Rocky habitats
Rocky habitats, some of which are natural and some of which are man-made, are found throughout Lancashire. Lancashire's limestone pavements are nationally rare habitats with 45% of their area having been damaged or destroyed by quarrying activity[i]. In 1990, only 3% of the area left remained undamaged.[ii]
Post-industrial sites including former quarries, drained reservoirs, disused railways, and certain types of industrial tips have been colonised naturally by a wide range of plants and animal communities such as Mere Sands Wood Nature Reserve. These sites are valuable for their biodiversity and there is a need to recognise their importance in the context of pressure for development or redevelopment and a need to manage them appropriately to enhance their biodiversity value.
Table 12: Pressures and opportunities for recovery (Rocky Habitats)
| Pressures | Example Habitats Affected | Broad Species Assemblages Affected (including example species[1]) |
Example Opportunities Identified |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Land management detrimental to biodiversity Habitat loss Invasive species Recreational impacts – from activities such as climbing & caving, mountain biking etc. Climate Change |
Caves & mines Inland rock exposures and scree Limestone Pavements Man-made rock features (for example, man-made historic features like barns, sheep folds and dry walls). Open Mosaic on Previously Developed Land – outside urban areas (≥10,000 residents) Quarries Spoil heaps |
Limestone Habitat Mosaic with structural diversity 42 shortlisted species including Invertebrates:
Plants:
Limestone pavement/rock (often linked with the above) 9 shortlisted species including - Invertebrates:
Plants:
Northern bedstraw
Rocky woodland 9 shortlisted species including - Plants:
Exposed Rock (Acidic) including:
Exposed rock (Basic) 6 shortlisted species including - Plants:
Exposed rock/crags (scrub, heath, moorland) 8 shortlisted species including- Birds:
Plants:
|
Develop current biodiversity management plans for active and recently closed quarries. Gain a better understanding of suitable biodiversity management of rocky habitats, write guidance and share best practice. Control both native and non-native invasive species to reduce encroachment. Work with Buglife and the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape to conserve the nationally significant species found within this Important Invertebrate Area. |
Table 13: Rocky habitats priorities, potential measures, and associated benefits
| Priority | Measure | Shortlist species benefited[2] | Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
|
R1. Limestone pavement habitats with high biodiversity value.
|
R1.1 - Suitable management of limestone pavements and associated ecologically valuable habitats e.g., open limestone pavement, limestone grassland, upland mixed ash woods, yew woodland, juniper scrub and bryophyte and lichen communities. |
Invertebrates:
Plants:
|
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: G1, G2, G3, R3, W1, SR1 |
|
R1.2 - Re-establish the naturally occurring gryke communities. |
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|
R1.3 - Write and promote the use of the limestone pavement handbook. |
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|
R2. Rocky outcrops and features with high biodiversity value (including outcrops, cliff faces, ledges, crevices, seepages, scree and boulders). |
R2.1 - Maintain and enhance naturally occurring biodiversity value of rocky outcrops and features, including (for example) maintaining suitable light, shade and moisture levels, grazing, scrub control and limiting disturbance as appropriate to benefit species such as bats, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, ferns, mosses, liverworts, other plants and lichens. |
Mammals:
Reptiles Birds:
Plants:
Lichens:
|
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 8, 11, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: C3, G3, SR1 |
|
R3. Biodiversity value of geological features, rocky habitats and artificial habitats arising from past industry and development is maximised.
|
R3.1 - Maintain and enhance existing biodiversity value of geological features, rocky habitats and artificial habitats arising from past industry and development, including quarries, disused railways, open mosaic on previously developed land and spoil heaps (hushings) for example, by appropriate management for the habitat type. |
As above |
National objectives and targets: 1, 2, 3, 8, 11, 16 Wider benefits:
Other linked LNRS Priorities: U1, U3, U4, SR1 |
[1] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[2] For the full list of the 534 species that have been identified as the most threatened or locally significant to prioritise for recovery action see the Evidence and Technical Information document – Appendix Ten
[i] Nature Conservation in Great Britain 1984, Nature Conservancy Council.
[ii]Land Wildlife Strategy for Lancashire.