| Rhos Pasture - Devon |
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| Extent/Distribution ‘Rhôs’ is a Welsh word which means ‘a wet, often heathy grazing pasture’. Such wet pastures are - or were - so much a part of the Welsh landscape to deserve their own name, but in the south west too, especially across northern Devon and north east Cornwall, up onto the sides of the moors, they were once a common sight, most commonly referred to as ‘moors’. Nationally however the word Rhôs has come to be used to describe this type of unimproved pasture, which is found in several areas up and down the Atlantic-influenced western seaboard of Britain and North West Europe. Devon contains three major concentrations of Rhôs pasture: Some 4000 hectares are documented on the Culm Measures of north and west Devon, amongst over 530 sites; about 1100 hectares occur on Dartmoor, amongst some 380 sites; and approximately 300 hectares are known on the Blackdown Hills, amongst some 90 sites. The total UK resource of all Rhôs pasture in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is estimated as amounting to 56,000 hectares (in the UK Biodiversity Steering Group Report), though this figure should perhaps be treated with caution given that survey work has not been as extensive in some areas as it has in Devon. Internationally the extent of Rhôs pasture is poorly documented, but significant areas are known to occur in the Republic of Ireland and the western seaboards of Brittany, north west Spain, Portugal and Normandy Agricultural improvements More than 80% of the loss of Rhôs pasture on the Culm Measures between 1984 and 1991 was due to agricultural improvement of land by drainage, ploughing, reseeding and fertiliser application . Further losses to the same cause continue though the rate of loss has slowed substantially. Low market prices for finished beef animals and falling milk prices, coupled with high land prices and input costs have provided an overwhelming pressure on Devon’s farmers to intensify grassland management. This pressure to intensify has been supported historically by CAP price support, although this has been mitigated since 1992 by the introduction of sheep and suckler cow headage payments, linked to quotas and by an extensification top-up paid on the suckler cow and beef payments where stocking levels are below a prescribed level. Until March 1996, a demand for more slowly matured beef provided economic support to extensive systems. However, following the BSE crisis, all beef animals have to be finished under 30 months old, undermining the viability of extensive grazing systems. Afforestation Some 3% of Rhôs pasture on the Culm was lost to afforestation during the 1980s, though considerably more succumbed to forestry in previous decades, with most of the large plantations of north west Devon having been originally established on this type of vegetation. Today, afforestation, possibly funded under the Woodland Grant Scheme, together with tree planting along streams and rivers to stabilise banks as part of fisheries management practice, may still lead to a loss of Rhôs pasture, though the Forestry Authority’s policy is not knowingly to grant aid such damaging afforestation. Abandonment and neglect Where grazing has ceased or is insufficient, rank areas of Rhôs pasture become scrubbed up and succeed to woodland. This has caused the almost irretrievable loss of a number of sites, with many others having partially deteriorated. Management inappropriate for conservation objectives Rhôs pasture may be burned too often, overgrazed, grazed at the wrong time of year or for too long a period. Livestock also graze selectively, with sheep, ponies and some types of cattle only choosing more palatable parts of the sward which are left at a uniformly short height, leaving rank and rushy areas ungrazed. Within these short swards a wider variety of plants may thrive, but invertebrates lose valuable winter shelter and nectar sources. Fragmentation and isolation of sites The above factors mean that most Rhôs pasture sites are separated and surrounded by improved agricultural land or forestry, often making their continued management by traditional means impractical, and preventing free movement and colonisation by less mobile species. Pond creation The poorly drained ground on which Rhôs pasture occurs is well suited to the establishment of fishing lakes for commercial or recreational purposes, and a number of sites have been lost to this change. Mineral workings on the Culm Measures has caused loss of sites to tipping and extraction, for example at Woolladon (tipping) and Ash Moor (extraction licence) at Merton. Objective 1 To ensure there is no further loss of Rhôs pasture within its three major zones in Devon Targets No absolute loss of larger Rhôs pasture sites on the Culm, Dartmoor
or Blackdowns Objective 2 Targets Stewardship or equivalent scheme to remain available and targeted on
Culm Grassland throughout period of this Plan Objective 3 Targets A strategic prioritisation of land for Rhôs pasture restoration
to be produced for the Culm Measures by end of 1999, focusing especially
on the Torridge/Tamar headwaters Prime Biodiversity Area Objective 4 To establish positive links between the sustainable management of Rhôs pasture and the economic diversification of the areas in which it occurs, and to foster greater public awareness and enjoyment of this habitat and its wildlife Targets Green Tourism Network pilot projects established on the Culm and Dartmoor
by 2000 The pursuit of the Objectives and Targets set out in this Plan will
not only benefit the biodiversity of Rhôs pasture. Conservation
has wider benefits and advantages for society, by providing a resource
which is the basis of many aspects of the local economy, and by adding
to the quality of life of the people of Devon in ways which are beyond
financial measure. Thus enhancing the interests of biodiversity will
also enhance the interests of society as a whole. [ see above ] {Current action} Policy and legislation 1. Retain Rhôs pasture as a priority target habitat for Countryside Stewardship, ensure ESA tiers and payments properly target Rhôs pasture, and advise Government on needs of Rhôs pasture during development and adjustment of these and subsequent agri-environment schemes affecting DevonLEAD:MAFF, FRCA, EN PARTNERS:DWT, DNPA 2. Ensure Rhôs pasture is recognised in county and regional plans and initiatives for rural economic development, as a positive element of future economic diversification LEAD:GOSW, DCC, RDC, CoCo, MAFF 3. Review the need for grassland extensification elements in
ESAs and CS schemes, including the possibility of a pilot grassland
extensification CS Special Project. 4. Ensure Rhôs pasture is recognised through appropriate
development plan policies relating to wildlife sites
6. Ensure implementation of forestry grant aid strongly discourages
the planting of trees on Rhôs pasture sites, by avoiding grant
aid on such sites and through planting design 7. Ensure consents for other developments such as fishing lakes
discourage operations detrimental to Rhôs pasture 8. Ensure advisory services providing support to Rhôs pasture
managers are supported and properly financed Management
1. Ensure SSSI series properly reflects diversity of Rhôs pasture in Devon, by review and appropriate additional site notification LEAD:EN 2. Ensure that Wildlife Enhancement Scheme is extended to all owner/occupiers of SSSIs, with the priority given to sites supporting EU Habitats Directive habitats and/or species of conservation concern. LEAD:EN 3. Promote the uptake of management agreements through CSS, ESA or future schemes by Rhôs pasture owners and tenants LEAD:MAFF, FRCA , DNPA 4. When reviewing agri-environment scheme prescriptions take
full account of the management requirements of Rhôs pasture and
its special species 5. Introduce greater flexibility within agri-environment schemes to enable the entry of more Rhôs pasture sites (notably common land sites) into agreements LEAD:MAFF, FRCA 6. Expand network of Rhôs pasture Nature Reserves to seek coverage of full range of Rhôs pasture diversity LEAD:DWT PARTNERS: DNPA, EN 7. Seek to expand and link Rhôs pasture within commercial forestry plantations, through Forest Design Plans and projects LEAD:FE, FASWF PARTNERS: EN, DWT 8. Seek to develop facility within agri-environment schemes to fund the re-establishment of Rhôs pasture on targeted semi-improved land, through CSS Special Projects or other means. LEAD:MAFF, FRCA PARTNERS: DWT, ENDNPA, FWAG 9. Further develop restoration pilot projects targeting identified priority areas, with an emphasis on linking existing clusters of Rhôs LEAD:DWT, EN, DNPA PARTNERS: MAFF, FRCA, LEADER Advisory 1. Maintain and expand advisory services available in Rhôs pasture areas, and promote these services to Rhôs pasture owners and managers LEAD:DWT, DNPA, CCMS PARTNERS: EN, LAs, NFU, CLA, FWAG 2. Promote the uptake of management agreements through CSS, ESA or future schemes by Rhôs pasture owners and tenants LEAD:FRCA, MAFF, DWT, DNPA, PARTNERS:FWAG NFU, CLA, LAs, WRT 3. Provide regular newsletter-style information services to Rhôs pasture owners LEAD:DWT PARTNERS: EN, LAs
5. Develop use of Rhôs pasture Nature Reserves and other sites as best practice management demonstration sites LEAD:DWT, PARTNERS: DNPA, EN 6. Develop pilot initiatives to use Rhôs pasture as basis for green tourism DWT, DNPA, SWF RDCGOSW Research and monitoring
1. Carry out field survey to identify further Rhôs pasture sites, and review existing site information to maintain accuracy LEAD:DWT, DNPA PARTNERS: EN, EA, LAs 2. Summarise Rhôs pasture site distribution information through Wildlife Site Inventories or equivalent appropriate means, and supply these to key partners LEAD:DBRC PARTNERS:DWT, DNPA 3. Continue, and lobby for funding and support for, research into techniques for Rhôs pasture re-establishment. LEAD:IGER, MAFF, EN, ITE PARTNERS: DWT, DNPA 4. Develop strategic prioritisation of areas appropriate for restoration or re-establishment of Rhôs pasture, within a landscape or catchment context. LEAD:DWT, DNPA, IGER PARTNERS:ITE 5. Promote and carry out survey work on key invertebrates of Rhôs pasture and encourage research into their management requirements. EN, DNPA, FRCA, BDS, BC DWT, ITE 6. Initiate research into integrated farming systems capable of incorporating Rhôs pasture as part of productive livestock systems MAFF, IGER DWT 7. Carry out further research into environmental buffering capacity and value of Rhôs pasture in relation to water quality and watercourse recharging EA IGER EN, DWT, ITE, Royal Holloway 8. Research ecological effects of different management regimes on performance of key Rhôs pasture species FRCA, IGER, Plym. Univ. EN, DWT Education
and awareness raising
1. Provide regular information services to Rhôs pasture owners and managers, using news services produced for wider purposes, or through specially-produced newsletters LEAD: DWT, PARTNERS: EN, LAs, AONB ProjDNPA 2. Provide annual series of farm walks and open days on Rhôs pasture sites, targeted at general public or at key audiences as appropriate LEAD:DWT, DNPA, CCMS PARTNERS:FWAG, NFU, CLA, LAs 3. Increase and improve interpretation provision on Rhôs pasture Nature Reserves LEAD: DWT, DNPA 4. Develop innovative approaches to raising the public profile of Rhôs pasture through film, publications or other appropriate media DWT, EN, DNPA {Progress} |
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