Species Action Plans This page contains the Species Action Plans for the NM BAP. Each action plan contains information regarding current status, threats, and objectives for their conservation. Each action plan contains the following information: Current Status Current factors causing loss or decline Current Action Key Habitats SMART targets Proposed actions Links to other action… Read More »
1. CURRENT STATUS 1.1 National 1.1.1 Petalwort is a nationally scarce liverwort found mainly in damp, lime-rich sand-dune slacks. It occurs in 16 Vice Counties in Britain and two in Northern Ireland. The largest known populations are in Cornwall, Devon, Cardigan, Anglesey, South Lancashire, Northumberland and West Ross. It is thought that 25 – 49%… Read More »
1 Current status 1.1 National Purple Ramping-fumitory is a nationally scarce, endemic annual plant which used to be widespread in the mixed farming and arable areas of Britain. However, during the last 50 years it has undergone a drastic decline throughout its former range due to agricultural intensification. Recent records of the plant are mainly… Read More »
1 Current status 1.1 National Occurring in at least 22 coastal localities in the Isle of Man and western Britain from central Scotland to south-west England, the Isle of Man Cabbage is a nationally scarce British endemic. The New Atlas of the British Flora (2002) maps it as native in 34 post-1086 hectads, extending from… Read More »
1 Introduction The Biodiversity Audit of North West England (1999) lists 474 taxa of vascular plants of “conservation importance”, 145 of which occur on the Sefton Coast. Whittling these down to a manageable number for Species Action Plans has been a daunting task. Two, Dune Helleborine and Isle of Man Cabbage, are listed as UK… Read More »
1 Current status 1.1 National Stoneworts are large algae mostly associated with freshwater bodies ranging in size from deep lakes and canals to small ephemeral ponds. Most species require calcareous, low-nutrient conditions. They are, therefore, fairly restricted in distribution, being largely confined to high water quality habitats on sand, peat or clay substrates. Lesser Bearded… Read More »
The highest population densities occur in areas of arable farmland that still retain pockets of grassland. High densities also occur on coastal grassland at Marshside, Southport where up to 50 pairs per square km are recorded. Breeding populations persist at various sites within the conurbation, principally at Fazakerley and the Rimrose Valley.
The highest population densities occur on arable farmland in Sefton. Together with adjoining areas of West Lancashire, these mosslands support the largest numbers of Grey Partridges in Lancashire with up to 8 pairs per sq. km being recorded. Good numbers are also found in the Rainford area. Smaller populations persist on uncultivated grasslands within the conurbation, notably at Otterspool and the Rimrose Valley.
This sub-species of the Sandhill Rustic Moth is confined to sand dune systems in North Wales and North-West England. Other sub-species – all coastal but with varying habitat requirements – occur in Cornwall (ssp. leechi), South-West Ireland (ssp. knilli) and Essex/Kent (ssp. demuthi). The Red Data Book lists ssp. leechi as Endangered and ssp. gueneei as Vulnerable (Shirt 1987).
As its vernacular name suggests, the bee is an early spring species, normally occurring from late March to the end of May. It nests in old blow-outs undergoing secondary plant colonisation in semi-fixed yellow dune habitat. Females forage predominantly, but not exclusively, on the pollen of Creeping Willow Salix repens and mass emergence of both sexes, which are triggered by a period of warm weather, occur over two to three days.