It's not possible to undertake works which benefit all habitats and species in Warwick District, as this would be unrealistic working within the available resources.

Instead, the Biodiversity Action Programme focuses on eight target habitats and twenty target species (or species groups) identified and agreed through stakeholder engagement.

A focus on these target habitats and species also recognises the potential for indirect benefits to a wider range of important species and species groups (e.g. fungus and rare plant groups associated with specific habitats).

The target habitats and species were selected on the following basis:

• Species which have viable/significant populations within Warwick District or priority habitats which are widespread across the district
• Species or priority habitats which can be influenced by Warwick District Council through site management, projects, statutory duties, partnership or engagement.

The selection process then considered at least one of the following additional criteria:

• Species or priority habitats which are rapidly declining throughout Britain and/ or Warwickshire and are therefore a conservation priority
• Species and habitats included in the Warwickshire Species/Habitat Action Plans that are present in Warwick District
• Indicator species or species groups which reflect the state of an environment and/or indicate the diversity of other species within an area
• Species or priority habitats which are surveyed regularly on Warwick District Council sites and/or those which there is data available for monitoring on a district or county scale.

Target Habitats

The following eight habitat types have been identified as target habitats for this Biodiversity Action Programme:

Wood Pasture and Parkland

This habitat type consists of open grassland with trees, tree groups and blocks of woodland, notably ancient and veteran trees with associated deadwood and decay features. This habitat provides a direct link with bygone landscapes and is home to many rare and threatened species.

A key component of what makes this habitat so important is the presence of ancient and veteran trees (see below), which are considered to be irreplaceable, in the same way as ancient woodland.

Priority should be given to protecting and conserving this habitat type, along with enhancement through appropriate management and maintenance practices that deliver biodiversity benefits. Opportunities to expand existing wood pasture and parkland should be explored to help with habitat connectivity.

Trees (including ancient, veteran and important trees)

This habitat type includes ancient and veteran trees which are considered irreplaceable habitats due to their age, the thousands of species they support and the dynamic growing conditions required for them to form. It also includes other trees which are important in providing valuable ecological functions or services.

Trees are listed as a separate habitat type in this Biodiversity Action Programme to wood pasture and parkland and woodland (including ancient woodland) to ensure recognition and protection of trees residing outside of these habitats, including isolated trees, valuable urban trees, trees with Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), and those delivering important climate regulation services, urban greening and stepping stones for wildlife between habitats.

Priority should be given to retaining trees in Warwick District, regardless of their age, size or conservation status, and to the appropriate maintenance of trees to maximise biodiversity benefits.

Tree planting opportunities should be explored where they will deliver multiple benefits including habitat connectivity or stepping stones, continuous canopy cover, climate regulation, natural flood management and health and wellbeing benefits for local people. A strategic approach should be taken to tree planting in line with the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Warwickshire and following the ‘right tree, right habitat, right place’ principle.

Woodland (including Ancient Woodland)

This habitat type includes naturally occurring and historically planted woodland of native species, including ancient woodland, lowland beech and yew woodland, lowland mixed deciduous woodland and wet woodland.

This is one of the most important habitat categories in Warwick District, supporting many species and a variety  of benefits such as landscape, public amenity and timber production.

Priority should be given to protecting and effectively managing existing woodlands to deliver biodiversity benefits. Opportunities should be explored for woodland expansion or creation where they will deliver multiple benefits including habitat connectivity, continuous canopy cover, climate regulation, natural flood management and health and wellbeing benefits for local people. A strategic approach should be taken to woodland creation in line with the Local Nature Recovery Strategy for Warwickshire and following the ‘right tree, right habitat, right place’ principle.

Grassland (including Habitat of Principal Importance (HoPI) grasslands)

This habitat type comprises all areas of grassland and wildflowers, including those managed for amenity, pasture and hay and those subject to less intensive management (e.g. verges).

They support numerous plants and animals, including many nationally and scarce species.

Priority should be given to improving the botanical diversity of grassland habitats and delivering other biodiversity benefits through changes to grassland maintenance practises.

Priority Watercourses (Main Rivers) and Canals

In Warwick District, this habitat type includes the River Leam and River Avon, along with their network of tributaries, and also the Grand Union Canal. These watercourses and canals provide important green and blue corridors and habitats for a variety of species to move and grow.

Water quality is key to conserving and enhancing the biodiversity of watercourses and opportunities to work with partners to deliver water quality improvements should be prioritised. Priority should also be given to maintaining the riparian zone of watercourses (the strip of land bordering watercourses) to provide suitable habitat and connectivity between habitats for a variety of species.

Native Hedgerows

Hedgerows are defined as boundary lines of trees or shrubs over 20m long and less than 5m side, with any gaps between the trees and shrubs being less than 20m (Joint Nature Conservation Committee). They are generally made up of 80% woody species.

Hedgerows can support hundreds of species of plants and animals, especially if maintained in a sympathetic way. They provide food and nesting sites and act as important wildlife corridors.

Priority should be given to conserving hedgerows, along with enhancement through appropriate management and maintenance practises that deliver biodiversity benefits.Opportunities to expand, reinstate and create new hedgerows should be explored to help provide habitat connectivity. 

Arable Field Margins

Arable field margins are herbaceous strips or blocks around arable fields that are managed to provide benefits for wildlife. This includes margins sown with wildflowers for pollinators,  to provide seed for birds or left as unmanaged grassland and herbs. This habitat type is often overlooked in terms of its biodiversity value and has been identified nationally as a Habitat of Principle Importance (HoPI) requiring conservation and enhancement.

Priority should be given to protecting and conserving arable field margins through the local planning system and biodiversity net gain regulations, as well as raising awareness of the importance of this habitat type and supporting partners to expand arable field margins across the district.

Wetlands and Ponds

Wetlands are defined as areas of land either permanently or seasonally inundated with water. They include ditches, reedbeds, wet grassland, and more. Within the context of this biodiversity action programme, they may also include established Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS). Ponds are a familiar feature of many field corners, village greens and gardens.

This habitat type supports a range of species dependent on aquatic and marginal habitats, as well as playing an important role in storing carbon and natural flood management.

Priority should be given to protecting and effectively managing existing wetlands and ponds to deliver biodiversity benefits. Opportunities to expand, reinstate and create new wetlands and ponds should be explored to help provide habitat connectivity, also ensuring appropriate surrounding terrestrial habitat to allow species movement.

Target Species

Twenty target species are included in the Biodiversity Action Programme covering a range of taxonomic groups and representative of the various habitat types present in both rural and urban areas of the district.

Some species are referenced as groups, including scarce arable plants, bats, urban birds, farmland birds, wading birds, amphibians and pollinators, due to declines across numerous species in these groups and their collective need for conservation and enhancement or for their role as being good indicators of biodiversity in specific habitats (e.g. amphibians and pollinators).

• Black Poplar
• Scarce Arable Plants
• Water Vole
• Otter
• Hazel dormouse
• Bats (all locally occurring species)
• Hedgehog
• Barn Owl
• Urban Birds (including key species - swifts, starlings and house sparrow)
• Farmland Birds (including key species – skylark, lapwing, yellowhammer, corn bunting, linnet, grey partridge, tree sparrow and turtle dove)
• Wading Birds (including key species – sandpiper (common and green), snipe, ringed plover and oystercatcher)
• Amphibians (all locally occurring species including key species – great crested newt)
• Grass Snake
• Common Lizard
• Slow Worm
• Pollinators
• Wood White Butterfly
• Dingy Skipper Butterfly
• Agent and Sable Moth
• White Letter Hairstreak Butterfly

It should be noted that whilst some important species groups such as fungi, bryophytes and other rare plants are not a specific target species in this Biodiversity Action Programme, they are closely associated with one or more of the target habitats, and will flourish subject to sensitive and appropriate habitat management/enhancement (e.g. Saproxylic fungi benefitting from ancient and veteran tree conservation and enhancement in wood pasture and parkland, trees and woodland habitats).

Factsheets providing further detail on the conservation status, distribution, threats and possible conservation initiatives for these target habitats and species are included as an accompanying standalone document to this Biodiversity Action Programme entitled ‘target habitats and species fact sheets’.