Special Species
Species Monitoring
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Citizen Science monitoring project – Get involved!
Do you spend time out and about in the Sherwood Forest landscape? Then why not join in with the Miner2Major citizen science monitoring project.
The species selected are widespread within the UK but records are scarce within the Miner2Major project area. You will be helping to contribute data to the understanding of species population distribution which in turn will influence conservation management delivery.
All you have to do is record when, where (grid reference) and how many you see of any of the insects and if you can get a photo that would be great, as it will help us to verify your record.
Upload to iRecord either online or via the app and join the Miner2Major Project activity on the iRecord website
Invertebrates
(Photo credit U.Schmidt 2018) Saproxylic Invertebrates are defined as species ‘dependent on dead or decaying wood or dependent on those that are dependent on decaying wood for part of their lifecycle.’
In 2022 saproxylic invertebrate surveys were undertaken on recently veterianised trees within the RSPB managed area of Sherwood Forest NNR. The survey identified 156 species of beetle of which 92 species were beetles known to be associated with saproxylic habitats. This included finding two saproxylic beetles new to the county of Nottinghamshire, Aderus populneus and Mordellistena neuwaldeggiana both beetles associated with wood pasture habitats. Thirty species of beetles found during the survey have a conservation designation assigned to them.
In 2023 saproxlic beetle survey were expanded to look at sites outside the core ancient and veteran tree area of Birklands and bilhaugh SAC/SSSI. 2023 surveys will look to gain a clearer picture of the distribution of saproxylic beetles in the wider landscapes.
Birds
Members of the Birklands Ringing Group have undertaken monitoring on the following selected woodland bird species, which are either under recorded or have shown decline in recent years. These are Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, a resident species and two migrant species, the Tree Pipit and Redstart. The sites that are being surveyed for the above species have been selected outside the core Sherwood Forest area and are sites that haven’t been surveyed before or are under monitored.
Fungi
Notts Fungi Group will be establishing a monitoring programme for Oak polypore which is a nationally scarce species. Oak polypore is only found on the living or dead trunks of standing or fallen mature to ancient oak trees. This species doesn’t reliably produce visible fruitbodies every year.
Annual surveys will be carried out on suitable trees in the wider Sherwood Forest landscape during July and august. The records collected will be shared with the National Biodiversity Network and help to identify the species distribution.
Species Habitat Improvement Grants
Species Habitat Improvement Grants of up to the value of £5000 have been awarded to landowners for projects that have undertaken species monitoring on our target species (Woodland & Heathland birds, Invertebrates, Reptiles and Bats) contributing to improved species distribution information in the wider Sherwood forest landscape. Grants have also been awarded to projects that aim to help improve habitat conditions for the above targeted species by enhancing, restoring, recreating, and better connecting local habitats within the Sherwood Forest area. Completed grants are shown below.
Forest Town Nature Conservation Group
Forest Town Nature Conservation Group (FTNCG) was awarded a grant to create new habitats and restore existing habitats on Spa Ponds Nature Reserve. The project involved creating new woodland understory whilst diversifying the age structure of the wood resulting in the creation of new glade areas, which were enhanced by acid grassland and wildflower seed sowing. The woodland restructuring work gave opportunity to wood piles including dead hedges of various lengths, sizes, and styles across the reserve as well as creating more standing dead wood. The project also included hedgerow improvement / restoration work which involved hedge laying where possible and planting up gaps along a 100m length of hedgerow on the reserve. The increase in standing and ground level dead wood is beneficial to a number of invertebrates and the hedgerow restoration provides wildlife corridors for a range of invertebrates and mammals.
Birklands Ringing Group
Birklands Ringing Group working with Stud Farm was awarded a grant to improve woodland management on an area of the farm. Through tree clearance in a conifer block to create glades followed by improving the ground flora. Installing and creating desirable species features such as habitat piles, digging a pond and installing bird boxes and feeders which will benefit a range of invertebrates, amphibians and birds. They also constructed a hide structure to provide a base for specialist species groups to use when surveying the site and also for educational/training purposes.
Forestry England
Forestry England were awarded a grant to carry out pond improvements at Boundary Wood and Ollerton Pit Wood. This included removing trees from around the edge of the pond which were overshadowing the pond and introducing too much leaflitter when the leaves dropped. From the felled timber desirable features such as brash piles were created for amphibians and reptiles. A large area of reeds from both ponds was removed creating an area of open water, and allowing the reinstatement of the island where birds can nest.