Are Conservation Groups mandatory?
It is MOD policy that a Conservation Group will be established at any site that has a national, European or international designation (e.g. Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Area for Conservation, Special Protection Area) or wherever a site has considerable ecological or archaeological interest. Further guidance can be obtained from The MOD Joint Service Publication (JSP) 362 Chapters 5 and 6. Groups can also be established at any site wherever there is sufficient interest from staff.
Why are Conservation Groups beneficial?
With an increasing amount of environmental legislation being brought in, a conservation group provides the site management with advice and guidance on the ecological and archaeological assets to be found at a site and how these are to be managed. With a strengthening of environmental legislation the likelihood of any site plan or activity impacting on a protected species or habitat has increased. As a result, it is necessary to have an understanding of where protected species and habitats are to be found at a site. This is achieved through the production of site sensitivity maps. A site sensitivity map listing the protected species, habitats and archaeology could save a considerable amount of money being spent on surveys should a site require a rebuild or other major works project. Project timescales could also be significantly reduced as some surveys can only take place at certain times of the year. If the particular survey window has been missed for that year then time delays and associated costs accrue. Knowing that a tree or building has bats in situ for example can mean that appropriate mitigation action can be planned and the project can continue. Not knowing can result in the project being brought to a halt until such time as the appropriate licences are obtained and mitigation work undertaken. The destruction or disturbance of a protected species roost, nest or resting place brings with it the possibility of a £5000 fine for each individual disturbed, damaged or destroyed.
Most groups meet twice a year. The meetings usually take place in the spring and autumn as this provides an opportunity to plan management activities and review them once they have been completed. Larger groups may well also have an Annual General Meeting at which the wider membership can find out what activities any sub groups have undertaken.
How much time is required?
This is very much up to the individual. Monitoring and surveying requires a certain level of commitment over the relevant survey period. This can range from a number of hours to several days, dependant upon the species being surveyed. Some groups plan activities that require just a few hours of active participation, such as scrub clearance or coppicing.
What skills do you need?
No particular skills are required as many groups have sub-group specialists who will be able to assist new members in the development of relevant skills. However, there is a general requirement for specialist skills across the MOD conservation groups and so any specialists who wish to volunteer their services to a conservation group will be received with open arms.
Skills particularly sought after include:
• Lichens, mosses and bryophytes
• Fungi
• Lepidoptera – Butterflies and moths
• Botany
• Bats
• Amphibians and reptiles
• Ornithology
• Odonata – Dragonflies, damsel flies etc.
• Coleoptera – Beetles
• Mammals – Large and small
Conservation Group Project Ideas
Contribute to the Conservation element of your site Environmental Management System (EMS) or Integrated Management Plan.
Establish ecological wood piles:
Encourage facilities management staff to leave log piles in situ when carrying out forestry work on site. These provide valuable habitat for many invertebrate and fungi species and provide a small niche of habitat on what can be ecologically barren sites. Chipping of the smaller branches and leaves can be composted and then used as mulch in borders and on footpaths.
Establish site composting piles for leaves and grass cuttings:
Composting piles can provide habitat for species such as slow worms, grass snakes and hedgehogs. The resulting compost can also be used around the site in flower beds and borders, thus reducing costs from buying in mulches.
Create site wildflower meadows:
This can be achieved with a change in the site grass cutting regime. The grass will still require cutting, but the frequency can be reduced to two “conservation” cuts, one before the main flowering period and one after. The cut arisings will need removing from the area to reduce enrichment and to encourage the rarer slowing growing plant species that need a nutrient poor environment.
Renovation or establishment of a site pond:
There has been a significant reduction in pond habitats nationwide over the last hundred years. Defence Estates (DE) has recently formed a partnership with Ponds Conservation as part of their “Million Ponds Project”. This is not a project that must be undertaken lightly or before considerable work has gone in to establish the suitability of the site proposed. A pond site must be carefully chosen to ensure that it develops its full potential as a wildlife habitat. Further advice and guidance can be obtained from the Conservation Group Team.
Site nest box scheme:
The provision of nest boxes around a site can provide habitat for a variety of species of bird. This will require some dedication on behalf of group members to ensure that site boxes are monitored, kept maintained and cleaned out at the end of the nesting season. For staff who wish to develop additional skills, this project could lead onto bird ringing, for which appropriate licences must be held.
Establish Site Sensitivity Maps:
Find out where on site your sensitive areas for ecology and archaeology are located. Get these mapped.
Participation in national recording schemes:
Fungi forays – See internet for details of local fungus groups:
Volunteering with other Conservation Bodies.
Contact details
For further information about conservation groups, how to get involved and for conservation groups in your area please contact:
Clare Backman
Property Policy Officer
Building 97a
Land Warfare Centre
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 0DJ
Tel: 01985 222877
Fax: 01985 222514
Email: clare.backman@de.mod.uk