Natural England - Land management

Land management

A major focus of our evidence programme (substantially funded by Defra) is on ensuring that the development and delivery of Environmental Stewardship (ES) is evidence based and that we monitor the effectiveness of ES in delivering environmental outcomes. The programme also includes wider research on sustainable land management in other habitats such as woodland.

Key projects in our current programme

Monitoring:

• Agreement-scale monitoring of Higher Level Stewardship delivery (RP033)

• Inventory-based upland habitat condition survey (RP043)

Wider research:

• How to provide wetland habitats on farmland to increase biodiversity (RP192)

• Trials to identify soil cultivation practices to minimise the impact on archaeological sites (RP209)

Looking forward – areas of work in our draft future programme

• Development of our agreement-scale monitoring of Higher Level Stewardship to examine upland agreements

• Contribution of Environmental Stewardship to a range of ecosystem services

• Monitoring and evaluation to determine the environmental outcomes of Entry Level Stewardship

• Review and targeted research to understand carbon storage and greenhouse gas fluxes in a range of English habitats

• Development of evidence base to inform future land management schemes under RDP

Connections

A number of other projects within Natural England’s evidence programme will also contribute to our understanding of land management, including:

• Monitoring upland heather burning (RP082)

• A review of ecological factors and techniques affecting the restoration of herbaceous hedgerow flora (RP279)

• An evidence base for setting nutrient targets for eutrophication control in rivers (RP259)

• Collation of evidence of nitrogen impacts on vegetation in relation to UK biodiversity objectives (RP237)

• Development of a range of priority BAP habitat inventories (eg RP114, RP115)

• Upland Breeding Bird Survey (RP038)

• Natural England’s Open Access National Monitoring Programme (RP308)

Project type: Research | Monitoring

Research

ID	Title	Description	Date	Contact
RP016	State of the farmed environment report	To assess the current state of the farmed environment. Collaboration with Environment Agency and National Farmers Union.	01/07/2010	Stephen Chaplin
RP026	Quantifying the impacts of Entry Level Stewardship on biodiversity at farm scale (Hillesden Experiment)	To assess the outcomes for a range of wildlife of imposing three different intensities of intervention within a typical intensive arable farm. This is a key project for understanding the scale of biodiversity benefits likely to be delivered by Entry Level Stewardship (ELS). It started in 2005 and is due to run until 2011.	01/07/2011	Andrew Cooke
RP035	Improving the targeting of agri-environment schemes for farmland and woodland birds	To provide evidence to enable better targeting of agri-environment schemes for farmland bird species and improved management of agreements for these species.	01/03/2010	James Phillips
RP037	Effectiveness of Higher Level Stewardship at providing resources for target bird species	To provide a comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) in delivering for target bird species, both at the farm level and the option level. The results will be used to review and enhance delivery of HLS. This five year project started in 2007 is a partnership with RSPB.	01/10/2012	Phil Grice
RP041	Managing farmland for kestrels	Kestrels prefer to forage in grassland but despite the increasing amounts of this habitat provided by grass margins and field corners populations in Britain have continued to decline. This project aims to trial techniques to understand the extent to which grass margins are used by kestrels and how their management could be improved to benefit kestrel foraging and hence reproductive performance. Contribution to PhD at Newcastle University.	31/03/2011	Phil Grice
RP120	Biodiversity implications of woodfuel harvesting in ancient woods	To capture the issues and concerns of key individuals and organisations on the possible substantial increase in the management activity and harvesting in ancient woodland (particularly in south-east England) and to explore how these might be resolved.	01/12/2010	Keith Kirby
RP192	How to provide wetland habitats on farmland to increase biodiversity	To fill knowledge gaps in the management of wet grassland for biodiversity and the provision of suitable habitats for birds. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Phil Grice
RP193	Management of wet grassland habitat to reduce the impact of predation on breeding waders: Phase 2	To examine the impact of predators on breeding waders. The first phase of the project showed that the most important predators of wader nests are likely to be mammals such as foxes but that predation rates vary. This second phase is examining cost effective, non-lethal solutions. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Allan Drewitt
RP194	Diversification of grassland through the manipulation of plant-soil interactions and the identification of indicators of restorability	To (1) confirm association of high fungal-to-bacterial ratios with species-rich grasslands; (2) quantify the impact of key plant species in the development of fungal dominated soils and on vegetation diversity; (3)identify the mechanisms underlying the influence of plant species on fungal-to-bacterial ratios and soil biota influences on vegetation; and (4)evaluate other potential indicators for targeting sites for re-creation or enhancement of grassland. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Steve Peel
RP196	Testing of modified management of agricultural grassland to promote in-field structural heterogeneity, invertebrates and birds	To test simple management techniques of reducing grazing pressure and ceasing grazing from July onwards on approximately 20 farms in South Devon. Effects on invertebrates and birds will be assessed. In a separate study modified mowing and forage harvesting techniques which may reduce skylark nest losses will be tested. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Steve Peel
RP198	Grass silage as a new source of winter food for declining farmland birds	To investigate the influence of closure date on seed production in a range of widely grown ryegrass varieties. The work will assess the attractiveness to foraging birds of blocks that are allowed to set seed and remain in situ overwinter. The importance of grass seed in the winter diets of granivorous birds will be assessed through the examination of faecal samples. Agronomic costs will be assessed, along with three sward restoration techniques. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Steve Peel
RP199	Techniques to enhance the establishment and persistence of poor-performing species in grassland restoration	To(1) identify the constraints on the survival of poor-performing, specialist species for a wide range of UK grassland types; and (2) develop and test practical management prescriptions to enhance the establishment of these species under the agri-environment schemes. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2012	Clare Pinches
RP200	Sustainable management systems for unimproved neutral grassland	To determine the appropriate level of grazing by cattle to maintain species-rich grassland, and quantify the impact of grazing on invertebrates and on the growth of cattle. This will build on the research that was developed in a previous Defra project on integrating understanding to develop grazing and cutting guidelines. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2012	Richard Jefferson
RP201	Wide scale enhancement of biodiversity: effects on other resources	To provide further evidence that a moderate increase in plant diversity has the potential to deliver multiple benefits including (1) increased diversity and abundance of fauna; (2) improved soil structure, nutrient retention and water infiltration; and (3) improved forage quality. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2011	Steve Peel
RP202	Influence of spring grazing regime on the floristic diversity and restorative potential of upland hay meadows	To provide improved guidance for meadow management in agri-environment schemes, in particular to (1) identify the optimum spring grazing regimes and shut up dates for the maintenance and enhancement of botanical interests and (2) assess the impact on hay yield and quality. It is funded by Defra.	31/03/2012	David Martin
RP203	Sustainable nutrient management of semi-natural neutral grasslands.	To examine the most appropriate type and level of nutrient addition to maintain or restore plant diversity in lowland and upland neutral meadows focusing in particular on the role of farmyard manure (FYM). The findings will be used to revise guidance on FYM applications to unimproved neutral meadows. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2011	Richard Jefferson
RP208	The impact of the loss of set-aside stubbles on farmland birds.	To assess the impacts of the loss of set-aside on the winter ecology, behaviour, distribution and breeding population trends of many farmland bird species. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Phil Grice
RP209	Trials to identify soil cultivation practices to minimise the impact on archaeological sites	To determine the effect of agricultural and soil management techniques on earthworks and buried archaeological remains through controlled laboratory/soil bin and in-field experiments, alongside experimental accelerated and real-time earthwork field trials. The project will provide empirical data on the effects of different tillage implements on soil movement, how vehicle loading can affect soil compaction and an evaluation of cultivation depth monitoring.	31/03/2010	Victoria Hunns
RP210	Trends, long term survival and ecological values of hedgerow trees: development of population models to inform strategy	To measure and predict the balance of age structures necessary to maintain target numbers of hedgerow trees and to use this information to inform future decisions on this component of hedgerow habitats. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Emily Ledder
RP212	Managing uncropped land in order to enhance biodiversity benefits of the arable farmed landscape.	To identify new options for farmers to achieve desired biodiversity targets and meet other environmental objectives through the targeted management of discrete areas of uncropped land within the farmed landscape. The project will examine the relationship between the scale and distribution of land managed for biodiversity and the biodiversity benefits. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2010	Phil Grice
RP213	Environmentally sustainable and economically viable grazing systems for restoration and maintenance of heather moorland in England and Wales	To acquire additional long-term data from the grazing system study and intervention plots established at Pwllpeiran in 2002. This will include repeating vegetation and invertebrate assessments in 2010 and monitoring heather establishment in 2010. This project is funded by Defra.	30/09/2011	David Glaves
RP263	The number and productivity of waders in the Avon Valley	To assess whether Higher Level Stewardship is addressing declines in the number and productivity of wading birds in the Avon Valley. The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust are carrying out the survey work.	31/03/2010	Andrew Cooke
RP278	Effects of hedgerow management and restoration on biodiversity	To examine the effects of simple cutting management regimes promoted by Entry Level Stewardship (ELS) and Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) on the quality and quantity of wildlife habitat, and food resources in hedgerows; and identify, develop and test low-cost, practical options for hedgerow restoration and rejuvenation applicable at the large-scale under both ELS and HLS. A Defra funded project.	31/03/2013	Emily Ledder

Monitoring

ID	Title	Description	Date	Contact
RP023	Incidental socio-economic benefits of Environmental Stewardship	To quantify the incidental social and economic benefits associated with expenditure generated by the Environmental Stewardship Scheme. It will include direct benefits (eg jobs sustained and created, training, skills, social interaction); indirect benefits (eg spend on contractors) and induced benefits (eg further spend in the local economy). This work is funded by Defra	31/03/2010	Stephen Chaplin
RP025	Non-market benefits of Environmental Stewardship	To undertake an economic valuation of the non-market benefits of Environmental Stewardship. Joint project with Defra.	30/04/2010	Julian Harlow
RP028	Countryside Survey 2007	Countryside Survey provides scientifically reliable evidence about many aspects of the state of the UK countryside. The results from 2007 can be compared with the findings of previous surveys to measure and analyse change. Countryside Survey 2007 will produce a series of reports describing the state of, and change in, attributes of key environmental features. Natural England is a funding partner in this major project assessing change in the British countryside.	31/03/2010	Andrew Cooke
RP033	Agreement-scale monitoring of Higher Level Stewardship delivery	A detailed evaluation of 100 Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) agreements to provide an assessment of the potential of HLS to deliver expected outcomes. By establishing an independent baseline on the condition and extent of features being managed it will enable a future re-survey to validate the success of management. It is being delivered through a partnership with the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.	31/03/2010	Andrew Cooke
RP034	South West Peak Breeding Bird Survey 2009	A survey of target wading bird species in the South West Peak. The findings will be used to inform Higher Level Stewardship targeting and our understanding of the effectiveness of the scheme.	27/02/2010	sara barrett
RP036	Cirl Bunting Survey 2009	A survey to update our data on cirl buntings populations and thence inform delivery and targeting of Environmental Stewardship. Joint project with RSPB.	01/10/2010	Phil Grice
RP043	Inventory-based upland habitat condition survey	To examine a representative sample of upland heath, blanket bog and upland calcareous grassland priority habitats. It will enable Natural England to report on the condition of the upland habitat resource and to make comparisons between condition of SSSI and non statutory sites, inside and outside agri-environment management. A number of survey reports will be produced.	30/06/2010	Alistair Crowle
RP264	Bird survey of the Shropshire Hills AONB	Survey and reporting on uncommon bird species as part of the Conservation of Threatened Birds in the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership/Community project. The results will be used to support regional land management delivery, in particular the delivery of the Environmental Stewardship Scheme.	31/03/2010	Andrew Cooke

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