Open Water and Reedbeds

SURREY’S HABITAT ACTION PLAN (HAP) FOR STANDING OPEN WATER AND LARGE REEDBEDS

1. Habitat Definition

This Habitat Action Plan (HAP) applies the following National HAPs to Surrey:

• Standing Open Waters Habitat Statement • Eutrophic Standing Waters HAP • Mesotrophic Lakes HAP • Reedbed HAP

Standing open waters cover all fresh water, ponds, lakes, lagoons and reservoirs including ephemeral / seasonal waters which dry out. Associated with this is muddy margins. Whilst ditches are designed to carry flowing water, many hold standing water for considerable periods of time and are therefore also included here. Flowing waters, streams, rivers and the Way and Arun Navigation are included in the Surrey Wetland HAP together with the swamp/marsh communities found in association with standing water. The Basingstoke Canal is included in this HAP. Lousley regarded the Basingstoke Canal as the finest habitat for aquatics Surrey has ever had, whilst Byfield considers it possesses a flora which “quite outshines any other water body in Britain - natural or man made”. Wet woodland has its own separate Surrey HAP as does floodplain grazing marsh. Wet flushes on heathlands should be considered in the context of the Surrey Lowland Heath HAP.

Standing open waters are classified according to their nutrient richness:

Oligotrophic - nutrient poor Mesotrophic - intermediate levels of nutrients Eutrophic - nutrient rich

In Surrey the majority of waters are eutrophic, but oligotrophic and mesotrophic waters are present, for example, newly flooded mineral workings and reservoirs.

Reedbeds cover stands of common reed (Phragmites australis) other than in a linear form, ie long narrow fringes adjoining open water which are covered in the Surrey Wetland HAP. While the National Reedbed HAP refers to reedbeds of 20 hectares and over, in Surrey stands of 2 hectares or more are significant.

Biodiversity of Standing Open Waters and Reedbeds

Flora

With our wet Atlantic climate, aquatic habitats are botanically one of our most dynamic and richest communities with many of European-wide importance.

The level of nutrients in a waterbody is important in determining which plants will be present and only a few species, such as Broad-leaved Pondweed (Potamogeton natans) will tolerate a wide range of nutrient levels. Most species have a much narrower tolerance.

Given the “inaccessibility” of some aquatic communities they are not as well studied or recorded as terrestrial communities, and it is recognised that this is a neglected botanical area.

There are some 24 aquatic plant communities recognised nationally of which 17 have been identified as relevant to Surrey. National Vegetation Communities (NVC) descriptions recorded in Surrey include:

A1 Fat Duckweed (Lemna gibba.). This often forms mats over the surface of the water beneath which there is little submerged aquatic vegetation. This community is frequently found in association with emergent vegetation and is typical of standing eutrophic and base rich waters. This community is often found in situations where recent disturbance or conditions that are too unstable to support other aquatic plants.

A2 Common Duckweed (Lemna minor). Creates floating mats on the surface of the water, often found in association with A1 communities which will oust this community in more nutrient rich waters. Widespread and common throughout Surrey, including ephemeral pools and rain filled ruts. Sub-community of Lemna trisulca.

A3 Greater Duckweed and Frogbit (Spirodella polyrhiza - Hydrocharis morsus-ranae). Another floating mat community below which Elodea canadensis and Ceratophyllum demersum exist. Very common but becoming increasingly local, being confined to unpolluted and clear unshaded waters in the warmer south east. Susceptible to increases in pollution and eutrophication.

A5 Rigid Hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum). This community is widespread and typical of still eutrophic waters, mainly in the warmer south east. It is becoming increasingly common as eutrophication increases.

A7 White Water-lily (Nymphaea alba). Natural distribution is significantly affected by widespread planting. Will cope with a range of oligotrophic to eutrophic waters, but not too eutrophic and is intolerant of turbidity and disturbance. Often occurs towards the limits of the zone of floating leaved vegetation. Planting has been particularly prevalent in south east England using hybrid of the native species. This hybrid can be told by a pink tinge to the white flowers, or by yellowing flowers. A North American species Nymphaea oderata which looks very similar is also planted and exists in sites in Surrey such as Boldermere.

A8 Yellow Water-lily (Nuphar lutea). Again widespread planting. It is characteristic of deeper standing waters of a mesotrophic to eutrophic nature. It tends to appear towards the outside of floating leaf communities, more so than white water-lily and appears to be more nutrient demanding than this latter species, therefore occurring in richer waters. Will tolerate some turbidity and while growing in a wide range of substrates prefers finer sediments. It is not as tolerant of base poor oligotrophic waters as A7.

A9 Broad-leaved Pondweed (Potamogeton natans). This is one of only two widely distributed pondweed species in Britain, the other being bog pondweed (Potamogeton polygonifolius). These species are typical of mesotrophic to fairly nutrient poor standing water, and whilst fairly tolerant of different trophic states, it is less common in more eutrophic waters. Due to the floating flat leaves it can cope with turbidity and occurs on a wide range of sub-strates although is deeper rooting than A8.

A10 Amphibious Bistort (Polygonum amphibium). Widely distributed characteristic of shallow edges and margins. Tolerates fluctuating water tables and capable of living in a terrestrial habitat for short periods before re-submersion. Withstands turbidity and prefers base poor and only moderately nutrient rich waters. BSBI monitoring shows that this community has increased in England since the 1960s.

A11 Fennel-leaved Pondweed and Spiked Water Milfoil (Potamogeton pectinatus - Myriophyllum spicatum) Community. A widespread but local community which includes most of the rich and more diverse pondweed vegetation. Usually both plants present, Fennel-leaved Pondweed in more eutrophic conditions, spiked water milfoil in faster flowing mesotrophic conditions. A community of clear mesotrophic to eutrophic and base rich waters on fine mineral sub-strates. The abundance of other Potamogeton species appears to be declining historically with Elodea species coming in. These communities are becoming increasingly impoverished and local as pollution/eutrophication and turbidity of standing water increases.

A12 Fennel-leaved Pondweed (Potamogeton pectinatus). This is a species poor community characteristic of still eutrophic waters, often with some measure of artificial enrichment and frequently polluted and turbid. This community is widespread and frequent. Potamogeton pectinatus is one of the most frequent characteristic species of eutrophic waters and tolerates disturbance. This community tends to replace A11 community in more eutrophic waters.

A13 Fennel-leaved Pondweed and Alternate Water Milfoil (Potamogeton pectinatus -Myriophyllum alterniflorum). This may have existed in Surrey and is characteristic of mesotrophic waters. Extinct in Surrey?

A14 Alternative Water Milfoil (Myriophyllum alterniflorum) community . May be still present? Confined to acidic mesotrophic to oligotrophic waters. Decline in abundance, very local.

A15 Canadian Pondweed (Elodea canadensis). Naturalised alien from temperate North America. A species poor community of nutrient rich waters with fine mineral beds. Widespread distribution. Intolerant of turbidity and shady conditions. Can be found growing with or replaced by the more recently introduced relative Nuttall’s waterweed (Elodea nuttallii).

A16 Water Starwort (Callitriche stagnalis). Two sub-communities exist. Both present? Widespread distribution of more shallow open waters, including ephemeral waters, ruts. Frequently found on fluctuating edges of ponds. This community is a rapid coloniser, can survive out of water for considerable periods of time, is shade and turbidity tolerant.

A19 Common Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis). Found in mesotrophic to fairly nutrient rich waters. Tolerates periodic or seasonal drying out and will colonise ephemeral water margins. Disturbance by grazing stock affects this species. Copes with more eutrophic waters better than other Ranunculus species.

A20 Pond Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus peltatus). Frequently found in association with other aquatic and marginal vegetation. Mesotrophic to nutrient rich waters. Like A19, found in shallower waters and tolerates some drying out.

A24 Bulbous Rush (Juncus bulbosus). Locally abundant in suitable habitats in aquatic and swampy conditions. Shallower stagnant waters, base poor to oligotrophic and often peaty waters. Two sub-communities, both present?

Reedbed communities are botanically species poor comprising mono-dominant stands of vegetation. Three of the four nationally recognised phragmites communities are found in Surrey. These are:

S4 Common Reed (Phragmites australis) swamps and reedbeds. A generally species poor community dominant in a wide range of permanently or periodically waterlogged habitats of differing trophic state and on a variety of substrates. This community is at its best, and stands are most luxuriant and productive, in wet eutrophic habitats where there is a warm summer. Whilst capable of surviving in a variety of water regimes from 2 metres above substrate to 1 metre below and within a varied pattern of fluctuations, it is at its best with water at +50cm to -20cms of the substrate and where there is flooding for at least several months of the year. Water variation needs to be regular and the community does not thrive on erratic variations. Its artificial dominance is maintained by cropping for reed enabling it to extend its occurrence into some naturally drier situations.

S25 Common Reed-Hemp Agrimony (Phragmites australis-Eupatorium cannabinum) tall herb fen. Characteristic of moderately eutrophic situations where mineral or organic soils are irrigated and frequently waterlogged by usual calcareous and base rich waters. Typical of communities in valley mires, developing along lowland rivers with catchments of calcareous headwaters. The key characteristic of this community is the moderate levels of nutrient enrichment that water flow or flooding creates. The community does not need either mowing or grazing to maintain it.

S26 Common Reed-Common Nettle (Phragmites australis-Urtica dioica) tall herb fen. Very variable community both floristically and physionomically. Common cleavers (Galium aparine) is the only other species that is constant. Again it is a species poor community. Often forms fragmentary and patchy mosaics as a second community which partly or wholly replaces primary fen communities in response to artificial enrichment and disturbance. Such increased eutrophication is caused through drying out and disturbance to the fen surface, or contamination of groundwater by agricultural run-off sewage or other industrial effluent. Generally, this community is not mown but some grazing, thereby adding further enrichment, occurs. Much of this community has been subject to woodland succession.

The number of plant species in reedbed community decreases as the degree of reed dominance increases, and what plant species are found are not dependent upon reedbeds for their survival and can be found in many other wetland habitats. Reed dominated tall herb fens support a greater diversity of plants than reed swamps.

Mosses and Liverworts

The rare millimetre moss (micromitrium tenerum) and violet crystalwort (Riccia huebeneriana) are both found on the muddy edges of open water. Sphagnum moss species can be found in reedbed communities.

Algae

Algae are found in all but the most polluted waters and are most evident in nutrient rich eutrophic situations. Many invertebrate species feed on algae. This group includes blue-green algaes and stoneworts.

Standing open water is important for stoneworts, a very advanced group of green algae which superficially resembles some aquatic vascular plants. Nationally 50% of stonewort species are threatened. They are also an important food plant for some water fowl species. Stoneworts are a submerged species growing in nutrient poor waters and are very vulnerable to enrichment from phosphates and nitrates. They are very good colonisers of bare / new water bodies. Flooded abandoned gravel and clay pits are particularly valuable for stoneworts. Freshly flooded excavations having rich minerals in solution often resulting in extensive Stonewort growth. Stoneworts however tend to decline with a build up in nutrient levels with organic materials. Stoneworts are then replaced by vascular plant species. The Staines / Walton Gravel Pits Group is identified nationally as an area rich in stoneworts.

Bacteria and Fungi

Bacteria are of fundamental importance to all wetland systems and utilise a wide range of wetland substrates. They are particularly evident where significant deposits of decaying matter occur, such as in the bed of eutrophic waterbodies. They are also found in association with iron rich waters, where iron reducing bacteria produce a rust coloured precipitate. Fungi are generally less important in pure aquatic habitats and are more important in marginal habitats playing a major role in the breakdown of leaf litter.

Mammals

Four native species are dependent upon the presence of water, namely otter (Lutra lutra), water vole (Arvicola terrestris), water shrew (Neomys fodiens), and Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentoni) of which the first two have National Species Action Plans prepared for them. Two other species of bat, the pipistrelles (Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus) and the noctule (Nyctalus noctula) can be regularly found feeding over open water, whilst the large concentrations of insects associated with all types of water and wetland provide a valuable food source for many of the 14 or so species of bat found in Surrey. The spread and colonisation of North American mink (Mustela vison) is posing an increasing and serious predatory problem to native wetland biodiversity.

Reedbeds are also important for Britain’s smallest mammal, the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus). Otters occur on large reedbeds where there is open water such as ditches or large pools, where there is a presence of their food supply namely fish and frogs, whilst reedbeds with good ditch systems are important for water voles. Large reedbeds with adjacent woodland may attract one or more species of deer.

Amphibians and Reptiles

Compared to continental Europe, the UK has a paucity of amphibian and reptile species. All six native amphibian species are found in Surrey with East Surrey in particular being a stronghold for the nationally rare great crested newt (Triturus cristatus), whilst ephemeral pools on West Surrey heathlands have historically been important for the nationally rare natterjack toad (Bufo calamita). The palmate newt (Triturus helvetica) is the rarest of the three native newt species in Surrey. The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is our only native reptile species which has a strong wetland association. Populations of introduced edible frog (Rana esculenta) are colonising areas of Surrey, and while their spread is not encouraged, it is not seen as necessarily a threat to our native biodiversity. The release of terrapin species (commonly red-eared terrapin - Trachemys scripta)) into the wild, largely as a result of unwanted pets grown too large, does however pose a serious threat to our wetland fauna. There is also growing concern over the release of other pet trade species such as the North American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) into the wild.

Fish

There are some 42 native species of freshwater fish in the UK. Historically, fish populations would have been pike (Esox lucius) dominated as the top predator, but with secondary predator species eel (Anguilla anguilla), chub (Squalius cephalus) and perch (Perca fluviatilis) providing a balance together with grazing species of roach (Rutilus rutilus), bream (Abramis brama) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus). Today many standing open waters are stocked for commercial and sporting angling. This is usually at a level higher than they would be naturally. The majority of such stocking is with coarse rather than game fish, and intensively stocked carp waters can particularly present problems to their natural balance and biodiversity due to factors such as increased turbidity and disturbance to the waterbody substrate.

Invertebrates

Over 3,500 species of invertebrates are identified as living on UK wetlands over half of which are insects which require wetland as some part of their lifecycle. The presence of invertebrate species on any particular water body are largely determined by a combination of geographic location, level of dissolved oxygen, water chemistry, vegetation structure and the substrate quality. The richest invertebrate communities tend to be found in submerged vegetation, demonstrating the value of established water bodies with a healthy and diverse aquatic flora.

Some 700 species of invertebrate are associated with UK reedbeds, 64 species dependent on reed to some extent and 40 species entirely dependent upon reed. Drier reedbeds with a litter layer are of more value to invertebrates than wet stands of reed.

Important invertebrate groups include:

Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata) - There are some 44 breeding species of Dragonflies and Damselflies found in the UK, and are good indicators of site quality. Any Surrey site with 17 or more species qualifies for consideration as a SSSI. The overall status of dragonflies in Surrey is very good compared to elsewhere in UK with some 28 breeding species.

Beetles (Coleoptera) - Water beetles are an important group in this habitat. Of the national rarities, the great silver water beetle (Hydrophilus piceus), and Helophorus lacticollis are rare in Surrey; whilst the lesser silver water beetle (Hydrochara caraboides) and a spangled diving beetle (Graphoderus zonatus) are considered to be extinct in Surrey, but capable of natural recolonisation. The ground beetle (Agonum thoreyi) and (Dromius longiceps) hunts among reed litter.

Crustaceans - This includes over 300 species including freshwater shrimps (Gammarus pulex)and Water Fleas (Daphnia). The white-clawed freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) is an endangered species, with the introduction of alien crayfish species such as the signal crayfish from North America (Pacifacstacus leniusculus), whilst the water fleas (Daphnia) provide a vital role in the food chain and balance of any healthy water body. The water louse (Asellus aquaticus) is a common crustacea which feeds on reed litter and other detritus.

Molluscs - Some 80 species of which about half are snails. The role of species such as swan mussels(Anodonta cygnea) is important in creating good water quality through their filter feeding.

Moths (Lepidoptera) - Reedbeds are important for a number of moth species, particularly Wainscot species. For example the local and scarce large wainscot (Rhizedra lutosa). In Surrey, the caterpillar stage of the following species feeds on reed: brown-veined wainscot (Archanara dissoluta), twin-spotted wainscot (Archanara geminipunctata), southern wainscot (Mythimna straminea), obscure wainscot (Mythimna obsoleta), and silky wainscot (Chilodes maritimus) are all resident in Surrey but only on a handful of sites and therefore must be considered threatened.

Chironomids (non biting midges) - These are an important food source at the base of the food chain. These midges are important for many reedbed birds notably Warblers and Bearded Tits, the insects emerging as adults in large numbers which are feasted upon by the birds to feed their own young. The aquatic lava of the midge is also an important food source for many other aquatic animals and water birds.

Birds

Birds are taxonomically and ecologically the most diverse group of vertebrates to use wetlands in the UK. Indeed those open waters in Surrey which attract international protection are designated for ornithological reasons. The most important bird group is that of waterfowl, and the South West London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits SPA / RAMSAR is designated for two waterfowl species, namely shoveler (Anas clypeata) and gadwall (Anas strepera). This is for wintering purposes. A number of sites hold nationally important numbers of waterfowl, again for wintering purposes. Bird use of open waters and large reedbeds varies according to the time of year in terms of wintering, migration and breeding, as well as use of sites during the night and day, eg: for feeding or roosting. Some sites are particularly important in providing a sanctuary for waterfowl when they moult, that is lose their flight feathers. Water birds will tend to avoid human disturbance. The depth of water bodies will also reflect the feeding range of birds that it will attract shallower bodies for example attracting dabbling duck, whilst deeper bodies attracting those species that will dive. A significantly important group are those fish eating species of waterfowl, as well as species such as kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

Table 1.1 Core Surrey Open Water Bird Species

Great crested grebe Podiceps cristatus Little grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Mute swan Cygnus olor Greylag goose* Anser anser Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Gadwall* Anas strepera Wigeon* Anas penelope Teal* Anas crecca Shoveler* Anas clypeata Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Pochard* Aythya ferina Goldeneye* Bucephala clangula Goosander Mergus merganser Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Coot Fulica atra Note: This listing excludes Canada goose, Mandarin duck and Ruddy duck, all of which are introduced species. *Denotes this species is on the Amber List of the RSPB’s Birds of Conservation Concern. It excludes gulls and terns.

Three introduced species of water bird have become particularly prevalent within Surrey. These are Canada geese (Branta canadensis), which demonstrated a preference for the large sheets of water that have been created across the County; Mandarin duck (Aix galericulata) which is particularly abundant in North West Surrey; and ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), the most recent arrival which is undergoing a population explosion across the County at present and poses a threat to the European white-headed duck (Oxyura leucocephala) found in Southern Spain.

Four bird species are highly dependent upon reedbeds. These are reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), bearded tit (Panarus biarmicus), marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus) and Bittern (Botaurus stellaris). Bearded tits require drier reedbeds with plenty of leaf litter, whilst bittern require areas of open water with the reedbed stocked with small fish. Reedbeds are also important for Cetti’s warbler (Cettia cetti), Savi’s warbler (Locustella luscinioides), associated with scrub areas alongside reedbeds, reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus), sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus), teal (Anas crecca) and water rail (Rallus aquaticus). They also provide important roosting places for a large number of Hirundines as well as species such as starlings.

A comparison of Surrey water bird species between 1900 and 2000 (see Appendix 3) reflects the increase in standing open water that has occurred over the County and the accompanying rise in abundance of waterfowl species. This is in stark contrast to the identical table for reedbed associated species reflecting the paucity of this type of habitat in Surrey.

2. Current Distribution and Status

Standing open water bodies are to be found scattered throughout Surrey, but concentrations of the larger water bodies occur within the Thames Valley area and also along the Blackwater Valley. There are no large reedbeds or indeed even moderate size reedbeds, ie over 5 hectares, to be found in Surrey. What stands of reed are to be found, are invariably in association with the fringes of standing open water habitat. Many reedbed communities have been lost to the process of succession and have become scrubbed and wooded up.

Table 2.1 Wetland Types by Natural Area

Natural Area Wetland Type Garden / Farm Pond Hammer Pond Natural Bog Ditches Dew Pond Flood Mineral Working Reedbed Thames Valley     North Downs   Greensand       Low Weald      High Weald   

Important Sites in Surrey

Nationally and Internationally Important Sites

Special Protection Area (SPA) and RAMSAR sites: • Staines Reservoirs (Staines North and South and King George VI) • Wraysbury Reservoir • Knight and Bessborough Reservoirs • Thorpe Park 1 (St Anne’s Lake) • Kempton Park Reservoirs (Part)

SSSIs • Frensham Great Pond • Frensham Little Pond • Hedgecourt • Bay Pond • Leigh Place Pond • Vann Lake • Stockbridge Pond • Cutmill Pond and the Tarn • Staines Road Pond • Boldermere (part of the Thames Basin Heath SPA) • Papercourt • Shortwood Common Pond • Basingstoke Canal

Note: Many smaller water bodies of pond size are included within woodland, old common and particularly heathland SPA and SSSI designations.

Whilst there are no nationally or internationally important sites for reedbed in Surrey a number of important wetland sites such as the Frensham Ponds, Hedgecourt, Cutmill Pond, Papercourt, Shortwood Common Pond and the Basingstoke Canal all have reedbed elements within them.

Many other open waters or reedbeds of local importance are designated as Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs, also known as County Wildlife Sites).

3. Factors Affecting the Habitat

Historical Changes

Unlike many other habitats in Surrey, open standing water has been increasing in its total area over the centuries. However, this masks some significant quantitative and qualitative changes. Whilst the number of larger water bodies has increased in Surrey, there has been a decline in smaller water bodies in the rural/agricultural landscape, although it has been offset by an increase in urban/garden water bodies. Equally there has been a qualitative decline in ecological value of many waters.

Equally unlike many other habitats in Surrey, open waters are virtually all expressly manmade rather than natural in their origin.

Water bodies such as Frensham or Reigate Priory are medieval in origin, often their creation being in association with monastic institutions. Many of these water bodies are to be found on common land, forming part of our commons today. During the 16th and 17th century many water features were created to serve the iron industry, particularly in the Wealden part of the County with the creation of hammer ponds, for example at Hampton Estate / Cutmill Pond and Friday Street. Bay Pond was created to serve the gunpowder industry. Historic landscape gardens of the 18th and 19th century created many large landscape water features, for example to be found at Virginia Water, Gatton, Claremont etc. Some of these involved the “landscaping” of previous industrial hammer ponds. In the late 19th and early 20th century particularly in the Thames Valley area of the County many new reservoirs were constructed creating large extensive sheets of water whilst more extensive mineral extraction, of flooded on restoration, has also contributed to the wealth of Surrey’s open water. For example the extensive sheets of water to be found in the Shepperton / Laleham area, along the Blackwater Valley, around Send on the Rivey Wey or on Nutfield Marsh.

Over the same time period many traditional open ditchlines and watercourses have been lost through culverting and other land drainage means. These have often provided vital wetland corridors linking the larger water bodies.

Large stands of common reed historically have not been a feature of Surrey, although it is believed that pockets of reed were hitherto more extensive than exist today following drainage and the hard engineering of many river courses for flood alleviation purposes, destroying much of the peripheral habitat. This is particularly so along the Thames itself. A number of mineral sites, either currently in operation or having been restored, have generated some sizeable stands of reedbed on features such as the silt lagoons.

Current Factors Affecting Extent and Quality

• Increasing eutrophication / decline in water quality (see table below).

• Change from plant dominated to algal dominated waters - factors include Carp introduction, Canada Geese, herbicide / pesticide run-off and boat disturbance.

• Over-stocking with fish adversely affecting plant and invertebrate populations. Bottom feeding/carp dominated waters increase turbidity and accelerate the release of nutrients from sediments.

• Loss of traditional ponds to development, “improvements” or infilling.

• Creation of stereotype ponds rather than ephemeral ponds.

• Pollution incidents.

• No management or inappropriate management.

• Introduction of aliens (see table below).

• Inappropriate and / or competing uses causing disturbance or decline in quality.

• Water abstraction and land drainage.

• Natural process of succession involving the loss of small ponds and scrubbing up of reedbed communities.

• Climate change - wetter winters, drier summers but a net increase in rainfall. This will affect species, lead to increases in flooding and seasonal drying up of water bodies.

Table 3.1 Change in plant communities arising from increase in eutrophication

National Vegetation Classification (NVC) Change arising from increased eutrophication Increase Decrease NVC A1  NVC A2  NVC A3  NVC A5  NVC A7 ? NVC A8 About the same? NVC A9  NVC A10  NVC A11 Diversity decreases with eutrophication NVC A12  NVC A14  NVC A15  NVC A16 About the same NVC A19 NVC A20 NVC A24 

Table 3.2 Alien / introduced species causing problems to native biodiversity

Mammals Amphibian Reptile Crustacea Vascular Plants Birds Fish American mink Mustelavison North American bull frog Rana catesbeiana Red-eared terrapin or slider Teracherys scripta Signal crayfish Pacifacstacus leniusculus and other alien crayfish species Australian swamp stonecrop/ New Zealand pygmy weed Crassula helmsii Canada geese Branta Canadensis Zander Stizostedion luciopereal Italian crested newt Tritunus carrifex Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis Parrots feather Myriophyllum aquaticum North American ruddy duck Oxyura jamaicensisa rubida Grasscarp Ctenophyrngodon idella Floating pennywort Hydrocotyle ranunculoites Wels catfish Silurus glanis

Indian / Himalayan Balsam Impatiens glandulifera Water ferns Azolla filiculoides / Azolla caroliniana

4. Importance to People and Cultural Significance

Water holds a fascination for the human race and fulfills many of our physical and indeed spiritual needs. First and foremost open standing water provides a source of drinking water both for ourselves, as stock ponds for our animals, or indeed as water storage for crop irrigation. Open standing water provides food primarily fish, but also the waterfowl that exist upon it. Many monastic fishponds were specifically created as a source of food, while wildfowling created flight ponds and decoys, such as that surviving at Pyrford Place. Standing open water provided defences in castle moats and as hammer ponds for the driving of iron smelting works or power sources for water mills in an industrial context. By the 18th century standing open water had taken on an aesthetic significance through the landscape garden movement. The creation of the canal system supplemented the importance of water for transport.

Due to the lack of reedbeds, straw rather than reed was used as the predominant thatching material in Surrey.

Many Surrey water birds have local names. According to Bucknill “The Birds of Surrey” published in 1900 sedge warbler was sedge bird, moorhen as water hen, little grebe as dabchick, bittern as bitterurne and heron as urn, herne, mull herne or mawl hern, goldeneye was referred to as black headed duck. Bucknill also refers to the old Surrey Swan Mark (see illustration) for the purposes of keeping a close watch on the number of swans, and at one time Surrey had its own Swan Master.

Spiritually, water has always been significant. To our forefathers, water had great meaning and importance, for example to our Neolithic ancestors it mirrored the window to the afterlife whilst in the Christian faith the issue of washing and baptism as spiritual cleansing is pivotal to the faith. Many deep pools were also places of oracular vision and fulfilled ritual functions, the art of scrying. There is also a strong spiritual relationship between the water and the moon. The stories of the Silent Pool and the drowning maiden and King John can be seen in this context. Standing water was thus used to bring comfort and wisdom to a focused mind, it was also used as a source of physical healing in the context of spa and spring towns, for example the popularity of Epsom as a spa town in the 19th century.

5. Current Benefits to the Community and Private Sector

Today, open standing water still fulfils a vital source of water. The largest areas of open standing water are the reservoirs. Whilst standing open water no longer provides food directly in the way that it did historically, it does nevertheless indirectly through activities such as fishing and shooting. Angling is the UK’s most popular participatory sport whilst with increased leisure time, open water is meeting all kinds of recreational needs today. This can range from walks along the water’s edge, the well worn nature of such lakeside paths compared to elsewhere is testament to the fascination we have with water, children feeding bread to ducks on the village pond, or indeed the whole raft of water sports that are now available to us today. The commercial transport interest of the canals has now translated itself into a recreational interest, whilst open water is renowned as being a favoured and particular good habitat for bird watching. The popularity of water features and ponds in gardens not only has partially compensated for the loss of ponds in the wider agricultural landscape, but also meets a spiritual need today emphasising the calming therapeutic nature of water.

Finally, with concerns over climate change and an anticipated increase in annual rainfall leading to an overall wetter climate, standing open water and the creation of new standing open water habitats is likely to play an increasing important factor in flood control and alleviation.

6. Potential

The potential for open waters is twofold.

Firstly, the restoration of existing or past open waters, both in quantity and qualitative terms. Many small ponds have been lost or become silted up and could be restored, whilst the worse excesses of eutrophication and the creation of more balanced and well-vegetated lakes, particularly those owned by local authorities, would provide important habitat and aesthetic benefits.

The second potential, is a creation of new water bodies. Priorities for this should be in the context of creating corridors of stepping stones to link in existing wetland habitats. Particular priority is in the context of supporting the South West London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits SPA / RAMSAR complex.

With the move away from landfilling of mineral sites, in areas where there are high water tables clearly wet restorations are likely to predominate, particularly in the Thames Valley.

There is also a need to better understand the interrelationship of water bodies, particularly in the context of South West London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits SPA / RAMSAR designation.

Concerning reedbed potential, again the mineral industry offers opportunities for creation and the RSPB/Environment Agency study of the potential in the Thames catchment area highlights this. However, there is a need to undertake a similar exercise on that part of the County outside of Thames catchment.

Locational Criteria for New Reedbed Creation

• Priority to areas once colonised by reed. This will support the original pattern of natural distribution. • Proximity to existing areas of reed (both in and outside of Surrey). This will provide scope to support and encourage colonisation and viability of populations. • Priority to locations which assist in the creation of corridors or plug gaps in such strings of sites. • Priority to river valley locations of the Thames, Blackwater and Wey in proximity to existing water courses/bodies. • Priority to sites where the ability to maintain and manage appropriate hydrological regimes exists. • Size. The larger the area available for reedbed creation, the better, but even small areas are valuable particularly in a corridor concept. • Sites that are not of existing high ecological quality for other habitat types. • Sites which will contribute to wider flood alleviation or control schemes. For example areas that are used to seasonally flood within the flood plain. Particularly in association with existing and new residential development. • Sites of mineral working where wetland restoration schemes will result. • Sites which afford the opportunity for reedbed technology for industrial effluent treatments. • On the back of large scale developments where wider habitat objectives can be achieved. For example highway, residential, or employment schemes. • Consideration of birdstrike implications in relation to aviation activity.

7. Current Action

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A number of waterbodies in Surrey are protected as sites of international importance under the SW London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits SPA / RAMSAR designations. The Special Protection Area (SPA) designation is made under the EC Birds Directive, in this case for wintering waterfowl reasons; whilst the RAMSAR designation is made under the RAMSAR Convention, requiring signatory states to protect wetlands of international importance. Sites of national importance are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), whilst those of countywide / local interest are designates as Sites of Nature Conservation Importance (SNCIs). Such international, national and local designations are recognised and given protection through the town and country planning system (see: Government Planing Policy Guidance Note No 9, Nature Conservation).

Under the Environment Act 1995, the Environment Agency has a duty to promote the conservation of aquatic flora and fauna; whilst Water Companies, Internal Drainage Boards, British Waterways and Local Authorities also have statutory duties towards nature conservation.

Controls and regulations covering water pollution are made under the Water Resources Act 1991, whilst under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, sensitive areas are designated where phosphorus stripping must be carried out on sewage works serving populations over 10,000. Further requirements for water quality improvement may arise from the EC Nitrates Directive and EC Water Framework Directive.

Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the unlicensed release of alien species into the wild is prohibited. Under Section 20 of the Salmon and Freshwater Fish Act 1975, the introduction of fish and fish spawn into inland waters (other than fish farms) requires the consent of the Environment Agency, whilst the keeping of non native crayfish is also subject to licensing requirements under the Prohibition of Keeping Live Fish (Crayfish) Order 1996. The Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has been reviewing the issue of sale of certain alien species, supported by strong representation from environmental organisations such as Plantlife.

2. Management

It is proposed that open waters in the UK are classified into three tiers on the grounds of naturalness, biodiversity and restoration potential.

• Tier 1 waters will be protected and kept in favourable condition. • Tier 2 waters will be waters damaged by human activity which are to be restored to favourable condition with typical plants and animal communities present. • Tier 3 waters are to have no further deterioration in the water quality and wildlife.

A co-ordinated approach to wetland management is being implemented through Local Environment Agency Plans (LEAPs). Every wetland SSSI is also to have its own Water Level Management Plan detailing its management to safeguard the integrity of such wetland interest.

There is an increasing move towards habitat creation as the preferred restoration of mineral working. Where this does not involve landfilling, this is invariably wetland habitat. Legal Agreements are used, requiring the preparation and implementation of management plans to ensure such habitat’s long term management.

Various strategies are being undertaken to promote the biodiversity of our open water and large reedbeds. English Nature are undertaking the London Waterfowl Strategy which is examining the wider issues and context of the SW London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits SPA / RAMSAR, and an express partnership to deliver this HAP is being formed to target NW Surrey. A working group to examine birdstrike risks in relation to Heathrow Airport has been formed, and The Blackwater Valley Strategy provides an overview of the open water bodies through this important corridor. The EA and RSPB have recently completed a study of the reedbed resource within the whole Thames catchment, and which includes the majority of Surrey.

Many historic parks and gardens are now being restored, for example Painshill Park and Gatton Park, and it is important that opportunities to ensure the open water biodiversity interest of these sites is protected and managed. Many local and community based conservation groups are also undertaking pond restorations, and it is important that these are undertaken with a proper evaluation of its ecological value beforehand. There are now a whole range of handbooks and texts available to guide and advise waterbody and reedbed managers, and many of these are included in this HAPs reference list.

3. Research and Monitoring

Waterfowl counts through the WeBs scheme are undertaken each winter on open waters; but this is only a numeric count, does not record what the birds use the site for, not all waterbodies are covered, and it only tends to be a winter and diurnal record. Little is understood of the interrelationship of waterbodies and their use for waterfowl. The London Waterfowl Strategy is going some way to address this, but it is hoped to have an express landfill tax funded research study to examine the interrelationship of waterbodies use by waterfowl. This would also be of help to the Heathrow Airport Birdstrike Working Group. Quite definitive pond surveys have been undertaking in Woking and Tandridge to quantify the resource we have and help guide management. Much work has been undertaken into the spread and colonisation of alien aquatic species, particularly botanical and herpetofauna species, and the best methods of their control.

8. Objectives

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Open Waters - Eutrophic standing waters • Classification of UK eutrophic water bodies into three tiers listing these on the grounds of naturalness, biodiversity and restoration potential. • Ensure the protection and continuation of favourable conditions on all Tier 1 eutrophic standing waters. • To take action to restore to a favourable condition Tier 2 eutrophic standing waters by 2005 that have been damaged by human activity. • Ensure that no further deterioration occurs in the water quality and wildlife of the remaining Tier 3 eutrophic standing water resource.

Reedbeds • Identify and rehabilitate by the year 2000 priority areas of existing reedbed (targeting those of 2 hectares or more), maintain this thereafter by active management. • Create 1,200 hectares of new reedbed on land of low nature conservation interest by 2010.

2. South East Regional Targets • Create 350ha of reedbed by 2010.

3. Surrey objectives are:

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10. our understanding of, and rectify data deficiencies on, the conservation value of open water and reedbed habitat, particularly in relation to less obvious species.
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2. Protect all known sites of conservation value. 3. Maintain the integrity of existing open water and reedbed habitat by preventing loss and damage. 4. Appropriately manage all open waters and reedbeds to maintain and enhance their biodiversity interest. 5. Improve the quality of water bodies by combating the causes, and reducing the worst effects, of eutrophication. 6. Reverse the process of succession and scrubbing up of existing reedbed areas, and expand their size where appropriate. 7. In suitable areas, encourage the creation of open water and large reedbed habitat, particularly where this promotes a corridor / stepping stone concept linking both open water and reedbed habitats together, both within and without the County. 8. Improve public understanding of open water and reedbed habitat issues.

9. Targets

Standing Open Water • Identify, classify water quality and establish a database for open water sites by 2005. • All important conservation sites to be given statutory protection by 2005. • All important sites being managed by 2005 and have management plans in place by 2010. • To establish an open waters habitat group by 2001. The group will provide a focus and integrated approach to open water habitat issues in Surrey and review the Open Waters Habitat Action Plan as appropriate. • To create 5 x 10ha and 100 x <0.25ha new open standing water bodies by 2010. • Develop a strategy to deal with the integrity of the South West London Reservoirs and Gravel Pits Special Protection Area / RAMSAR (i.e. the London Waterfowl Strategy) by 2005.

Reedbeds

• All important conservation sites to be given statutory protection by 2005. • Identify all existing sites over 2 hectares, or which hold populations of key species, and establish a database by 2001. • Ensure all important sites are being managed by 2005 and have in place by 2010. • To establish a reedbed habitat group by 2001. The group will provide a focus for an integrated approach to reedbed habitat issues in Surrey and review the large reedbed habitat action plan as appropriate. • To identify locations for future reedbed creation by 2005. • To create 20ha of new reedbed by 2010 (including one site of at least 10 ha), and a further 80ha by 2050.

10. Proposed Action

Key to the potential deliverers

BAA: British Airports Authority BTCV: British Trust for Conservation Volunteers DEFRA: Department for the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs EA: Environment Agency EN: English Nature HAPWG: Open waters and large reedbed Habitat Action Plan Working Group HCT: Herpetological Conservation Trust LA21: Local Agenda 21 Landowners: As implied LAs: Local Authorities LEAP: Local Environment Agency Plan MI: Minerals Industry NGO: Non Government Organisation Plantlife: Charitable organisation dedicated to the conservation of native British plants RSPB: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds SBC Surrey Bird Club SCC: Surrey County Council SNCI: Site of Nature Conservation Importance (also known as County Wildlife Sites) SSSI: Site of Special Scientific Interest SWT: Surrey Wildlife Trust TW: Thames Water WeB: Waterbird Counts WWT: Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Table 10.1 Policy and Legislation

ACTION POTENTIAL DELIVERERS YEAR (to be complete or in place by) MEETS OBJ No PRIORITY Lead Partners Current Action 2002 2005 2010

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   4. significant gaps in the SPA / RAMSAR coverage are identified appropriate sites should be notified.
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EN LAs, NGOs    1, 2, 3 1 2. Where significant gaps in the SSSI coverage are identified, appropriate sites should be notified. EN LAs, NGOs    1, 2, 3 1 3. Classify standing open water bodies. EA    1, 5 1 4. Promote and support the introduction of legislation to outlaw the sale of invasive alien species and their introduction into the wild. EN, EA, DEFRA Plantlife NGOs     2, 3 1 5. Promote policies and good practice to enhance and manage open waters and reedbed. EN, EA, LAs NGOs,     1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 1 6. Identify sites for new open water and reedbed creation through the Minerals Local Plan Review. SCC MI, EN, EA, RSPB    1, 7 1

Table 10.2 Site Safeguard and Management

ACTION POTENTIAL DELIVERERS YEAR (to be complete or in place by) MEETS OBJ No PRIORITY Lead Partners Current Action 2002 2005 2010

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6. 1. to ensure that open water and reedbed sites are not adversely affected by development.
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LAs EN, EA, RSPB, SWT     2, 3, 5 1 2. Ensure that all SSSI open water sites have site management statements/plans and/or Water Level Management Plans (WLMP). EN, EA NGOs     1, 2, 4 1 3. Ensure all publicly owned open water sites have site management statements/plans. LAs EA, NGOs     1, 4, 5, 8 2 4. Seek to safeguard all important non SSSI open waters by non-statutory (SNCI) recognition. LAs, SWT NGOs    1, 2, 3 1 5. Seek to ensure the fish stocking of open waters of conservation interest is undertaken in a way that does not adversely affect the wildlife interest of such sites. EA Land Owners     1, 2, 3, 4, 5 1 6. Identify areas for open water and reedbed creation (other than through the Minerals Local Plan). HAPWG    1, 6, 7 1 7. Promote open water and reedbed restoration of mineral sites in appropriate locations. SCC, MI EA, RSPB     1, 2, 3, 4, 7 1 8. On water bodies that are not primarily used, or whose primary interest is not nature conservation, promote and institute more wildlife friendly management regimes. Land Owners EA, NGOs, LAs     1, 3, 4, 8 1

Continued over page. 9. Combat and restrict high nitrate agricultural run-off and sewage effluent run-off/discharge. EA Land Owners     2, 3, 5 1 10. Promote the planting of indigenous species. Control and remove alien species where they have established on sites of important nature conservation (or on all sites). HAPWG LA HCT NGOs Land Owners     1, 2, 3, 4, 8 1

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   10. and support site safeguard and management through the LEAP process.
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EA LAs NGOs    2, 3, 4, 5, 8 1 12. Encourage local conservation activity through Pond Warden, adopt a pond schemes, etc. HAPWG BTCV, SWT, LAs Other NGOs LA21    1, 3, 4, 6, 8 1

Table 10.3 Advisory

ACTION POTENTIAL DELIVERERS YEAR (to be complete or in place by) MEETS OBJ No PRIORITY Lead Partners Current Action 2002 2005 2010

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   3. management advice to open water and reedbed managers and owners.
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HAPWG Land Owners     1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 1 2. Establish and operate an open waters and reedbed group to promote, co-ordinate and deliver this HAP. SCC EA, EN, SWT, RSPB, TW, MI   1-8 1 3. Participate in airport birdstrike working groups. BAA SCC, EN, EA, RSPB     1, 2, 3, 4, 7 1

Table 10.4 Research and Monitoring

ACTION POTENTIAL DELIVERERS YEAR (to be complete or in place by) MEETS OBJ No PRIORITY Lead Partners Current Action 2002 2005 2010

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      2. 1. database of the extent of existing habitat.
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SWT EA, RSPB, LAs, other NGOs    1, 2 1 2. Identify key areas for restoration/creation. HAPWG Land Owners, MI, LAs, NGOs     1-7 1 3. Disseminate findings from the research into the management practice techniques etc. HAPWG NGOs, EA, EN     1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 1 4. Establish a database on the quality of open waters. EA    1 1 5. Seek to ensure the monitoring of management habitat and species surveys is co-ordinated. HAPWG NGOs    1-6 1 6. Monitor key notable species and results of wetland restoration and creation schemes. HAPWG NGOs     1-6 1 7. Encourage student theses and projects into the research on relevant open water biodiversity issues. NGOs, LAs EA     1 2 8. Promote awareness and research into the control of introduced aliens and their spread into open water habitat. EA Plantlife, HCT and other NGOs     1, 2, 3, 4 1 9. Ensure all main open waters are subject to WeB counts. WWT RSPB, SBC     1, 2, 3 1 10. Undertake research into the interrelationship of water bodies from a waterfowl usage perspective, particularly in association with SW London SPA / RAMSAR EN MI, RSPB, TW    1, 2, 3, 8 1

Table 10.5 Communication and Publicity

ACTION POTENTIAL DELIVERERS YEAR (to be complete or in place by) MEETS OBJ No PRIORITY Lead Partners Current Action 2002 2005 2010

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6. 1. opportunities to present open water conservation in the scientific press and popular media.
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HAPWG NGOs, EN, EA     1, 8 1 2. Encourage on-site interpretation on open water conservation issues. Land Owners EA, NGOs, LAs, EN     1, 8 1 3. Raise awareness of adverse impact excessive duck feeding, inappropriate fish stocking, and introduction of alien species can have on native wildlife and the quality of open water habitat. HAPWG EA, NGO, EN, LAs     1, 2, 3, 5, 8 1

1. 1. References

A Bennett, D Watson, D Hill Water Voles and Development - Case Study of Mitigation Techniques. British Wildlife Vol 12 No 3. February 2001 A Hull Pond Conservation Comes of Age? Enact Vol 10 No 1. Spring 2002 Andy Byfield The Basingstoke Canal - Britain’s Richest Waterway under Threat British Wildlife Vol 2 No 1. October 1990 B Banks, J Foster, T Langton, K Morgan British Bullfrogs? British Wildlife Vol 11 No 5. June 2000 British Dragonfly Society Dig a Pond for Dragonflies British Dragonfly Society Managing Habitats for Dragonflies British Herpetological Society Garden Ponds as Amphibian Sanctuaries C Chatters Conserving Rare Plants in Muddy Places. British Wildlife Vol 7 No5. June 1996 C Clatters Conserving Rare Plants in Muddy Places British Wildlife Vol 7 No 5. June 1996 C D Preston & J M Goff Aquatic Plants in Britain and Ireland. 1997 ISBN 0-946589-55-0 C D Preston & J M Goff Britain’s Changing Aquatic Flora British Wildlife Vol 10 No 1. October 1998 C J Hawke & P V José Reedbed Management for Commercial and Wildlife Interests 1996 ISBN 0-903138-81-6 D Holdich The Native Crayfish and Threats to its Existence British Wildlife Vol 2 No 3. February 1991 D Ward (Ed.) Reedbeds for Wildlife 1992 ISBN 0967-1765-1 D Wicks and I Stone War against Crassula helmsii Enact Vol 9 No 2. Summer 2001 Duncan Painter As Dull as Ditchwater? Managing Ditches for Wildlife British Wildlife Vol 11 No 4. April 2000 English Nature Wildlife and Fresh Water an Agenda for Sustainable Management. March 1997 ISBN 1-857116 260 9 English Nature Managing Ponds for Wildlife 1996. ISBN 1 85716 2153 English Nature Facts about:- Amphibians 1993. ISBN 1-85716-009 6 Reptiles 1993. ISBN 1-85716-008 8 Great Crested Newts 1994. ISBN 1-85716-160 2 English Nature, SAMSA, Quarry Product Association Biodiversity and Minerals. Extracting the benefits for wildlife. ISBN - 0 9535400 06 English Nature, SAMSA, Quarry Products Associates The Potential Contribution of the Mineral Extraction Industry to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1998, ISSN 0967 876X Environment Agency Rivers and Wetlands. Best Practice Guidelines Environment Agency Guidance for the control of invasive plants near watercourses Environment Agency/Broads Authority A guide to the restoration of nutrient enriched shallow lakes. 1996. ISBN 0-948119-29-2 Froglife Advice Sheet 8 Exotic Reptiles and Amphibians in the Wild. June 1997 G Philcox Developing habitats for water voles Enact Vol 9 No 3. Autumn 2001 G Woodroffe The Water Vole - Some Aspects of its Ecology British Wildlife Vol 5 No 5. June 1994 H Macgregor Crested Newts - Ancient Survivors British Wildlife Vol 7 No 1. October 1995 High Weald Unit Ponds in the Weald September 1997 J A Bucknill The Birds of Surrey 1900 J Andrews and D Kinsman Gravel Pit Restoration for Wildlife. RSPB 1990 J Biggs, A Corfield, D Walker, M Whitfield, P Williams New Approaches to the Management of Ponds British Wildlife Vol 5 No 5. June 1994 J Birks Feral Mink and Nature Conservation British Wildlife Vol 1 No 6. August. 1990 J H Brotton Seasonal Pools- an overlooked invertebrate habitat British Wildlife Vol 2 No 1. October 1990 J Leach, H Dawson Crassula helmsii in the British Isles - an unwelcome invader. British Wildlife Vol 10 No 4. April 1999 J S Rodwall (Ed) British Plant Communities Volume 4 Aquatic Communities, Swamps and Tall Herb Fens. 1995 ISBN 0-59-62718-4 K Smith, G Welch, G Tyler, G Gilbert, I Hankins, G Hirons Management of RSPB Minsmere reserve reedbeds and its impact on breeding Bittern. British Wildlife Vol 12 No 1. October 2000 M J Everett Reedbeds a Scarce Habitat RSPB Conservation Review Volume 3, 1989 M Swan Controlling mink for conservation Enact Vol 9 No 3. Autumn 2001

M Willing Fresh - and Brackish - Water Molluscs: Some current conservation issues. British Wildlife Vol 8 No 3. February 1997 N F Stewart Stoneworks - Connoisseurs of Clean Water. British Wilflife. Vol 8 No 2. December 1996 Nature Conservancy Council Survey of the flora of the Basingstoke Canal 1987/87. 1998. ISSN 0952-4355 P Kirby Habitat Management for Invertebrates. JNCC/RSPB 1992. ISBN 0 9031 3855 7 P S Maitland & A A Lyle Freshwater Fish Conservation in the British Isles British Wilflife Vol 5 No 1. October 1993 P Smith Can fish determine the conservation value of shallow lakes in the UK? British Wildlife Vol 13 No 1. October 2001 P Smith, J Briggs Zander - the hidden invader. British Wildlife Vol 11 No 1. October 1999 P Williams, J Biggs, A Corfield, G Fox, D Walter, M Whitfield Designing new ponds for wildlife British Wildlife Vol 8 No 3. February 1997 P Williams, J Biggs, A Thorne, S Bryant, G Fox, P Nicolet The Pond Brook - a guide to the management and creation of ponds. The Pond Conservation Trust. 1999 Plantlife At War with Aliens. 2000 ISBN 1-872613-09-8 R Gibbons Making a Garden Pond for Wildlife British Wildlife Vol 3 No 5. June 1992 R J Fuller Bird Habitats in Britain 1982 ISBN 0-85661-031-3 RSNC/The Wildlife Trusts Wetland Restoration Handbook. April 2001 RSPB/Environment Agency Thames Catchment Reedbed Study. April 2001 SE England Climate Change Partnership Rising to the Challenge. Impacts of Climate Change in the South East in the 21st century. November 1999 Surrey Wildlife Trust Dragonflies of Surrey. P Follett Surrey Wildlife Trust Hoverflies of Surrey. R K A Morris Surrey Wildlife Trust Larger Moths of Surrey. G A Collins Surrey Wildlife Trust Species Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles of Surrey. J Wycherley and R Anstis The Game Conservancy and ARC Wildlife After Gravel. 1992. ISBN 0 9500130 3 X The Pond Conservation Group The Future of Britain’s Ponds. Agenda for Action The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trusts Wetlands, Industry and Wildlife. 1994. ISBN 0 900808 18 4 Tom Langton Pond Heaven. How to Create your own Wildlife Pond. 1997

APPENDIX 1

Table A1.1 SURREY KEY BIODIVERSITY SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH OPEN STANDING WATER

Common Name Scientific Name Taxa Status in Surrey UK BAP list* Water vole Arvicola terrestris Mammal Declining Short European otter Lutra lutra Mammal Potential recovery Middle Pipistrelle bat Pipistrellus pipistrellus Mammal Common and breeding Short Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentoni Mammal Frequent and breeding Long Noctule bat Nyctalus noctula Mammal Frequent and breeding Long A water beetle Helophorus lacticollis Beetle Rare Middle Spangled diving beetle Graphoderus zonatus Beetle Extinct, but potential recovery Long Note: Has a SAP Lesser silver water beetle Hydrochara caraboides Beetle Extinct, but potential recovery Long Note: has a SAP Great silver water beetle Hydrophilus piceus Beetle Rare Long Great crested newt Triturus cristatus Amphibian Declining Short Natterjack toad Bufo calamita Amphibian Extinct, but there are four introductions in progress Middle Star fruit Damasonoium alisma Vascular Plant Single site Short Pillwort Pilularia globulifera Vascular Plant Very rare Long Note: has a SAP Brown galingale Cyperus fuscus Vascular Plant Single site Long Water violet Hottonia palustris Vascular Plant Rare Local Flowering rush Butomus umbellatus Vascular Plant Occasional / scarce Local Lesser-water plantain Baldellia ranunculoides Vascular Plant Very rare / declining Local Frogbit Hydrocharis morsus-ranae Vascular Plant Scarce Local Cut grass Leesrie oryzoides Vascular Plant Basingstoke Canal Middle Three-Lobed water crowfoot Ranunculus tripartis Vascular Plant One site Long Note: has a SAP Stonewort Sp. - Algae Rare Middle / Long

Millimetre moss Micromitrium teneum Moss Rare Middle Violet crystalwort Riccia huebeneriana Liverwort Rare Long Note: has a SAP Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena Bird Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant Long Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus Bird Scarce winter visitor Long

Black-necked grebe Podiceps nigricollis Bird Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor Long Bewick swan Cygnus columbianus Bird Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant Long Greylag goose Anser anser Bird Locally common resident and passage migrant Long Shelduck Tadorna tadorna Bird Scarce breeder and scarce passage migrant Long Wigeon Anas penelope Bird Moderately common resident Long Shoveler Anas clypeata Bird Moderately common winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred Long Teal Anas crecca Bird Common winter visitor and scarce resident Long Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Bird Abundant resident Long

Pintail Anas acuta Bird Scarce winter visitor Long

Garganey Anas querquedula Bird Scarce passage migrant. Has bred Long Gadwall Anas strepera Bird Moderately common winter visitor and scarce resident. Has bred Long Pochard Aythya ferina Bird Moderately common winter visitor and rare breeder Long Tufted duck Aythya fuligula Bird Common resident and winter visitor Long Scaup Aythya marila Bird Scarce winter visitor Long

Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Bird Moderately common winter visitor Long Smew Mergus albellus Bird Scarce winter visitor Long

Goosander Mergus merganser Bird Moderately common winter visitor Long Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Bird Moderately common non breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor Long

Note: Short and Middle list biodiversity species have been merged to form “priority” species, Priority species have a Species Action Plan at the national level.

Table A1.2 SURREY KEY BIODIVERSITY SPECIES ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE REEDBEDS

Common Name Scientific Name Taxa Status in Surrey UK BAP list*

Bittern Botaurus stellaris Bird Scarce winter visitor Short Aquatic warbler Acrocephalus paludicula Bird Rare autumn vagrant Short Reed bunting Emberiza schoeniclus Bird Moderately common resident Middle Sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Bird Moderately common summer visitor and passage migrant Long Reed warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus Bird Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant Long Teal Anas crecca Bird Common winter visitor and scarce resident Long Cetti’s warbler Cettia cetti Bird Rare winter visitor and passage migrant Long Marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus Bird Scarce passage migrant Long

Bearded tit Panurus biarmicus Bird Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant Long Spotted crake Porzana porzana Bird Rare passage migrant Long Water rail Rallus aquaticus Bird Scarce resident and moderately common winter visitor Long Sand martin Riparia riparia Bird Moderately common, but local, summer visitor and common passage migrant Long

Note: Short and Middle list biodiversity species have been merged to form “priority” species, meaning those species for which a Species Action Plan will be produced at the national level.

Appendix 2 Table A2.1 SURREY WATER BIRD SPECIES - CHANGE IN DISTRIBUTION 1900-2000

SPECIES 1900 (BUCKNILL THE BIRDS OF SURREY) 2000 (SURREY BIRD CLUB STATUS)

Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis) Resident in some numbers. Moderately common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus) Formerly resident and widespread, now occasional visitor. Only five breeding sites in Surrey. Moderately common resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Red-necked grebe (Podiceps grisegena)* A very rare visitor. Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.

Slavonian grebe (Podiceps auritus)* An occasional visitor of very rare occurrence. Scarce winter visitor.

Black-necked grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)* Occurs on only a few occasions. Scarce passage migrant and winter visitor.

Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) Occasional straggler from the coast. Moderately common non-breeding resident, passage migrant and winter visitor. Mute swan (Cygnus olor) Common resident in semi-domesticated state. Moderately common resident.

Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)* Formerly regularly winter visitor but now confined to the air over the County. Scarce winter visitor. Bewick’s swan (Cygnus columbianus)* Irregular winter visitor. Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant.

Greylag goose (Anser anser) Not infrequently seen in air, but do not alight. Locally common resident and passage migrant.

Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)* Winter visitor of very irregular appearance. Scarce breeder and scarce passage migrant.

Wigeon (Anas penelope)* Common winter visitor, but irregular. Moderately common winter visitor.

Gadwall (Anas strepera)* Very rare visitor. Moderately common winter visitor and scarce resident. Has bred. Teal (Anas crecca)* Winter visitor, much more common as a resident in former years. Common winter visitor and scarce resident. Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) Many winter visitors, but considerable numbers resident. Abundant residents. Pintail (Anas acuta)* Rare winter visitor. Scarce winter visitor. Garganey (Anas querquedula)* Rare summer visitor. Scarce passage migrant. Has bred.

Shoveler (Anas clypeata)* Rare winter visitor Moderately common winter visitor and passage migrant. Has bred. Pochard (Aythya ferina)* Formerly regular and rather common winter visitor. Now somewhat scarce. Moderately common winter visitor and rare breeder. Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula) Rare winter visitor. Common resident and winter visitor.

Scaup (Aythya marila)* Rarely found inland. Only occurred on a few occasions. Scarce winter visitor. Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)* Occasional winter visitor. Moderately common winter visitor.

Smew (Mergus albellus) Rare winter visitor. Scarce winter visitor.

Goosander (Mergus merganser) Formerly by no means an uncommon visitor but now only a few recent records. Moderately common winter visitor. Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) Common resident. Common resident.

Coot (Fulica atra) Abundant resident, but less generally distributed than moorhen. Common resident.

Table A2.2 Surrey Bird Club Definitions

Status Breeding Pairs Winter/Passage Very rare Fewer than five records Fewer than 10 records Rare Less than annual Less than annual Scarce 1-50 1-100 Moderately common 51-500 101-1,000 Common 501-2,500 1,001-5,000 Numerous 2,501-15,000 5,001-30,000 Abundant 15,000+ 30,000+

• Denotes species on Amber List of RSPB’s Birds of Conservation Concern

Appendix 3 Table A3.1 SURREY REEDBED BIRD SPECIES - STATUS 1900-2000

SPECIES 1900 (BUCKNILL THE BIRDS OF SURREY) 2000 (SURREY BIRD CLUB STATUS)

Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)** Early part of 19th century regular winter visitor, now only a straggler of considerable rarity. Scarce winter visitor. Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus)** Not nested in the County for some years and now regarded as an occasional winter visitor only. Scarce passage migrant. Water rail (Rallus aquaticus)* Scarce resident in Surrey of very local distribution. Scarce resident and moderately common winter visitor. Spotted crake (Porzana porzana)* Rare spring/autumn visitor also recorded in winter. Rare passage migrant. Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) Regular and in many localities abundant summer visitor. Moderately common summer visitor and passage migrant. Reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) Regular summer visitor but distribution restricted by habitat. Locally common summer visitor and passage migrant. Marsh warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)** Listed, but has no records. Scarce summer visitor, has bred. Bearded reedling (Panarus biarmicus)* Long extinct in Surrey. Not aware of any records in the last 50 years. Scarce winter visitor and passage migrant. Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus)** Resident, breeds commonly throughout the County. Moderately common resident.

• • Denotes: Red List RSPB Birds of Conservation Concern * Denotes: Amber List RSPB Birds of Conservation Concern

Table A3.2 Surrey Bird Club Definitions Status Breeding Pairs Winter/Passage Very rare Fewer than 5 records Fewer than 10 records Rare Less than annual Less than annual Scarce 1-50 1-100 Moderately common 51-500 101-1,000 Common 501-2,500 1,001-5,000 Numerous 2,501-15,000 5,001-30,000 Abundant 15,000+ 30,000+

APPENDIX 4

HABITAT ACTION PLAN - WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

Action Plan Lead:

Simon Elson, Environmental Enhancement Officer (Minerals) Surrey County Council

Habitat Plan Working Group:

Sue Webber / Chris Matcham Surrey Wildlife Trust

Harriet Dennison Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Dave Webb / Debbie Cousins Environment Agency

Ralph Hobbs English Nature, Surrey and Sussex Team

Bill Whittaker Herpetological Conservation Trust

Steve Bailey Blackwater Valley Countryside Service

Jenny Page Woking Borough Council

Andy Tomczynski Thames Water

__________________________________________________________________________________ This Habitat Action Plan has been prepared by Simon Elson, on behalf of the Surrey Biodiversity Partnership.

The Surrey Biodiversity Partnership wishes to acknowledge the financial support of the Environment Agency, English Nature, Surrey County Council and Surrey Wildlife Trust.