused concern among some neighbours and adjacent landowners. A Ragwort Strategy for Knepp was produced in 20091, in compliance with which a strip of a minimum of 50m meters around the southern block boundary will be topped annually in July. In addition, ragwort will be monitored annually in 16 fields across the New Barn / Brookhouse area. This part of the Estate has been selected as much of it is arable reversion and it also is bordered by those who have expressed concern about the ragwort. The southern block was fenced in spring 2009.

Author

Written by Patrick Toe and Theresa Greenaway  2010.

for the main report in PDF 0.9MB click above

Annual Herd Inspection

Feb 2011  

Introduction 

Park Herd The animals had come out of the winter in a good body condition. On average the 19 cows and their followers were scored to be body condition 3+ (scale 1-5). This is significantly better than 12 months ago when the animals had to endure a hard long winter. During the winter 09/10 one adult animal was lost suffering from pregnancy toxaemia....

Author

Written by Maarten Boers MRCVS, The Livestock Partnership

for the main report in word click above