Biological recording
In order to manage green spaces for
wildlife it is essential to know what species are present so that
any management prescriptions do not harm animals and plants that
are already present. Equally, the only way to know whether
management of green spaces is being effective is to survey for
those plants and animals that the management is supposed to
promote. Countryside Management Partnerships (CMPs) are able
to provide a range of services to monitor wildlife for landowners,
local authorities and statutory authorities.
Examples of the biological recording undertaken by CMPs
- water vole and otter surveys on
waterways
- surveys for management
plans
- Farm Environment Plans
- European protected species
surveys
- recording projects on behalf of
Kent Biological Records Centre and local recording groups
The records that CMPs collect are sent to
the Kent and Medway Biological
Records Centre who collate and distribute biological records in
Kent. This ensures that the information that is collected is
shared with as many people as possible.
Contact your local Countryside Management
Partnership for more information.
Case study – Amphibian and Reptile Monitoring in the High
Weald
The Kent High Weald Partnership and the
Kent Reptile and Amphibian Group (KRAG) have worked in partnership
since 2007 to help monitor amphibian and reptile populations in the
partnership area. This project has provided training for
staff and volunteers in ecology and survey methodology which has
allowed populations to be monitored at local green
spaces.
KRAG have also worked with the CMP to set
up reptile surveys using refugia (tin and roofing felt which
animals use to warm up) which are then monitored by
volunteers. Mike Phillips of KRAG states:
‘The work that KRAG has been
able to do with Countryside Management Partnerships has played a
large part in increasing the number of records that the group has
collected. The access to sites and volunteers provided by
CMPs is a great way of partnership working.’